Without giving the situation a second thought, she immediately succoured to the injured man's needs. Her hands were trembling, but she was determined to help.
Ang buong atensyon niya ay nakatuon sa sugat nito. Ni hindi pumasok sa kaniyang isip ang itanong kung bakit at paano ito nakarating sa lugar na 'yon. She was about to remove his hand from the wounded area when he tightly seized her arm.
"Don't touch me," he said sharply while gasping for air. Despite suffering from the laceration, he still had the strength to impose his domain upon her.
"P-pero may sugat ka!" she protested, faltering over her sudden utterance. Halos mag-abot ang kaniyang mga kilay sa kasungitan na kaniyang natanggap mula sa lalaki.
By his accent, she deducted that he wasn't a pure Filipino. Then, she thought that rich people could really manifest their stubborness during dire circumstances.
He gave her a sharp glare. "And what is it that you can do to help, huh? For sure, you didn't even finish elementary- Ah fuck!" he groaned, hit his head against the hut's wall and closed his eyes in pain.
Hindi niya pinatapos ang pangmamaliit ng lalaki dahil inalis niya ang kamay nito at sinalat nang bahagya ang gilid ng sugat. Her face contorted with terrible dread as she looked at her hands stained with blood.
Huminga siya nang malalim at pinakalma ang sarili. "Alam ko. Pero walang kinalaman 'yon sa pagtulong sa kapwa. Hindi man ako nakapagtapos, lumaki ako nang maayos. At higit sa lahat, lumaki kong may rispeto para sa iba. Rispeto na ang ibang tao, mayaman man, wala," she whispered and looked up at him, revealing a tranquil and demure expression. Pinipilit niya ang sarili na mapanatili ang gayong kalmadong kalooban.
"Hindi ko rin kayang umalis nalang at iwan ang isang taong duguan dito."
Inilihis nito ang tingin at pinabayaan siyang gawin kung ano ang kaniyang nais. Nang masiguradong hindi na ito magrereklamo ay pinunit niya ang laylayan ng kaniyang kamiseta at dahan-dahang ibinalot iyon sa tagiliran ng binata.
It wasn't much of a help since the stranger continued to lose blood, making her panic in the process. Lumakas ang pintig ng kaniyang puso sa isiping mamamatay ito na wala man lang siyang nagawa.
"M-may cellphone ka ba? T-tumawag na lang kaya tayo ng tulong?" Kahit puno ng takot ang kaniyang dibdib ay nagawa niyang magsalita nang hindi nabubulol. Nanginginig na ang kaniyang buong katawan at sandali na lang ay tutulo na ang kaniyang mga luha.
"No!" he wailed in anguish. Nakita niya na humigpit ang kapit nito sa pantalong kupas.
Napamura itong muli nang dahil sa sakit. Bigla siyang napalunok nang hinubad nito ang damit, dahilan upang tumambad sa kaniya ang mapanukso nitong katawan.
"Just proceed with this... Hurry up. Don't stare," he instructed flagrantly. She looked to check at him and she saw that his forehead was beaded with sweat. Right at that moment, she realized that he was stubborn as a mule. Mas nanaisin nitong bawian ng buhay kaysa humingi ng tulong.
Agad naman niyang ipinagpatuloy ang ginagawa. Hindi siya magaling sa pagbibigay ng first aid at ito ang unang pagkakataon na may nakita siyang duguang tao.
Isinagawa niyang muli ang pagpunit sa laylayan ng damit. His body twitched in pain for a few agonizing moments before he calmed down. Wiping the sweat off her forehead, she drew in a harsh breath.
"Tell me your name," he uttered with soft, hushed sounds.
Napatigil siya sa kaniyang ginagawa at tiningnan ang lalaki. Hindi niya pa rin makita nang maayos ang mukha nito nang dahil sa dilim. Ang mga poste sa labas ang tanging nagsisilbing ilaw sa kanila. Normally, a question such as that would be considered irrational, if one gave thought to the alarming situation they were in.
Habang iniaayos ang tela sa tagliran ng binata ay sumagot siya, "Anastasha..." bulong niya at hinigpitan ang pagkakatali ng tela. Inabala niya ang sarili sa ginagawa upang hindi magtamang muli ang kanilang mga mata.
There was a moment of silence between them. Only the rustling of the leaves outside filled their ears. Kaunting sandali pa ang lumipas at narinig na naman niya ang mabigat at hirap na paghinga ng binata.
"Anastasha," he repeated and his hoarse voice sent chills down her spine, catching her off guard. Napatigil siya sa ginagawa at napalunok dahil biglang natuyo ang kaniyang lalamuman.
Hindi inaasahang nagtagpo ang kanilang mga paningin. Muli ay napalunok na naman siya. Bigla rin ang pagbilis ng tibok ng kaniyang puso. Ang kaninang kalmado niyang mga kamay ay nanginig dahil sa sensasyon na ipinararamdam nito sa kaniya.
To her surprise, he swiftly pulled her closer to his seductive body, and her hands landed on his firm and broad chest to support her weight.
Hinapit siya nito nang sobrang lapit na kinailangan niyang pigilan ang paghinga sapagkat isang maling kilos at magdirikit ang kanilang mga labi.
"That's a beautiful name," he whispered near her right ear, tickling and causing her body to twitch.
In such a short span of time, she found herself drowning into his luscious manliness. Everything about him was attractive; from his desirable body to his smoky, low and gravelly voice.
Her brain was shouting at her to run away, but her body seemed to like being enclosed into the stranger's powerful arms.
"S-salamat," nauutal na sagot niya. Ibinaba niya ang tingin upang hindi masalubong ang titig ng binata, ngunit hinawakan nito ang kaniyang baba at tiningnan siya sa mga mata. His light blue eyes were gleaming in the moonlight.
In a fraction of a second, his hot lips were making contact with her flesh, slowly planting small, burning kisses from her jawline down to her neck. Her eyes were automatically shut closed and her hands involuntarily travelled on his broad chest. She then grasped his shoulders due to the tingling sensation his hands brought by massaging her breasts.
"How about I make you mine?" he whispered sexily while his hands were working wonders on her chest, his hot breath stroked her ear.
Bigla ay naimulat niya ang mga mata nang marinig ang mga katagang sinabi nito. She was pulled back when realization struck her. Without mentioning anything, she rapidly distanced herself from the stranger, causing her to trip over a medium-sized rock and plunge to the ground. Dumaing siya sa sakit ngunit napatigil nang makita ang ginagawa ng binata.
With an apparent difficulty, the man finally managed to get up on his feet. He, then, leant his body against the wooden surface of the closed window.
Ipinikit nito ang mga mata at hinawakan ang ngayo'y nagdurugong sugat. Napasinghap siya nang masilayan ang pag-agos ng dugo pababa sa pantalon nito.
"Come closer..." Idinilat nito ang mga mata at muli ay para na naman siyang nalulunod sa mga titig nito.
Her heart was hammering uncontrollably inside her chest and she couldn't bestow an explanation to herself as to why it was happening.
His voice, harsh and raspy, brought upon her an unwanted solace. It was the first time she felt something so different and special towards a man.
She gulped. As he attempted to advance forward to her direction, she got the chance to study him: the man was an imposing figure at six feet, retaining a pre-eminent towering height. He possessed broad shoulders, a bulky physique and of course, a powerful presence.
The moment he hit the rugged floor with a terrific thud was when her reverie got broken. She quickly rushed over to him, making an impetuous decision.
Nakita niya na muli na namang lumabas ang maraming dugo mula sa sugat nito. Narinig niya ang paghalinghing ng lalaki at ang biglang pangangatog ng katawan nito.
Sa kaba ay hindi na niya alam kung ano ang gagawin. Natataranta na siya at hindi na maayos ang daloy ng kaniyang isipin. Narinig siya ang paglabas ng sunod-sunod na hikbi mula sa kaniyang bibig.
Her brain was in a muddled state when they both heard a bawl coming from the outside. Nahinto ang kaniyang paghikbi at parang nabuhayan siya ng loob nang mapagtanto na maaaring kaibigan ito ng binata.
"Wilder! Where the freaking hell are you hiding, man?" shouted a guy. His tone implied that he was displeased and probably irritated.
"Call... him..." Nang ibinaling niya ang tingin sa duguang binata ay ganoon na lang ang nadama niyang takot. Parang hindi na ito tatagal sanhi ng sugat sa tagiliran.
Nakagat niya ang labi at hindi inaasahang tumulong muli ang kaniyang mga luha. Inihiga niya muna ito nang maayos bago dali-daling lumabas ng kubo upang tawagin ang lalaki.
"Wilder, I swear I'm going to shove a dying moth up your ass if you don't- Good heavens!" he exclaimed. Upon seeing her with blood stains on her hands and shirt, he took a few steps backward, as if horrified. His facial expression couldn't be described by any term. He stood there, frightened.
He was wearing a casual turquoise shirt and a pair of navy blue jeans, matched with high-priced rubber shoes of Adidas label.
She looked at the man, eyes drenched with tears. "N-nasa... loob... nandoon siya..." she blabbered, sobbing and crying at the same time. Hindi siya sigurado kung naintindihan ba nito ang nais niyang ipahiwatig.
Without the need of further explanation, the man rapidly dashed inside the hut, making sure not to make contact with her. It was as if he was disgusted.
Nang mahimasmasan ay sinundan niya ito sa loob. Napatigil siya sa paglapit nang tingnan siya nito nang masama. Animo'y inaakusahan siyang may kasalanan sa nangyari sa kaibigan.
Akmang magpapaliwanag siya kung ano ang nangyari nang bigla itong nagsalita, mahina ngunit may diin ang bawat kataga, "You may take your leave, lady."
Dumapo ang kaniyang paningin sa binatang duguan at gayo'n na lang ang kalungkutang bumalot sa kaniyang dibdib. Humakbang pa siya palapit sa kanila upang mag-alok ng tulong. "H-hindi ako maaaring umalis-"
"I said leave," the man said firmly and she could sense hostility in his voice.
Nang hindi siya gumalaw ay narinig niya ang pagbuntung-hininga nito at ito na mismo ang lumapit sa kaniya at itinulak siya palabas ng kubo. Muntik na naman siyang matumba. "Look, I know you simply helped my friend, but the police officers won't have the same mentality. They will surely suspect you. Go now," utos nito sa malamig na tinig at agad na isinara ang pinto ng kubo. Sa lakas ay napapitlag siya.
Nakatulalang tumitig siya sa pinto. Hindi kaagad nakagalaw ang kaniyang mga paa. Patuloy pa rin ang pagtulo ng kaniyang mga luha at ngayon lang niya nadama ang lagkit ng dugo sa magkabilang kamay.
Nang marinig ang paparating na sasakyan ng mga pulis ay kusang kumilos ang kaniyang mga paa upang lisanin ang lugar na iyon.
Naglakad siyang humihikbi pauwi. Kung dati ay nalilibang siyang pagmasdan ang mga puno at halaman sa paligid ay hindi nang sandaling iyon. Ang tanging hiling niya ay makapagpahinga at kalimutan ang lahat ng nangyari. Ngunit sa bawat pagkakataon na ipipikit niya ang mga mata ay ang larawan ng binatang humalik sa kaniya ang kaniyang nakikita.
Nang makarating sa kanilang tahanan ay agad niyang narinig ang malakas na pagkabasag ng mga plato na nagmula sa kusina.
"Kailangan natin ng ibabayad!" shouted her father in uncontrollable anger.
She couldn't comprehend the reason as to why they were arguing again. She was too tired to even ponder about it, yet she continued to listen to their aggresive debate.
Just then, the two of them came into view, but stopped when they saw her. They exchanged confused looks upon seeing blood all over her.
Magtatanong sana ang kaniyang ina ngunit napatigil ito nang parang may nakitang hindi kaaya-aya mula sa kaniyang likuran.
"Patawarin mo kami, anak. Kailangan ka namin ibayad," puno ng lungkot na sabi ng kaniyang ina.
Her eyebrows furrowed and there was a moment of confusion battling inside her being.
Before she could even query, she felt a strong force hit her back. Her vision became blurry and everything turned black.