Isla Del Fuego (Alejandrino Trilogy 2)

9

Something definitely changed when that happened. Hugo became more playful and more of a tease. Lagi niya akong inaasar at naging touchy rin. Hindi naman ako nagrereklamo dahil gusto ko rin naman. It feels good to be this intimate with him. Kung ide-describe ko ang relasyon namin, siguro ito 'yong tinatawag nilang 'friends with benefits'. Today ends our three day trip to this place. Our first day sure is hot, pero n'ong nakaraan at kahapon ay mas malala pa. Kahit gaano pa ka-intense ang mga nangyayari sa amin, hindi pa kami umabot sa mismong pagtatalik. It's always me he's pleasuring. Tama rin ang sinabi niya. I keep craving for his touches. Unti-unti na akong nawawalan ng hiya, but I don't care.

"Hey, you're spacing out," Hugo said. Nilalagay niya ang mga gamit namin sa bangka dahil babalik na kami ngayon sa isla.

"May iniisip lang."

Tumango siya at inilahad ang kamay para makaupo ako sa bangka. "Ano naman?"

"Don't mind it. Nga pala, madalang ka nang magsalita ng espanyol ngayon. Hindi kagaya noon na kulang na pang yata, mag-feeling nasa Spain ka. Himala na ba 'to?" I joked.

"I know it pisses you. I used to think you're cute when you're mad, but I don't want you to be mad at me. At saka, cute ako kapag nagtatagalog, 'di ba?"

Tumango ako. "Oo, lalo na 'yong accent mo. Ang cute-cute mo."

"I prefer hot and sexy, but okay. You are also very cute." Kumindat pa siya kaya napairap ako. Hinayaan ko na lang na paandarin niya ang makina at umalis na kami.

Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko dahil alam niyang takot ako sa malalim na anyong tubig. Hinahalik-halikan pa niya ang likod ng palad ko. Nang salubungin niyang ang titig ko, ngumiti siya nang matamis.

"Bakit ka takot?" he asked.

"T-Takot?"

"Why are you scared of the deep?"

Nag-iwas ako ng tingin. "Let's not talk about that."

Bumuntonghininga siya. "You're always like that. Mi amor, I know I promised not to ask about you, but you're so mysterious. We do things normal friends don't. I'm sure it must've meant something, right? Puwede bang mas makilala pa kita, Kass? Everything about you, I want to know it. I want to see the real you, no hiding, no secrets."

"Kapag nakilala mo ako, iiwan mo ako. You wouldn't want to be someone like me. Let's just enjoy this moment. Trust me, it's for the best."

"I trust you. But trust me when I say, my feelings won't change. You know what, let's face that fear of yours." He held me hand and the boat stopped. It was too late when I realized we're on the deep parts of the sea. Nakasuot kami ng life vest, pero natatakot pa rin ako. "Come on, dive with me into the deep, Kassandra. Let me help you face your fear."

"No. Never."

"If that's how you're gonna act, then, okay." Bumuntonghininga siya at bigla na lang akong binuhat at saka tumalon sa dagat kaya tumili ako. When my body submerged into the water, my heart went haywire. Napakapit ako at yumakap sa leeg ni Hugo. "Please, umahon na tato. Ayoko dito, Hugo."

"Relax, I'm here." He hugged my waist. Nanatili kaming nakalutang sa dagat.

I tried to relax my self. I controlled my breathing, but my chest feels heavy. Nararamdaman ko ang tubig na hanggang dibdib ko, pero pakiramdam ko ay nakalubog ang buong katawan ko.

"I'm begging you, Hugo. Please umahon na tayo." I feel like I'm about to cry. "Ayoko dito. Ayoko!"

He let go of me and I had to reach for him. My tears burst out and I started screaming and yelling for him to take me back to his arms. "Hugo, malulunod ako! Hawakan mo ako, please!"

"Relax, you can do it. Face your fear, I'm here. I won't let you drown."

I tried to paddle my hands and kick my feet just to stay afloat, and I didn't expect my life vest to loosen. May ilang metro pa rin ang layo ni Hugo sa akin. I started sobbing as I struggle. I couldn't control my breathing anymore. My chest feels heavy and I feel dizzy. Suddenly, everything I see is starting to get blurry. At this moment, my mind totally went blank. Kahit nakalutang ako, pakiramdam ko ay nalulunod ako. I just felt my body going down into the water, hanggang sa tuluyan na akong lumubog sa tubig. I didn't know how long I was submerged. Naramdaman ko ang malakas na brasong pumulupot sa katawan ko at ang pag-ahon ko.

"Fuck, you didn't told me you don't know how to swim!" singhal ng isang panlalaking boses.

Right there and then, I started sobbing as I struggle to get out of his arms. My eyes hurt because of the salty seawater. I can't see who the man is, but I'm scared.

"Kassandra, don't move!" he yelled. "Don't struggle or you'll drown again."

"You always bring misery and you're nothing but a worthless bitch. Don't make any noise, or else I'll drown you!" A sudden memory flashed into my mind. Someone is holding me, pulling my hair and we're both in the deep part of a large lake. He submerged my head. Paulit-ulit niya akong sinisigawan na parang ang laki ng kasalanan ko sa kaniya. "You fucking worthless woman! You killed my child! Die! You don't deserve your life!"

"Lumayo ka! Layuan mo ako! You'll never hurt me!" I tried to push the body leaning on mine. I sobbed but tried to be strong. "Never again!"

"Hey, calm down. I won't hurt you." Hinila niya ako sa dibdib niya pero ramdam ko ang unti-unting pagdilim ng paligid ko kasabay ng takot na unti-unting kumakain sa buong sistema ko.

The man slapped me. I can see rage in his eyes. He strangled me, then pushed my head into the water. I struggled, and tried pushing him away. Ang tagal nang nakalublob ng ulo ko sa tubig at unti-unti na akong nawawalan ng hininga.

"D-Denver, please d-don't kill me."