Chasing The Summer Hearts

CHAPTER 20

GASPING FOR air and losing consciousness, Roscoe tried his best to stay awake while his own father choke him to death using a thick rope that was hung across his neck. He was holding the thick rope to forcefully remove it from his throat because he's about to lose oxygen but he couldn't. His strength was very drained and even a movement of his body, he really couldn't do it. And he was crying so hard that his mouth literally opened.

He says something but he couldn't seem to verbalize it properly because of gagging so much. He tried acquiring oxygen from his nose but he couldn't. He was like forcefully drowned on a water. Looking down, he saw his father--smiling and laughing.

"Should I eliminate you? Because I vividly recalled that I don't have any homosexual child in my family? Yes, I remembered it. And why should I eliminate you? Because all this time, you're just squandering upon my friend's family. And I really hate that! Because of this, you have brought dread embarrassment on our family! And for that, you should be sentenced to death!" He said loudly. "And...oh, ako muna ang magiging Satanas ng buhay mo." He laughed. "And please, stop asking for help because no one will save you. Not even your most precious love."

At mas diniin pa ang pagkakahila sa lubid na nagpapasikip sa taling nakapulupot sa leeg ng kanyang yumaong anak.

"Ang dapat sa'yo. Mamatay!" Sigaw niya.

Kahit na masakit, kahit na ayaw na niya, kahit na gusto nang sumuko ng katawan niya ay nanatili parin siyang matatag. Hindi siya takot sa kamatayan pero buhat ng kanyang mga mahal sa buhay ay parang ayaw niya pang mamatay.

"S-S-St-Stop i-i-i-it...." Roscoe tried to voice it out but he knew it was just mere whisper. And he really knew that his father wasn't able to hear it translucently.

He was about to meet his fateful voyage when his phone suddenly rang. He saw him grit and forcefully let the rope escape from his hand, he fell from the ground and he was how coughing hardly while heaving for breath. He couldn't seem to find that amount of oxygen that will suffice his needs.

Napahiga siya sa sahig habang palaki ng palaki ang kanyang paghinga. Kahit na hindi na siya sinasakal ay pakiramdam niya ay parang sinasakal parin siya ngayon. Binu-bukas sarado niya ang mga mata niya para makakita ng maayos pero parang nawawala talaga ang sinaw ng paningin niya.

Bago siya nawalan ng malay ay nakita niya pang umuubo siya ng dugo.

Natakot naman siya.

Pa'no na ito, kung malaman kong buntis ako?

NAGISING NA lamang siya sa isang selda. Nakakabit ang mga kadena sa kanyang kamay at paa at nakaupo siya sa maruming sahig na may daga at ipis. Hindi naman siya natatakot sa mga ito pero ang malansang amoy ng selda ay nagpapalaki ng kanyang hirap.

May isang ipis na naglakad hanggang sa makaabot sima sa mga hita nito. Ngumiti siya at naguunahan na ang mga luha sa kanyang mata. Tumigil ang galaw ng ipis na ani mo'y tumitingin sa kanya at pinapakinggan ang kanyang mga sasabihin.

Kahit na iba ang amoy ng ipis ay masaya parin siya dahil may mga maliliit na hayop ang nakikinig sa kanya.

"Mabuti ka pa, pwedeng magtago sa mga gamit at mahirap mapatay. Samantalang ako, madaling mamatay dahil malaki at nakikita." Pagsisimula niya.

"Alam mo ba na sa lahat ng mga hayop na kilala ko, ang ipis ang pinakaswerte? Dahil mahirap siyang patayin at talagang hindi niya hahayaang makita siya ng mga tao upang hindi siya mapatay." Aniya.

Naging tahimik ulit ang paligid na ani mo'y sinabi iyon ni Roscoe upang pakinggan iyon ng ipis. Pero alam niyang hindi talaga magsasalita ang ipis kaya bumuntong hininga siya. Ang nakita niya lang mula sa ipis ay ang paggalaw ng kanyang maliit na ulo, kasabay ng kanyang dalawang anttenna.

After a few moments, the roach left him and ran toward a hole near the bathroom.

When Roscoe can't see the roach, his eyes weakly traveled around the floor. The floor itself was rough with series of smelly amount of dampness scattered within. It smells like urine and Roscoe was smelling it.

He wanted to stand up but he couldn't. He was very drained and he is in deep pain. Ang mga sugat niya ay nagkaroon na ng mga impeksyon at lumala. Ang iba naman ay nagdurugo pa at talagang masakit pa. Pakiramdam niya na maraming mga maliliit na butas ang likod niya dahil nararamdaman na niya ang kanyang buto na humahawak sa pader.

At pag sumasandal siya ay napapahiyaw siya sa sakit.

Maging ang bibig niya ay masakit narin. May mga sugat siya sa kanyang bibig at ang iba ay naging singaw na. Marami ito at malalaki. Dahil sa rami at sakit nito ay hindi na siya nakakasalita ng maayos.

Matagal na ang nakalipas simula nang dukutin siya ng kanyang ama at pinahirapan dito sa lugar na ito. If he wants to kill me then why didn't he do so? He asked himself. Hindi naman kasi viable na magagalit siya without any prior reason because that's absurd.

But whatever reason he might give, he will accept.

And he already accepted the fact that his father hates homosexuals and his mindset is to eliminate them and all. But exerting positivity in the midst of all this unfavorable thing made him smile a bit because of the hopes that his father might see the reeality.

He hoped that he might see that his son is not like a dog, but a human.

He hoped for his love again.

Kahit na may ibang pamilya na siya, kahit ayaw na niya sa ina niya, kahit hindi niya inalala ang asawa niya ay magiging masaya parin siya dahil nakita niyang maayos ang kalagayan ng kanyang ama. Although may scar siya at may sugat sa kaliwang leeg at nakabenda.

Pero alam niyang gumaling na iyon.

Nakita niyang maraming nagbago sa kanyang ama.

Kung noon ay strikto pero mabait, mapagmahal at maalagain, ngayon ay tanging pagkastrikto nalang ang nakikita niya dito. And he knew that he is now sturdier tha ever and he's proud for him. He continues to sob quietly while thinking about the good memories he had with his parents--his father's gentle smile and his mother's lovely laugh.

All of it he could imagine in a certain peaceful beach.

It made him cry even more that he was actually hitching his breath so obviously. And the sob literally echoed the dungeon he was under in. Umubo siya ng umubo at biglang sumakit ang kanyang dibdib at lalamunan. At dinura niya ang plema sa malayong parte ng sahig.

May sipon siya at umiiba narin ang boses niya pero di niya yun alintana, sinubukan niyang humingos ng malakas at ang plema sa ilong ay pumasok sa kaloob-looban ng kanyang katawan, pababa sa kanyang lalamunan.

Nagugutom siya kaya ang ginawa niyang pagkain ay ang kanyang laway.

Nakita niya sa sarili niyang talagang madumi na at nagkakagusot-gusot na ang suot niya. At ang dating nagkasyang suot niya ay medyo lumaki sa kanya dahil malaki ang binawas ng kanyang timbang. Nakita niya pa ang mga sugat at galos na natamo niya.

There were deep cuts and slices that pierced his skin open.

There were also open wounds, and some of it were already infested by flies. Masakit pero kailangan niyang tiisin dahil hindi naman siya ito magagamot kasi nakatali siya sa mga kadena. Sinubukan niyang kalasin ang mga kadena pero sadyang malakas ang pwersa nito.

And so, he remained seated with his legs crouched in to is stomach and sticking it in, just reaching his chest, and then his head fell onto his knee and sighed.

He's losing strength this time.

He closed his eyes to actually sleep. But his senses wouldn't let him.

In every attempt for him to sleep, his senses would wake him up. He didn't know why he was like this. Maybe because his senses wants him to be vigilant for possible events that might occur suddenly and may cause of his death.

And so he stayed wide awake.

Hindi na niya alintana ang pagod na nararamdaman.

Kung tutuusin ay sa loob ng maraming araw ay nakakatulog siya ng kaunting oras, minsan nga ay hindi siya nakakatulog mula umaga hanggang kinabukasan. Its because of his wounds and the place that makes him unstable to sleep soundly and peacefully.

Looking back at this hellish experience, he could tell that he endured all of it.

From forcefully drowning him in a water basin for 2 minutes to being lashed a hundred times with thorns piercing his body. Chronic fatigue ruled his body.

He could feel that anytime, his life would give up and he would die.

Pero mas iniisip niya ang kapakanan ng kanyang anak sa kanyang tiyan. Kahit alam niyang imposible ang paratang ng doktor na magiging buntis siya ay naghahanap parin siya ng pag-asa na kung sakaling maging totoo ang lahat ng mga ito ay pangangalagaan niya ito ng lubusan.

Kahit pa buhay ang nakataya para sa kanyang anak.

Because of this blessing to be able to bear a child, made him consider that he's a very lucky guy--a very happy person in the world.

And knowing that if the statement was held true, maybe Yrozze would be as happy as any other man be together with his wife. Sana maging masaya si Yrozze sa kanya at sa kanilang anak. Sana sa mga panahong ito ay hindi nambabae ang binata o may bagong girlfriend.

O planong magpakasal sa isang babae.

Dahil hindi niya kakayanin kapag nangyari iyon.

He loved Yrozze more than how Yrozze loved him.

He reminisced the past before both of them embarked on something that requires promise, loyalty and diligence and love. Naalala niya pa nung mga panahong naging mag bestfriends sila. Tinatawag nga sila ng mga kaklase nila na "The Unbroken Couple".

Natatawa nalang siya kung pa'no siya kinukutya ng mga babaeng classmates kapag dumadating si Yrozze sa klase nila.

Naalala niya pa kung pa'no siya magditch ng klase kasama si Yrozze at umiinom sila ng coke sa katabing vending machine sa cafeteria ng kanilang school.

Naalala niya pa kung pa'no siya maslide sa sahig kung saan siya nag ma-mop at sakto namang nasalo ito ni Yrozze at sabay silang nahulog sa sahig.

Naalala niya pa kung pa'no siya tiningnan ni Yrozze nang mapansin nilang dalawa na iba na pala ang posisyon nila. Naalala pa niya nung sa kada Valentines Day ay siya lang ang nagbibigay sa kanya ng bulaklak at flowers.

Tinatanong pa niya kay Yrozze kung bakit siya lang ang nakakatanggap nito at wala ba siyang special person na pagbibigyan rather than na siya ang bigyan,

Pero ang sa mga sagot ni Yrozze na 'Ikaw lang ang special', 'Ikaw ang binigyan ko kasi ikaw yung malapit sa puso ko', 'May mga bagay na kailangan mong pangalagaan ng lubos dahil hindi natin alam kung kelan iyon mawawala sa ating mga kamay', 'Kapag alam mong mahal mo yung tao, sa kanya mo ibigay ang lahat dahil alam mong siya na talaga' ay nakakapagpatigil sa kanyang mundo.

It was in Highschool when Roscoe developed a sense of romantic feeling towards his fellow.

But he's just reluctant to say because at that time, Yrozze was as straight as a flagpole, although Roscoe never saw him with a woman or having s*x with a woman, a viable action of being 'manly' overall affects his internal consideration about saying his feelings to him.

But now,

He realized that Yrozze have the same feeling towards him.

And he's just reluctant to say or see the situation.

But he's happy and blessed that there are people who also love people like Roscoe. People like that of the same gender. People who are deserved to be loved.

Yrozze could've been in love with a woman, have s*x, bear a child, have a family and complete the cycle but no! Yrozze fell in love with him!

And Roscoe's proud of that!

He could really say that the most ultimate blessing he ever received in life is being with Yrozze and a child (If the claim was held true and is supported by viable evidence). For Yrozze is a fine man with looks ever so attractive and attitude as soft as the pillow and possessiveness as hard as a rock. He had everything that every women would want.

But as they said,

"Every Romeo has many Juliets. But on Juliet does make his heart beat."

And yes, he is proud to say that he's one of the Juliets whom the Romeo's heart pounded.

But for some reason, he felt missing.

A week and 2 passed by and rescue wasn't yet conducted.

He felt that by now, Yrozze and his family was acting as if no one was missing. And it started for him to feel heaviness in his heart. Nagtulo nanaman ang mga luha niya. Ang lahat ng mga naiisip yang mga magagandang memories ay napalitan nanaman ng negatibo.

He bit his lip when he thought that Yrozze was not exerting effort to look for him and save him.

Baka ngayon ay nambabae na siya sa isang bar.

Maaring nakabuntis siya ng babae.

Maaring nagpa-plano na ng early wedding ang kanilang pamilya para pagbalik niya ay tanging katulong nalang ang tanging maabot niya. Maybe those persons are already having fun because he's missing and they're must be praying that he's already dead.

He felt so betrayed.

He felt so lonely.

Nang may narinig siyang ingay mula sa gate ng sa selda ay matamlay niyang inangat ang kanyang ulo para makita kung ano ang nangyayari. Nakita niyang may isang lalaki ang pumasok at dali-daling naglakad papunta sa kanya.

At his mind, this person is menacing and is going to hurt him.

He tried spacing immediately but he couldn't, because of how painful he felt around his body. He couldn't even raise his legs properly because all the more, they were broken.

"Shh, shh." Ani ng lalaki.

Hinubad niya ang kanyang hoodie at nakita ng binata ang ngiti ng lalaki.

He was seemingly good looking and attractive.

"Huwag kang mag-aalala. Ililigtas kita." Aniya.

Nang marinig ang mga katagang ito ay bigla siyang humagulgol. Good thing that it was only a whisper, otherwise, they would be caught. Baka maging kasalanan niya pa kung mangyari iyon.

"Shh, don't cry now." Aniya saka pinunasan ang kanyang mga luha gamit ang isang panyo at hinalikan ito sa nuo. "Ililigtas kita mula dito. Hindi ka nababagay dito."

Kahit masakit sa ulo ay hinay-hinay siyang tumango.

May nilabas na susi ang lalaki at dali-daling tinanggal ang kadena sa kanyang mga kamay at paa. "Huwag kang maingay ah?" Sabi ng lalaki sa kanya. Kahit na naguguluhan ay tumango nalang siya.

Dali-daling binuhat ng lalaki si Roscoe at naglakad papalabas ng selda na ani mo'y parang walang hinahawakan. Parang wala lang ang bigat ni Roscoe sa kanya. Roscoe saw him look at his surroundings and then took his way on the right side of the dungeon.

"Oh, this could be hard." He chuckled.

Naglakad ng mabilis ang lalaki hanggang sa makakita siya ng isang pintuan.

Binuksan niya ito at tumingin sa kaliwa at kanan.

"Welp, seems I can escape." He said.

Nakatingin lang si Roscoe sa lalaki. Napansin niyang relax lang ang lalaki at ito'y ngumingiti pa! This person might be a professional one because just by looking at his hips all the way towards his foot, there were several guns placed neatly.

The man is also wearing a black gloves while carrying him.

When Roscoe traced his arms, he found out that it was bulky ang big.

"Roger that," The man suddenly said.

"Oh fuck." He laughed.

Then a smile crept unto his lips and looked down on him. "Cover your ears dear. You might be affected by the volume of the gun? And please close your eyes." He said. Roscoe immediately did as what the man said. He then closed his eyes and slowly placed his hands on his ears.

With viable force, he covered it.

And just about some moments, multiple gun shots suddenly echoed the tunnel and what the man said was right...the gun's sound literally pierced his eardrum.

And yes, he is hoping and praying...

That everything will be okay.