A Dragon's Plight (ONGOING)

CHAPTER 5

After dragging me to the building of our city hall and locking me in a room in the basement that resembled a prison cell, I was left to fume over the inequality of everything that's happening.

Sa sinabi ni Rigo sakin kagabi, alam kong pinaghihinalaan ako ng mga opisyal ng High Council. Iniisip nilang kasabwat ako ng mga dayuhang dragon. But that couldn't be farther from the truth because the last thing I wanted to see again is that cocky white dragon who thought I'd jump at the chance to go with them just because he asked me to.

I was pacing back and forth the tiny room thinking of a good argument to defend myself against their baseless accusations when the door suddenly opened to admit a female dragon my age.

Napaatras ako nang makita ang mala-demonyo niyang ngiti. Tiyak na may masama na naman siyang balak. She never missed an opportunity to taunt and push me around.

"Hindi ka pa rin talaga nadadala 'no Cordelia? Kailan mo ba tatantanan ang fiancé ko? Hanggang kailan ka magdadala ng kamalasan samin at sa angkan?" Nanggigil na tanong sakin ni Clarisse.

I fisted both my hands to stop their trembling. Pilit kong inalala na hindi ko p'wedeng pagbuhatan ng kamay ang dragon na nasa harap ko dahil siguradong mabigat na parusa ang ipapataw nila 'pag nagkataon. I averted my gaze. "Wala akong alam sa sinasabi mo." Walang gana kong sagot sa kanya.

"Dahil sa'yo nasaktan si Rigo sa labanan kahapon. Sa tingin mo ba papalampasin ni Tito Harvey ang kasalanan mo sa anak niya? I'm sure you'll get more than a hundred lashes this time." She smirked at me.

I was trying to understand what she just told me. But there was a persistent ringing in my ears that it took a couple minutes for it to sink in. Pinilit kong magsalita kahit na may bara sa lalamunan ko. "Anong ibig mong sabihin na nasaktan si Rigo kahapon? He was fine last night and this morning. Kaya paanong..?"

I saw how the expression in her eyes changed from triumph to anger in a second. Hindi niya na rin ako pinatapos magsalita. Ilang ulit niya kong pinagsasampal at sinasabutan habang sinisigawan. "Malandi ka talaga! Inaahas mo ang fiancé ko! Pagsisisihan mo na kinalaban mo ko!" Paulit-ulit niyang sabi.

Pilit kong sinasangga ang mga hataw niya sakin pero mas malakas siya kaya dehadong-dehado ako. Kung hindi pa dumating ang isang bantay ko, malamang wala na kong malay ngayon.

Hinila siya palabas ng kwarto bago ako binalikan ng bantay. He was looking at me with pity. I knew I must look horrible for him to look at me that way. Nararamdaman ko na ding nangangapal ang labi at hirap na din akong idilat ang isang mata ko. Medyo namamanhid din ang mga braso at katawan ko sa lakas ng hampas ni Clarisse. I tried taking a deep breath, but my chest started hurting. He saw me wince in pain.

"Let's get you to bed." He held my arm to help me stand up, but I hissed when I started to move so he carried me instead.

"I think I broke a rib." I whispered to him. "Nahihirapan akong huminga nang maayos."

He shook his head. "I'll ask for a white dragon medic."

******

Walang puting dragon ang dumating dahil hindi daw sila gumagamot ng mga preso, lalo na't mabigat ang kasalanan. Treason. That's what they're locking me up for even without evidence of my guilt.

Kaya naman nagdala na lang ng first aid kit ang bantay ko. Maingat niya munang nilinisan at nilagyan ng gamot ang mga sugat ko habang niyeyeluhan ko ang masakit na parte ng tadyang ko.

We treated my broken or bruised ribs last. Dahil nahihiya akong hubarin ang damit ko sa harap ng lalaki, tumalikod ako sa kanya at inangat ko na lang ang t-shirt ko para mabendahan niya ang bandang dibdib ko. Hindi pa siya tapos sa ginagawa niya nang may narinig kaming nagtatalo sa labas. Minadali niya ang pagbebenda para matingnan kung sino ang nanggugulo. Humiga na lang ako ulit nang lumabas na siya. I faced the wall opposite the door to avoid anyone else to see me in this state.

Nang bumukas muli ang pinto, hindi na ko humarap o gumalaw. Pumikit ako at nagkunwaring tulog. Hindi ako nagmulat ng mga mata kahit na naramdaman kong may umupo sa bandang likuran ko at marahang hinaplos ang ulo ko.

The touch was so gentle that I almost couldn't feel it. Nakakaiyak ang kabaitang pinapakita ngayon sakin pero hindi ko magawang pumalahaw dahil ayokong makita pa lalo ng iba ang kahinaan ko.

Pagkatapos ng ilang sandali, tumayo ang dumating at marahas na nagbuga ng hangin. Walang salita siyang umalis ng kwarto kaya hindi ko nakilala kung sino ang naging bisita ko. Nang mag-isa na lang ako ay 'tsaka lang kumawala ang pinipigilan kong hikbi. Wala akong ibang magawa kung 'di ang umiyak nang umiyak hanggang sa makatulog ako.

******

I suddenly woke up the next morning feeling as if someone was watching me so I hurriedly got up. When I turned towards the door, I saw the head of the High Council along with the prominent members, one of them being Clarisse' father.

I gulped at their expressionless faces and felt a frisson of fear.

They must have felt or smelled my anxiety because some of them smirked. They probably enjoy my fear and discomfort.

I didn't want all of them looking down at me so I stood to my feet despite the different aches in my body. I kept quiet waiting for them to tell me what's going to happen to me.

"Are you aware of why you are here for questioning?" Rigo's father, Harvey Villamor, asked me in his usual condescending tone.

I spoke in a low tone and tried to school my expression to convey meekness. "I have an inkling as to why only because Rigo and Clarisse already talked to me about it. Rigo asked me if I had anything to do with the attack and I already told him that I didn't know any of those dragons. I swear on my parents' grave that I'm innocent. And Clarisse' accusations that I'm part of the reason why Rigo was hurt isn't true too. I didn't even know he was wounded. He was okay when he left my place after talking to me the other night."

"She's telling the truth, Father. She didn't have any knowledge of the attack beforehand. And it wasn't her fault that I fought with the other dragons." A voice spoke up.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang makita kong nakatayo si Rigo sa likuran ng mga opisyal ng High Council. Nasa tabi niya ang ina niya, si Selina Villamor, na masuyong ngumiti sakin.

I averted my gaze and looked at the floor instead. Naghihintay na lang ako sa magiging desisyon nila nang marinig kong magsalita si Tita Selina. "The girl is innocent Harvey and I won't let you punish her without just cause. Isa pa, can't you see that she needs to be treated? Sinabi ng bantay niya na kagabi pa ganyan ang lagay niya pero wala man lang gumamot sa kanya." Nagagalit na sabi nito sa asawa.

Harvey looked at his wife angrily, but didn't say anything. If there's one person in this world that he listens to, it's his wife. Nakita ko noon kung gaano niya kamahal ang asawa niya kaya alam kong susundin niya ang sinabi nito kahit na labag pa sa kagustuhan ng ibang miyembro ng High Council. It was only in the recent years that they seem.to be having problems with their marriage.

"We'll listen to what my wife says this once." Sabi ni Harvey sa mga opisyal na kasama niya bago muling humarap sakin. "But this will be your only warning, Cordelia. The next time you commit a grievance against another member of this clan, you will be punished. And no one, not even my wife, will be able to save you. Are we clear Cordelia? Selina?"

Pareho kaming tumango bilang pagsang-ayon sa sinabi niya.

Hindi sumagi sa isip ko na ang pagtango kong iyon ang siyang magpapahamak sakin. Dahil tinanggap ko ang sinabi niya, ako mismo ang naglagay sa sarili ko sa kapahamakan at kahihiyan.

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