The Wander Diaries

Chapter 45: "Before the Storm"

I highly suggest you play The Scientist by Coldplay while reading this chapter. Sakto guys, promise.

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Chapter 45: "Before the Storm"

"Have you heard of him yet?" I asked Darren for the nth time already.

He shakes his head. I sighed.

Ilang araw na simula nung nakidnap ako. Hinatid ako sa bahay ni Darren. Buti na lang tulog na ang mga tao sa bahay noon so they weren't able to see how devastated I am. Wala sa sarili akong nagtungo sa kwarto ko. Hindi ako makatulog nang maayos. Every time I close my eyes, natatakot ako na paggising ko, baka andun ulit ako sa gusaling yon. Hindi ako lumalabas ng kwarto. Nag-aalala nga ang mommy ko sa akin. She asked me a hundred of times. Sinasabi ko naman na okay ako pero who am I kidding? I am an open book. I can't lie on what I feel. They can see through me. Sinabi ko na lang na nag-aalala ako kay Storm, which is true. I just leave the details on why I am worried sick.

Darren told me that Storm is called hunter in the black market, in the mafia world. I ask him why but he didn't answer. I remembered the first time I heard someone called him was when we we came from the hospital for tita Maritess.

Umalis kami ni Storm pagkatapos ng visiting hours at nangakong babalik kami. Inasikaso din namin ni Storm yung bill. Actually, si Storm ang umayos lahat. Wala nang alalahanin si tita Maritess.

I asked Storm to park the truck near 7/11. May nakita kasi akong bata na umiinom ng Slurpee. Parang gusto ko na din.

Ako lang ang pumasok sa loob kasi ayaw ni Storm. Hihintayin na lang daw niya ako. Pero pagbalik ko sa truck, hindi ko ito mabuksan. I tried calling his phone pero walang sumasagot. Asan si Storm?

Then I heard noises from a dark alley. I followed that and called, "Storm?"

I heard whistles. The whistle when a guy sees a sexy lady. It's not a compliment for me, now, at this moment or not ever.

Babalik na dapat ako pero mas naging malinaw kung sino yung mga tao. Si Storm sa harap ng mga lalaki. They are not the guys from school. They are older. They are looking at me like a predator to its prey. I know. I know we're in trouble.

"Storm, let's go?" I asked, trying to sound like I don't know what is really happening, but failed.

"Ang ganda naman ng dalagang ito, Hunter," then the guys hooted.

Storm froze. Hunter. Sino si Hunter? Their leader?

I didn't give much of attention that time because I thought it didn't matter. That was then. It's different now.

Nakaupo kami ngayon sa sala ng bahay namin. Nanonood kami ng tv. Ano ngang show to? I don't know. Di naman talaga kami nanonood, more like nakatingin lang. Walang nagsasalita sa amin. Walang may gustong sabihin. Pareho lang kami na hinihintay ang tawag ni Storm. Ever since that day, lagi kaming magkasama ni Darren. He always checks on me. Nakakalabas na rin ako ng bahay basta andyan siya. Ayaw niya rin akong paalisin kung mag-isa lang ako. He always makes sure that I am safe.