TOXIC (Dark Mafia Romance)

Chapter 19

warning: themes pertaining to domestic and child abuse.

sa mga may pinagdadaanang ganitong sitwasyon, maaari po nating i-contact ang mga itinalagang ahensya ng gobyerno para po tayo ay matulungan.

dswd hotline: The Globe hotline numbers are 09171105686 and 09178272543, and the Smart hotline number is 09199116200.

19

I STARED at myself in the fogged-up bathroom mirror. My golden tan skin still looked dewy, but there were shadows underneath my eyes.

It was past seven am, but time didn't seem to have meaning anymore.

The night had bled into day, and I had remained wide awake as I stared at the ceiling of my room.

And now here I was, staring at myself in the mirror.

You may not hurt yourself with blades and alcohol like your mother, but you make yourself bleed just as good.

Nagpakawala ako ng nanginginig na hininga at niyakap ko ang mga braso sa sarili.

Hurt myself. I was hurting myself. Like my mother...

May kumatok sa pinto ng banyo, at napaigtad ako at napalipd ang tingin doon.

My heart rammed in my chest as I thought of Alessio, but ice coated my insides just as fast. No, of course, it wasn't Alessio. Alessio wouldn't knock.

Pilit kong inayos ang sarili at ipinadaan ang mga palad sa gilid ng dilaw kong bestida, tapos ay humugot ako ng malalim na hininga.

It was probably Frank knocking.

I strode toward the door, the heels of my stiletto clicking on the marble tiles. At pagbukas ko ng pinto, ang bruskong bodyguard nga ang naroon.

"Hospital called," bungad ni Frank bago pa ako makapagsalita. "The kid woke up."

Namilog ang mga mata ko at agad kumabog ang puso ko. "Riza? She's awake?"

Frank nodded. "You can visit her now. Boss already gave you permission to go."

And just like that, my stomach muscles cramped as if someone punched me in the gut.

Alessio already gave me permission to go.

It was a good thing, and it should make me feel relieved, but somehow, him giving me permission so easily felt like he was alright with me leaving the penthouse without him. Like he didn't give a fuck anymore.

Kumunot noo ang kaharap. "Are you not going?"

Pilit kong tinaboy ang hapdi sa tiyan at agad akong umiling. This was not the time to wallow in my misery. "I'm going. Let me grab my bag then let's go."

Lumabas ako ng banyo at hinagilap ang bag ko sa walk-in closet.

Sabay kaming lumabas ni Frank ng silid at dumerecho sa living area.

We got into the hospital in under forty minutes.

And my heart cinched in my chest as my gaze took in the girl lying in the hospital bed.

May bendahe siya sa braso at binti, at may suwero na nakasaksak sa pupulsuhan niya. Riza's face was still shadowed and swollen with bruises. I couldn't see under her blue hospital gown, but I was sure there were more bruises and bandages there.

Nagtaas ng tingin ang dalagita, at bahagyang tumaas ang sulok ng sugatan niyang mga labi. "Ate Antonia."

Muling kumislot ang aking dibdib, at bahagyang nanginginig akong lumapit papunta sa kama ni Riza.