Trace of A Broken Lead

twenty-six.creation

N  A  T  A  S  H  A

.  .  .

Nang tuluyan na akong makapasok ay napansin ko na magulo ang mga gamit. And it was really off, it looks like someone have thrown those things around. Wires and screws were scattered everywhere. Naalala ko na 'yun 'yung mga gamit na lagi kong tinatabi dahil mahirap itong mapagsama-sama. Pati rin 'yung mga papel na hindi ko alam kung saan nanggaling. Our clothes were even out of our bags.

What happened here?

Ephriam heaved a deep sigh, "It's good that they didn't burn this place off or would trigger us to leave this place."

I looked at him, kilala niya kung sino ang nagkalat dito? At kahit na gusto kong magtanong hindi ko magawa. Nakatingin lang talaga ako sa kaniya at wala ako sa mood ngayon para magsalita.

"It's the whites." he said after he gets what was my expression is. "They really traced at here."

Wala sa sarili napahilamos ako ng mukha atsaka umupo sa sofa. They really traced us here with the message that Mr. Walter sended to me. Hindi ko alam kung magiging masaya ba ako na dinala kami ng grupo ni Harry sa lugar nila para hindi kami madatnan nila Mr. Walter dito. Hindi ko alam kung dapat din akong mag-alala na alam na ni Mr. Walter na nandito lang ako.

At this moment, I want to talk to Beatrice and begged for an opinion.

Ayokong maiwan sa lugar na 'yon, ayoko nang bumalik pa sa kinatakutan ko. Hindi ko gusto ang mga tingin nila, 'yung p*******t nila. Iniisip ko pa lang kung anong mangyayari, nababaliw na agad ako.

Muli akong napatingin kay Ephriam nang magsulat siya sa isang papel at binigay ito sa akin.

'Let's check if this place was bugged'

I nodded in agreement, he makes me follow him and we digged his black things in the hole that I created. And grab a device that would determined if there was a listening device in a thing.

I was amazed and enjoyed that time. I literally collected the bugs that I've seen in Mr. Walter's place. Tinulungan rin ako ni Ephriam na mangolekta nito.

At sabay naming sinunog sa metal na basurahan. I didn't knew that he was watching me all the time, I just noticed it when the bugs were already burning.

"Why?" I asked and gave him a sweet smile.

"Is it possible that you can also transfer energy without a physical contact?" biglang tanong niya kaya napapikit ako.

"Huh? Why? Is there's something wrong?"

"Nothing. I just love seeing you smile."

I was confused when my heartbeats went erratic by a confusing statement. Hindi ko alam kung anong kinalaman non sa tinanong niya kanina, sinubukan ko na lang tumawa para hindi ako mailang.

"I like that flirty move that you did, nice one."

***

Mabagal akong naglakad pabalik sa pabrika, pagabi na rin at ang kalangitan ay navy blue na. However, I can't see the sunset for it was block by the buildings and trees. Pinakiramdaman ko ang lugar nang makapasok ako, napakatahimik. At kahit na hindi ko sabihin, alam kong hinahanap ko siya. Ganon pa rin ang lugar nang umalis ako dito, parang wala siyang ginalaw. Nilibot ko ang buong lugar ng dahan-dahan at pilit siyang hinanap. Sinubukan ko pa sa kwarto kung saan naroroon ang reclined chair pero wala siya doon.

At ang huling pag-asa ko kung nandito ba siya ay hinanap ko ang huling damit na sinuot nito.

And I didn't found it. Even his knives were nowhere to be found. I went out to check if his motor was still here, but there was nothing. I knitted my eyebrow, where did he go?

I tried to track him using his laptop and I was getting frustrated as I was having a hard time to infiltrate his tablet's system. It seems like the passcode walls have been tightened. I have pressed a lot of buttons before I succesfully invade it. It took me 2 hours for pete sake!

I pressed enter then another tab popped out. What I've only seen was the black screen but I can hear him. Para akong binuhusan ng malamig na tubig nang marinig ko ang pag-daing ni Ephriam. He even screamed with his teeth clenched making a loud grunt. His breathing were heavy like he've run a mile. What's going on? I tracked him again to see where is he. Napahinto ako sa ginagawa ko nang may marinig pa ako.

He sniff then he breathe out. Umiiyak ba siya? Then it repeats with a hiccup. What the hell?. . .

Mas binilisan ko pa ang paghahanap sa kaniya at hindi mawala sa isip ko ang narinig ko. Nahirapan akong hanapin siya dahil nagsimula na siyang tumakbo, his heavy footprints rustles in the dried leaved on the ground and I'm sure that he were on a forrest area. The audio stattered then I heard nothing again. When I completely found him, he was near at the factory. Maybe a hundred meters around here.

Iniwan ko na ang laptop at hinintay siya sa labas. Agad ko rin naman siyang nakita. Hindi siya nakasakay sa motor niya, mabagal siyang naglalakad at parang hinang-hina na siya, hawak-hawak niya rin ang duguan niyang balikat. He was back on his own feature, I felt scared at him right now. Hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin at nakatayo lang ako sa labas habang siya ay halos nahihirapan nang maglakad. What am I going to do?

But fvck that dumb question. I immediately run on his direction when he fall on his knees. I touched his other shoulder and transfer half of my energy to him. I took a deep breathe when I feel that he can stand up again. When I look at his face, his lips were already pale and his eyes were half closed. He blinked then looked at me, it breaks me.

At kahit na nakakatayo pa rin siya ay inalalayan ko pa rin ang likod nito. Hindi ko maiwasang hindi mapatingin sa balikat niya, sobra na ang pagdudugo nito. Mukha ring malalim.

Halos buhatin ko na siya para lang makarating kami pabalik at para makaupo na siya. When we got there, I placed him on the sofa. I checked if he was still awake and I felt a dagger in my chest when he looked at me again, there was a dried tear on his left eye. I wiped it out and grab his medical kit. I ripped out his t-shirt and since I was used at his half naked body, I wasn't distracted anymore. Maingat kong nililinisan ang sugat nito at tinitignan kung gaano siya kalalim. Nanginginig din ang kamay ko nang makita ko na napakalalim nga talaga nito. Halos mabuhos ko na lahat sa sugat niya ang tubig.

Napasinghap pa ako nang bigla nitong hawakan ang kamay ko, akala ko ginawa niya 'yon para makakuha pa ng enerhiya pero muli nanamang nadurog ang puso ko sa sinabi niya.

"Stay calm, please." then he chuckled. A tear escaped from my eyes again and he wiped it off. I bit my lip and took a deep breathe. I nodded and touch his hand on my cheek.

"And stay awake."

Ginawa ko ang lahat para matigil ang pagdudugo, tinurukan ko siya ng anaesthesia at mukhang hindi man lang siya nagulat. Nakatingin lang ito sa akin. And then after that, I started to sew his deep wound.

I rubbed my hands and turn off the faucet. I use a towel to dry it, kitang-kita ko pa rin ang dugo ni Ephriam sa lababo. Hindi pa rin mapakali ang kamay ko sa sobrang takot. Nang bumalik ako sa sofa ay nakahiga na ito at nakatulala nanaman siya sa taas habang nasa ulo niya ang braso niya. Habang stiff naman ang isa. Binigyan ko siya ng tubig pero hindi niya ito ginalaw.

Hindi ko naman alam ang gagawin ko at aalis na sana ako nang magsalita ito.

"Everything was fvcked up," there's no hint of anger on his voice. I don't know what's he thinking. Until I saw how his eyes glistened in tears. And when he blinked, it was already gone.

I don't process what to say but when my mouth opened I just let it say something. . .

"You only realized that now when in fact, life already done it on the first place."

"Fact is a fvcking sht. Life had never been fair."

"What happened?" seryosong sabi ko.

"I tried to approach her." it hit my interest.

"Then?"

"And they started to attacked me. Good thing Mr. Walter wasn't around." he chuckled darkly.

I didn't say anything until he's already sleeping.

I unfolded a blanket and wrap it around his arms. I wanted to hug him, I really do. But I can't do that right now because his shoulder were wounded. I know that he's still half awake. I want him to feel that he was not alone, I want him to feel that I understand him and that we are sharing (some of it) our own burdens. But I don't want him to wake up nor disturb him on his sleep

I lowered down until my lips touched his forehead while my hands were caressing his soft hair.

"I'm sorry." I whisper.

This time, I'm going to save him.

***

Napasigaw ako nang muli nanaman akong makuryente sa ginagawa ko. Napahawak pa ako sa aking dibdib at ramdam ko ang bilis ng pagtibok ng puso ko, medyo nanginginig din ang katawan ko dahil sa kuryente. Ang init sa pakiramdam. Hindi rin naman nagtagal ay narinig ko ang mga yapak ni Ephriam na papunta sa direksyon ko. At nang tignan ko siya ay nakita ko ang nakakunot nitong mga noo, pero nang makita nito ang ginagawa ko ay biglang kumalma ang ekspresyon niya.

"Anong ginagawa mo?" tanong nito at lumapit siya sa akin, tinignan niya pa ng maayos ang ginagawa ko sa reclined chair na nasa harap namin.

"I was just fixing it, following those instructions." he sighed. It took a few minutes of silence between us before he turned his back at me.

"Let's go, kakain na tayo."

Sa sobrang kalutangan ko ay natagpuan ko na lang ang sarili ko na katabi siya habang kumakain. Hindi ako makapagpokus sa pagkain ko dahil nakatingin lang ako sa sugat nito. May dugo na ang bandage na nakabalot sa balikat niya, nagdudugo pa rin ba?

"Akala ko ba magpapractice tayo?" he asked and I suddenly blushed. Hindi ko alam kung anong sasabihin ko.

I stucked my tongue in the inside of my cheeks, thinking of an excuse now.

"Hayaan mo na, hindi ko rin naman planong pumatay." he gave me a sharp glare.

"Para saan 'yung one month?" he asked sternly at nagsimula akong hindi mapakali.

"Bakit kailangan kong sabihin-"

"You need to because it's my job." natawa ako sa sinabi nito, kina-career niya talaga.

"Ayaw mo non, wala kang ginagawa." kibit-balikat ko.

"Ano nga ulit ang sinabi mo kay Harry?" inis na tanong niya ulit.

"Secret," I said with a smirk and wink, he just ignored what I said and proceed on eating his sweet potato.

***

Matapos kong kumain ay agad ko siyang hinanap, hindi rin naman ako nagtagal dahil nakita ko ito sa may kwarto. Nagsusulat siya sa whiteboard na nasa gitna pero hindi ko maintindihan ang mga nakasulat dito. Puro lines at numbers lang na hindi ko alam kung para saan.

"Hoy" I called

"Anong kailangan mo?" ugh, I hate him being so formal like this.

"Hoy," tawag ko ulit pero hindi niya pa rin ako nililingon. "Ah, hindi ka talaga lilingon?"

Hindi pa rin niya ako pinansin kaya hinagis ko sa direksyon niya 'yung tablet niya. It created an agitated glass on the ground. He irritatedly looked back at me. Nakataas na ngayon ang kilay niya sa akin at mukhang inis na inis talaga siya sa akin. Lalo pa't tablet niya ang hinagis ko, mabuti na lang matibay 'yon. Hindi agad nababasag.

"Why did you suddenly turn into a spoiled brat, Natasha?" I rolled my eyes.

"At bakit hindi mo nalang ako biglang pinapansin?" balik na tanong ko.

"Akala ko ba hindi ka na nagdradrama?"

His voice became disoriented and it stutter at the end. Napangiti ako sa ginagawa ko. I tried to imagine the consequences if I talk to Ephriam right now. But it seems like it would only get to a fight again. Malapit ko nang matapos ang ginagawa ko kaya nakakaramdam ako ng saya. Sinigurado ko 'yung audio voice sa screen, sinubukan kong gamitin sa akin 'yung reclined chair pero walang nangyayari at hindi ako nakakatulog. Ang naririnig ko lang ay ang sarili ko na nag-iimagine.

And for the 56th test of this experiment, I gather all of my courage and find him. And just what I expected he were on that room where I imagined him to be. He was writing something I couldn't understand. I tried to call him but he didn't look back. Napangiti ako sa sarili ko dahil nagaganap ang mga naiimagine ko kanina. And this time, I throw his tablet and just like what I imagine he looked back at me.

"Why did you suddenly turn into a spoiled brat, Natasha?"

Kaysa tanungin pa siya ng kung ano-ano ay nagsimula na akong maglakad. "Follow me," I said as I giggle at how ridiculous it is. Parang nung nakaraan lang siya ang nagsasabi non, ngayon ako na.

Nakarating kami sa kwartong iyon, nakatakip pa ng itim na tela 'yung upuan. At sa sobrang tuwa ko ay hinila ko ito, revealing the chair.

"TadaaA!" kanta ko. "Malapit na siyang matapos!" I giggled again and beckoned him to sit on it. Hindi naman siya nagsalita.

"Kailangan ko lang makumpirma ang isang pagkukulang."

Naalala ko naman ang sinabi ni Beatrice, programming was really my thing. This was the practice that I was talking about, I was enjoying in this way.

I looked at Ephriam who was now staring at the reclined chair, I tilted my head to observe his expression more.

"Then I pointed at you," I leaned closer until he was now staring back at me, "The missing piece."