The Pretend Wife & Her Groom

Chapter 13

“IRA, wake up.”

She slap the disturbing hand that kept on tapping her. Ang sarap ng tulog niya tapos gagambalahin lang ng kung sino. Hindi siya papayag.

“Wake up, Iralyn,” someone hissed.

Pesteng panaginip ‘yan!

“Ano ba---!”

Large hand covered her mouth, silencing her. Nanlaki ang mga mata niya ngunit agad ding nakahinga ng maluwag nang ilapit ni Sean ang mukha. Tumama sa mukha nito ang ilaw ng buwan na tumatagos sa bintana.

“They’re here,” he spoke with a serious tone, signalling her not to make any audible sound.

Tinanggal niya ang kamay nito mula sa pagkakatakip sa kanyang bunganga. “Sino?”

“Arevalo’s men.”

She’s out from the bed as soon she heard it. “What? How? As in now?”

He did not answer, instead Sean gripped her arm and handed her a gun. She gasped, stared at him with disbelief. May hawak ding baril ang isa nitong kamay.

“Don’t hesitate to pull the trigger. And stay right behind me,” he commanded. He pulled her closer. “Come on.”

Napalunok siya habang mahigpit ang kapit sa kamisetang suot nito. There’s no proper light so she can’t see properly. She nearly screamed out of her wits when she tripped on something after they passed her room’s door. Bahagya niya iyung niyuko upang makita ng maigi ngunit nagulantang siya nang isang walang buhay na katawan ang nakahandusay sa sahig. The guy definitely was not breathing.

She tugged at Sean’s shirt. “That guy’s dead,” she informed him.

“Alam ko.”

Nanlaki ang mga mata niya sa kaswal na pananalita nito. “Did you? How many did you kill tonight?” she asked him, unintentionally sounding so accusingly.

Hinila siya nito palayo sa katawan. “About four. Saka na tayo mag-usap tungkol diyan. Let’s get out of here first,” matigas na saad nito.

Iwinaksi niya ang anumang nasa isip at nagpahila rito. Well, this is how it is. It is she and Sean or them. With a wildly beating heart under her ribcage, her senses became on full alert. Medyo nakahinga siya ng maluwang nang nasa loob na sila ng sasakyan. Initsa niya ang hawak nab aril sa likod niyon.

“s**t!” Sean cursed, gripped her head and pulled her down, when multiple gunshots was fired straight to the car. Mumurahin pa sana niya ito ngunit napatili siya nang walang kahirap siya nitong binuhat at pinagpalit ang kanilang puwesto pagkatapos ng mga putok. “Drive!” he yelled.

She did not have time to complain. Parang robot na sumunod siya sa sinabi nito at halos pinasibad ang sasakyan. But the pursuit was tough. May ilang motorsiklo ang bumubuntot sa kanila. Mas lalo siyang nataranta nang dumukwang sa bukas na bintana ang binata.

“What the heck are you doing, Maximin? Mababaril ka!” sigaw niya.

He loaded his empty gun. Ikinasa nito ‘yun. “Just drive, Ira. I’m gonna teach these bastards lessons.” Sean then let his half body to be visible outside the car, tapos ay nagpaulan ito ng iilang putok.

She heard him cursed under his breath and slumped back on the passenger seat. His facial expression told her so what was happening to him.

“Are you hit?” Sinubukan niyang hawakan ito ngunit pinigilan siya.

“Eyes on the road, Ira. This is nothing.” He cursed again. “Go on full speed.”

Nanlaki ang mga mata niya. “I don’t think that’s a---Aaaah!” Bigla niyang inapak ang silinyador nang tumabi sa kanila ang motorsiklo at bumaril. Luckily, the bullets went thru the backseat.

Hindi nag-aksaya ng panahon ang binate at agad na dumukwang muli at pinaputukan ang yun. “I got him,” he informed her when she heard a loud crash on their back.

Tumango lamang siya at hindi na nag-abalang lingunin yun. She did not want to. Nanginginig ang katawan niya at pakiramdam niya ay hindi na babagal ang takbo ng kanyang puso. She is hyperventilating too.

“Ira, you can slow down.”

But she couldn’t.

“Ira,” tawag nitong muli sa kanya. “Slow down.” Halos mapatalon siya nang hawakan siya nito sa balikat. “We’re safe now.”

She finally let go and let the car slow down its pace. Hanggang sa tumigil yun. Nanghihinang yumukyok siya sa manubela habang si Sean ay may kausap sa telepono. Hindi na niya inintindi ang mga sinasabi nito, she concentrated on her own emotions. Or at least tried. But then she just started to tear up. Isang butil na luha ang kumawala sa kanyang mata na nasundan pa ng isa hanggang sa umiiyak na talaga siya. Hindi niya napigilang humikbi.

Sean on the other hand, did not try to comfort her. He stayed silent. Which she is thankful for. Dahil kung sakaling sinubukan nitong pagaanin ang pakiramdam niya ay baka nagwala pa siya. He just her to cry it out for minutes or even an hour.

He never said anything and waited patiently for her to calm down. Nagpupunas siya ng mga luha nang mag-angat ng mukha at tingnan ito. He is leaning against his seat with his eyes closed. Hawak ng isang kamay nito ang balikat. Then she remembered that he got hit.

Madali siyang dumukwang palapit dito, hinawi ang kamay at napasinghap nang makita ang duguang balikat nito. She pulled his blood soaked shirt to see the gunshot. “Sean!” yugyug niya rito, punong-puno ng pag-aalala. “A-ano ang gagawin ko? You’re losing too much blood! H-hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko.”

Hindi makapaniwalang tinitigan niya ito nang mahina itong tumawa. Then cursed when she unintentionally pressed the wound to put pressure on it. Okay, she did that with intention.

“I’m fine, Ira. Hindi ako mamatay. Malayo ‘yan sa bituka,” biro pa nito. She did not buy it. Kinapa niya ang laylayan ng damit nito at akmang iaangat nang hawakan nito ang kamay niya. “Not here, honey. I’m injured.”

Ngali-ngali niyang batukan ito at burahin sa pagmukuha nito ang nakakalokong ngisi. “I am not thinking green, Maximin. Mamamatay ka na nga, nakukuha mo pang mag-isip ng kahalayan.”

And then just like that. She’s back at herself again. She had to.

Walang kurap niyang tinanggal ang suot nitong damit and examined his skin. Ilang beses siyang napalunok at sobrang pagpipigil ang ginawa sa sarili upang hindi pagmasdan ang ganda ng katawan nito. She focused her eyes on his injured shoulder.

Inilawan siya nito gamit ang flashlight ng cellphone nito. “There’s no exit wound,” she whispered as if she knew what she’s saying. “There’s a bullet hole and---“ She paused and gasped. Her eyes travelled to his pained face. “Sean, w-walang… Nasaan ang bala?”

“It’s just a scratch.”

“How’s that a scratch?”

“Maniwala ka kung sinabi kong daplis lang ‘yan. Ako ang experto rito, Ira.”

“But---“

He silenced her by giving her his shirt. “Press on it. Use this.”

Hindi na siya nakipagtalo pa. kinuha niya ‘yun at idiniin sa sugat nito. Napangiwi ito ngunit sandal lamang. Nabalot ng nakakabinging katahimikan ang loob ng sasakyan sa mga sumunod na sandal. It became awkward. Idagdag pa ang kanilang posisyon. They are so close, they could each other’s body heat. And he is freaking shirtless!

Ang bilis ng tugudog ng kanyang puso. Ipinagpapasalamat na lang niya at nanatili itong nakapikit. Hindi nito alintana kung gaano niya pinakatititigan ang mukha nito. Though he smell of blood and injured, he still looked handsome and hot. How’s that even possible?

Pinagsawa niya ang mata sa kaguwapuhan nito at panaka-nakang sumusulyap sa sugat nito. Inilayo niya ang damit mula sa sugat nang masigurong tumigil na yun sa pagdurugo.

“Thank you,” bulong niya.

“Hmmm?”

“Thank you for risking your life for me.”

“I’m always at risk.”

Eh, kung sampalin na lang kaya kita?

Nagbuntong-hininga siya. “Whatever. Saan na tayo pupunta?” Started to wipe off the blood on his skin.

“Ako na.” Nagmulat na ito ng mata at kinuha mula sa kanya ang damit nito. “Hunter will be here in a minute. Gamit ang chopper.” Hindi ito tumitingin sa kanya habang nagsasalita. He busied himself on her previous task.

“Chopper?” kunot-noo niyang tanong.

“Oo. Uuwi tayo.”

Sumandal siya sa upuan. Yes, uuwi na sila. Masaya ba siya? Hay, ewan!

She did not say anything until the chopper came. Kapwa sila tahimik habang nakasakay. Hunter, on his medical scrub suit, was treating Sean. Doktor pala ito na kaibigan ni Sean. He practically pulled him out on his duty to attend to him. Nakamata lang siya sa mga ito.

“This is huge, huh,” komento ni Hunter. “You’re in your sorry state, man.”

Sean groaned. “I know it’s not that deep. Huwag ako ang takutin mo, Hunter. Just take the bullet out.”

Hunter laughed at his friend. “Alright.” Tumingin ito sa kanya. “You can close your eyes,” he friendly said to her.

Umiling siya.

Then he proceeded on doing his thing. He skilfully took out the bullet after cutting on Sean’s flesh. Sean kept on cursing but endured the pain. Hindi na niya pinanood nang sinimulang tahini nito ang sugat dahil hindi na niya kaya.

“Hooo, that’s one nasty bullet,” Hunter blurted when he’s done. He handed Sean a black shirt. Isinuot yun ng huli. “Frank, drop me at the hospital,” kausap nito sa piloto.

“Yes, sir.”

“So…” Hunter looked at the both of them as if expecting something from them. “What happened?”

“I got shot,” Sean quickly answered.

“So you’re not talking?” taas ang kilay nitong binalingan ang kaibigan. “She’s not in the job, pare. Marunong akong kumilatis ng tao.”

Hindi niya nagustuhan ang sinabi nito pero hindi pa rin siya nagsalita. She would let Sean to do the explaining if he wants to.

“And you don’t ask questions in the past.”

“Well, today’s different.”

Sean grumbled but answered anyway. “It’s Arevalo.”

Hunter’s mouth formed an O shape. He understood right away and did not press any further. She looked away, letting the two men converse on the things that happened to them. Suddenly, she felt tired and sleepy.

Ipinikit niy ang mga mata hanggang sa tuluyan na siyang dalhin ng spiritu ng antok sa malalim na pagkakatulog.