JERUSALEM MCBRIDE (Wild Men Series #6)

Chapter 4: The Foedus Initiation

AGRIANTHROPOS CITY

MARCH 2021

JERU

“SAKTO, dito ka na. Akala ko papa-red carpet ka pa, eh,” biro ni Trace sabay abot sa akin ng latigo. “It’s your turn, gágo!” Without hesitation, I took the whip.

“Oo, ‘kala ko nga may pa-red carpet ka,” pagsakay ko naman sa biro niya. Pagpasok ko ay tumayo na rin sina Logan, Lev, Elliot, Dax at Jake.

The dimly lit room exuded an air of authority as we—the Founders—stood in disciplined formation, forming a semi-circle around the central pillar. The atmosphere crackled with anticipation as I stepped forward, ready to grant our newest recruits their final rites of passage.

“His name?” seryosong tanong ko.

“He is Trevin Angeles,” sagot naman ni Elliot.

“Are you ready, Angeles?” tanong ko naman sa lalaking nasa harapan ko habang nilalaro ko ang latigo sa kamay ko.

“Wait, take this,” Lev said, handing me a bottle of beer. “Warm yourself up first,” he added, so I took the bottle and poured it into my mouth.

“Isang-daan ba ‘to agad?” tanong ko sa kanila.

“Nuh. Twenty-five weekly raw, kaya hindi ka mapapagod diyan,” sagot naman ni Logan.

His eyes met mine, filled with quiet anticipation and steady resolve. Mukhang naiintindihan naman niya ang bigat nang pinapasok niya ngayon. Lahat naman ng member na sumasali ay may kani-kaniyang dahilan para sumama sa Foedus. And we respect those reasons, as long as they prove their resolve and loyalty to Foedus.

With deliberate strides, I advanced towards him, my footsteps echoing through the chamber. My presence loomed over him – a shadow of authority – as I reached for the leather gloves, their dark surface gleaming under the muted light. Slipping them on, I tightened the straps until they fit snugly around my wrists.

“Are you sure you’re ready?” nakataas ang kilay na tanong ko sa kaniya. Parang lalo kasing umiinit ang ulo ko sa katahimikan niya at halatang hindi siya natatakot sa kung anomang sasapitin niya sa kamay ko o determinado lang talaga siyang makapasok sa Foedus. Sabagay, hindi naman sila haharap dito kung takot pa silang mamatay. “Tandaan mo kapag sinimulan ko ‘to wala na ‘tong atrasan.”

He nodded, his gaze steady, a silent vow of acceptance. Tension rippled through his body, betraying the weight if what was to come. Hindi ko mapigilang mapangiti. Nakakaramdam pa rin pala ng takot ang gágo.

Raising my arm, I wielded the leather whip, its multiple tails splaying out menacingly. The shrap hiss of leather cutting through the air sent shivers down the spines of those watching the ritual. The room fell silent, every eye fixed on us.

I caught a flicker of nerves in his eyes, but he squared his shoulders, bracing himself for what was to come.

“Tama ‘yan ipakita mo lang na natatakot ka baka maawa pa ‘ko sa ‘yo.” I flicked the whip, and the first lash tore through the air, its sharp crack echoing across the chamber. The leather tails bit into his back, leaving behind a stinging mark. He gritted his teeth, every muscle tightening as he absorbed the pain. Napapangiwi siya sa sakit pero hindi siya umaaray. “Ano kaya mo pa ba? Nakakaisa pa lang ako?”

“Pwede mo na rin namang tapusin kaagad,” sabi niya na parang wala lang. Lalong nag-init ang ulo ko kaya mahigpit na hinawakan ko ang latigo at inangat ko ulit ‘yon.

“Madali naman akong kausap.” The second lash fell, the leather biting deeper into his flesh. A sharp hiss escaped his lips, mingling with the onlookers’ collective breath intake. Yet, he stood firm. “Mukhang matibay ka talaga bata!” I said with conviction.

“Sige na, Jeru, tapusin mo na ‘yan!” naiinip nang sabi ni Trace.

Nang hindi pa rin nagpapatinag si Angeles ay pinakawalan ko na nang sunud-sunod na palo hanggang matapos ko ang twenty-five lashes. And at the final strike, the whip cracked with a resounding thud against his back. His body flinched, but he remained standing.

“May utang ka pang seventy-five. Linggo-linggo kitang sisingilan,” sabi ko naman tapos inabot ko kay Trace ang hawak kong latigo.

After the initiation, Trace invited everyone to the orgy party he had prepared. Hindi naman talaga nawawala ang ritual ng orgy party na ‘yon ni Trace pero ‘yon naman ay nasa kagustuhan na lang namin kung gusto naming sumama.

At dahil gusto kong makalimot ay sumama ako hindi naman para sa babae dahil may alak din namang inihanda roon si Trace. Pero kung magkakasubukan, pwede rin namang makaisa para lang mapainit ko ang katawan ko.

“Don't tell me you're going to get drunk just like that?” naiiling na tanong ni Elliot habang may hawak ding baso ng alak. “Akala ko ba may sasabihin ka kaya mo ‘ko pinigilang umalis?”

“Yeah, I really need your advice,” seryosong sabi ko saka ko tinungga ang alak sa hawak kong basa, sinalinan naman agad ‘yon ni Logan. “Ano ba ‘tong alak na ‘to? Bakit parang tinatamaan na ‘ko agad?” tanong ko sabay angat ng basong hawak ko. My vision blurred and swirled, a dizzying sensation surrounding me, and I hadn't even finished one bottle yet.

“Ilang buwan ka bang nawala at humina ka na sa laklakan?” naiiling na tanong sa akin ni Logan. He was sitting in front of me, accompanied by a woman gracefully perched upon his lap.

“Where is Trace again?” tanong naman ng pinsan kong si Lev. Nasa tabi ko lang siya at humihithit sa sigarilyo niya. Minsan parang gusto ko na ring maniwala kay Trace na tumatanda na nga ‘tong si Lev, he gradually losing interest doing some shít like we used to do and has become more like a father figure to all of us.

“He’s inside as usual. At susubukan daw niya makalimang babae ngayong gabi. Tanginá! Hindi na talaga nagbago ‘yong hayop na ‘yon!” sagot naman ni Elliot sabay taas ng dalawang paa niya sa lamesang nasa harapan namin.

“Baka naman kapag tinamaan ding kagaya mo, eh, maisipan na rin niyang magbago,” sabi ko naman habang nilalaro ko ang baso sa kamay ko.

“Anong advice ba ang kailangan mo,” seryosong tanong na rin ni Elliot. “Bilisan mo at may oras lang ako rito! Alam mo namang allergy na ‘ko sa mga ganito.”

“Tungkol ba saan ‘yan? Kay Paige ba?” Natigilan naman ako sa pang-aasar na ‘yon ni Logan.

“Nuh. Of course not!” mabilis na sabi ko. “She one of a kind but she is not my type,” sabi ko na lang para tumigil sila. Kapag kasi sinakyan ko nang sinakyan hahaba lang ang usapan namin tungkol kay Paige, lalo at wala si Trace.

“Ano ba kasi ‘yon?” naiinip na ring sabi ni Daxon.

“Well, I was actually planning to retire as an actor,” I seriously said, and they all fell silent. “I plan to finish the last project I’m working on now and then shift my focus towards my original plan that led me to join you in establishing Foedus Corp.” Gusto ko nang tapusin si Demetrio. Sa darating na election kailangan kong masiguro na hindi siya mananalo. I want for him to experience the agony of loss and suffer the consequences of his actions.

“Are you fúckin’ serious, men?” Elliot exclaimed at halatang hindi niya gusto ‘yong ideyang naiisip ko. “I remind you, hindi mo magagamit dito sa Isla ‘yang katawan mo.”

“I'm still carefully considering it, that's why I'm talking to all of you. May mga hotel na rin naman ako at malaki rin naman ang naipapasok na pera sa akin ng mga transaksyon natin dito sa Foedus. Barya na nga lang kung tutuusin ang kinikita ko sa modeling and acting.”

“Well, no matter what decision you make, I’m here to back you up,” Lev seriously said. “Nandito lang ang Foedus at ang Isla kaya pag-isipan mo na lang ‘yan nang mabuti.”

“I’m with Lev. Whatever your decision is, that’s your life, but we are all here,” Jake said.

“Pero tandaan mo rin, dude, mababawasan ang mga babae mo kapag hindi ka na artista,” banat na naman ni Logan.