Rescue Me

Kabanata I

KABANATA I
Dead body

"Shit!"

I looked at my reflection in the mirror as I breathe heavily, my heart is thumping so hard that I can hear it. Parang umiikot ang mundo ko, paulit ulit na bumabalik sa utak ko ang nangyari. It made me retch and I ended up throwing up.

Pinunasan ko ang bibig ko gamit ang shirt na suot at hinayaan kong tumulo ang mga nagbabadyang luha sa mga mata ko. This wasn't suppose to happen. I was just partying with my friends, drinking shots and living the best of our life.

Now I'm stuck in this fucking situation.

I gasped for air. Kailangan kong kumalma, mag isa lang ako at walang makakatulong sakin kung hindi ang sarili ko. I washed my hands, rubbing the dried blood from it. Nanginginig ang kamay kong hinubad ang suot na blouse na may mga bahid ng dugo at initsa 'yon sa lababo, leaving me with my lace brassiere.

What should I do? Hindi ako pwedeng makulong. Pa'no nalang si Rose kapag nawala ako? Napaupo ako sa malamig na sahig at natulala sa kakaisip. Ilang minuto din akong nagtagal sa banyo para kumalma bago ako nagpasya na lumabas.

Tinatagan ko ang loob na idiretso lang ang tingin habang naglalakad sa kwarto. I can see him in my peripheral vision laying in the bed, lifeless. Pinalis ko agad ang luhang bumagsak sa mata. I need to be strong.

Dinampot ko ang coat na nasa upuan at sinuot 'yon para takpan ang halos hubad na katawan.
Halos tumigil ang puso ko nang biglang tumunog ang ringtone ko. Nasa loob ito ng bag ko na nakabagsak sa sahig. Madali ko itong kinuha at tinignan.

It's Mandy. I gasped for air before accepting the call.

"Where are you Mauve? I've been calling you! Bigla ka nalang nawala." hearing her voice destroyed the strong facade I built. I bit my lip to suppress a sob. This is so hard. I wish I could tell her everything.

I cleared my throat. "I—I'm at home, sorry hindi ako nakapagpaalam kanina. Happy birthday Mads." my voice quivered.

"Why? Are you okay?"

I sighed heavily. "Yes, uhm I have to go.."

My eyes spotted his car keys above the side table. Kinuha ko agad 'yon at binulsa.

"Okay, take care! Love you!"

I immediately went outside the room after I ended the call. I am not familiar with the place but I easily found the parking lot. Sumakay ako sa kotse niya at nagdrive palabas ng gate ng resort, sinundan ko lang ang ibang sasakyan na kasabay ko hanggang makarating ako ng highway. I stopped at the nearest drug store I can find.

"Good evening!" bati sakin ng guard. Tumango lang ako dito.

I straightly walked towards the aisles, trying to look calm and normal as possible. Kaonti lang ang tao dahil gabi na.

All I know is that I need something to remove my DNA in the room and everything I touched. I found bleach, peroxide and a pair of gloves. Tumingin pa ako sa ibang aisle ng panlinis at lighter to burn my clothes. Malakas ang kabog ng dibdib ko habang naghahanap. Nakakatakot na posibleng may maghinala sa mga bibilhin ko or am I just paranoid?

"Mauve?"

Napalingon ako sa pamilyar na boses na 'yon. My eyes widened at the sight of him.

"Hades! What are you doing here?"

Pinasadahan ko siya ng tingin. If this was a different situation siguro ay sinungitan ko na siya but seeing him now made me feel relieve and safe. He was wearing a white shirt paired with black leather jacket and his usual James Dean hair. Classic bad boy womanizer look. I am sure as hell that I look pale and miserable right now.

Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay. "I should be the one asking you that, what are you doing in Nueva Ecija?"

My lips parted. I'm in Nueva Ecija? Kahit kailan hindi pa ako napunta dito and it's like a 5 hour drive from Manila! Hindi agad ako nakasagot sa tanong niya sa pagkabigla. What should I say? Kanina lang nasa birthday party ako ng pinsan nya tapos biglang nandito na ako sa probinsya.

Nagsalubong ang kilay ni Hades nang bumaba ang tingin sa mga bitbit ko. "What's that for?"

"It's nothing." sagot ko bago ko sya tinalikuran. Mabilis naman niya akong naharang. His broad shoulders blocked my sight.

He licked his lower lip. "Tell me."

"Mind your own business, Hades."

Tinulak ko siya at naglakad papuntang counter para magbayad. Pagkatapos ko ay hinanap pa ng mga mata ko si Hades pero hindi ko na siya makita, nakahinga ako ng maluwag.

I just want to drive home and forget about all this but if I do that I'm sure that I will be arrested after they find his body. My heart is still beating fast while driving because of my sudden meeting with Hades. In times of trouble he appears to save me but this is not just any danger.

Wala na masyadong dumadaan na sasakyan pero may kasabay akong Jeep wrangler sa likod kaya kahit madilim at liblib sa daan ay hindi nakakatakot. Tinadaan ko talaga ang daan para madaling makabalik sa resort.

Habang nasa biyahe iniisip ko kung tama ba ang gagawin ko. Dapat ko pa ba ito ituloy o sumuko nalang? I will spend years in prison and my sister will be alone. She's not stable and this will really affect her. This decision may be selfish but I don't care if it's for her.

Pagpasok ko sa kwarto, sinalubong ako ng lamig na nanggagaling sa aircon. The feeling in my stomach came back, it's like I'm going to break down again. I still have no concrete plan on what I'm going to do with his body. It's not like I can dig here and bury him.

Nanlalambot ang mga tuhod ko habang palapit ako kama kung nasan siya. I tried not to look at his face because I know that it will forever haunt me. Mabilis kong inangat ang kumot hanggang sa ulo niya at lumayo, hindi ko kayang magtagal malapit sakanya.

Hinubad ko ang suot na coat para hindi madumihan ng dugo bago sinimulang maglinis. Pinipigilan kong umiyak habang nakaluhod sa malamig na sahig at kinakaskas ang natuyong dugo.

Halos mawalan ako ng hininga nang biglang bumukas ang pinto. Is this the end of me? Nahuli na ba ako? Takot akong humarap sa taong nagbukas pero hindi ko inaasahan na si Hades ang makikita ko. His face is dead serious while clenching his jaw.

"Hades.." I uttered, napatayo ako.

Tahimik siyang pumasok at nilock ang pinto, nabitawan ko ang sponge nang hilahin niya ako papasok ng banyo at nilinis ang kamay ko. Hindi ko na alintana na halos hubad ako sa harap niya dahil sa gulat.

Lumabas siya ng banyo at pagbalik ay dala na ang coat ko. Sinuot niya sakin 'yon bago ako niyakap.

My tears automatically fell. He tightened his hug while stroking my hair. Napapikit ako. This is exactly what I need. I actually don't know what to do. I'm just trying to fix what I did and now he knows.

"Ayokong makulong Hades." hikbi ko.

"I'm here, you will be fine..."

The emotions I've been suppressing just exploded. His hug comforted me, giving me the assurance of safety and rest from everything. Halos malukot ang shirt niyang suot sa higpit ng hawak ko. Parang dito ako kumukuha ng lakas.

"Calm down Mauve, hindi ka makukulong. I will help you okay? Just stop crying, baby."

That is all I want to hear. Onti onting akong kumalma. Ngayon ko naramdam ang panghihina sa lahat ng nangyari. Halo halo ang emosyon ko. It's draining all of me. I felt him kiss my head before I lost consciousness.

"I got you.."