“LET’S take advantage of the time now that she’s asleep. Dalhin natin siya sa SJ, hindi siya pwedeng nandito lang sa ospital, we don’t know what might happen if she stays here,” nabaling ang atensiyon nila kay Divine.
“Huh? Why? Hindi ba mas maganda na nandito siya?” Nagugulumihanang tanong ni Mavis.
Humarap dito si Divine. “Mave, she can’t. Kasi kung mananatili siya dito mahihirapan lang siya, hindi niya kayang makakita ng ibang tao lalo na kung lalaki dahil sa trauma. “ Ito ang naobserba niya sa kinilos ng dalaga kanina.
“She thinks we’re a threat. For now, we’ll let her rest, Mavis, you know how to deal with her. Please take care of her.” She shortly glanced at him. “Austin, carry your woman.”
She snapped her fingers to make them move.
“Let’s make it fast, her nightmares won’t let her sleep that long.” Sinunod na nila ang utos ni Divine at tumungo na sa SJ.
AUSTIN sipped his cup of coffee to keep him stay awake. He always does this for three months now.
He doesn’t know why he’s acting like a soft man to this woman who’s now sleeping on his bed. As Mavis said, he still can’t go near or see her, it may trigger her trauma.
Fauzia never had a peaceful sleep in the past months, even the medicine they gave to her is no use.
Matagal bago maging epektibo ang gamot na binigay ni Helios lalo na at mas nananaig ang emosyon ng dalaga na naging dahilan ng pagkontra sa gamot nito.
Ngayon ay papainomin na nila ng gamot na tingin ni Helios ay tatalab na para sa dalaga, ilang araw din ang paga-aral ng kaibigan para dito.
Three months, they had been helping her for three months. Si Mavis lang ang nag-iisang taong nakakalapit sa kaniya dahil takot ang dalaga sa kahit sinong makita niya. Wala din itong naging maayos na pagkain.
Pero hindi nila ito susukuan. Hinding-hindi.
Nasubaybayan ni Austin lahat ng hirap at takot na dinanas ng dalaga sa loob ng mga buwan na iyon. Hindi man alam ni Fauzia iyon pero malapit lamang si Austin sa kaniya sa loob ng nakaraang buwan at palagi siyang tinututukan.
Ang sakit, ang sakit-sakit para sa binata ang lahat ng nakita niyang hirap ni Fauzia. Gusto niyang sabihing po-protektahan at aalagaan niya ito ng personal.
Pero hindi pa pwede sapagkat hindi pa nito kayang makipagsalamuha sa ibang tao, dahil noong una niya itong nilapitan halos mabaliw na ito sa takot.
Sobrang nasaktan siya doon dahil iba ang tingin nito sa kaniya, dahil ramdam niya, ramdam niya ang puot ng dalaga.
May maganda rin siyang nakita sa dalaga kumpara noon na ni kailan hindi niya narinig magsalita, ngayon ay nakakausap na siya ng maayos ni Mavis at nakikita na rin nila na binubuksan na nito ang sarili kahit pa may takot sa puso.
Malipas ang tatlong buwan na iyon napagusapan nilang ilipat si Fauzia sa mansion nilang magkakaibigan para unti-untiing sanayin ito na napalilibutan ng iba’t ibang tao.
And now? He is quite happy to see her slowly healing from that terrible past but sad to say, that past will still leave a deep scar on her heart.
He wanted to avenge her.
Somehow, just to ease the pain she had been through. Kahit pa huli na siya, maipaghiganti lamang ang hirap na pinagdaanan niya.
Napahikab siya malipas ang mga oras na dapat tinutulog niya.
He can’t sleep, he is worried that there might happen to her while sleeping and in return, he guarded her to feed his worries.
It’s already 4 in the morning when he heard Fauzia groaned in pain. Seems like she’s having a hard time breathing.
He immediately spoke on his microphone that is connected to his room. “Fauzia! Wake up. It’s just a nightmare. No one’s going to hurt you. I’m here, Fauzia. Calm down.”
Her eyes opened when she heard his voice, bumangon ito mula sa pagkakahiga. “W-Where am I?” she asked, her eyes were filled with panic.
“Sa kwarto ko. Are you okay? Do you need anything?” he offered while he watched her small movements on the monitor.
She didn’t respond.
Dead silence filled in. He can see her leisurely sitting down, there’s a questioning expression in her face, she was hesitant so she kept her mouth shut.
“I know you wanted to ask, speak up.” He tried to lighten up the air.
Austin saw Fauzia’s puzzled face, her eyes wandered at where his voice was coming from.
“I installed an intercom in your room. You don’t want to see me, I might freak you out, kaya ayun…” Hindi kumibo ang dalaga kaya nagpatuloy siya sa pagsalita. “Inomin mo ‘yung baso ng tubig sa side table, you can now be able to fall asleep peacefully. Nightmare won’t bug you anymo---”
“If you only want something from me please just kill me, wala kang mapapala saakin,” her voice was completely void.
“I won’t do anything to hurt you and I don’t want something from you, I’m here to help---” Again she cut him off.
“I don’t want anything, don’t bother to help me. Sinasayang mo lang ang oras ko kaya parang awa mo na hindi mo gugustuhing tulungan ako kung wala kang kailangan.”
Austin pressed his lips together.
He checked her on the monitor and when he zoomed in he can clearly see the huge mark on her neck. It was a deep cut down to her chest, he deduced.
He didn’t know that it was a long cut, he wondered what happened to her to receive that kind of cut. Dati hindi niya ito pansin dahil laging nakatalukbong ito at tumatago.
He was on his deep observation until he heard her light sobs, she’s trembling in fear. Gusto niya sanang puntahan ang dalaga at yakapin ito para kahit papaano ay maibsan ang sakit ng nararamdaman nito. Kaso hindi pwede, matatakot lamang dito ang dalaga.
“Hey…” he softly called her, “How can I make you feel better? How can I save you from despair?”
“How can you save me?” her tone was scathing between her sobs. “Then let me be killed.” His body froze, he doesn’t directly know if she was looking at him dead on the camera, yet her type of stare sent shivers down his spine.
“I will not let that happen. As long as I am here, I’ll always be right here for you. I will lay my life just to protect you.” He gulped at what he just told. Hindi niya alam kung bakit iyon ang lumabas sa bibig niya.
Hindi na muli sila nagkibuan hanggang sa mag alas-sais na ng umaga, parehas pa rin silang gising.
Umalis na si Austin sa kaniyang office saka gumawa ng umagahan para sa dalaga. Ayaw man ni Mavis na magpakita siya sa dalaga sinuway niya parin ito dahil hindi siya mapakali hanggat di niya nakikita ng malapitan si Fauzia.
Pagpasok niya sa kaniyang kwarto ganoon pa rin ang posisyon nito. Yakap nito ang tuhod habang nakatungo.
Nang maramdaman ng dalaga ang presensya niya mabilis niyang nakita kung paano manginig ang katawan nito sa takot kahit hindi pa ito tumitingin sa kaniya.
Inilapag ni Austin ang dalang food tray sa kama habang hanggang sa paanan lamang ng kama ang lapit niya sa dalaga. Pero kahit pa may kalayuan siya dito takot parin sa kaniya si Fauzia.
“Eat up, Niryana.” She froze at what he called her.
She didn’t look up but still asked. “W-Why d—d-did you call me t-that?”
“Ahm… Fauzia is kinda hard to pronounce for me so I’ll call you Niryana.” Tumikhim siya. “Is it okay? Do you want me to change it or---”
“H-Huwag mo n-na akong t-tawagin sa ka-kahit na anong p-pangalan.”
Austin was curious but he knows where to stand, he didn’t ask further questions. “Okay, if that makes you comfortable.” He paused when he saw her taking off her clothes.
`Does she takes off her clothes when she was held captive in Triumvir?`
“Don’t take it off.” Mabilis niyang isinara ang butones ng pajama ng dalaga. “I’m not here to take advantage of you, okay? I prepared your breakfast, I just want you to eat. That’s all…”
BUMILIS ang tibok ng puso ni Austin nang napagtanto kung gaano siya kalapit sa dalagang nakapikit ang mga mata.Binigyan niya ng maayos na distansiya ang pagitan nila. “It seems like you can’t move freely when I’m around so…” Napakamot sa likod ng ulo ito.“I’ll call Mavis and leave you be. Eat your breakfast,” paalam niya bago lumabas sa kwarto niya para makahinga na ng maayos ang dalaga.Nasa tapat pa rin siya ng pinto ng kwarto nito nang tinawagan si Mavis. “Hey Mave,” tawag niya dito kahit na nasa iisang bahay lamang sila. Tamad lang lumakad si Austin dahil malawak ang kanilang mansion.Hindi pa agad sumagot ang nasa kabilang linya kaya naglakad muna siya sa kaniyang office. Nang makaupo na sa kaniyang swivel chair nakita niya sa monitor na hindi pa rin ginagalaw ng dalaga ang dinala nitong pagkain hanggang sa napukaw ng atensiyon niya ang boses ng kaibigan.“Dang it, dingleberry, ang aga-aga tumatawag ka---”“Hindi ikaw ang tinawagan ko, gago, si Mavis ang tinatawagan ko,” putol n
NADATNAN niya si Larkspur doon na naglilinis ng pinaggamitang pot habang sila Lazzini at Helios ay walang kibuang kumakain ng vanilla custard cream donut na gawa ni Larkspur.Dumeretsyo siya sa pakay niya saka ipinasok ang bowl sa microwave, hinintay niyang matapos initin ito. “Good morning mga dingleberries,” bati niya sa mga ito ng hindi man lang siya pinansin.“Ugh, that endearment is disgustingly iconic sino nga ulit ang nagsimula niyan?” nilingon siya ni Lennon na narinig pala siya kahit nasa malayo. Katabi niya si Efron at Lysandros na naglalaro sa x-box nila.“Well, Anthony was the mastermind,” sagot ni Lazzini.“Kagigising ko lang narinig ko kaagad ang gwapo kong pangalan? What’s up?” Napatingala sila sa boses na nagmumula sa hagdanan nilang nakakahilo dahil sa pabilog ito at mataas.“That ‘dingleberry’ thingy again,” sagot ni Lysandros habang tutok pa rin ang tingin sa malaking monitor.“That shit was 10 years ago hindi pa rin kayo makamove on?” naiiling na sabi ni Helios na t
SA SANDALING naimulat ni Fauzia ang mga mata bumalikwas siya ng bangon. Namamanghang kinapa ang sarili kung totoo itong nangyayari sakaniya.Totoo nga ang sinabi ni Austin, hindi dumaan ang masamang panaginip niya. Sumilay ang ngiti niya dahil doon.Fauzia closed her eyes to embrace the fougère essence of the room she’s in, since day one the familiar scent didn’t come off.Napatingala siya sa wall clock na ikinalaki ng mata niya, 8 na ng gabi. Pitong oras siyang tulog. Kung dati hindi ito nakakaramdam ng kahit anong pagod ngayon ramdam niyang pagod ang katawan niya, ramdam rin niyang gutom na siya.She heaved a sigh.Kita naman niya kung gaano kabait si Austin at Mavis but she can’t just let her guards down.The last time she trusted someone he neglected her to sold her body. That traumatic memory carved in her soul for the rest of her life.Tanggap niya nang dadalhin niya ito hanggang kamatayan.She shook off her mind when Mavis entered with a food tray. She smiled at Fauzia who is si
HINDI na nagawang alamin ni Austin kung gaano katagal ang kaniyang tulog, basta na lang siyang ginising ni Lysandros at hinila papunta sa second-floor ng mansion.“Fuck you, Ly, you didn’t even ask me if I already had eaten!” he abrasively yelled.Muntik pang matalisod si Austin dahil hindi niya nakita ang hagdanan at ang masakit pa dito dahil nakapaa siya ang hinliliit sa paa nito ang natamaan.Napaupo siya sa sakit habang hinimas ang paa bago masamang tumingin kay Lysandros.“Not my fault, don’t be tanga-tanga next time okay?” he mocked as he patted his head. “Don’t worry, makakakain ka naman huwag ka nang makulit.” Pinatayo na siya ni Lysandros, nakaakbay na silang pumunta sa taas.Pagpasok sa gaming room nila bumungad sakaniya si Anthony, tinutukan siya nito sa lalamunan ng nerf gun.He looked at Anthony, annoyed. “Really? A nerf gun? You shot me on the throat with a nerf gun?!” he said out loud.He didn’t have time to react when someone splashed him a water and when he saw Efron r
BINAGSAKAN niya ng masamang tingin si Anthony bago hinampas ang kamay palayo sa mukha niya.Lumabas na siya at hindi na gimambala ang dalaga, baka magising ito sa ingay nila.Pagkatapos kunin ang sandamakmak na mga plato umakyat na sila, nagsimula na nilang kainin ang mga nakakawalang ulirat na pagkain.“Okay, I’ll start with these two,” sabi ni Helios kinuha ang cheerios pati ang isang litro ng coke. “Let’s take it easy.”Nagsigawan sila sa inis nang inunang ilagay ni Helios ang coke bago ang cereal. “Oh come on, dingleberry!”“Bro! Cereal always first. Dang it, Helios, cereal always first! Then put milk!” Larkspur bellowed, displeased at what their friend did to their food.“Helios! Cereal always first!” then, Austin’s screamed in the background like the others did.“I don’t care, I don’t play by the rules.” Helios shrugged. Lahat sila doon ay napabuga ng hininga dala ng iritasyon.“Ugh! You’re giving me an OCD,” sabi ni Efron na nasusuka pa ang mukha.Nang malagyan na ang isang bowl
IN THE PAST 3 days, he can really see that she is exhausted. Fauzia slept for 2 days after he gave her the special medicine.Hindi na siya magugulat pa kung matagal pang magigising si Fauzia. Bumabawi na ang katawan niya sa tulog.Pinakatitigan lamang niya ang dalaga hanggang sa napagpasiyahan niyang suklayin ang buhok nito.Hindi pa man umiinit ang kamay siya sa buhok nito ay napahinto siya nang gumalaw ito bahagya pero hindi naman nagising.Halos isang oras lamang siya doon at ang ginawa niya ay suklayin ang buhok nito habang iniisip ang lahat ng nangyari sa dalaga. Iyon na ang hinding-hindi na maalis sa isipan niya na hindi niya matanggap.Yesterday, he finally has the guts to know her history. And that was very traumatic for him, there’s no word to describe how much pain she must’ve felt and it’s making him so angry even if the happening itself didn’t came from Fauzia’s lips.After a minute or so, he gently remove her arms that was wrapped around him.He, then, go down to see his f
NAPAUBO si Lennon sa ginawa niya dahil sa tawa, nagkukumahog niyang kinuha ang punong tubig ni Lazzini saka ininom iyon.“That man is evil! Run for your life, L!” babala ni Lazzini kay Lennon na nakuha naman ang punto niya, tumayo ito para lumayo sakaniya.Agad naman pinindot ni Austin ang button ng pause dito. “Pause.” Tumigil na nga itong tumakbo.“Are. You. Fucking. Kidding. Me?!” bawat sambit nito ay madiin at puno ng galit.Tumatawang lumapit dito si Efron at Anthony, pinaghahawak ang mukha at katawan nito. “Get off me. Fuck you! Fucking fuck you!” gigil na nito.“Gay shit panic.” Naiiling habang tumatawang lumapit na dito si Austin. “Bro, this is the best day of my life. And look at his fist, he is ready to punch me.” Turo niya sa kamao nitong namumula na sa sobrang gigil.Umatras silang tatlo dito nang sumigaw na naman ito ng pagkarindi rindi.Bukas na ang zipper ng pantalon nito ng dahil kay Anthony, iyon ang dahilan kung bakit ito nagsisigaw. “You mother!” sigaw nito na gigil
AFTER their dinner he asked his friends to play another game to pass the time, Fauzia is still asleep when he entered the room.Good thing she’s resting, he’s aiming for her to get better momentarily. No more doubts, worries, and pain that’ll aggravate her. He yearned for Fauzia’s gazes, that will gaze at him without fear. “So, what are we gonna play?” Helios was clapping avidly.“Let’s group into three first, I pick Efron and Lark in my team ‘Austin the great’.” Hinila niya ang dalawa.“Then we are the Tres Mario’s.” singit naman ni Lysandros, tinuturo si Anthony at Lawrence.Nagkatinginan naman ang tatlong natira.Sila Lazzini, Lennon at Helios ay parang diring-diri sa mga pagmumukha ng isa’t isa. “Ant! Let’s switch up. I don’t like these two.” Lennon cringe.“Don’t worry, L. We don’t like you too,” balintuna ni Helios, hindi siya pinansin ni Lennon.“Sorry, bro, we don’t accept bad players in our team,” tudyo pa ni Lawrence.Lennon dramatically sat on the couch. “Fine! Explain the