Chapter 8
Tila nawala ang kalasingan ng lalaking kaaway ni Sage nang makita niyang kumakalat ang dugo sa kanyang dibdib.
"I... I didn't!" he stammered. Nanlaki ang mga mata ng security guard sa nasaksihan. He shook the poor guy's shoulder and repeatedly said, "I didn't do it! I swear!"
Kaagad na binunot ng guard ang kanyang walkie talkie ngunit bago pa man niya ito mapindot ay hinablot na ito ng lalaki at malakas na ibinato sa sahig.
"I said I didn't do it!" he yelled.
"Sage..." nangilid ang mga luha ko. His eyes are shut and he's gritting his teeth very hard. He must be going through a lot of pain right now.
"Sage... t-teka lang, tatawag ako ng ambulansiya..." mahina kong wika. I slowly got up but his hands are quick to grab my arms.
"No... N-No hospital for me." wika niya sa mariing tinig. Napapikit ako. Oo nga pala.
"Ma'am, tatawag po ako ng ambulansiya!" wika ng security guard.
Labag man sa kalooban ko ay iniling ko ang aking ulo. "Kuya, wag na po. A-Ayos lang po ang kasama ko." it was a stupid thing to say.
"Ma'am, dumudugo po ang dibdib niya!" the security guard insisted. Nang makaalis na ito ay tiningnan kami ng lalaki. He looked distressed.
He fished out for his wallet and pulled a thick wad of cash. Ihinagis niya iyon sa direksiyon namin.
"Is that enough to make you shut up?" may halong pagbabanta pa ang kanyang tinig. "O dadagdagan ko pa?"
Kahit na hirap na hirap ay pinilit na tumayo ni Sage. Galit ang kanyang mga mata.
"I don't need your trash, man." He shoved him on the chest using his blood-stained hands. "But don't worry, none of this will reach the police." Kinwelyuhan niya ang lalaki at inilapit ang kanyang mukha. "Today is your lucky day."
Matapos nang ilang segundo ay binitawan din ni Sage ang lalaki at bumalik sa kinaroroonan ko. "Let's go." Hinila niya ako at kaagad na pumara ng taxi. Nagulat pa ang driver sa hitsura ni Sage at nag-aalangan kung pasasakayin ba kami o hindi.
He instructed the driver to take us back to the hotel. Mabibigat ang kanyang paghinga.
Hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko. I keep on wiping my blood-stained hands on my skirt, ruining my dress. Balisa ako hanggang sa makarating ulit kami sa hotel.
The guard eyed us curiously.
"Ayos lang po ba siya, Ma'am?" nag-aaala nitong tanong.
"I'm fine." Sage barked. The guard escorted us until we reached our rooms. Ibinigay ni Sage sa kanya ang card. He swiped the door open for us.
"Gusto niyo po bang magpatawag ng pwedeng gumamot sa kanya, Ma'am?"
I searched for Sage's eyes hoping that he would approve but he harshly shook his head. "I'm going to be fine." Binalingan niya ako. "This girl knows how to clean wounds."
Alanganing tumango ang guard. "Sabihin niyo lang po Sir kung may kailangan pa kayo." Then he left the two of us.
Inalalayan ko si Sage hanggang sa tuluyan na siyang makapasok sa kanyang kwarto. The door automatically shut behind us.
Lumunok ako at nagpatuloy sa pagpasok. Walang ipinagkaiiba ang disenyo ng kanyang kwarto sa akin. I headed towards the bed. Naupo siya sa gilid.
He keep on muttering under his breath as he took his white shirt off and threw it on the floor. Kaagad ko itong pinulot at inilagay sa katabing upuan. Punong-puno ng dugo ang kanyang dibdib. Pati ang gauze pad ay naliligo na rin sa dugo.
"There's alcohol, betadine, cotton, and gauze pad in my bag." He said silently.
Tumalima kaagad ako. Hinalukay ko ang kanyang bag para hanapin ito. I also pulled a clean black shirt and set it aside.
Humiga si Sage sa kama. Dahan-dahan kong nilinis ang kanyang sugat. He keeps on wincing every now and then kaya mas lalo akong naging maingat.
"Sage, this needs to be stitched back." I murmured.
"I can't go to the hospital." He said miserably. "You know I can't."
I swallowed and continued to wrap his wound with gauze pad. Hinigpitan ko nalang para matigil ang pressure ng kanyang dugo. Mayamaya pa ay nakahinga na kaming dalawa nang maluwag.
"Magbihis ka." I handed him the shirt. Dragging my gaze away from his toned muscles, I shifted my weight on my feet and contemplated on what to do. Mayamaya pa ay may naisip ako. Kaagad akong nagtungo palabas ng pintuan pagkatapos kong hugasan ang aking mga kamay.
"Where are you going?" Sage demanded.
"May kukunin lang ako sa kwarto." I smiled tightly at him. When I came back, dala-dala ko na ang basket na pinamalengke ko kanina. Nagpunta kaagad ako sa maliit na kusina and was glad to find a small pot, utensils, and a kitchen stove.
Sage snorted. "You're going to cook?"
I tried to act cheery. "Yep!"
"Forget it." he rolled his eyes. "I'm going to call the restaurant downstairs."
"Ayos lang, ano ka ba. Besides, kapag hindi ko ito niluto ngayon, baka masira ang karne at malanta ang mga gulay kinabukasan."
Mahaba-habang paliwanagan talaga ito kay Mama kapag nagkataon. Sage remained silent on his bed and watched me cook. The silence is surprisingly comfortable. I focused on cutting the vegetables and cooking the food. By the time I was done, nakapikit na si Sage sa kanyang kama.
I glanced at the clock and yawned. It's half past 12 am. It has been a long night for the both of us. Isinalin ko sa bowl ang niluto ko at inilagay sa tray. Dahan-dahan ko itong inilapag sa side table at marahang tinapik ang braso ni Sage.
"Sage, kain ka na..."
He cracked one eye open and grumbled, sitting up. I offered the tray to him and went back to the kitchen to get my own bowl.
"You know how to cook." It was rather a statement than a question habang kinakain ni Sage ang niluto ko. I smiled tightly at him.
"Tinuruan ako ni Mama."
"You seemed very fond of your mother."
"Oo naman! My mom is a great woman. Masaya kami noon. Well, masaya rin naman ngayon if it weren't..." I trailed off, suddenly remembering my father. A sob automatically rose on my throat. Bago pa man ito mapansin ni Sage ay umubo na ako upang pagtakpan ito.
"Your father is dead?" mahina niyang tanong.
Isang tango lamang ang isinagot ko at binilisan ang pag-kain. I really don't want to talk about my father's death. Sobrang sakit pa rin sa akin ng nangyari. He was very close to me. He loved both me and my mother until his last breath.
Nang matapos kaming kumain ay iniligpit ko ang dalawang bowl. Not knowing what else to do, I took my time in the kitchen. Siguro ay babalik nalang ako sa aking kwarto para makapagpahinga?
Tulog ulit si Sage pagsilip ko sa kanya. Napahinga ako nang maluwag. Siguro ay babalik na ngang talaga ako.
Before I could even step towards the door, his voice growled behind me.
"Mallory..." napatayo ako ng tuwid at huminto sa paglalakad. "Don't leave."
---
Maaga kami sa airport kinabukasan. Sage insisted on sending me to the terminal and I insisted on seeing him off the airport.
"Kaya ko namang umuwi nang mag-isa eh."
He scoffed. "And what do you think of me? Hindi ko kayang pumunta ng airport mag-isa?" sumimangot siya.
"I just want to see you off." Ngumuso ako.
He rolled his eyes at me. "Fine, fine. But make sure that as soon as the passengers are being called, you're going to leave the airport and go straight home, ok?"
Tumango-tango ako, a feeling of happiness spreading throughout my chest.
Nang makarating na kami sa airport ay kumain muna kaming dalawa sa patisserie na nakita namin sa labas. When we were done eating, nagpunta na kaming dalawa ni Sage sa departure area.
"Hey..." he stopped walking making me bump into his massive back. Nilingon niya ako.
"Bakit?" I looked up on him.
Tinitigan niya ako nang matagal bago siya umiling. "This is as far as you can go. We're going to part ways, Mallory."
My throat constricted inside of my chest. Hinigpitan ko ang hawak sa ngayo'y wala nang laman na basket. "Hindi ka na ba... babalik?" mahina kong tanong.
He shook his head. "Hindi ko alam."
"Paano kung mahuli ka nila?"
His lips curled in a smirk. "They won't."
Bumagsak ang aking mga balikat. "Okay."
He ruffled my hair. "It's nice being with you, Mal..." my heart leaped inside of my chest. No one has ever called me Mal than him! "But I really need to go."
"Bakit kailangan mong umalis?" hindi ko mapigilan ang hindi mag-asal bata. "Hindi ba pwedeng dito ka nalang?"
He chuckled. "No, Mal. Jasmine is waiting for me..."
Nanigas ako sa kinatatayuan ko. A weight settled on my chest and my stomach turned into knots. Tumango ako. "Okay."
He stared at me for a long time before he groaned out loud. "Okay, okay. Fine. I'm going to come back."
My eyes immediately lit up. "Talaga?"
"Yeah. Pero matatagalan pa."
"Okay." I repeated, this time a little happier.
"Aalis na ako." Tinapik niya ang aking balikat. "Bye."
"Bye, Sage." I waved a little. He turned his back at me and proceeded walking to the departure area. Huminto siya sa paglalakad at nilingon ulit ako.
"And Mal?"
Tumaas ang aking dalawang kilay. "Hmm?"
"Don't let your stepfather hit you again..."
I watched him get his bag checked by the security and he quickly disappeared on the benches where passengers are supposed to wait for their flight.
My chest tightened. He knows...
---
Nagtagal ako nang ilang minuto sa airport bago ako nagsimulang maglakad palabas. Kailangan ko nang umuwi. Sigurado akong alalang-alala na si Mama sa akin.
Nang marating ko na ang exit ay nanigas ako sa kinatatayuan ko. Five black cars entered the airport. Kilalang-kilala ko na ang mga sasakyang iyon. Tumalikod kaagad ako at bumalik sa loob. Lumusot ako sa arrival area para hindi nila ako mapansin.
I heaved a sigh of relief when all of them proceeded inside the airport pero hinarang naman sila ng guwardiya dahil wala silang maipakitang ticket. Binilisan ko na lamang ang lakad nang biglang may marahas na humigit sa braso ko.
A tall and handsome man in black suit glared down at me. "Nasaan si Christian?" he snarled. His eyes are unfriendly. Napapitlag ako.
Itinikom ko ang aking bibig at iniwas ang tingin ko.
"Where the fuck is he? Saan siya pupunta!" singhal niya sa akin.
Sinubukan kong bawiin ang aking braso sa kanya pero wala itong epekto. Mas lalo lang niyang hinigpitan ang pagkakahawak sa akin.
"Dammit! Why aren't you talking?" he looks distressed and frustrated. "Alam mo ba kung anong ginawa mo, ha?"
I remained silent. Hindi pa rin ako nagsasalita.
Binitawan na niya ako at ihinilamos ang kanyang mukha sa palad. "You two are both fools!" he cupped my shoulders and started shaking me. "Why are you helping him? Tanga ka ba? Did you know what you just did? Christian is a fucking murderer so why the hell are you helping him!"
"Zero." Lumitaw si Zian sa kanyang likuran at kinuha ang mga kamay ng lalaki mula sa akin. "Tama na yan."
"Dammit!" the man named Zero kicked on the dirt. "He's always giving us problems. Dapat ay nasa Manila tayo pero heto, naghahabol sa isang bata! Anakng."
Zian offered me a friendly smile. "Are you okay?"
Marahan akong tumango. "Tara na. We'll drive you home. Your mother must be worried about you."
"Hoy, hindi mo ba susubukang hilahin si Christian mula sa airport?" inis na tanong ni Zero.
"It's too late for that." We all lifted our heads when an airplane just took off. My heart skipped a beat. Nandiyan ba siya sa loob? Did he managed to escape? "And besides, Sage will only go after Jasmine. Sa makati lang din siya babalik." Ilang minuto kaming nakatayo at nakapanuod sa eroplano until it disappeared behind the clouds.
Ipinag-krus ni Zero ang kanyang kamay at nakabusangot na sumunod sa aming dalawa. Zian opened the door for me. Tinabihan niya ako. The unfriendly man is the one driving the car.
Habang bumabiyahe kami pabalik sa Davao Oriental ay hindi maalis sa utak ko ang sinabi ni Zero sa akin. Sage is a murderer?
Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko. I turned to Zian who raised both of his eyebrows at me.
"Sage..." I started. "Is he really a..."
"He killed someone." Zero snorted from the driver's seat. "Ano bang hindi mo maintindihan dun?"
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. "Pero, hindi magagawa yun ni Sage..."
Zian smiled apologetically at me. "Trust me, you can do anything if it's for someone that you love."
From the rearview mirror, I saw Zero rolled his eyes in annoyance.
"What happened?"
Nagkibit-balikat ang aking katabi. "It was just a normal teenage party that both Sage and his girlfriend attended. You know, normal parties that features a lot of booze and lap dancing hormonal teenagers. Someone groped and tried to assault Sage's girlfriend. Sa sobrang galit niya ay hindi sinasadyang nasaksak niya ito. They were both stabbed but the other guy died."
"Pero... pero.. bakit..."
"Have you ever heard of fake news, kid?" Zero replied annoyingly.
Itinikom ko ang bibig ko.
"Now that you know it..." Zian glanced at me. "You should forget about him, Mallory. Sage loves Jasmine so much."