Within the Walls

Chapter 9

Eyes pierced my sprawled body on the floor. Smoke from cigars filling the air, making me cough. My breathing start to hitch and I can feel my heart pump out of my chest. Two men approaches me with an angered expression. I struggle to stand, but in the end they grip both of my arm and I try to wriggle my way out.

 “Ito na po ang inyong mga inumin, mga gi– (These are your drinks si–).”

 I eye Aurelio with a scared look on my face, trying to ask for help.

 A man with a wooden cane approaches me. “Ano ang iyong pakay rito. (State your purpose).”

 He brandishes a small pocket knife and my eyes start to prick my tears. I try my best to wriggle out of their grip but I can’t break free.

 “Ginoo! Wag naman tayong gumamit ng dahas! (Let us not use violence.)” Aurelio coolly holds the man’s hands to lower it.

 “Aurelio! Hindi mo ba alam buhay nakasalalay natin dito! (Aurelio! Do you not know our lives is at stake here!)” He shouts.

 “Kakilala ko iyan, maasahan iyan! (I know her! She can be trusted!)”

 The man walks closer, his eyes bore into every fiber even with a sequin dress on.

 “At anong suot yan? (What kind of dress is that?” The man asked with a raised tone.

 “Sequin po (It’s Sequin.)”

 “Se…quin! Isa ba yang anagrama!” The man presses the knife close to my neck, I can feel the cool but rusty metal.

 “Ginoo! (Sir!)” Aurelio shouts and rushes to my aid, “Bitawin niyo siya! (Let go of her!)”

 The men released their grips on me and I fall to the ground. But, I am caught by a pair of thick arms. Another movie-like experience as Aurelio and I stare deep into each other’s eyes and he flashes a smile that revealed his perfectly white teeth. He breaks our moment by prompting me to stand up, and he looks away from the crowd of people. My heart still beating all around the place because of the transpired events, a flush creeps my cheeks and I am frozen in place.

 “Ginoo, mukha namang hindi siya isang espiya. (She doesn’t look like a spy.)” A with a bowler hat whispers to the man beside him.

 The melodic piano music plays in my ear as the table filled with men’s hushed arguing and bickering overpowered by the sweet melody. Everything looks like is its slow motion. I feel the room spinning and a darkness flutters my eyelids to a close.

 I don’t know that came over me, but my heart was beating way too fast.

 My eyes flutter open, the nauseating stench of antiseptic fills my nose. I shift my head slightly to see wooden shelves with woven barrel-like objects. I try to sit up only to be pushed back down.

 “Magpahinga ka lamang. (Just rest.)” A mellow, soothing voice lulls me to lie back down.

 I turn to see Aurelio sitting at the edge of the woven cot.

 “An–anong nangyari sa akin? (What happened to me?)” I clutch my throbbing head.

 “Hinimitay ka raw sabi ng doktora (The doctor said you fainted.)” Aurelio doesn’t look at me.

 “Paano ka nakapasok rito? (How did you get in?)” A hint of hostility in his voice.

 I am starting to get irritated for accidentally barging in. They could’ve just let me go! What’s so important here anyways!

 I roll my eyes at and scoff. “Ano bang mayroon dito at para kayong manok na pinugutan ng ulo! (What is in here and you act like headless chickens!).” I snap.

 Aurelio turns around with a shocked expression in his face. He purses his lips and looks into my hands.

 “Paumanhin binibinib, ngunit nais ko lamang sabihin na kay kinis ng iyong kamay. (I’m very sorry miss, but I have to say your hands are soft.)”

 I blush a little and felt a little embarrassed. I gaze at Aurelio who has an innocent style on his face. Who would be angry with that face?

 “Kami’y makikita kung palabasin ka namin ngayon kung kaya’t dito ka lamang. (We will be caught if I let you out now, just stay here.)” He commands as he push himself of the cot and walks out the door.

 I stare at the ceiling which I think looked like it was weaved. Since Aurelio isn’t here, I can sit up now. The room was mostly made of wood and woven fabric, wooden shelves lined with vials and tinctures. At my bedside, a wooden basin and a piece of drenched white cloth in water.

 “Ano ang ating gagawin sa mga susunod na araw? (What shall we do in the following days?)” A hushed voice from outside was audible. I place my ear on the wall and start to gossip.

 “Una sa lahat, lahat kayo’y manahimi. (First of all, you all should stay quiet.” The voice familiar from earlier.

 “Ginoo, nakahanda na ba ang mga— (Are the --- ready )” The voice was inaudible.

 “Kailangan natin siya! (We need her!)” This voice was familiar, I think it maybe Aurelio’s

 “At para saan? Parang lokohin mo? (For what? For you play with her feelings?)” The man snaps, “pang-ilang babae na iyon, ano ba ang mayroon sa’yo? (She’s your what girlfriend? What is happening to you?)”

 “Dapat mapapayag mo siya sa kasalan ng limang araw, kung hindi, si Florentina ang iyong mapapangasawa! (She should say yes to you within five day. If not, I’m arranging a marriage for you and Florentina!)” The dad added.

 Are they referring to me? Marriage in only five days? Who’s sick to do that!

 Aurelio fell silent. “Oo itay. (Yes father.)”

 “Mabuti! Ngayon…”  

 Some of their talking were unbeknownst to me. It had a touch of Tagalog but it jumps to a different form to the point I just lied back down on the cot. Footsteps came from the doorstep and Aurelio stands beside me.

 “Ikaw ba’y nagugutom? (Are you hungry?)”  He said with pleading eyes.

 His charm was undeniably strong and captivating. His smile, his tall stature, and cholocate tone. A beautiful mixture of a man. I admire every feature of his face until it formed into pursed ones.

 “Tina–tanong kita! (I–I am asking you!)” Aurelio snaps knocking me out of my admiration.

 I nodded for no reason and he extends out his hands, gesturing me to stand up.

 “Tara, may alam akong lugar. (Come, I know a place.)”

 I take his hand and helps me stands up. He pulls me into a doorway where the chalkboard was gone and cups were gone as well and it has gotten a little dark. We ascend the stairs I fell in and the wall shifted open. The kitchen was dark and the music has ceased.

 Aurelio tugs me up the stairs and closes the hatch or something. We sneak outside the building and into the outside, where it was almost dark if it weren’t for lanterns and lamps. We walk and walk until we reached a small ramp that led to the atop the interiors of the wall.

 Where are we going?