Sarang

Chapter 9

"Okay ka na?" he asked me the next day. I just nodded at him before finally getting in his car. I asked him to accompany me to where I am going today. "Saan tayo pupunta?" he asked while smiling.

"Just drive," I answered. He nodded and obeyed what I said. I was just silent as I watched the other vehicles. I smiled when I found the car that I was looking for. "Follow that car," I told him as I point the white car in front of us. "Let the driver know that we're following him," I command again. He nodded and stepped on the gas.

"Place your car beside it," I said before opening the window beside me. "Just follow the car," I told him and in a snap, I'm already inside their car.

"Hi," I saw how his eyes widened and were surprised to see me sitting next to him.

"Paanong..." he was unable to finish what he was saying out of panic

"Drive safely, mababangga tayo," I told him. I looked at the backseat and saw the boy crying. Without a warning, I stopped the car which made him even more surprised. I was about to get out of the car but he pulled my hair so I kicked him and punched him hard in the face. I went straight to the backseat and took the child.

I walked over to Asher's car and get in with the kid. He was even surprised to see me carrying a child but he did not speak. "Let's go," I told him.

"What about the driver?"

I just smiled at him. 3... 2... 1... we heard an explosion behind us which made me smirk. "Don't worry, he's not yet dead. He still needs to experience the things he has done to other people before he dies."

We immediately went straight to the police where the child's parents were. "Tell them you saw how the man kidn*pped the kid and followed him. Act like as if you're hurt so they can give you money." I told him but he just glared at me.

"Hindi ka sasama sa loob?" he asked.

"No. Just tell them what I said. Don't mention the suspect anymore," I told her. He nodded at me before carrying the child. I just followed them with my gaze until he could finally get inside. I leaned my head on the window and closed my eyes and I immediately regretted it because of what I saw. I immediately unbuckled my seatbelt and hurried inside the police station.

When I entered, I saw that the man was pointing his gun at Asher. "s**t," I whispered. I looked sharply at the hand of the man holding the gun. Before he could finally fire the gun, I looked at his wife. After a few seconds, we heard a loud gunshot and his wife slowly fell to the floor while holding her chest.

I immediately saw Asher turn to me but I did not meet his gaze. I walked straight to the man and held his hand tightly. He looks so shocked at what he had done.

"How dare you point your gun at him," I said and slowly pointed the gun at his chest with his hand. Without hesitation, I pulled the trigger and made him fell on the floor.

I immediately let go of the gun and looked at the police one by one. "They are not the real parent of the child. They deliberately abducted the child and made him their son to get money. They are not a victim. THEY ARE A CRIMINAL."

After I said that, I approached Asher and pulled him out of the police station. "Are you okay? Did they hurt you?" I asked while looking at his body. He blinked twice before he finally speaks.

"You... that... I can't..." he didn't know what to say.

"Get in. I'll drive," I told him. I even had to push him to get in the car. "I'm sorry," I said after a long silence. "I'm sorry for doing that in front of you," I added.

I saw him bit his lower lip. "It's still processing in my head," he said so I kept quiet. "Thank you... for not letting me die there."

"I told you, I won't let you die. Don't die without my permission. Keep that in your mind."

We went straight to his Restaurant. He still can't recover but he got distracted right away because of the number of customers. I just stayed in my seat on the side while watching his every move.

-----

Third Person's POV

The woman stopped walking when she saw who was in front of her. "Tú otra vez?" (You again?) she said in annoyance.

"Sé que puedes hablar tagalo. no puedes engañarme" (I know you can speak Tagalog. You can not lie to me) the woman told her which made her roll his eyes.

"Ano nanaman bang problema mo? Hindi ka ba nagsasawa sa mukha ko? Kasi ako, sawang-sawa na sa mukha mo!"

"I'm here to warn you again. Tigilan mo na ang ginagawa mo. Tigilan mo na ang pagdadala ng kapahamakan sa kaniya. "Es como si estuvieras cavando tu propia tumba por lo que estás haciendo" (It like you're digging your own grave for what you're doing)

She laughs sarcastically. "Ocúpate de tus propios asuntos, de acuerdo?" (Mind your own business, okay) she said before going away. Napailing nalang ang babae sa katigasan ng ulo nito.

-----

"Aren't you done yet?" I asked him in annoyance. I've been standing outside since earlier and waiting for him. He's been repeatedly checking the windows and anything inside. To my annoyance, I pulled him and I turned off the light myself. "Close the door," I command him.

While I was waiting for him to lock the door I heard a car rumbling. It did not escape my sight to see how the rider pulled out a gun and pointed it at Asher. My eyes widened and just like the wind, I pulled Asher in the other direction. I wasted no more time and immediately went straight to the road where they are going now.

I stared sharply at the driver before he flew away, together with his ride. I immediately picked up the paper and read it.

"Hindi kita titigilan hangga't hindi bumabagsak ang Restaurant mo," Asher read the message himself. I looked at him and his eyes widened before hiding behind me. "Nakita mo ba 'yon? Papatayin nila ako, Sia! May perlas at bulaklak pa na drawing!" he shouted.

I closed my eyes emphatically and was annoyed to loosen the tightness of his hold on my dress. "They are gone. Don't be a coward!" His eyes widened even more because of what I said.

"Coward? Ha! Dahil diyan samahan mo akong matulog sa condo ngayong gabi!"

"What? Are you crazy?!"I shouted at him.

"Bahala ka! Pagsisisihan mo kapag kinabukasan patay na ako! Hindi ko na mabibigay ang katawan ko sa 'yo!"

"Ayoko!" I told him.

"I'm using my wish card!" he said while smiling. My eyes widened because of what he said. I thought he forgot about it because he hasn't done it yet! "That's my wish, Sia! May kasunduan tayo na tutuparin mo ang kahit na anong hiling ko. That's my wish for today!"

"Fine!" I told him even though it was against my will. "I don't believe you're such a coward. And do you think they'll kill you for real? That's just a threat. Takot ka naman kaagad, duwag!"

"Hoy! Bulag ka ba? May baril nga, eh! Muntik na akong mabaril kanina lang tapos sasabihin mong threat lang?!" he told me in disbelief. I just got into his car while he was smiling as he drove to his condo.

"Charan!" he said like a child. "This is my condo unit! Condo unit muna, hindi pa ako handang idala ka sa bahay namin, eh!"

I just rolled my eyes on him before entering. His condo is nice and big. There is also a staircase up to where maybe the rooms are. "How many rooms do you have?" I asked him.

"Tatlo. Master bedroom, office, and guestroom," he replied as he began to prepare what he was going to cook. I was going to ask why he was cooking but I remembered that we hadn't even eaten yet. I just sat on the stool on the counter to watch him cook.

While I was watching him, my phone suddenly rang. It was Kaito. "What?" I said as I answered the call. I saw Asher glance at me for a second.

"Grabe, ilang araw na ako rito hindi ka man lang tumawag para kamustahin kung nakarating ba ako ng buhay dito sa bansang kinalakihan mo!" I immediately pulled the phone away from my ear because of the loudness of his voice.

"You were able to call me today so I'm sure you're still alive."

"Wow! Grabe, sobrang mahal na mahal kita, boss. Kahit man lang sana kamustahin 'yong lagay ng kumpanya hindi mo magawa! Napakaganda ng buhay ko rito. Pagkarating na pagkarating ko problema kaagad! Ni hindi pa ako nakakatulog at nakakakain ng maayos. Kulang nalang maging kape na ang dugo ko!" he repeatedly complained to me.

"I hope you just resigned and didn't go there anymore if you'll just complain."

"Joke lang! Ayos na ayos, pogi pa rin ako kahit na wala akong kain at tulog. Huwag kang mag-alala! Tatawag ako kaagad sa 'yo kapag okay na!"

"Kahit huwag ka ng tumawag. And will you please stop shouting? I can imagine you there and the people looking at you. Nakakahiya ka, Kaito." I saw Asher glance at me again when he heard Kaito's name.

"Hindi 'no! Kahit na magsisisigaw ako dito wala silang pake, gano'n talaga kapag pogi!"

"Fine. Bahala ka. You don't seem to be doing anything. just go to sleep instead of disturbing me."

"Sorry, Kamahalan. Mag---" I haven't finished what he's going to say because I've ended up the call because Asher has already put food in front of me.

"It's sooo delicious," I said when I tasted it.

"Is that your boyfriend?" he suddenly asked me. I didn't get his question right away but I remember that Kaito called earlier.

"No. He's my friend," I told him. He nodded before speaking again.

"You seem comfortable with him. you can still speak Tagalog to him but not to me," he said in a low tone of voice.

"Hey, I speak Tagalog with you sometimes!" I defended myself. What is he saying?

"Yeah," he said, "sometimes."

"What is your problem? Do you want me to speak Tagalog now?" I asked him but he didn't answer. "Fine, just don't laugh at me!" I told him and I saw him smiled a little.

"Hindi ka pa kumakain?" I asked him. This is so weird! "Oh my God, it's wrong, right? Wait, uhm, hindi ka pa ba kamakain? Kukamain? What was the exact word na nga ulit?" I asked him.

"Kakain."

"Right!" I said and snapped my fingers. "Hindi ka pa ba kakain?" I asked him again. He just shook his head and laughed before starting to eat. "It's sooooo masarap!" I commented when I finished my food. "Nagutom ako! I'm bloated!" I said but he laughed.

"Nabusog, hindi nagutom," he corrected me. "Nagutom means you're hungry while nabusog means you're satiate."

"Okay!" I said. "Let's sleep na. Is the guest room door locked?" I asked him.

"Anong guest room? You'll sleep in the master bedroom... with me."

"What?!" I shouted. "No way!"

"Bakit? Matutulog lang naman! Paano kapag pasukan ako sa kwarto at patayin? Paano mo ako maliligtas kung nasa guest room ka? Halika na!" he said before dragging me upstairs to the master bedroom.

"Eto ang kwarto ko! Sa kama ka na matulog."

"What about you?" I asked him but he points to the sofa. "Hindi ba uhm," I bit my lower lip when I can't think of the right Tagalog word to say. "Won't your body hurt there? Can you sleep well there?"

He laughed at me. "Akala ko ba marunong mag-Tagalog? Cute mo!" he said before patting my head like a dog. "Huwag kang mag-alala, sanay akong matulog sa ganito! Ang sabihin mo gusto mo lang akong makatabi para mayakap!"

"Ew, I do not have the slightest intention to flirt with you," I told him with a disgusted look before going to bed. I saw him enter a door and come back with a comforter and a pillow.

"Okay lang ba sa 'yo 'yong lamig ng kwarto?" he asked me.

"It's fine. You can turn it off if you feel cold," I told him.

"Eh 'yong ilaw? Nakakatulog ka ng nakapatay?" I couldn't answer right away. I honestly can't sleep when the light is turned off because I'm dreaming of the tragedy that happened in my life.

"Can you... sleep if the light is on?" I asked him.

"Kahit ano. Ikaw ang bahala, papatayin ko na ba?"

"Don't," I hurriedly stop him. "Please."

He stared at me for a moment before nodding and lying down on the sofa.

"Don't you dare do anything to me while I'm asleep," I warned him.

"I won't," he told me. "Good night, Sia. Thanks for saving my life twice today."