ABDUCTED, AGAIN

Kabanata 21

Yakap-yakap ko ang nanginginig sa takot na si Ryzel. Magmula nang makarating kami rito ay hindi ako nagpakawala ni katiting na luha. I could almost feel myself suffocating from suppressing it. But I just can't cry, I shouldn't, I won't allow myself to.

Ayokong ipakita sa kanila ang takot ko, ang panghihina ko, ang pilit na pagtatapang-tapangan ko lang. I promised myself that I will be the one to protect them this time. Kaya hindi pwede, kailangan kong magpakatatag, pipilitin ko.

"How did you know?" Karl's voice was so soft. Tiningala ko siya at nakitang hindi pa rin naaalis ang tingin niya kay Ryzel.

I'm sure he wants to be the one in my place instead. Mas gugustuhin ko rin iyon. Subalit ang napakahigpit na pagyakap ni Ryzel sakin ay tintutulan ako para gawin iyon.

"I... just figured it out." Nilunok ko ang walang tigil na pagbabara sa lalamunan ko dulot ng maya't mayang panlalaban ng aking mga luhang makalabas.

"It just didn't make sense that they had to sabotage the lights when there's more than one of them. And tranquilizer guns make only minimal noises. They can easily shoot them even with the lights on and without us noticing from the inside."

"They did it to be a distraction to enter your room," si Tom na ang nagtapos sa sinasabi ko.

Hindi ko na alam kung pang-ilang beses na itong paghihingi ko ng tawad kay Ryzel sa aking isipan. I shouldn't have left her here. Kung sino man ang taong pumasok dito, ang pakay niya lang ay ang ihatid ang mensaheng ito sa kwarto ko. He didn't know there would be someone in here. Kaya kasalanan ko ito, hindi ko dapat siya iniwan dito.

"He didn't send it through text this time," Gavin muttered while crumpling the small paper between his fist.

"He didn't want to be traced," ani Jo-ed.

"He's toying with us." Halos sabay-sabay kaming napalingon sa biglang pagsasalita ni Hendrix na kanina pa tahimik lamang na nakasandal sa pintuan ng kwarto na tila may malalim na iniisip.

"They could've easily shot us with those poisoned darts, too. We were out in the open. We were unguarded. They could've easily done that... but they didn't." Bumaling ito sa amin na tila ba inaasahang may makukuhang sagot sa amin.

He looked at me as if he's already expecting me to know and continue what he is saying. Sandaling pagtitig ang sinukli ko sa kaniya. At nang hindi pinuputol ang pagtitig na iyon, sumagot ako.

"He's just showing us what he can do, what he is capable of doing." Hendrix let out a tiny smile of satisfaction with my answer.

We're lucky that that's just what he wanted tonight. We're lucky that he left Ryzel alive.

"For now, let's search the room for fingerprints," Hendrix commanded.

Ngunit bago pa man sila kumilos para sundin ang utos nito ay umahon na si Ryzel mula sa pagkakayakap sa akin. She hurriedly wiped her face and hushed herself. Nanatili lamang kaming nakamasid sa kaniya habang inaayos niya ang sarili at paghinga. At nang matapos siya ay gumapang ang iritadong ekspresyon sa kaniyang mukha.

"Are you okay now?" tanong ko.

"Tarantado 'yon. Sinabunutan ako eh!"

Natahimik kami sa parehong pagkakamangha at pagkakagulat sa pasinghal niyang pagsasalita. She was in total panic just a few seconds ago and now...

Napangiti ako.

"I'm sorry."

"Ang tarantadong 'yon ang dapat na mag-sorry, Athena. Hindi mo kasalanan ang nangyari. 'Pag 'yon nahuli ko, naku, naku, naku! Pagpuputulin ko talaga ang ano non!"