BEHIND the SCENES (DarLentina version)

Chapter 62: September 5

“Narda? Narda! Pick up the phone! Narda!"

Makailang beses na sinubukang idial ni Regina ang number ni Narda pero hindi manlang ito sumasagot. Lakad-takbo sa malawak na kagubatan ang ginagawa n'ya habang hinahanap ang daan palabas at palayo kay Brian.

"Narda! Love?! Thank God, you answered my call."

"Regina? Oh ghad! Where are you, love? Okay ka lang ba? Are you hurt? Sino kumidnap sa'yo?" Sunod-sunod na tanong nito.

"I'm fine! I'm fine! I'm okay. Brian kidnapped me and I don't know where am I at the moment."

"Brian?! Brian kidnapped you? Why? How?!" Halos sigawan na s'ya nito sa kabilang linya.

"Yeah! But that's a long story. I don't have time to explain. Julia helped me escape but she's with Brian right now. I don't know what happened to her but I heard a gunshot nearby."

"Regina! Where are you? Susunduin ka namin." sabad ng boses lalaki sa linya.

"D-dad? You're with Narda? Dad! Please help me! Save me please! I don't know where I am at the moment. I'm running without direction. All I know is that Brian imprisoned me in an abandoned warehouse and i'm in a forest trying to find some help and a way out."

"Relax, Regina! We'll find a way to get you. Just stay safe for now. Find a place to hide. And, stay on the line. We'll get some help to trace your location."

"Okay! Okay! I can do that."

Lakad, takbo, palinga-linga ang ginawa ni Regina para masiguradong malayo na s'ya sa pinanggalingang warehouse.

"Ah!" Napahiga s'ya sa lupa ng hindi inaasahang mapatid ang paa sa nakausling ugat ng punong-kahoy. "Ouch!" Halos mapasigaw s'ya sa sakit.

"Regina? Love! Are you okay?" Sigaw ni Narda mula sa kabilang linya.

Sinubukan n'yang gumapang para kunin ang nabitawang cellphone at baril. "Yeah! I'm fine. I wasn't watching where I was going and I stumbled upon the root of a tree."

Sumandal s'ya sa puno at hinilot ang paang napatid ng ugat. Sinubukan n'yang tumayo pero hindi na n'ya mailakad ng maayos ang paa.

"Love? How's your foot?"

"It hurts as I tried to walk, love."

"Go some place secluded and hide. You need to hide before he caught you. We're heading to the nearest police station to get some help. Be safe, love. Please."

"Yeah! I need to find a cave or whatever hiding spot there is just around this corner."

Paika-ika s'yang naglakad patungo sa madamong bahagi ng gubat hanggang sa makakita s'ya ng malaking puno kung saan pwede n'yang isiksik ang sarili sa malalaking ugat nito at hindi na makita mula sa labas.

"Hay! I think i'm safe here for now." Isinandal n'ya ang likod sa malaking ugat ng puno habang hinihilot ang nananakit pa ring paa.

"Good to hear."

Nilukob sila ng nakakabinging katahimikan. Maingay sa kabilang linya pero parehas silang tahimik lang ni Narda. Tanging ang mahinang paghinga nito ang s'ya n'yang naririnig.

"Siguro sinisisi mo ako ngayon kung bakit ako napahamak no?" She blurted out of nowhere.

Bumuntong-hininga si Narda sa kabilang linya. "No. Ang iniisip ko lang ngayon ay ang kaligtasan mo."

"Why are you so silent then?"

"Hmmm... i'm thinking about how disperate you were to avoid me na hindi mo na nagawang magpaalam sa akin bago ka umalis. Basta ka nalang sumama kay Brian. You should have told me you're leaving. Pinasundo nalang sana kita sa chopper pauwi ng Manila."