CONNECTED (Completed)

Connect 71

06:30 pm

Matthew:
Taja, are you free tonight?

Taja:
Oo naman.

Matthew:
Can you help me with my mission?

Taja:
It's my mission to help you, too.

Matthew:
We must save a girl from a store tonight.

Taja:
Kailangan nating magmadali para hindi tayo mahuli.

Matthew:
Oo. Papunta na ako sa inyo para sunduin ka.

Taja:
I will send to you my current address. Kalilipat ko lang kahapon sa bago kong inuupahan.

Matthew:
Okay.

—

Nakatingin lang ako sa labas habang nagmamaneho si Matthew. Tahimik lang kaming dalawa. Ilang oras na kaming tahimik at iba ang pakiramdam ko. Matthew is so relaxed. Walang bakas sa kaniyang mukha ang pag-aalala. We will save a girl tonight. Dapat nagmamadali na siya. Ilang tindahan na ang nalampasan namin pero hindi pa rin tumitigil si Matthew sa pagmamaneho.

"Matthew, malayo pa ba tayo?" Lakas loob kong tanong sa kaniya. He doesn't give me a look. Tumango lang siya sa tanong ko habang nakatingin sa daan.

"Relax, Taja." Bigla akong kinabahan nang sabihin iyon ni Matthew. Pakiramdam ko may hindi magandang mangyayari.

Napalingon ako sa daan. Damn! Saan ako dinala ni Matthew? Wala ng mga bahay at puro puno lang ang nakikita ko.

"Matthew, saan mo ba ako dadalhin?" Hindi niya sinagot ang tanong. Binilisan niya ang pagpapatakbo ng kotse na nagpadoble ng aking kaba. "Ibaba mo ako, Matthew. Stop the car." Utos ko na nagpahinto sa kaniya.

Mabilis kong binuksan ang pinto ng kotse pero nakakandado ito. Matthew locked it. Takang tumingin ako sa kaniya. He stared at me. He's mad at me.

"Tell me, do you really like me?" Napa awang ang labi ko dahil sa tanong niya. "Don't lie to me, Taja. I know the truth."

"Sorry. It's just my mission." Nagulat ako nang bumisina siya ng malakas at sumigaw.

"Pinagmukha mo akong tanga." Napatungo na lang ako dahil alam kong kasalanan ko kung bakit siya nagkakaganito.

"I'm sorry. Blaze is the one that I loved." Galit siyang tumingin dahil sa aking sinabi. He was hurt and crying in pain.

"Bakit hindi mo ako kayang mahalin? Blaze doesn't love you." Sasagutin ko na sana si Matthew pero nagulat ako nang sinuntok niya ako ng malakas. He's not the same Matthew that I know.

Itinulak niya ako dahilan para mapahiga ako. I was afraid of his expression. "You must love me, Taja." I was shocked when he forcefully intact his lips with mine. He climbed on top of my body. Our lips and tongues crashed together. His arms embraced my body as he pressed his body to mine. I broke our kiss. I stopped him but he was strong. I was crying and screaming but he doesn't care.

"Matthew, please stop." He doesn't listen to me. He kissed me roughly me which made me shed tears. 

Is this his mission? To abuse me?

I didn't respond to his kiss but he forces me to open my mouth. He started working down to my neck, as I pushed him back. I must escape from him. I punched him on his back but he was in no mood to let me go, he pulled me again and kissed me so hard with much more force than the previous one.

"Mamahalin mo na ba ako pabalik, Taja?" Ang lakas pa rin niya kaya hindi ako makawala sa mga hawak niya.

"Ang pagmamahal ay hindi pinipilit. Kusa itong nararamdaman." Umigting ang panga niya sa sinabi ko. That's the truth. Walang nagiging matagumpay sa pag-ibig kung sapilitan lang ito. "You can't force someone to love you."

"I can break those rules for you." Slowly he put his hand in my top and unhooked my bra. He unbuttoned my shirt slowly and he started giving me wet kisses on my lips with much more passion causing him to groan. I could only grab his hair tight. 

"Masyado ka ng nagpalamon sa dikta ng application sa iyo." I punched him in his face causing him to stop. I grab the chance to escape from him.

"You can't run to me, Taja!" He screamed while I'm outside of the car. Mabilis kong inayos ang damit ko at nagsimulang tumakbo. I grab my phone to message Blaze.

Bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko nang may tumakip ng bibig ko at hinila ako sa isang malaking puno. I think I'm late.

"Where are you, Taja?" Nabuhayan ako ng loob nang makita si Matthew na naghahanap sa akin. I slowly turned at my back. Unti-unti niyang inalis ang kamay niya na nasa bibig ko. I started again to cry when I saw Blaze. He hugged me tightly. 

"I'm sorry, Taja. I'm late. Magbabayaran ng lalaki niyan ang ginawa sa iyo. Please wait for me." He kissed me on my forehead. Unti-unti siyang lumabas sa aming pinagtataguan at hinarap si Matthew.

Agad kong tiningnan ang phone ko at nakita ko ang madaming message sa akin ni Blaze. All this time, sinusundan niya kami. Sinilip ko sina Blaze at Matthew. Nagulat ako nang unti-unting itinututok ni Matthew ang kutsilyo kay Blaze. Naiwasan naman ito ni Blaze at malakas na sinuntok si Matthew. Nawalan naman ng balanse si Matthew dahilan para mahulog siya sa bangin.

Lumabas ako sa aking pinagtataguan. Mabilis kong niyakap si Blaze. "Kailangan kitang dalhin sa hospital. May mga pasa kang natamo." I nodded at him. Mahigpit niya akong niyakap. "We need to investigate tomorrow."