In the Shadow of Diamond (COMPLETED)

Kabanata 38

Kabanata 38

"Mr. Chua! Pakawalan mo ako!"

Nanghihina man ay pinilit ko ang pagsigaw. I woke up feeling dizzy. My head hurt, and my arms felt heavy. When I tried to move, I realized I couldn't. My wrists were tied to the arms of the chair and my legs were tied too.

The chair was hard and cold. I looked around. The room was dark and empty. There was one small light above me.

I was scared. I didn't know where I was or how long I had been there. My mouth was dry, and my body was weak.

"Mr. Chua! Pakawalan mo ako!"

Hindi ko alam kung saan niya ako dinala. Hindi ako makapaniwalang nandito na naman ako sa ganitong sitwasyon.

"Mr. Chua, pakawalan mo ako! Walang hiya ka!"

My voice echoed in the cold room, but no one answered. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. My hands were starting to go numb from the tight ropes. I tried to move again, but the chair didn't even budge.

Nakakabinging katahimikan ang bumabalot sa akin. All I could hear was my own breathing. I looked around, hoping to see a window or a door. But the room had no windows. Just four plain walls, and one metal door across from me.

I heard footsteps coming closer. I held my breath. The metal door opened with a loud creak. The light from the hallway spilled into the room.

"Gising ka na pala," nakangising aniya.

I gritted my teeth. Umakyat ang lahat ng galit sa loob ko at gustong gusto kong ipasabog iyon sa kaniya.

"Gago ka! Pakawalan mo 'ko rito!"

"You'll feel better if you stop being angry," he said, not even raising his voice. "You'll waste more energy that way."

I closed my eyes to calm myself. I knew I couldn't scare him. If I showed fear, I'd lose. I had to think of a way out.

"What do you want from me?" I asked, even though I already knew he wouldn't answer. "Bakit ako dinala rito?!"

Tumikhim siya at lumapit.

"Siguradong napapraning na ang pamilya mo at ang... asawa mo sa kakahanap sa'yo," humalakhak siya.

Ang pangungutya sa kanyang boses ay parang tinaga sa puso ko. Bigla kong naalala sina Mama. Siguradong nag-aalala na sila sa akin!

"Hayop ka! Pakawalan mo 'ko!" pagpupumiglas ko.

May kinuha siya sa kaniyang bulsa at inilabas ang baril na nagpatigil sa akin. Itinutok niya iyon sa akin.

"Tumigil ka!" sigaw niya.

He ran his fingers over the barrel of the gun, his eyes never leaving mine. The way he looked at me was full of something dark and something dangerous.

"Ngayon, sabihin mo sa akin kung paanong ang Morfeo na iyon ang pinakasalan mo."

Umiling ako. "Hindi ko kailangan sabihin iyon sa'yo!"

His eyes narrowed.

"Pinili mong traydurin ako," mariin niyang sabi. "Pagkatapos ng lahat ng ginawa ko para sa'yo—"

"Lahat 'yon may kapalit! Lahat ng mga binigay mo sa akin, katawan ko ang kapalit kaya bayad na bayad na ako sa'yo!"

I could feel the heat rise in my chest as I shouted back, my voice shaking with anger and frustration. My wrists were sore, my legs numb, but the rage coursing through me kept me alive, kept me fighting.

Mr. Chua's face darkened. His grip on the gun tightened even more, the cold metal pointing directly at me. Hindi siya nagsalita, he just stared at me with those cold eyes. I could see the veins in his neck bulging as he fought to keep control.