Hi! Starting today, I'm gonna put random thoughts before the chapters. Maybe, this could be a wake up call. Sa dami kasi ng nangyayari sa bansa natin, marami na din ang nagiging bulag at bingi. So as a writer with few readers, it won't stop me from spreading some thoughts.
Ako kasi, habang nasasaksihan ko ang nangyayarin sa bansa natin ay namumulat ako sa napakaraming bagay. So might as well share it na rin diba?
Here it is!
Random thought #1: We are craving for changes. Gusto nating umangat mula sa hirap, pero tayo na din ang naglulubog sa sarili natin minsan. Kung sino pa yung humahatak saatin pababa, doon pa tayo sumasama.
JAXON 4
JAXON was in a hurry as he drives his car to come over to his friend Easton who called him for a back-up. Kakagaling ang niya sa bahay ng kaibigang si Declan dahil naki-kain siya nang tumawag ang kaibigan. Easton said that he was striked.
Nagtagis ang bagang niya. As always. They were being always followed because of the trick that they have been playing for the past years against the Black Coffins, at ewan ba niya sa tatanga-tanga niyang kaibigan kung bakit mag-isa lang ito gayong may kasama itong babae. He should have called some of their men the moment he stepped out in the auction house, but he didn't. Kaya nitong protektahan ang sarili, pero hindi nito magagawa 'yon kung may kasama itong iba.
That dumbass. Napakawalang isip!
He sighed. Since he's the nearest among them, except Declan who's in a something nasty with his new bought girl, he took the responsibility to help Easton, and on the other hand, Zane and Bryson is on their way to help, with their other men.
NANG makarating siya sa hotel, he saw the parked black van. Kaagad na siyang nagkaroon ng ideya kaya habang umaandar ang kotse niya ay ibinaba niya ang window ng passenger seat at kinuha ang baril na nakapatong sa dashboard at itinutok iyon sa gulong ng van. He did a good shot to dismiss the wheel.
As soon as he's able to stop the car in front of the hotel, isinuksok niya sa likod ng kanyang pantalon ang hawak na baril at kaagad na bumaba ng kotse. He immediately made his way to the elevator and didn't mind the greetings of the hotel staffs.
"Damn." Mura niya nang makitang nasa 20th floor pa ang lift. Paulit ulit niyang pinindot ang button pababa. For fuck's sake. He's in a hurry and need to save his friend. May kasama itong inosente at hindi pwede 'yon.
"fuck!" Aniya. Ilang minuto pa ang hinintay niya bago tuluyang bumukas ang elevator na nagpasinghap sa mga taong nasa lobby ng hotel. Ang iba ang napasigaw at tumawag ng security, but him, he's livid at the same time...he smirked at his friend.
"Pussy." He murmured when he saw Easton, only with his boxers and his body is full of blood.
"Fuck you, Jaxon." Easton said in a weak growl. Nanghihina ito habang akay akay ng dalawang tao sa braso niya habang ang ang tatlo ay nakabantay. He eyed Jaxon for a while and at the moment, he saw a gunshot on his side, and in his left arm but he knew better.This asshole will survive.
Easton is a pro in a battlefield, but he's with someone to protect.
He tsked at hindi na niya pinasin ang kaibigan. He expertly grabs his gun behind him, and as fast as he could, he shot the two men who's holding Easton to death.
He gritted his teeth. And was about to fire his gun again, when out of nowhere, lots of gunshots were heard. Ang iba ang tumama sa hamba ng elevator.
"Fuck!" He was sure enough that they have back ups!
Mabilis na nakatakbo ang tatlong lalaki. They also fired gunshots kaya hindi isya nakabawi kaagad. Tinignan niya ang kaibigang tinutulungang tumayo ang sarili.
"Sorry man." Buntong hininga niya at tumakbo na para habulin ang tatlong lalaki.
"Shitheads." He hissed as he fired his shot secretly as soon as he saw the remaining men who keeps on running on the sidewalk with many by standers that made it hard for him to release his next fire. There will be more casualties and witnesses if he wouldn't hold his fire and that's another problem to be taken care of. Mas okay sana kung may silencer ang baril niya, but this is a win win situation ang putting silencer on won't help! It will take time!
He ran as well. Mas binilisan niya ang takbo niya nang lumiko ang tatlong lalaki sa isang eskenita. Gusto niyang matawa. They might know how to run fast, but they didn't know how to escape. They could have split directions. But tight brotherhood, huh?
Sunod sunod ang gantihan nila ng putok ng baril hanggang sa makalabas sila ng eskinita.
Most of the people started to be alert as they heard the gunshots so, they walked faster than the usual and that made his job easier than a while ago. He walked faster as he locked his gaze on the three men who's running to nowhere. Of course, they all can do is to run because he dismissed their car's wheel, so they won't be able to run.
He fired another shot one of those two men stumble on his feet. He smirked and was about to fire the man to death when someone caught her attention.
That DJ girl.
His forehead ceased in confusion. The DJ was walking like nothing. Like she didn't hear any alarming in her surroundings. She's just walking like that. Easy. Relax. Like she's on the freaking music video filming! Damn it!
His fire was held into the air, and that's the cue of the man who stumble to stand up and run again, and like that, para bang nagising siya sa pagkatulala. Adrenaline kicked in. Tumakbo na din siya para habulin ang lalaki but the DJ girl was too innocent to notice something wrong in her surroundings, so he stopped running near the DJ girl. Behind her then he heard her, singing that made his blood boil in irritation.
And then he eyed the two running men now.
He didn't think. He just covered her eyes that made her stop singing, and then he releases the gun fire to bring the three men to death. It was a perfect shot, and before he removed his hands that covers the sight of the DJ, he expertly hides the gun.
"J-jaxon..." the DJ whispered. Her eyes were wide. Napatitig siya sa dalaga. Shock was evident in her eyes, but he noticed something. The sparkle in her pitch-black eyes when they first met were gone, and all can see is worry and sadness. He knew it very well because that's what he feels every damn passing day.
"The hell are you doing here, alone?" He asked irritated. The other part of his brain face palmed. Why do you care anyways, Jaxon? Who the hell is she to get into your nerves, huh?
Umiwas ito ng tingin. "N-nothing..." and then she walked away.
His eyebrows raised. Is that the DJ girl whom he talked to few days ago? That girl few days ago were talkative, and righteous girl, but now...it's emotionless. No, what I mean is...lifeless.
He sighed. Napasentido siya at sinundan ang papalayong bulto ng babae. She's walking like that again. Relax and easy like she's in a freaking music video, but hell, it irritates him that the earplugs she's wearing that almost put her in danger is still in her ears, and as he go near her, he can hear her singing silently.
He sighed again. It irritates him. Para bang wala itong paki.
"And I wonder if I ever cross your mind, for me it happens all the time..." that made him stilled. Napakunot ang noo niya nang maalala ang isang senaryo sa isip niya.
"Idedemanda kita!"
"I will sue you for raping my heart!"
He just shrugged the idea before holding the shoulders of the DJ. "Wait." Aniya ng nakakunot noo.
The DJ stopped and faced her. Mukhang nagulat ito nang makita siyang muli, pero hindi nalang ito nagsalita.
"Can I ask what's your name again?" He asked timidly para mahalata nito ang iritasyon na nararamdaman niya.
"H-huh?"
"Your name." Mas lalong tumalim ang tingin niya sa babae.
He wanted so bad to make her feel that she's irritated and angry like she did something stupid. But then, sino ba naman si Macey sa buhay niya para iparamdam dito na naiirita siya? Like hell, she's just the girl... who took care of him when he was incapable of doing it to himself, but still hindi niya parin ito kilala. She's just a stranger who helped her. Nag-thank you na siya, at sa tingin niya sapat na 'yon.
Hindi na niya kailangang mairita o kung ano pa man. Hindi na niya kailangan pang mag-alala.
Yeah, whatever.
"Macey...M-macey Andrella." The DJ answered.
He bit his lips to supress the smile in the midst of his anger. Well, sa totoo lang, alam niya ang pangalan ng DJ, pero ewan ba niya, he prefers calling her that way. It's kind of...unique. Sa ganoong paraan niya kasi ito nakilala at unang nakita. Calling her DJ reminds him of something.
And then he spoked. "Well, Macey..." he lifts his both hands to remove the earplugs in her ears.
He gritted his teeth when he successfully removed it, and then in front of her, he rolled both plugs in his hands before forcefully tearing it apart, destroying it.
Macey's mouth gaped open at halos lumuwa ang mga mata nito. Hindi ito nakapagsalita.
He leaned near her ears after throwing away the broken earplugs that was still connected on her phone. "The next time I will see you wearing earplugs in the middle of the road, you will hear an unforgettable sound that even earplugs can't surpass it."
Again, Macey didn't speak. So, he did. Eye to eye now. But Macey is still in state of shock. Ni hindi manlang ito kumurap. "You were almost killed. So, thank you, Macey. I saved you."
With that, he walked away.
***
MACEY held her pounding heart in her chest. Napakabilis ng tibok ng puso niya na halos hindi na niya maabot ang hininga niya. Napakurap siya at naiwang tulala habang hindi makapaniwala sa nangyari kani-kanina lang. She even forgot about the reason of her sadness.
Did it just happen? Tanong niya sa sarili. Napakalapit ng binata sa kanya. Akala niya pa ay hahalikan siya nito.
Walang paki-alam sa paligid na napadako ang tingin niya sa papalayong bulto ni Jaxon. He's walking from God knows where he came from. Mabilis itong naglakad na para bang nagmamadali. Baka may dapat itong puntahan at nakita lang siyang loner.Bigla nalang kasi itong sumulpot sa likuran niya at tinakpan ang mga mata niya.
Biglang sumlpot?
Napatingala siya sa langit, kapagkuwan ay napangiti. "Hinulog niyo po ba talaga siya para saakin?" tanong niya.
Nang makabalik siya sa huwisyo ay bumalik ang tingin niya sa naglalakad na si Jaxon. Malapit na itong makaliko sa kanto.
Saan kaya siya papunta?
"Jaxon wait!" but Jaxon didn't hear her, so she planned to ran after him but then, kamuntikan na siyang mapatid. Bumaba ang tingin niya at nakita niya ang earplugs. Napabuntong hininga nalang siyang pinulot ang earplugs at nilagay sa bag niya. It's broken though, but she will still keep it because that's the first time that she saw Jaxon eyes with pissed look, but then, beneath it, he's concern. He's worried. Of her.
Hindi naman siya nito pagbabawalan mag-earplugs kung hindi ito nag-alala.
Napabuntong hininga siya. Here we go again with you illusions, Macey.
Nag-umpisa na siyang tumakbo para habulin ang papalayong bulto ni Jaxon, pero hindi nakatakas sa paningin niya ang ilang taong tumatakbo at may pinagkukumpulan sa lugar na pinanggalingan niya. She want to know what it was but Jaxon's appearance can't stop her.
It's her mission in her life.
Jaxon will see her, not Maxine. She has to work hard.
"Jaxon!" Aniya ulit habang tumatakbo, but her shouts went to deaf ears kaya wala siyang nagawa kundi ang tumakbo. Nakaliko na si Jaxon sa kanto kung kaya't mas binilisan pa niya ang takbo hanggang sa halos maabutan na niya ito.
"Jax—" but then no traces of Jaxon was there. Napakurap siya at napatigil sa pagtakbo. Then, she heard noises at the other side of the road.
She looked at her surroundings, and she went sad all of sudden when she didn't saw Jaxon from nowhere. San kaya siya nagpunta?
Macey walked to the other side of the road para tignan kung ano ang nangyayari. She heard murmurs, a lot of it, but then she heard something.
"Yung lalaking pumasok, 'yan yung namaril tapos 'yung hawak nung mga binaril, duguan din. Ayan siya oh."
Her heart pounded because of fear. She excused herself with to the crowd. Halos mapasinghap siya sa nakita. She's used of blood and open wounds pero hindi niya mahanap ang sariling masanay sa nakikita. She saw a man, naliligo ito sa sariling dugo habang akay akay ng isang lalaki.
"Jax..." bulong niya at napatakip ang kamay sa bibig dahil sa gulat at takot.
What's happening? Tanong niya sa sarili. Ito ba ang dahilan kung bakit nagkakagulo ang mga tao kanina? Kung bakit tinakpan ni Jaxon ang mga mata niya dahil may hindi siya dapat makita?
She's all confuse, but the Doctor spirit in her insides urge her to walk towards Jaxon.
"Jaxon!" tawag niya dito.
Napatigil ang binata sa pag-akay sa lalaking duguan at nilingon siya. "The fuck are you doing here?"
Hindi niya pinansin ang lalaki. "What happened to him?" tuluyan na siyang nakalapit. Kaagad niyang pinulsuhan ang lalaking akay ni Jaxon. Nakahinga siya ng maluwag ng may pulso pa ito. Sunod naman niyang hinanap ang sugat nito at sinuri.
2 gun shots. One on the shoulder and on the near abdomen. What happened, seriously?
She looked at Jaxon. "Let's go to the hospital. He may be breathing, but too much blood loss can kill, you know."
Kinunutan lang siya ng noo. Hind siya nito pinansin. Nagpatuloy na ito sa pag-akay sa kasama nitong nag-aagaw buhay na yata. Narinig niya pa itong minumura ang kasama. "You fucking pussy. Masyado mo kasing inuuna 'yang libido mo e."
"Jaxon!" She called him again and walking after them. "Kailangan niyang madala sa ospital."
"Umuwi ka na. Hindi kita kailangan dito." Sagot nito at hindi siya lumingon.
Parang may kumurot sa puso niya dahil sa narinig. Napatigil siya sa paglalakad pasunod sa kanila. But then, she didn't mind it. She's a masochist remember? She's used to pain. Napabuntong hininga siya. Someday Jaxon Alfonso Skyler, you will need me, morethan your life.
"Saan mo ba siya dadalhin?" tanong niya nang makahabol. Tinulungan na rin niya ang binata na akayin ang kasama nito. She didn't mind the blood. Sanay na siya.
"Go home, Macey." Anito. Huminto sila sa isang Hundai Palisade na kulay pula. Napatanga siya sandali. Ilang beses na niya itong nakita pero namamangha padin siya sa kotse nito.
"Not until you will bring him to the hospital." Sagot niya. Nang marinig niya ang tunog ng pag-unlock ng kotse ay siya na mismo ang nagbukas at tinulungan si Jaxon na ipasok ang kasama nito.
"Fuck it!"
Hindi niya nilingon ang lalaki at sumakay na rin sa backseat. The familiar smell invaded her nose. A manly smell. Jaxon's manly smell.
Hmm. Smells good.
"The hell are you doing?!" tanong nito.
She grinned. "Jaxon, I'm a concerned citizen, and we have to bring your buddy to the hospital, and me..." tinuro niya ang sarili. "I'll do the first aid."
"Damn it!"
She just bit her lips to suppress her smile when Jaxon was left with no choice but to close the door, and went to the driver's seat, and started driving.
Ganon din ang ginawa niya. Inumpisahan niyang sinuri ang sugat ng kasamang lalaki ni Jaxon. She first checked the wound on his arm. Inihiga niya ang lalaki sa back seat para maayos niya itong mabigyan ng first aid. But before she does her work, she fisted out her phone from her pocket and called the hospital.
"Hello?"
"Hi, this is Macey. Can you ready the—" hindi niya naituloy ang sasabihin nang biglang prumeno ang sasakyan at halos ma-out of balance siya. Then suddenly Jaxon turned into her and get her phone. May pinindot ito at itinapon sa dash board ang phone niya.
"I'm calling the hospital—"
Jaxon punched the steering wheel the made her flinch and stopped talking. "Just fucking shut up! Hindi ka naman kasi kailangan dito! I can treat him! Masyado kang pakialamera!"
She was taken aback. Hindi siya nakapagsalita kaagad. Jaxon's words were really like knives. Masyado siyang masakit manalita. Umiwas siya ng tingin at ilang beses kumurap para pigilan ang panggigilid ng luha niya. "I just want to help..." tanging nasagot niya. She's hurt alright, but what can she do?
This is what I want.
Jaxon started driving again. "Fucking hospitals are out of the fucking choices. Kung gusto mo, umuwi ka na. I'm not fucking obliging you to fucking come with me."
But I want to come with you. Ani ng isip niya.
She just didn't answer and continued putting pressure and a resourceful first aid to the guy's wounds to stop the bleeding even a bit when they reach an unfamiliar tall building. It was far from the city, kaya pala matagal ang byahe nila. Mabuti nalang at napahinto niya kahit papaano ang pagdurugo ng sugat ng kasama nilang lalaki kaya hindi na siya masiyadong nag-aalala.
"Nasaan tayo?" tanong niya.
"Baba." Tanging sagot nalang nito sa kanya at nauna na itong bumaba.
She heaved a deep sigh before stepping out of the car. Now, nag uumpisa na siyang mamroblema. Nasaan siya? Paano siya uuwi?
Nang makalabas siya ng sasakyan ay umikot siya sa kabilang side dahil doon inilalabas ni Jaxon ang kasama niyang lalaki ng walang ingat. Halos manlaki ang mga mata niya sa pagkabigla. Yes, he's a retired doctor but still, he's a freaking doctor! Hindi ba nito alam na masama sa pasyente ang ginagawa niya?
"Jaxon!" hinawakan niya ito sa braso. Hindi niya nasundan ang sinasabi kaagad dahil sa tila ba kuryenteng gumapang sa palad niya at dahil sa nahawakan niya.
Uy tigas!
"What?" Madilim ang mukhang asik nito sa kanya. For some reason, kahit masakit para sa kanya na ganoon ang turin sa kanya ng lalaki, she still finds it cute. Para itong nirereglang babae.
"Dahan dahanin mo. Kung ayaw mo, edi ako nalang ang mag-aassist sa patient." Sagot niya.
He huffed. "Patient your ass! This fucker is a pussy."
She crossed her arms. Lihim siyang napangiti. Nakita naman niyang dinahan dahan ng binata ang pag-lalabas sa kasamang lalaking walang malay sa kotse. "Bakit ba ang sungit mo?"
"The hell you care—"
"Nireregla ka ba?" dugtong niya.
Jaxon was stunned by her question that made her want to laugh. "What did you say?"
She just grinned. "Pang ilang araw mo na?"
Kinunutan lang siya ng noo ng lalaki at hindi na pinansin, at naglakad na ito papunta sa entrance. Nangingiting sinundan niya ito.
***
JAXON was still pissed for some unknown reason. Naiinis na inaakay niya ang kaibigan na walang malay sa balikat niya papasok sa laboratoryo nila. Macey was behind her, walking like a kid. She's laughing because of he's grumpy! For the first time in a while, ngayon lang may tumawa kapag naiinis siya.
Bakit pa kasi ito sumunod sa kanya? Para lang sa kaibigan niyang tatanga tanga? Barili ko pa yan ulit e.
"Nasan tayo?" the DJ asked from his behind. Hindi niya ito pinansin at nagpatuloy nalang sa paglalakad papunta sa clinic ng lab.
But the DJ tugged the hem of his shirt. "Jax, dahan dahanin mo. He's bleeding."
Nilingon niya ito. "Kung gusto mo ikaw nalang. Tutal, nandito ka naman para sa kanya." Huli na para mabawi ang sinabi niya. Where the fuck did it came from?!
"Why so grumpy? Akin na, ako na mag-aakay." She answered him.
"Para namang kaya mo."
Pumantay ito sa lakad niya. "I carried you drunk remember. You even spurt your spew on my foot! You disgusting handsome!"
Saglit siyang natigilan sa sinabi nito pero hindi nalang siya nagpahalata. "Eh hindi ko naman sinabing akayin mo ako at iuwi ako sa bahay mo."
Binuksan niya ang loob ng clinic. Akala niya ay hindi na sasagot ang babae sa sinabi niya, pero hindi ito nagpapigil. "is that the way of you, saying thanks?"
"What if it is?" sagot niya at inihiga sa hospital bed si Easton.
Macey immediately went to Easton's side to remove his shirt. "Very well then, Jax." Saglit itong tumingin sa kanya ng nakangisi. "Buckle up. You're not welcome yet. Babawian pa kita."
Kusang tumaas ang kilay niya sa sinabi nito, and then suddenly, he remembered what she said to him the moment he woke up in her room.
He raped her heart.
And on his own cognisance... he stole her heart.
Napatitig siya sa dalaga na nag-uumpisa ng gawin ang trabaho nito. Hindi niya alam kung bakit natutuwa siya sa isiping yon kabila ng inis niya dahil inaasikaso nito si Easton.
Napabuntong hininga siya at kaagad na naisip ang nag iisang babae sa buhay niya.
Maxine.
I'm sorry.