Chapter 4: CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 3
**Before Joy's Disappearance**
Pagkabalik ko sa sala ay naabutan kong nagtatakang nakatingin sa akin ang tatlo na ipinagsawalang bahala ko nalang. I tsk-ed before lying down on the long sofa and let out an exasperated sigh.
"Dude, are you blushing?" Mukhang hindi na nakatiis si Hen kaya tinanong na ako nito.
"N-No! Fuck off, Bud." Iritable kong sagot atsaka iniharang ang braso ko sa mukha ko para mapagtakpan ang nahihiya kong mukha.
"This is the first time that I saw a guy blush though, That is so gay," Kumento ni Trav at saka ito humalakhak.
"Fuck you all," I muttered and glared at them before showing my middle finger. Tuwang tuwa naman ang mga itong makita akong nahihiya.
"Dude, Got it?" Trav asked Gray who nodded and smiled before showing his phone.
Napaawang ang labi ko nang mag apir ang tatlo, sayang saya sa kagaguhan nila. Napailing nalang ako at nanahimik. Damn these guys!
Nagiisip palang ako ng pwedeng maiganti sa kanila habang nagbabatuhan ng unan ang tatlo nang makita namin si Cha na pababa ng hagdan.
Parang mga hindi naging isip bata ang tatlo nang makitang pababa ng hagdan ang babae. Nagsiayos ito ng upo at tindig na akala mo ay walang ginawang kalokohan kanina. It's my turn to laugh when I saw their ears reddening. Hah! Ang bilis nga naman ng karma.
Sinamaan ako ng mga ito ng tingin na ipinagkibit balikat ko lang. Sayang, ire-record ko rin sana.
Patay malisya lang ang babae at dumiretso sa kusina kaya nailabas ko na ang pinipigil kong tawa. Ang sama ng tingin ng tatlo sa 'kin.
"Oh? Go and throw pillows on each other, Bakit kayo tumigil?" Pang aasar ko lalo. Napahalakhak ako ng ismiran ako ng tatlo.
Napapitlag ko ng biglang may humawak sa balikat ko. Naibato ko pa ang unan na hawak hawak ko sa direksiyon ni Hen na tinamaan sa ulo kaya imbes na ako ang pagtawanan ng dalawa ay napunta ito kay Henry na masama ang tingin sa akin.
"It's an accident dude," Natatawa kong ani. Humagalpak naman ang dalawa.
"Haha. Funny," Asar na wika ni Hen.
"Ehem," Pagkuha ni Cha ng atensyon naming tatlo. May bitbit bitbit itong isang baso ng tubig at nagtatakang nakatingin sa amin.
"Yes? You need something?" Si Gray na ang nagtanong sa babae.
Tumango ito. "Supposedly, pupuntahan na dapat natin ang hidden room ni Chris tonight… But we need Joy's help in this matter, Her full help. We need to convince her tomorrow before we start." Pagpapaalam nito.
"You still trust her?" Trav questioned her which she answered by nodding immediately.
"Why?ⁿ" I asked. Tinitigan ko ito sa mata pero walang mababakas na emosyon sa mga mata nito.
"She's my best friend." Sagot nito na parang napakabigat na ng dahilan niya.
"That's bullshit, you know?" Henry replied.
"Maybe because I knew what's running on her mind better than anyone here, that's why... Maybe—" Umiling ang babae at hindi na tinapos ang sasabihin nito atsaka naglakad na palapit sa hagdan.
Nasa ikalawang baiting na ito nang lumingon ulit ito sa amin. "You can continue your play by the way. Goodnight!" Sigaw nito atsaka nagtatatakbo paakyat.
Napahalakhak ako ng makitang parang natuklaw ng ahas ang tatlo.
Ilang minuto pa kaming nag asaran bago naming napagpasyahang matulog.
That night, I feel like something bad will happen but instead of trying to find out what it is, I found myself drifting to sleep and dreaming of her.
Sophia...
(BACK TO PRESENT)
NAALIMPUNGATAN ako ng makaramdam ng pagkauhaw. Pilit kong iminulat ang mga mata ko kahit ang bigat bigat nito sa pakiramdam na akala mo ay ilang araw ng hindi nakatutulog.
Pagdilat ko ay bumungad sa akin ang medyo malamlam na liwanag na masarap titigan. Pakiramdam ko ay ang bigat bigat ng katawan ko, lalo na ang ulo ko at ang kaliwa kong braso.
Ilang minuto akong nakatitig sa kisame, maraming katanungan ang pumapasok sa isip ko.
Asan ako? Sinong nagligtas sa akin? Panaginip lang ba ang nangyari? Bakit buhay pa ako? Why is my body aching? Why do I feel like I was beat up into pulp? What happened in my mission? In my spying?
Hindi ko na natiis ang pagkaburyo kaya sinubukan kong bumangon. Itinungkod ko ang dalawa kong siko para maiangat ang upper body ko na pinagsisihan ko rin kaagad nang maramdaman ang kirot sa kaliwa kong braso.
Napaigik ako at napatumba kaya naibagsak ko ang ulo ko sa unan sa pagkabigla na pinagsisihan ko rin dahil nakaramdam ako ng kirot dito.
"Fuck…" I cursed while breathing hardly and closed my eyes to calm down.
"Stop moving. Your injuries might worsen." Napadilat ako sa pagdating ng lalaki. Napatili ako ng mabungaran ko itong nasa tapat ng mukha ko.
Napapikit ito at lumayo sa akin. "Damn. Stop shouting, will you?" He asked irritably.
"A-Asan ako?" Tanong ko rito na kinunutan niya lang. "English please." He replied while analysing my body, stopping at my left arm before cussing.
He tsk-ed. "Your wounds open up again. Stop moving or you will lose lots of bloods." Utos nito atsaka ito nawala sa paningin ko.
Hindi na ako gumalaw at nanahimik nalang. Unti unting bumabalik ang alaala ko. That's right. Nasaksak pala ako kagabi and maybe the pain in my head is the result of those people hitting me.
Pinagmamasdan ko lang ang lalaki na tahimik na pinapalitan ang bandage ng mga sugat ko. He applied some antiseptics and cleaned my wound thoroughly. I winced in pain every time he will accidentally press the wound.
Nang matapos ito ay umupo ito malapit sa hinihigaan ko at tahimik akong pinagmamasdan.
"Ahm… Can you help me get up?" Hinging pabor ko na tinanguhan naman nito agad.
Umalis ito at kumuha ng dalawang unan bago ako tinulungang bumangon at inilagay sa likod ko ang dalawang unan para masandalan ko.
"Are you comfortable enough or do you want me to get you another pillow?" He asked.
Umiling ako bago siya nginitian. "No. This is enough, Thank you," pasasalamat ko atsaka ipinalibot ang tingin sa kinaroroonan.
It looks like a room big enough for him. That means... He's staying alone?
There's a mini desk in the left that has a map on top and a mini desk lamp beside it.
I grimaced when I smelled the gun powder coating the air around us. That's when I realized that the room is not an ordinary room.
Hindi ko alam kung anong ginagawa ng lalaki pero alam kong hindi siya basta bastang tao.
The room is full of things to create bombs, that includes gun powders, and other subtances that I can't name. There's also bottles that I'm not sure if Gas or alcohol was inside it. Nakakalat ang ibang bote at may iba pang papel na lukot lukot na nakakalat sa sahig.
Wala rin sa ayos ang ibang damit and there are some food waste. I saw my bag in the corner of the room, open like he was looking on my things beforehand and clothes are in the floor. Beside it was my first aid kit, also looked messy.
Mukhang napansin ng lalaki ang tinitignan ko kaya tumikhim ito.
"Well, I'm short with medical supplies and you badly need it... Sorry for rummaging on your things." He whisphered and looked away.
I sighed and nodded.
"That's fine. You saved me, no need to be sorry," I answered.
A long silence engulfed us. He looked away but I'm staring at him.
As far as I remember, he's wearing a mask when I saw him that night, but now, I can clearly see his face.
He still wears black cap showing some of his black hair. He has stabbles on his chin that made him looked rugged yet enough to make him look cool. He has a dark shade of eyes and there are dark lines beneath his eyes showing that he was sleep-deprive. Since he was sitting, I was not able to tell how tall he is but I knew that he's taller than me. More or so, around 6 feet?
He wears a black longsleeve that he unbuttoned the first two showing his chest. I squinted my eyes to see clearly if he really has a tattoo but it looks like he noticed so he buttoned up his cloth and cleared his throat.
I blushed when I realized that I'm checking him out. Gosh, that was just an act of impulse okay? I reasoned out to myself.
I cleared my throat to explain myself to him. "I was just... Ahm..." I started, unable to form a sentence.
He chuckled and nodded like he understand what am I about to tell. Shit.
He misunderstood it for sure!
"That's okay. I get that a lot anyway." He explained.
Napangiwi ako at hindi nalang nagsalita. Damn. Mayabang rin pala.
"We haven't know each other yet, Who are you?" I asked, changing the topic. He instantly got serious, guarded.
"Asta. You?" He asked.
"Mei," I told him. Not that I'm lying, That's my name though. Joy Meilani.
He nodded, waiting for me to ask again.
"Alright Asta. Why did you save me? What's your purpose? Why aren't you like them?" sunod sunod kong tanong. Napangiwi ito bago sumagot.
"You need help. To save you, I guess? I'm a survivor." He answered briefly, but enough to raise my curiosity.
He's a survivor? So he was like us? But why was he alone? How long is he here? Does he know the way out?
Clearly, The last question is silly. He's still here so he doesn't knew.
Natahimik ako at ilang sandaling nagisip.
"How did you get here?" I asked again.
He looked at me, his eyes were looking at me, like he's analyzing my whole being, If I can be trusted. I didn't back away. I looked at him the same way he looked at me, Is he trustworthy?
He smirked like he got his answer. I grinned. I know he is.
"I'm an ex navy seal that is an asset of the World Government. As you can see, I specializes in making Guns, poisons, bombs, gasses... Then I got the instruction to sail in Bermuda Triangle to prove the damn government that there's nothing to be afraid in there."
"Are you crazy? Why would you agree in that?" I snickered.
He chuckled and looked away. "For fun? I don't have any idea but I'm clearly on my right mind when I agreed. Hell, I was curious too." He answered and sighed.
"What happens next after your agreement?" I asked again.
"My chosen team and I, sail the Bermuda Triangle via Puerto Rico. As soon as we entered the sea, the connection on the base was cut. The compass needle continue to circulate. We don't have any idea where we are. We are stuck in the sea for days. Without no idea how are we will be able to get out." He muttered and I can feel his anger and sadness. He clenched his fist like he was remembering it all. Then he looked at me, pain is visible in his eyes.
"Of course that will not hold my team and I back. We tried many things to create SOS signals. We don't have enough food. We are thirsty, hungry, tired... We are all sleep deprived by wanting to be safe. We felt so hopeless. We are desperate... to live. But nothing," he paused and laughed sarcastically.
"We received nothing. No one even rescue us. Not even the damn government who told us to go there!" He shouted, I can't believe it but there are tears that are flowing in his eyes that he immediately swipe with his hands that waa shaking uncontrollably.
I don't know how to comfort him. I want to touch him but my body is aching all over, I can't even stand up without his help.
I bit my lip to stop myself from crying. I looked at him and tried my best to extend my right arm. He looked at it for a minute before smiling and holding it tight. Somehow, I can see that it comforted him.
"I'm sorry to hear that... You can stop if it's still aching." I said slowly.
He did not answer or nod nor shake his head so I don't know what to say.
I still has lots of questions. Clearly, We didn't go with the same direction. He's alone. He said he was with his team, but he's alone now.
It will be heartless of me if I ask him that. I will just conclud that something happened.
He let go of my hand after a while and laughed. "Sorry for crying like a baby. Damn. I miss talking to someone." saad nito habang pinupunasan ang natuyong luha sa pisngi.
"Nah that's okay. You've been through a lot." I replied, clearly not minding if he cried. He's entitled to do it anyway. He was hurt, he needs to let his emotions go.
"By saying you miss talking to someone... Does that mean you were here for so long?" I asked.
He nodded. "Not that long, Just 20 days. I've been trying to survive in this unknown place for 20 days." He answered and stand up to get the map in the mini desk.
He showed me the map and I gasped. It was a drawing. He drew the whole village like he knew it on the back of his head! There are some erasures but it really looks like a map and there are some symbols that he created.
For example, Circle fo street lights. Triangle for CCTV's and X for safe. I don't know, safe places maybe? And Y for dangerous. So he actually figure out the village safe places and it's dangerous areas.
Tinuro nito ang isa sa mga may nakaimprintang Y sa mapa na ibig sabihin ay dangerous area. "I found you here. I was busy strolling to gather some materials for my bombs, you see?" Tinuro nito ang nakakalat na iba't ibang bote sa sahig.
"Eh? That's bomb and you put it there casually?!" I shouted panicky. What if we got bomb here?!
He laughed. "Relax, It's still in the making, It's not yet dangerous." He replied nonchalantly.
I rolled my eyes. "Still. You could have put it in a safer place you know? Ang kalat rin ng kwarto mo sheez." Reklamo ko. Napakunot ang noo nito, probably confused by what I just said.
Bago pa ito makapagtanong ay trinanslate ko na ito sa wikang ingles. He shrugged like it's normal. Oh, he's a guy. Ganoon ba 'yon?
"You said you were an ex navy seal, not an architect. How did you drew this then?" I asked.
He shrugged his shoulder. "Being desperate makes the impossible things turn possible. I'm desperate to survive you know?" He answered like it was something I should have known in the first place.
"Right," I answered.
"So... I found you here, Why are you there anyway? Don't you have any idea how dangerous that place is? There are always people guarding that place. The darker the place, the riskier?" He asked.
Oh. So I was wrong all along? I really thought the dark will keep me safe. Fuck.
"Good thing I was just nearby or else you'll be dead. Why are you alone in the middle of the night anyway? Where are you from?" He asked.
I sighed. Akala ko hindi na magtatanong ang lalaki.
"I lived here—" Nagulat ako nang tumayo ito at tinutukan ako ng espada. He looked at me like I just tricked him.
"W-Wait! You got it wrong," I stammered and tried to adjust myself but he shoved the katana deeper, I stop breathing. Ome wrong move and I'll die.
I gulped and closed my eyes. "I lived here... Same place before we sail the devil sea, but people here are different. C-Can you please lower your katana first?" Utos ko.
He looked at me then to the katana before sighing and lowering it but is still pointing at me.
"I am with my friends when we travelled the devil sea. Look, we have different way of getting here but believe me, I'm not like them. We just arrived here 3 days ago," paliwanag ko rito.
"I don't have any idea where we are, but I have a hunch. Doppelgangers. I saw mine lots of times. The people here looks like our neighbors but don't act like one. They even kept saying that they need to kill us! Me! What the fuck?!" I snapped.
Nakaiintinding tumingin ito sa akin before lowering his katana completely.
Sinamaan ko ito ng tingin. "Don't startle me with that shit Asta! I almost pissed in my pants!" I shouted, clearly pissed.
Hindi kasi ako pinapatapos magsalita eh. I tsk-ed. He let out a laugh.
"Sorry. I'm just being cautious." He answered. I didn't reply. I'm still pissed. Siya pa ata ang papatay sa akin eh.
"I understand you now. You are right. They are doppelgangers, and you're curious where we are?" He asked after a while.
I nodded, eager to know the truth.
"This is Aadre. A world, parallel to earth, our real world."
What.The.Fuck.
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