Beneath the Summer Sky

CHAPTER 16

CHAPTER 16

“B-Bitawan mo ako.”

Hindi ko na maitago ang panginginig ng boses ko, at hindi ko kayang pigilin ang mga luha na mabilis na dumaloy mula sa aking mga mata. Nararamdaman ko ang takot na tumatagos sa bawat hibla ng aking katawan.

Nagpupumiglas ako, pinipilit lumayo, pero sa bawat galaw ko, mas lalong humigpit ang hawak niya sa aking braso. Ang mga mata ko ay mabilis na naghanap ng mga tao sa paligid, umaasa na may makakapansin at tutulong sa akin. Nasaan na ba sina Bea at Sammy? I don’t want to make a scene here.

Napasinghap ako ng marahas niya akong hilahin palapit sa kanya at iniharap sa direksyon niya, ang mga mata niya’y may kakilabot na sigla na nagpaparamdam ng kanyang malupit na hangarin.

“Such a beautiful young lady.” Saad niya habang hinahaplos ng kanyang kaliwang kamay ang pisngi ko. Sunod-sunod na ang pagtulo ng aking mga luha. “Ang bango mo…”

Inilalayo ko ang aking mukha sa kanya ngunit sadyang mas lamang ang lakas niya kaysa sa akin.

“Good evening mister, what do we have here?”

A wave of relief washed over me when I heard a voice behind me. The man’s grip on my left arm slowly loosened, but the tension in the air remained palpable.

Yumuko ako, pilit na pinapakalma ang sarili, habang pinunasan ang luha sa aking pisngi. Tumikhim ang lalaki, saka inilagay ang kaliwang kamay sa bulsa ng kanyang pantalon. Noon ko lang napansin ang suot niyang singsing sa kanang hintuturo—isang gintong singsing na may inukit na simbolo ng phoenix.

He picked up his drink from the table, swirling the liquid inside the glass, and turned to face the voice behind me.

“Oh, nothing,” he said, a casual smile playing on his lips, but his eyes remained sharp. “I’ve mistaken her for some random lady who just wants to enjoy the night.” He let out a low chuckle, the sound sending chills down my spine.

“What I mean is, the drinks that are offered here,” the man behind me interjected, his tone calm but firm, cutting through the tension in the air.

The man chuckled, his tone taking on an unsettling edge. “Oh, ganun ba?” he replied, mockery dripping from his words. “We have plenty, actually. I assure you, gentlemen, you won’t regret visiting this lounge. We offer only the finest imported and authentic beverages.”

Parang binuhusan ako ng malamig na tubig nang marinig ko ang impormasyon. So, he owns this lounge? Kaya pala ang lakas ng loob niya…

Before I could fully process my thoughts, another voice chimed in, one that immediately sent a jolt through me. “Could you please help my friend here with your best sellers?”

Biglang nanlambot ang tuhod ko nang marinig ang pamilyar na boses na iyon. My heart skipped a beat as I sank back into the chair, unable to face him.

“This girl right here is so dramatic,” the man quipped sarcastically, his smirk never wavering. But the tension shifted as he finally turned to the man behind me. “Follow me, sir,” he added, gesturing toward the bar.

I kept my head down, still feeling the weight of someone’s presence behind me. Then, to my surprise, something warm and heavy was draped over my shoulders—a suit jacket. The gesture made my chest tighten, and I buried my face in my hands as the tears came, unchecked.

“Rica,” his voice was soft, steady, and achingly familiar. His hands gently reached for mine, prying them away from my face.

My eyes met his, and the concern etched in his expression made my breath hitch. Without another word, he cupped my face, his thumbs brushing away my tears.

“Let’s go home,” DJ said, his voice a balm to my frazzled nerves.

Tumango ako, nanginginig pa rin ang buo kong katawan. Inalalayan niya akong tumayo, at mahigpit niyang ipinalupot ang kanyang kanang braso sa akin bilang suporta. Nang marating namin ang entrance, biglang lumitaw sina Bea at Sammy.

“Rica!”

Pareho silang masiglang bumati, ngunit agad na naglaho ang kanilang mga ngiti nang makita ang kalagayan ko.

“W-What happened?” bakas ang pagkataranta sa mga mata ni Bea.

“Girl, ‘di ka nakakatulong,” mabilis na sabat ni Sammy, sabay lingon kay DJ. “Dalhin na natin siya sa ospital?”

“‘Di na kailangan,” DJ said firmly, his voice calm but with a trace of urgency. He shifted slightly, glancing down at me to make sure I was steady in his hold. “I’ll call my cousin to check on her. He’s an EMS doctor and can handle this.”

He paused, looking at Bea and Sammy, his eyes softening but his tone remaining composed. “If you want to come to her unit to check on her yourselves, you’re welcome. But for now, she just needs some peace.”

Hindi na nakasagot ang dalawa kaya nagpatuloy na kaming maglakad.

***

“Girl, pasensya ka na, nahuli kami ng dating,” Sammy said immediately after DJ closed the door to my room. Pareho silang naupo sa magkabilang side ng kama ko habang ako’y humihiga. “Kung napaaga lang kami, hindi sana nangyari sa’yo ‘to.”

Bea let out a deep sigh. “Huwag na muna natin isipin ang tungkol sa nangyari kanina. Kailangan ni Rica magpahinga.”

“Pero infairness, ha,” Sammy said with a playful grin forming on her lips. “Ang hot nung guy na kasama mo... at yung pinsan niya. My gosh!”

Nagtawanan silang dalawa sabay nag-apir. Napailing na lang ako at hindi rin naitago ang ngiti.

“Huwag nga kayong maingay dyan baka marinig kayo sa labas,” saway ko sa kanila at umupo sa kama.

“May girlfriends na ba ‘yon? Baka pwedeng tig-isa kami ni Bea?” Sammy beamed, her eyes lighting up mischievously.

“Naku pag nabingwit ko yung isa sa kanila, luluhuran ko agad!” sabat naman ni Bea na hindi mapirmi sa inu-upuan.

Napamasahe ako sa aking noo nang marinig ang mga sinabi nila, mga walang preno ang bibig. “Mahiya nga kayo sa mga boyfriends niyo.”

Bea unconsciously tapped my left arm, which was still sore from the earlier incident.

“Ouch,” I winced.

“Sorry! Sorry, Rica. ‘Di ko sinasadya.” Bea cringed, looking genuinely apologetic. “Kaya nga kami tig-isa ni Sammy kasi hiwalay na kami sa mga red flags na ‘yon,” she added, crossing her arms with a huff.

I licked my lower lip, fiddling with my hands as I looked between the two of them. “Well, kung single yung doktor, may the best woman win na lang sa inyong dalawa,” I teased with a chuckle. “But you can’t have the other one because he’s already taken... and his girlfriend happens to be the lady in front of you.”

Napa-awang ang mga bibig nila.

“Seryoso?” they blurted out together.

Their exaggeratedly disappointed expressions had me laughing even harder.

“Ay, si Ms. Lihim pala ito, eh,” Bea quipped, feigning a pout as she stood up. “Tara na, Sammy. Iwan na natin ‘to.”

“Grabe siya,” I replied with a playful pout of my own.

“May utang kang kwento sa amin,” Sammy chimed in, rising to her feet. She gently held my shoulders. “For now, you need to rest. Mayamaya, uuwi na rin kami.”

I didn’t argue. Exhaustion was already taking hold, weighing me down. I could feel the tiredness seeping into every part of my body.

Naalimpungatan ako. My chest felt heavy, and beads of sweat formed on my forehead as I shot upright. The room was dimly lit by the bedside lamp, and the haunting images of the accident that happened years ago lingered in my mind again like stubborn shadows. I exhaled shakily, running a hand through my damp hair as I tried to steady my breathing.

Beside me, DJ stirred. Napakunot ang noo niya habang bumangon ng kaunti, his voice groggy but laced with concern. “Love... okay ka lang?” His hand reached out, resting gently on my arm as his dark eyes sought mine, scanning my face for answers.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and managed a small, forced smile. “Y-Yes... Napanaginipan ko lang ang nangyari kanina,” I whispered, my voice trembling slightly but calm enough to not alarm him further and to not be obvious that I was lying. “Matulog na tayo ulit.”

He frowned, obviously not convinced, but he didn’t push further. “Sigurado ka?”

I nodded, placing a hand lightly over his. “Oo, love. Pahinga na tayo.”

For a moment, he hesitated, studying me as if trying to read between the lines of what I wasn’t saying. But then, he relented with a soft sigh, his hand brushing against my cheek briefly before we lay back down facing each other. “Huwag mo na masyadong isipin ‘yon, okay?” he murmured and moved closer to kiss me.

As I watched him drift back to sleep, a pang of gratitude and warmth settled in my chest. The memory of the nightmare still loomed, but his presence grounded me, giving me the strength to close my eyes and sleep again.