Chapter 34

~*~
ENCE
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"I don't know," I plainly stated. She bows her head and whispers something.

I look up where the stars are still shining in a clear sky with a full moon just like in a romantic episodes in the movies. But I should stop this fucking thoughts of mine because we fucking need to go home.

I sigh as I lean forward, "I'll give you a piggy back ride. Stop arguing with me or else I'll leave you here."

Finally, she shut her mouth. I kneel down and held her hand to help her ride on my back. She awkwardly positioned her arms on my shoulders— doesn't know if she'll wrap it or just simply hang it.

Nanaig ang ingay ng kuliglig at mga yapak ko sa mga tuyong dahon na naglilikha ng malutong na tunog sa tahimik na gabi habang naglalakad ako patungo sa isang eskinita kung saan nakatira ang isang ka-miyembro ng N.O, manghihiram ako ng motor para maka-uwi na.

"Are you fine, there?" tanong ko. Mula kanina ay hindi niya na talaga naisipang magsalita at mukhang hanggang ngayon ay wala pa rin siyang balak magsalita dahil wala akong nakuhang sagot mula sa kanya.

Her hands are still hanging on my shoulder freely swinging everytime I move. Her head is lightly inclined on my nape. I sighed, maybe she's asleep.

Nagpatuloy lang ako sa paglalakad at makailang ulit na lumiko sa makitid na daan papunta sa bahay nina Jerome. Hindi ko na rin mabilang kung ilang pusa na ang nakasalubong ko habang nagtatakbuhan sa itaas ng mga kahon na gawa sa kahoy na nagpatong-patong sa gilid na mas lalong nagpakalat sa paligid.

"Oy pare! Mukhang may manlilibre ng alak natin ngayon!" saad ng isang kalbong lasing na may hawak ng bote ng alak nang makita niya akong lumiko sa kanto kung saan sila nag-iinuman.

"At mukhang may dalang pulutan pa para sa'tin." The other drunkard with a tattoo lustfully stated as he licked his lip while staring to Jhaeyszel's thighs which freely exposed the way I carry her. Damn. I'm eager to take those fucking eyeballs now.

"Mukhang pagod ka na kabubuhat sa kanya, totoy. Magpahinga ka muna, kami na ang bahala sa kasama mo." Pinaghila ako ng kahon ng isa pang lasing na hanggang balikat ang haba ng buhok.

Tatlo silang nakatayo sa harapan ko, amoy lambanog ang hininga at namumula ang mga mata. They were on drugs, I'm sure.

"Don't touch her." Tiim-bagang kong sabi nang akmang hahawakan ng lasing na may hawak na bote ng alak ang kamay ni kutong-lupa.

"Ano daw yon, pare? Dun tats hir? Ano yon?" tanong ng lalaking humila ng kahon kanina para paupuin ako habang pumupungay-pungay ang mga mata sa sobrang kalasingan.

"Nakikita mo ba tong malaking agila sa dibdib ko?" I looked at his chest where the tattoo located. It was awful and lame—eagle with an open wings.

"Ako ang hari rito kaya kung ako sayo, ipatikim mo na sa'min yang kasama mo kung ayaw mong ikaw ang makatikim."

"Pfffft," I let out a soft giggle until it became a laughter, "Hahahahahaha! T-that was absurd."

The three drunkards got confused why I am laughing. There's nothing funny actually. It's just my way to make this constipated to wake up but I fail.

"Pinagtatawanan mo ba ako?" the tattooed guy ask while repeatedly punching his palm. I just smirk at him.

"Teka lang," pigil ko. I took a step backward and gently put her down in the cold floor. There I saw her sleeping peacefully without any idea what's happening around.

"You," turo ko sa lalaking pandak na malaki ang tiyan— ang lasing na humila ng kahon kanina. "Can you wake—I mean, pwede mo ba siyang gisingin? Binibigyan kita ng pagkakataon para hawakan siya." Saad ko habang tinuturo si kutong-lupa na ngayon ay nakahiga sa isang marumi at malamig na semento.

Ngumisi siya nang malapad na para bang asong-ulol na puno ng pagnanasa. He immediately kneel down as he lustfully caressing Jhaeyszel's cheek. "Miss sexy, gising na. Pupunta tayong langit." I stand besides them and clenched my fist as I heard those words.

"Mmm," we heard a soft moan from Jhaesyzel and lightly move her head up and giving us a nice spot of her neck which I think is really not helpful.

I shift my gaze to the tattooed guy. He is now holding his bulged while the other drunkard besides him swallow.

"Miss sexy, gising na. Maglalaro pa kayo ni Junjun." Pangigising niya ulit hanggang sa patuloy na bumaba ang haplos nito sa leeg ni kutong-lupa.

Mabuti naman at bago pa lumandas ang kamay niya sa parteng 'yon ay dumilat ang mata ni kutong-lupa. Namilog ito saglit at automatic na tumaas ang kamao niya para suntukin sa ilong ang lalaking kaharap.

"Fucking monkey!"

I knew it! The last time I woke her, she punched me. I'm glad that she did the same thing.

"Gaga to ah!" Galit na sigaw ng lalaking may malaking tiyan. Before she could slap Jhaeyszel I kicked his chin that made him groggy.

I immediately carry her and put her on the side. "Hey!" I snap her out. She was still in shock, her horrible face explains it all. "Just shout if one of those men get near you. Got it?" I tap her right shoulder then she nod.

"Sa likod mo!" She suddenly shouted while pointing her finger at my back. Agad kong hinila ang kahon na nasa likurang bahagi niya at ginawang pagsangga sa lalaking ihahampas sana ang bote ng alak sa ulo ko.

Sinipa ko ang tuhod niya bago ko ihampas ang kahon sa ulo niya.

"Are you really sure you want to mess with me?" maangas na tanong ko. Sinubukan niyang bumangon pero agad kong tinadyakan ang kinaiingatan niyang yaman.

"Aww!" He curled his body for so much pain. "P-paano na ang lahi ko?" he cried. I just smirk and give him a kick on his stomach that made him swoon.

Bigla namang bumangon ang pandak na lasing para bigyan ako ng suntok. Umaatras lang ako habang nakangisi. Masyado siyang maliit para maabot ang mukha ko.

"Bakit hindi ka pumatong sa kahon?" I suggested as I pointed my finger to his right side. "Baka sakaling may pag-asa ka na masuntok ako sa mukha."

"Grr," he growled like an ugly monkey. He tried to punch me again and I slouch as I sweep my legs to his causing him to keel over. I strike his nape by the use my elbow that made him faint.

Two down, one more left. Hindi ko mapigilang tumaas ang sulok ng labi ko, walang-wala sila sa mga nakalaban namin noon.

"E-ence," I heard a soft cry coming from my back, "t-tulong."

I cursed everything I know when that tattooed guy is gripping her neck by his right arm while the other hand is holding a knife ready to slit her throat.

"I told you to shout! Then why the hell—?" I ask frustratedly.

"How can I shout if he's holding a knife! Where did your brains go?" She sarcastically shouted out of frustration too.

"Magsitigil kayong dalawa! Sinabi ko naman sayo, totoy. Ako ang hari rito." Muli niyang pagyayabang habang paulit-ulit na inaamoy ang buhok ni kutong-lupa.

"Don't ever lay a finger on her, or else—"

"Hindi kita maintindihan. Ayusin mo 'yang pananalita mo." Giit niya at mas lalo pang diniinan ang pagkakasakal kay Jhaeszel.

"Ayusin mo rin 'yang ugali mo, kumag ka. Kapag ako namatay rito, mumultuhin kita!" she glare at me. Nakikita kong nahihirapan siyang makatayo dahil na rin sa bali sa paa niya.

"Huwag kang mag-alala, Miss beautiful. Titiyakin ko munang masasarapan ka bago kita patayin." Jhaeyszel emphatically shut her eyes when that bullshit licked her earlobes. I'm on the urge to kill someone right at this moment.

"Huwag kang lumapit!" Sita niya sa'kin nang humakbang ako papalapit sa kanya at mas lalo pang itinusok ang kutsilyo sa leeg ni Jhaeyszel. "Manood ka lang, totoy." Then he plant a small kisses on her neck.

I clenched my fist and gritted my teeth in anger. I can't bear to see her sexually abused by that damn maniac. Her face is full of tears as her body is shaking to death.

"H-huwag po," she helplessly cry.

"Stop," I commanded. "Please, stop!" for the second time in my entire life, I beg. I feel so useless. Hindi ko siya magawang iligtas, kapag ginawa ko mas lalo siyang mapapahamak. I don't know what to do.

"Tulungan mo ako, Ence," mahinang hikbi niya.

Think, Ence. Think! Don't let your emotions overrides you.

"Pag-usapan natin 'to," I calmly stated. Huminto siya sa ginagawang paghalik at itinuon ang pansin sa'kin. All I need is to distract him.

"Let her go, bibigyan kita ng pera kahit magkano. Name your price." Biglang lumiwanag ang mukha ng gago dahil sa sinabi ko.

"Oy! Maganda 'yan, pero mas maganda kung matitikman ko muna siya at pagkatapos gagawing bihag. Kidnapped for ransom, kumbaga." Patango-tango niyang sabi at napapikit pa.

I take that as a chance to run towards them and hold his arm which holding a knife. Jhaeyszel is still on the middle while we're interpolating.

"Let. Her. Go." giit ko.

Masyado siyang malakas, kahit nakikipag-agawan siya ay hindi niya pa rin binibitawan si kutong-lupa. Sobrang namamawis na ako kapipigil ng kamay niya, konting distansya lang ang layo nito sa leeg ni Jhaeyszel. Kapag hindi ko ito napigilan, malamang ay masasaksak siya.

"Papatayin ko kayong dalawa," mala-demonyong wika niya.

Napapikit si Jhaeyszel ng mariin nang maramdaman ang malamig na metal na nakatusok sa leeg niya. May pumatak na pulang likido mula rito.

"Augh!"

Napahinto ako at nanigas mula sa kinatatayuan. Gulat akong nakatingin sa kanya nang biglang bumulwak ang dugo mula sa bunganga niya. Agad kong hinila si Jhaeyszel palapit sa'kin at niyakap.

Unti-unting napaluhod ang gago bago ito tuluyang bumulagta sa sahig.

"Are you okay?" I asked her. Tahimik lang siyang umiiyak habang nanginginig. "Tahan na, ligtas ka na." I kiss her forehead and hug her tighter.

Nabaling naman ang atensyon ko sa harap nang may mapansin akong anino. Nakita ko ang pigura ng isang lalaking nakatayo, nakaangat ang braso at nakatutok ang baril sa'min. Madilim kaya hindi ko maaninag ang mukha.

"Who are you?"

Ibinaba niya ang hawak saka lumapit, unti-unti nang lumilinaw ang mukha niya. Magulong buhok na nakabagsak sa noo at malayang nililipad ng hangin, seryoso at bilugan na mga mata, labi na parang idinikit dahil hindi magawang ngumiti.

"Drey," I uttered.

He stop and stand right in front of us. He's looking intently to Jhaeyszel as the latter cry hard on my chest. He gritted his teeth and something sparkled on his eyes. Is that a tear?

"I'm sorry, I'm late." He apologizes while still staring to Jhaeyszel. "I'm really sorry."

"You're just in time." I get his attention as I put my hands to his shoulders and pat it. "You're just in time. Thank you." he just nodded and go back to his old expression— emotionless. The tear and fear to his eyes that I've noticed a while ago immediately vanish, maybe it's just a mirage.

I didn't bother to ask why he knew where to find us or what is he doing here. The most important thing was he saved her.

If he didn't come, I will cursed myself to death because I might lose her. Thinking the idea of losing her gives me a chill to my spine and fear in my heart.

Maybe, just maybe I know the answer to that question. Being afraid to lose her answered all my muddle.

I like you, Jhaeyszel.