"Hey, get down from there!" He shouted.

I didn't listen to the man and faced the river again. 

Walang makakapigil sa'kin. I want this to be over! Ang sakit na. Hindi ko na kinakaya. Halos... halos paulit-ulit na lang kasi. 

They will hurt me and hurt me again. 

What a waste cycle of life!

"I said get down from there!" Sa kabila ng ingay ng kalikasan, hindi ko maiwasang marinig ang malamig na boses ng lalaki na nagmumula sa aking likuran. 

His tone seems so desperate to bring me down here.

"I'll count to three, if you don't get off there..."

He stopped when I faced him.

Nakita ko ang pag-daan ng takot sa kaniyang mukha. He took a few breaths to calm himself. 

"Go down, Miss!"

I smiled. "Saan? Dito?" I even pointed to the raging river.

"I'm not joking!" He shouted. "Pupuntahan kita riyan. Don't move..."

Mabilis kong minulat ang mata ko nang maramdaman ang malamig na kamay na humawak sa aking talampakan. I slowly looked down and saw the gray eyes of the man who stopped me from jumping.

Katulad ko ay basang-basa rin siya dahil sa ulan.

"Baba," Utos niya.

Mas lalo lang nanikip ang dibdib ko. "Let's just mind our own business here, Sir. Kalimutan mo na lang na may nakita kang babae na tatalon sa tulay at hayaan mo na ako sa gusto kong gawin!"

"Isa," He started counting.

"Promise, hindi kita mumultuhin once na tumalon ako rito!"

"Dalawa,"

"Papasalamatan pa kita kasi hinayaan mo akong magpakamata-"

"Sorry, but I had to do this." 

Halos mapatili ako nang pag-dikitin niya ang dalawang hita ko at buhatin ako na para bang isang sako. I quickly smelled his fragrant perfume clinging to his black t-shirt. 

May kung anong kirot sa akin. 

Sinubukan kong gumalaw pero masiyado siyang malakas para makayanan ko. He opened the car with his one hand because his other hand was carrying me. Nang mabuksan naman niya ang pintuan ng sasakyan, kahit sapilitin ay ramdam ko ang ingat sa pagkapasok niya sa'kin sa loob. 

"Ano bang kailangan mo?" Unang tanong ko nang makasakay siya sa driver seat.

"Will you grant it to me?" Tanging pag-titig lang ang nagawa ko sa kaniya. Hininaan niya ang aircon at nagpakawala ng hangin. 

"You... stay alive."

Mariin akong napapikit at sinilip ang kamay na hanggang ngayon ay nanginginig pa rin. 

"What's the point of living?" How much longer do I have to go?

 I may overlook the scars etched on my skin, but how far can I escape from the scars that linger deep within?

A moment of silence enveloped us.

"Fuck, hindi naman ako physiatrist." Rinig kong bulong niya.

He sighed deeply, his eyes still fixed on mine, filled with an emotion I couldn't quite place.

"I know you are not okay but... don't think of ending your life." His words were firm but gentle. "There's so much more ahead of you, even if it doesn't feel that way right now."

Huminga ako nang malalim at nagkibit-balikat. I simply took my eyes off him.

If only he knew...

"I don't need your words. Hindi ko rin kailangan ng awa at pag-aalala mo sa'kin, Sir," Wika ko bago pa siya mag-salita. "Ibaba mo na lang ako riyan sa may kanto."

"What's wrong with being concerned about you?" He posed a query.

I turned silent for a while, sinusubukang h'wag mainis sa lalaki. I groaned and blew a deep breath before opening my eyes when I couldn't take it anymore.

I instantly laughed. "Okay na 'to. Okay na ako sa tulong mo na 'to. Ayaw kong umuwi. Kahit dito na lang ako. Dito mo na lang ako ibaba, magpapasalamat ako sa 'yo kung gusto mo ng thank you. Ayaw ko lang umuwi. I just... can't."

Magulo ang bahay. 

It doesn't feel like home anymore. 

"Ayaw mo ba talagang ihatid kita? It's free, as long as you get home safely." Naging mahinahon ang kaniyang boses.

I shook my head. "Dito na lang ako, please. I don't want to go home. Kahit mapahamak ako rito, wala kang kasalanan, labas ka rito. Just let me go."

Bumagal ang takbo ng sasakyan at huminto ito sa tapat ng 7/11.

Oh god, thank you. 

"You can go,"

I immediately went down and hugged myself when the cold wind hugged me. 

Sinubukan kong mag-isip kung saan ang lugar na pwede ako manatili. Ngunit bukod sa bahay ng pamilya ko, wala na akong ibang mapupuntahan pa. 

I have nowhere to stay... and I don't even know where to go.

I sat on the bench of 7/11 and watched the heavy rain. Habang nililibot ang mga mata, napansin kong nandoon pa rin ang kotse ng lalaking pumigil sa'kin tumalon sa tulay. Hindi pa rin ito umaalis at nananatiling nandoon sa kaninang pinaghintuan.

Maraming tanong ang gumugulo sa aking isipan. 

My brain still hasn't processed what happened earlier at home. 

"Coffee?" 

I immediately looked up when I hear the man's cold and manly voice. He was holding two cups of coffee and sat in front of me. Bahagya niyang tinulak palapit sa'kin ang isang tasa ng kape habang ang tingin ay nasa malayo.

Sandaling katahimikan ang bumalot sa aming dalawa. He was sipping his coffee while I was staring at him, full of curiosity. I'm curious what he really wants from me and why he doesn't want to leave me.

"Stop staring at me and drink your coffee before it gets cold."

Nag-iwas ako ng tingin at mas lalong niyakap ang sarili nang dumoble ang lamig na nararamdaman. It's so cold at pakiramdam ko ay anumang oras ay magiging yelo ako sa kinauupuan. 

I believe it's one o'clock. Or any time, as long as it is early in the morning.

"Dito ka lang, I'll just get my jacket."

Hindi ko pinansin ang lalaki hanggang sa makabalik ito dala dala ang bagay na sinabi niya. I looked up from the coffee smoke when I saw the jacket the man was handing to me.

"Suotin mo 'to." I just smiled at him and did as he said.

Mabilis na naglaro sa ilong ko ang amoy ng kaniyang pabango. 

Its scent makes me want to hug his jacket forever.

We are the only people here on the bench of 7/11. Bukod kasi sa lakas ng ulan, madaling araw na rin. Tuluyan kaming binalot ng katahimikan, but that silence calmed my trembling body little by little.

Aaminin kong sa mga oras na ito, nakatulong sa akin ang presensya niya.

"Why are you planning to jump off the bridge?" Maya maya'y tanong niya. "Care to share?"

Agad akong binalot ng panlulumo at lungkot.

This is the first time someone has asked me "why". The first person who wanted to know why I did that thing before judging and scolding me. And the first person who wants to listen to me.

Agad akong umiling, pinapalis ang mga luha na naipon sa mga mata na nagiging dahilan upang hindi ko masiyadong maaninag ang mga bagay.

Sa mga sandaling 'yon, nakuha niya ang loob ko. There was something in his words that I couldn't explain.

Nag-layo ako ng tingin nang mapagtanto ang titig na binibigay niya sa 'kin. I shook my head before speaking. 

"Personal matters. Masiyadong private para sabihin ko sa 'yo."

"Why not? Mas magandang mag-sabi sa hindi mo kakilala." He said and looked away from me. "I'll just listen... I won't judge; swear to God."

Hindi ko alam ngunit kusang gumuhit ang mapait na ngiti sa aking labi. Pakiramdam ko ay may humaplos sa aking puso kasabay nang matinding pag-bara ng aking lalamunan.

I sipped my coffee and laughed. "Hindi kami okay ng pamilya ko. I'm always being punched, slapped, and thrown with hard objects... at marami pang pangaabuso ang ginagawa nila sa'kin."

It was hard. I remember the chaos, how I fought for myself to live, even in my own dreams. No one seen and heard me how I shed tears and cried myself to sleep. 

Pumungay ang kaniyang mga mata kasabay nang pag-igting ng kaniyang panga.

Sa edad ko na 'to, hindi ko magawang ipaglaban ang sarili ko. Pakiramdam ko kasi, wala akong karapatan. Habang sila, may karapatan na gawin akong isang hayop.

Nirerespeto ko sila... kasi mga magulang ko sila, e. Sinasabi ko sa sarili ko na baka pagod lang sila kaya sa akin nabubuntong ang galit nila. 

I tried to talk to them, but they ended up abusing me.

"Kaya ayon..." I laughed as I continued. "Sinong hindi gustong tapusin ang buhay kung ganoon ang mga pangyayari?

Lumipad ang tingin ko sa kaniya. His eyes were glazed over, while his jaw and fist were clenched. Hindi ko mabasa kung ano ang nasa isipan niya. Even with his expression, I couldn't read what emotion he was showing.

Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga. 

At ngayon, nag-away silang mag-asawa. Nauwi ito sa sakitan gamit ang mga armas... At napatay ni Mama si Papa.

"File them a case," He said out of nowhere. "You shouldn't allow yourself to be hurt in that kind of way. Mali na ang ginagawa nila. And I'm really sorry to hear that you're going through such a difficult situation with your abusive parents."

Mabilis akong umiling. "'Wag na, ayaw ko na ng gulo."

I want to file a case against them. But I was scared. Alam ko sa sarili ko na sa oras na mag-sampa ako ng kaso, kakainin ako ng konsensya ko at gabi gabing mumultuhin ng mga aksyon na ginawa ko.

He was going to speak, but I motioned for him to stop, so he raised his white flag and closed his mouth right away.

"Huwag na natin pag-usapan 'yon, tapos na 'yon. Ang mahalaga, takas na ako sa kamay nila." I said seriously. 

Nang maubos ang iniinom na kape, sinandal ko ang likuran sa lingkuranan ng upuan.

"If you want someone to talk to and help, I'm just here." 

"Sir—" Kakasimula pa lang pero pinutol niya na ako. 

"Stop calling me sir. I feel uncomfortable."

"How should I call you? I don't even know what your name is."

"Callie Zyphr," He sighed. "And you?"

Oh... Callie... Zyphr... his name suits him well, huh. 

"Lyndzey Lemerie," I stated. 

I was about to speak to continue what I was saying when two teenagers walked by and were obviously talking about me. Agad na lumipad ang tingin namin ni Callie sa dalawang binatilyo na ikinadahilan nang pag-iwas nila ng tingin.

"Gago, siya nga yung wanted?" Pahabol pa ng isang lalaki bago tuluyang makatalikod sa'min.

Callie looked at me with curiosity.

Humugot siya ng malalim na hininga at napatingin sa cellphone niyang biglaang nag-ring, tanda na may tumatawag. He answered it and quickly looked at me, full of shock.

"Yes, she's with me," he said before dropping the call. I heard him swearing and cursing over and over again. He was still in shock when he put down his phone and looked at me.

"Do you want to run away?" 

Taka akong tumuwid sa pagkakaupo. "Huh, saan?" 

"The police will come to arrest you," he said, not panicking and completely calm. "Do you want to run away? I'll help you."

Para akong nabuhusan ng malamig na tubig sa mga narinig.

They will arrest me? Ano namang ginawa ko? I didn't commit any crimes that would put me in jail.

"Lemerie... calm down and think," He stated, calming me down. 

"Bakit daw ba nila ako huhulihin?" Tuluyang namugto ang mata ko

Handa na siyang mag-salita ngunit hindi natuloy nang tuluyang bumalot sa tainga namin ang police siren. I looked behind me and immediately looked back at Callie who seemed to be deep in thought. 

There were a lot of cars, all of which were police mobile cars, and the police all emerged from them. They surrounded me and pointed their guns at me, which horrified me.

"Put your hands up in the air!" The police said. "You are under arrest!"

My eyes grew wider. 

Napatingin ako kay Callie na tila ba may gustong gawin ngunit hindi niya magawa.He just stood there, talking to the police while watching me get arrested.

"You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can be used against you in court. You have the right to have a lawyer present during questioning. If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be provided to you if you wish. If you decide to answer questions now without a lawyer present, you have the right to stop answering at any time. Do you understand?"

I became stunned. I was forced inside the car as I was being arrested the next thing I knew. They sent me to the precinct even though wala kaong kaalam alam sa nangyayari. I don't even know why they arrested me.

I have no idea, and my mind is very blank.

Sinalang ako sa arraign. I enter a plea, and give me the right to have my attorney. Pero kahit anong gawin ko ay wala akong sapat na pera para roon. Lumilipad lang ang isip ko buong oras at bumalik na lamang sa wisyo nang banggitin ang araw at oras ng paghaharap namin sa korte para sa trial. 

Nang gabing iyon, I was about to close my eyes when the police called my name. Akala ko ay makakalaya na ako. Pero ginising ako para kitain ang naghihintay na dalaw sa labas, hindi para makalaya at makalabas ng presinto.

I followed the police and immediately saw that guy, Callie, waiting for me.

Takang-taka ako kung bakit hanggang dito ay sinundan niya ako. He doesn't owe me anything anymore. Hindi rin kami magkakilala o ano. 

But why...?

"They said that you killed your dad." 

Nanlaki ang aking mga mata.

Me? Killed my father? Oh, hell no!

"Hindi 'yon totoo! My mother did! Siya 'yon, Callie... maniwala ka. Hindi ako."

"I believe you," he stated. "Don't stress yourself by thinking too much. Magpahinga ka sa loob. Don't worry, I will help you prove that you are innocent."

"H-How?" wala sa wisyo kong tanong.

"Just relax here. May abogado ka na."

"Sino?"

"Me?"

"It's a serious thing to say such a joke, Callie." Magkasalubong ang kilay ko. 

"I am not kidding, Lemerie." Pinasadahan niya ang buhok bago tumayo. "I'll be your lawyer, and I'll defend you."

^______________^