TRACE DIMAGIBA (Wild Men Series 1)

S4: 02

CHLOE

It was a cloudy day. December. Eight of the month.

"Gunner, come here, sweetie." The boy ran towards me. We were in the park, and I was doing my best for the two boys to be good. My eyes glance at Killian standing beside me. I was holding his hand. "We're going home," I informed them.

"Yes, Mommy..." Gunner replied, pulled, and held my other hand.

Lumakad na kami palayo sa park. Alam kong nakasunod sa amin ang mga tao ni Papa. I am free here in California, but the fact that Papa's men were stalking me, made me sick. I know why Papa and Loui are doing this to me; they are just securing my safety from Trace. I sighed. One week to go, and I will be back in the Philippines. I am sure that the bodyguards tailing me here will be doubled or tripled once I'm back in the Philippines.

"Mommy, mit ko na ti Tito Alguien," Killian spoke. "Mit ko na rin ti mama ko. Tapot mit ko pa ti... ti Daddy Tulot Talot."

"Shhh..." Gunner covered Killian's mouth with his hands. "Kill, stop babbling! Mommy doesn't remember."

I smiled at 'my' boys. I bit my lower lip as even though they are young, yet, they are trying to protect me, too. I stared at them. They both have curly hair and hazel brown eyes, both handsome just like their father, just like the man I only love...

Oh, Trace... 'Happy birthday, Trace kow. How I wish I could be with you.' I sadly smiled with my thoughts.

Almost four months ago. That was August.

I roused up with a stingy pain in my chest. I felt thirsty. I felt the dryness of my throat. I want water. I opened my eyes and closed again as I felt nauseous. Then I heard voices. I heard unfamiliar voices. They are talking about names. I have no idea who those are.

"She's moving! Her fingers are moving! Call the doctors!" A woman's voice that seemed familiar yet unfamiliar made me force myself to open my eyes again. Blurry... all I could see was her blurry face, but I knew she was gazing at me.

"Cent, your phone is ringing!" A woman approached the woman I first heard speaking. "Madam is calling."

Cent? Is that the woman's name?

I squinted my eyes to make focus and clarify the woman's face. My eyes grew bigger as I recognized her. Harriet? That's... I am seeing Harriet, but she was called Cent. How? Why?

I couldn't stop the drowsiness I felt and fell asleep again. I have no idea how long I dozed before I woke up. I remembered I saw Harriet. My sister. Where is she? Or was that a dream?

"Inform Ate Cent! Gising na siya."

I tried to move, but it caused me pain in my chest. "Where am I?" I asked the boy, who said to call someone because I was awake.

The boy smiled. He's six or seven, perhaps. "Hintayin natin si Ate Cent," he told me.

Cent? Where did I hear that name before?

I tried to sit as I don't want to sleep anymore. The boy helped me get up and I thanked him. Kahit makirot ang sugat sa dibdib ko ay tiniis ko para lang makaupo at ayaw ko nang matulog. Hihingi sana ako ng tubig nang bumukas ang pinto at pumasok si... si Harriet?

Yes, si Harriet nga! My eyes brightened. I smiled at her. Hoping na baka naman nasa Agrianthropos ako. Si Trace... iniligtas ako ni Trace at si Harriet ang nasa harap ko! Then tears started to blur my eyes. Pero sina Prime at si Alguien... nasaan sila? Anong... anong nangyari sa kanila?