Every Single Bite (UNDER REVISION)

Chapter 4

THIANA

"HI." Masayang ngiti ang nakaplaster sa mukha ng babaeng may mahabang buhok. Kumaway siya saakin bilang pag bati. Tumango ako at nginitian siya pabalik. "I'm Ilana, Elyson and Cion's younger cousin." Pakilala ng babae.

"My name's Aquina. I'm her younger sister, also these guys'," She pointed at Elyson and the guy who looked similar to him "youngest cousin." Nakangiting aniya. So she isn't his sister but a cousin.

"Cain." Maiksing sabi ng lalaking navy blue ang buhok. Itinaas niya ang kamay niya sa ere at nginitian ako.

"I'm Cion. Elyson's younger brother." Seryosong sabi ng lalaking kahawig ni Elyson. Tumango ako sakanila.

"My name's Thiana." Pakilala ko.

Pinag aralan ko silang apat. I was able to somehow tell their personalities based on how they talk and the auras or vibes around them.

Cain seemed to be the playful type. Tipong makulit at maloko. Mapang asar at minsan lang magseryoso.

Si Ilana ay mahinhin. Inosente din ang ngiti niya. Tipong walang masamang gagawin. The angel type kumbaga.

Si Aquina naman mukhang masyahin. Yung lagi kang ngingitian at hindi madaling magalit. Yung tipo g sobrang haba ng pasensya at kayang basahin ang mood ng bawat isa.

Lastly, Cion. He's the serious type. Yung parang hindi gagawa ng kalokohan and instead siya ang pipigil sa kalokohan ng iba.

"But really, brother. We wouldn't have thought you'll actually proceed with your plans." Seryosong ani Cion. We moved to the dining area dahil the living room was a mess. It's located right infront of the room I'm occupying so dust and all are scattered around it.

"What plan?" Takang tanong ko. Kanina pa kasi sila may pinag uusapang hindi ko maintindihan.

Is it the plan to kidnap me?!

Imbis na sagutin ako, tinitigan lang ako ni Cion then humarap ulit siya sa kuya niya. Nainis naman ako sa inasta niya.

I was about to protest my displeasure nang lumapit saakin sina Ilana and Aquina. They wrapped their arms around mine at hinigit ako pabalik sa kwarto.

"Let's let those jerks talk to themselves. Instead, let us have our own 'getting to know each other'!" Masayang ani Aquina.

MATAPOS ang pag uusap nila Elyson ay nag paalam narin sila. Matagal kaming nag kwentuhan nina Aquina at Ilana pero hindi ko ito napansin dahil masyado silang makwento. They mostly talked about Elyson and his childhood, how he was clumsy and awkward to other people.

"Anong pinag usapan niyo ng mga pinsan ko? We can hear your giggling from here." Aniya nang mawala na sa paningin namin ang mga bisita.

"None of your business. It's not cool to be overly concerned with girls talk" Sabi ko at tinalikuran siya. I went to the kitchen and ate my dinner na hinanda ni Elyson kanina.

Elyson did what he usually do, he sat across me to watch me eat. Nung una ay naiilang pa ako pero dahil sa paulit ulit niyang ginagawa yun, I don't bother anymore. Iniisip ko nalang na isa siyang patatas na nanjan lang.

Days quickly pass by. Araw araw same lang ang routine naming dalawa ni Elyson. Aalis siya sa umaga at uuwi habang ako ay nasa bahay at nag babasa lang.

Minsan lumalabas ako sa front yard at doon tumatambay. Siguro ay napansin niyang napapadalas ang paglagi ko sa labas, he suddenly built a cottage near the big tree sa harap ng bahay.

And bago maggabi, he accompany me to whatever I am doing.

He sometimes brings me things para mabawasan ang pagkabore ko. He bought me Dvds, manga, mp4 to listen to music, he even bought a game console.

Lately, he's been allowing me to go to places as long as it's still inside the forest and kasama siya. He brought me to different places like the lake, the falls and the cave where there are glowing stones. Its like we're having our little adventure almost everyday.

Recently he brought me to a place where we can stargaze. It was a really beautiful place sa taas ng isang hill and the place is full of flowers.

He is being overly kind to me. Like he wasn't helding me captive sa lugar na to. He make it seem like nasa bakasyon lang kami and okay ang lahat.

I'm starting to cozy up to him dahil sa mga ginagawa niya but everytime I realize that, it just doesn't sit well with me. Lagi paring pumapasok sa isip ko ang ginawa niya, paano kami nagkakilala. And be is still shrouded with mystery.

I'm getting confused on what he wants with me so I decided to ask him directly.

While we are on our night stroll, I asked him why is he being so kind to me but doesn't want to set me free.

"I want to make amends. I want to apologize for what I did to you the first time we met. I'm sorry Tia." He looked at me in the eye. Punong puno ng sincerity ang mga mata niya. "What I did was horrible. You don't have to forgive me but please give me a chance. I'm really sorry."

Hindi ko siya sinagot, tahimik lang ako habang nakatingin sakanya. Hanggang pagbalik namin sa cabin ay di ko siya kinikibo. Dumiretso lang ako sa kwarto ang closed the door.

I'm getting more confused. I can feel his sincerity at alam kong guilty siya. He apologized but I can't just forget what he did. He, molested me. He raped me.

I hugged my pillow. Masyadong maraming bagay ang pumapasok sa isipan ko. What should I do?

The next morning, bumalik kami sa usual. Pinaghanda niya ako ng almusal and nanood kami ng movie. He didn't utter a word regarding our conversation last night neither I did. Either way, bumalik kami sa normal routine.

Until one night, Elyson came home covered in blood.

THAT DAY, Elyson is being rather unusual. Sobrang tahimik niya and he didn't joke around me or ngumiti. He's totally spacing out.

I didn't have the courage to ask him and he didn't tell me anything.

I think it was noon when he told me na aalis siya saglit. He rarely go out pag gabi na but that day, Elyson didn't come home.

Ilang araw ko siyang inintay but he never came. I'm starting to get worried. He never did that. Kung aalis man siya da umaga or hapon, he always makes sure na makakauwi siya.

3 nights have passed pero ni anino ni Elyson, di ko nakita. I don't know how to contact him or her sibling and cousins. I'm getting worried sick. What if may nangyari sakanya habang pauwi? This forest is brimming with beasts. Maraming poisonus plants, venoumous animals and fierce beasts.

What if, di na bumalik si Elyson?

After a week had passed, I finally decided to look for Elyson. Natatakot akong lumabas lalo na sa gabi but I have no choice. Kung may nangyari sakanya and imposibleng makabalik siya, how can I survive in this place. And also, what if something happened to him in the forest?

Hinanda ko na ang mga dadalhin ko. I packed some knives, food, water and some cloth. I don't know what state Elyson will be pag nakita ko siya. It's better to be ready.

Palabas na ako ng pinto when I heard the front door slammed open. Dali dali akong lumabas and there I saw him.

Elyson, covered in blood.

"Elyson!"

Parang nahulog ang puso ko nang makita ang kalagayan niya. He has so many cuts sa kawatan. His clothes are tattered and smeared with blood.

Mabilis akong lumapit sakanya. "Elyson, what the hell happened?!"

He looked at me. "It's nice seeing you worried, Tia." Aniya habang nakangiti bago nawalan ng malay.

"Elyson! Elyson, wake up!"