KAHAPON (BxB)

Chapter 37

Alone

We are now in the middle of the woods. Ilang lakad nalang at mararating namin ang masaganang pinyahan. My throat was dry, I am covered with sweat and my feet was already telling me i'm tired.

Joey was walking casually, nakasunod lang ako sa kanya. Hindi mawari kung saan kami tutungo o anong mangyayari. I am left blank all I know is that I am chased by people. People that want to devour my body and rip it with those bullets. All I know is that any second could be my last.

"Joey can we stop first?"

Napahinto ito at bumaling sa akin. Isang tela ang nakatali sa kanyang sugatang braso. Samantalang hawak niya pa rin ang baril sa kabilang kamay.

"I'm tired already!

"We're almost there!" he stated.

"Can we just go back and report them to the police?"

He look at me as if my idea is absurd. Huminga ito nang malalim at humakbang papalapit sa akin.

"You don't know what those people are capable of! They can pay anyone and in the next second you'll see your soul fleeting!" he added.

Humarap siya sa akin. His hand finds my wrist. "Malapit na tayo! There's a motel in the next stop we'll stay there tonight!"

Hawak hawak ang aking kabilang kamay ay naglakad kami patungo sa malawak na plantation. Napatingin ako roon.

I don't know if he has something to do with all of these ang alam ko lang ay tinutulungan niya ako. Napako ang tingin ko sa kanyang kamay na nakahawak sa akin. It was hot to my feels. It was hot but comforting enough, ilang memorya ang nasa utak ko reminding me of millions of memories but my fear tonight was overtaking it.

"Those bullets! They are for me right?" out of nowhere ay biglang lumabas sa bibig ko ang tanong na iyon.

Nagpatuloy lang siya sa paglalakad.

"It doesn't matter!" he retorted. Ramdam ko ang paghigpit ng kanyang kamay sa akin.

"Just hand me to the police, I'll report them by myself!" at binawi ko ang kamay mula sa kanyang pagkakahawak.

He muttered a curse at galit na bumaling sa akin.

"You're so hard headed! Those bastards are protected by a politician they can kill you any second and anywhere!" he lengthily stated that only confirms na ako nga ang punterya ng mga taong yon.

"So they are really after me?"

Natigilan siya sa tanong ko at muling napatitig sa akin.

"I won't let anyone touch you!" he stated making my heart beats more than the usual.

Humarap siya sa akin nang maayos but I made two steps backward to atleast distance from him.

"Joey!" mas naging serysoso ang boses ko making him look at me with utmost attention.

"We will deliver that ferrous to your housing property! Please hand me to the police. I'm not your responsibility. Ayaw kong madamay ka dito!" I added.

That's a fact! Hindi ko mapapatawad ang sarili ko kapag may mangyaring masama sa kanya. We almost die earlier! Gusto kong bumalik sa Manila. I want an explanation from all of these. In all my life I offered everything in my work. I devoted my time finding peace and solitude. Little did I know that as clock tickles mas nagiging malapit ako sa trahedya. This life sucks more than anything that drains.

Umayos ang kanyang mukha. After letting out a sigh ay napatingin ito sa akin. His jaw clinch and I had to suck his intense mood towards me.

"I don't want your fucking ferrous, that cement or whatever your company was offering!" napalakas ang boses niya roon.