How To Train A Wolf Boy

23 No Comforting Grace

Ang daming boses, ang daming tanong. Lahat sila sabay sabay na nagsasalita. I stare in nothingness as I hear the sound of the gunfire repeating and repeating, I'm surprised I haven't gone hysterical yet.

"Nakita mo ba ang mukha ng magnanakaw?"

"Mga ano ang tangkad niya?"

"Ano ang suot niya?"

"Miss?"

Shut up. Shut up. Shut up.

"Okey ka lang ba, Miss?" I did a brief blank stare at the old man whom I suspected an investigator. Mukha ba akong okey?

"She's still in shock. Pwede bang itigil niyo muna ang pagtatanong and let her rest, she needs it badly," I heard Mama say as she wraps a cardigan over my shoulders. "Please." her voice sounds so broken as she pleaded, and that's where my eyes started brimming with tears.

The authorative sighed. "Take a rest child."

Lumingon ako at sinubsob ang mukha ko sa dibdib ni Mama.

"Shh, he's fine, he's fine. Natanggal na nila 'yung bala sa braso niya." tahan sa akin ni Mama. Bakit ba nangyayari sa amin ito? Bakit sa dinami dami, si Moks pa? Bakit kami pa?

"I'm scared to death, ma. Y-you should've seen ---"

"Shhh, I know, I know, just don't think about it anymore. Gusto mo na ba maunang umuwi?"

"Uwi?" I almost choke on my own breath. I don't even want to get back to that place where I've seen all the entire situation.

Mukhang napansin ni Mama na nanigas ako bigla. "I mean, do you want to stay at your Ninang's house?" she corrected immediately.

"Kayla Reb?" I asked and she confirmed it with a nod.

"Okay. . . but I want to wait for Moks. I'm not going anywhere until he comes out of that room." I said as I pointed at the whatever room Moks' currently in. My mom sighed and her lips formed a straight line. She's worried too.

"Si Papa?" napansin kong wala pa si Papa.

"Paying the bills and talking to the officers." she answered as she placed my head on her shoulder. "Rest, for now."

---

"Moks!!!" I yelled as the man with a mask took out a gun from his back and pointed it at Moks. Moks wasn't quick enough to dodge it, getting a shot on his left arm. Wala akong nagawa kung hindi magtago sa may ding ding sa taas habang tinatanaw ang nangyayari sa baba. Ang lakas ng kabog ng puso ko sa sobrang takot.

Sunod sunod na putok ang narinig ko. Hindi ko na alam kung ilang tama na ang natamo ni Moks pero he's still up and dodging the gunshots. Nang sumilip muli ako ay nakita ko na pilit inaagaw ni Moks ang baril mula sa pagkakahawak ng lalaki. Sobrang nabalot ako ng pangamba sa ginawa niya. Sa kanya nakaharap ang baril kaya, isang maling pindot lang ay pwedeng pwede siyang tamaan. Napapikit nalang ako, I prayed hard. Please, don't let him get hurt anymore. I opened my eyes and I'm horrified by the blood gushing out of Mok's left arm.

Wala akong magawa, wala talaga. I wanted to call for help but my phone was downstairs. I don't have anything right now but God. So I prayed until I heard a loud thud. I looked over and I saw the intruder on the ground. Dali dali kong hinanap kung nasaan 'yung baril. I saw it on the ground and the intruder was trying to get it again.

I stepped out and shouted, "MOKS! KUNIN MO ANG BARIL!" He gave me a quick look and saw where I was pointing at. I saw him wince as he quickly run towards the gun. Parang panandaliiang tumigil ang mundo ko ng maunahan ni Moks kunin ang baril, habang mabilis na nakatayo ang lalaki at tumakbo palabas ng basag naming bintana.