"Tulong!" mas malakas na sigaw ng may-ari ng bahay.
The flashlight she's holding can make fire by how bright it is. I needed the leaves to hide my face or else, I'd get blinded.
"Mga kapit-bahay, may magnanakaw!" Hindi pa siya nakuntento sa naunang sigaw ay nasundan pa iyon ng tatlo.
Looking like a tarsier in the wrong trunk, I can't think of a way to escape. Not now when people started to gather in front of the house where the tree is.
"Nasaan ang magnanakaw?" May isang malaking lalaki ang sumulpot. Animo'y makikipagbasag-ulo ito sa tindig.
"Gulpihin na natin 'yan!" sabi pa ng kasama niya.
"Nandiyan!" The woman in a nightgown moved the flashlight up and down to point at the three. "Nasa puno!"
More and more people came to see what's going on. I whined quietly. Hindi ko na maihiwalay ang mukha sa mga dahon. I can afford people to see me but not Yuri. Isa siya sa mga taong nakikisilip sa puno para makilala ako. He really went back to feed his curiosity.
"Babae! Babae 'yung magnanakaw."
"Kababae mong tao, mas pinili po magnakaw. Hindi ka ba nahihiya para sa mga anak mo?!"
Wala akong anak! At hindi ako mag-aanak!
"Hoy, bumaba ka riyan! Huling-Huli ka na sa akto!"
"Tumawag na kami ng pulis. Wala kang takas!"
I wish I could just lose consciousness and wake up with amnesia.
"Paparating na ang mga pulis, babaeng magnanakaw! Ako pa talaga ang naisipan mong nakawan. Wala kang malilimos sa akin! Kahit awa! Ipakukulong kita!" Ang may-ari ang may pinakamahabang sigaw. Hindi ko siya nakita dahil nakatago pa rin ang mukha ko ngunit batid kong pumuputok ang mga ugat niya sa noo.
"Baba riyan!"
"Bumaba ka na!"
"Ayaw mong bumaba, ha!" Someone threw an egg at the three. Luckily, it didn't hit me. But only because it was the first one. One egg was followed by another, then another, then two, three, until a dozen eggs started to fly toward me.
My patience ran out. I could no longer stand the fishy smell. Damn it. Bugok pa ata ang mga hinagis nila sa 'kin.
"Baba!"
"Magnanakaw, baba!"
I swallowed hard and held onto the branch of the tree before facing them. Upon showing my face, I yelled. "Stop! I'm not a fucking thief!"
Everyone held their arms in place even with the eggs in their hands. One of them is Yuri, who is already ready to make his first throw. Sa halip na sa akin lumipad ang itlog na hawak niya, nahulog iyon sa kalsada, kasabay ng pagbagsak ng panga niya.
"M-Miss nurse?" He blinked twice a second.
I sneered at him. This is your fault, asshole!
"What are you doing there?!"
I can't read his face. Whether he's surprised, embarrassed, or pity me, I don't know. I just know I will kill him once I get out of here.
"Kung hindi ka magnanakaw, ano ang ginagawa mo riyan?" ani may-ari ng bahay.
Maniniwala ba sila kung sasabihin kong kukuhanin ko lang dapat ang kakabiyak ng tsinelas ko? Siyempre hindi. They will conclude it's a tactic!
"Wala! Sinungaling ka! Lilinlangin mo pa kami, luma na 'yang mga ipapalusot mo. Bumaba ka riyan! Harapin mo kami."
BINABASA MO ANG
The Heaven's Wildcard
Romansa[SLOW EDIT] For most people, hell is just a concept or a place where the evils fall into after death. But for the registered nurse, Maurice Severina de Morga, it is her reality, her life. Her first cry was on her mother's death, died on a hospital b...
