Kagat ko ang labi ko habang nakatingin sa TV. He can't get in here. People are flocking around the condominium, asking me to say something.
I am completely frustrated.
Mas lalo akong nafrustrate nang makita ko si Hugo sa telebisyon. Napatayo ako sa pagkakaupo at nataranta. People immediately circled around him. My hand was shaking while they were pulling him and giving him the mic.
He was out of words, obviously. He was taller than everyone on that screen yet he couldn't get out because there were a bunch of people. Naningkit ang mata ko nang makita ko ang babaeng reporter na halos handang makipagyerahan para lamang makuha si Hugo.
"Sir, ano pong pangalan niyo? Kayo po ba 'yung lalaki sa video?"
"Sir, can you give us a statement about the issue?"
"Siya iyong lalaki doon, 'diba?" another one asked. "Kayo po 'yung bodyguard ni Miss Nikki, right?"
He stopped with that question. Hinilot ko ang sentido ko. I saw how he clenched his jaw and removed the woman's hand from his arm.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"According to the company, you're Nikki's personal bodyguard. What can you say about the attack on Miss Nikki that night?"
He couldn't answer.
I groaned.
I grabbed a jacket from my closet. Hurriedly put my mask and cap on. Lumabas ako sa condominium. I gritted my teeth and ran as fast as I could just so I could go down.
Wala na akong pakialam kung makilala man nila ako. Sa puntong ito, I just want Hugo out of business. Despite everything, the only concern that has a big hold on me is Hugo. Pagdating sa kaniya, kahit ano man ang hawak ko, itatapon ko.
Sumiksik ako sa kumpulan ng mga tao. Hugo was at the center of their attention, very easy to locate. Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya. Tinignan niya ako at unti unti, namuo ang gulat at galit sa mga mata niya. He clenched his jaw.
'You shouldn't be here', I could hear his eyes saying.
"Nikki! Nikki!" people called me. Umingay ang mga tao.
They started pushing. Mas lalong gumulo ang mga tao. Cameras were flashing. Iritado ang mga mata ni Hugo, hindi sanay sa mga ilaw galing sa mga camera flashes. I was panicking and at the same time, irritated and about to yell at the people around us.
He pulled me when I was just about to pull punches and whispered, "Let's get out of here…"
Hindi ako pumalag. Malaki ang braso ni Hugo na pumalis sa mga taong humaharang. In one swipe, they immediately moved away. His other hand touched my waist and pulled me close to him as we escaped.
I know this is a disaster. After this, everything will get worse and worse. Ngunit sa isang iglap, sa isang hawak lamang ay parang wala na akong pakialam. I don't know, everything seems so fine when I'm with him.
If I could fade away with him forever, there will be no hesitation crawling out of my mouth.
"I'm sorry…" Hugo kept on saying.
Dinala niya ako sa bahay niya. His house is very secluded. Halatang walang makakalapit sa amin dito. I'm still scared that someone might be following us. Wala naman siguro.
I've been here once. Dati, hindi pa kumpleto ang mga gamit niya. Ngayon, halos maayos na. Though, his taste is a bit plain. He doesn't have any flowery designs, very porcelain white. Elegant as he is.
