Pinagsoltada

95

IT was December 26, 2004.

Vidal let out a heavy sigh, weary to the bone after all that dancing at the nearest night club. Hindi pa sapat para sa kaniya ang payapang selebrasyon ng Pasko kasama ang kaniyang pamilya sa isang pribadong isla sa Altamar. He wanted to party some more.

Family gatherings were just too tame to the point that it made him reflective. Well, that's one of the things that Christmas is supposed to be, right? A time for reflections. But for Vidal, to ponder is to put him to the brink of insanity.

Kaya pagkagising niya kaninang hapon ay isa-isa na niyang tinawagan ang mga kaibigan at mga kakilala. He asked if they have plans, particularly to go clubbing or partying somewhere. Luckily, they do. Vidal combed his shoulder-length, layered hair and put on his baggy jeans, white sneakers, a plain gray shirt, and two layers of silver necklaces. He and his good-time friends wasted the night on drinking and partying at this night club which led him to checking in a hotel.

Vidal was just too drunk to drive far, so he decided to spend the night in this hotel. After tossing the car key to the hotel staff, Vidal approached the receptionist desk and paid for an executive room. Before anyone could assist him, he already got inside the elevator.

Pagbukas ng pinto ng elevator, nasaktuhan niyang may nakatayo sa pasilyo na isang babae. She was watching the bell boy walk away from her door.

Magalang na tinanguan si Vidal ng bell boy bago nito nilagpasan. Nagtatakang sinundan niya ito ng tingin hanggang sa nakasakay sa elevator. Pagkabalik niya ng tingin sa harap ay nagtaka siya lalo dahil nasa kaniya naman ang tingin ng babaeng iniwan ng bell boy.

From where he stood, he could only see the woman's head and shoulders as she peeked behind the frame of her hotel room's door. Namimilog ang mga mata nito sa kaniya at gulat na nakaawang nang bahagya ang mga labi.

Vidal smirked as he staggered toward her. He stopped in front of her door and leaned close to her face.

"You look familiar. . . ." he chuckled dryly.

Magalang na tumango ito sa kaniya. "Opo, señorito. Ako po si Joan Orosa."

He cocked his head to the side.

Her name wasn't clicking. He could not recall it.

Tila nahalata nito ang pagkalito niya kaya nagpaliwanag ito. "Ako po 'yong kasama ni Señor Ernesto noong bumisita kami sa mansiyon ninyo para kausapin si Alkalde."

"A, oo . . ." sabi na lang niya habang gumegewang na umatras palayo rito at sa pinto nito. He pointed a finger at her. "Oo. Ikaw nga . . ." Pagak siyang tumawa habang pinipilit na alalahanin kung sino ba talaga ang babaeng ito na magulo ang pagkaka-ponytail sa kulot nitong buhok, na simpleng tsinelas at oversized T-shirt na tinernuhan ng tokong na denim ang suot.

"S-Sige po, señorito. Papasok na ako." Akmang aatras na ito para maisara ang pinto nang may narinig silang lumabas mula sa isa sa mga silid sa pasilyo na kinatatayuan niya.

On the far end of the hallway, Vidal saw a woman slam the door close. Lagpas-balikat ang unat nitong itim na buhok at naka-silver na dress. Bukod sa humahagulgol ay nakayuko ito na tila ba masakit ang tiyan. Sa isang iglap ay nawala bigla ang kalasingan niya. Kahit tila hindi pantay ang sahig at tumatabingi ang pasilyo ay nagmamadaling nilapitan niya ang babae na hindi pa nakalalayo mula sa pinto ay napaluhod na sa carpeted na sahig.

Vidal dropped on his knees and grabbed her arms. "Thea!"

Nanatiling nakayuko lang ang ulo nito habang panay ang iling. Vidal glanced at her arm that he was holding. He had to blink more than twice before he started to believe that what he was seeing was real—she had bruises and bleeding scratches.