Death Grip (On-going)

DEATH GRIP: CHAPTER NINE

Napantig ang tenga ko sa sinabi ni Lance. Nanginginig sa inis ko syang tiningnan. Clutching the bed sheet is my way to control my anger and the urge to strangle him while making him take back what he had just said. Hindi ko alam ang gagawin at sasabihin ko. I feel insulted, betrayed and fooled.

"Stacey.. Look---"

"Anong mapapala ko kung sumama ako sainyo?" Putol ko sa mga sasabihin nya. I made sure that my voice sounded authoritatively and dangerous. He takes several moment to look at me straight in my eyes.

"TELL ME!!!!" I commanded angrily. My body's shaking. My eyes had stung again but ignored it.

"I-i will help you know everything.. Everything, Stacey. I promised you. Just--just come with me."

We stayed like that for a moment, looking at each other's eyes seriously. My mind was bustling up with so much questions along with confusion. How the hell did Tita Sandy will never remember me ever again? At kung totoo nga yung sinasabi ni Lance, bakit ganon? Bakit hindi na nila ako matandaan?

"I need to go and prove you wrong." I said, shaking my head at him. Determination is clearly evident in my tone.

Although my eyes hurt as fuck, I forced myself to stand up from bed and push aside Lance. But when I was about to walk, sumakit ng sobra ang kaliwang mata ko. I recoiled as pain slowly immersed through my whole system.

"Stacey? Stacey! Are you alright? Anong nangyayari?" Tanong ni Lance, putting his hands on both of my shoulders.

For a moment, I felt my eyes on fire and screamed. I can't take it any longer. Para akong mabubulag sa sakit. I managed to stilled myself for a mere second thinking the pain has gone and recoiled again as what felt like fire burst up again on my eyes. My ears was ringing endlessly.

I can't hear anything now... I tried to listen and see what's happening on my surrounding but nothing really came to my senses. As if on cue, I saw the Wilson twins marched up inside and then everything suddenly went black.

I woke up feeling relieved and relax for the second time. Pangalawang beses ko na tong nawawalan ng malay ngayong araw. I didn't move nor open my eyes for a moment, pinakiramdaman ko muna ang paligid ko. I heard nothing but complete silence, so I opened my eyes.

Ash-gray curved ceiling sculptured with odd swirl lines welcomed my eyes. I roamed my eyes from left to right and saw brown and white combination walls and enormous number of empty hospital beds neatly placed everywhere.

Nasan ako? I am perfectly sure na hindi ganto ang itsura ng room na kinalalagyan ko kanina sa headquarters. I sat up from bed and observed the surroundings.

There are enormous windows with vintage carving on their sides and from here, there are plenty of trees outside. Makulimlim sa labas at may mga naririnig akong huni ng mga ibon. This room is so wide you can play soccer in here.

Nasaan ba si Lance? Bakit nya ko iniwan dito? I shake my head as the thought of being transfer from another place came across my mind. Hindi. Baka another room lang to sa headquarters. I set aside the white blanket and stand up from bed. Kaagad na hinanap ng mata ko ang daan palabas sa napakalaking silid na to.

Hindi pa man ako nakakarating sa pinakagitna ng kwarto, I heard tiny voices and it sounded like they are in a hurry. That made me stopped.

"I can feel it, Homer."

"Feel what?!"

"Homer just shut up. Okay?"

"Saan ba tayo pupunta---NERRISA!! Wait up!"

"Cure center! Move faster, then!!"

My eyebrows furrowed. I took my gaze at the large windows on my side, expecting people from there climbing up or whatsoever but nothing came. Tilting my head, I turned to continue walking and to my great surprise my heart beats abnormally.

A big black dog was looking at me, eagerly. Pamilyar sakin to. It was the same dog dun kila Tita Sandy. Hindi ako nagkakamali.. Ito nga yung asong yun!!

Blinking my eyes, I tried to step forward wanting to pat the dog's head when the two big doors opened making my extended arm stop mid air.

Two people wearing odd clothes walks forward to my direction. Naiilang ko namang binawi ang kamay ko at tumayo ng maayos. Kunot noo ko silang tiningnan ng mapansin ko ang pagmamadali sa lakad nila. Weird..

"Hey!!!" I shouted to caught their attention while pointing at the black dog who remained looking at me innocently. The two people abruptly stopped on their spot, almost stepping the dog. Both of them looked at me questioningly.

"W-watch out.." I continued awkwardly.

The guy looked down on what I am pointing and the woman beside him just tilted her head at me.

"Watch out what?" Asked the guy, whose gaze was now at me tilting his head as well.

Tiningnan ko yung aso, then silang dalawa. H-hindi nila nakikita? I tried asking them pero walang lumabas sa bibig ko dahil sa sobrang pagtataka.. Bakit di nila nakikita? Anlaki laki ng aso, tapos di nila nakikita!!?!

B-baka nababaliw na nga talaga ako..

"Anyway, never mind that. Kamusta na ang pakiramdam mo?" Tanong nung babae, inspecting my whole body from her spot.

"I-i'm fine.." I managed to answer.

"How are you feeling? By the way, this is Homer and I am Nerrisa. Grip Counsel admins." Sabi nung babae stepping closer to me. Mabilis kong tiningnan yung aso pero wala na sya sa pinupwestuhan nya kanina. Nawala na naman sya??!?

"Master Badufalsa assigned us to accompany and took care of you kapag nagising ka na. And now that you are awake.. can we ask you some questions?"

I observed them. Sa tantya ko, nasa 25 pataas ang edad nilang dalawa. The guy's wearing rounded glasses, his hair almond brown and was wearing cowboy hat. Yung babae naman, she has soft features and petite body. Muka naman silang mababait.

"N-nasaan si Lance?" I asked. They looked at each other before answering me.

"He and the Wilson twins was stucked with the Seulas."