Love on a Broken Canvas (An Artist's Love Story)

Prologue - Empty Hue

Aaron held my hand and somehow I didn't mind dying or should I say I accepted dying. Sayang lang kasi ang dami ko 'pang hindi nagawa.

I'll die with this man whom I barely knew.

Though it may be rude to say na buti na lang may kasama ako sa sitwasyong 'to but still his encouragements and company lessened my fear.

I have always been pessimistic. Ngayon pa na nakapiring ang mga mata ko sa lugar na hindi ko alam kung saan at kung anong mangyayari sa'kin, I think it's my time. I'd surely be killed.

I can still taste the blood on my mouth when the man who caught me hit me hard on the face. Kinagat ko ang kamay 'nung malaking lalaki na bigla akong tinutukan ng kutsilyo sa leeg kanina.

If my memory serves me right, we're here for about five hours na.

Aaron and I were together sa isang afterparty ng exhibit na in-organize ko when we got attacked by five men. I saw the faces of the three.

"Who would have thought I'd die young? Kung alam ko lang sana tinawagan ko mama at kuya ko kanina to say how I miss them and love them so much." I smiled bitterly.

"Don't say that Ms. Valle. I could persuade them to let us go or if not, when the opportunity comes, makakatakas rin tayo dito. We have to be strong." Aaron replied, his voice sounded a meter or two from where I sat.

Kahit hindi ko s'ya nakikita, I can imagine his face looking brave and determined as usual.

"You can't say that Aaron. Tinamaan ka ng baril sa paa when you tried to fight them kanina. There's no way out of this." I answered as tears welled up on my eyes.

Maya-maya pa, we heard footsteps palapit. Judging by the sound of it, I think there were two or three of them.

I managed to hear inaudible words na nag-uusap ang mga ito and stopped just before the sound of a door opening.

"Pakawalan n'yo kami. If you need money I could pay you as much as you want, just name the price. Pangako hindi kami magsusumbong sa pulis." Aaron pleaded sa mga taong kakapasok lang sa silid na pinaglagyan sa'min.

"'Wag kang maingay. Nakakairita." Sabi ng isang lalaki.

"Mga sir parang awa n'yo naman ho. Makakabayad naman ako kahit ga'no kalaking halaga basta't pakawalan n'yo kami. 50 million? Wala pong problema. Kung kulang sabihin n'yo lang magkano gusto n'yo."

We heard a click of a sound surely from a gun. "Tatahimik ka ba ngayon o gusto mong tumahimik na bilang isang bangkay?" Sagot 'nung lalaking kausap ni Aaron.

I was silently sobbing. Basang-basa na ata sa kakaiyak ko ang blindfold na nakapiring sa mga mata ko.

Nag-usap ulit ang mga lalaki at nakikinig lamang kami ni Aaron.

"Dalawa pala?"

"Oo eh. Ano bang gagawin natin d'yan?"

"Tinawagan ko na si Ace. Pupunta na 'yun dito. Mag-yoyosi lang ako sa labas so you can do what you want with them."

"Talaga? Hanep. Ayaw mo? Maganda 'tong si Miss oh." Nanlamig ako sa narinig ko. Bigla akong kinabahan at malamig na pawis ang tumulo sa noo ko.

"Wag na. Kadiri kung pagsasaluhan natin 'yan." Sagot nito sa may distansya na. I heard the door open and close afterwards.

"Wag mo s'yang hahawakan tarantado ka." Aaron angrily shouted at the guy with us.

Naramdaman kong hinawakan ng lalaki ang leeg at mga balikat ko. I was shaking in fear. Nagpumiglas ako.

"Wag mo 'kong hawakan. Nakakadiri ka!!" I shoved his hands away at umatras pa 'ko ng upo sa sahig para sumiksik pa 'ko sa pader na nasa likuran ko.

Naramdaman kong paglakad ng isa sa mga lalaki sa direksyon ata ni Aaron.

"Girlfriend mo ba si Miss? Mas maganda diba na tinanggal ko mga piring mo't makikita mo gagawin namin?" He spoke to Aaron laughing.

"Hayop ka!! Leave her alone!" Pagalit nitong pagmura sa lalaki.

The disgusting man was strong. He suddenly pulled my feet towards him kaya nakahiga na'ko sa sahig.

"Please. Don't do this. Don't do..." I was crying so hard I can't believe malalapastangan pagkatao ko bago man lang ako mamatay.

I felt the man off of me ng maramdaman kong sumugod si Aaron. I heard hitting noises and that must be the man beating Aaron up.

"Pare pakihawakan muna 'yang tarantado na 'yan at patitikimin din kita dito kay Miss pagkatapos ko."

"No!! No, please. Pigilan mo sya!!" I heard Aaron sob and pleading for me.

All I could do was scream at the man in front of me na wag n'yang ituloy ang gagawin n'ya sa'kin.

Aaron's voice was at a distance now and he must be held with their other member whom I didn't heard talking moments ago.

While Aaron was continuously cussing and swearing at the man holding me, I could only weep.

My hands are bound sa likod ko. I tried kicking senseless but he held a knife near my neck.

Paulit-ulit akong nagmamakaawa, nagpupumiglas at umiiyak in between my inconsolable sobs.

The man pulled my legs apart at hinahalik-halikan ang leeg ko.

He paused and I felt he unzipped his pants. He pulled the hem of my long dress up at hinimas din nito ang legs ko. I felt he reached for my underwear to pull it.

This is it. I'm gonna be dead soon and my dignity ripped apart from me.

The next thing I knew the man was off of me again. I heard punches hitting and glass breaking, footsteps coming in and gunshots and men angrily stating things I couldn't understand anymore.

Bumangon ako at nakaupo na sa sahig.

What's happening?

Someone cut the rope binding my hands behind and my blindfold removed.

What I saw in front of me are two men lying. Two policemen beside me were saying something pero hindi ko na narinig.

Just as my visions turning dark, I thought I saw Aaron with the right side of his face partly covered in blood.