Chapter 48: Eat Sunny, Eat

“Sunny?!”

Tumayo si Megan mula sa pagkakaupo sa gilid ng selda at sinalubong ako. I glared at the men in black who roughly pushed me inside causing me to almost trip. Pusangina, lagot kayo sa akin kapag nakawala ako rito!

Nang makita ko si Megan ay bahagyang gumaan ang pakiramdam ko. So far, it seems like there has been no damage in her-- physically.

“Why the hell are you here?” she asked with her wide eyes. “Ano na naman bang kagagahan ang ginawa mo?” She closed her eyes tightly na para bang konokontrol ang kanyang sarili bago pa siya pumutok dahil sa galit. “You just returned tapos ganito na pinaggagawa mo?”

Pinaikot ko ang mga eyeballs ko at pumunta sa sulok, checking the cell. “Dapat matuwa ka, may kasama ka na rito,” biro ko. I know it’s not time to joke something like this but what else should I say? Wala na, nandito na ako sa sitwasyon na ‘to. Hindi na iyon mababago kahit ilang beses pa niya akong sermonan.

“Gaga, edi dalawa tayong mamamatay! My God anong klaseng utak ang meron ka?” iritadong tanong niya at napasabunot sa kanyang buhok. I suppressed my smile and looked at her. I know it. She’s worried for me.

Megan is not my favorite person, in fact I hate her and vice versa pero hindi ako manhid para hindi makita ang pagmamalasakit niya sa akin sa paaraang alam niya-- and that includes bitching. And I seriously appreciate it.

I smiled. “That means dalawa rin tayong tatakas.”

Naningkit ang kanyang mga mata at hindi makapaniwalang tiningnan ako. “Gosh, you’re seriously unbelievable.”

“What did they do to you?” tanong ko.

She replied with a shrug. “I don’t know. Ag huling naaalala ko, kausap ko si Thea and when I woke up, I was here.”

“Hinihintay ka naming lahat sa dorm,” pag-amin ko.

She sighed and looked away. “It was my mistake, I shouldn’t have meet Thea here. Wala akong kaalam-alam na ganito ang plano nila.” I sensed fear in Megan’s voice. Sa matagal na panahon na pagsasama namin, all I hear is her brave voice; acting high and mighty. Ngayon ay nahimigan ko na ang takot sa boses niya. “What if we can’t escape? What will happen to us?”

I frowned. “I’ll be honest with you. Balak ka yatang kainin ni Doctor Aaron. He said pretty and smart human will be a high quality meat. On the other hand, mauuwi yata ako sa palengke.”

She glared at me at mas mababakas ang takot sa mukha. “Is that supposed to make me strong kaya mo sinabi? Damn you Sunny, you’re making me pee in fear!” Hindi maikakaila ang iritasyon sa mukha niya.

Oh, bakit ba ganoon naman talaga ang mangyayari kapag hindi kami makakaligtas ah?

“That’s why we need to escape here!” I tried looking for possible escape route or anything around the cell but I found none.

“Kanina pa ako naghahanap,” sabi niya. She sat on the side, feeling hopeless. “There isn’t any.” Her voice was a bit hopeless. Hindi ko tuloy maiwasang isipin kung ano ang nararamdaman niya kanina noong siya lang ang nandito. She must be very scared. Well, ngayong may kasama na siya, she’s still scared. Who wouldn’t?

I tried knocking on the concrete walls ngunit tama si Megan, wala ngang ibang daan palabas kundi ang daang pinasukan namin. I want to give up, sulk on the side and feel hopeless but then I remembered that I am Sunny Gallego.

I escaped Palomo’s cage in a tunnel, I can escape Doctor Aaron too!

Lumapit ako kay Megan at naupo sa harap niya. “Alam mo bang nang pumunta ako sa Tussah ay hindi maganda ang sinapit ko?” I got her attention and she seems interested in hearing my story kaya nagpatuloy ako. “I was mistreated. Sa katunayan ay hindi lamang ako. There were also people there about my age. Sa halip na papasukin kami sa Tussah ay dinala nila kami sa isang tunnel na pag-aari ni Palomo. Puto, ag pangit ng Palomo na ‘yon, malaking tao tapos may peklat sa mukha. Mabaho rin, mukhang hindi naliligo.”

I saw Megan smiled kaya napagatuloy ako. “We were kept inside large cages and we’re forced to wear leash and collars na para bang mga aso. We will be sold as pets, pusangina.”

She hugged her knees. “It must have been hard for you.”

I smiled and nodded. “I was so hungry that time tapos ganoon ang sinapit ko, umiyak ako nang umiyak but then the others comforted me there. They were so friendly, they even gave me an overripe banana kasi ayaw kong kainin ang pagkaing inihanda ni Palomo na mas masarap pa yata ang feeds ng isda ni KL kaysa sa pagkaing iyon.”

Megan laughed but I can hear sadness in her voice. “Buti hindi ka nag-amok, just so you know, you’re that kind of person. Ang ingay mo pa, ang daming sinasabi.”

Natawa ako. She knows my attitude well, and that attitude is somewhat she hates about me.

“I did. Hindi ako kumain. Nang ibebenta na ako ni Palomo, dinuraan ko siya sa mukha.”

“Tsk,” she commented. “Ang bastos mo.”

“Palomo deserved it,” natatawang sagot ko. “Galit na galit siya kaya nilatigo niya ako at ilang beses na sinampal, puto akala ko matatanggal ang mukha ko sa lakas ng sampal niya eh. Wala akong ibang narinig kundi ang tunog ng latigo na tumatama sa katawan ko at ang mga sigaw ko dahil sa sakit.”

“That’s what you get when you can’t control your attitude,” sabi niya. “Seriously Sunny, ang sama-sama ng ugali mo, alam mo ba?”

I laughed. “Hindi lang ikaw ang nagsabi niyan, so I know that. But what can I do? That’s me, that’s the real me. I seriously want to change that pero narealize kong hindi ko babaguhin ang ugali kong iyon lalo na kung alam kong tama ako. I don’t regret spitting on Palomo’s face kasi si Palomo ‘yon eh. Kung mabait ‘yong tao sa akin, alangan namang duraan ko diba?”

“Think before you act, paano kung pinatay ka niya dahil sa galit?” tanong niya. Well, nag-aalala siya sa akin.

“Shame on him,” I replied. “Pikon, talo.”

“You’re really unbelievable.”

“But there’s actually a good thing in that,” sabi ko sa kanya. “Kahit puro ako sugat sa katawan, I distracted him and discreetly got the keys from him.”

“Lucky for you.”

“Yup, we tried to escape and the other kids successfully did except me,” I smiled. I didn’t regret it. Those kids I met at Palomo’s place has a story of their own kung bakit sila naroon. They deserved to be free dahil gaya ko, they have something to run for. They have their own reason to continue running.

“Akala ko si Pentagon lang ang nagpapakabayani, pati rin pala ikaw.”

Natawa ako sa sinabi niya. “Hindi ako nagpapakabayani, that was actually an advantage for me. Medyo mataas at madilim kasi ang kailangan naming talunin, paano kung ang tarik pala niyon? Someone must go first, parang testing the waters ganoon.”

She laughed again but we both know that this time is not a perfect time to tell funny stories. “But then nahuli kami ni Palomo so I didn’t get to escape.”

“Aw, that was a very sad story. What happens after that?”

“I was sold,” sagot ko. “I was sold to a rich man of Tussah and guess who he is?”

She rolled her eyes. Okay, back to the bitch Megan. “How would I guess? Wala akong kilala sa Tussah, stupid.”

“It’s Trapezoid Bermudo.” natigilan siya sa sagot ko at hindi makapaniwalang napatingin sa akin. “He goes by the name Trap Lennon.”

She blinked few times as she tried to process my words in her mind. “Are you serious?”

“Do you think that’s something I can joke about?” tanong ko sa kanya na nakataas ang kilay. She did the same to me. Yeah, Megan and I will never have a friendly talk. Mag-uusap kami na magsusukatan ng tingin, magtatasan ng kilay at mamumuna ng mga katangahan naming dalawa. That’s just very normal for us.

“Does the twins know about it?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “Hindi ko alam. Maybe they will know in the right time. It’s not my responsibility to tell them.”

Isinandal niya ang pisngi sa malamig na dingding. “The Capital is highly problematic. Ang swerte siguro ng mga nasa Tussah ano?”

I shook my head. “No government is perfect Megan. Just like us, they want something too. Kaya hindi na ako aasa na gaya noong kinulong kami sa JIC, darating si Papa para iligtas ako. I don’t want to be a burden for him. I will run for the Capital, while he runs for Tussah.”

Nanatili kaming tahimik pagkatapos ng sinabi kong iyon. It was actually awkward until Megan broke it off.

“Ang dami mo nang naikwento, hindi pa rin naman tayo makakatakas rito,” sabi niya kasabay ng mapait na tawa. We want to be hopeful that we can make it out of here ngunit hindi rin namin maiwasang mawalan ng pag-asa. “We can’t find a way out of here.”

Tumayo ako at pinagpag ang pang-upo. “If we can’t find a way, we’ll make a way.”

***

Hindi ko alam na nakatulog na pala kami. Nagising ako nang tila may nagbukas ng selda at padabog na sinara iyon. I smell something so delicious kaya napatingin ako kay Megan at gaya ko ay nagising din siya sa amoy na iyon.

Bumangon kami mula sa pagkakahiga sa sahig at nabungaran si Doctor Aaron na nakatayo sa harap. He was with two men in black standing on his side at dalawang fake astronauts na may suot pang gas mask sa ulo at may tulak-tulak na cart kung saan may nakatakip na tiyak kong pagkain.

“Wake up ladies,” wika ni Doctor Aaron. Kaagad akong bumangon at lumapit kay Megan. She held my elbow with cold, shivering hands. Tiyak kong natatakot siya sa mga sandaling ito.

“Anong kailangan mo?” tapang-tapangan ko. Puto, dito ako magaling eh, sa patatapang-tapangan.

Doctor Aaron just laughed before he opened the food cover at mas naamoy namin ang ang nakakatakam na pagkain na mula roon. It smells so delicious at napatingin ako roon ngunit agad ding napangiwi. It was a rib recipe at base sa laki ng ribs, it must be human meat. Pero puto, aaminin kong ang sarap ng amoy. The chef must be good.

“I’m giving you an opportunity to taste the ultimate meat before you become one,” sagot niya at hindi ko mapigilan ang mapakuyom ang kamao. Puto, nakakadiri siya! His whole life stinks!

“Nababaliw ka na nga!” sigaw ko sa kanya. I can feel Megan trembled behind me. Hindi lang siya ang natatakot. Maging ako ay takot na takot. Not long from now, we’ll have the same fate with whoever that woman meat that is served right now!

He laughed like a maniac. “Ikaw ang nababaliw Sunny Gallego, this is an ultimate meat. The best meat of all! This provides the ultimate satisfaction and nutrition that a human body needs! If I were you, I will be nice enough to take a bite before you cannot have any.” He made an annoying expression. “Unfortunately, you will turn out to be like this soon.”

Iniisip ko pa lamang ay hindi ko maiwasang mangilabot. Megan said nothing but she held me so tight like I’m her lifeline. Ngayong ramdam ko ang takot ni Megan ay mas lalo akong nagtapang-tapangan. Sinalubong ko ang mga tingin ni Doctor Aaron at nakipagsukatan ako ng tingin sa kanya. Puto, naasar lang ako. Nakakabwesit ang pagmumukha niya.

Puto, wala ba siyang pamilya? Kapatid na babae? Hindi ba niya naisip na paano kung kapatid niya ang ginawang karne, magugustuhan kaya niya iyon?! He’s just a man obsessed in his project at walang pakialam kung ano man ang magsakripisyo para lamang sa research niyang ito. What a lunatic!

“My research proves that this is the best of all meat. Juicier than any animal, tender of all, most delicious and above all nutritious. We can last even a month just with this compared to the old folk’s meat na halos dalawang linggo lamang! One bite is enough for your body to achieve the daily nutrient needs!” he said with sparkling eyes as he mumbled disgusting words. Walang kwenta! Wala siyang kwentang tao! Pusangina niya!

“Gusto mong kumain ako?” tanong ko sa kanya. Megan pressed my arm as if she wants to stop me from what I’m about to do. Tiningnan ko lamang siya at binigyan siya ng tinging tila nagsasabing huwag siyang mag-alala.

“Yes, I’m certain you will agree with me when I say it’s the ultimate meat if you taste it.”

Bumaba ang tingin ko sa pagkain. Surely, it looks enticing pero hindi ako baliw na gaya niya. I glanced at the men in black beside him. Two of them. Then another two fake astronauts in gas mask. I’d like to take a shot whatever it takes. Kahit mahuli ako wala na akong pakialam. Kailangan ko lang masapak si Doctor Aaron dahil sa kabaliwan niya.

I took a step forward. Palapit sa pagkain where my eyes focused.

“Sunny!” mariing bigkas ni Megan sa pangalan ko ngunit hindi ko siya pinansin.

Unti-unting sumilay ang ngiti ni Doctor Aaron. “Go on Sunny.”

Huminga ako nang malalim at lumapit sa pagkain. It’s human meat so the bones are bigger. Kinuha ko iyon at bahagyang inamoy. It was really tender and well cooked dahil hinawakan ko pa lamang ay tila humihiwalay na ang laman sa buto.

“Eat Sunny, eat,” sulsol sa akin ni Doctor Aaron.

Hinawakan ko nang mahigpit ang karne at sa isang mabilis na galaw ay sinaksak ko ang nakausling buto sa mukha ni Doctor Aaron. It was so fast that the men in black wasn’t able to prevent me from doing so. Sayang nga eh, hindi bumaon sa mukha niya. It grazed his cheek enough to bleed though.

“What the hell!” sigaw niya sa labis na galit. He tried to grab me angrily at gayundin ang ginawa ng mga men in black ngunit nagulat ako nang magspray ng kung anong likod sa harap nila ang isa sa mga fake astronaut na naroon.

It made them lose consciousness. He pushed the cart towards the other na siyang nagpatumba rito. The fake astronaut with the spray kicked the guy’s gas mask and sprayed the same liquid on his face which caused him to passed out too.

Napaatras kaming dalawa ni Megan nang bumaling sa amin ang natitirang fake astronaut. He removed the gas mask in his whole head. He brushed off his messy hair with his fingers.

“Let’s get out of here,” he said.

It was Trench.

#

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