Night Changes

CHAPTER NINE

VICTORIA's POV

It has been three days since we arrived in Beijing and so far all of us were having the time of our lives. We'd been going out here and there, crashing to clubs until we drop and going back to the hotel all drunk.

"So, kelan niyo gustong magpunta sa Great Wall of China?" Max asked while eating his food.

"Do we have to go there?" Sabi ni Ivo na mukhang tamad na tamad.

I rolled my eyes at him. "Pwede ka namang hindi sumama kung ayaw mo."

"We can go there tomorrow." Harvey said. "No. It's Thursday tomorrow." Lindsay quickly interrupted.

"And so? Ano namang koneksyon?" Ford asked, frowning. "I've heard that it's better to go there on weekends." She answered.

Nagkatinginan kaming lahat na 'tila ba nangungusap ang aming mga mata. We just continued eating our food and all of us agreed on going to Great Wall of China on the weekends.

"Victoria, do you think you're parents are looking for you?" Barbara asked while sitting on my bed. She was checking something on her camera while I was fixing my hair.

Napakunot ang noo ko. "What do you mean?"

"Kilala mo sila lalo na ang daddy mo. He's insane. Hahanapin ka niya kahit saang sulok pa 'yan ng mundo." She added.

"I don't care. Hanapin niya ako kung gusto niya but I still won't marry that Nylon boy."

I went outside my room after taking a quick change. I decided to go to the mall since I was already running out of clothes. I was strolling around when I suddenly saw a boutique for accessories. I stopped for a moment and went inside the shop. I scanned the shop, trying to look for a bracelet that I could buy for my friends when I accidentally bumped myself into someone.

"I'm sor—YOU?!"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko at napaawang ang bibig ko.

"Ikaw na naman? Are you following me?" I blurted while crossing my arms against my chest. "Why would I follow you?" He asked, dryly.

"I don't know, siguro type mo ako. Well, I can't blame you. I have the looks men are dying for." Pagmamalaki ko.

He smirked. "Sorry miss, but you're not my type."

He turned his back and started walking his way out of the shop. I returned the bracelets that I was supposed to buy and followed the guy.

"Hey! You!" I shouted.

He paused for a moment and looked at me with an irritated face. "Please, give me a break." He said habang nakataas pa ang dalawang kamay as if surrending.

"Why are you following me?!" I said.

"Miss, ilang beses ko bang sasabihin sayo na..." He kept on talking but my attention was suddenly caught by the two men wearing black leather suits who were walking around while looking at us. Tinitigan ko silang mabuti at nanlaki ang mga mata ko.

Napansin kong palapit sila sa amin kaya bago pa sila makalapit hinila ko ang lalaking nasa harap ko at nagsimula kaming tumakbo.

"Teka, ano ba—"

"Just shut your mouth okay? I'll explain to you later." I cut him off and continued to run. I didn't know why I grabbed him to run with me. Maybe I was just too confused at the moment.

Lumingon ako sa aking likuran at nakita ko ang dalawang lalaki na hinahabol kami. We kept on running nang bigla akong napatid sa bato, causing me to fall on the ground.

"Ouch! Shit!" Tumigil ako saglit at tumingin sa nagdurugo kong tuhod.

"Anong nangyari sa'yo? Okay ka lang ba?" Pagtatanong nang lalaki na kasama ko. "Do I look okay? Idiot!" I said, rolling my eyes at him.

Nakahawak pa rin ako sa sugat ko at hinihipan ito. I tried to stand but it hurt so fuckin' bad! Nagulat na lang ako nang bigla niya akong dinala sa mga braso niya at binuhat.

"Hey! What are you doing? Put me down!" Sabi ko habang hinahampas siya sa braso. Hindi niya sinagot ang tanong ko at tinuloy ang pagbuhat sa akin.

"Where are we going?" I asked. We were on a place that was no longer familiar to me.

"Sa apartment ko." Matipid niyang sagot.

Nakarating na kami sa isang maliit na apartment in between two old buildings after a few more walk. Pumasok kami sa loob and it was not that bad. Iniupo niya ako sa couch at pumasok siya sa loob ng kwarto. I looked around his apartment. It was a small and old piece of space but cozy and clean. It has one couch, and from there you can already see the kitchen and a table with two chairs.

Pagkalipas ng ilang minuto, lumabas na sya mula sa isang pinto na may dala-dalang first aid kit but he went straight to the kitchen and came back with a base full of water and soap. Lumuhod siya sa harap ko and was about to touch my wounded leg but I stopped him.

"What are you going to do? Don't dare touch my precious leg you maniac!"

Tinignan lang niya ako at napailing ng ulo habang binubuksan ang first aid kit. He took out an alcohol and a ball of cotton.

"Wala akong interes na manyakin ka kaya manahimik ka diyan." He said. I couldnt believe how rude he is. Ang kapal talaga ng mukha! Walang modo.

"Kailangan muna nating hugasan ang sugat mo bago natin gamutin." He added. I ignored what he said and just watched him do his thing.

Hinugasan niya ang sugat ko with water and soap at hinayaang matuyo. Then naglagay siya ng kaunting alcohol sa bulak at dahan-dahang inilapat sa sugat ko.

"Fuck! That hurts!" I said, tightening my grip on the couch.

Sobrang hapdi ng sugat ko pero tuloy tuloy siya sa pagpahid ng bulak na may alcohol hanggang sa hindi na ito masyadong masakit. He threw the used cotton ball away and took out a plaster of band-aid from the kit and put it on my wound.

"Siguro naman makakatayo ka na niyan." He said while putting away the materials he used to heal my wound.

I didn't notice that I was already smiling as I stare at my wound. He was really getting my knickers on a twist but I never knew that he has a heart on helping other people.

"Uhm.. Thank you...?"

"Ryan." He said.

"Thank you Ryan." Sabi ko nang may ngiti sa aking labi pero tumingin lang siya sa akin at tumango.

I took a deep breath at dahan-dahang tumayo. It was still painful but tolerable.

"Sino nga pala ang mga lalaking 'yon na humabol sa'yo?" Pagtatanong niya habang binubuksan ang lata ng alak na kinuha niya mula sa ref. "Mga tauhan sila ng dad ko." I said, letting out a deep sigh.

"Bakit ka naman pinuntahan dito ng mga tauhan ng daddy mo?" He added, his brows narrowing.

"Long story. You don't need to know." Sabi ko. He just shrugged his shoulders at me then lit a stick of cigarette.