How We Unravel

Five

Note: I'd like to remind again of the triggering content this story has, not only in this chapter, but all throughout the progression of the story. Please read at your own risk.

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Five: Murderer

The devil was once God's favorite angel. He used to sing sweetly and play harmonious music along with the different angels up above. He didn't have horns, no. Instead, he wore a halo and wings.

No, monsters don't always take the form of beasts with claws and red eyes. Sometimes, they walk with us, look like us, and live with us. They will disguise themselves as everything we have ever wanted and we won't even know that they are fallen angels unless they feast on our weaknesses.

They do not hide under our bed. Instead, they sleep beside us.

It's always a game of deceit. A game designed to prey on the weak.

Just like the devil in front of me—the devil in the flesh.

I blinked a hundred times to keep myself from tearing up. My ribcage started tightening, crashing my heart in the process. I felt my whole body shake, and the only thing I can hold on to is the laptop that covers my chest. I held it against me in an attempt to protect myself.

Sinubukan kong lunukin ang kung anong nakabara sa lalamunan ko pero hindi ko iyon magawa. Nanigas lamang ako sa kinatatayuan ko katulad ng nangyari sa akin ng gabing iyon.

I was rendered helpless by the same man twice. Darkness invaded me, the same darkness that enveloped the bar that night, until a faint sound of upbeat music entered my ears, ringing inside my brain. I blinked again only to see alternating blue and green lights combined with smoke and people.

"Sige na, take this," Benjamin gave me a shot glass that was half-full with pink liquor. Halos dumoble na siya sa paningin ko pero kinuha ko pa rin ang baso.

The bar was full, as expected on a Friday night, pero inaalala ko na may pasok pa ako bukas at kailangan kong tapusin agad ang design ko.

"I think I'm already tipsy," tugon ko sa kan'ya habang tinititigan ang baso sa kamay ko.

"Okay lang 'yan, I'll take you home and make sure you're safe. You owe me this," he winked at me.

Ben has been my friend for almost a year now and I never questioned my safety whenever I'm with him. I remember when someone was ogling my breasts at the MRT, halos bugbugin na niya iyon. Kung hindi ko pa siya pinigilan, sigurado akong mapapapulis pa kami at gagawa ng mas malaking gulo.

I appreciated that about him. I appreciate that he's here for me para samahan ako tuwing may kailangan akong gawin. He was there when I didn't know where to go in Makati para asikasuhin ang Pag-ibig, SSS, PhilHealth at BIR ko. He was there when I processed my passport and God knows how arduous it is to obtain a passport in the Philippines. He walked me around Makati and BGC to familiarize myself with them para hindi raw ako mawala kapag mag-isa lang ako.

He was even there when I was hungover at dinalhan niya pa ako ng breakfast at gatorade. He became my confidant, I was able to tell him things without the fear of being judged. I look up to him like a Kuya and he to me as a little sister. We already established that. At first, hindi ako naniniwala dahil sa mundong ito, dalawang tao lang ang mabait sa 'yo — ang may gusto sa 'yo o ang may kailangan sa 'yo. I know somehow, there was a catch.