The Fire Inside Her [UNEDITED]

Kabanata 16

Kabanata 16

"I-It happened four years ago in a pageant contest."

Dugtong ko sa sinabi ko kanina nang makitang hindi siya makagalaw sa narinig. So I continue what I said earlier so he could understand why I'm so frighten right now. But unlike before, kaya ko ng labanan ang takot ko kahit pansamantala dahil alam kong nandito siya at nakikinig sa akin.

When I stared on his face, shock is all written on it. His mouth is gaping and his eyes is widened in shock. Kanina pa siya ganito at naiintindihan ko kung bakit ganito nalang ang reaksyon niya.

I sighed heavily before I speak. "I won as a Queen of the night in Intramurals. It happened in the campus and I was in third year highschool that time. I was so happy that in the second time, I won as a Queen again. Some of them envy on me, but some of them too hate me. And I don't know why." Pagak akong natawa at mahigpit na hinawakan ang kamay niya. "You know that I love being a model when I was a kid so I always participant in pageants as much as I could. It happened so fast. Yung sobrang saya ko pa 'nong una pero kalaunan.. n-napuno ito ng takot at galit."

I heaved a deep breath when he caged me on his arms. Napapikit ako at hinayaang maglandas ang luha sa pisngi ko habang isinisiksik ang sarili sa kanya.

"I didn't expect it." Pumiyok ang boses ko at ramdam ko ang paghigpit ng yakap niya sa akin. "I was a-alone that time because my friends was already went home. I need to entertained some students that's why it was too late for me to get home." I sniffed. "I-It happened so fast. I was.. I was.." napailing-iling ako nang hindi ko man lang matapos-tapos ang gusto kong sabihin sa kanya. Ang gusto kong malaman niyang sikreto na ilang taon ko ring itinago. 

"Shh.. it's okay. If you can't share it to me right now, I fully understand babe. Don't hurt yourself anymore."

"B-But I want to."

"You need to calm down." Lumayo siya sa akin at sinapo ang magkabilang pisngi ko. Pinakatitigan ako at hindi ko alam kung namamalikmata lang ba ako o mukha talagang siyang naluluha? "Kailangan mo ring isipin ang sarili mo. If you still not ready, then I can wait and understand. I can't stand seeing you crying. It hurts me, babe.."

I was frozen in my seat when I saw a lone tear escape his eyes. He bow his head to hid it but I was too quick to cupped his face and tilted his head.

Suddenly, a small smile crept in my lips while seeing his face. Not because it's funny but because I'm relieved that he can listen to me about my past. Na handa siyang maghintay at makinig sa akin kung kailan kaya ko na.

"No." I whispered and dried his tears. "I want you to know right now. Kahit pa piglan mo ako, sasabihin ko parin sayo ang lahat."

He seems not convince at nang akmang magsasalita na siya ay inunahan ko na siya.

"I was alone when I want to get home. Wala ng ibang tao 'nun sa campus maliban sa akin, mga janitor at guards ng eskwelahan." Huminga ako ng malalim bago nagpatuloy. "I was in the office that time. Aalis na sana ako 'nun nang biglang may h-humila sa akin. I tried to fight, I t-tried to defend my self but that person who dragged me was stronger than me. And I know right in then, it's a h-he. He dragged me through a dark place where I couldn't see his face or anything. I was so h-helpless that night, that even though I shout, no one can hear me. T-That's where everything happened. H-He molested me. He r-raped me."

I bow my head and shook it while wiping my tears away. I felt him unmoving for a while but suddenly, he cage me again on his arms and that's when I burst out crying. 

"As much as I want you to stop crying, I know you can't." He sighed. "let it out, Hanna. I'm here. I'm always here."

I nodded my head absentmindedly while burying my head on his chest. Pinakiramdaman ko yung bigat dito sa dibdib ko pero tila humupa ito nang sabihin ko sa kanya ang sikreto.