Devil's Desire

Chapter 15

GALIT NA GALIT si Celine habang nakatingin sa akin. May hawak siyang kutsilyo na kanina pa niya winawasiwas sa akin. Batid ko kung bakit ganoon na lang ang nararamdaman niya. It is because of Christian.

Akala niya ay inaagaw ko sa kanya ang lalaki. Hindi ko siya masisisi sa kanyang inaakto. She's young, she gave everything to the man who promised her the world, and now he is betraying her. So I understand if she is trying to get rid of me.

Celine is the seventeen year old lady that was living with Christian under the same roof. She seems fiesty and strong.

"Bakit ba kasi dumating ka sa buhay ni Christian? Can you please just leave the both of us? Hindi ko gusto ng kahati, kaya please lang, Ate Dominique. Leave my man alone. He's the only one I got and I cannot live without him. Kaya huwag mo na siyang kunin sa akin." Her tears began to fall as she kneeled in front of me.

Hindi ko alam kung ano ang sasabihin ko sa bata. Hindi ko rin kasi maaaring aminin sa kanya kung ano talaga ang aking pakay. Seeing her desperately asking me to leave, I feel sorry. I pitied woman like her.

Because she seems unaware of the danger around her. She likes the man who can only gave her a heartbreak. Kaya ayoko sa ugali ni Celine, dahil naaalala ko kung paano ako naging tanga kay Nickel noon.

"Get up, Celine. You shouldn't beg for a man like Christian, he's not worthy of it. Kaya naman tumayo ka na jan bago ka pa niya maabutan. You know he hates seeing the two of us arguing," malumanay kong sabi ngunit hindi siya nakinig. Hindi ko tuloy mapigilan ang aking sarili na mapailing dahil sa katigasan ng kanyang ulo.

"I'm going in my room so you won't see my face. Huwag kang mag-alala, Celine. Dahil narito ako para sa aking misyon at hindi para agawin sa iyo ang lalaking iniibig mo."

Agad na tinalikuran ko siya at naglakad patungo sa aking silid na nasa unang palapag ng bahay. Yes, I'm staying in the ground floor, in the biggest and luxurious bedroom that has a queen-size bed, million dollor worth of chandelier, and many more expensive gives. Marahil ay iyon ang dahilan kaya galit sa akin ang bata.

Abala ako sa pag-iisip kaya hindi ko namalayan na papalapit sa akin si Celine. Biglang bumukas ang main door at pumasok ang nakangiting si Christian, kasabay no'n ay naramdaman ko ang pagbaon ng kutsilyo sa aking likod na tumagos pa sa aking tiyan.

Hinawakan ko ang aking tiyan upang maampat ang pagdurugo. I saw how Christian's eyes widened in fear after he saw what Celine has done to me.

"Celine! Dominique!" malakas niyang sigaw na dumagundong sa bawat sulok ng mansion.

Celine shrieked out and collapsed, maybe because of fear. Mabilis na nakalapit so Christian sa akin at pinulupot ang braso sa aking bewang. Sakto naman na pumasok ang road manager niya na si Kuya Ken. He was startled but after Christian shouted at his back, he went back to his senses.

"You drive, Ken! Dalhin natin sa hospital si Dominique. Hurry up! Ayaw kong mamatay siya sa bahay ko. I don't want the media to pester me if this woman didn't survive."

He's nonsense, iyon ang unang idea na pumasok sa utak ko habang pinakikinggan ang mga sinasabi niya. I pretended to lose my consciousness so I can gear everything.

"Sir Christian, hindi naman na dapat dalhin sa hospital 'yang babae mo. Hayaan na lang natin, tutal si Celine naman ang makululong."

"Are you out of your mind, Ken? Kapag nakulong si Celine at malalaman ng lahat na may ibinahay akong bata. I don't want to end my successful career. Hindi ko pa natutupad ang mga pangarap ko kaya walang karapatan ang mga babaeng ito na dungisan iyon!" he explained and frustratedly ran his fingers through his wavy brown hair.

"Kapag nadala natin si Dominique sa hospital, asikasuhin mo siya. I will just call my friend to help me clean up my house. Tsk! Celine is really a pain in the ass. She is so immature and stubborn."

"Nagtaka ka pa. Natural bata iyon, magseselos talaga kapag may ibang kumuha ng atensyon mo," kalmadong sagot ni Ken. He has a point though, Celine is a minor so basically her mindset is still not matured, like the rest of us.

Natameme si Christian dahil sa sinabi ng kanyang manager at hindi na muling nakapagsalita pa. That's right, he is so fine if he's shutting his mouth close. Naramdaman ko ang pagbaon ng kanyang kuko sa balat ko at kahit hindi ko imulat ang aking mga mata, batid kong mainit ang ulo niya.

Ilang minuto pa ang tinagal bago namin narating ang hospital. I can hear a shuffling sound, the soft cries, the beeping of the monitors. I can smell the blood, medicine, and even the dusty smell coming from the air conditioner. Everyone is in hurry like my life is in the line between life and death.

Hindi pa naman ako mamamatay at kahit oras ko na ay hindi pa rin ako sasama sa liwanag dahil marami pa akong gagawin. Kapag siguro napaslang ko na si Nickel at makuha ang bagay na ninakaw niya sa akin ay maaari na akong mamatay.

Naramdaman ko ang pagtusok ng karayom sa aking kamay kaya naimulat ko ang aking mata. Nakita ko pa ang bahagyang pag-atras ng nurse dahil sa gulat.

"Do you really have to do that?" tanong ko sa kanya habang sinisiyasat ng tingin ang hawak niyang mga gamit sa pagtahi ng sugat.

"Ah? Y-yes?"

Bahagya akong natawa saka umayos ng higa nang sa gayon ay magawa niya ang kanyang trabaho. I can feel that they are staring at me but I choose to ignore them. Natulog na lang ako nang pansamantala ay maging kalmado ang takbo ng aking isipan.

As soon as I fell asleep, I didn't expect that I would see him in my dreams; smiling and waving at me.

"Dominique... I'm sorry... for hurting you," he said and apologetically looked at me. He was about to walk closer to me when Callum appeared and stabbed him back.

Naimulat ko ang aking mata at agad na sumalubong sa akin ang mukha ni Callum.

"What are you doing here, Callum?"

Napabalikwas ako ng bangon saka hinawakan ang kanyang pisngi upang tiyakin na hindi ako nananaginip. I was pinching his cheeks, so hard, until it turned red. Agad na binitawan ko ang kanyang mukha saka huminga ng malalim. So this is reality.

"I should be the one asking you that question. What are you doing here?"

Napatingin ako sa kanyang dibdib at ngayon ko lang napansin na suot niya ang kanyang uniporme. I diverted my gaze and pretended that he wasn't there.

"At ngayon ay umiiwas ka? Let me get you out of here. I already talked to your doctor. Pwede ka nang lumabas."

He looked very serious and it makes me scared. Nang binaling niya ang tingin sa akin ay napatayo ako kaya naman bumuka ang sugat kong katatahi pa lang. Napangiwi ako kaya naman napatingin si Callum sa akin at sa aking dibdib.

"What happened? Bumuka sugat mo?"

Ngumiti ako saka umiling kaya napahinga siya ng malalim. He walked closer to me and carried me in a bridal style. I couldn't utter a single word because I'm stunned. He brought me to his car and drive me home.

Nang makababa ako sa kotse niya ay inikot ko ang aking paningin sa kabuuan ng kanyang bahay. He brought me to a different place, hindi ito ang bahay na pinagdalhan niya sa akin noon. His Victorian architecture house is enormous, and it's painted in pitch black and white, making the aethetics fascinating.

Magkasalubong ang kilay na tinitigan ko ang kanyang hardin na puno ng mga bulaklak, lalo na ang rosas. Mukhang napansin niya na naninibago ako kaya naman lumapit siya sa akin saka hinawakan ang aking balikat.

"I bought this house three weeks ago. Kaya dito kita dinala dahil malayo ito sa kabihasnan. You can stay here if you want," he shyly said and run his fingers through his hair.

"Bakit naman ako titira sa bahay mo?"

Nag-isang linya ang aking kilay habang nakatingin sa kanya. Wala akong alam na dahilan para maisipan niya na dito ako patuluyan. I'm not assuming anything but his actions are making me nervous.

"I am investigating Paulene's case. Nalaman ko na magkaibigan kayo ni Pablo at isa ang bahay mo sa nasunog. I don't know where you are staying right now but I wanted to make sure that you're safe. So I'm letting you stay here."

I want to clarify his assumptions but I want to enjoy his company, only for a few days. Aalis din ako sa bahay na ito upang iwasan at layuan siya. I'm going to hide from him so he has no reason to see me again.

"Salamat sa concern mo, Callum. I really appreciate it." I moved closer to hugged him but my mind is already in chaos at this moment.