How Love Grows (Completed)

Kabanata 24

TW: SH and Violence

Kabanata 24

New Life

I was lying in bed with a heavy heart. I dream about myself running in a field of trees at night. There was nothing there, but only me. I couldn't see anything. I only hear the kind of sounds that only exist in the forest. I keep running and running. I don't know where to go. I am wearing a long-sleeve white chiffon dress with my bare feet. I don't know why I am running in the middle of this dark forest. Later on, one voice thundered like a goddess who's mad and finding something.

 

It was like a beast—a giant one—who made me terrified to run.

 

 

"Felicity!" A scary voice makes me gasp, which makes me stop and look nervously from side to side.

 

Kaagad ako ay napatakbo sa takot. Hindi ko alam kung saan ako pupunta, but one thing I know is to escape. Sa bilis ng takbo ko, hindi ko na namamalayan ang mga inaapakan ko. Hanggang sa nakatapak ako ng matulis na bagay na siyang nagpahinto sa 'kin. Napasigaw ako sa sakit. Hindi ko makita kung ano 'yon dahil madilim at nasa liblib ako ng kagubatan. Hindi ako masinagan ng buwan ng dahil sa nagtataasang kahoy na magkadikit.

"Felicity! Hindi ka makakatakas sa 'kin!" The voice sounds very near to where I am.

 

Humilig muna ako sa isang kahoy. Dahil ang hapdi ng paa ko parang kuryente na pumulupot sa kaugatan ko ang sakit. Kinakapa ko ang paa ko at nakatusok nga 'yon. Dahan-dahan ko ito hinila ngunit masakit. Huminga ako ng malalim bago ito hinala ng malakas. Muntik na akong napasigaw sa sakit dahil hanggang ulo 'yon. Pero huminga na lang ako ng malalim para maiwasan ang sakit.

 

I rest my head on the tree when the pain becomes less intense. My heart is still beating so fast, like it was going to erupt. Biglang tumulo ang luha sa dalawa kong mata, habang tinitignan ang mga bituin sa taas. But before I could admire all of them, a warm hand wrapped my arm and pulled me.

Napatili ako. The lights that were coming from the moon were so clear. How evil is the man in front of me now? Kuya Michael was staring at me angrily while I was breathless. Mas lalong bumuhos ang luha sa aking mga mata habag tinitigan siya na parang uhaw na uhaw at galit na galit. Knowing I would not escape now, lalo pa at sobrang sakit ng paa ko.

 

"Tingin mo makakatakas ka sa 'kin? Hindi! Hindi ka paniniwalanan no'n dahil hindi ka na parte ng pamilya!" sigaw niya sabay sa 'kin sa kahoy at mahigpit akong hinawakan.

 

Kaagad niyang inilapit ang labi sa aking leeg. Tears fall down my throat as I feel his saliva. I screamed out loud! I plead and beg him to spear me, but still, compared to his strength, I can't. Like that night, it was all the same. The feeling of not being clean... full of dirt that even the water can take away. I'm a girl, just a girl. I did not do anything. Why did this suddenly happen to me?

 

No one cares. No one hears my scream. No one knows. No one believes. On a long, cold night in the forest, screaming, my voice can't reach their ears, my tears can't be seen in their eyes, and no one believes because no one wants.

Sa pag angat ko sa aking ulo na siyang nagpagising sa 'kin sa madilim na silid. Nanginginig ako habang pawisan ang aking ulo. Ramdam ko ang init na may halong kaba. I wiped my tears slowly with my shaking hands. Napahikbi ako sa takot.