I'll Hold On To You

Horrifying And Heartbreaking

I was given only one chance to change your life. I'm hoping that it's enough for me to save you... ― Florence Joyce

xxxxxx

[Relaina]

IT WAS already a desperate attempt to save someone who was already down, vengeful, and torn. Pero para sa akin, hindi ako dapat sumuko ngayon. I arrived at the place after ten minutes. Binilisan ko na ang lakad para lang marating ko ang lugar na binanggit sa akin ng tinawagan ko.

It was a run-down building. Isa rin sa mga malapit nang i-demolish this year, according to some rumors. And I guessed I shouldn't be surprised kung bakit hindi maiisip ninuman na sa lugar na ito ay posible kong matagpuan ang hinahanap kong tao.

"Don't be afraid, Relaina. You can do this," pag-e-encourage ko sa sarili ko. Though I hated going to places like this, this time I didn't have a choice.

Kailangan ko nang gawin ito.

With sure steps, I entered the building as I tried my best not to create a noise. Mahirap na. Baka may makaalam pang kung sinong kulugo riyan sa kanto.

Pero nagulat ako nang may marinig akong ungol at sigaw. Bigla ang pagdaan ng kaba sa dibdib ko dahil doon. Not to mention that the scream belonged to someone I knew.

Wala na akong inaksayang panahon. Nagmadali na ako sa paglakad ko sa direksiyon patungo sa pinagmulan ng mga narinig ko. As I got closer, however, more screams resonated in the area along with groans of pain.

Ano ba'ng nangyayari?

When I arrived at the scene, a brutal view greeted me. Bigla ako nakaramdam ng panghihina dahil doon.

A heavily panting Brent wearing a hooded and bloody jacket while carrying metal tubes on both hands – also covered in blood – was looking at his fallen enemies with cold eyes. Not even a single trace of remorse could be seen in those eyes at what he had done. Not one person lying around the area could even find the strength to get up anymore.

"No way..." Iyon na lang ang nagawa kong sambitin dahil sa panghihina at hindi pagkapaniwala.

As if on cue, those cold eyes vanished in an instant. What replaced them was an unimaginable surprise as he looked up and finally faced my direction. He was gaping, as well.

"L-Laine?"

Napapikit ako nang marinig ko iyon. Ayoko pa ring maniwala na totoo ang mga nakita ko. Na sa pagbukas ng mga mata ko, malalaman ko na masamang panaginip lang ang lahat ng ito.

But sad to say, hindi nangyari ang hiling ko. The truth was even clearer than before the moment I opened my eyes. Gusto kong maiyak, for some reasons. But not right now. May kailangan pa akong gawin.

"What in the world are you trying to prove by doing this, Brent?" pagsisimula ko habang dahan-dahan akong humakbang papalapit dito. But then I thought I trudged than actually walked.

Nag-iwas ito ng tingin sa akin. "Paano mo nalaman na nandito ako, ha?"

"Importante pa ba iyon? Ano na naman ba'ng pumasok sa kukote mo't ginawa mo 'to, ha? Ano ba talaga ang gusto mong patunayan?"

"Wala ka na r'on! I have reason for doing this so stay out of it!"

Napaismid ako at saka napailing. "Stay out? Ganoon lang 'yon para sa iyo? Eh idinamay na ako ng ibang tao sa mga pinaggagagawa mo, eh. Why don't you tell them the same thing?"

"Ano ba talaga ang kailangan mo, ha? Bakit mo pa ako sinundan dito?"

I could feel Brent's anger toward me slowly rising. Pero hindi ako dapat magpatinag. "Whatever my reason is for going through all this shit just for you is none of your business."