Chapter 23
Pabalik na sila ng Maynila ng tinanong siya nito kung may pupuntahan pa ba siya. Nang lumabas siya ng banyo kanina ay wala na ito sa loob ng kwarto, she saw him talking with Jack at the beach. Nang umuwi na sila ay hindi na niya ito pinansin, ganun din ito sa kanya. They were obviously avoiding each other.
“Yes. Pupunta pa ako sa Oregon. Pwede ka nang bumaba sa Escala and I can drive myself from there.” The way she said it was so… not her at all. Para siyang robot, walang emosyon. Hindi na siya nito sinagot at nagpatuloy na ng pagmamaneho. She felt tired. She yawned and stared outside her window.
So much has happened today. She was given her own car, met the Hontiveros Clan, met Kristina, and had a heated argument with Greg. She was so overwhelmed with mixed emotions that she didn’t realize that she fell asleep.
She was woken by a faint tap at her face. “Gabrielle. Wake up. We’re here.”
She opened her eyes and fought so hard not to close it again. Pagtingin niya sa labas ay nakita niyang nasa tapat na pala sila ng Oregon. Nilingon niya si Greg. “Give me ten minutes.” She said coldly. Not waiting for a reply ay bumaba na siya ng sasakyan at dumiretso sa loob ng building.
“Ma’am Gab! Akala namin di ka na darating! Alas onse na kasi eh!” Bati sa kanya ng isang binatilyong construction worker ng makita siya.
Ngumiti siya dito. “May pinuntahan lang ako, Adong. Pasensya na kayo kung natagalan ako. Pwede na kayong umuwi lahat. Baka maabutan pa kayo ng hatinggabi sa daan.” Sabi niya sa mga construction workers na agad namang kinuha ang mga bag at nagpaalam sa kanya.
“Sige po, Ma’am Gab. Bukas nalang namin tatapusin ‘tong tiles. Nasa third floor po si Sir Bruce. Kaninang umaga pa nga ‘yon init ang ulo eh. Siguro ho dahil hindi niya kayo nakita.” Pagkatapos niyon ay nagpaalam na ito.
Bruce was her interior designer/architect. Inirekomenda ito sa kanya ni Kyra nang naghahanap siya. He was probably one of her ex-lovers. Tinungo niya ang third floor, which was now a function hall. Ang laki na ng pinagbago ng Oregon Building kahit sabihing one and a half week pa lang iyon sinimulan. Pagdating niya sa third floor ay nakita niyang nakaupo sa isang monoblock si Bruce at kunot-noong binabasa ang isang papel.
“Bruce.” Tawag pansin niya dito. Kunot-noong tiningnan siya nito.
“Where have you been?” Iritadong tanong nito.
“Last time I remembered, Bruce, you were my interior designer slash architect. Not my father.” Iritadong sagot niya dito. Alam niyang may gusto si Bruce sa kanya. He has been showing her his affection ever since he laid his eyes on her. Ilang beses niya na ding sinabihan itong ikakasal na siya sa iba pero wala naman itong pakialam. He even dared to ask her out on a date a few times. It makes her irritated and uneasy.
Bumuntong-hininga ito. “I’m sorry, Gaby. Maybe I’m just stressed because I haven’t seen you since morning.” See?
“So hows everything while I was gone?” Pagpapalit niya ng topic.
“Everything was fine. They finished the restrooms at the first floor at natapos na din nila ang pagpipintura sa second floor. Umuwi na ba sila lahat?” Tanong nito in a strange way.
“Oo. Pinauwi ko na. So wala namang naging problema?”
Tumayo ito at lumapit sa kanya, stopping a few steps away. “So far wala naman. Nag brown-out lang kanina for a few minutes pero bumalik din naman. But it was just so boring when you’re not around.” Pagkatapos nitong sabihin iyon ay hinawakan nito ang braso niya, squeezing it slightly. What the hell? She tried to get away from him but he just gripped her tightly.
“Bruce? What are you doing?” She was already feeling uneasy and uncomfortable.
Kumunot ang noo nito. “Gabrielle. Can’t you see the attraction between us? Can’t you feel it? It’s so strong that everytime when I’m with you, I have to try my best not to touch you.”
Holy mother of fuck. He’s crazy! “What the hell are you talking about, Bruce? There is no fucking attraction between us! I’m your employer for Christ sake!” She tried to wriggle away from his hold but he was strong.
“Employer and soon-to-be-lover, Gab. I know you also want me. Nagkukunwari ka pa. Wag ka nang mahiya, Gabrielle. Tayong dalawa nalang ang natitira dito. We have all night.” He closed the distance between them, hugged her tightly and kissed her right on the lips. Shit!
She pushed him with full force pero mas hinigpitan lang nito ang pagkakayakap sa kanya. This is not happening again! This is not happening again! Isinandal siya nito sa dingding and kissed her harshly. She can even taste blood in her mouth. Fuck! Bumaba ang mga labi nito sa kanyang leeg, biting her skin through the process. Lumakbay din ang mga kamay nito sa maselan na parte ng katawan niya, but still hugging her tightly. Lord God, No!
She gasped for air before she spoke. “Walang hiya ka talaga! Get away from me, you pervert!” Gumagaral ang boses niya sa sobrang galit at takot na nararamdaman. She was disgusted by what was happening. Hindi siya makapaniwalang pagsasamantalahan siya ni Bruce. She knew he liked her. But she never knew he was a fucking rapist.
“Wag kang mag-alala, Gaby. We will do it slow at first before we do it hard.” Bulong nito sa kanya na nagpataas ng balahibo niya.
She prayed for strength. She only had one chance to kick his balls. “Bastard.” Bulong niya dito and kicked him hard right in his groin. Binitawan siya nito at napaluhod sa harap niya. She kicked him again hanggang sa nakahiga ito sa sahig. “You bitch! You will surely pay for this!” Sigaw nito sa kanya.
Hindi na niya ito pinansin at nagmamadaling umalis nang naabutan nito ang paa niya. Dahil sa ginawa nito ay napahiga siya sa sahig praying fervently that he will just die there and then. “Akala mo makakaalis ka? Ha?! Sa ginawa mo sa akin?!”
Nilingon niya ito. “You perverted piece of shit!” Sinipaan niya ang mukha nito na nagpahiyaw rito. He let go of her feet at hinimas ang mukha.
She hurriedly went down stairs. Naririnig pa rin niyang sinisigaw nito ang pangalan niya hanggang sa nakaabot siya ng first floor. Lakad-takbo ang ginawa niya hanggang sa nakalabas siya ng building. Hindi niya ata kayang tumakbo ng mabilis dahil nanginginig parin ang tuhod niya. She turned around to see if he was following pero hindi niya ito nakita. She can still hear him cursing.
She was so scared but she had to fight back. Fight back for herself. Fight back those nightmares that had been haunting her sleep many years ago from coming back. Fight back the demon that has been killing her long ago because of the traumatic memory. This is not happening again! This is not happening again!
Nang makalabas na siya ay nakita niyang may kausap si Greg na isang lalaki. Nakatalikod ang mga ito sa entrance ng building kaya hindi siya nakikita. She let out a sigh. Greg is here. Greg will keep me safe. He will. I know he will.
“Greg.” Bulong niya bago siya tuluyan nawalan ng lakas.
-
Greg’s POV
Narinig niyang may tumawag ng pangalan niya. A faint whisper. Paglingon niya ay nakita niyang nakahandusay si Gabrielle sa parking lot, looking good as dead. What the hell?
Wala pang limang segundo ay nakaluhod na siya tabi nito. He collected her in his arms and held her gently. Shit! What the fuck happened? “Gaby? Gaby?”
She was so pale but awake. Sumiksik ito sa kanya while clutching at him tightly na para bang natatakot itong mapalayo sa kanya. Nanginginig din ito. “Gaby, love. Anong nangyari? Why are you crying?”
He wiped her tears by his thumb. The look on her face was no doubt fear. May nakita ba itong multo?
“Bruce.” Sabi nito sa mahina at gumagaral na boses.
Kumunot ang noo niya. “Bruce? Who is he, gaby? Siya ba ang gumawa nito sa’yo? Nasa loob pa ba siya?” Oh he will beat the shit out of that Bruce alright!
Tumango ito. “He almost raped me.”
That was all it takes para tumaas sa ulo niya ang lahat ng dugo. The son of a bitch! “I’ll handle him, Gaby.” Mahina pero mapanganib na bulong niya dito. He carried her into the car. She was shaking violently in his arms. That son of a bitch will surely pay for this. “I’ll be back, love. Okay? Lock all the doors. Do not open it.”
He lifted her chin and kissed her in the forehead. Nang tiyak nang naka-lock ang mga pintuan ng sasakyan ay tinungo niya ang building.
“Need a hand, Greg?” Tanong sa kanya ni Adam, his bestfriend since high school. Nilingon niya ito. Sa sobrang galit na nararamdaman niya ay nakalimutan niyang andun pala si Adam. Napadaan lang ang sasakyan nito kanina sa street ng Oregon ng makita siyang nakatayo sa parking lot naninigarilyo. He smokes when he’s upset.
“Ready for murder?” Balik tanong niya dito. Nakita niyang ngumiti ito na hindi naman umabot sa mga mata.
“As always.”
And they went inside with deadly faces.
-
Iniisip niya ang nangyari kanina sa Oregon Building habang iniinom ang kanyang fifth glass of Kosta Browne sa kanyang kwarto, guarding Gaby who is sleeping peacefully in his bed. The son of a bitch definitely got what he deserved. Alam niyang pag-gising nito kinabukasan ay dadasal ito na sana patay nalang ito dahil sa daming bugbog ng katawan. He wasn’t this violent pero nang nakita niyang umiiyak si Gaby and shaking with fear ay tuluyang nawala ang pasensya niya. The bastard almost raped his fiancé for shit sake!
He smiled venomously nang matandaan ang nangyari kanina.
“Wala akong ginawa sa babaeng iyon! Hindi ko siya pinag-samantalahan! Do not believe that slut! She was the one who came to me and offered herself!” Sigaw nito sa kanya habang hinihimas ang mukha dahil sa suntok na ibinigay ni Adam.
“Call her a slut again, and I assure you, you wouldn’t last till morning.” Mahina pero matigas na saad niya dito.
He was literally shaking with rage na kung hindi pa siya inawat ni Adam ay tiyak napatay niya ang bastardo with his bare hands. He didn’t know he could be so violent. The anger he felt while beating the dick was overwhelming.
Iinom na sana siya ng wine nang biglang sumigaw si Gaby. Idinala niya ito sa bahay niya. Hindi niya ata kayang humiwalay dito after what just happened.
Nilapitan niya ito kaagad and shaked her in the shoulders. “Gaby! Gaby! Wake up! You’re having a nightmare!”
Mga ilang sandali ay dumilat ang mata nito, scanning the room hanggang sa nag focus ang mata nito sa mukha niya. “Greg?” Bulong nito in a troubled whisper.
Oh, Gabrielle. Humiga siya tabi dito and hugged her. Ipinilig nito ang ulo sa kanyang dibdib and hugged him tightly as well. He can feel her slightly shaking. Mabilis din ang hininga nito. He needed to calm her down. “It’s alright, Gaby. I’m here. I won’t let anybody hurt you.” He kissed her hair and inhaled her feminine scent. She smelled of vanilla and rose, a heady scent.
After a few minutes ay normal na ang hininga nito. He thought she already went back to sleep nang bigla itong magsalita. “I was almost raped before.”
Biglang tumaas ang dugo sa ulo niya nang marinig niya ang sinabi nito. But he had to stay calmed for her. “What do you mean?”
Mga ilang minuto din ito bago nagsalita muli. “I was almost raped when I was still in college. Natagalan kasi akong umuwi from school. Tinatapos ko pa kasi yung decorations ng bulletin board ng department namin dahil kinabukasan na ‘yong deadline. Ako kasi ang naka-assign. Di ko namalayan alas onse na pala ng gabi. Patungo na ako sa parking lot ng bigla akong hilahin ng isang lalaki. Sa sobrang pagod ko ay hindi ko napansin na sinusundan na pala ako. Hinila niya ako sa isang sulok habang nakatutok ang isang baril sa sentido ko. Ipuputok niya daw sa akin iyon pag hindi ko siya sinunod at kung sisigaw ako. I was so scared, Greg. I still wanted to live but right then and there I wanted to die already. I don’t want to be raped. I’d rather die.”
Tahimik lang siya habang pinakikinggan ito. He was shocked in what he just heard. He certainly was not expecting to hear this from her. She was opening one of her deepest secrets to him. Pinisil niya ang balikat nito for her to continue.
Mga ilang segundo ay ipinagpatuloy nito, after several deep breaths. “He undressed me. Punched me. Kicked me. Slapped me. Gagged me and then kissed me brutally. I was already lying on the ground praying for death ng may biglang dumaan na security guard. The rapist was so busy masturbating himself kaya naagaw kaagad ng guard ang hawak na baril nito.”
He closed his eyes and muttered a silent prayer for patience. Just by imagining someone do it to Gaby was already fueling up his anger. “What happened next? Nakita mo ba ang mukha ng gagong ‘yon?”
“Hindi. It was so dark at walang light post. Unfortunately, nakatakbo ang rapist. Hinabol siya ng security guard pero mabilis itong nakatakas. It so happened that the gun was empty after all. Wala ding dalang baril ang security guard dahil tapos na ang shift nito at uuwi na sana. I told the guard never to tell anyone what happened. Na sa aming dalawa lang iyon at wala nang ibang makakaalam. He protested at first na kailangan kong i-report iyon sa higher offices pero ng binigyan ko siya ng pera ay pumayag na din itong itikom ang bibig. He kept his promise hanggang sa nag retire na ito at hindi ko na nakita. I owe him a lot.”
“You owe him nothing. He was just doing what he was paid for.” Whoever that fucking rapist is, I hope he’s already in hell!
Mga ilang minuto din silang tahimik ng magsalita ito. “Hindi alam nila daddy at kuya ang nangyari. Kahit ni mommy hanggang sa namatay siya. I kept it a secret. My darkest secret. Walang nakakaalam kundi ikaw.”
Kumunot ang noo niya. “Why did you keep it as a secret? You should have told Tito Miguel and—”
“And what? Gagawin na naman nila akong ragdoll? Porcelain doll? They will all take pity on me and see me again as if I’m a naïve, stupid girl! And we were all concerned about mommy’s condition that time. We don’t have time for stupid, reckless stories.”
Hindi na niya ito kinalaban. He knew she was still scared dahil sa traumatic experience. “How did you cope up?” Siguro napakahirap para dito ang nangyari, handling her own nightmares alone with nobody there to comfort her.
“I just went on with my life like nothing happened. I pray everytime before I fall asleep na sana hindi ako magkakaroon ng nightmares. It took a year before the nightmares finally stopped. But now…” She was trembling again. Oh, Gabrielle. This woman lying beside him was definitely not the same woman he arrested. Not the same woman who went to his office. Not the same woman he made a deal with.
This woman was vulnerable, scared and alone. She has been ever since her mother died. She wanted to think she’s strong, that she can handle everything alone. But there are times that you really need someone to share your fears and problems. I wanted to be that someone for her.
“It’s okay now, love. I’m here. I won’t leave you.” Bulong niya dito.
Bigla itong tumawa ng mahina sa sinabi niya. “Of course you won’t. You wouldn’t leave me for six months. We made a deal about that.” Kumawala ito sa yakap niya and rolled in the other side of the bed, her back facing him.
He didn’t have a response for that. Well, she was right. They made a deal that they would only be together for six months. Pero gusto niyang pagkatapos ng anim na buwan na pagsasama ay magiging mas matapang na ito. He didn’t want to leave her still vulnerable and scared.
What if she’ll fell in love with you? Bulong ng isang bahagi ng pag-iisip niya. Tiningnan niya si Gaby na tiyak siyang nakatulog na muli. I don’t think she will. Hinila niya ito at niyakap muli. He was right, she was already fast asleep.
What if you’ll fall in love with her? Bulong na naman ng isip niya. He stared at her face for a few minutes. She had long eyelashes that fanned her cheeks, a cute nose and kissable lips. Hmm, those lips. She looked so serene in her sleep. So young and carefree. He can watch her like this forever.
Well, anythings possible.