Crossroads [SC SERIES #1]

Kabanata 14: Training Room

[Nhelandrie's POV]

"Ano?" I asked. She's acting weird... like always.

"Susunod ka o susunod?" Napalunok ako nung sinamaan ako nito ng tingin at tumalima.

Nagsimula itong maglakad papapunta sa second floor at nakabuntot naman ako. Napadapo ang tingin ko sa kamay niyang nakahawak ng iba't ibang klase ng susi.

Tumigil siya sa pintuan katabi ng forbidden door na may hagdan papuntang kwarto niya.

Ano kaya ang gusto niyang ipakita? I'm just her slave, ba't may gusto siyang ipakita sa akin?

Binuksan niya ang pinto and I thought that the other lock rooms were all empty or just a plain guestroom... but it wasn't.

I entered the room and it was a training room for boxing. It has a huge boxing ring in the middle and punching bags are hang almost every where. In the corner, weights were placed neatly.

"There's a boxing ring in this house the whole time?" I looked at her and I can't help not to smile. I feel excited and happy.

"Yeah. My older brother used to train here."

"You have a brother?"

"Yeah," she nodded. I looked at her eyes and I could tell that she's fascinated with my smile.

Hindi ako nag-aassume. I really could tell what her eyes is saying pero napawi iyun dahil sa sunod kong tanong, "where is he now?"

Umiwas ito ng tingin at nagsimulang maglakad-lakad sa loob ng training room.

"Somewhere abroad."

Mahabang katihimikan agad ang sumalubong sa amin matapos niyang sagutin ang tanong ko.

Kahit di man niya aminin, alam kong namimiss niya ang kuya niya. I can't relate though, i'm an only child and I don't have any cousins

"Why did you bring me here by the way?"

Gusto ba niya akong hamunin sa boxing? I'll be sorry to disagree, kahit anong mangyari hindi ko siya papatulan–

"Mabilis kang mapikon and you can't control your anger. You love fighting and so I decided to show you this room. You are free to use anything here, anytime you want. This room contains several equipments you can use to satisfy your hunger for pain."

I can't believe it. She wants me to use this room, she cleaned my wound and she didn't even got angry when I fought someone. As a Rule Keeper, she should make me suffer as the consequence of my action.

All of those acts na ginawa niya ay parang nag-tritrigger sa utak ko na mag-isip ng kung anu-ano.

"It's your brother's. Parang mali naman yata na ipagamit mo 'to sa akin."

"I said that my brother used to train here but I didn't said that he own this place. It's my house after all." Tumalikod na ito at bago siya lumabas ng kwarto ay nagsalita siya, "you are allowed to fight anyone outside the school just make sure that you didn't started it."

She closed the door, leaving me dumbfounded. She's amazing. She's the most coolest person ever and I won't bother being her slave for a year.

I looked around and started trying all the equipments that I could see... but then I realized something when I started at the boxing ring.

Yung kuya ba niya... nagbo-boxing nang mag-isa sa ring? Eh? or may kasama siya?

Nagkibit-balikat ako bago pumasok sa ring at tumayo sa gitna. Why does Vice have to do all these things by the way?

.

"Ano 'to?" Nakataas ang kilay na tanong ko nung nilock niya ang kwarto ko.

"You'll be sleeping outside. Remember mo ba nung lumagpas ka sa curfew mo?"

"Eh? But I slept outside the house like you said." Nakakamot sa ulong depensa ko. Baka nakakalimutan niya na nagawa ko na yung parusang hinatol niya.

"You cheated. I said you'll be sleeping empty handed." Sinalo ko yung hinagis niyang cellphone sa akin. Nagtataka kong tinitigan iyun at napaawang ang labi ko nung makita ang sarili.

Nakahiga ako sa labas ng bahay at may unan. Napalunok ako nung narealize kong pumalpak ang plano ko. Bwisit, ba't walang nagsabi sa 'kin na may CCTV pala sa labas?!

"Seryoso ka ba talaga?" Mahinahon at nilagyan ko nang lambing ang pagkakasabi ko bago yumuko na parang nagmamakaawa.

Sinilip ko ang mukha niya at hindi effective. Walang nagbago sa ekspresyon nito at yung mata niya... seryosong seryoso. Oo na, hindi na siya nagbibiro.

"I'll give you an option, Mr. Aguilar. You'll sleep without a pillow outside or... i'll give you two large pillows but you'll be sleeping fully naked. What do you think?"

.

Pinagloloko yata ako nito eh. Bagsak ang balikat akong lumabas ng bahay at hinarap siya na akmang isisira na sana ang pinto pero nagsalita ako dahilan para matigilan siya.

"Di ka ba maaawa sa 'kin?" Hindi ko alam kung ano ang pumasok sa kukote ko at bigla na lang ako napanguso.

"I will never pity you, Mr. Aguilar. I know you're stronger than any punishment that fate prepared for you. I can rest easy with it," she sincerely said.

Those words that I never heard from anyone before. Her faith on me have set my heart ablaze. My eyes shone with passion and encouragement.

"Well... good night?" she looked at me and seems to be waiting if there's anything else that I would like to say... and I wanna ask her something.

"Why would you let me use the gym? You are supposed to be my master... not a friend."

"Simple... I understand you."

That was it. Yun lang ang sagot niya that made me literally confuse. Why does she keep telling me that? Kung sasabihin ko kaya sa kanya ang mga nangyari noon masasabi pa kaya niya na naiintindihan niya ako?

Humiga na ako sa may damuhan. Hindi ako makatulog. It's so uncomfortable at parang mafre-freeze ako sa lamig. I hugged mysef when my mouth started shaking.

Mariin akong pumikit at pinilit kong makatulog hanggang sa napagod na ang katawan kong labanan ang lamig at nakatulog din ako.

Dahan-dahan kong iminulat ang mga mata ko. Madaling araw na. Akmang babangon sana ako nung maramdamang may nakabalot sa 'kin.

VOTE PLEASE!