Chapter 43: Hideout

MY EYES widely opened, having the thought that I overslept. My gaze darted to the luminous wall clock, it's 2 A.M. in the morning, and I felt like I slept for a whole night.

Agon was beside me, sleeping soundly while wrapping his hands around my waist.

I shut my eyes again and forced myself to sleep, but I could not fall asleep again. Hindi na ako dinalaw pa ng antok kaya ilang minuto akong dilat at nakahilata lang sa kama, nagbabakasakali na antokin ulit.

I felt a sudden sense of unease creeping into my system.

Nang hindi talaga makatulog ay dahan-dahan kong kinuha ang kamay ni Agon sa bewang ko. Tulog na tulog ito, mukhang pagod na pagod sa ginawa namin kanina.

I finally got off the bed without Agon waking up. I carefully walk outside my room at bumungad ang madilim na hallway.

Pupunta na sana ako pababa sa kitchen ng mahagip ng mata ko ang isang bulto ng tao na naglalakad patungo rito. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang pumasok sa isip ko at bakit nagtago ako sa isang malaking flower vase malapit sa hagdan.

I concealed my presence and blended into the darkness, waiting for that person to pass through this area.

Tahimik kong pinagmasdan ang bawat galaw niya, tila ingat na ingat sa bawat tunog na magagawa.

Something is wrong with this.

Agad na napakunot ang noo ko dahil hindi ito bulto ng isang lalaki. Doon ko lang mas lalong nakumpirma na babae 'to ng dumaan na 'to sa lugar kung saan ako nagtatago.

That scent. . .

Her familiar scent filled my heart with anger. She moved with calculated precision, making every step with no sound. She reached Levin's room and paused, scanning the area to see if someone was watching her.

I hide again in the dark when she glances in my direction. Did she sense me?

Napailing ako dahil dahan-dahan niyang pinihit ang door knob ng kwarto ni Levin. Doon ko lang din napansin na may nakaupo sa tabi ng pinto, tila walang malay.

Nang mapakasok 'to ay dali-dali akong napadalo sa tauhan ni Agon. I inspect if he has a pulse, and thank God, buhay pa ito.

Did Karen, spike their food?

Napakuyom ako ng kamao, this sneaky bitch. How can she betray us?! I trusted her.

Kinapa ko kung may armas ang tauhan ni Agon at walang pag-alinlangang kinuha ang baril nitong nakasukbit sa bewang.

I slip inside Levin's room without Karen noticing. The room was dark and the only light that illuminates the area was the glow in the dark stars in Levin's bedside table.

Jaki's sleeping besides Levin but didn't sense Karen. Did she do something to Jaki? It's very unusual that he didn't felt us.

Tuwing papasok ako o kahit sino man sa kwartong 'to, ay biglang magigising si Jaki kahit na nasa kalagitnaan pa siya ng tulog.

Something was off. Pinagmasdan ko si Jaki, he's breathing. Did Karen do something to Jaki?

Chills run down my spine when I notice Karen position her hand upwards with a dagger on it.

"One wrong move and I will bury your corpse six feet under the ground," madiing sabi ko habang nakahalik ang nguso ng baril sa sintido ni Karen.

I heard her smirk, malayong-malayo sa isang Karen na kilala ko. For an instance, she's like somebody else.

"Hindi ka na dapat pang lumapit pa rito, Ma'am Jeyk," mapanuyang aniya.

Malakas niya akong siniko pero agad kong iniwasan 'yon. She kicked me, but I just dodged it easily. I sent back the kick she launched, and her dagger clattered to the floor.

That was the moment Levin woke up, but Jaki's having no reaction to that sound.

"Ate?"

"Why did you betray us? I trusted you!" inis kong sambit. "Levin, dyan ka lang," malakas na kabog na sigaw ko.

"Tiwala ang pinakamarupok na bagay sa mundo, Ma'am Jeyk. Kahit kailan, p'wede itong masira."

She lunged at me at agad kong sinalag ang kamay. I send heavy blows on her, unable to protect herself. Napabagsak siya sa tinamong tama sa 'kin pero nabitawan ko rin ang baril na hawak.

"Levin is innocent here! Why are you targeting a mere child?!" inis na anas ko.

"Walang inosente sa mundo kung kalaban namin kayo," ngisi niya at tinadyakan ako sa tyan.

Agad na nalaki ang mata ko ng tumakbo siya papunta kay Levin with a dagger on her hand. I quickly grabbed her feet and pulled it forcefully.

"You freak! You will not hurt Levin!"

Hindi pa man ako nakakabawi ay pumaibabaw na si Karen sa'kin. She punched my stomach, at halos mapaubo ako sa sakit. My strength suddenly drained by that hit.

Karen pressed her hands on my throat, unable for me to breathe. Inabot ko ang leeg nito pero wala akong lakas para sakalin ito.

"Matagal ko ng gustong gawin sa'yo 'to, Ma'am Jeyk," pahagikhik na aniya at nanlilisik ang mga mata.

"Ate! Stay away from my ate!" I heard Levin's voice at palapit 'yon sa amin.

My eyes widened when he grabbed the lampshade and threw it to Karen. Nanlilisik ang mata ni Karen kay Levin at takot na takot ang batang napatago sa likod ng kama niya.

"Levin, h-hide!" hirap na salita ko.

I didn't expect that Karen had this kind of strength.

My surroundings started to get blurry, but when I saw Karen's hand with a dagger, my vision became clearer.

Akma na niyang isasaksak sa'kin 'yon ng mapigilan ko ang kamay niya. Nakaramdam ako ng hapdi sa kamay at ang pagtulo ng dugo sa dibdib ko.

"Kahit patayin niyo pa ako ngayon, ipaghihigante pa rin ako nina Jandron!" nanlilisik na matang aniya.

I winced in pain when Karen pushed her dagger towards me. Gahibla na lang ay maaabot na nito ang leeg ko. I can't move because her weight is pinning me down on the floor.

"Kuya! Kuya!" Levin screamed, calling for help.

At that moment, the door burst open. Agon and his men stormed in.

Lahat ng baril ay tumutok bigla kay Karen.

Nakarinig ako ng yapak papalapit. Agon came into view with a revolver in his right hand. The muzzle was kissing Karen's forehead.

"Let go or die?" Agon asked coldly.

Karen's murderous intent a while ago vanished for an instant in Agon's presence. Her hands were trembling, and the dagger slipped off her hands. Napaalis din siya sa pagkakapatong sa 'kin at nanginginig na napataas ng kamay.

"S-Sir. . ." nginig na aniya.

"Get the fuck her out of my sight. Baka hindi ko matansya itong kamay ko," madiing sambit ni Agon.

She looked at Agon, full of fear in her eyes, as if begging to spare her life.

Agad na hinawakan ng mga tauhan ni Agon si Karen, kasabay nang masuyong pag-abot sa 'kin ni Agon.

"Are you okay? Does it hurt? I will take you to the hospital," sunod-sunod na ani Agon na puno ng pag-alala ang mukha.

Dahan-dahan niyang hinawakan ang dumudugo kong kamay as if it was the most fragile thing in this world.

"Maliit na sugat lang 'to, no need to go to the hospital."

"Kuya, Ate!" iyak ni Levin at napayakap bigla sa 'min. "Jaki's not waking up!" dagdag niya.

"Maybe Karen did something to Jaki and the other guards." Agon leveled his height to Levin. "Are you hurt?" Napailing si Levin.

"I want to protect Ate Jeyk but I can't!" ngawa pa niya.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Agon. Napangiti ako at niyakap si Levin. Oh, this adorable kid.

"Ate is okay, hmm? You're so brave a while ago. Ate and Kuya is so proud of you," I praised him.

"If I grow bigger and taller, I will protect the both of you from the bad guys. I will no longer cry or hide in the corner," determinadong ani Levin sa 'min.

May senenyas si Agon sa mga tauhan at niya nagsipagtango. "Sir, maawa po kayo!" pagmamakaawa ni Karen.

Dinala ako ni Agon sa kwarto at pinagmamasdan ko lang siya buong oras habang nililinis ang sugat sa kamay ko.

"You're so reckless," he commented. Napailing si Agon. "We will let Karen go, we need to know where's the rat."

"What?! Muntik na si Levin kanina!" angal ko pero kalaunan ay napagtanto ko rin at napatango.