She Lives
1080 Words
[Phraea's POV]
"Stop! Please stop!" I shouted at Evelyn and Rowena that made them froze. I hid the little girl behind me with my tears pouring.
"Phraea, what are you doing?" Tanong ni Garen na may mapagbabanta ang boses.
"This is insane, you can't kill her. She's innocent!"
"You still don't know the half of it, do you? You think I would dare to lay a finger on an innocent child? That girl is a killer, Phraea! She's not innocent as you think she is."
He's blubbering nonsense things. This little girl doesn't know anything about the world at kung may mga kasalanan nga siyang nagawa, alam kong hindi niya iyun ginusto o sinasadya.
"So we eliminate sinners by commiting a sin?"
"Stop talking, Phraea. Get out of there." Napalunok ako at taas-noong tumayo. Hindi ako gumalaw sa kinatatayuan ko. I need to be tough, so I can save someone... saving just one person is enough.
"Don't test me, Phraea."
"Or what? Papatayin mo ako?" Napatahimik siya at umigting ang kanyang panga. Bakit hindi siya makasagot? Don't tell me he really meant what he said in the letter. He's a demon, he should cut my head off.
"Phraea," tumingin ako kay Rowena nung tinawag niya ako. Kinakausap niya ako gamit ang kanyang mga mata, nagmamakaawang sumunod sa gusto ni Garen para sa kaligtasan ko.
"Listen, this little girl is too young to die–"
"Yet too young to live. You will gain nothing from protecting someone who doesn't mean anything to you, that's foolishness." Mapait niyang saad habang titig na titig sa mga mata ko. Ramdam ko ang poot sa ilalim ng kanyang mga mata, just by looking at him made my ribs shuttle in fear.
"It's between that girl or your friends. Now, I want you to choose." Mas bumagal at bumigat ang paghinga ko nung tinutukan niya sina Rowena at Evelyn na ikinataranta rin ng dalawa.
"You can't do this."
"You're challenging the devil yourself. Sa tingin mo hindi ko kaya?"
"Tulungan mo ako, maawa ka." Umiiyak na pakiusap ng bata na nasa likuran ko. Nakatingin ako sa kanya habang nag-uunahang tumulo ang aking mga luha. I badly want to take the sack off her head and dry her tears.
"No, no, get off me. Bitawan niyo ako!" Nagwawalang sigaw ko nung bigla na lang akong hilahin ng isa sa mga tauhan ni Garen. Lumakas ang luha ko dahil kahit anong pagpipiglas ko ay hindi ako makatakas hanggang sa unti-unti na akong nahila palayo at hindi na makita ng mga mata ko ang batang babae.
"Paalisin niyo ako rito!" Sigaw ko nung ipinasok nila ako sa isang kwarto sa loob ng mansyon.
"Shh, would you please calm down?" Naiiritang sambit ng isa sa mga tauhan ni Garen.
"Are you nuts? He's going to kill the girl! How am I supposed to calm down?!"
He frustratedly wiped his face using his palm before letting out a tired sigh. "Give us a moment please," he said to the other one and he obey him without a single word at naiwan ako sa isang kwarto kasama ang tauhan ni Garen.
He has an outstanding caramel blonde faux hawk haircut and he has dark eyes... terrifying just like his boss.
"Gusto mo ba talagang mabuhay?" Pinanliitan niya ako ng mata at hindi ko na kailangan sabihin pa dahil alam kong nakikita niya sa mukha ko kung gaano ako kadesperadong mabuhay at makatakas mula sa islang ito.
"Let me give you an advice. Don't upset Garen... just don't." May pagbabantang paalala niya.
"Why? If I upset him, what would happen to me?"
"I don't know either but rest assured that he can't lay a hand on you." I scoffed because of the idea that he won't hurt me. I've heard those words before countless times yet i'm always in pain.
"I don't feel assured that he won't hurt me, either way... I don't think I can stop making him feel upset. It's my nature to annoy people anyway." Napapaos na tugon ko habang nakatitig nang malalim sa kanyang mga mata. Napataas-baba ang kanyang baga at alam kong unti-unti nang umiikli ang kanyang pasensya.
"Let's get out. Garen is waiting for you in the other room." Bigla akong naguluhan sa sinabi niya. Kumalabog ang dibdib ko at ramdam ko ang panlalamig ng buong katawan ko dahil sa kanyang sinabi.
"W-why? Why were you talking to me? You were not supposed to talk to me at alam kong wala kang pakialam kung ano ang mangyari sa akin, so why give me advice?"
Napabuga siya ng hangin bago niya ako hinarap muli. "Honestly, wala akong pakialam sayo. I can watch you die, but no... hindi ka pwedeng mamatay. Not because I care for you but because I care for my boss."
"What does Garen have to do with this? Ano naman kung mamamatay ko?"
"Enough with the question, shut your mouth." Hinila niya ako papalabas ng kwarto at parang lumukso ang puso ko nung makita ang mga tauhan ni Garen na nakaabang sa labas.
"Boss is waiting for her." The black man who is taller than the man holding my wrist said.
"Bitawan mo ako!–"
"Huwag ka nang pumiglas!" Napatahimik ako at biglang nawala ang tapang ko sa pagsigaw niya. "Just don't... please."
Nakayuko akong sumunod sa kanya nung hinila niya ako sa isang kwarto kung nasaan si Garen. Pagkapasok ay agad naman niyang binitawan ang pulupulsuhan ko.
"Sorry for the delay, Boss. I shall leave now." Yumuko siya at bago lumabas ay binigyan niya ako ng tingin na nagpapaalala.
Nung makita ko si Garen na nakaupo sa sofa kaharap ng fireplace ay biglang nawala ang kaba ko at kusa na lang na uminit ang ulo ko lalo pa nung tumayo na siya para harapin ako.
I looked at him in the eyes and I got confused when he doesn't look upset. Parang wala lang nangyari kanina.
"Ano ang ginawa mo sa kanya?"
"The little girl?" Hindi ako sumagot pero alam kong nakuha niya kung sino ang tinutukoy ko. "She lives but I killed the lady... the b***h who abducts innocent girls and force them to work as prostitutes."
Hindi na ako nagulat pa sa narinig. What did I expect? Hindi makatarungan ang mga klase ng tao ang pinapatay niya.
"You let her live even if you had the chance to kill her... why?"
He grinned and slid his hands into his pocket before letting out a breath. "Because that's what you want."
- Writer
