Wild Deception

Chapter 16

Pinaghahampas niya si Theo. Agad namang sinasalo ng huli ang kanyang mga hampas. 

"Baby, calm down."

"Calm down, your ass! I f*cking hate you, Montreal! Sino ka ba talaga, ha? Pinagmukha mo akong tanga! All along alam mo pala ang lahat but you did not confront me! Was this part of your scheme? You let me think I am perfectly doing my job well. Good job, then! You won! Nakuha mo lahat ng gusto mo in just a snap. Kaya puwede bang tigilan mo na ako? I want to forget everything about you as if you did not exist even once!"

Theo was stunned for few seconds for Liberty's outburst. Panic was well-written all over his face. 

"No, baby! we'll talk about us. Just let me explain, please?" he begged. But Liberty kept on pushing him away. He was moved.

"Stop! I don't need to hear your side. Klaro na lahat sa'kin. Intelligence Analyst, huh? I should have investigated better," mapait na wika ni Liberty. "I'm such a loser. I just wasted my time and effort. Sana pala hindi ko na lang tinanggap ang misyon na iyon, hindi na sana kita nakilala. Hindi na sana napahamak ang pu--" Liberty stop. Nakita niya ang pagdaan ng sakit sa mga mata ni Theo. Lasing lang ba talaga siya o nakita niya ang pagkislap ng luha sa maga mata ni Theo? Anyway, wala siyang pakialam.  Ang mahalaga ngayon ay naipamukha niya sa lalaking ito na wala na siyang interes para rito.

"I'm sorry, baby, but I have to do this."

Biglang tinakpan ni Theo ang kanyang bibig gamit ang isang panyo. May naamoy siya mula roon. Pagkatapos ng ilang segundo ay nakaramdam siya ng hilo. 

Sinubukang manlaban ni Liberty ngunit masyado siyang mahina. Unti-unti siyang iginupo ng karimlan.

...

NAGISING si Liberty sa hindi pamilyar na silid. All she could see was a dark-themed room. Napabangun siya mula sa kama. Wrong move, biglang sumakit ang kanyang ulo.

"Shit!" she cursed. Napapikit siya nang mariin. Pilit niyang inaalala kung paano siya napunta sa kuwartong ito ngunit hindi niya maarok sa kanyang isipan. The last thing she remembered was she entered a bar and got herself drunk. Hanggang sa may lalaking kamukha ni Theo na pinilit siyang--

Napatigil siya at dahan-dahang bumaba sa kama. She checked herself, gano'n pa rin naman ang suot niya. Pinakiramdam niya rin ang kanyang sarili, wala naman siyang nararamdamang ibang sakit maliban sa ulo niya.

"Where am I?" mahina niyang tanong sa sarili. Hinagilap niya ang kanyang bag at maging ang cellphone niya ngunit wala siyang mahagilap.

She roamed her eyes around the room. Everything was dark except for the beige wall. Kailangan niya ng proteksyon sa katawan. Her protective instinct told her that she's not in a safe place.

She eyed at the door. Agad niya iyong tinungo at pinihit. A long pathway welcomed her when she finally opened it.

She looked side by side then up and down before stepping her foot. She slowly closed the mahogany door.

At first, the hallway whispered pure silence until she reached the spiral staircase. This is not just a house. This is a mansion. She thought.

Akmang bababa na siya sa hagdan nang maulinigan niya ang isang tunog. She stepped back and followed the sound. Palakas ito nang palakas habang papalapit siya sa dulo ng hallway.

"When you try your best but you don't succeed. When you get what you want but not what you need. When you feel so tired but you can't sleep
Stuck in reverse."

When Liberty finally reached the dead-end of the hallway, her feet automatically stopped. Nakabukas ang pinto ng isang kuwarto at doon nagmumula ang tunog.

"When the tears come streaming down your face. When you lose something you can't replace. When you love someone but it goes to waste
Could it be worse?"

Inihanda niya ang kanyang sarili at marahang sumilip sa pinto.

"Lights will guide you home and ignite your bones. And I will try to fix you."

"No," singhap niya. Tinakpan niya ang kanyang bibig para hindi makalikha ng anumang ingay. Nakatagilid si Theo mula sa kanyang kinaruruonan kaya hindi pa siya nito napapansin.

"High up above or down below. When you're too in love to let it go. If you never try you'll never know. Just what you're worth."

"Lights will guide you home and ignite your bones. And I will try to fix you."

As if on cue, her tears sprung. Theo's fingers ran along the keyboard. Hindi lang pala gitara ang alam nitong patugtugin. He's too good with keys. Nakapikit ito at sinasabayan ng kanta ang kanyang pagtugtog. Liberty knew in her heart that this scene is for keeps but her anger consumed almost whole of her heart.

"Tears stream down your face. When you lose something you cannot replace. Tears stream down your face
And I..."

"Tears stream down your face. I promise you I will learn from all my mistakes. Tears stream down your face. And I..."

Memories flowed like an avalanche. Hindi niya alam kung saang bahagi ng utak niya nanggaling ang mga iyon. Ang alam lang niya ay minsan nang nangyari ang tagpong ito. Another dejavu.

"Lights will guide you home. And ignite your bones. And I will try to fix you..."

She saw herself happily smiling while watching over Theo. She knew she  did not lose her sanity yet. Sumakit ang kanyang ulo kaya't napahawak siya rito.

"Aahhh!"

Dumausdos siya sa sahig habang nakahawak sa kanyang ulo.

"Aaahh!"

Sa isang iglap ay nasa harapan na niya si Theo. Ngunit tila pinupukpok ang kanyang ulo sa sobrang sakit.

"Tama na--aahhh!"

"Shit! Baby!" Tarantang wika ni Theo at dinaluhan siya.

"Lumayo ka sa'kin!" protesta ni Liberty nang akmang hahawakan siya ng lalaki.

"Aaahhh!"

Liberty shouted at the top of her lungs. And even before the darkness succumbed her, she clearly heard what Theo just said.

"Arriane!"

©GREATFAIRY