VESCOVI SERIES: BORROWED HEART

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 4

Ang bawat segundong dumadaan ay tila mabigat na kadena na pumupulupot sa buong pagkatao ko. I couldn't stop the tears. Magdamag akong nakasubsob sa tuhod ko, hinahayaan ang bawat hikbi na yumigsa sa dibdib ko. I was crying for my mother, for the life I lost, and for my brother... na alam kong hinding-hindi ako pababayaan pero lalong mapapahamak dahil sa akin.

I looked up at the small, barred window. Hindi ko na namalayan ang paglipas ng buwan. The silver glow was mocking me, reminding me that the world outside is still moving while I’m here, waiting for my end.

Every thud in my chest felt like a ticking time bomb. Isang taon. Isang taon pa lang ang nakalilipas mula nang operahan ako. This heart... Lia’s heart... it’s still so fragile.

My doctors warned me before, bawal ang sobrang pagod, bawal ang sobrang emosyon. But how could I stay calm when the man who wants to kill me is just outside that door?

I felt my consciousness slipping away as the exhaustion took over. Sa gitna ng dilim, isa lang ang panalangin ko... sana huwag nang magising.

Naramdaman ko ang malamig na haplos sa aking pulsuhan. My eyes fluttered open, pero sobrang bigat ng talukap ko. The first thing I saw was a pair of dark, unforgiving eyes.

"She's awake," a cold, baritone voice echoed.

Napaigtad ako nang makita si Silas. He was standing there, looking down at me with those same eyes that promised nothing but death. Sinubukan kong igalaw ang kamay ko, pero sobrang lambot ng katawan ko. Para akong lantang gulay.

"Three days, Kid," Silas said, his voice dropping into a low, dangerous register. "You've been out for three days. You're lucky you're still breathing."

Tatlong araw? Nawalan ako ng malay ng ganoon katagal? Tumingin ako sa paligid at napansin na wala na ako sa madilim na silid na 'yun. The room was white, smelling of disinfectants and expensive air freshener.

"Don't look at me like that. I didn't bring you here out of mercy," he added, his jaw tightening. "I just can't have you dying before I find that brother of yours. I want him to watch when I finally take back what belongs to me."

"Sil, you better not chain her up. She’s just a kid, man."

Nilingon ko ang pinagmulan ng boses. Isang lalaking halos kaedaran lang ni Silas ang nakatayo sa may paanan ng kama.

He was wearing a white coat, looking every bit of a professional, pero may kakaibang gaan sa kaniyang awra kumpara sa dilim na dala ni Silas. He was undeniably handsome, but his eyes held a flicker of pity as he looked at me.

Silas turned his head, his expression darkening.

"Don't tell me what to do with my property, Caleb."

"Property? She's a patient, Sil. And more than that, she's a human being with a very delicate condition," Caleb retorted, unfazed by Silas’ lethal stare. Lumapit siya sa akin at chineck ang IV drip ko. "Her body is rejecting the stress, not the heart. Isang taon pa lang ang nakakalipas mula nang operahan siya. Any more of your 'hospitality' and she’ll be dead before you even get a lead on her brother."

"Then fix her," Silas snapped. "That's why you're here. Keep that heart beating."

"I can keep her body alive, but I can't fix what you're doing to her mind," Caleb sighed, turning his attention back to me. "How are you feeling, kid? Does your chest hurt?"

I didn't answer. Nanatili lang akong nakatitig sa kanila, pilit na pinapanatili ang pagpapanggap ko. I have to be silent. I have to be invisible.

"She doesn't talk, Caleb. She’s mute," Silas said, though the way he said it felt like he was testing me.

"Mute or not, she can hear me," Caleb looked at Silas again. "Listen to me, Sil. You can't keep her in that room anymore. She needs air. She needs to not feel like a prisoner. Kung gusto mong mabuhay ang pusong 'yan, kailangan mong tratuhin siya nang maayos."

Silas let out a harsh, cynical breath.

Lumapit siya sa gilid ng kama ko, leaning down until his shadow completely covered me. His presence was so overwhelming, I could feel my heart rate monitor starting to beep faster.

"Did you hear that, Kid?" Silas whispered, his voice like velvet over steel. "The doctor says I have to be nice to you. But don't get too comfortable. This doesn't change anything. The moment your brother shows up, both of you are dead. I’ll make sure he watches me take this heart back from your chest, and then I’ll send him to the same hell he sent Lia."

I squeezed my eyes shut, my chest tightening. The monitor's beeping grew louder, more frantic.

"Sil! Step back! You're agitating her!" Caleb moved quickly, pushing Silas away from the bed. "Labas. Ngayon na. I need to stabilize her."

Silas didn't move for a second, his eyes still fixed on me with a mixture of hatred and something I couldn't quite decipher. Then, without a word, he turned his back and walked out of the room.

Nang sumara ang pinto, doon ko lang hinayaang dumaloy ang hangin sa baga ko. I felt Caleb’s hand on my shoulder, a gentle, reassuring touch.

"Breath, kid. Just breathe. He’s gone," he said softly.

Tumingin ako sa kaniya, ang mga luha ko ay dahan-dahang pumatak. I wanted to tell him thank you. I wanted to ask him to help me escape.

He doesn't see a person. He sees a container. He sees a debt.

Hinawakan ko ang dibdib ko, damang-dama ang bawat t***k na tila isang mabigat na pasanin. Sana... sana hindi na lang ako nagising. Dahil sa bawat sandali na gising ako, mas nararamdaman ko ang poot ni Silas... at ang katotohanan na ang buhay ko ay hiram lang sa babaeng kinitil ng sarili kong dugo.