Marriage #2: My Bodyguard [Ongoing]

MB 17

Sinuot ulit sa akin ni Saij ang t-shirt ko na hinubad niya. Pagkatapos ay umupo siya sa tabi ko at niyakap ako. I leaned my head on his shoulder and hugged him back.

“I will find them, Era."

I frowned. “Huh?"

“I will find those people who did that to you," he said in a serious tone. “I will seek justice for you. I don't care if it takes a long time. Basta, hahanapin ko sila. I will not stop until I find them."

Nang tignan ko siya ay umiigting ang panga niya. Matalim ang kaniyang mga mata na nakatingin sa kung saan. It wasn't the first time I'd seen him so angry. Pero hindi ko alam na magagalit siya nang ganito. Matapos ang nangyari sa akin, matapos niyang malaman ang lahat.

“Paano mo sila hahanapin?" I was confused. “It’s been five years, Saij. Matagal na rin mula noong mangyari ’yon."

He looked at me but his eyes were soft looking at me. He kissed my forehead and caressed my cheeks. “I have a way, baby. I have my ways. Hindi ko sila titigilan hanggang hindi sila nabubulok sa kulungan."

My face softened. “You will really do that?"

He nodded. “Tell me everything," mahinhing sabi niya. “What were you doing before they took you? What are you wearing? Nasaan ka no’n o saan ka galing? Where did that happen? How did they take you?" sunod-sunod na tanong niya.

I swallowed hard and looked away. I forced myself to remember everything. it was afternoon, pauwi ako galing school. Ako lang ang naglalakad mag-isa, wala akong kasabay at wala ring sasakyan.

I was wearing a uniform that time since galing nga ako sa school pero pauwi na ako. Tapos biglang may van na huminto sa harapan ko. May isang lalaki ang lumabas mula sa loob ng van.

Hindi ako nakatakbo dahil mabilis niya akong nahawakan. May tinakip siyang panyo sa ilong at bibig ko. And the handkerchief seemed to have a smell that caused me to fall asleep. Nawalan ako ng malay dahil doon sa amoy na nagmula sa panyo.

Then when I woke up I was in an abandoned house. Sa abandonadong bahay nila ako dinala at doon din nila ginawa ang bagay na ’yon sa akin. After they raped me they didn't kill me but they scared me.

Papatayin nila ako... ililibing ng buhay kapag nagsumbong ako. O ’di kaya naman ay pagpipirasuhin ang mga parte ng katawan ko.

Of course, I was so scared. I have no ally, no one will save me. Takot na takot ako dahil kahit ang mismong tatay ko ay hindi ko kakampi. I didn't know who to trust, that's why I kept quiet and kept what happened to myself. Wala rin naman kasi akong masasabihan kung sakaling magsusumbong ako.

My father doesn't want to listen to me. Kaya pinagpatuloy ko na lang ang pananahimik hanggang sa lumipas na ang mahabang panahon.

I bit my lip as I looked at him again. “I'm so scared, Saij." He held my hand tightly after I said everything. “Noon... pakiramdam ko, binabantayan nila ako. Nag-aabang kung magsusumbong ako. I think, nilubayan lang nila ako noong mapagtanto nilang ulila na ako."

His eyes were sad as he looked at me. Hinalikan niya ako sa noo at kalaunan ay niyakap ng sobrang higpit.

“I promise, I will find them. I will seek the justice you deserve so much. Hindi ako papayag na hindj sila magdudusa matapos ang ginawa nila." His serious voice echoed in my ears as his face darkened again.

Sana... sana nga.

“Thank you so much, Saij."

Nginitian niya ako at muling hinalikan sa noo. “As long as I'm here, I won't let that happen to you again. Baka kapag naulit pa ang mga nangyari ay makapatay na talaga ako."