Playboy's Sanity

Chapter 15

Help

Agad akong nakaramdam ng takot ng hindi ko maabutan si Sally sa bahay. Tumawag saakin ang co-teacher ni Sally at sinabing nagmamadali daw itong umalis kanina sa klase niya. Hindi daw nila ito macontact kaya ako na lang ang tinawagan nila.

I tried calling her phone number pero nakapatay ang cellphone niya. Bigla kong naalala ang napag-usapan namin ni dad noong nakaraang isang araw. Shit!

Natataranta akong lumabas ng sasakyan at hindi na naipark ng maayos iyon. Kinutuban na ko ng makitang hindi nakalock ang pinto ng bahay. Agad akong pumasok doon at hinanap si Sally.

Wala siya sa living room, sa kitchen, and even in her own room she's not in there!

Kinuha ko ang cellphone sa bag at sinubukang tawagan siya pero patay pa din ang cellphone niya.

"It's useless. Hindi niya masasagot ang tawag mo."it was dad's voice from behind.

Galit ko itong nilingon. Dad never hurt us physically before pero hindi ko na masasabi kung ganon pa din siya hangganga ngayon. I am dad's favorite. Everyone can tell. Ako kasi ang nagmana dito hindi lang sa ugali kundi pati na ang physical features nito.

"Where is she? Where is Sally? What did you do to her?"galit na sunod-sunod kong tanong.

"She's safe and sound. Pero kapag pinili mo pa rin na huwag akong sundin..."

"YOU'RE FUCKING UNBELIEVABLE! SHE'S YOUR DAUGHTER!"

"AND YOU ARE MY DAUGHTER TOO! I AM  TRYING TO PROTECT YOU!"

"PROTECT ME? KANINO?"

"SA MGA CORRINS!"

Mapait akong natawa at napailing-iling."Saan mo dinala si Sally?"

"Hindi ko sasabihin. Unless you'll come with me."

"And where will you bring me?"

"Foreign country. Aalis na tayo dito para hindi na tayo pestehin ng mga Corrins na iyon!"

Kumuyom ang kamao ko. I can't leave Ashen. Naiimagine ko na ang mukha ng binata kapag nalaman niyang iniwan ko siya. Kapag bigla akong nawala...hindi ko alam kung anong magagawa ni Ashen. But I can't let Sally alone with this man. She's in danger. She needs me. And she's my only family. She's all I got in this world.

I can't hurt Ashen. But I also can't leave my sister.

"Is Sally really okay?"

"Yes."

"Where is she?"

"She's with my men. Papunta na sila sa NAIA."

"Fine."I sighed.

Napahawak ako sa singsing ko. Ashen...I love you. Please find me.

"Sapphy..."dad called."...don't do any foolish things. You know you can't fool me I am your father after all."

I am not ready to leave. To leave Ashen and this place. Wala akong dinala na kahit na anong gamit. We left in silent. We left like the usual, normal we do.

On our way to the airport, hindi ako mapakali.

"Sally is fine. I won't hurt her she's my daughter. You two are my daughter."dad said. Hindi ko ito pinansin at sa bintana pa din ang tingin ko.

Pinaiwan ni dad ang bag at ang cellphone ko so I basically don't have anything.

An hours left and we are already at the airport.

"SAPPHY!"Sally cried. I run to her and hug her."I'm sorry."she said.

"Ssh. Everything's gonna be fine. Trust me."pag-aalo ko dito. Bantay sarado kami ng mga tauhan ni dad. Samantalang hindi ko naman nakita si dad. Bigla itong nawala.