“Mmmmm! Mmmmmm!” those were muffled sounds from my mouth, I squirmed harshly as the man untied the rope in my wrist and ankles.
“Tangina! Itigil mo nga yan!” nanlisik ang mga mata niya at agad hinablot ng marahas ang packaging tape na nakatakip sa bibig ko. Masakit iyon ngunit mas nangibabaw ang takot at kaba sa systema.
Mariin na pagpikit bago binuka ang mga matang may bahid ng luha, “Please! Please! Let us go!” I quickly took a glance at Ross who's tied up with a packaging tape on his mouth. Pawisan ang kanyang noo, takot din katulad ko.
“Magandang bata, halatang anak mayaman!” the van was filled with their cheap laughter. There are a total of 3 guys with us inside, they stink! Madungis ang kasuotan maging ang mukhang puno ng balbas, halatang may kasamaang binabalak.
“Wwhat do you n-need from us?! Mmy father will k-kill all of you–!” marahas na hinawakan ng lalaking nasa tabi ko ang aking baba at pilit pinaharap sa kanya. Siniksik ko ang sarili kay Ross kahit na wala ng mas mailalapit pa sa kanya.
“Mmmmm! Mmmmm!” I can sense Ross' want of protecting me but he just couldn't.
“Ingat ka bata, baka bago pa kami mapatay ng ama mo nauna na kayong dalawa sa hukay!” they laughed again like there's no tomorrow. I can smell his foul breath, it just made me shiver more when he showed me his creepy smile.
“You're poor and disgusting!” after I said it, he slapped my face with so much force, gigil na gigil. Nabaling ang mukha ko sa ibang direksyon, I feel like I broke a bone in my neck. Nanginig ang labi ko at mas umiyak. I tasted blood in my lower lip.
“Ang sama ng ugali mong punyeta ka!” he gripped my chin forcefully making me face him, I closed my eyes tight not wanting to see his face close. “Anong pinagmamalaki mo ha?!”
“Tama na yan Rico! Baka mabulilyaso pa plano natin kapag nagkapasa yan!” pigil ng lalaki sa shotgun seat. Binitawan ako ng lalaking nangngangalang Rico at umayos ng upo.
“Malapit na tayo sa mall” anunsyo ng nagmamaneho. I am fucking clueless why they kidnapped us infront of our school! I can't help but think that maybe Ross' parents or my parents have an enemy who wants to revenge or something. Our families can pay any amount of ransom they have in mind for sure but why are we headed to the mall? Should it be an abandoned warehouse?
“Mmm...mmmm” I glanced at Ross who's sweating intensely. His eyes showed an emotion of despair. I held his thigh and squeeze it lightly to assure him that we're going to be safe. Palihim kong hinawakan ang kamay niya sa likod upang matanggal ang tali ngunit bago ko pa man masimulan ay may malamig ng bagay na nakatutok sa sentido ko. Nanlaki ang mga mata namin ni Ross, he shook his head immediately to the goon beside me.
My heartbeats are wild. I have never been this nervous my whole life! The car haulted, the van parked a matter of distance from the mall's entrance.
“Maling galaw mo pa ulit, ipuputok ko to sa ulo mo” coldblood lingered in his voice. I closed my eyes and held Ross' shirt for strength. Nanginig ang balikat ko sa kakaiyak.
“Sabihin mo na sa kanya para matapos na to”
“Hoy!” he tugged my arm and pulled me, napaharap ako sa kanya. I kept pushing myself to Ross. “Ayusin mo yang pagmumukha mo, papasok ka ng mall” with my puffy eyes, my forehead creased. What is this fucking all about?!
Gumalaw ang lalaking katabi ko dahil may kinuhang kung ano sa likod ng sasakyan. Maliit iyon na kahon na nakabalot sa bubble wrap.
“Pumasok ka sa mall dala to, may kukuha nitong package sa loob. Siguraduhin mo lang na hindi ka ma bibisto! Dahil tangina sinasabi ko talaga sayo putok ang ulo nitong tisoy na kasama mo” pinulot niya ang backpack kong nasa sahig ng sasakyan. He poured all of my things inside then placed the box before putting some of my stuffs back in to cover the suspicious item. May hinala ako kung ano iyon na mas lalong nagpakaba sa akin.
