High Ranks (Completed)

Chapter V

Chapter V

Nagising ako dahil sa malakas na paglundag ng karwahe at nabunggo ang aking ulo sa isang malaki at matigas na sako. I massage the part that hurts and tried to look outside the carriage.

I moved my head up so I could see what's going on outside the window. Nakita kong nasa isang bayan kami. Maraming tao ang nasa paligid at nagsisimula nang ayusin ang kanilang mga tindahan. Maybe were in some kind of a market.

Ang akala ko ay titigil na ang karwahe ngunit nagkamali ako. It took another hour for the horse to stop. Naramdaman ko ang pagbaba ng kutsero. I know that he'll soon open the back trunk and he'll saw me. Oh my god! What do I do? Will he send me back to our mansion.

Nakita ko ang paggalaw ng pintuan sa likuran ng karwahe kung nasaan ako. I tried to squeeze myself together with the sack of vegetables beside me para lang maitago ng kaunti ang aking katawan. When the door finally opened and light greeted me I knew that it's the end. So much for freedom, so much for Elijah's sacrifice to save me.

"Hey, are you alright? Nandito na tayo," said a womanly voice.

I slowly opened my eyes, only to be shut again because to the blinding lights outside. I was stuck in this dark carriage for few hours and I think that my feet are unable to move.

Muli kong iminulat ang aking mga mata at naramdaman ko ang pagtulong sa akin ng babae upang makababa. Napakapit ako sa kanya ng ilang minuto upang mapigilan ang biglaang pagbagsak. I felt like my legs turned into jelly!

"The drive must be tiring for you but don't worry, you're safe now," ani ng babae.

I looked at her porcelain white face. Her eyes were soft and grey. Her nose stood proudly on the middle of her face and her lips were red. She's beautiful even though she's wearing a commoners clothes. Her short hair was forcefully tied into a small ponytail that doesn't even suit her!

"Who are you?" My forehead creased. Why is this girl helping me?

"I'm Kirsten, we met last night," she answered and tried to smile.

"Yes, I remember but why are you helping me?"

Luminga-linga ako sa paligid at nakitang tumigil kami sa gilid ng isang ilog. What are we doing in this kind of place?

"Your brother asked me to take care of you for a while," sagot niya.

Elijah? Magkakilala ba sila ni Eli? I didn't know Elijah has many girl friends.

"How did you know him?"

Kirsten rummaged the back of the carriage. Mukhang may hinahanap ito at nang makuha na niya iyon ay tumayo siya ng tuwid at tumingin sa aking mga mata.

"My friend is a friend of him," ani niya. "Now, take off your clothes."

My eyes widened. What? I looked at her with disgust. How dare this girl shamelessly tell me to take off my clothes.

Mukhang napagtanto niya rin ang kanyang sinabi kung kaya't kaagad niya itong binawi. "What I mean is you need to take a bath and change, maghihinala ang mga tao kapag nakita ka nilang nakasuot ng mamahaling damit na iyan," she pointed my dress.

Well she's right. Napatingin ako sa ilog, the water is clear and it's not that deep. Marunong naman akong lumangoy. Ngunit paano kung may taong dumaan at makita akong naliligo?  That would be humiliating for me!

"What if someone will see me bare? That would be embarrassing!"

"Don't worry," she sighed like she's defeated. "I'll secure the whole area. Maligo ka na diyan, call me if you're done. Here's your clothes," she then handed me an old brown and ugly dress paired with a worn out boots. My mother will be horrified if she saw me wearing this kind of garment.