His [COMPLETED]

16

"Mami? Mami asan ka?" Everyone is so happy. Bakit nga ba hindi? It's a fiesta.

"Mami! Dadi!" Hindi ko na mapigilang umiyak dahil hindi ko sila makita.

Hindi ko alam ngunit nagkahiwalay kami matapos akong bumili ng ice candy sa tabi.

Natatakot ako. Paano pag hindi na kami magkita ulit?

"Bata? Hinahanap mo ba nanay mo?" Isang matangkad na lalake na naka-polo ang biglang kumausap sa akin. Tumango naman ako.

"Gusto mo bang ihatid kita sakanila?" Ngumiti ito.

"P-pwede po ba?"

"Oo naman. Hali ka." Kinarga niya ako sa kaniyang braso.

Hindi ko alam na huling araw na pala iyon ng kasiyahan ko.

"T-teka po nasan na tayo?" Ilang sandali lang ay namalayan ko ng wala na kami sa lugar kung saan may fiesta. Hindi ko namalayan na nakasakay pala ako sa kaniyang sasakyan dahil nakatulog ako kanina.

"Sa bago mong tahanan."

"P-pero sabi niyo po-"

"Shh." Ngumiti ulit ito sa akin at pumasok sa isang malaking bodega.

Nagsimula nang kumabog ng malakas ang aking dibdib.

"Beto! Sumala!" May tinawag siyang mga tao ng makababa kami.

I am frozen in my spot. Natatakot ako. Hindi ko alam kung nasan ako ngayon.

"Oh boss-eh? Sino yan? Bagong recruit?" Lumabas ang dalawang lalake mula sa pinto na nasa ikadalawang story ng bodega.

"A new prey." Sabi ng lalakeng naghatid sa akin.

I didn't get the situation at first but I was scared. When they had me the first day, kita ko ang ibang mga bata na naghihirap at nangangayayat. I cried but all they did was look down on me.

That was also the day I saw someone die for the first time in my life. Bata lang din ito and she died because she attacked them first.

I can remember clearly...

The blood splattered on my face and how they ripped her tiny little bones to pieces.

Ang takot ay hindi ko na maipaliwanag noong araw na iyon. That's when I knew that I can't get out of here alive.

I stayed there for 5 months. When I turned 8, that was the most eventful and tragic day in my childhood.

I made friends but one on one, they keep dying. The last and the most important person, the youngest girl I want to save from that hell, died because of me.

Maria...

That name has nightmares entangles into it.

She was only five years old when those bastards took her life. And it's all because of me.

That day, I was saved. A huge and surprise raid was set in that place by the police.

But then I ask why? Bakit ngayon lang? Anong meron noon na wala ngayon?

As a kid, i was confused and hurt.

I also found out that may parents- the pair who adopted me- died. And I also found out that it was because of me.

They kept on finding my whereabouts but it's all a fail. I don't know kung pano iyon natago ng mga taong iyon, but the old pair who treated me as their daughter passed away because of the heart disease and stress of finding me.

I keep on having nightmares ever since. Who'll get to live a normal life after that?

"Hoy? Farah? Earth to you?" Naalimungatan ako sa pagtapik ni Trixie sa aking balikat.

I saw her face full of worry.

"Sorry I doze off a little bit."

Since next month pa naman yung kasal, me and Trixie went on a shopping. Everything on the wedding is organized na naman.

"Haba na ng buhok mo, paputol tayo?" Trixie said, "I mean magpapa rebond lang ako." Humagikhik siya.

"Hmm, sure. I wanna try a new hairstyle." I grinned. Ang dami naming dala, from dresses to shoes to skincares. Minsan lang kasi kami magkasama ever since nagka sila ni Joshua.

We went to a salon to cut our hair at nagpa manicure at pedicure na rin kami.

After many hours, natapos nga. And as I looked at myself on the big mirror in front of me, I can say I really look different.

Then I remembered..

"Ay hala Trixie, punta muna pala ako ah? May pinadala pala yung papa ni Daniel galing Europe. Ngayon ko pala yun kukunin." I said at dahil di pa tapos yung rebond niya, tumango lang siya.

"I'll be back!!" I waved my hands.

Sa pagkakaalam ko may padalahan naman dito sa mall nato eh.

Pagdating ko doon, ang daming tao. I lined up and fetch my phone while waiting.

I was busy playing candy crush when someone called my name.

"Safahara?" That familiar voice..

I looked up and my eyes widened in surprise, "Err...Samuel?? Or..-"

His eyes lit up, "Yes it's me. I am so sorry-"

"Hey hey hey, it's okay. I heard kay Trixie you're doing fine naman." I said awkwardly, trying to avoid his eye contact.

He looks so different, a healthy different. Mas lalong gumwapo, pumuti ng konte pero moreno parin naman tingnan. Tumaas na yung medyo kulot niyang buhok, his eyes is full of emotions now unlike before that it looks like a dark hole.

He really changed physically.

"I'm so sorry..I don't know what came up to me." He sighed, "I remembered my brother saying that memory, where you saved us. And I acted like ako yung bata. You know," he laughed, "Crazy mind. I was so jealous to him that time because our parents only acknowledges him, but it was just my selfishness. Nadamay kapa tuloy." He sighed again, "Safahara I'm so sorry, you went through so much because of me. But I'm better now, I hope your forgive me." He said, almost pleading.

"It's...okay. Just, just don't mention what happened." I stated and he nod. He was about to speak again but he halted and looked at my finger.

"You're...engaged?" He asked.

I looked at my ring, "Y-yeah." Biglang nawala yung ngiti sa mukha niya pero bumalik lang rin naman after a few seconds.

"C-congrats." His eyes were teary, "S-sorry. I'm just so happy for you!" Natatawa niyang ani at tumalikod.

Is he crying????

"U-una muna ako. Congrats."

What? Is he acting like a pitiful character now? Does he think that will move me?

I closed my eyes tightly when the memories of torture appeared again in my mind. Damn it.