"Tu-tulong!"
Sinubukan kong kumuha nang hangin para makapagsalita kahit mahigpit ang hawak niya sa leeg ko. Bumabaon ang mga kuko niya sa balat ko.
Masakit. The feeling was so familiar like it already happened to me before.
"At sinong akala mong tutulong sayo? Superhero mo? Matagal na kitang gustong patayin pero pasalamat ka, nasisira palagi ang plano ko dahil sa lalaking yon!"
Mas humigpit ang pagkakasakal niya dahil sa sinabi niyang iyon. His face screams too much rage. Wala akong magawa kundi ang pigilan ang kamay niyang nasa leeg ko.
"Oh ano ha? Anong pakiramdam nang sinasakal?!"
Ngayon dalawang kamay na ang ginamit niya. Masyado siyang malakas at sapat na patayin ako. Sinubukan kong kunin ang unan sa kilid ko at hinampas sa mukha niya pero mas humigpit ang pagkakasakal niya. This time. I was stupid that I can't even defend myself. I was weak.
Sinubukan kong pigilan ulit ang kamay niya pero mas malakas siya. I just let him choke me. Wala naman na akong magagawa. Alam kong walang makakatulong sakin dito . Baka nga katapusan ko na to.
I was also starting to run out of breathe. I can feel my tears are falling. My eyes are starting to get blurry. I-I can't take it anymore.
I was just waiting for my death.
But I guess---
"ZARA! GISING!"
Agad akong napabangon nang hampasin ako ni Faye ng unan. Tanghali na pala, di ko namalayan. I was catching my breath heavily. It was a fucking dream! It felt surreal. I was sweating very hard even though it's airconditioned. I need to take more pills. Ilang araw ko na itong napapanaginipan but I stayed silent cause I don't want to bother her.
"Mukhang masama yata ang gising mo ah?" natatawa niyang sabi. Unaware of my condition.
Maybe it was an omen?
Hindi ko siya pinansin at bumangon na lamang tsaka tumungo sa kusina para kumuha ng gamot. Kinuha ko ang sleeping pills na nakalagay sa medicine kit tsaka ko ininom ang tatlong tableta tas sinalinan ng tubig. Di naman ako gutom kaya okay lang sigurong inumin to even though I didn't eat a meal.
"Papatayin mo ba yang sarili mo? Isang linggo mo nang iniinom yan, Zara! Jusko po maawa ka naman sa sarili mo! Mabuti at kinaya naman ng katawan mo? Pasalamat ka't hindi ka naoverdose no?"
She sarcastically said, standing near the refrigerator while her arms are crossed. Di ko napansing nandito na pala siya sa likod ko. One of the reasons why I hate having someone with my house is because they kept meddling with my business.
"Not your business."
I tried not to sound mad. Binalik ko ang gamot tsaka ko siya iniwan doon. I walked towards the living room and turned on the tv para di
na niya ko kausapin. I full the volume para
mahalata niyang ayaw ko nang kausap. Oy saktong cartoons ang palabas.
Faye walked infront of me and then she turned off the tv and then faced me with an annoyed face.
"Isusumbong kita kay Uncle pag di mo tinigilan yan."
That's when I immediately looked at her. I can tell she's mad. Alam kong concern lang siya sakin but I didn't expect her to threaten me using my Dad. Ngayon ko lang siya nakitang nagalit unlike before na hinahayaan niya lang ako. Faye is 1 year older than me kaya malaki ang respeto ko sakanya, but I have limitations.
"Try me." I said hesitantly.
Iniwan niya lang ako dito sa sala at agad tumungo sa kwarto namin. Sinundan ko siya sa kwarto at naabutang may tinatawagan sa phone niya. Shit I'm doomed. She's really really mad.
"You're getting into my nerves. Do you really need to do this?" I fumingly said.
She just ignore me. I was about to steal her phone from her when the person answered her call.
"Uncle? Can we borrow your time? Today's lunch? Are you free? Aw okay. I'll just tell Zara. Okay bye. "
She hunged the phone after that with a smile plastered on her face.
"Uncle told me to tell you that he will see you in his office. Goodluck cous!"
she even flipped her hair that made me annoyed.
I was waiting for her other explanation but she just ignored me and left the room again. I was left hanging.
Sinundan ko siya palabas at nakitang presenteng nakaupo sa sala at kumakain ng popcorn habang nakangiti. She looked like she just achieved her goal. I sat next to her but I keep my attention on the television.
"Next time you meddle with my business again, I won't treat you as my cousin anymore. Remember that."
Napansin kong bumaling siya ng tingin pero di ko siya na siya pinansin. I stood after that and went to my room. I guess I had no choice kundi ang magpakita doon. I took a shower for about one hour then I was about to get my dress when I heard my phone rang. Kinuha ko ito sa charger at sinagot. Hinihintay na siya ang unang magsalita.
"What did you do this time, Zara? Di ka pa ba naaawa sa sarili mo? Sa katawan mo?"
he sounded disappointed.
I put the phone on the side table and turned the speaker on. I wore my Hawaiian Dress which ends below my knees. Ayokong magmukhang haggard don sa kompanya.
"Not your business. Get straight to the point."
I said calmly getting bored in our coversation.
"Ano pa nga bang magagawa ko? This time, I won't let you harm yourself. Meet me at my office. Now."
and then he ended the call.
Anong harm yourself? As if naman magsusuicide ako dito. Tss. I was used to this. Wala akong choice kundi ang sumunod or else itatransfer niya ako. I put some make up on at hinayaan kong nakabuhaghag lang ang aking buhok. I sprayed some perfume on my body and neck. I need to look presentable. Ayokong magmukhang may sakit sa harapan nila.
I need to look lively, not a girl who's dying.
BINABASA MO ANG
Warm Hearts
RomanceZara Mallory Hishigata is a kind of woman who likes hurting herself physically and mentally. Wala lang sakanya nang mabalitaang may sakit siya but not until a cryptic man came to her notorious life. She changed in a sudden and she wanted to live lon...
