Chased by El Lewis Vesper Esquivel

Chapter 51

Pakiramdam ko ay mulat ako magdamag, I tried to be alert as possible but at the same time, I knew that I need to sleep. Kaya naman nang hindi ko na nakayan ay sinubukan kong umidlip.

I opened my eyes slowly after a shallow sleep at bumungad sa akin ang mas maliwanag na na paligid. The light is already off at nang mapatingin naman ako sa bandang gawi ko ay may isang baso ng tubig at dalawang pirasong tinapay.

I heard my stomach growling at the sight of the food but I need to examine first the place that I am in. Unti-unti akong tumayo kahit na nanghihina pa ang mga tuhod ko at sa mga galos nito. Wala akong marinig na ingay mula sa labas at sigurado akong mataas na ang sikat ng araw.

The small square high above is the only thing that gives me sight of the outside but the only thing that I could see is the blue sky. Pero napukaw ng atensyon ko ang makitid na pintuan sa likod.

Dali-dali akong naglakad at binuksan ito pero kaagad ring nadismaya ng makitang isa lamang itong maliit na comfort room, and there is no even a window or any sort of ventilation for it.

I breathed in deeply as I stood in the middle of the small house, wala ngang ibang gamit at halatang lumang-luma na ang bahay. The ceiling looked like it was about to give up and the cement was rough.

Muling pumasok ko sa isipan ko si El. I am sure that everyone knows already at home that I am missing, and I'm sure that they are already trying to figure out where I am.

Pinunasan ko ang mga luha kong nagbagsakan. I can't imagine the agony that they are feeling right now, I am such a hard headed person. Pinahamak ko ang sarili kong anak.

I caressed my tummy as tears continued streaming down my face.

“Sorry, baby…Mommy is very sorry…” I whispered in the thin air as if she would hear it. 

I continued sobbing as I held onto it dearly when suddenly I felt it kick. Natigil ako sa pag-iyak at namamangha itong tiningan.

Napangiti ako ng mapait, she kicks mostly when El is with me. And I hope he is really here with me right now.

Kahit papaano ay nabuhayan ako ng loob. I have no other choice here but to survive, El will for sure on his way, and he will rescue me. So all I could do right now is to stay alive.

There's no way out for me except the door, and I won't risk it anymore. Alam kong mapapahamak lang ulit ako nagpumilit pa ako, but I need to find a way. But for now, I just hope that help is on the way.

I ate my food on the corner, wala akong choice kung hindi kainin ang bigay nila. Ramdam ko pa rin ang gutom pagkatapos kung ubusin ang mga ito at ngayon ko lang naisip na maaring ito lang ang ibigay nila sa akin maghapon. I shouldn't have finished it in one go.

Muli akong napasandal sa may pader ng marinig ko ang pagbubukas ng pintuan. Kaagad akong umupo ng maayos at muling rumagasa sa akin ang kaba at takot. My lips quivered, thinking of possible thoughts and prayed so hard in my head again.

The door finally opened and it just revealed one of the men. Ngumisi siya sa akin at humawak naman kaagad ako sa tiyan ko.

Pero bago pa ulit ako makapagsalita ay muli niyang linock ang pintuan ako. The area that we are in seem so quiet at wala man lang akong narinig kung hindi ang ihip ng hangin.

But it probably also means that he is alone, right? Dahil wala man lang akong marinig na usapan mula sa labas, hindi katulad kagabi.

Pero wala pa rin akong magagawa, he is armed with a gun and I won't risk anything.

I didn't do anything in the next hours but to pray and pray. Naghintay rin ako na sana muling bumukas ang pintuan at bigyan ako ng pagkain pero wala akong naasahan.