The Devil Who Wears My Eyes

14 : The Salty Wound

My breathing almost stopped. I do not want to inhale the same air he exhaled in front of my face. I do not want to feel it. I do not want him to exist. Silence took over but I am feeling he is still here. He never left. He is just staring at me. Napapitlag pa ako nang maramdaman ko ang daliri niyang marahang dumampi sa pisngi ko.

"You got so big I had to look at you twice to see if it is really you, Ariella." He started speaking. I can hear his nasty chuckle after it. "Buti na lang, pinatunayan ng nanay-nanayan mo na ikaw nga iyan. You have grown. Grown...big...woman,"

"Leave," I just said. Tinanggal ko rin ang daliri niya sa akin at saka tinitigan ang bulto niya. Ang tanging kaya kong makita. "I am no longer that Ariella, Tito Jeremy. I do not play with anyone anymore."

He laughed so loud it made me shiver but I did not let him see it. Tumigil na ako sa pagluha at pag-iyak. Ayaw kong makita niya akong mahina at natatakot sa kaniyang presensya. I must make an impression that I am no longer that kid who he played with and took advantage for two years. I am not that Ariella he can manipulate by the same threats. That Ariella died along with my sight.

"Bakit? Ayaw mo na bang kinikiss ang Tito-"

"Fuck you!" I cutted him off. I slapped him hard, and I slapped him right. Being blind makes your senses so sharp and your precision strong. "Touch me one more time, I will make sure you rot in jail."

"Wow, you are brave now. Did you not remember that you used to play with me all day?" He said. Naririnig ko pa rin ang nakakasuka niyang pagtawa. Mayamaya pa ay ang kamay niya sa aking ulo at sinasabunutan na ako. I have no other choice but to stay like that and hear him talk. I wanted to scream but his hand is covering my mouth now. "Ariella, I am the only brave one in this house. Gladly, pinabalik ako ng tanga mong ama. Hahaha muntik ko nang makalimutan, ikakasal na pala siya. That woman...she looks so sexy. I wonder what her pussy taste like. I bet, it is as sweet as your young-"

"Leave." I hissed after biting his hand covering my mouth. Inalis ko rin ang kamay niya sa ulo ko at muli siyang sinampal. "This is not a warning. I will kill you."

I heard his laugh again. This time, not the same happy laugh but a laugh with annoyance and sudden anger. Mas lalo kong naramdaman ang kakaiba niyang awra. It is nastier than what I felt before. Stronger that what he made me feel years ago. It is viler...and angrier. Muli niya akong sinabunutan. Pagkatapos noon ay hinawakan niya ako sa leeg nang napakahigpit. Halos hindi na ako makahinga at ramdam na ramdam ko sa higpit noon ang pagkagalit niya.

"You are not a good girl anymore, Ariella."

"F-fuck you."

"You will play with me again while I am here. Isang buwan akong mananatili rito hanggang maikasal ang ama mo. Naiintindihan mo ba? Makikipaglaro kang muli sa akin." He hissed. He even harshly kissed my lips and bite it, too. I am beyong disgusted I could not help but to wish I am dead again and again. He stinks, as always. "You will play with me just like we used to, okay? Or else..."

"I will kill you." Paulit-ulit kong sambit. Dumura ako na alam kong tumama sa kaniyang mukha na mas lalo niyang ikinagalit dahil nakatikim agad ako ng sampal mula sa kaniya. Marahas niya rin akong binitawan na ikinasubsob ko sa kama. All I can hear myself murmuring is me killing him. "I will kill you."

"Tangina." He hissed.

I can feel his frustration as I hear his footsteps. Pabalik-balik siyang naglalakad na para bang galit na galit ngunit ayaw gumawa ng napakalakas na mga ingay. He then got into the bed. Hinila ako sa paa hanggang sa nasa harapan na naman niya ako. Mayamaya pa ay naramdaman ko na ang labi niya sa may tainga ko. Hindi ako makagalaw, hindi ako makasigaw dahil sari-saring emosyon na naman ang nasa sistema ko. Takot, pandidiri, panlalambot, sakit. Lahat iyon ay dahil lang sa kaniya.

"Makikipaglaro ka sa akin ulit, Ariella."

"Fuck you." I hissed one more time. Wala akong ibang masabi dahil iyon lang ang nasa isip ko. I want to fight so bad but even though I am now on the right age and mind to, I can no longer see who I am fighting with. "You will rot in hell. Dalawa tayo dahil papatayin kita."

"We might as well fuck in hell, Ariella."

Diring-diri na ako sa kaniya na nahahaluan ng takot lalo na at mayamaya pa ay naramdaman ko ang pagdila niya sa aking leeg na animo ba ay isang hayop.

"I missed this young skin and I admit, it tastes sweeter now. It smells fresh still. Walang pinagbago ngunit lalong sumarap."

I tried fighting him off. Trust me, I wanted to kill him if I can, but my strength is nothing compared to him. He is a big man, and I am a small one. Even if I am given a knife, he will still have the advantage. His grab on me...it's making me disgust myself again. Mabuti na lamang at narinig ko ang pagkatok sa pintuan at ang boses ni Nanay Meera.

"Anak, tawag ka ni Sir Jaime. Mag-usap daw kayo."

I thought Tito Jeremy's grab on me will loosen, but it never did. Pinunasan niya ang luha ko ngunit ramdam ko ang galit doon. It is like a warning that I should stop crying about what he did and shut up now.

"I will come at midnight, Ariella. Play with me or else..." he hissed on my ear again. He bit my earlobe too and laughed. "You know what would happen to that old lady."