The Ace of Hearts

Chapter 60: To The Past And Present

Slow.

Steady.

Slow and steady.

That was on my mind for the whole time that I was walking. My hands are on the walls, trying to keep my balance and composure. Tanging ang mga tunog mula sa three inches pastel pink pump heels na suot ko lang ang naririnig sa peak floor ng building.

17th floor.

After encountering that man earlier and was not able to defend myself against his harassment, I find myself unconscious on the floor. My knees were trembling and I couldn't properly walk. The last thing I saw was that flash of a camera.

I am now back in my building. Shein. Sa likod ng Grande Casino ako dumaan so I didn't have enough time to look for Ysha. Good thing she wasn't there, she does not have to witness what happened to me. Mas mabuting ako na lang ang nakakaalam.

Pinilit kong maglakad palabas ng elevator after I got here at the 17th floor of my office. Nagsi-uwian na lahat ng employees because the closing hour is five in the afternoon. I didn't want to go back home, I wanted to be alone for a moment, considering na masakit rin ang katawan ko, especially in between my thighs. I don't want anyone asking me questions. I might breakdown any second.

Nawawalan man ng balanse at hindi maayos ang paglalakad, pinilit kong huwag mapasalampak sa sahig. Good thing these walls are here serving as my guide. Kinuha ko ang susi sa dala kong shoulder bag at binuksan ang glass door ng office. It opened and I immediately put my bag on the glass table together with the keys. I could feel that I have no energy left kaya napahawak ang mga kamay ko sa lamesa.

I walked around the table, never minding the office chair. Sa likod ng lamesa ko ay may book shelf. On each side are chinese bamboo plants.

Sa isang iglap ay para akong hinugutan ng lakas nang kusang manlambot ang aking mga binti. Kusa akong bumagsak sa sahig, I almost bump my head into the wall kung hindi lang ako napahawak dito. I am now on the ground and had no choice but to lean my back against the side of the book shelf. Now, I am in between the shelf and the chinese bamboo plant.

Itinaas ko ang mga binti at niyakap ang sarili. The tears I didn't have for those three consecutive years finally showed themselves. Unti-unting bumigat ang aking mga mata at kusang niyakap ang sarili. I cried out loud and for the past three years, ngayon lang ulit ako umiyak ng ganto, not because of what happened back then but because of what that man did to me earlier.

Binaboy niya ako.

Pinagsamantalahan.

I remember telling him to stop. I begged, but he didn't listen. I was hoping that someone would enter that room and help me but no one did. I actually knew that someone was also there, watching us and secretly taking a picture yet, he didn't help. Hindi siya tumulong whoever he is.

This is more painful than everything that I've been through way back in the Philippines. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang masakit, kung ang katawan ko ba o ang puso ko. I feel like everything is so heavy.