No Time to Die

Chapter 09

Chapter 09

Realize

"I need to remove that bullet. Let's go to the hospital," Aiden said when we're out of the line of fire. Hinawakan ko ng mariin ang braso niya bilang protesta.

"No... Walang ibang dapat makaalam na nabaril ako."

It would be suspicious. At ayokong maging sentro ng atensiyon. Not when someone is targeting me. Wala akong pinagkakatiwalaan sa lugar na 'to. Everybody's a potential enemy. I have to be careful.

"Don't be stubborn. Let's go to the hospital."

Aiden held out his arms. It's as if he's offering to carry me because I find it hard to walk. I've been shot a few times pero hindi ako kailanman nasanay sa sakit na dulot.

"'Wag..."

Nanghihina ako at hindi na maramdaman ang binti. Aiden caught me before I slumped on the ground.

"It's fine. I have a private OR in the hospital."

Iyon na ang huling narinig ko bago unti-unting nawawalan ng malay.

I woke up feeling woozy. Nang sinubukan kong umahon sa pagkakahiga ay mas lalo lamang nadepina ang pagkahilo ko. Hindi ko rin maramdaman ang sakit sa binti ko. I'm on painkillers.

"How are you feeling?"

I turned to my side and saw Colton. Hindi ako sigurado kung tama ba ang nababasa ko sa mukha niya pero bakas ang pag-aalala roon. Imposible... Maybe I'm just really disoriented so I'm seeing things.

"Anong oras na?"

"The bullet was laced with poison."

Hindi niya sinagot ang tanong ko pero mas na-intriga ako sa sinabi niya.

"What poison?"

"Curare. I don't know what that is."

I'm familiar with that. Damn, that's a deadly poison! Kaya pala mabilis akong nawalan ng malay. I don't usually faint with gunshot wounds. Mas lalo na kung sa binti lang naman. The poison must have took effect immediately. At dahil buhay pa naman ako, panigurado naagapan din ni Aiden ang lason.

So he saved me... Pero hindi ibig sabihin noon ay pinagkakatiwalaan ko na siya.

"The sniper got away."

I glanced at the far corner of the room and saw Lucas. Oo nga pala at naroon siya at tinulungan kami. How did he know that there's something suspicious on the east wall? Akala ko ba nasa labas pa siya dahil pinatawag ng pamilya?

Colton stood up.

"I need to go back to the hall. Hindi pa tapos ang party," paalam niya.

How long has it been since I was shot? More than an hour? Kasi hindi pa pala tapos ang party.

"Wait!"

Hinarap ako ni Colton at tinaasan ng kilay.

"How'd you know I was shot?"

I'm just being careful. Dahil alam ni Colton ay baka alam din nina Akari.

"Only the four of us know you were shot. Don't worry."

That's him, me, Aiden and Lucas. Naniwala na lang ako kay Colton kahit ayaw ko. Sabagay, kung nalaman ng iba, panigurado nandito na rin si Natalia para tingnan ako.

"Alright. Cover up for me kapag may nagtanong."

"Yeah, sure."

Sinandal ko ang ulo sa unan. My head is really spinning. It's dulling my senses and I don't like it.