Softly, you whisper

One

One

"Zoe, nice punch." Isaac grinned at me when we entered the pub. I raised a brow at him and then he pointed at the monitor.

I clicked my tongue when I realized that he was probably watching the surveillance camera. Nilingon ko 'yong babae. Her attention wasn't on us and she was roaming her eyes around the place. Nahuli niya akong nakatingin.

Hinarap ko ulit si Isaac. "Do you have a first aid kit?"

"Yeah, sandali." Isaac said and signalled. Tumango lang ako at naghanap ng mauupuan. The girl just followed behind me.

Since it's still early, we were the only ones inside the pub. It's just a small place and not really everyone knows this place. It was dim like the classical movie pubs. They have soft couches and vintage ambiance. Isaac was one of my schoolmates who works here part time. In fact, he was the one who invited us here. Kaya nga madalas, ito na ang pinupuntahan namin nina Tycho kapag gusto naming tumambay.

"Don't worry. This is a safe place." I reminded the girl——whose name is still unknown to me. Her innocent eyes stared at me for a little bit before she looked away.

Sa harapan ko siya nakaupo. There was a wide mirror behind her. The pub actually looks like a Harry Potter themed place. The entrance door was made of glass on the interior part but wood on the exterior. The other walls were made of old books. And according to Isaac,  some books were from the owner and the owner was a law student before. Some books displayed were probably his books from law school.

The bar area was separated and there are other chairs, aside from soft couches.

"Does your knee hurt?" I asked her to open a topic. I haven't asked her name. Baka mamaya na lang kapag sinagot niya na ang tanong ko.

"Hindi naman masyado. Um," she bit her lower lip. "O-okay lang ba na nandito ako? B-baka nakakaistorbo ako sa'yo."

"It's okay. I'm more relieved that you're okay now. More so, I'm relieved that I saved you from those guys."

She actually looked fragile. Halatang hindi rin sanay na nag-iisa. I wonder why she's strolling around here all alone. Kung ako lang din naman, hindi ako mamamasyal ng ako lang mag-isa. But since I'm a guy and I know self-defense, of course, I could go out on my own.

"Thank you roon." She said and smiled.

"Zoe." I told her. "It's my name."

"Zo...Zoe?" she looked confuse.

I chuckled. "Short for Sweven. Sounds girly, huh?"

"Uh, hindi naman. First time ko lang makarinig ng pangalang ganyan sa lalaki."

I leaned back on my seat. Tinitigan ko siya. Sa paggalaw ng mata ko ay nakahagip ko ang repleksyon sa salaming nasa likod niya. I saw Isaac walking towards our table with a white container. Nang lumapit siya sa amin ay agad akong umayos ng tayo.

"Thanks, bud." I told him. Ginalaw ko kaagad ang first aid kit nang mabuksan.

"O-order na ba kayo?" Isaac asked.

"Later. I'll tend to her wounds first."

"Naks, feeling gentleman ah. Gago naman."

"Shut up," I smirked and picked up the cotton balls. Kumuha ako ng betadine at naglagay nang tamang dami sa cotton ball. I stood up and went to the girl's side. Lumuhod ako at tiningnan ang sugat niya sa tuhod.

"'Wag na!" she tried to stop me with her small voice but it was too late. I already dab the cotton on her wound. The blood dried  already. Okay lang naman iyon. As long as the wound is being cleaned, it'll be safe from infections and such.