The Princess and Her Knight (WHIPPED SERIES #1) (Completed)

Chapter 17

Losing My Mind

Dante

"Wala ka bang barya diyan?"

Umiling ako saka tinanggap ang plastic ng puto.

"Keep the change," saad ko bago tinalikuran ang babae.

I receive a call a few minutes after buying the rice cake Ina requested a day ago. Panic strikes me best when it comes to Catalina. Akala ko ay may nangyari na sa kaniya kahit na guarded naman ang buong kabahayan. What surprised me was Cain's voice on the other line. Gamit ang telepono ng bahay ay tinawagan niya ako.

"You're not supposed to be there. Anong kailangan mo?"

"Godamnit! That woman had you wrapped around her fingers already pero hindi ibig sabihin ay pababayaan na kitang mahuli!"

Fear grew inside my chest as I struggle to breathe. Napahawak ng mahigpit sa sariling telepono bago patakbong tinungo ang sasakyan. I made sure the car wasn't mine para lang masiguro na walang makaka-trace sa'kin, ngunit ang pangyayari ngayon ay hindi ko na maisip pa.

Everything passed by like a blur. Hindi alintana kung mayroon man akong masagasaan sa bilis ng pagpapatakbo ng sasakyan. Nagpapasalamat dahil hindi batuhin ang lugar na tutunguhin.

"You need to hurry home. I will do my best to mislead them. Andito ang mga tauhan ng kalaban ni Mayor Alfonso! Habang paparating naman ang pamilya ng girlfriend mo! Alam mo ba ang gulong--"

Mabilis akong napasinghap saka kinonekta ang tawag kay Kenneth.

"Rio Dante!" Hasik ni Cain ngunit hindi ko iyon pinakinggan bagkus ay nagsalita sa isa pang nakakonektang tawag.

"Get Catalina inside the van, Kenneth. Make sure to drive her safely to the Cebu City Port, Pier 3. All you need to do is get her there safely within an hour. Don't get her out of the car without my consent," without thinking straight, I hissed my order like a madman. "Gather all the men at the entrance and inform them that I'll be meeting them there. This is urgent."

Walang traffic ngayon kaya alam kong makakaabot sila doon sa piyer ng isang oras. Ni hindi ko na nasabi ang dahilan ng utos ko. Pinatay ko ang tawag at nakapukos ang tingin sa daan. Mahigpit na hawak ang steering wheel habang iniisip ang susunod na mga galaw.

Inapakan ko ang gas break bago tiningnan ang mga tauhan ko na nakatutok ang baril sa mga nagtatangkang pumasok sa bahay. Cain was leading the way and I know some of them are his men. I couldn't hear them talking but from my view here, some of the enemy's men were down.

"If you just let us in, there will be no more bloodshed."

"You dare threaten me when some of your men were already down? You're outnumbered, boy." Saad ni Cain at nang may magtangkang hilahin ang gatilyo ay agad na nagpaputok ito para depensahan ang sarili.

Hindi ko na sila pinanood pa at kinuha ang sariling baril na nasa compartment. Ina is not on sight so I was guessing Kenneth already brought her out safely. Or maybe, I was wrong.

Tinakbo ko ang distansya namin ni Kenneth, hindi na inisip pa ang nagliliparang bala ng baril. I was going insane thinking that we are risking Catalina's safety here. I halted when I felt someone shot me from behind, hitting my right upper quadrant near my shoulder. Hindi pa ako nakakalingon ay nasa likod ko na si Cain.

"Do whatever you need to do, Dante! Go!"

I started shooting whoever was getting on my way. At nang marating ang destinasyon ay binitawan ko ang sariling baril at kwinelyohan si Kenneth.

"What the hell?" Bungad ko sa kaniya. Akala'y maayos na nitong naihatid si Catalina.

"They started firing, boss. Sa likod dapat kami dadaan ngunit hindi ko na siya nakita pagkatapos niyang tumakbo papunta sa falls."

"There are too many rivers and falls in this area, Kenneth! At hindi mo man lang siya sinubukang sundan?"

"I tried! I really did but some of their men were going after her, I have to at least protect her--"

Hindi na natapos ang sinasabi ni Kenneth nang humahangos na dumating si Harold, isa sa mga tauhan ko.

"Boss!" He shouted amidst the situation we're in.

I let go of Kenneth and take a look at him for some good news. But by the looks of it, mukhang hindi good news ang hatid niya.

"May humabol kay Catalina. I tried to go after them but when I arrived at the edge of the cliff, nakita ko nalang na tumatakas na ang kalaban ng mag-isa." Harold said in deep breathes.

"And Catalina?" Napapaos kong tanong bago naramdaman ang matinding sakit na bumalatay sa aking braso papunta sa sugat sa likuran.

"Hindi ko alam ang sumunod na nangyari, boss. I'm sorry."

"Baka ay nakatakas siya." Kenneth butts in and I glared at him. "We should send a search party for her,"

I ignored Kenneth, for some reason ay hindi ko magawang magtiwala sa kaniya sa ngayon. "Pano nangyaring hindi mo alam? Kung nakatakas nga mag-isa ay baka may iba pa siyang kasama na humabol kay Catalina."

"Hindi, boss. Nasisiguro kong mag-isa lang ang humabol. Siguro ay mas mabuting kayo na mismo ang makakita sa lugar kung saan huling naparoon sila ma'am Catalina."

Halos mahilo ako nang humakbang ako paabante ngunit mabilis ding ininda sa kagustuhang makita si Catalina.

I didn't know what happened next. Basta't ang alam ko'y umatras na ang kalaban ngunit hindi ko magawang igalaw ang sariling mga paa dahil sa nakita. I was too overwhelmed by the pain that was increasing each passing second. Nanginginig ang kamay na inabot ang tsinelas na nasisiguro kong pagmamay-ari ni Catalina.

I shook my head, not believing what was placed in front of me. I knew this was an escape but if she jumped off the cliff just to escape, then I believe it was a fcking suicide.

"Catalina!"

I frantically searched for her. It was so hard because my godamn wound is not cooperating. I was too lost. Ni wala ng boses na lumabas pa sa bibig sa huling beses na tinawag ko siya.

"Catalina," napapaos kong bulong habang nakatitig sa kawalan. I was shaking in total fear of completely losing her this time. But I was also wishing it wasn't the case because I will surely lose sanity this time. No words could explain how frustrated I was when I didn't receive any response from her whom I wished I should have showered more with love. Ngayon ay ramdam ko ang matinding galit sa sarili na nag-uumapaw, ni hindi magawang huminga ng maluwag.

Please, Catalina.