Snow White is a Gangster (Published under Cloak Pop Fiction)

Chapter 38: The Women of Arturia

Chapter 38: The Women of Arturia

Soundtrack: Unsteady – X Ambassadors

I felt a painful thrust against my chest followed by warm air filling my lungs. Another thrust in my chest and an uncontrollable cough came through me followed by the gush of salty water from my mouth. I felt a warm hand on my cheek and somehow, it made me feel comfortable and safe. I tried to open my eyes when I calmed down from breathless coughing. I saw a blurry figure leaning towards me, few drops of water from damp hair falling on my face.

"Wycliffe," I whispered breathlessly.

The figure didn't respond. It just continued caressing my cheeks. I closed my eyes as I focused on every stroke of fingers on my skin. It was so warm and gentle; it almost felt like a blanket around my cold body. I frowned when a distant sound of police siren reached my ears. I wanted to shut the world out and just lay where I was right now–-feeling the sensation of quiet and stillness.

"You're lucky I'm not a coward," a baritone voice said.

When warm fingers stopped caressing my cheek, I decided to open my eyes. This time, a clear view of very few stars on the dark sky welcomed me. It looked like it was going to rain. I tried to look around and look for the person who was keeping me warm a while ago. But no one was here. Now that that person was gone, coldness crept up inside me.

I saw a body lying few yards away from me and that was when everything that happened came rushing back, clearly and more vividly, like water from a raging river. I tried to stand but all I could move was my head. I was weak and dizzy, and this pain inside my chest was breaking me little by little. It was like a curse that I had to carry in me. It was an unforgiving stake that was pierced through my heart.

I wanted to get to him. I wanted to cover his body with my own so that this freezing night wouldn't make him cold. I wanted to give him warmth and tell him that everything's going to be alright–-that this night would end and we just had to wait for the morning to come. But I couldn't do it. I couldn't even lift an arm. I couldn't even focus my eyes on his pale face. This night seemed to be endless, and so was my hurting.

Naramdaman kong muli ang labis na pagkahilo at unti-unting naging malabo ang tingin ko sa paligid–-gayunrin sa nananatiling hindi gumagalaw na katawan na nasa hindi kalayuan. Masakit ang bawat pintig ng puso ko sa aking dibdib at kay hirap ng aking bawat paghinga. Tila hinihila ako pabalik sa kadiliman at kawalan, hinihila ako palayo sa kanya. Ilang yabag ng mga paa ang narinig kong paparating sa aming direksyon. Ilang saglit pa ay napuno ang lugar ng mga malalakas na boses at saka ako muling nawalan ng malay.

Nagising ako sa pamilyar na lugar na ilang linggo lamang ay kinasadlakan ko. Puting kisame, pader at maliwanag na ilaw ang bumungad sa akin. Tila lahat ng nakikita ng aking mga mata ay kulay puti. Isa itong nakakapagod na liwanag. Nararamdaman ko ang kirot sa aking likod at balikat. Subalit hindi katulad ng dati ay walang sinuman ang naroroon sa silid kasama ko maliban sa isang itim na jacket na nakapatong sa couch. Nakakabingi ang katahimikan at nakakabulag ang kaliwanagan. Nakabukas ang bintana at nakikita ko mula sa aking kinahihigaan ang labas ng ospital na nagsasabing sumikat na ang araw. Isang panibagong araw–-isang bago at malungkot na araw.