The short story is dedicated to Crishia Mae Urrutia. Thank you for helping me during the muting days!

8 Luisiana 1906

The damn rain is pouring so heavy. Unluckily, I forgot my umbrella and here I am stuck in front of our building thinking about running or waiting for the damn rain to stop.

I looked up, hell, there's no way that this rain will stop at any moment. Why did I even forgot about that umbrella? The last time I remembered my aunt reminded me about the umbrella before I left.

Akala ko ay nasa bag ko.

"Damn," I uttered for the nth time.

"Do you want to join? Malaki ang payong ko." Lumingon ako sa babaeng tumabi sa akin.

If I am not mistaken, she's one of my neighbors. Magka-block kami sa subdivision. I noticed that she's not alone, she's with someone familiar. Parang nakita ko na ang lalaking kasama niya noon, not to mention here at school but I think somewhere else?

"Come on Xyle, ayaw niya yata."

"No, sumabay ka na sa amin Crishia. We're neighbors, friends ang mga mommy natin."

Yeah, my mother was too friendly na halos buong subdivision ay kilala siya. We're completely opposite.

Tatanggihan ko na sana sila nang biglang kumulog at kidlat. This isn't good.

"Alright,"

Ngumiti sa akin si Xyle at tumango lamang ang kanyang kasama. Probably, boyfriend.

Isinabay nila ako sa kanilang dalang kotse, gusto kong tumanggi pero wala na akong magawa.

I don't have my car now.

"Maybe you're thinking about this guy, he's also our neighbor. The nerd, 'yong suplado. Nag-change look. Ang gwapo diba? Don't worry he's kind. Right Christian?" I heard the guy sigh.

"Xyle,"

"What?"

Hindi ako sumabat sa kanilang pag-aasaran sa halip ay napako ang aking mga mata sa payong na may kakaibang disenyo. Ito ang ginamit ni Xyle, kanina lamang.

"You have a weird taste of design, I find your umbrella creepy." Marahan kong niyakap ang sarili ko dahil sa pagtindig ng balahibo ko.

It has a brown leaf with unknown letters and few symbols, weird.

"Oh, yeah. A kid with sunflower and straw hat gave me that, she's creepier."

"And please, avoid one." Paalala ng lalaki sa akin.

"Oh okay,"

Nauna na akong bumaba sa kanila.

"Thanks,"

"No problem," si Xyle na ang sumagot sa akin.

Pumasok na ako ng bahay habang pinupunasan ko ang braso ko na bahagyang nabasa sa pagtakbo ko mula sa kotse.

"Mom?"

"Oh great! Nandito na si Crishia, we have our visitors." Halos hilahin ako ni Mommy sa kusina.

Sumalubong sa akin ang mga bisita namin, another mother and a strange looking kid. Can't she remove that hat? Nasa loob na siya ng bahay?

What? Wait?

"They are our new neighbors,"

"Oh, magbibihis lang ako Mommy."

"Okay, be fast."

"Yes,"

"I want to see her room! I want to see her room mommy." The kid almost cried. Shit. I hate spoiled brats.

Hindi ko sana ito papansin at magpapatuloy sa paglalakad nang tumawag si mommy.

"Why can't you show your room Crishia? Kahit saglit lang." I was about to complain when my mother's eyes widened.

"Sure, come here honey." I faked my smile.

Nakasunod lang ang bata sa akin hanggang sa makarating kami sa loob ng kwarto.

"You room isn't bad, it's great."

"Of course," tamad akong naupo sa aking kama. "You done? Bumaba ka na,"

"You're rude,"

"I am not rude, kid. I just need privacy, I also hate spoiled brats." Kumunot ang noo niya sa akin.

"I hate you!" she shouted.

"I don't care, lumabas ka na." Nanlaki ang mata ko nang mapansin na may hawak pala itong tinidor mula sa likuran niya.

Oh my god! There is something wrong with this kid.

"Mom!" I shouted.

Dahan-dahan akong tumatayo mula sa aking kama, namumula ang ilong ng bata na parang anumang oras ay iiyak na ito.

"Hey, hey calm down. Don't do anything stupid,"

"I hate you!"

"No!" napapikit na lamang ako nang halos gahibla ng lamang ang distansya ko mula sa tinidor na ibinato ng bata.

Shit!

Mariin akong nakapikit, I waited for a sharp thing that might pierce my innocent face, but all I heard is a mind shattering noise.

What?

Nang sandaling magmulat ako, hiniling ko na sana ay magagawa kong masampal ang sarili ko.

But I can't, I am currently chained against a wooden platform with numbers of men lurking all of me. I can see desire, lust and everything hideous from their eyes.

I want to throw up. Where the hell am I?

I tried to remove the cuffs but I heard a shout from stranger.

"I told you, don't move if you want to have your freedom lady." A handsome face with his rugged outfit, yet still hot from a far holding numbers of fork.

He threw another fork in an instant.

"Shit! What the fuck?!" I shouted. Muntik na akong tamaan!

"Are you going to kill me?!"

"Shut up lady, you're distracting me. I'm about to give you freedom." W-What?

Sinubukan kong lumingon sa paligid, until I saw another woman in front at the right side positioned like me.

Women are being held as a dart point. Shit. What the hell is going on?

"Come on, just hit the red point and she's all yours, Lathan." Rinig kong sabi ng lalaking katabi ng lalaki na may hawak na tinidor.

"I am still enjoying her expression, don't bother me." Siniko niya ang lalaki.

"Fuck you!" I shouted.

"Foul mouth," ngusong sabi ng lalaki.

Sa isang iglap ay muli ibinato ng lalaki ang tinidor, agad kong isinara ang aking mga mata pero nakarinig ako ng malakas na sigawan.

"She's yours!"

"I know," tipid na sagot ng lalaki habang nakatitig sa akin. Someone threw a key and he effortless caught it on air.

Nagwawala ako sa posas habang kinakalagan niya ako.

"Be good, I'm gentle."

"Just die,"

"Not yet babe, not yet."

Dahil nga hindi ako gusting sumama sa kanya, nagwala na ako pero mas malakas siya sa akin. He threw me on his shoulders while waving goodbye to his companions.

Umiinom ito ng alak habang nahihirapan na siyang maglakad. Ilang beses na kaming muntik nang matumba.

"We're on a ship, right?"

"Yeah, Luisiana 1906."

"And I am a slave?"

"Hostage, what are you up to?" natatawang tanong niya.

"You know, I am just dreaming. This isn't true, I am not a hostage." He laughed.

"I got a crazy girl,"

"What is your name?" he asked.

"I don't have a name,"

"Oh, then I'll give you. Crishia." Suminghap ako sa sinabi niya.

"W-What the—"

Hindi ko na natapos ang aking mura, nadaing na lamang ako nang bumagsak ang katawan ko sa sahig.

And the man just captured my lips in an instant.

"No cursing, paduduguin ko ang labi mong 'yan. Isa pa."

"Hey, hey Lathan. Not here," natatawang sabi ng isa pang lalaki na tulad niya ay may hawak na alak at may dala rin babae.

Nang madala niya ako sa kwarto, he immediately initiated a kiss and more than that. Pero hindi ko siya binigyan ng pagkakataon.

He got pissed.

Kaya itinali niya ako sa upuan at nilagyan niya ng duct tape ang bibig ko dahil sa wala kong tigil sa pagsigaw.

We're like that, staring at each other for the whole night. Nakaupo ito sa isang upuan habang nakatitig sa akin at umiinom ng alak.

Hanggang sa makatulog ako at paggising sa umaga ay nakatali at duct tape ako sa bibig.

The guy is no longer seated on his chair.

"Want some breakfast, Crishia?"

Humarap sa akin ang lalaki, or should I call him Lathan wearing a white towel on his waist. Galing sa ligo ang lalaki.

How could I answer him? I have a freaking duct tape!

"Oh yeah, you have tape." Yumuko ito at tinanggal niya ang tape.

"Tang ina mo! I almost die!" agad niyang binalik ang tape sa bibig ko.

"Nabibingi ako sa'yo, can you talk in low voice? Hindi ka kakain." May dinala itong plato ng pagkain sa harap ko.

He grinned at me devilishly.

"So? You want to eat? You should be kind." Dahil gutom na gutom na ako, wala akong nagawa kundi tumango sa kanya.

"I'll feed you," I just nodded.

This man is crazy. Nakangisi siya sa akin habang sinusubuan niya ako. I was about to eat the last spoon when his lips touch mine.

"My lips should be the last, enough with the breakfast." Tumayo na ito at halos mapasigaw ako nang aksidenteng matanggal ang tapis niya sa bewang.

"Oh goodness gracious! My eyes." Hindi man lang siya naalarma at kibit balikat na naglakad na hindi man lang pinupulot ang kanyang tuwalya.

"You pervert!"

He's already out of the sight, but I can hear that he's cleaning the plates.

"Still can't recognize me Crishsia? It's been ten years and it is still you. What happened to you? Why are you alone now? Where are your parents?"

"W-What?"

Naramdaman ko ang hawak niya sa balikat ko, sobrang lamig dahil sa tubig.

"Sa sandaling dumaong ang barko, itatakas kita. Just run and run, I'll promise to follow you."

"Wait? What?" huminga nang malalim ang lalaki at muli siyang nagtungo sa harapan ko.

I almost cursed seeing him naked. Marahan itong lumuhod para magtama ang aming mga mata.

"Hey, I'm still in love with you after ten fucking years." Umawang ang bibig ko sa narinig mula sa kanya.

"W-What?" he bitterly smiled.

"You've been giving me that word, talaga ba na nagka-amnesia ka? Or you're just pretending? I told you that I'll come back, but what happened? You married someone else. Akala ko ay ako ang mahal mo?"

His eyes are now sincere, pansin ko na malapit na itong lumuha. I don't understand.

Maghapon ang lumipas, nang mapansin niyang hindi na ako nagwawala ay hinayaan niya na akong walang tali sa loob ng kwarto niya.

He gave me his bed to sleep while he's in couch.

I am married? With whom?

Habang nag-iisip ako, wala sa sarili akong napahawak sa aking dibdib. I noticed something, I have a necklace and there's a small locket.

Nang buksan ko ito ay litrato ni Lathan ang nandito. Why him if I'm married? Pansin ko na may singsing rin ako, but there's a different initials encrypted.

Jonas.

Later that night, I felt that the bed moved. I pretended to sleep until I felt his arms slowly embracing me.

"I love you, Crishia. I love you more than my brother."

Hindi ko alam kung bakit tumulo ang luha ko hanggang sa magising na lamang ako sa umaga.

Wala na siya sa kama. Nang sandaling hahakbang na ako pababa rito agad akong nanlamig sa mga pang nakalutang sa sahig.

I bit my lower lip until my eyes finally laid on him. No!

"Lathan!"

He's dead, hanging his head with a rope.

"What now wife? You're next." Nangangatal ang aking katawan nang makita ko ang hindi pamilyar na lalaking nakatutok ang baril sa akin.

"Bitch,"

And he pulled the trigger.

"NO!" sigaw ko kasabay nang marahas kong pagbangon.

"Hey baby, what happened? Calm down, bigla ka na lang nawalan ng malay." Pinapaypayan ako ni mommy habang inaabutan ako ng tubig ng bago naming kapitbahay.

The kid!

"Where is your kid?" I asked.

"Kid?" kapwa kumunot ang kanilang mga noo.

"What kid Crishsia? Tinatakot mo ako, dadalhin na ba kita sa hospital?"

"I said where's your daughter? Kasama ko siya rito kanina."

"I don't have a daughter hija, what are you talking about?"

"No, she's here!" tinabig ko si mommy at mabilis akong lumabas sa kwarto ko.

I was about to run outside our main door when I bumped to someone.

"Oh fuck,"

"Foul mouth," umawang ang bibig ko nang nag-angat ako ng tingin sa lalaking kunot noong nakatitig sa akin.

"I am the new neighbor, my mom is here right?"

"Lathan, son! You're late."

"Lathan.." I whispered.

"Yeah, I'm sorry mom."

"Crishsia! Oh god baby, are you fine?" lumapit na sa akin si mommy habang nakatitig ako kay Lathan.

"Hey, I'm sorry I'm late." I heard a familiar voice.

"You're always late, Jonas."

"No way," umiiling na sabi ko habang napapaatras.

"So it's her? Why didn't you tell us that you have a very pretty daughter, tita?" ngising nakatitig sa akin si Jonas.

"Yeah, very pretty." Tumaas ang kilay ni Lathan sa akin.

Tumikhim ako at pilit kong pinakalma ang sarili ko. We went back at the dining area together with our new neighbors.

"Do you believe in past life, mother?" tipid na tanong ko.

"Maybe? Why asked Crishsia?"

"Nah, nothing."

"What about you?" nagulat ako nang magsalita si Lathan.

"I don't know, and you?"

This time he gave me a very familiar smile.

"No, I don't like the past. It's painful."

--

VentreCanard