Kabanata 32
I opened my eyes and first thing I saw is darkness. My eyebrows furrowed and I blinked repeatedly to see my surrounding.
I heard some talking. " I ready niyo na ang camera, gising na siya. " wika ng isang babae?
I blinked and then moved when I realized I'm restricted. Nang makita ng maayos ay agad akong nanlamig.
I'm strapped in a chair. A table infront of me. My lips sealed, my wrists are strapped to the arm chair, my feet are same too.
My heart boomed. What..what happened?
Why am I here? And what happened to Arthur? Sa condo? There was a shooting..si Daphne umiiyak, Arthur pulled me and tried to calm me down and then?
Why am I strapped?
I looked at infront of me. The lights turned on and I closed my eyes at the sudden invasion. I slowly opened them only to see a white room with two woman and one man.
Who are they?
" Alam mo ba bakit nandito ka? " The woman asked me, her face bored and vicious.
I hesistantly shook my head. Hindi ako makapagsalita.
" We kidnapped you, manghihingi kami ng ransom sa asawa mong si Arthur Austodillo. " I heard a click then I think I'm recorded.
Ransom? So..am I the only one caught then? What happened? How is Arthur?
She gestured the man to near me and it followed her.
Sumunod ito saka lumapit sakin at marahas hinila ang buhok ko. I groaned, that hurt and looked at the camera running. My tears threatening to flow as I felt the strength of the man behind me.
He made me look up. I muffled a cry. My body shaking.
" We want a hundred million if you want to save your wife. We'll wait until three months and if not, we'll kill her without hesitation. " the man said coldly.
Tears flowed in my eyes and then he pushed me away, the chair stumbled and I hit the ground. I groaned and whimpered.
A woman went to me and released me. She pulled me up and then threw me inside a room. Another woman followed her with a food.
" Ikaw na magbantay sa kanya. " Malamig na sabi ng naunang babae saka umalis.
The other woman went to me, she seemed old. Middle aged and she smiled at me warmly.
" Kumain ka na iha. " She said gently.
My heart beat loud as I process what's going on. I'm kidnapped..
Nanlamig ako. I crawled at the most corner of the queen sized bed and roamed my eyes. Where is this?
I felt the cold salty breeze flow and I turned only to see a beach behind me.
Where? Is this an island?
" Nasa isla tayo. " Sagot ng matanda na nakita yata saan ako nakatingin.
I hesistantly glanced at her. " A-Ayos lang po ba ang asawa ko? " I asked. Is he shot? We we're in the secret room but then, kinidnap ako. What really happened?
Lumambot ang mata niya. My lips shake and my tears flowed.
" H-He tried to protect me..is he safe? " I asked.
" Hindi ko alam iha, sa ngayon kumain ka. Nasa teritoryo ka ng kalaban. Sa tingin ko susubukan nilang i contact ang asawa mo para masigurado. " Wika nito.
I don't know if I should feel good about that. What did they want? 100 million?
That's a lot of money. I feel guilty, bakit ba ako napunta dito?
" Iwan na kita. Kumain ka, para malusog ka sakaling magkita kayo. " Wika niya saka lumabas.
I sighed and thought, she's right. Arthur will worry.
Kaya kumain ako, there is toasted bread, yogurt, stawberry and more in here. I didn't expect them to give me this many food.
But maybe this is my food for the whole day? Baka hindi na ako bibigyan sa tanghalian at gabi kaya maliit nalang ang kinain ko para makasave kahit gutom na gutom ako.
Bumalik ang ginang at nilahad sakin ang damit ko, they didn't handcuff me or strap me. Maybe cause they know I can't really do anything.
Tumakas? I can freely do that, the window is wide open and I can go out there easily.
I checked on the shower, there's a standard shower there and complete bath essentials. I showered, I didn't dare to take long afraid I'll may receive punishment later on.
I groaned trying to wash myself with soap, I have bruises on my shoulders when that man pushed me. Hinilot ko iyon dahil medyo masakit nga.
Nagbihis ako sa bigay na damit. I looked the window and finally decided. Chineck ko muna ang paligid baka may nakakita saka lumabas mula sa bintana.
This was the first floor of what seemed like a mansion, lumabas ako. I looked anxiously at the place if there were guards and when I checked most of them were not in sight, I ran.
I ran to the shores, nilibot ko ang paligid at nakaramdam ng kawalan ng pag-asa. Is this a private island? There is only a long line of beach Infront of me and a forest far behind.
I bit my lip and seconds of hesitation I went to the forest.
" Hoy! " I heard a shout from a man and I flinched then ran fast in the forest.
I'm afraid of wild animals but that is the least of my worries now. I have to get away!
" Sundan niyo! " I heard another shout again and I ran faster.
It wasn't easy. There were tall tress with big roots, ilang beses ako kamuntikan matumba dahil sa mga malalaking ugat ng kahoy.
Leaves crackle at each of my step, I huffed, feeling my breath shortened with my run. I suddenly regretted not being very sporty before, mabilis akong naubusan ng hininga.
A hand caught me effortlessly and I struggled.
" No! "
" Hindi ka makakatakas! Isla 'to! Mahahanap ka rin namin! " the man just my height said viciously and harshly pulled me I whimpered from the pull.
" Wag mong saktan Junior! " His comrade scolded, nearing at us and slapping the hands off the man who held me. Siya na humawak sa kamay ko.
" Hindi naman sobra! "
" Nakita ko tangina mo! Hinila mo ng malakas, pagagalitan tayo neto ni boss!" he scolded.
Oh, they might have a strict rule not to hurt me.
" Wag ka na magpumiglas pa ma'am. Masasaktan ka lang. Mabuti pang sumunod ka samin. " Malamig na saad nito.
Suminghap ako, do I have a choice? It's never best to test your kidnappers patience.
" O-Okay.." I said hesistantly and walked with them feeling bitter in my heart that I couldn't get away from my first try. They might increase the security then and it would be a lot more difficult.
Pinapasok ako, pabalik sa room kung saan ako unang nagising. The woman was there with the man who pulled my hair, they were doing cigarettes before they saw me and put it away.
" Paupuin niyo yan. " Utos nila saka ako binagsak sa upuan. " Sinubukan tumakas? " Tanong ng babae. Ang lider nila.
" Opo, mukhang sa bintana dumaan. " Wika ng guard na nakahuli sakin.
Bumuga ng hininga ang babae. " Hayaan mo na. Hoy. " Tawag niya sakin. She looked at me disgustingly. " Tatawagan namin ngayon ang asawa mo, hindi kami sinagot. Walang kwenta, kaya tawagan mo ngayon. Kung hindi pa sumagot, dalawang buwan lang ibibigay namin bago ka nalang namin patayin. " She said casually and my blood drained.
Wait, they're going to call Arthur?
I suddenly got cold, I'm nervous but excited. I do want to see how is he and maybe.. maybe he can do something for me.
They called. I waited, my heart booming loudly against my chest as the call continued tho it wasn't yet answered. Kumunot ang noo ng babae nang hindi agad sinagot.
It ended and I gulped, my heart growing heavy.
She sharpened her eyes at me. " Tangina bakit hindi agad sumasagot ang asawa mo? " She cursed and I flinched.
Kinagat ko ang labi ko at tumawag ulit siya. This time, it answered.
My heart stopped and I felt like crying.
Arthur..
No one talked behind the phone.
" Hello. " The woman infront of me said.
" May tumatawag? " I heard a distant feminine voice at the other end.
That sounds like..Daphne?
" Yeah. "
Kumabog ang puso ko, it's Arthur! He's okay!
Naluha ako, he's okay. Thank god. But what is he doing with Daphne? Hinahanap ba niya ako? They're finding me now? With Daphne?
" Sino? " Daphne asked.
" Just some random number. Don't mind it, rest for a bit. You're tired. " I heard Arthur's gentle voice that made me stop.
My lips parted and I felt my heart break..what?
" Hindi mo sasagutin? " Daphne asked softly again and my tears well up.
What the..hell?
" It's not important. Here, I'll feed you. " My lips parted and then the call ended from his line.
My hands shook and I felt my tears threaten to fall. I wanted to reason that call, maybe it was innocent but..
He couldn't possibly not know I'm lost? Hindi hinanap? He should take every single suspicious call!
" Putangina! Bakit may babae?! Akala ko ba ikaw ang asawa! " The woman threw the phone and cursed at me.
I flinched and my heart squeezed a lot. Naluha ako. " I-I am. " I painfully uttered and my tears fell.
" Panong may ibang babae tangina?! Kinuha ba natin ang maling babae?! Jason! Binigyan mo ako ng maling data?! " She screamed at the man behind us.
Lumawak ang mata sa lalaki at umiling ng natatakot. " H-Hindi, s-siya talaga ang asawa ni Arthur. Sinigurado ko pa nga. Kinasal sila at lagi pang nakikita magkasama sa opisina—"
" E tangina ano yon?! Bakit may babae?!"
My lips shake and I bowed and cried silently. Humikbi ako.
" No..n-no.." I cried.
Arthur could never...never do that..
" Tangina! I check mo kung may footage ba sa kanya ang tauhan natin doon! Anong ginagawa non ngayon baka tinitrace tayo! " the woman panicked and that made me stop for a bit and hoped.
Oh, I shouldn't just judge him. He's unpredictable.
" Sandali..eto! May camera na nilagay ang spy natin sa loob ng room nila ngayon. " Wika ng lalake na nasa computer at clinick ang footage.
I stared at it, hoping what I see is something good.
But then.
I saw him really feeding Daphne.
Nasa hospital bed si Daphne, mukhang may sugat sa balikat at pinapakain mismo ni Arthur.
" S-Sir..ako na po, nakakahiya. " Mahinang wika niya.
" Eat, you've been good to me. Ito lang ang magagawa ko sa kabutihan mo. " Arthur said gently and my lips parted. My heart hurt like its been stabbed as Daphne smiled like inlove.
" H-Hindi po ba dapat hinahanap niyo ang asawa niyo. " she mentioned that made me stop and the people around me.
" We're looking. " Sagot ni Arthur na ikinakagat ng labi ko. " Don't worry about it, ang importante magpahinga ka. "
My heart squeezed. Ang importante magpahinga siya? Siya? How about me Arthur?! I'm here in a strangers place who wants money from you! If they hurt me? They kill me?
Ayos lang? Basta't makapagpahinga siya?!
" Pero..nag-aalaga ako kay ma'am sir. Nag-aalala din po ako sa kanya. "
Bitch!
" I know. "
" Ikaw po—"
My heart felt like it's been broken to pieces. Naluha ako. Arthur..how could you..
Pinatay ang camera at rinig kong suminghap ang babae sa akin.
She sharpened her eyes at me but I couldn't care less about her rage. All I feel is that I'm broken.. I'm broken, beyond repair.
" Walang kwenta! " She threw the seat beside me frustratedly.
" Boss! Kumalma ka lang, naghahanap nga si Austodillo hindi ba? " The man calmed her.
" Naghahanap?! Ha? Naghahanap e parang nakalimutan na nga non ang asawa niya! Walang kwenta ang laki pa ng gastos natin para makuha itong gagang 'to! " She pointed harshly at me.
" Boss! Mayaman ang ama niya! Alam kong marami iyong pag-aari at nag-iisa lang siyang anak kaya sigurado! " he brightly suggested.
I bit my lip and bowed my head.
" Ibahin niyo ang target! Ibalik na yan sa kwarto bago ko barilin yan! Walang kwenta! " she spat harshly and I was pulled up.
Wala akong ganang sumunod at tinulak nila ako sa kwarto at sinara. The windows are closed now too.
Sumandal ako sa pinto at nanghihinang napadausdos.
I hugged myself as the call repeated in my head and that image of him feeding her while I'm kidnapped a day after..
My lips shake and my tears fell. Humikbi ako na nakayuko. I pinched myself hard to stop but the pain in my heart is too much to bear.
I cried.
I cried too much I passed out.