Sindak

KABANATA 42

As I tarry in the middle of extreme shock and sheer panic, I hurtle towards the door. By the rate of how things transpired, I've already assumed that Tita Amalia is part John's wicked scheme. And for that reason alone, I won't be surprised if she'll keep me locked in the AVR but...I was wrong.  Hindi naka-lock ang pinto at sa paglabas ko, gumagapang  na ito at naliligo sa sariling dugo.  May nakatarak na kutsilyo sa lower back nito.

"J-jeff..."Umiiyak ito. "I'm sorry. P-papatayin n'ya ang Tito mo at ang pito naming mga tauhan kung hindi ako susunod. N-nasa basement sila lahat. T-tulungan m-mo sila..." May iniaabot itong susi sa akin. Naghihingalo na ito. "Paki-unlock  b-bago ka umali--" she went with her eyes wide open.

Agad kong hinawakan ang kanyang mga talukap. Isinara ko muna ang kanyang mga mata, bago ako nagmadaling tumungo para i-unlock ang pinto sa basement.

"Tito Armand!" Bulalas ko sa Papa ni John.  Ito kasi ang nasa bungad. 

"Jeff?"

"Tito, pasensya na po. Pero kailangan ko nang umalis.  Nasa panganib ang girlfriend ko. S-si Tita po...n-nasa itaas pero..."

Tumangis ito na tila alam na nito ang maaaring nangyari sa kanyang asawa. "Sige Jeff...s-salamat. Ako na ang bahala rito.  Mag-iingat ka."

***

Walang traffic. Pero pakiramdam ko'y mabagal pa rin ang pagpapatakbo ko kahit na halos lumipad na ang sasakyan ko. I never used my cellphone while driving, but this time is an exception.

Copyright ⓒ DyslexicParanoia (Angela Atienza), 2014, All rights reserved.

"C'mon, pick-up! Pick-up!"  Bulong ko sa sarili ko habang pinakikinggan ako ang pag-ring ng cellphone kong ginagamit ni Jasmine. I called three times and have been forwarded to her voicemail three times. "Damn it!" I dialed for the fourth time. Same thing happened. "F*ck!" I bellowed; on the verge of whining. "If you hurt Jasmine, I swear to GOD, John..." I'm about to dial one more time when my cell phone rang.

Jasmine calling...

"Hello?!" After I hit the answer icon. "Jasmine!" I chose not to hide my panic attack.

"Jeff?!" Boses ni Jasmine. I felt partially relieved.

"Whatever happens, never ever let John in! Pauwi na ako. Make sure all the windows are closed and all the doors locked!"

"H-ha?!"

"I said, whatever happens, don't ever let John or anyone in!"

"But why?"

"Basta! I'll explain na lang when I get home!"

"P-pero..."

"Pero what?"

"H-he's a-already here. I-I..." There was a scratching sound; I can tell that the cellphone was taken from her hand.

"Hello Jeff..." Boses ni John.  "I'm sorry but...it's game over." Humalakhak ito na sinundan ng pagsigaw ni Jasmine. I heard the cell phone dropped but remained connected. I heard footsteps and the combined sounds of the struggle. Sumisigaw si Jasmine; umiiyak din ito.

"Bitawan mo 'ko!" Sigaw ni Jasmine, followed by the banging sounds of furnitures falling on the floor. "Jeff! Jeff! Tulungan mo ako!"

"Shut up bitch!" Sigaw ni John, followed by a loud slap.

"Jeff! Je--" Followed by a loud thud as if she's been punched. Her succeeding silence puts me in the verge of extreme hysteria.

"I swear to GOD, John..." I whirred in a very tight low tone, "I'll kill you when I see you."

Mas lalo kong tinungtungan ang accelerator nang matanaw ko na ang kalyeng lilikuan ko.  I am very close. My heart pounded harder; thus gave me a gruelling time to breathe.

I am already around fifty yards away from our gate when I saw John emerged from our house.  Buhat nito ang walang malay na si Jasmine; patuwad sa kanyang balikat.  His car is parked across the street kaya kinailangan pa nitong tumawid bago nito mabilis na nailagak si Jasmine sa backseat.

I flickered by headlights while on his way to the driver's side; his car is facing my direction.  Nagmadali ito nang matanaw nitong ako na ang paparating. He have succeeded to start his engine and press his gas head on na tila nasa plano nito ang magbanggaan kami. I am not afraid of him, pero napilitan akong umiwas sa pag-aalalang madadamay si Jasmine kung  magkakaroon kami mg collision.  Be took that opportunity to drive past me. Mabilis naman akong kumabig to do a quick U-turn before the big chase commenced.

[ITUTULOY]