Attraction Series 4: Dangerous Touch (Completed)

Kabanata 28

Chase

NAHIHILO ako at halos hindi na alam kung saan tutungo. Pasuray-suray akong naglakad at pumasok sa isang madilim na kwarto, pilit kong idinudilat ang mga mata kahit na umiikot ang paningin.

Gusto kong mawala, gusto kong maglaho kahit saglit. Gusto kong kalimutan ang lahat!

Ayoko kong umuwi… ayoko kay mommy, she would do everything to make me accept what she wants. She wants me to marry an old man for our company. Handa niyang gawin ang lahat para sa kumpanya kahit ako ang kapalit.

Sunod-sunod na bumuhos ang luha mula sa mga mata ko dahil sa sakit na nararamdaman. Patuloy na bumabagsak ang luha ko at hindi ko namalayan na nakapasok na ako sa loob ng kwarto. 

Madilim, mabango at ang lamig na nanunuot sa balat ko. Hindi ko alam pero naglakad pa ako papasok hanggang sa namalayan ko na lang na nakahiga na ako sa malambot na kama.

Pumikit ako dahil sa sumasakit na ang ulo ko hanggang sa tuluyang napahikbi. Paano ako nagagawang ipagkanulo ni mommy sa ibang tao! I'm still young yet she was already planning to settle me in an arranged marriage. 

Marami pa akong pangarap sa buhay, sa sarili ko, pero bakit si mommy pa mismo ang pumuputol no'n? Simula ng mawala si Daddy at ang Ate dahil sa aksidente hindi ko na naramdaman ang presensya niya at pag-aalaga.

Ang mahinang hikbi ko ay naging hagulgol. "Please save me…" I don't want to settle for someone whom I don't know. I don't want to settle yet, especially the old man.

I was crying so hard until I heard someone clearing his throat.

"How can I help you?"

Hindi ko alam kung nahihibang na ako o guni,-guni lang pero natawa ako dahil sa kalmado at baritono na boses ang narinig ko.

  

Napailing ako kahit na puno ng luha ang mga mata. "I hope there is someone willing to save me, to save my life…"

"Tell me, how can I save you?"

Hindi ko maintindihan ang sarili ko pero mabilis na tumambol ang puso ko ng muling marinig ang boses ng lalaki at parang may kakaiba akong naramdaman.

"A—Are you real? I'm not hallucinating right?"I tried to widen my eyes but it's still dark inside the room.

"No, I'm real. So mind telling me how I can help you? You keep on murmuring it…"

"H—How old are you?"

He coughs. "Why? I'm 23,"

"Marry m-me please?

"What?!"

"That's the only way…" it's way better than marrying an old man. "I'm still 17 but when I turn at my legal age, find me, look for me… if you want to save me…"

"What are we talking about? You're too young for that… and you're drunk. You'll forget this talk tomorrow."

"No, no. I'm not… I'm Serna Hannielyn Yanson, call me Shan for short… s-save me please, whoever you are…"

He suddenly laughed. "You'll forget this moment when you get over the influence of alcohol…"

"No, I promise. I'll marry you. What's your name?" halos pabulong na tanong ko.

"You don't need to know, Serna…" he sighed. "What are you doing in this room?"

I frowned. "I—I don't know…"

He sighed. "Come on, get up! I'll bring you home—"

"I don't want to go home… What is your name?"