Sold to a Demon

13: Hate

Karina opened her eyes and blink for a few times before she adjusted to the brightness of the room. She licked her lips and tried to scrunch her eyes but her hand were pinned to the side of the headboard. Tiningnan niya ito at nakita ang isang handcuff sa palapulsuhan niya. She innocently looked around the room, trying to make sure where she is.

'But it's still her room? Why is she tied?'

"Gavin?" Aniya sa mahinang boses. Naramdaman niya ang pagkamalat ng kanyang leeg. Marahil sa kakulangan ng tubig.

Umupo siya sa gilid ng kama. Buti na lamang at iisang kamay lamang ang nakatali sa kanya. She stared at her free hand. May bandage sa ito at mukhang bago lang pinalitan. She cringed when she thought of blood. Hindi niya alam pero parang ayaw niya sa ideyang dugo at sugat. Her heart tightened with the thought of it. Umiling siya at pumikit. She tried to count to calm her mind and her heart.

Minulat niya ang mata at napangiwi. Bahagyang kumirot ang kanyang pulso na may sugat. Hinipan niya ito para mabawasan man lang ang sakit kahit kaunti.

'Where is Gavin na ba kasi?'

Magkadikit na ang kanyang kilay sa frustration. She's hungry and she wants water but she can't move from her place because, obviously she's tied.

Sinubukan niyang alisin ang kamay niya pero hindi niya talaga maalis. Pinilit niya itong hilahin na nauwi sa pamumula ng kanyang pulso.

Namumula na ang kanyang ilong dahil sa pagpipigil na umiyak. She grabbed her shirt's collar with her free hand and used it to wipe her eyes.

Lumingon siya sa pintuan nang marinig itong bumukas. Agad kumurba ang kanyang labi para sa isang ngiti. Sumigla ang kanyang pakiramdam. Tumayo siya at tatakbo na sana ngunit napigil ito dahil sa nakataling pala pulsuhan.

Tiningnan niya ang kamay at balik ulit kay Gavin.

"Look Gavin. I'm tied. Remove it please? I want to hug you." Nakangiting demanda niya sa lalaking kaharap.

Ngunit hindi man lang ito gumalaw at nanatiling nakatitig sa kanya.

"Gavin?" Nalilito siya.

Bakit hindi man lang ito lumapit sa kanya? And he looks mad.

Why?

Did she do something wrong? Or maybe he hates me now? But why?

"Who are you?"

Mas lalo siyang nalito. Why would he ask her who she is? He doesn't remember? Ganun na ba katindi ang kasalanan niya para kalimutan siya nito?

Is that it?

Hindi siya agad nakasagot dahil sa pagkalito.

"I said who the fuck are you?!"

Nanlaki ang mata niya sa gulat. She touched her arms and held tightly on it.

She bit her lip to stop it from trembling. "Ga-Gavin?" Nanginginig niyang ani.

He threw her a spiteful look. "Stop the drama bitch! I'm fucking asking who the fuck are you?"

Lumapit pa ito sa kanya at hinawakan ang braso niya. Niyugyog siya nito at inulit ang tanong kanina.

Tumulo ang kanyang luha na nagpatigil sa lalaking kaharap. She struggled free from his touch and distanced herself.

Napayuko siya at pinunasan ang luha. Suminghot siya at kinagat ang labi. Masakit ang kanyang dibdib at hirap siyang huminga dahil sa paninikip nito. She sniff again and bit her lip so hard it bled. Ngunit masyado siyang manhid para maramdaman pa ang kaunting sugat sa labi. Walang wala ito sa sakit sa loob ng puso niya.

"I hate you." She uttered.

Natulala ang lalaki sa narinig. "I hate you." She continued as she wipe her tears. Still facing the floor and eyes closed.

"I hate you." She repeated.

"You're scary. I hate you."

Sa sinabi nito ay natauhan ang lalaki. He reach her arms at parang napaso ay umiwas siya. She heard him exhale before pulling her into a hug.

"Hush now baby. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. Damn!" He cursed at nilagay ang mukha sa kanyang leeg. He kissed it and continued on begging for her forgiveness.

Mas lalo siyang napaiyak. Kung kanina ay tahimik lang siyang umiiyak ngayon ay humagulgol na siya at kinapit ang isang kamay sa likuran ng lalaki.

"I hate you. I hate you. I hate you. I hate you. I hate you." Aniya habang patuloy na umiiyak.

Hinimas naman ni Gavin ang kanyang likuran at hinigpitan ang yakap sa kanya. "I'm sorry. Don't hate me Karina. Please don't. I'm sorry baby."

"I hate you." Mahina niyang ani.

Tinulak siya ni Gavin at hinawakan ng dalawang kamay nito ang kanyang mukha. He wiped her tears and gently touch her lower lip na may sugat.

Kinabig siya nito papalapit at hinalikan ng madiin sa noo habang umuusal ng sorry.

She felt her other hand being freed.

And Gavin kissing her head. "I'm sorry Karina. I got you scared and... cursed in front of you. I'm sorry."

"Get mad at me. But pl-please... please Karina don't hate me. I can't bear the idea of you hating me. Hindi ko kaya. Hindi ko kakayanin Karina."

Suminghot siya at pinunasan ang luha. Tumigil na din siya kakaiyak.

Tinulak niya ng mahina ang balikat ni Gavin. Gusto niyang makita ang mukha nito. But he just hugged her tighter. Binaon pa nito ang mukha sa tuktok ng kanyang ulo.

She tiptoed and rest her chin on his shoulder, pat her right hand sa likuran nito para mapakalma ang lalaki.

Umiling ito at umusal ulit ng sorry. Karina nodded her head. "It's okay Gavin. I'll forgive you na so stop crying."

Mabilis lumayo sa kanya ang lalaki at tumalikod. She saw him wiping his tears, tumatawa siyang lumapit dito at pinalibot ang braso sa bewang ng lalaki. Mahigpit niya itong niyakap at pinilit ipatong ang baba sa balikat nito. She kissed his neck and stared at his face.

"Ang Gavin ko nahihiya. Ayiieeh."

"Who said I am?" Defensive nitong ani. "And I'm not crying, okay?" Dagdag nito.

Napapailing na lang siya sa isip at mas lalong hinigpitan ang yakap dito. "This is the feeling I want to be greeted every morning." Nakangiting aniya.

"Your warmth. It really completes my day Gavin."

He gently remove her arms on his waist and faced her. Walang bakas ng luha ang itsura nito. But Karina knows better. He cried. She's sure of it.

Nangingiting pinalibot niya muli ang braso sa bewang nito. "Don't be sad na, okay? Forgive na kita."

Tinitigan siya ng lalaki. He raise his hand and gently touch her face. "Stay with me Karina. No matter what happens."

She cutely giggle and nod her head. Giving him the answer he wanted. He sigh and pull her head for a kiss on her forehead. She awed and tighten the grip on his waist.

"No matter what happens, Karina will stay with Gavin. Always." She mumbled.