His Caged Heart [Old Version]

Chapter 03

VERNE

"Come here, Vanya," I called once we got back inside the manor. "Let's get your wound treated."

Sumunod naman siya na paika-ika. Habang ako naman ay kinuha ang medic kit.

Nakita kong nagmasid masid muna yung pinsan ko sa living room. Siguro inaalala kung ilang taon na mula nung huli siyang bumisita.

"This house still hasn't changed a bit, huh?" Komento niya habang tinitingnan ang mga picture frames na nakapatong sa coffee table sa gitna ng kwarto.

"Wala naman kasi masyadong kaganapan dito sa bahay. Given the fact that I am the only one who lives here." I replied as I searched for the kit from the cabinets. 'Asan na ba yun?'

"Seriously? Ikaw lang dito sa malaking bahay na'to? Pa'no yung pagkain mo? Yung laundry? Yung paglilinis? Ikaw lang rin ba ang gumagawa ng lahat ng 'yon?" I can imagine her surprised face as she asked those. I chuckled.

"No, not at all. Nagpapatawag kang ako ng mga tao na maglalaba ng damit at maglilinis ng bahay every week. As for the food, I just often order home-delivery." I answered.

Nakita ko yung kit sa pinaka-ilalim at pinakadulo ng cabinet na para bang walang intensyon na magpakita sa'kin. Who the hell put this here? Kung may naghihingalo ngayon, kanina pa siguro namatay dahil yung medicinal kit hindi agad makita.

Once I got back, I knelt before her and started to inspect the red marks on her thigh. These looked like they've been burned. I'm assuming these were from cigarettes.

"Vanya, where did you get these?" I asked.

I started to clean the marks with cotton balls coated in alcohol, dabbing them lightly as I let her speak.

Medyo nagdadalawang isip siya pero sinabi niya rin naman. "Ummmm, naglalakad kasi ako nung may mga taong naka-suit na humarang sa'kin at hinila ako sa kanto."

"And? What did they do?"

Katahimikan.

"...kuya, I think you guys are in trouble."

I stopped what I was doing and stared at her, perplexed by the sudden statement.

"What?"

"Hinahanap ng mga lalaking yun ang mga Stanway. Most likely you and your brothers." She said, her expression grim. "Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero hindi ako nagsalita. That's when their leader kept yelling at me, burning me with his stinky cigar."

I looked away. Napaisip naman ako. I don't remember offending anyone. At lalong hindi ako nakikipag-away sa kanto. So, what did those people want from us?

"But then, that's where Leontiy came in. Dapat nakita mo siya kuya! Ang cool ng fighting style niya!" Dinig ko naman ang masiglang sabi ng pinsan ko. She really likes that guy, huh?

"You seem to have taken a liking to him," Komento ko. "Hindi ka man lang ba nagduda na baka pagsamantalahan ka niya?" I asked as I got back to treating her burns.

"Nope!" Her face was full of confidence and brightness. "Ang bait niya kaya. Kahit na siningil niya ako."

"Pardon?" I raised an eyebrow at that. "Ikaw? Siningil?"

"Mhm," Tumango-tango naman ito. "Pero don't worry. It's nothing I can't afford."

"Is that so?"

'Maybe I should thank him at least.'

🗝️🗝️🗝️

It turns out na wala ng pera si Vanya sa kanyang wallet at ewan kung saan niya nailagay ang credit card niya. Kaya naman stuck muna siya dito sa akin. ''Nothing I can't afford' pala ha...'