Embracing The Moon

Two

I smelt something unusual to my nose. As I open my eyes, may nakaharap saaking kamay na may hawak ng kung anong dahon. It smelt disgusting at masakit sa ilong.

"Kumusta ang tulog mo? Napanaginipan mo ba si Kuya Kaze?" tanong ng isang kaluluwang nasa katawan ng kung sinong nasa harapan ko.

As I move my body paupo, I felt something hurting. Nakahiga ako sa isang —uh, what do you call this?

Napatayo ako sa gulat ng ma-realize kung ano nga ba ang nangyari kahapon, habang nagmamaka-awa akong palayain para makabalik na sa pamilya ko at nagsusumamo habang tinagawag si mom, bigla siyang may ipinatong na tela sa ilong ko, causing to make me fall asleep.

Hinawakan ko ang suot ko, hoping that it's the same as what I was wearing kahapon and, "What the heck?!"

It's! Not! The! Same! Clothes! I! Was! Wearing! Right! This! Freaking! Time!

"What did you do to me?! Nasaan ang mga damit ko?! Who the hell changed my clothes?!" As I ran out of breath, nakababa na ako. It stings walking in a soil, in a hardened soil!

Ngunit wala akong nakuhang sagot sakaniya, just his smirk.

In a span of seconds, the door was stumbled open. Nakita kong muli ang taong kumidnap saakin, and he's wearing a peasant clothes; a long black cloth, and a piece of faded blue shirt, almost same as mine— pero pink ang shirt na suot ko.

"Ano ba? Bakit ang ingay mo? Nakakarindi ka! Theodore, lagyan mo nga ng tela ang bibig nito. Bilis!"

Theodore moved swiftly, masa likuran ko na siya at mahigpit na hinahawakan ang braso ko. His strength made me realize that mine is not match for a man's.

Unti-unting lumalapit sa'kin si Kaze, he's damn holding the same thing that he used yesterday!

Papatulugin na naman kaya niya ako?! Damn no!

When he's five inch apart me, I kicked him 'there'. As soon as the one holding me got surprised, I took the chance to hit his face by my head turning back.

Nabitawan niya na ang kamay ko so I went to face him and kick his stomach, numerous of times habang nakahawak sa mga balikat niya.

Before Kaze even move to reach me, I punched his face. "That's for making me sleep without my consent!"

Nagsimula akong tumakbo, walang kung anumang saplot sa paa, just running. Many houses pa ang nadaanan ko with people curiously looking at me, before they could even turn away the glance at me— nakalabas na si Kaze habang hawak-hawak ang kaniyang ano. Next thing was Theodore going out vomiting blood.

I could've run. I could've just run. But I can't.

I can't.

Because someone's holding my shirt. Someone's damn gripping my shirt at my back. This thing that happened, without me noticing.

Everyone gasped as they see me being held by someone. Hindi ko alam kung dahil naaawa saakin o dahil sa may dala saakin. Maybe that man has a power to intimidate people in this barrio.

"What did this small thing do?" playful tone was the one emitted by this man. I bet he's smirking thinking that he had held a— wait!

"And who do you think you are to call me a small thing?! Excuse me, I'm the heiress of a famous wine producer in this country! How dare you call me sm—"

Someone covered my nose with a handkerchief. This time, it did not smelt awful. Tingin ko, ang nagmamay-ari nito ay isang babae. The smell told me so; medyo may honey na amoy and a mixture from sakura.