ABDUCTED (TAGALOG R18)

Kabanata 3

Hendrix

I can’t be wrong. Anyone in this town would know, even the people of the whole country, they would surely know who this guy is, who this guy’s father is, and how the mere mention of their names brings terror to anyone who could hear.

Tumayo ako, hindi alintana ang nanginginig na tuhod at boses dala ng takot, “I know you. I know your father too, Senator De Varga. He is a murderer-”

“And? What are you trying to say?” Pagputol niya kasabay ng bahagyang pagtaas ng isang kilay na tila hinahamon ako.

Sinaklot ng apat niyang mga daliri ang likuran ng ulo ko upang hilahin ako palapit sa kanya. But I fought back. I don’t wanna be near him.

“That just because my father is a murderer, I would be one too?” Nagpupumilit ang paghihila niya hanggang sa napasuko na ako. And now, I am looking up at him, like he is the star of this dark night. But he is not.

“Right! I’m a murderer. I shoot people I hate, I kill people I don’t like. Kaya nga hindi ko alam kung bakit sa dinami-rami ng tao, sakin lumapit ang papa mo para hilinging protektahan ka.”

I felt his rage at his last words. Mas lalo kong naramdaman ang pagpipigil niya ng galit dahil sa bigla niyang pagbitaw sa akin na tila nagsasabing papaubos na ang pasensya niya.

Ngunit pinakatumatak sa akin ang mismong sinabi niya.

“Si papa?”

Ang kanina pang nang-iinit na mga mata ay pinakawalan na ang mga luhang pinaghirapan kong pigilan. His eyes drifted to my cheeks, maybe to my tears. Umiwas ito ng tingin at kinagat ang ibabang labi na tila pinipigilan ang sariling magsalita pa.

“Anong ibig mong sabihin? Bakit naman gagawin ni papa ‘yon? At para saan? Bakit sa’yo? Bakit ikaw?”

I thought he would be more annoyed from what I said but he only gave out a little laugh, a little mocking laugh.

And then he turned away.

Pinagpatuloy na ang kaninang naudlot na paglalakad papunta sa pinto.

“Hendrix!” I called. Saglit itong tumigil ngunit hindi na lumingon. Saglit lang dahil naglakad na itong muli hanggang sa tuluyan nang nakalabas ng kwarto.

Pero hindi ako maaaring manatili rito nang hindi alam ang dahilan ng pagdukot niya sakin. Bakit nasali si papa? Bakit iyon ang sinasabi ni Hendrix? He must be lying! Or maybe not. We don’t even know each other personally kaya bakit siya magkakainteres na kunin ako? Na patirahin dito? Anong makukuha niya, anong mapapala niya sa pagdukot sakin?

The cold room sent me shivers to my body as I ran towards the door. Basa pa rin pala ang damit ko.

Nakita ko ang papalayo niyang pigura sa dulo ng pasilyong sumalubong sakin sa pagbukas ko ng pinto. Even from afar he looked so huge, even from afar he is breathtaking and barbarous.

Dahil siguro nakayapak lamang ako kaya hindi niya narinig ang aking pagtakbo sa likuran niya. Nang maabutan siya ay nasa sala na siya. Napakalaking sala. And only then did I realize where I am. A huge house. Unfamiliar male scents floating in the air. I was sure it was already past midnight but why is this place crowding with unknown men?

Men of which, just like Hendrix, were utterly barbarous in presence and savage in the way they stare.

Napahinto ako sa pagtakbo. Katunayan ay buong katawan ko ang nabato sa kinatatayuan. My breathing felt like it has stopped again.

These unknown men immediately focused all of their attention to me. Gazing at me intensely, tracing my body from head to toe. The seven guys seated on the sofas all gazed up at me.

At akala ko’y doon na magtatapos ang aking takot. Ngunit mas tumindi lamang ang kalabog sa loob ng aking dibdib sa pagsasalita ni Hendrix.

“Have I allowed anyone of you to look at her?”

And as if on cue, all of their eyes drifted away from me. Yumuko sa sahig na tila pati sila ay nahawa ng aking takot. How can his mere voice frighten all these guys who even have their own guns hanging on their waists? How can his mere words sound like law to them?

Bahagyang napaurong ang isa kong binti sa nakikita. I wanted to run back into the room all of a sudden. Ngunit naunahan ako ng paglingon ni Hendrix sakin. Eyes attempting to murder me. Nilandas niya ang mga mata mula sa mukha ko hanggang sa tyan.

And he walked closer,

as I tried to move backward.

“Run. Before I drag you back into that goddamn room. And when I see your face out in here again, I will really tie you on bed.”

Although I was desperate to get answers from him, I was more desperate to escape from his murderous eyes. I would be fine sleeping in this place tonight just don’t let me be stared by these eyes again. Kinagat ko ang labi para pigilan ang nagkukumahog na hikbi at pagkatapos ay tumakbo na pabalik.

Nilock ang pinto ng kwarto, nagmamadaling pumasok sa banyo at nang naramdaman kong papasuko na naman ang aking mga tuhod, napakapit ako sa malawak na marmol na lababo. And slowly, I noticed the huge mirror just in front of me.

I know the girl who was standing there but she looked unfamiliar. Dark circles under her lids, bloodshot eyes, bleeding lips. Marahil ay napadiin ang pagkakakagat ko rito kanina. But I don’t feel pain. I just feel weak. Even more as I stared on my trembling body. With my wet white blouse, letting everyone see what’s inside of it. My bulging breasts and its pink dress.

I could only cry even more. Cry even if I knew no one would hear me. Cry even though I was already at lost of tears.

~*~

I couldn’t sleep. Not that Im not tired, Im just scared. Scared of what might happen while Im sleeping, scared of where might I find myself after I wake up. Niyakap ko ang sariling tinuyo na ng ihip ng aircon sa kwarto. Madilim pa rin sa labas at ang orasa’y nagsasabing alas kwatro pa lamang ng madaling araw.

The silence was so deafening. I couldn’t hear even the rustles of the trees outside. Tahimik, ang kabadong puso ko lamang ang nag-iingay. It’s been hours since I woke up in this room and until now I still couldn’t get used to this darkness and fear.

Matagal na rin magmula nang umalis siya ng kwarto, wala rin akong naririnig na kahit anong ingay mula sa labas. But I couldn’t get still. Because disasters often appear where there is calmness. Being surrounded by these dangerous men, I should never become calm.

At tila naririnig yata nito ang aking isipan, pinatunayan lamang ng kanyang biglang pagpasok na tama ang aking iniisip. As he stood in front of the door, his brows bridged on the top of his nose. Binaba ko ang kaninang nakataas na mga tuhod upang takpan ang aking hita. At sa pagsisimula niya ng paglalakad, tumalikod na ako.

Tumitig ako sa malaking bintana sa gilid. At maya-maya’y nakaramdam naman ako ng bigat na sumampa sa kama sa likuran ko. Nang muling bumaling sa kanya ay nakita kong nakahiga na ito sa kabilang banda ng kama.

Kumunot ang noo ko.

“Anong ginagawa mo rito?”

Sa halip na sagutin ang tanong ko, binalikan niya lamang ako ng panibagong katanungan.

“Why are you still awake?”

I scoffed, “Ang lakas naman ng loob mo para isiping makakatulog pa ako nang mahimbing pagkatapos ng mga nangyari?”

Nanatiling nakapikit ang mga mata niya habang nakapatong ang isang braso niya sa kanyang noo. Walang kahit anong reaksyong pinapakita.

Sumubok akong umalis sa kama subalit agad niya akong napigilan sa palapulsuhan. Nilingon ko siya at hindi niya pa rin minumulat ang mga mata. Hinila ko ang kamay pero napakalakas niya para matalo ko.

“Don’t even think of getting away. This is your only escape, Athena. You have nothing else.”

At matapos ang sunod-sunod niyang salitang iyon ay hinila na niya ako. Marahan. Sa kanyang tabi, pahiga sa kanyang tabi. Sa segundong lumapag ang aking katawan sa malambot na kutson, doon lamang nanuot sa akin ang pagod. I realized how tired I have been that the moment I lied beside him, my eyes immediately surrendered.

I want to sleep.

Hindi ko namalayan ang unti-unting pagkadulas ng aking ulirat. Hindi ko na naisip kung saan ako nakahiga, kung sino ang aking katabi. I fell asleep without me noticing it and strangely, that night, I fell asleep peacefully. I fell asleep without the fear of what might happen while Im sleeping. I fell asleep beside Hendrix.

Only when I woke up the next day did I realize it. That this man who abducted me, who is the son of Senator De Varga, who is the son of a murderer and who is a murderer himself, was beside me on the same bed.

And that when I opened my eyes, the darkness of the room has perished. The room is now bright, blinding bright. The room wasn’t cold anymore, right now, I could slightly feel the scorching sun on my skin.

Sa gilid ko, may isang lalaking nakahiga. Hair in the color of charcoal black. Tall nose. Long thin eyelashes. Thick dark eyebrows. 5 o’clock shadow below his pink lips.

What has made him so tired, I wonder? Kahit siguro na bumangon ako ay hindi ito magigising. Gumalaw ito at mula sa pagkakahilata ay tumagilid ng higa paharap sakin. And my hand felt a tight grip. The back of my palm felt a rough stubble, too. It was held high beneath his jaw. At hindi kagaya kagabi, nasa mga daliri ko na nakapulupot ang kanya.

Why I am holding his hand tightly too? That… I don’t know.

Tila wala akong lakas na magalit, walang lakas na itulak siya, wala pang lakas para magsalita, wala pang lakas para mang-usisa, kahit ang kabahan at matakot sa presensiya niya hindi ko na magawa. I just felt so weak, tired, and sleepy. I couldn’t move a finger, only my hand that is holding his remained strong.

And I fell asleep again. With Hendrix.