Matahum [Completed]

8 Kasikas

Kasikas

“Ayos ka lang?” he blurted out.

Napatigil siya sa paglalakad. Her hair was unruly, wild dangling tendrils of strands blown by the cars passing by. The dress she was wearing, wrinkly and creasing from the sides— did she really beat that forsaken girl in her sundress? Napatunghay siya sa binata saka sumimangot. May gana pa talaga itong magtanong kung ayos lang ba siya?

“Gutom ako," she declared as she smoothen her dress.

“Mukha nga. Sa bangis mo ba naman kanina, sinong di magugutom?” ika nito. He even picked her hair from her face by his pinky pointing outwards as if disgusted.

She smack his arms. “Huwag mo ‘kong subukan. Baka ikaw masapak ko," she warned but he caught her hand.

“Ano— aray!” daing niya.

Napatahimik siya nang sinuri nito ang kanyang braso. That's why her arms felt tingly and aching. There were long scratches from the sharp nails of Hannah here and there. A long line even produced a reddish little drop of drying blood. Napasinghap siya nang mahawakan ito ni Gabriel.

He sighed. “Linisan muna natin ‘yan," he said.

Sasagot pa sana siya ngunit buntong-hininga ang lumabas mula sa kanyang bibig. She felt the energy ran out of her body and so she let him take her away. Bea called asking where she was but Gabriel took her phone and talked to her friend.

"She's fine and she's with me," he said and stared at her. "Say something," utos nito sa kanya.

She rolled her eyes. "Akin na nga iyan!" she exclaimed, trying to reach for her phone on his hand.

He chuckled seeing her misery. "Yes, she's very well taken care of... Gabriel, Gabriel Villavicencio. Alright... Yes, I'll do that." He grinned and gave her back the phone.

Nang tignan niya ay call ended na ito. Did her friend sell her out to this guy? Saan ba ang loyalty nito?

“Aswang ba ‘yong kalaban mo? Grabeng kalmot ‘to ah.”

Kanina lang ay nilabas nito ang first aid kit na mukhang dala-dala nito parati sa sasakyan. Was it a requirement for a vetmed student or this guy is just that kind of guy? He started pouring alcohol on a cotton ball. Patting the cotton softly through her wounds. Hawak nito ang kanyang kamay. His palms felt soft and gentle, not even one callous. Parang hindi nakaranas ng hirap.

He turned her arm inwards. “Ang liit pa naman ng kuko mo. Mukhang di napuruhan ‘yon," dagdag nito.

She doubts that. Hannah was almost flipped over awhile ago. In her age, she really had the guts to have a catfight on the street. Mukhang mapaparami ang kuwento niya sa kanyang mga apo.

“Alam mo, tapusin mo na lang ‘yan. Busalan kaya kita— aray! Ang hapdi!” she shrieked when he tapped the cotton against the severely scathed part of her skin. He looked at her blankly as if she was only acting in pain. He didn't mind her fretting. Pinagpatuloy nito ang paglinis sa kanyang sugat. He even gave her an ointment and a pain reliever. This guy is a walking pharmacy, she thought.

He then drove to the nearest restaurant. Iniwan siya nito sa loob para bumili ng take outs. She has no energy to see any person especially with her state. Habang hinihintay niya ang binata ay napabaling siya sa rearview mirror nito. Mukha siyang bruha. Agad niyang kinuha ang suklay. She tried to tame her frizzy hair. Ngunit tila wala itong balak sumunod sa kanya. She then got her lipstick and reapplied it on her lips. At least magmukha naman siyang tao. And not a walking dead.

“Oh bayad ko.” Inabot niya ang one thousand peso bill nang bumalik ito.

He shook his head. “Hindi na. Ako na.”