#5:
1407 Words
"Mr. Hidalgo, this way."
I remained silent, my gaze fixed intently on Mr. Tuazon.
They’ve come to know me as a man of few words, one who speaks only when necessary. My demeanor is serious and composed, which has earned me a reputation for being difficult to approach.
In fact, no one dares to approach me unless I personally instruct my assistant to facilitate the meeting.
Sa sandaling umapak ang mga paa ko sa loob ng club na ito ay halos hindi ko na nais pang magpatuloy. Ang pinakaayaw ko pa naman ay ang maiingay na lugar, and my frustration grew as they insisted on meeting me here.
I questioned their intentions; were they attempting to deceive me?
We proceeded down the hallway, passing by every private box, isa sa malalagpasan namin ang private box na bahagyang nakaawang ang pinto, kaya napasulyap ako sa loob.
My attention was immediately drawn to a young boy who was struggling as several men forced alcohol upon him, laughing insensitively at his predicament.
Kunot ang noo ko na parang may nagtulak sa akin na pumasok sa loob.
Before the young boy could collapse, I quickly grasped his hand, pulled him towards me, and wrapped my arm around his waist for support.
Hindi na kayang suportahan ng batang lalaki ang sarili nitong katawan, his frail form sagging in my arms.
It's clear he is unaccustomed to drinking, his body's weakness a testament to the damage inflicted upon him.
My gaze pierces through to the man responsible for forcing alcohol down his throat; I can see the fear flicker in his eyes as he witnesses my fury.
Awtomatikong napaluhod ito ng makilala ako, at agad na humingi ng awa sa akin.
Without hesitation, I lift my foot and deliver a swift kick, sending him stumbling to the ground. But he is quick to recover, kneeling again in a show of submission.
The other men present follow suit, nagsiluhod na din sila sa harapan ko at kanya kanyang ang paraan ng pagmamakaawa nila sa akin.
I glare at them with a serious expression, my face a mask of unreadable intent.
Sa pananahimik ko, hindi maitatago ang nabuong galit sa puso ko.
Habang nakahawak parin ako sa batang lalaki, mabilis na lumapit ang aking assistant.
"Mr. Hidalgo, what should we do next?" he asks, but I remain silent, nanatiling nakatingin ako sa mga lalaking nakaluhod sa harap ko.
In that moment, words are unnecessary; my assistant understands the unspoken directive: they must be punished without mercy.
"Mr. Hidalgo, please. Show us mercy."
Their voices echoed in the dimly lit room, a chorus of desperation.
"Mr. Hidalgo, have mercy on us. We had no intention of harming the young boy. We were just having fun."
The tone shifted, pleading grew more fervent.
"Mr. Hidalgo, we are begging. Have mercy."
Ang paulit ulit silang nagmamakaawa sa akin.
But I ignored their laments; mercy was not something I dispensed lightly. They showed no remorse for their actions; it was their choice to risk the wrath of fate.
Napagpasyahan kong maghintay, maghintay na mahimasmasan ang batang lalaki kung ano ang balak niya sa mga lalaking nangbastos sa kanya.
At that moment, he stirred.
"Hmmm," he murmured, a soft, hoarse sound that hinted at confusion.
His head lifted slowly, eyes fluttering open, struggling to focus.
They revealed a mix of bewilderment and vulnerability.
"You are just like a little kitten in the wild, daring to venture into this kind of place. Huh! Where did you find the courage?" I wondered.
As he was unable to support his own weight and collapsed in my arms once more, I took action.
I lifted her small frame effortlessly with one arm. Instinctively, he wrapped his arms around my neck, signaling the urgency of his condition.
With one final, serious glance at the men who were kneeling and still imploring me for mercy, I turned and exited the private box, carrying the young boy in my arms.
.....
As I looked at the young boy sprawled across the bed, his figure gradually sinking into a deep drunken sleep, hindi ko mapangalan ang kakaibang emosyong biglang lumukob sa akin.
I had brought him to a secluded room within the club, isang silid tulugan sa mga nagbabalak gumawa ng mga bagay na pang pribado lamang.
Reflecting on what I had learned about him, that he was a part-time worker, earning a meager sum from his sales of alcohol.
At just nineteen years old, he juggled his role as a student while navigating the harsh realities of life, driven by the need to support his family despite the weight of poverty.
I let out a deep sigh, feeling the burden of my observations pressing against my chest.
As I continued to watch him, I was struck by a chilling resemblance—he looked so much like someone I once knew.
My thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a sharp knock at the door, pulling me back from the depths of my contemplation.
"Mr. Hidalgo, Mr. Rivera is waiting in the private box with Mr. Tuazon," my assistant announced, the words cutting through the haze of my reluctance.
With a serious tone, I replied, "Tell them that no transaction will take place. They are just wasting my time."
Nagpaalala sa akin kung ano ba talaga ang dahilan kung bakit ako napadpad sa ganitong lugar, sa pagkaalala ko ng bagay na iyon ay mas nagtagis ang aking mga bagang dahil nasayang lang ang oras na binigay ko sa kanila.
From the very moment I had stepped through the club's entrance, nagpasya na ako na hindi itutuloy ang pakikipagnegosasyon sa kanila.
"Yes, Mr. Hidaldo."
I heard my assistant's footsteps receding from the door, leaving behind an unsettling silence that enveloped the room once more.
"Hmmm."
Napasulyap ako sa batang lalaki, noting the soft moan that escaped his lips, a barely audible sound na halos hindi ko naman maririnig.
His body was restless, tossing and turning in the bed as if he were caught in a restless dream.
“Damn you, kiddo."
I muttered under my breath, frustration welling up inside me as I hastily grasped his hand in a futile attempt to prevent him from undressing.
The heat radiating from his skin, a consequence of the alcohol coursing through his system.
Yet, despite my efforts to restrain him, he resolutely pulled away, his determination to undress only intensifying.
“I-it's hot. W-what?” he murmured, his frown revealing his irritation, although his eyes remained closed as if he were oblivious to his surroundings.
With no means to stop him from undressing, I experienced a rush of urgency.
In a moment of desperation, I removed my necktie, letting the fabric slip through my fingers as I bound his wrists, uncertain of what may transpire next.
.....
I was sitting in a dark corner of that part of the room, near the window.
Outside, the full moon cast a bright glow, filtering through the thick fog that enveloped the night.
Shadows cloaked me, blending me into the darkness as I waited patiently for the young boy to wake up.
Five hours had passed since I brought him to this room, and as another moment slipped by, I noticed him stirring.
Unti-unti siyang nagmulat ng mga mata,, illuminated by the dim light, hindi maitatago ang kanyang pagkagulat ng ng tuluyan niyang napagtanto kung nasaan siya.
With a gasp, he bolted upright, scanning the unfamiliar surroundings until his gaze landed on the dark corner where I sat.
"W-who are you? W-what did you do to me?" he stammered, his voice trembling with fear.
I could see his body quivering, napahawak siya sa kumot na nakabalot sa kanyang katawan.
Hindi maitago ang pinakawalan niyang paghinga ng masiguro na wala namang kakaiba sa katawan niya sa ilalim ng kunot.
Sa mundong ating ginagalawan ay wala ng babae o lalaki ang hindi nagagahasa ngayon, iyon ang nakikita ko sa kanyang ekspresyon.
He focused on me once more, the unease in his eyes prompting him to ask again, "W-who are you?"
I made no move to rush him, I simply observed as he attempted to pierce through the darkness to find me.
He rose from the bed, tentatively walking toward my concealed form.
But then, the winds rustled the thick leaves outside, causing shadows to dance around me.
Suddenly, the moonlight broke through, illuminating my figure, and in that instant, his fear intensified as he caught sight of me.
- Writer
