When The Weather Is Nice, Let's Meet Again (El Diva Series #1)

CHAPTER 16

"Ang labo mo, Sunshine!" Dave yelled in frustration when Sunny stopped the car in front of me and completely untied my hands before taking me with her inside the car.

Hindi ko magawang tumingin pa sa labas ng bintana nang marinig ko ang kalampag sa side ko. Natatakot na akong makita pa si Dave. What he did was just something that I couldn't forgive. How he physically hurt me will surely heal in time, but what did he do to my body? I'm not sure if there's a treatment that will allow me to forget every movement of his hands and mouth on my skin.

Sexual harassment is like a tattoo imprinted on someone's mind who experienced it--the victim. It is like an imprint that, despite going to an expert to have it removed, there's still a mark left on the victim's mind that might not be visible to others that would look at it as time goes by, but the victim will have the image of that tattoo forever. Because the feeling when that tattoo is being done on their bodies will always remain as vivid as if it were done just yesterday.

I couldn't even look into Sunny's eyes because I was afraid that I might hurt her. It's strange how I managed to be concerned about her despite the fact that she was one of the people who brought me into my second near-death experience. Alam niyang ayoko sa tunog ng kotse, pero imbis na ilayo ako sa bagay na 'yon, tinuloy niya pa rin na maging dahilan 'yon kung bakit halos mahimatay na ako sa sobrang tindi ng ingay na naririnig ko at pagkirot ng ulo kanina nang dire-diretso niyang pinaharurot ang kotse na sinasakyan niya papunta sa akin. Hindi ko nga alam kung dahil ba sa alaala ko noong gabing nangyari ang aksidente kaya grabe ang kirot ng ulo ko o dahil ba 'yon sa paghampas sa akin kanina ni Dave sa matigas na puno.

Napaatras ako agad nang makita ko na hahawakan ako ni Sunny. "D-Don't hurt me... P-Please..."

"Your nose is bleeding, Cha," Mahinang bulong ni Sunny.

Hinawakan ko ang ilong ko at napapikit nalang nang muli na namang kumirot ang ulo ko.

"Cha, are you okay? Let me bring you to the hospital--"

I showed her my palm, stopping her from saying another word. "S-Stop that fake concern, Sunny. It doesn't sound so real now. It is starting to disgust me, so please stop acting like you care about me," Parang gusto ko na namang umiyak. Hindi dahil sa mga pasa, bugbog, sampal, at sipa na natamo ko kanina. Kundi dahil paulit-ulit akong dinadala ng memorya ko sa panahon na halos hindi mo makitaan ng pagkukunwari silang tatlo nina Aeri.

I felt so betrayed. Ang sakit isipin na ang mga tinuturing mong kaibigan, sila pa itong magdadala sa'yo sa kapahamakan.

"Why are you doing this to me, Sunny? Anong kasalanan ko sa inyo?" My tears escaped from my eyes as I looked at her.