. 23
I don't know where I was but my head is throbbing and my body is in pain. Hindi ko maalala kung anong nangyari at kung anong ginagawa ko dito sa madilim na kwarto na ito. I just woke up a few minutes ago, and I have this urge to puke my guts out.
I tried to move pero hindi ko magawa, and that's when I realized na nakagapos ako. Nagsimula akong mag-panic. Paano ako napunta sa sitwasyon na 'to? I tried to scan my brain, but my memories are so fuzzy, and the more I try to remember ay lalong sumasakit ang aking ulo. I do remember footsteps, at isang pamilyar na boses.
I heard a click, and the lights are on. I had to squint my eyes because of the brightness. A soft laugh was released at my left side. May isang lalakeng nakatayo at nakasandal sa pader. He's wearing a clown mask, katulad ng mask na nakita ko sa Charity Ball a few weeks ago. I started to tremble, and he released another laugh.
"Look at you, Skyla. So helpless," ani nya.
"What do you want from me?", pinipilit kong makawala mula sa aking pagkagapos pero wala itong silbi dahil sobrang higpit ng pagkakatali sa aking mga kamay.
"Now, now, don't be mad. Sumusunod lang naman ako ng utos mula sa nakakataas," kahit na hindi ko nakikita ang mukha nya dahil nakatago ito sa ilalim ng maskara ay alam kong nakangite sya sa akin. He's definetly taunting me.
Ito ba ang tinutukoy ni Detective? Talaga bang nasa panganib ang buhay ko? I don't understand tho, I made sure that those 2 guys who were scouting Congressman's house didn't see me. I should have talked to him sooner, I could have avoided this situation.
"I don't understand. Wala naman akong kasalanan sa inyo!", pasigaw kong sabi.
"Sa akin, wala. Pero sa boss ko? Meron.", kinuha nya ang kutsilyong nasa likod nya at dahan dahang naglakad palapit sa akin. "I'm just doing my job, sweet girl".
I'm so scared right now. Hindi ko alam kung bakit nangyayari sa akin ito. I had a fight with my Uncle and now this? Can't this day get any better? He moved so fast, hawak na nya ang aking leeg bago pa man ako makasigaw at makahinga ng tulong.
"Not so fast, baby girl". He whispered softly on my ears. "Now, shhhh. Mabilis lang 'to". He placed the knife just above my throat. Isang maling kilos ko ay siguradong tutuluyan nya ako. "But wait, do you want to hear a secret?"
I shook my head as a sign of no. Tears are streaming down my cheeks, and I tried to regulate my breathing but I couldn't. Dahan dahan nyang diniin ang kutsilyo sa aking lalamunan and I sobbed, "Please, sto-p".
"Shhhhh, I'm going to tell you a secret." humikbi ako, "it's about your parents." nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa sinabi nya, what does he know about my parents?
He moved his hands to my cheeks and gripped it tightly, "They didn't really die because of an accident. Someone killed them."
Humagulgol ako sa sinabi nya. Hindi ko mapigilan ang daloy ng luha ko at ng paghikbi ko, sobrang sakit at sikip ng dibdib ko. My parents died from an accident, that's what they told me. Is he telling the truth?, "My parents are d-ead. Don't drag th-em to this!" he slapped my face so hard, I can taste the blood inside my mouth.
"You didn't know who killed them, do you?" my head hurts at halos hindi ko na maintindihan ang mga sinasabi nya. "I'll tell you another secret."
"No, pl-ea-se!" halos bulol na ako sa pagsasalita dahil sa sobrang sakit ng panga at labi ko. Ayokong malaman ang mga sikretong sasabihin nya.
Kahit naka-maskara sya ay ramdam kong tuwang tuwa sya sa kalagayan ko ngayon, "The killer is someone near you." he then hummed a tune I don't recognize sabay tawa nya ng malakas.
Someone near me? What does he mean? Is it someone I know? Or Is it someone is just close by? I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I just couldn't. Lalo akong naiyak sa mga pangyayari.
He then pulled my hair and exposed my neck to him, "Shhh, susugatan lang kita ng konti. Wag kang mag-alala," sinubukan kong umiling pero hinila nya ulit ang aking buhok. "Wag kang malikot. Sige ka baka tuluyan kita", sabay tawa nya pa. He leaned closer and sniffed me. "You smell so good, Skyla. Your fear smells so good" he hissed at my ear.
"Ple-a-se.. Plea-see stopp.." hindi ko alam kung naintindihan nya ba ang sinabi ko sa halip kay humagalpak pa sya ng tawa.
"Now, close your eyes, baby girl. I promise I'll ---", biglang namatay ang mga ilaw. May putok ng mga baril mula sa labas.
"Panira talaga sa plano ang mga animal na 'to", my abductor says to himself. I took the chance to move my chair while he's distracted. "Fucking hell," ani nya pa sa sarili. Dahil sa dilim ay hindi ko alam kung anong ginagawa ng kumidnap sa akin. Narinig ko na lamang ang pagbasak ng pinto.
Did he run?
Gunshots rang outside and I tried my best to bend my body para hindi ako matamaan ng kahit ano mang ligaw na bala.
Napasigaw ako ng mabasag ang bintana ng kwarto, I tried to move my chair again but it's futile. My hands and my feet are tied. I shrieked when someone touched my shoulder and covered my mouth.
"Don't move. I need to untie you," ani ng boses na hindi pamilyar sa akin. Tumango lang ako sa kanya kahit alam kong hindi nya ito nakita.
Matapos matanggal ang pagkakagapos sa akin ay binuhat nya ako. Gusto kong magtanong kung saan nya ako dadalhin pero masyado akong nanghina sa mga nangyari ngayong gabi na ito.
"Severin, here!" a woman shouted. She sounded so familiar pero hindi ko alam kung saan ko narinig ang boses nya.
"She looks so weak, and there's a wound on her throat but it's not that deep. We have to tend to her immediately to avoid infection", ani pa ng isang boses. His voice sounds a bit gruff but there's gentleness to it.
"Where's Ivo? We have to go!", this guy's voice is a little breathy, his voice is modulated yet masculine.
Ivo? Ivo is here? Where is he? I tried to move and open my eyes but a hand touched my shoulder and whispered, "Shhh, you have to rest", a sweet voice whispered in my ear.
"I-vo," I say weakly. A familiar pair of hands held mine, and I knew it was him. Humagulgol ako ng iyak sa dibdib nya, he held me tight and whispered safety in my ears.
"I'm here now. I won't let them hurt you anymore," he squeezed my hands and kissed my forehead.
"I promise you. We will always be together"
"Talaga, Mama?"
"Yes, darling. Papa and Mama will always be with you, Calista."
I stared at the ceiling and how white it is. Spotless white. Walang halong dumi o kaya mantsa, halatang inaalagaan talaga. I keep staring at it, my tears kept on flowing.
My dream is achingly familiar. Did I have that conversation with my mom when I was younger? But the woman in the dream called out a different name.
"Why are you crying?", I looked at Ivo, he's sitting next to the bed. He looks sad but mostly concerned.
"I had a dream about my parents," I smiled sadly. "Well, I'd like to think it was my parents." I added.
"I hope it was something nice," he handed me a glass of water. I nodded and drank it. For some reason, my throat feels weird. I touched it, tila rumaragasang agos ng tubig ang memorya ko.
"It was," I say, now remember fighting with Uncle Bern because of Ivo, a guy I barely know. Megan inviting me to her party. Seeing Kev Conti with Megan. Drinking the alcohol Kev gave me.
Passing out and waking up with my kidnapper.
Someone tried to kill me.
Someone is after me.
Someone wants me dead.
My parents' death might not be because of an accident. Someone killed them.
Tears are starting to form again in my eyes but I held it back. Tinignan ko si Ivo, suddenly feeling scared. I feel vulnerable and helpless dahil sa mga nangyayari na hindi ko labis na maintindihan. Am I really safe around him? Is he really not an enemy?
As if reading my mind, "I'm not your enemy, Skyla"
I looked at him straight in the eyes, "Then who? Why are these terrible things happening to me?"
"I wish I knew but we're still investigating. Sa ngayon, hindi ka pwedeng mag-isa." seryoso ang ekspresyon ng mukha ni Ivo at tumango lamang ako.
"Ivo's right. Hindi ka pa ligtas sa kapahamakan," ani ni Polina, may hawak syang wine glass. She's wearing tight jeans and a crop top. She looks so pretty. I looked at Ivo, who is staring at me. I felt myself blush so I looked away at piniling tignan si Polina.
She's barefoot and looks so comfortable around Ivo's house. Are they together? I tried to look away, and swallow the jealousy that is about to come. She smirked at me as if reading my mind. Lalong uminit ang pisnge ko.
"I would like to make an offer with you, Skyla," napatingin ako kay Ivo at sa seryosong tono ng kanyang boses. Polina sat at a small chair, she opened her book and began reading na parang wala kami ni Ivo sa kwarto. "I'd like you to stay with me" I stared at him na para bang sinabi nya sa akin na dalawa ang ulo ko.
"I don't understand", ani ko. Patuloy pa rin sa pagbabasa ng libro si Polina na para bang wala sinabing nakakagulat si Ivo.
"Hindi ka pa ligtas sa pagbabanta sa buhay mo. I'm thinking that if you stay with me, I can protect you."
"Why would you do that?" yan lang ang tanging nasabi ko sa kanya. I appreciate the thought pero I realized that I needed to be careful. I don't know Ivo and his friends at hindi rin ako sigurado na wala syang kinalaman sa nangyari sa akin. "Why would you go that far? We've only just met."
I heard a loud thud, napatingin ako kay Polina na ngayon ay nakatingin rin sa akin, "You're probably thinking that you don't know Ivo and his friends, which is me and the other two idiots, yet he's here offering you safety. It's only natural for you to feel suspicious. I mean, we just saved your ass." Polina's tone was sarcastic but her voice was so calm it's scary.
"She has every right to feel that way, Polina. She doesn't know any of us" pagtatangol naman sa akin ni Ivo.
"Yet she willingly left with you and spent a day and a half at your private house? Sure Ivo. Suit yourself," Polina stood up and left the room. I bit my lower lip. Pero alam kung tama ang mga sinabi ni Polina. Kung isa sila sa mga taong gusto ako mapahamak ay sana matagal na nilang ginawa. I swallowed the shame down my throat.
"I'm sorry... she's right. Ikaw na nga yung nagligtas sa buhay ko ng dalawang beses at eto ako nagsususpetsa sayo."
"As I said, you have every right to feel that way. It's only natural for you to be suspicious. You don't know any of us and what we do,"
I nodded at him, "I'd like to thank you. Kung hindi kayo dumating siguro wala na ako ngayon. So, thank you." I grabbed his hands and held it. "But I can't stay with you. My Uncle will worry about me at saka kaya ko naman sabihin sa kanila kung anong nangyayari. They'll keep me safe."
Binitawan ko ang kamay ni Ivo dahil nag-iinit na naman ang mga pisnge ko. Hindi ko maipaliwanag kung bakit nangyayari ito pag malapit sya. He's really good looking, and I am well aware na maraming babaeng may gusto sa kanya.
Ivo nodded, he smiled at me. Wala na ang tensyon sa kanyang mukha. Masaya ako at nauunawaan nya ako, "Alright, how about breakfast?" I enthusiastically said yes.
When we got to the kitchen, there are 3 people who are already seated. Polina is still reading her book. Next to her is a guy wearing a blue shirt, he smiled at me. I recognized him, sya yung lalake na nakita ko sa Charity Ball na may maamong mukha. May isa pang lalakeng nakaupo naman katabi nung lalakeng naka-blue shirt, he looks so serious and tila sinusuri ako ng mabuti.
"You gotta stop staring at the poor girl, asshat," ani ni Polina. She didn't even bother to lift her head to look at us but for some unknown reason alam nya na nakatitig sa akin ang binata.
"Don't worry, baby. I only look at your ass," he smirked at her. Polina rolled her eyes but laughed a little.
I sat down at the opposite side at katabi ko si Ivo. He didn't say any word to them kumuha lang sya ng pagkain at nagsimulang lagyan ang aking plato. The guy wearing a floral buttoned shirt is still staring at me, he's making me feel uncomfortable. I tried to avoid his eyes but he's damn persistent on catching me.
"Wow," ngumite ako bahagya sa kanya, just to be polite. "Wow talaga," ani nya pa ulit.
The guy wearing a blue shirt told him to shut up, "Shut up, Nikolai. Akala ko ba gutom ka?"
The floral button shirt guy stared at me longer this time, "Severin, aren't you at least surprised? She looks exactly like Sh---- AWWWWWW! FUCK!"
Hindi na natapos ni Nikolai ang sasabihin nya dahil biglang tumayo si Polina at hinampas sya ng libro sa ulo. "Shut the hell up and eat, asshat."
"Ouch, that hurt, babe."
"Talaga? Gusto mo dagdagan ko pa?"
"Maya nalang, babe. When we're alone." Nikolai winked at her. Severin faked gagged, and Polina just rolled her eyes at the both of them. I couldn't help but think that they're not so bad as Sel described. In fact, they looked like any other group of friends.
"Don't mind them," ani ni Ivo sa akin pero bakas sa mukha nya ang ngite. Tumango at nagpatuloy sa pagkain ng agahan.
"By the way, your phone hasn't stopped ringing. Kagabi pa." ani ni Severin, inabot nya sa akin ang aking cellphone. Halos mabuga ko ang iniinom kong orange juice ng makita ang bilang ng messages at calls mula sa aking mga kaibigan, kay Uncle Bern at Anthony.
Napatayo ako ng mula sa aking pagkakaupo. I was about to say that I should leave but Ivo beat me to it, "I'll take you home," before I could say no he walked out of the kitchen.
"Don't refuse him. He doesn't take no for an answer" ani ni Nikolai habang kumukuha pa ng isang strip ng bacon. Tumango lang ako sa kanya.
"Hindi ko pa kayo napapasalamatan ng maayos. I'd like to invite you guys for a coffee some other time.." nahihiya kong sabi.
Ngumite sa akin si Severin, "Yeah, I'd love that"
"I don't drink coffee but I'll join you guys," I smiled at Polina, wala na ang tensyon sa aming dalawa. She lifted her head and smiled at me too.
"Now, go. He's waiting." I nodded and followed Ivo outside.
As I followed Ivo outside, one thing has been bothering me.
My parents' death.