CHAPTER 25
Boys and a Submissive
REN
"REN, DALIAN MO sa pagliligpit ng gamit mo, may naghahanap sa'yo," biglang sundot sa akin ni Dominic na galing pa sa labas at tila humahangos ng hininga.
"Sino?"
"Basta! Ang shesherep!"
Magsasalita pa lamang ako nang hindi ko na siya naabutan pang nakatayo sa aking tabi dahil mabilis itong tumakbo kaagad palayo. Nagsimula na akong maglakad pababa ng building at inisip kung sino naman ang maghahanap sa akin sa ganitong oras.
Naisip ko nang hindi lamang iisa ang nag-aabang sa akin dahil nga plural ang description ni Dominic sa mga ito at given his enthusiasm, I think he meant they're good-looking.
"Well, well. This is my first time seeing you in a skirt, Ren."
I lifted my head and found Yel standing by the stairs. Hindi ko na pinansin pa ang sinabi niya dahil sa totoo lamang ay wala akong maayos na tulog at ngayon din, ang tanging layunin ko ay ang makauwi nang maaga at makatulog ngunit sa nakikita ko, kumhang hindi ko iyon magagawa.
"Bakit ka nandito?"
"Why are you alone?" he asked, seemingly ignoring my question as we continued to walk down. "I mean, where's your cute cousin?"
"Ah, nagtransfer na siya. Bakit ka nga uli nandito?"
"Well..." he awkwardly smiled at me and bit his lower lip in an apologetic manner. "I know that this is so sudden but you know how it works in the family. Well, you see. Knight does not have any friends here."
Napaisip ako at tinanong sa sarili kung hindi niya kaibigan ang mga lalaking nakipagpustahan sa kanya noong birthday party niya.
"And...?"
"Well, it has been family news when Tita kicked him out of the house. It's not a secret that he chose to live with you after that. The thing is, my New York cousins wanted to know exactly why."
"Anong ibig mong sabihin?"
He sheepishly smiled and as we got out of the building and walked down the driveway, a black van zoomed past us and ever so swiftly, one of the doors flew open and I was dragged inside.
"I'm sorry, Ren."
It was too late when I realized that he left me alone with four strangers inside the mysterious vehicle. He was smirking.
"HINDI KA MAN lang ba sisigaw? Papalag? Susubukang buksan ang pinto para makatakas?" tanong ng isa sa apat na lalaking nasa loob ng sasakyan. He sounds amused.
I scanned their faces that I couldn't quite completely make out due to the absence of proper lighting from the interior of the van. They look tall and young. Maybe a year younger to a year older than me.
"Now, now. No talking too?"
Napatawa ang isa at saka sinabing, "Maybe this is why Kei chose her. She's very submissive, I suppose. Lucky guy."
Nagpanting ang tainga ko sa sinabi niya.
Ako, submissive?
"Aren't you gonna talk to us?" This one leaned a bit closer, in purpose as to see whether I'll react when I completely get to see his face up close. This one looks like he's a pure Filipino unlike the other three guys. But hell yeah they all look good.
I sat comfortably and swung my leg over the other. They seem to notice my actions and waited. "Let's get this done with. Sinong gustong mauna sa hukay?"
Submissive my ass.
Nagtinginan sila at saka ako tiningnan mula ulo hanggang paa.
"Hindi mo kami matatakot ano? We are black belters."
"Who cares? You can't use that inside this low-roofed van."
"Aren't you scared?" the one with a slightly brown hair asked, almost in disbelief.
"Papatayin niyo ba ako?"
They didn't speak.
"Saan niyo ako dadalhin?"
"Now that, Miss is a very good question," the one in a red jacket interjected. I saw him smirking but it didn't affect me.
Ang akala yata nila ay hindi ako binalaan ni Yel sa plano nila. However, might as well use it as a trump card for them to be fooled.
I fished out the phone out of my bag and speed dialled Knight. I saw their faces grow in alarm and quickly scrambled to take the phone away from my hand. They successfully cancelled the call.
"Now that your fingerprints are on my phone and that I have sent an SOS signal to Knight, you might as well think of what you are going to do next."
"As if he's going to save you."
"Oh maybe he won't or he actually will. Doesn't matter. Let's go to that cliché warehouse you're going to plant me in with a tied up chair and a ticking bomb so I could bury you all down there."
The driver suddenly spoke.
"Smart mouth you got there."
I looked at him.
It was that mestizo from the mansion who pranked me with the grass.
Damn it!
I'LL GIVE IT to them that they are decent kidnappers. We were dropped by what seemed to be a seaside resort and they brought me in to a hut that is basically good for a family. Food is served on the table.
Napatawa ako.
"Masyado kayong magastos dumukot. I'm disappointed."
"You'll be safer here," the one who looks younger with that red jacket said and suddenly covered his mouth after that.
I smirked while I was prepped down the couch while they were standing just around the room.
"Why now how sweet of you to provide your hostage with a comfortable hiding place."
The one with the brown hair seemed to get annoyed by this.
Does that mean, they're not planning to do anything bad to me?
"Wala ka bang dalang pagbibihisan diyan?" iritadong tanong nito sa akin habang tinitignan ang suot kong uniporme.
"You kidnapped me. Do you think that would even be something close to my wits right now?" I snapped and he rolled his eyes. "Come now, black belters. Anong hinihintay niyo?"
Pumasok si mestizo at saka ako nginisian. I saw him looking down at me.
"You have some nice pair of knees right there," he whistled and walked across the room.
I immediately pulled my skirt down and glared at them.
"Magbihis ka, Ren," saad nito sabay hagis ng nakabalot sa paper bag na brown sa aking tabi. Sinilip ako ito at saka ko sila hinintay na magsilabasan.
Meanwhile, no one starts moving.
"How do you expect me to change?"
"You can change here, we don't care."
I stood up and went straight to the bathroom door when I heard them walking behind me.
"Anong ginagawa niyo?"
"Following you."
"Mga wala ba kayong magawa?"
"We're taking you hostage. That's what we're doing."
Doon naputol ang pasensya ko. Inihagis ko sa kung saan ang paper bag at pinandilatan ko sila. Lumapit ako at saka nagsimulang ituro ang mga mukha nila.
"Wala akong pakialam kung mayayaman kayo. Hinahayaan ko kayong gantuhin ako hanggang ngayon dahil baka may gusto man lang kayong sabihin sa akin para maliwanagan ako sa nangyayari. Pero hindi ko hahayaang masayang ang oras ko sa mga bagay na ginagawa niyo habang winawaldas ang pera ng mga magulang niyo!"
Kinutusan ko ang mukhang mas bata sa akin at ikinagulat nila iyon ngunit bago pa man sila makaangal ay isinunod ko na sila sa pagkutos ko sa kanilang mga ulo. "Hindi rin dahil mas maliit ako sa inyo, kakaya-kayanin niyo na ako. At bakit kayo nandito ha? Hindi ba kayo nagsisipag-aral? Kapag nakalabas ako rito nang buhay, kakaladkarin ko kayo pauwi sa mga nanay ninyo, naiintindihan niyo?"
Hindi sila sumagot bagkus ay lalo akong nasindak sa pare-parehong reaksyon nila. They were grinning and exchanging glances.
Ilang sandali pa ay nagtawanan sila at saka lumayo sa akin.
"Come here, sit. We're not bad people. Kakampi mo kami, Ren," natatawa nilang saad.
"Kakampi?"
I was confused as hell. Why does everybody think I need them to side on me without having any valid reason?
"Huwag niyo nga akong utus-utusan!" suway ko at saka isinara ang pinto ng banyo ngunit naalala kong inihagis ko sa kung saan ang binigay nila sa akin kaya naman napagdesisyunan ko na lamang na hubarin ang aking palda dahil nakapaloob naman ako ng malagong jersey shorts na hanggang tuhod. Nakapadoble rin ako ng putting kamiseta kaya hinubad ko na rin ang blusa ko. At dahil nakablack shoes ako, hinubad ko na rin iyon at saka inisiksik sa bulsa ng aking palda ang aking medyas.
Nang ako ay makalabas ng banyo, bigla na lamang akong itinulak nung mestisong kidnapper at saka muling isinara ang pinto ng banyo. I heard a click.
"Huwag kang maingay," he warned me as he pushed himself against the door.
Hawak ko pa rin ang mga hinubad ko at hindi ko alam kung ano ang unang tatanungin pero may hinala akong ayaw nila akong makita ng iba. Baka may bellboy na dumating.
And then there were a series of crashing sounds. The guy's eyes were trained on me all the time, as if he was ready to strangle me if ever I started screaming. I started to grow more confused. Akala ko ba kakampi ko sila?
Later on, there was a knock on the door. The guy placed his finger against his lips and shook his head. We waited.
"Police. Open the door."
He hesitated for a moment until he found some piece of mind and with sagging shoulders, turned and opened the door just for us to see Hans in front staring murderously at him.