SAM'S POV
I grimaced when I started to feel pain sa ilang hakbang pa lang na nagagawa ko. Kauuwi lang ng mga therapists ko but I've already made a habit na piliting maglakad ng ilang hakbang man lang every night before retiring for the day. Ayokong maghintay pa ng ilang linggo bago pa'ko makalakad uli.
I was just too excited to bang that bastard's head dahil higit isang linggo na 'kong iniiwasan nito. Kept avoiding me all day at kung hindi ito nagkukulong sa opisina niya rito, lagi naman itong umaalis!
That shit!
With gritted teeth, I took another painful steps again, enduring the pain that it inflicted on me. I wanted to be used with the pain dahil ito lang ang tanging sagot para magawa ko na lahat ng gusto ko.
I think I was just missing that bastard so much dahil wala na'kong ibang napapaginipan gabi-gabi kundi ito lang. These past few nights was so hard for me with him kept appearing in my dreams. With him pulling me into his arms in my sleep. And it felt so damn real for me kaya naman ang himbing-himbing lagi ng tulog ko.
Hindi pa naman ako nababaliw at mas lalong hindi pa'ko ganun kahibang para pagnasaan ko ng ganun ang gagong 'yon kaya alam kong imposibleng paulit-ulit lang ang mga panaginip ko. A dream would never be the same each night so I can tell something was really off with it.
And I have to find out why it was so.
Nagpatuloy na'ko sa paglalakad. My sweats started to trickle down on my brows now as my legs started to shake in exertion.
For almost a week of doing this as a routine every night, nagsisimula na'kong masanay sa sakit ngayon. And maybe in just another week or so, makakalakad na rin ako without even a help of my crutches.
Breathing with heavy breaths, I took another steps while still grimacing in pain. This time, pabalik na'ko sa kama ko.
My legs were ready to give out now but with gritted teeth, I forced myself to reach my bed habang tagaktak na ang pawis ko kahit na ang lakas naman ng aircon ngayon.
Konti nalang, Sam. Konti nalang kaya---
"Stop that this instant."
That made me faltered on my steps when I suddenly heard that voice from nowhere, dahilan para tuluyan na'kong matumba sa malamig na sahig while clutching my legs with a grimace.
Oh shit! I cried out in my mind, habang napapatiim ng bagang na napapahawak ng kanang binti ko. The most injured one.
With an annoyed groan, I quickly searched for that voice with a desperate glare. Desperate to strangle the owner of that familiar voice. That voice that I had longed to hear for over a week now!
"Mr. Del Fuero??" Tawag ko na rito as I searched for him inside my room with hawkish eyes.
But when I found no bastard was inside my room, inis na pinilit ko na lang ulit na tumayo sa mga paa ko as disappointment creeping inside me.
"Mr. Del Fuero? Are you here?" I called out again as I took a step to my bed.
But when no answer came, napapabuntong-hininga nalang ako as I carefully sat on the edge of my bed.
Probably I was just missing him so much now kaya naman parang naririnig ko na ang boses nito ngayon.
Minsan ko lang itong nakikita nitong mga huling araw at kung nakikita ko man ito, it was either papaalis na ito rito for his work o di naman kaya nagmamadali ng magkulong sa opisina niya rito. Sa ginagawa nito, ramdam ko talagang may tinatago ito sa'kin that was why he kept avoiding me at all cost.
And aunt... My mother.. Hindi parin nya 'ko binibisita rito hanggang ngayon. Everyone made me feel that something amiss was really going on.
That was why I wanted to recover as soon as possible. Dahil gusto kong ako mismo ang aalam sa kung ano ang pilit na tinatago nila sa'kin ngayon..
Heaving out a frustrated sigh, I quickly took off my shirt and my brassiere that was now drenched with my sweats then thrown that to the laundry basket at the corner across me. Agad na rin akong nagsuot ng maluwag na damit sabay patay ng ilaw na nasa mesa sa gilid ng kama ko. With an exhausted sigh, I plopped down on my bed. Inayos ko na agad ang higa ko, covering my still plastered legs with the soft duvet of my bed.
I wasn't ready to retire yet and I think sleep won't come so soon dahil sa ilang araw lang na pinipilit kong makalakad agad, parang nasasanay na'ko ngayon and it doesn't exhaust me that much now para makatulog agad kahit katatapos lang kumain.
I have more important things to do right now than to oversleep. To think about things I have to complete kapag gumaling na'ko. Gaya lang ng file na'yon at para alamin kung sino ang tunay kong ama.
The more I get close to finding what was in that file, the more my life became a mess now.
"You heard it right, Ms. Javier. Hindi ko alam ang laman ng file na'yon dahil may passcode ito at hindi ko alam kung ano 'yon..."
Nang maalala ko na naman ang sinabi nyang 'yon sa'kin noong isang araw, I couldn't help but just blankly stared at the darkness above me while giving it a deep thought.
Nahanap na niya ang file na'yon pero hindi naman ito mabuksan. Maaari nga kayang nandun din sa file na'yon ang bagay na sinasabi ni Mang Doming na siyang pakay talaga ng mga taong humahabol sa'min?
"Kasama ng file na'yon.. nakatago ang bagay na'yon.... "
Napapatango-tango na lamang ako when Mang Doming's words echoed in my head. Now finally understanding it.
There was no doubt nandoon nga ang bagay na'yon kasama ng file na'yon that's why it has a passcode. And I have to crack that down. And I know someone who won't disappoint me with this.
Allan Grand.
My dear partner na hindi ko na alam kung buhay pa ba ito hanggang ngayon because I hadn't had any contact with him after I asked him to find Mang Doming's exact location and who turned out to be an alias name of Mr. Sogocio.
And speaking of that devil, kakilala niya si Enriquez kaya malamang, siya talaga ang may gustong bumili ng bahay ko.
Dahil sa kagustuhan kong mahanap agad si Mang Doming, halos makalimutan ko na ang tungkol sa taong 'yon. I still have to find him dahil tingin ko, kakilala lang nito ang may-ari ng boses na narinig ko noon.
Kaya naman kailangan ko ng gumaling. As in ora mismo.
With those thoughts clouding my mind, mas lalo pang nabuhay ang diwa ko. I think sleep was impossible to even come for me now with my desperation to recover fast stopping it.
Napapabuntong-hininga na lamang ako as I closed my eyes, my mind still lingered with those thoughts.
I just stayed motionless under my soft duvet habang gising na gising parin ang diwa ko, now trying to free my mind from any thoughts with closed eyes.
Kailangan ko ng matulog.. kailangan ko ng gumaling.. I chanted in my mind. Forcing myself to sleep now.
Nagpatuloy lang ako sa ginagawa kong 'yon, just chanting those words to lull myself.
Pero mga ilang sandali ko palang na ginagawa 'yon when I suddenly heard that smooth opening sound of some door.
My ear instantly pricked up at that like a noise detector as my body turned rigid on my bed.
I swear someone had opened my door just now. At kapag may nagbukas ng pinto, then this could only mean one thing, someone was intruding my privacy here sa ganitong dis-oras ng gabi!
With my primal instinct as a fighter, mas lalo ko pang nilakasan ang pakiramdam ko to feel what that intruder was doing now. My fists were tightly balled on my sides, bracing myself for a fight.
With my legs being useless right now, I just hope na magagawa ko pa ring pigilan ito kahit sandali lang with my bare hands so that it could give me a chance to shout for a help from Mr. Del Fuero dahil magkatabi lang naman ang mga silid namin so I'm sure he'd hear my call.
My gun would've been useful right now pero dahil nasa drawer ito ngayon, baka nadali na'ko nito before I could even take out that gun.
I think luck wasn't really on my side this time..
Then I heard the closing of the door and then followed by a soft footsteps approaching to my bed. Dahilan para tumigil ang paghinga ko as my heart hammering against my chest. Lalo na nang maramdaman kong huminto ang yabag nito sa gilid mismo ng kama ko.
For awhile, I waited for that someone na may gagawin sa'kin but I frowned when nothing came. Nanatili lang itong nakatayo sa gilid ko nang hindi man lang gumagalaw and just doing nothing. But I can feel a pair of eyes staring at me right now, dahilan para maasiwa ako sa ginagawa nito ngayon.
Kung sino man ang tarantadong 'to, isa lang ang nasisiguro ko...
Isa itong manyak na basta-basta nalang pumapasok rito just to bloody stare at me!
I swear mauupakan ko talaga ang gagong del Fuero na'yon para magpapasok nalang ng kung sinu-sinong hinayupak sa bahay nyang 'to! I thought this house was safe and----
My thoughts were suddenly interrupted nang maramdaman ko ng gumalaw ang kumot na nasa may dibdib ko na siyang ikinabigla ko. The moment I felt his hand touched my sheets, my eyes instantly fluttered open before swiftly grabbed his wrist that was close to my chest saka hinila ito ng malakas papunta sa tabi ko before I quickly rolled off to my sides. And without even giving him a chance to react, agad ko ng inundayan ng malakas na suntok sa mukha ito with all the energy I could afford.
"WHAT THE HELL!!!"
That familiar cry made me frowned as my hand stopped midair when I was about to throw another punch on his face while tightly clutching his shirt.
"M-Mr. Del Fuero??" Gulat na tanong ko rito which he just answered with a loud grunt.
With creased brows, I quickly reached out for the lampshade at the bedside table to confirm my guess.
Pagkabukas ng ilaw, my eyes went wide when some bastard came into view habang napapangiwing hawak-hawak ang ilong nito.
"Holy shit! Anong ginagawa mo rito?" Agad na tanong ko na rito sabay bitaw sa damit nito and just leaned my forearms on his solid chest to support my upper body at para matingnan ko ito ng maayos.
"Inaayos ko lang ang kumot mo but out of a sudden, you had brutally punched me on my nose! On my nose! Oh goodness with you woman!!" He growled out as he let go of his injured nose.
Namumula-mula pa ito hanggang ngayon kaya naman agad ko ng tinampal ang kamay nitong nakahawak sa ilong nito para hipuin ito to atleast lessen the pain, slightly guilty with what I have done to him.
"Kung kumatok ka man lang sana kanina, edi sana, hindi kita mapagkakamalang manyak na bigla-bigla nalang pumapasok rito!"
When I growled that back, agad na tumalim ang pagkakatingin nito sa'kin ngayon with his lips in a tight purse.
"Akala ko ba tulog ka na! Kababae mong tao, ang lakas mong manapak!"
"Well, fortunately, hindi pa'ko tulog and I'm sure na mas malala pa sana ang natamo mo kaysa rito kapag hindi ka pa nagsalita! Ano ba kasing ginagawa mo rito??" Asik ko na sa kanya sabay hinto sa paghipo ng ilong nito as I glared down at him now.
Mas lalo pang tumalim ang pagkakatingin nito sa'kin ngayon as his jaw kept twitching in aggravation.
"I was just checking on you and..."
My brow shot up when he suddenly trailed off with pained look in his eyes.
Kahit konti lang ang liwanag na nagmumula sa lampshade ngayon, I could still clearly see his features right now.
Messy hair, a slight creased line in between his brows, tightly pursed lips with a light stubbles on his jaw. He was in his white shirt now, as white as my pillows under him. The reason why the shadow below his eyes didn't go out of my notice. Parang palagi itong puyat so he looked so stressed out right now.
This made me more suspicious about him dahil wala naman sana itong dapat pagpuyatan so why's the eyebags now?
"You were checking and what? Parang hindi ka na nga natutulog ng ilang araw, nagagawa mo pang pumunta rito ng ganitong dis-oras ng gabi. Why do you have to check on me anyway? Hindi naman ako tatakas rito kung yan ang inaakala mo!"
This time, the loud groaning under his throat intensified, obviously not kiking what I just said.
"This became my regular routine now so you can't stop me from coming here."
That made my brow arched more, giving him a disbelief look.
"Routine? Anong routine yang pinagsasabi mo ngayon? Ang pagpasok rito sa silid ko na parang kung sinong manyak ganun ba??"
"Just let me clarify you this, woman. Hindi kamanyakan 'tong ginagawa ko. I just wanted to see you kaya----"
His mouth snapped shut when I suddenly let out a mocking scoff.
"You wanted to see me??" I repeat his words before I dryly chuckled at him in disbelief while shaking my head, making his slips thinned in line.
"Oh, no! Hindi ko alam na gusto mo pa pala akong makita. Akala ko hindi na dahil iniiwasan mo'ko lagi kaya naman ilang araw kitang hindi man lang malapitan at makausap man lang with you kept leaving me here all alone!" inis na bulyaw ko na sa kanya, now ready to punch his nose again in annoyance.
"I wasn't avoiding you, woman! I was just so busy kaya hindi kita agad mapuntahan rito. And besides, I have always come here at night to see you kaya----"
"Wait. What? At night??" Gulat ng putol ko sa iba pa nitong sasabihin sabay takip sa bibig nito, dahilan para dumilim ang mukha nito while groaning in disapproval. Pero hindi ko na pinansin 'yon and just stared at him with wide eyes.
"Anong pinupuntahan mo'ko lagi rito? Does this mean, hindi lang 'ngayon' mo ito ginawa kundi noong mga nakaraang gabi pa and you have even made this as your routine??? What the hell!!" I exclaimed in horror, quite horrified with that idea!
With his groan intensified, he took off my hand from his mouth, revealing his lips formed in a thin line. Probably annoyed with me interrupting his talk. But heck! He kept sneaking into my room every night at wala man lang akong kaalam-alam dun!
This shit!
"I wasn't doing any malicious act, Ms. Javier! Gusto lang kitang makasama kaya pinupuntahan kita rito so never think I had taken advantage on you when you were asleep because I wasn't!"
When he hissed that, agad ng uminit ang ulo ko as my glare at him became a laser look.
This impossible bastard was really trying to stretch my non-existent patience to end!
"Ah! Gusto mo'kong makasama pero kung itrato mo'ko rito sa bahay mo, parang hindi man lang ako nandito! You kept on leaving for your office kung hindi naman, nagkukulong ka lang sa opisina mo rito!" I angrily spat at him while smacking his chest out of annoyance.
"And now you'd say na gusto mo'kong makita that's why you have made sneaking into my room every night like a perverted idiot as your fucking routine when you can just approach me dahil kahit ako, gusto rin kitang makasama gago ka! But as featherheaded as you are, hindi mo man lang ako kinakausap at hindi mo naman ako pinapansin! God knows how much I wanted to bit your granite head right now nang malaman mo naman kung gaano----"
I suddenly halted with my outburst when I caught a small smirk peeking through the side of his mouth while staring at me with his eyes dancing in amusement.
As in in all capital letters. AMUSEMENT!
This shit! Pinagtatawanan pa talaga ako ng gagong 'to!
Just seeing his reaction, I was on a verge of throwing some lavas at him now dahil sa inis ko rito.
"Anong nginingiti-ngiti mo dyan ngayon? Nagagawa mo pa talaga akong pagtawanan ngayon! Wala ka talagang puso!" Asik ko na dito sabay suntok sa dibdib nito saka aalis na sana sa posisyon kong 'yon dahil nagsisimula ng mangawit ang likod ko pero syang gulat ko nalang when he suddenly groped my butt and pulled me closer to him, stopping me to move one bit and making my eyes bulged out in horror.
HO-LY-SHIT!!
"MR. DEL FUERO!!! ANONG---"
"What? Something wrong, Ms. Javier? Ba't parang nakakita ka yata ng multo ngayon?" He asked with innocent voice, pretending to look worried when in fact! Mahigpit na nakahawak ang mga kamay nito ngayon sa puwet ko!
I could really kill him for this!