Chasing Reality #B4

52 Reality (Final Chapter)

She held on to my neck tight as I carried her. I buried my face in her neck then she giggled.

"Aris, nakakahiya," bulong nya. "Baka may dumaan."

"Nah!" was my answer. "I don't care."

Then I kissed her lips as I walk us to that door. She kissed me back.

I'm happy that Madel is in my arms like this. So opposite compared to the last time I carried her like this.

Wala pa ang ambulansya paglabas namin sa barn house. Sinalubong kami ni Agoncillo.

"Walang ibang tao sa loob?"

Umiling lang ako.

Napadako ang mata ni Rob sa braso ni Madel na nakakapit sa leeg ko.

Naalarma ako nang umiling sya, kaya napatingin na rin ako.

Sa tulong ng liwanag mula sa headlight ng sasakyan gamit namin, nakita ko ang mga pasa sa braso ni Madel.

In fact, namamaga na nga.

"Fuck!" I muttered.

Then Rob took off his jacket and covered Madel with it to protect her against the cold wind. He guided us to the car and opened the backseat door.

"W-wag mo 'ko iwan!" pabiglang sabi ni Madel tapos humigpit ang yakap sa leeg ko.

"I won't, Tart."

I sat at the backseat with her on my lap like me holding a baby.

That was the only time I got to check her face.

Napatiim-bagang ako na kaunti na lang, malalagas na ang ngipin ko sa diin.

Her face is black and blue, lalo na sa kaliwang bahagi.

I don't know how I could ease the pain she is suffering now.

"Tart..."

At di ko rin malaman kung hahaplusin ko ba ang mukha nya o hindi.

Baka lalo lang syang masaktan.

"Boss!"

Tawag nung agent na nagmaneho kanina. He's out of the car and checking out the area.

"May isa dito," nakatutok ang Maglite nito sa bakanteng kural. "Lalaki."

"Check him out."

"Negative na. Two ugly shots. Head and neck. There's a blood pool."

Nanigas ang katawan ni Madel.

Umapaw na naman ang galit ko.

I believe she saw how Guinto executed his accomplice.

I tapped her back.

Then we heard the siren. Next the blinking red and blue lights.

The ambulance and the police are here.

That was the only time Madel relaxed a bit when the paramedics were checking her in the ambulance.

I had a bit of time to talk to Rob.