Di na natahimik ang kalooban ko, lagi kong naiisip ang mga sinabi ni Xavier.
Ilang araw ko na siyang iniiwasan makita sa trabaho. Kahit diko na kailangan gawin yun dahil malayo ang opisina namin ng ilang palapag.
Hindi pa ako handang kausapin siya. Naguguluhan na rin ako sa sarili ko.
Pa-admit na kaya ako sa Mental?
Nahigit ko ang hininga ko nang may biglang pumasok sa opisina ko.
Anong ginagawa niya dito?
"Hello there Ms. De Guzman," bati Sa akin ni Ericka.
"Hi, what can I do for you Ms. Llamas?" tanong ko sa kanya.
"I heard what happened to your dog, Good to hear his fine. Buti umabot pa sa Vet."
Nanlumo ako sa sinabi niya, does she have something to do with what happened to Goofy?
"I told you, stay away from Xavier. I still have several things stored for you."
Kinumpirma niya ang hi Ala,baliw na ang babae ang ito. I can't even imagine what she is capable of doing.
She wore a menacing smile as she left the room.
Naka-upo na ako pero nanghina ang tuhod ko.
Am I scared? or I'm just being paranoid? Pwede Ko ba siyang kasuhan? But I don't have by evidence. It will be her words against mine.
Is she for real? or is she just bluffing?
***
"Kuya, pakabit kaya tayo ng CCTV Sa bahay?" shestiyon Ko sa Kuya Ko.
"Para saan?" tanong niya habang diretso pa rin ang tingin sa TV.
"Security, purposes siyempre?" Dahilan ko sa kanya.
"Dahil ba ito sa nangyari kay Goofy?"Usisa niya.
" Isa na rin yun, tsaka madalas kaya akong naiwan sa bahay, " sagot ko.
"Okay, I'll have it installed this weekend." walang patumpik tumpik na Sabi niya.
"Palagay ka na din ng water sprinkler at Fire extinguisher."dagdag Ko.
Napakunot siya ng noo.
"Isa-Isa lang muna Gab, lagay na din ako ng fire alarm gusto mo?."
Sa totoo lang natatakot talaga ako sa sinabi ni Ericka. At least handa ako just incase.
Bumili na rin kaya ako ng pellet gun? Stun gun?
"By the way I'll be out of town,kaya ikaw na bahala Sa bahay. Malaki ka na."
"Mag-out of town, di man Lang ako niyaya." kunwari'y pagmamaktol Ko.
"Out of town work yun," paliwanag niya.
"Asus,"
Wala naman talaga ako balak sumama, pinag titripan ko lang si kuya.
***
Nakatambay ako sa bahay hinihintay ang mga magkakabit ng CCTV camera Sa loob at labas ng bahay. I was seating on the sofa eating chips while watching Netflix nang may nag doorbell. Agad akong tumayo Para pag buksan ito.
Bumungad sa akin ang dalawang lalaki na parehong naka sombrero. Babatiin ko sana sila nang biglang tinutukan ako ng baril sa may tagiliran.
Namutla ako, dahil hindi ko yun inasahan at di nakagalaw.
Anong nangyayari bakit may baril? Anong gagawin ko? Sisigaw ba ako? Paano kung bigla nila akong barilin? Ano bang meron? Prank ba ito?
Biglang tumahol si Goofy.
Nagbalik ako sa kamalayan ko. I stared at my dog, trying to tell him to keep quiet or these people might shot him.
Mabuti na lang at tumahimik siya, but I know he feels something is off.
"Huwag mo subukan gumawa ng kalokohan, kung ayaw mong matuluyan ang aso mo." Banta ng isa sa kanila.
"Hwag nyo siyang sasaktan,please." paki usap ko. Kinabahan ako para sa buhay ni Goofy.
"Kung ganun sumama ka sa amin."utos nito.
Para akong tanga na sumunod. Pwede akong sumigaw they're trying to kidnap me so it means they need me alive.
Inayakad nila ako palabas ng pinto hindi Inaalis ang baril na naka tutok sa akin.
"Just be a good boy Goofy, okay?"Sabi ko nang nilingon ko si Goofy.
Hindi ako nag protesta hanggang sa makarating kami sa bungad ng van.
Ewan ko bakit kinabahan ako sa puting van.
Sindikato ba sila, kukunin ba nila ang lamang loob ko?
Doon lang nag sink in sa utak ko na I need to do something.Pero bago pa ako makapag isip ng plano ay bigla na Lang tumakip sa ilong Ko ng panyo na may kakaibang amoy.
Bigla akong nahilo.
Shit! Gabriela hindi ka pwedeng mawalan ng malay!
Hindi Ko na napigilan ang pag bagsak ng talukap ng aking mga mata.
⚠️trigger warning⚠️ next scene contains mild rape scene.
Sinubukan kong imulat ang mga mata ko ngunit diko magawa ng nakakita o makaanininag man lang ng liwanag dahil sa pagkakapiring ng mga mata ko. Nakatali rin ang mga kamay ko sa likod habang nakaupo ako sa silya. Pati ang mga paa ko ay nakagapos rin. Nakatali rin ang katawan ko sa sandalan ng silya.
Gusto kong sumigaw ngunit di ko rin iyon magawa dahil natatakpan din ng ducktape ang bibig ko.
Ano bang ginawa ko?
Bakit ba ako kinidnap ng mga lalaking iyon.
I can't see I can't talk, I can't move. I can only use my ears but all I could hear is the rapid beating of my heart.
I tried to loosen the rope on may hand, pero tila nasusugat lamang ang mga ito.
Narinig ko ang malakas na tunog sa palagay ko sanhi ito ng marahas na pag-bukas ng pinto, kasabay noon ay narinig ko ang mga yabag ng mga tao palapit sa kinaroroonan ko. Nagpanggap akong tulog di naman siguro nila mahahalata yun.
"Mukhang hindi pa rin gising ang bisita natin natin boss," sabi nang isa sa kanila.
"Mahimbing ba ang naging tulog mo?" tanong pa nang isang my matinis na boses.
Mga sira din 'tong mga 'to ehh, paano ko sila kakausapin ehh may tape ang bibig ko.
"Gisingin mo na yan," utos nang isa sa kanila.
Bigla ko na lang naramdaman ang pagsaboy ng malamig na tubig sa mukha at katawan ko na naging dahilan ng pagsinghap ko.
"Goodmorning," parang tangang bati sa akin ng isa sa kanila na mas matinis ang boses.
"Goodevening na pala," pagtatama niya.
Nanginginig ako ngayon dahil sa pag- kakabasa sa akin. Sinubukan kong kumalag sa pagkakatali nila sa akin.
"Nakaka-frustrate noh? Di ka maka galaw di ka makapag salita tapos di ka pa makakita."
"Siguro nag-tataka ka kung bakit ka namin kinidnap."
'Yan din ang tanong ko.
"Di ka naman ganun kayaman."
Alam naman pala nila ehh.
"We just need money, wala na kaming pang casino and someone ask us to do something in exchange of money."
"We have plans for you," sabi ng isa.
"We can play first before we get the money. If you get what I mean," sabi nang lalaking medyo matinis ang boses. Saka ito tumawa na nag pakilabot sa buong sistema ko.
"Iwan mo muna kaming dalawa at bantayan mo ang pinto ng warehouse."
Dinig ko ang pag alis ng isa sa kanila. It was the same as the fear I felt years before. The difference was Nick isn't in the country to save me, kuya is out of the town.
I have no idea of what they are doing right now. Gusto kong sumigaw out of protest but I can't. I was trying to keep my cool hangga't sa makakaya ko. Hinawi niya ang sa buhok na tumatakip sa mukha ko at inipit iyon sa likod ng kanang tenga ko. Ramdam ko ang pagdampi ng hininga niya tenga ko at gilid ng leeg ko. Nagsimulang magtayuan ang balahibo ko.
Gusto kong umiyak nang maramdaman ko ang pagdampi nang tila mga labi sa leeg ko.
Napasigaw ako kahit tila mahina ng ingay lang lumalabas sa akin. Nagpupumiglas ako sa pagkakaupo bilang protesta. Tila natuwa pa ang taong yun dahil dinig ko ang paghagikhik niya.
"Don't tell me you still have the V-card?"
Patuloy lang ako sa pagpupumiglas ko, umiiyak at binubuhos ang lakas na meron ako para magwala. Habang ang taong iyon ay patuloy sa ginagawa niya.
He started nibbling my ears.
My heart is totally racing because of rage and disgust, habang bumaba papunta sa sa dibdib ko ang maruming labi niya. Sumisigaw ako sa likod ng tape sa labi ko. Tumitigil siya sa tuwing nag rereact ako.
Kelangan kong kumalma, walang maitutulong ang pagwawala. Yumuko ako at nag simula akong huminga ng malalim at nakiramdam sa kilos niya.
Iniangat niya ang mukha ko at nang maramdaman ko ang hininga niya at pag lapit ng ulo niya sa mukha ko ay hinead butt ko siya.
Dinig ko ang sigaw niya dahil sa sakit. I could feel something warm flow down my forehead. It did hurt pero mas gugustuhin kong masaktan kesa babuyin niya.
"You're being feisty, and I like it," tila natuwa pang sabi nito.
Inalis niya ang pagkakatali ng katawan ko mula sa silya tsaka niya ako tinulak sa sahig. Masakit ang naging pagtama ng balikat ko sa sahig.
Did I made the wrong move?
Naramdaman ko ang marahas na pag tanggal niya ng tape sa bibig ko. "Now let me hear your cries pleading me to stop." Tila sumama sa tape ang balat sa labi ko.
The first thing I did was to scream as loud at I could, saka ko pinagmumura ang taong malamang ay pinapanood akong nagwawala.
"Scream more babe," he demanded.
I could imagine him smiling at me, saka ko naramdaman ang pag-upo niya sa tiyan ko na nagpasinghap muli sa akin. He was pushing my shoulders on the floor violently at sinumulan muli ang paghalik sa leeg ko pababa ko na naging dahilan ng pagwawala ko at pag sigaw.
"Tama na!" I just gave him what he wanted. I cried, I screamed at pleaded him to stop.
This fear is different from what I experienced before. I was angry I couldn't help myself. I'm mad for not being careful. Parang gusto ko na lang na sindikato ang kumuha sa akin at patayin ako agad at di na kailangan babuyin pa ng ganito. Humagulgol na lang ako dahil sa takot, awa sa sarili ko at sa galit.
"That's it, we finally got the shit out of you." halata sa boses niya ang pag katuwa.
"Try to do something that person don't like and your video will be uploaded online," banta niya.
Huwag nila sabihin I was being filmed so this was their plan. I started cursing him again.
"Nagawa ko na ang inutos sa akin, bakit di natin ipag pa tuloy. I still have the upperhand anyways."
Nang hilakbot ako sa sinabi niya, just when I thought it will all stop mangyayari ang ganito.
"H'wag! Tama na, ayoko na, please," pagmamakaawa ko.
Marahas niyang hinalikan ang labi ko. I screamed in between.
"Huwag! Tama na! please..."
He just turned a deaf ear at my screams. Lalo akong napa sigaw when he started ripping my shirt I could feel my skin being exposed. I felt his hand starting to travel and I can't stop him. Why do I need to suffer this. I was reminded, If you're being assaulted act like you finally want to do it.
"Can I have some chocolates? " wala sa sariling sabi.
I know it's kind of cliche but that's the only thing in my mind.
"Why? you're lucky enough I got one here, babe. "
Oo maswerte pa rin ako, this chocolate will end my suffering. Isinubo niya ito sa bibig ko. This is actually suicide, I was crying while chewing it. I was just waiting for my allergies to act and stop all this.
He's mouth was about to reach my chest. When my skin started to itch at felt shortness of breathing.
"Anong nangyayari sayo?" tanong.
"I guess I'm dying," I smirked at the thought.
I was helplessly lying on the floor, I stopped hearing anything, while taking my last few breath.
I'm sorry kuya, I can't say sorry, ikaw na bahala kay Goofy, I love you both. Nick, I'm sorry for everything. Mama, papa I miss you, sorry for letting you down, and thank you. Before my thoughts get lost an image of Xi flashed on my mind. Thank you for coming back. I'm sorry we couldn't have our second chance, I love you still.
⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️
...
Xavier
I was watching on Netflix when I started hearing a barking dog.
I looked outside the window and realize it was coming from Goofy. There was a white van in front of the street.
I could see Gab talking to them, something in her expression made me anxious but Goofy stopped barking.
I was about to turn eyes on the TV when I saw the two man taking Gab inside the van and Goofy started barking again.
I frantically ran outside but the van was already moving.
I took went back inside and went to my room, took my car keys, Grab a shirt and swiftly hop into my car and drive.
I know it's dangerous checking your phone while driving, but I need to check on something. I might be acting like a stalker if I did something on Gab's phone when she fell asleep at the dog clinic.
I'm just hoping she had her phone with her.
I was lucky enough to locate the her phone. I hope she's there or somewhere near.
...
I finally arrived at the place where I saw a white van.
It was quite far from the city an old warehouse I guess. There is a man standing out side the door taking a cigarette and he was carrying a gun. I hid behind the van and took a large stone.
I called a police station to tell them about the abduction. I made a plan and successfully hit him with a stone.
I took his gun just to find out it don't have any bullet. These people aren't professionals I guess, I don't know what there motives are.
I entered the warehouse and hurriedly ran towards the man standing there and lunged at him. And beat him to until his face was unrecognizable and unconscious.
I turned my eyes to the girl lying on the floor. Gab, I know it was her even with her eyes are covered there was blood on her face and her shirt was ripped.
I was horrified at her state. I hurriedly untied her hands at feet and took off her blind fold.
She was breathing raggedly. There are rashes all over her body. The last time I saw her like this was when she accidentally eaten red velvet.
I started checking on her pulse but could hear faint sound. I looked around and saw a chocolate wrapper aside from the allergy she was also losing blood.
My heart was racing while I was carrying her to my car. I covered her with a jacket, And drove to the nearest hospital I could see.
I carried her to the emergency, And was frantically shouting at the nurse and doctors because that are not attending to Gab.
"Calm down sir,"
"How can I calm down,when you're not doing anything." I cried.
"Sir we just need to ask few questions for the patient's details."
"Can you please attend to her first, then I'll answer you're questions."
"We need to know what happened for us to proceed,"
" It's her allergy acting up,and don't know how she hit her head."
I was just answering her questions, at last they attended to her, they we're taking her vital signs. I was just watching them do, what they need to do.
...
Gabriela
I woke up in a hospital bed, naramdaman ko ang kirot sa balikat at noo ko. Then it came to me, I remembered what happened.
Napa-sigaw ako,sa sama ng loob. Sa awa sa sarili ko. Pakiramdam ko ang dumi-dumi ko. Why do I have to live? A person approached me, it was Xavier.
I cried I saw him. Di ko alam kung paano ko ilalarawan ang mukha niya.
Nag-aalala, na-aawa, nalulungkot, galit ba siya?
He was about to reach me nang mapa atras ako mula sa kanya. Umiwas ako nang hahawakan niya sana ang balikat ko.
I can't.
I know he's not my abductor but I was scared, I don't know why I was acting like this.
Why is he here? Did he find me? Did he rescue? Did he saw me?
"H'wag kang lalapit! H'wag mo kong hahawakan!"
"Calm down Gab, it's just me. I won't hurt you," he was assuring me.
But I started screaming and crying. A female nurse entered the room and a male doctor came after her which made me anxious.
"Anong nangyayari sir?" the doctor asked.
"She woke up and screamed," I heard Xavier.
"Nurse, palabasin mo sila," I cried.
Both men looked at me.
What I started hugging myself. I could hear my self saying, asking them to stop.
The doctor left the room and when he came back with a male nurse.
I don't know what happened they we're pinning me down the hospital bed, and then I felt drowsy.
...
Xavier
It hurts seeing her like that, crying and screaming. She looks terrified seeing me as if I was going to do something bad at her.
I'm glad to see her awake, but I didn't imagine her in this state. I was even mad when I found out that her abductors manage to get away. I manage to save her but I didn't save her from the trauma. I told Migz about what happened when he arrived at the hospital.
He was angry and helpless just like what I felt before but unlike her reaction when she saw me, she was calm seeing his brother.
She was even at ease when Nick came back from Hong Kong.
I wanted to be with her and comfort but she was afraid of me, all I could do is see her from afar.
It was two weeks since the incident and she managed to get back to work. I was happy to see that she is slowly coping up.
We both entered the lift together with other staff she was standing at the corner as we ascended the people started to disembarked one by one. Until we are the only ones left.
I avoided myself looking at her, as we both waited to reach the next floor. She was tapping the floor with her shoes. Then the elevator started to shake we both hanged on the elevator rails and the lights started to turn on and off.
"Anong nangyayari?" she asked.
"I don't know," I answered.
Then the shaking stopped but the lights were still shut.
I took my phone and turn the flashlight on. Knowing that she keeps her lights on in her sleep.
There was no signal inside the elevator so I turn to the inter phone.
"Hello, is any body there? We are trapped in the elevator, I guess we are on the 11th floor."
While we waited for a response, Gab and I seated on the floor.
"Hi, how are you?" I asked, this is my only chance to talk to her.
She was hesitant to talk, but she answered me in the end.
"I'm okay," she answered shortly.
"That's good to hear," I smiled.
"I'm sorry," she apologized out of nowhere.
Maybe for the way she acted when she saw me at the hospital.
"For what? I should be the one apologizing," I clarified.
Then there was silence again. Then the lights turned on and started moving again. We stood up and I turned my flashlight off. We stopped again and the door started to move.
Gab turned to me.
"I'm sorry but I can't be friends with you anymore. Please pretend we don't know each other," she said then she disembarked the vessel.
I just looked at her walking away from me.
I wondered if it hurts saying those words, because she made it looked like it didn't.
< End of Chapter forty-nine >
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