Phoenix vs Janna

Chapter 26

They were on the road to Tagaytay on that day. They both craved for the taste of authentic bulalo and breathe fresh mountain air.

Janna also planned to visit the Pink Sisters' convent to pray and offer a petition. She wished to ask that God bless and protect Phoenix and their relationship.

They chatted light-heartedly during the drive, excited for the change of scenery and looking forward to yet another adventure together.

They were speeding through the SLEX when a black tinted van suddenly pulled very close beside them.

Phoenix sped up and left the van behind, still chatting with Janna.

A few minutes later, the van pulled up again, and it was obvious now that it was trying to get very close to Phoenix' car.

Phoenix accelerated again, hoping to shake the tailing van. They raced together for a few minutes before they heard a popping sound. They were being fired at!

"Phoenix! Anong nangyayari?" Janna was alarmed.

"Get down!" Phoenix ordered.

Another rapid burst of fire. They both ducked and felt bullets ripping through the windshield.

Phoenix slowed down. He maneuvered the car to the roadside as carefully as he could given their speed. The van didn't expect him slowing down and was already far away.

Then Rex' car pulled up ahead of them. He came out, his gun on the ready.

"Rex, i-safety mo si Janna!" Phoenix said as the three of them made their way to Rex' car.

A second van was approaching. They turned to watch in horror as a masked man with a machine gun appeared at the van window.

Rex aimed his gun at the van with intense concentration. He fired. He hit the man pointblank. There was another burst of gunfire, then the van sped past.

Janna screamed.

Rex turned. Phoenix had covered Janna with his body, instinctively falling to the ground when the shot was fired.

The masked man's gun, aimed directly at Phoenix, wavered when Rex hit him. The shot was off. But it still hit Phoenix in the back.

"Janna...!" Phoenix gasped, before falling unconscious.

Janna screamed again, feeling her heart being torn apart by the fear of indescribable loss.

-o-

Janna was crying alone in the exit stairs of the hospital. It had been hours since Phoenix had been shot. Everything was a blur to her. She was in shock as Rex rushed them both to the Asian Hospital. Phoenix was wheeled immediately into the operating room to remove the bullets embedded in his back.

Phoenix' family arrived. They alternated between crying and asking questions from her and Rex.

Rex did all the answering, and when Senator Etta noticed how silent Janna was, she had her examined by the ER doctor.

She was thankfully unharmed.

Bakit ako walang kagalos-galos samantalang siya...! Janna asked herself repeatedly.