Gangster. (Discontinued)

Chapter 8: Parting Ways

Nanigas ako sa kinatatayuan ko as I felt the cold blade against my neck. The man behind me was ruthless as he pressed it further, and I felt a sharp pain.

'Gigilitan ba ko nito?!'

Bumulong siya sa tainga ko, and I could hear the hatred in his voice. "You've been on my nerves since day one--"

"Calm down." Rilliane stops the guy as she stands up. Lumapit siya sa amin at nang hindi ibaba ng lalaki sa likod ko ang hawak niyang kutsilyo ay hinawakan niya ito sa kamay. "I said calm down, Ezekiel."

Slowly, Ezekiel brings his hand down and stepped away from me. Hindi naman ako makagalaw. Someone almost slit my throat! I almost died right then and there! Nagsink in na sa akin ang nangyari at gusto ko nang kumaripas ng takbo palabas dito, pero hindi ko magawa dahil napapalibutan nila ako. The man who almost killed me is still behind my back.

Rilliane must've sensed my panic kasi bigla niya rin akong hinawakan sa balikat. But unlike her gang member, her touch was soft. Calming. Comforting. She turned me around and as I met eye to eye with Ezekiel, I heard Rilliane's voice saying, "Harris, tawagin mo na lang ako pag tapos na. We'll be in the kitchen."

She then proceeded to push me at para akong manikang sumunod lang sa kanya. I walked past Ezekiel and through the door, until we stopped in a room from across the one we just came from.

Tahimik lang ako habang nagbukas siya ng cabinet at may hinalungkat dun. Natauhan na lang ako nang magsalita siya. Hindi ko namalayang nasa harapan ko na siya. "This will sting a little, pero kaya mo naman 'yon."

Napakurap lang ako sa sinabi niya and when she brought her hand to my neck, napaatras ako sa hapdi. "What the hell?!" Tumingin ako sa kamay niya and she's holding a wet cotton ball, and I could smell the alcohol. Napahawak ako sa leeg ko at tinignan ang kamay ko. Blood.

"What..." Di makapaniwalang sabi ko habang nakatitig sa kamay ko. "He actually wounded me? Pero dinikit niya lang yung kutsilyo!"

"Ezekiel tends to keep his knife extra sharp." Sabi ni Rilliane at tinabing ang kamay ko. "Maswerte ka nga at di pa niya gaano nadiinan, kung hindi patay ka na ngayon."

Di ako makapaniwala sa sinabi niya. That guy could've killed me. And he's her friend. Napatitig ako kay Rilliane. In a quiet voice, I asked. "...are you all killers?"

Natigil naman siya sa ginagawa at tumingin sa akin. She smirked devilishly at me and said, "Paano kung sabihin kong oo?"

My heart almost stopped beating, when she suddenly laughed and thre her head back. "You should've seen your face!"

I should be mad at what she did, lalo na't imbes na i-comfort niya ako ay pinagtitripan pa niya ko. But when I saw her smile, I just can't do it.

Pabiro ko siyang sinamaan ng tingin. "God, Rilliane! Stop scaring me like that!"

"Nakakatawa kasi ang mukha mo." Natatawang sabi niya at bumalik sa paggamot sa sugat ko.

"How's your shoulder, by the way?" She asks and I arched my brows.

"My shoulder's fine, why wouldn't it be?" Sabi ko. "He just grabbed me. Hindi naman ako ganun ka-lampa."

Napangisi naman siya. "Wala kong sinabing lampa ka. I just know Ezekiel, and his hands can do damage even without the victim knowing it."

"I'm fine. Medyo napahigpit lang ang hawak niya sa balikat ko." Sabi ko at para patunayan, I even poked my shoulder and ow what the heck why does it hurt?!

Sinilip ko ang balikat ko under my uniform and I can already see na namumula yung diniinan ni Ezekiel. The hell?

"So? Is it swollen?" Tanong ni Rilliane na naka-focus pa din sa sugat sa leeg ko.