The Book in Disguise

7.2

Vina

I woke up gasping for breath, feeling the icy sweat drenching not just my face, but every inch of my body. It was as if I had been submerged in a freezing ocean. Each breath felt heavy, causing me to cough uncontrollably.

Naiinis ko na sinubukang punasan ang noo ko gamit ang likod ng kanan kong kamay, pero mas lalo akong nainis nang maramdaman ko na parang may nakahawak ng mahigpit sa pupulsuhan ko. Hindi lang sa kanan, pati na rin sa kaliwa ay may nakahawak. Dahil dito ay mas lalo akong nainis, but then realization hits me.

May nakahawak sa pupulsuhan ko?

I attempted to shift my pulse again, but like before, I couldn't move it freely because someone was gripping it.

Despite the unsettling situation, I didn't panic. I felt the handle of a knife in my right hand. Unsure, but it seemed like the same knife Third had given me in my dream earlier. It was reassuring—I now had a means of self-defense.

Nanahimik ako saglit at hindi kumibo sa kinahihigaan ko, sinusubukang pakiramdaman ang paligid at sinusubukang alamin kung tama nga ba ang hinala ko. Nahirapan ako pero sinubukan ko na pakalmahin ang mga naging paghinga ko para madinig ko ng maayos ang paligid. Nagwagi naman ako sa pagpapakalma ng sarili.

I fell silent again, intensifying my senses further. Perhaps, I even contemplated the small sounds and noises, trying to discern their origin. There were footsteps outside, leisurely paced—not hurried. I also heard a cellphone ringing, but I was sure it wasn't mine, as my phone's ringtone is different. The last sound I heard was breathing, and what's worse, it sounded like it was coming from close by.

Sigurado ako na hindi 'yon sa'kin dahil kanina ko pa kino-control ang hininga ko para hindi makagawa ng malakas na ingay. At hindi nanginginig ang paghinga ko ngayon.

In just a few seconds, I realized my suspicions were indeed correct.

Slowly, with a hint of apprehension, I opened my eyes, confirming my suspicions: there was a man looming over me. He had pinned both of my hands down on either side of my head with his own hands on the bed.

Iniisip ko palang ang posisyon naming dalawa ay gusto ko nang masuka, idagdag pa na wala siyang damit pang-itaas.

Sana walang nangyaring masama sa'min, kasi kung meron. Putangina patayan na lang. Pagpipirasuhin ko 'tong tarantadong 'to.

Nananakot akong nakipagtitigan sa kulay dilaw niyang mga mata, wala akong pake kung hindi siya matatakot, I can fight. Na expelled ako from my previous school for a reason.

Hindi naman siya kumalas ng tingin, itinaas pa niya ang isa niyang kilay.

Gano'n lang ang eksena sa loob ng ilang minuto, hindi ako kumikibo at tinitignan lang siya ng masama. Habang siya naman ay nakikipagtitigan din sa'kin pero nang-iinis.

"Look who's awak-"

Hindi ko na siya pinatapos sa sasabihin niya, I took that oppurtunity to hit his middle with my knee, hard and with a lot of force. I headbutted him to double his suffering. He groaned in pain, uncertain whether to grab his small head or the one with a brain first. As for me, I couldn't care less about him.

Dahil dito sa pag-inda niya ng sakit ay natanggal niya ang pagkakahawak niya sa pupulsuhan ko, nakawala ako mula sa kaniya. But that wasn't enough, kasi kung tatakas na'ko mula rito, posibleng may aatake sa'kin sa labas. As I mentioned earlier, may narinig ako na footsteps sa labas. Which means na may tao ro'n kaya naman delikado kung aalis na agad ako rito sa kwarto na'to.

Nanghihina pa rin siya dahil sa ginawa ko sakaniya, but oh, would you look at that? I don't give a fuck about him. I punched his stomach to catch him again off guard. He again groans in pain.