Rest, My Love (Hunters Series 1)

Kabanata 10

Naglibot muna kami ni Cedrick sa buong mall ng Ayala. Hindi naman bago sa akin ang pumunta dito. Hindi nga lang madalas nakakakita ako ng ganito.

Napunta kami sa department store, nagtitingin ng damit. Pumunta ako sa mga shoes section malapit sa women's clothes.

"Bebs, lika rito!" Pabulong at pasenyas na saad ni Cedrick.

Sinundan ko siya at iniwan na ang shoes section. Nakita ko siya sa may lingerie na banda, Namula ang mga pisngi ko sa tinanong niya, "Girl bagay kaya 'to pang-livestream?"

Halos namutla ako sa mga pinagsasabi niya. "Joke lang! Baka matiwalag pa ako sa amin."

Napailing nalang ako sa turan niya. I can't help but feel empathy for him. Kahit hindi niya naman sinasabi ang sekswalidad niya, as a person, we should never assume one's sexuality.

Let them tell you, don't force them, and if they say their preferences, learn to respect them.

I may have different beliefs and perspective about that, I will still respect. The world is already filled with darkness, dadagdagan ko pa ba ang bagaheng dinadala ko?

Maybe I'll talk about it someday when I think I'm already in a calm state. Thus, who am I to judge anyway? I'm also a person with flaws.

Never force a person to talk about something that they may not be comfortable with. It's a basic manner every person should apply.

Bago kami umalis may pahirit pa siya, "Pero Ria, alam mo na kung sakali, tamang tingin tingin ka lang dito. Pero siyempre pag trip mo lang magsuot!"

Lumabas kami at nakita na mag aalas quatro na. Kinalabit ko siya at ipinakita ang oras sa keypad ko. "Huy, ano oras last trip sa atin?"

Nagkibit-balikat siya at nanlaki ang mga mata kalaunan. "s**t! Hindi ko napakain ang mga manok ni tatay bago umalis!"

Hinila niya ako palabas ng mall, nakapara na kami ng jeep papuntang terminal. Sana naman makaabot kami.

Nakarating kami ng terminal at kakaunti nalang ang tao doon. May mga nagtatawag na mga konduktor pero hindi doon ang ruta ng bus.

Nagtanong si Cedrick kung madadaanan ba nito ang Valladolid. Wala na daw kasing bus patungo roon.

"Oo hijo pero hindi na kami magbababa sa terminal. Diretso kasi ito." Tumango sa akin si Cedrick at nagpauna na akong pumasok.

I heaved a sigh when I settled in my seat. "Buti nalang dadaan." Saad ko kay Cedrick na nasa tabi ko.

Madadaanan ng una ang bahay nila Cedrick, "Ced, pagising nalang ako kapag malapit ka na." Tumango naman siya at nanood ng k-drama. Naibalik ko na kasi sa kaniya ang nahiram ko.

Buong biyahe nakatulog ako. My brain can finally rest after days of sleepless nights just to study. I hope my sacrifices would be worth it.

Nakaramdam ako ng tapik sa balikat ko. Nakasandal na pala ako kay Cedrick. "Girl, dito na ako." Bulong niya sa akin.

Inaantok pa ang diwa ko, pero pinilit kong gumising, malayo layo pa ang terminal. Tumayo na si Cedrick, "Kita nalang ulit tayo Monday, Bye." Bumaba ito ng bus.

Makalipas ang ilang minuto pumara ako para bumaba. Hindi kalayuan dito ay ang terminal. Pansin kong kahel na muli ang langit. Napangiti ako habang naglalakad.

The sun is slowly setting, the night will occupy it again.

I horn from a car startled me. Wala namang kidnapper dito eh! Hindi ako lumingon at nagsimulang maglakad. Ramdam kong sumusunod parin ito sa akin. Hindi ko nalang ito pinansin.

Tumawid ako sa kabila ng nakayuko ang ulo. I heard the door of the car was closed with ruthlessness.

The road is a national highway so it is expected to have speeding cars and uncontrollable breaks of the truck.

Nakarinig pa ako ng busina sa kabilang sasakyan. Hindi ko alam kung saang banda. I can only feel and see from my peripheral vision that it will hit me if I keep my pace slow and my eyes droopy.

Ang tanging nasa utak ko lang ay makatawid sa kabila to escape from a possible kidnapper. With no gentle in someone's touch, an arm gripped my wrist tightly and the other arm wrapped itself around from waist dragging me from an almost accident.

Gumalaw ako hanggang sa napagod nalang ako at hinayaan ang kidnapper ko. I feel him breathing unusual, very deep, and dangerous. The tempo of his heart was also fast as if he was close hitting someone he shouldn't hit with a bullet.

"What the hell are you doing back there Asteria!" Pagalit niyang saad sa akin.

My whole spirit was awakened by his voice. The tone is ruthless and mad at me right now.

Tumingala ako sa kaniya. I saw frustration and madness in his eyes as he looks at me.

"i-i..." Hindi ako makabuo ng salita dahil sa paraan ng pagtitig niya. He is so pissed at me right now.

"Are you trying t-to..." Huminahon ang boses niya. Hindi ko inalis ang tingin ko sa kaniya.

I am now leaning at the side of his car. His arm was rested above me and his height is towering me. Hanggang dibdib niya lang ako, while the other arm was glued on his waist, and eyes locked on me. Nakagilid na ang sasakyan niya.

Umiling naman ako. "A-akala ko kasi kidnapper." Kinakabahang sagot ko. HIndi ko na siya tiningala dahil kinakabahan ako. I only looked on his chest.

"K-kasi pagabi na. Bago sa akin ang maramdamang may sumusunod sa akin." Dagdag ko pa.

"So you would rather risk your life crossing the highway without looking at your surroundings?" Mahinahong saad niya sa akin.

Umiling ulit ako na parang bata na pinapagalitan ng magulang.

"Then why aren't you at least looking before you cross?" Panimula niya.

"Do you know what I felt when I saw you not looking at the road?" Dagdag pa niya.

Hindi ako sumagot o gumalaw. I know the feeling, parang kapag nasa mga misyon sila. I am always anxious.

So parehas lang kami.

Lumapit siya sa akin. Caging me completely. Kinain na ng gabi ang kapaligiran. No one will ever see what's happening since this is secluded.

He lifted my chin up. I can't process what's gonna happen next, I am not anticipating anything but my heart pretty much knows what might happen next.

"Watching you being reckless scared the death of me." He left no space between us as he stated that.

Pumatong naman ang isang kamay ko sa dibdib niya while the other one was already in a fist.

"Your recklessness will lessen my years to live, sweetheart." Saad niya pa sa akin.

Hindi nalang ako umimik. I heard what he said pero hindi ko masiyado naiproseso sa utak ko.

I am disturbed by the muscle on his chest. Tinignan ko iyon na parang regalo na dapat buksan pero hindi dapat muna so I only played with the buttons in his polo.

He stiffened and got a hold of my hand playing with it. "Tama na 'yan Asteria."

I felt him planting a kiss at the top of my head before letting me go. Tumingin muli ako sa kaniya at nagbaba naman siya ng tingin sa akin.

He heaved a sigh. "Let's get you home."

Binuksan niya ang pinto at sumakay na ako. Before closing the door he glanced at me once again.

Nakasakay na siya sa kabila at sinulyapan muli ako. Napatingin naman ako sa salamin kung may ano ba sa mukha ko.

He leaned closer to me, hindi naman ako gumalaw. He grabbed something on my side, locking me in my seat. "Safety first sweetheart." His eyes wandered my face before turning to his seat.

The whole ride was silent and the night already occupied the whole side of the Earth.

He never talked again but I feel him tensed. He grips on the steering wheel tightly. I saw his veins protruding as he maneuvers his car.

Pansin kong hindi kami sa bahay dumiretso. Sumunod ang aking mga mata kung saan sana bababa.

Tinignan ko siya at nanatili lang ang mata nito sa daan. Kumunot and noo ko at nagsalita. "Doon na ako dapat bababa." Sabay turo sa nilagpasan niyang daanan.

Sumulyap lang siya sa akin at ibinalik muli sa harap ang paningin. "Your mother was rushed in the hospital."

Napasinghap ako, tuluyan na akong humarap sa kaniya not minding the seatbelt. I removed it because it's uncomfortable.

"Asteria! What are you doing?" Sumulyap siya sa akin at kita ko na naman ang iritasyon sa mata at tono ng pananalita niya.

"Put your f*****g seatbelts on! For heaven's sake!" pagalit na niyang saad sa akin, binagalan niya na ang takbo ng sasakyan.

Hindi ko iyon pinansin, "A-anong s-sinabi m-mo?" nanginginig na saad ko. I can feel my eyes starting to moisten.

Anong nangyari kay nanay? Last time I checked she was healthy and doing good. Sana naman maayos na and lagay niya ngayon.

Was I too self-centered? Did I forget to observe and understand my surroundings? Masyado ko ba inisip ang kalagayan nila Perses and Kuya Eryx to the point that I can't even ask my mother if she's feeling anything?

Negative thoughts started filling my head. I am trying to hold back the tears as I settle myself on my seat. I don't know why I am fighting back my tears when I can just let it go.

Malayo layo pa ang biyahe dahil ang sabi ni Perses ay nasa kabilang probinsya ang hospital na pinagdalhan kay Nanay.

As the whole ride became unusual, I am already drowned in my thoughts, I keep questioning myself till my mind can no longer accept another burden to make me numb.

After driving for about one hour, nakarating na kami sa parking space ng hospital. I immediately unbuckled my seatbelt and opened the door.

Hindi ako pamilyar sa hospital na pinagdalhan sa akin ni Perses kaya wala akong magawa kundi maghintay sa kaniya.

He held my hand as we walked inside the hospital. Alam kong ramdam ni Perses ang aking kaba at panginginig.

"It will all be okay." He whispered to me as he wraps his arms around me. Nanghihina ako dahil sa narinig ko.

How will all be okay?

We walked past rooms and hallways. Nakarating kami sa palapag kung nasaan ang nanay.

Not far away from where we are walking, nakita ko ang Heneral na kausap ang doktor. Kuya Ajax was only there while Kuya Eryx is not found by my eyes.

Sinalubong ko ang mata ni Heneral nang tumingin siya sa akin. Napansin ko naman na nakatitig ito sa kamay ni Perses na nakahawak sa akin. Umiwas naman ako ng tingin ngunit hindi ko pinakawalan ang kamay niya.

"H-hija." Saad ng Heneral.

"Nasaan p-po ang nanay?" Nanginginig na saad ko.

Humarap na sa akin ang doktor na kausap lang kanina ng Heneral, nag-paalam naman ang Heneral na uupo muna ito sa gilid,

"Are you a relative of the patient hija?" Tanong sa aking ng doktor. Tumango naman ako sa kaniya.

"Your mothers' BP is high, she is just currently experiencing hypertension. She'll wake up soon." Saad ng doktor.

Napahinga ako ng maluwag sa sinabi niyang iyon. Maybe mother needs a hand? Pagkatapos ng graduation tutulong ulit ako sa mansyon.

Even if it's just a hypertension, hearing that someone is rushed to the hospital is very alarming to the ears.

Nagpaalam na ang doktor, pumunta ako kay Heneral. "Maraming salamat po sa pagdala kay nanay." Nakayukong saad ko.

Hinaplos ng Heneral ang ulo ko. "Leonora and you are not different from ours, she deserves a rest as well." Mahinahon ang pagkasabi niya.

Tumango ako at hinintay na lang na magising ang nanay. Nagpaalam na sa amin ang Heneral at si Kuya Ajax na aalis.

"Dito ka muna kuya?" Tanong ni Kuya Ajax, seryoso ang mukha nito pero nang dumapo sa akin bigla itong ngumisi.

Napailing nalang ako at umupo na sa labas lang ng room ni nanay. Nag-usap naman ang dalawa saglit bago umalis si Kuya Ajax.

Hindi ko na nakita si Heneral kaya tumingin nalang ako sa kawalan.

I'm dead tired. From my exam to almost accident and this.

I felt him sat beside me. He let me lean unto him and let his lips rest on my hair while I rest beside him particularly on his chest.

"Napagod ako ngayon." He just played and caress my hair. I am dead tired sleepy.

"Let's get inside. It's uncomfortable here." Tumango naman ako at inalalayan niya ako tumayo.

There was a sofa near my mothers' bed. We sat there and I continued to rest myself with him.

I snuggled to him, I never felt awkward and he let me. The last thing I know is I am already sleeping while hugging him and he, planting a kiss on my temple.