Chapter 2: CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 1
"Bakit gising ka pa?" His calm voice asked me.
Nakatambay ako sa sala at nasa harapan ko ang laptop ko pero hindi ko naman ginagalaw nang biglang sumulpot ang lalaki at tumabi sa akin sa pagkakaupo sa sofa.
I chuckled before answering, "May tulog bang dilat pa ang mga mata?" I pressed the Ctrl and S to save what I'm doing before pressing esc and shutting it down so he won't stick his nose with my business. I put my laptop in the table so I can focus my attention to him.
He looked at me weirdly before shrugging. "Yeah, Fishes. You don't know?"
I playfully rolled my eyes, "Wow. Really?" I sarcastically remarked.
"Really." Pinaarte nito ang boses niya at pilit na pinaliit, ginagaya ang boses ko. I chuckled when it actually suits him.
He intently watch me laughing like there's no tomorrow while there's a small smile in his lips.
Napatigil ako sa pagtawa at naiilang na umiwas ng tingin.
I heard him cleared his throat before sighing.
"So.. Why?" He asked again.
Napailing iling nalang ako. Hindi talaga titigil ang lalaki hanggat hindi ko ito sinasagot.
"I can't sleep, obviously." I answered iritatedly. Simula nang dumating kani dito, tatlong araw na ang nakakalipas ay hindi na ako tinantanan ng lalaki.
Everytime I want to be alone, mararamdaman ko nalang ang presensiya nito.
"No. You were doing something. Planning? Do you even have the courage to share it with us?" he asked and looked away.
I sighed. "Look. I really appreciate you, comforting and being with me this past few days but.. Can you mind your own business for a while please?" I asked hopefully, because with him around, I always felt so hopeless.
Umiling ito. "Who says I'm comforting you?" he blurted, leaving me gaping at him in bewilderment.
Nang makita nito ang reaksiyon ko ay napangisi ito. "Just kidding." he added.
Sinamaan ko ito ng tingin na tinawanan niya lang.
"Hmp." Ungot ko rito.
Tumayo na ako para matulog pero hinawakan nito ang pulsuhan ko at hinala pabalik sa sofa.
Nagtataka ko siyang tinignan at dahan dahang inalis ang kapit nito pero mas lalo lang hinigpitan ng lalaki kaya imbis na matuwa ay napangiwi ako.
"I know you're planning something." Inilapit nito ang mukha sa akin bago bumulong.
"Soon, It will take a toll on you. Soon, all of us will not understand your point. If you won't tell us your plan, might as well go alone. You aren't my leader Joy, remember that." malamig na saad ng lalaki bago pakawalan ang pulsuhan ko na nakatulala lang sa biglang pagbabago ng ugali nito.
Go alone huh?
I sighed and decided to go upstairs to sleep. If he only knew that I'm really planning to go alone.
I'm gonna save her no matter what, even without plans. I'm done despising myself. Being alone isn't even a big deal.
Napangiti ako ng malungkot. I thought he actually understand me. Guess I'm really alone even though I'm surrounded by people.
Because being alone doesn't mean being alone physically. You're such a failure, Joy. Always am.
***
"WHERE AM I?" I whispered. Ilang minuto na akong gising pero wala akong makita sa paligid kung hindi kadiliman.
I can't even move my body like it's been tied with chains for so long.
I winced when I felt the pain when I tried to moved my hands. It's not an ordinary chain.
My body is covered with chains that has thorns on it! Thorns made from wire.
"Damn." I mumbled and tried to stop myself from moving. The more I move, the more the chains tightened and the more the thorns pierced through my skin.
Oh! My lovely skin!
"You're awake." A deep calm voice whispered.
Naging alerto ang katawan ko at mas pinaningkit ko ang mga mata just to see who the hell talked... like he's been watching me from afar for too long.
"Who are you? Where am I? Where's Joy? Where the fuck am I?!" I shouted and tried to wiggle from where I am sitting but end up half-way because of the pain.
It's throbbing. It hurts! Fuck!
I heard him chuckled wickedly. "Oh dear, You actually has guts to betray me eh? That's your punishment for being a bad girl." Nanindig ang balahibo ko ng maramdaman ko ang pagbulong nito malapit sa tenga ko.
I gasped when he playfully bite my right ear earning a chuckle from him. He looks like he's enjoying his very own torture! Damn!
I am still dazed until now.. I feel like something happened when I lost consciousness.. But this guy.. This.. H-He's..
"F-Fuki?" I whispered.
He laughed. "Do I looked like a kid to you? Hmm?" he asked, his fingers trailing from my ear to my nape.
I shivered when I felt his cold fingers trailing in my nape. Napapikit ako at napakagat ng labi sa pagpipigil na hindi gumalaw.
Mahina muna itong tumawa bago ko narinig ang yapak nito papalayo sa akin.
I sighed when I no longer felt his presence. Nawala ito ng wala akong nakikitang bakas ng liwanag.
But where the heck am I? And.. Is he Akihiro?
I SIGHED when I realized that I woke up late. Paniguradong kumain na ang mga ito.
Napapikit ako ng makaramdam ng pagkahilo. Sapo sapo ang ulo nang bumilang ako ng ilang segundo para kumalma.
Fuck headache! Ayan self ha, puyat pa more.
I tsked and carefully stand up. Kumikirot parin ang ulo ko pero madadaan naman siguro sa ligo ito. I hope so.
Pagkatapos magayos ay naglakad na ako pababa para kumain.
I smiled wryly when I realized no one even tried to wake me up.
Naabutan ko ang mga itong nagtatawanan sa sala. Nica, Chipher, Cha are sitting in the long sofa. Nakatayo sa harapan nila si Kris na kumekendeng kendeng pa. Siya na naman ang bida.
Nakatawa lang sa pang isahang sofa ang magkaibigan na si Hen na nakakandong kay Travin, samantalang sa isa pang upuan ay tahimik na nagbabasa si Clay. Nasa sahig naman nakaupo ay si Gray na nakatunganga sa kawalan.
They all stopped laughing when they saw me walking downstairs.
Nginitian ko ang mga ito pero sa halip na ibalik ang ngiti ko ay nagiwasan ang mga ito ng tingin sa akin.
Parang hindi ako napansin ng mga ito at nagsibalikan sa ginagawa nila pwera kay Clay na nakangisi sa akin.
Napabuntong hininga nalang akong naglakad papuntang kusina. Kailangan kong kumain. I need every energy that I can acquire.
Pagdating sa kusina ay napailing ako ng wala man lang akong makitang lutong pagkain.
'Madami sila. Hayaan mo na, Joy. Malay mo sobra diba? Alam mo naman appetite ng girls.' pagkumbinsi ko sa sarili ko.
I sighed and looked for energy bars and water. Nawalan na pala ako ng gana.
Nang makakita ng isang pack at dalawang bottled water ay napagdesisyunan kong umakyat nalang sa kwarto at magpahinga.
Damn. Mas lalo pa atang lumala ang sakit ng ulo ko.
Nadaanan ko sila na tahimik lang pero hindi ko na ito pinagtuunan ng pansin. Dirediretso ang akyat ko at mahinang isinarado ang pinto ng kwarto.
Sunod sunod na nagpatakan ang sinusupil kong luha. I smiled and hit my chest to ease the pain temporarily.
"Oh God.." I mumbled when I can't stop the tears from falling.
Binitawan ko ang hawak hawak at mabilis na pinunasan ang mga luhang patuloy na dumadausdos sa pisngi ko.
"Kayanin mo please. For them. Kahit sila nalang." Kumbinsi ko sa sarili ko.
Napasinghap ako ng kumirot na naman ang ulo ko.
"Joy?" naiilang na tawag sa akin sa likod ng pinto.
Mabilis kong pinunasan ang luha ko at huminga ng malalim.
"Yes?" I answered. Sandaling hindi nakasagot ang tao sa likod ng pinto, nakikiramdam.
"Are you crying?" This time, I recognize his voice. It's Clay.
Of all the people I expected to ask me. It's him.
Napangiti ako ng mapait at pilit na pinigilang mapahagulgol sa pamamagitan ng pagkagat ko sa ibabang labi ko.
"No, Of course not. Why would I? What do you need ba?" sunod sunod kong tanong ng maramdamang hindi na nito mahahalata na galing ako sa pagiyak.
"Then... Can you go downstairs? We need to plan. They're calling for you." sagot nito. Wala akong mabakas na emosyon sa boses nito kaya hindi ko alam kung ano ang iniisip niya.
"Pwede bang.. kayo muna? Masama kasi ang pakiramdam ko. Don't worry, You guys can either tell me the plan or don't include me with your plan. Ayos lang sa akin." sagot ko rito.
Ilang minuto ang nakalipas ay hindi parin ito sumasagot. Napabuntong hininga ako, mas lalong kumirot ang ulo ko.
"Sige. Sorry dahil nagabala ka pa. Salamat." Hindi man kita ng lalaki ay nakangiti ko itong sinabi saka naglakad papunta sa kama.
Energy.. I need a lot of energy.
ILANG minuto rin akong nakatingin sa pinto ng kwarto ng babae.
She looked like she's been through hell and death. I know what I heard, I know she's crying.. But why?
Why would she cry when she's the one whose purposely ignoring us?
Ang dami nitong hindi sinasabi sa amin pero hanggang ngayon, nagtitiwala parin kami sa kaniya. What is she up to anyway? Ni hindi na nga namin mabasa ang iniisip nito.
"She said she's not feeling well." I explained when I saw their curious eyes.
"Eh? Okay lang ba siya?" Nica wondered, already standing up but Kris hold her wrist.
"Remember? No talking to her unless she admit that she's wrong." Madiing saad ng babae.
Malungkot na napatango si Nica bago bumalik sa pwesto nito.
Ako naman ay bumalik na sa pagkakaupo ko.
"Let's start planning first." wika ni Cha at saka umayos ng upo.
"About the plan.." Panimula ko nang maalala ang sinabi ni Joy.
Nakatingin ang mga ito sa akin, nagaabang sa sasabihin ko.
"She told me that it's our choice if we're going to include her and tell her or exclude her." I added earning gasps from them.
"Hah! The audacity of that girl!" Kris yelled in annoyance. Ang sama ng tingin nito sa akin na ipinagkibit balikat ko lang.
"I'm just here to deliver the message." wika ko at tiyaka ibinalik ang focus sa pagbabasa.
"Fine then! We'll plan and don't tell her! Tutal 'yon naman ang gusto niya! Doon siya magaling eh, Planning without us knowing!" Tiim-bagang wika ni Kris.
Nasa tabi nito si Chipher na kalmadong nakahawak sa balikat ng babae.
Napailing iling nalang ako. Seriously with girls and their tempers. They really need to leash it.
"Are you sure?" Gray uttered, finally being back to present.
Tinignan lang ito ni Kris at hindi pinansin.
Ilang minuto kaming natahimik. Ah no, Sila lang pala dahil kanina pa ako tahimik.
"Actually.. I don't have any idea with what kind of woman Joy is. She was like close to us but not really. Still, she's the reason why we are still alive. So, why continue treating her as a ghost?" Henry asked, kakamot kamot pa ito sa ulo niya.
"She's manipulative." I answered. Nagsasabi lang naman ako ng totoo.
"Liar." Kris added. "and she's the one who betrayed us first and foremost. Hindi niya pa ba deserve 'to?" Chipher asked disappointingly.
Hindi nakasagot si Hen kaya napailing iling nalang ako.
"If you find her wrong doings justifiable then go with her and make yourself her playtoy. Dahil kung gusto mong pinaglalaruan, kami hindi." malamig na ani ni Chipher.
Nakatitig lang ako sa kanila. "Stop. We're here to plan, not to argue. Can we all set aside our personal issues first?" Naiiritang bulong ni Cha.
Nang walang sumagot ay napabuntong hininga ang babae.
"Here. This is the blueprint of the whole house. I tried to search for the Subdivision's map, but failed. I only acquire this blueprint because obviously, I'm not good with technologies." seryosong wika nito habang binubuklat ang papel para ipakita sa amin ang buong itsura ng bahay.
".. Nandito tayo." tinuro ni Cha ang lokasyon namin sa blue print.
Nakakunot ang noo ng binalingan ko si Cha na mukhang nagaabang lang ng magtatanong sa amin.
"Pardon me, But I already looked around the house but I didn't see this room." Turo ko sa parang kwarto sa ibaba lang ng kwarto ni Joy.
"This one too. And this, and this and this and this." Sunod sunod na turo ni Gray sa mga boxes na pare parehas ang lalaki at parepareho ring nasa ibaba ng kwarto ng magkakaibigan pero kapag titignan mo naman ito ay walang nakalagay dito.
"Why does your blueprint has 6 rooms in the first floor when all we can see are walls?" Travin asked curiously.
Nakita kong nagalinlangan pa ang mga babae sa pagsagot. Nagtitinginan ang mga ito na pareparehong may nangungusap na mga mata.
"Do we really need to tell them?" Chipher asked worriedly.
Nakatitig lang kami sa kanila na naguusap usap. Inalis ko ang tingin sa kanila at binalingan nalang ang blueprint.
Hindi ito pagkakamali lang. Hindi ito ilusyon. Ito talaga ang blueprint ng bahay, which means they costumize their house. They created hidden rooms. For what?
"...We have to tell them. We need to have a nice plan that is worth the risk. We have to atleast tell them the structure of the house." naabutan kong wika ni Cha na seryosong nakatingin sa kapwa babae.
"They're worth the trust?" Kris asked again, doubt is heared on her voice.
Sumingit ako sa usapan nila. "Hindi ba at ang kaibigan niyo ang trumaydor sa atin?" wika ko.
Natameme ang mga ito at nahihiyang nagiwas ng tingin. I smirked. That's right. This girls always put the blame on others but their connection actually sucks.
Shame. Hangang hanga pa naman ako sa pagkakaibigan nila before.
"Fine. Let's tell them." sangayon ng mga babae. Napangiti nalang ako.
"These are our hidden rooms, obviously. Kung anong nasa baba ng kwarto namin ay siya ring nakatagong kwarto namin sa unang palapag." Panimula no Chipher.
"Each has it's own uniqueness. My room and Chipher's hidden room are connected. Both are operating room for emergency purposes." Dagdag ni Nica at itinuro ito.
Wala naman na silang dapat na ituro dahil box lang ang nakalagay sa unang palapag. We can't tell if it's a room, but obviously if there's something hidden, most probably, it's a room.
Napatango tango kami. Namamangha. Wow.
"My hidden room is my office. Doon ako nagtatago kapag may mga threat sa buhay ko. I'm a lawyer for Pete's sake. It's normal for a lawyer to have death threats but it doesn't mean I'm not afraid." ani Cha habang nakasimangot.
"My room evolves with different types of fun. Liqours, Movies, Boardgames, Videogames, Beauty equipments.. Name it all, I have it. It's our pleasure room after lots of stress. It's not actually hidden because we all use it.. But it's hidden on others prying eyes." nagmamalaking wika ni Kris.
"Damn, I miss going there." nakalabing dagdag nito. Napailing nalang ako.
"Chris room is full of training equipments. Which we can use now. Though it will be hard to open. Her room is private. We need Joy to hack it. Well... She's the one who put the security in the first place." Kibit balikat ni wika ni Cha.
Napaawang ang labi ko at napatingin sa kapwa ko lalaki na nagniningning rin ang mga mata.
Damn! I miss exercising!
Naiiling na nakangisi lang sa amin ang mga babae.
"Don't be too excited boys. In order to open that, we need Joy's help. And lastly, her hidden room is composed of five computers. Do I still need to tell why?" Ani Cha. Umiling iling kami.
Damn woman and her addiction with computers.
"At doon papasok ang plano. We need her room. Her hidden room so in short, she can't stay out of this." Cha explained slowly.
Pareparehas kaming napabuntong hininga.
"What if she manipulate us again?" Walang lakas na tanong ni Kris. Mukhang tuluyan nang nawala ang tiwala nito sa babae.
"She's like that even before we met her remember?" balik tanong ni Chipher na mukhang tanggap na ang mangyayari.
Nagkibit balikat lang ako and didn't dare to say anything. Ayoko nang makigulo sa gulo ng mga babae.
Girls and their issues? Not a good combination.
"Okay... You already told us the structure of the house. What's next?" I asked, my lips formed into a straight line.
Ngumisi muna si Cha bago magsalita.
I just hope our plan will be successful. Well, It's 8 brains versus 1. It will probably turn out good, not unless our ace card will control us.
NAALIMPUNGATAN ako sa mumunting ingay sa pinto ng kwarto ko.
Nahihirapan akong imulat ang mata ko. Mabuti nalang at hindi na kumikirot ang ulo ko. Nadadala rin talaga sa tulog.
Pupungas pungas na bumangon ako at dumiretso sa banyo para maghilamos. No way in hell that I will let them see my puffy eyes.
Naglagay ako ng face mask para maging takip sa namamaga kong mata. Damn crying, nakakasira ng face!
Ilang minuto nang may kumakatok sa pinto kaya nagmamadali ko itong binuksan, well of course hiding my bag first that has emergency supplies inside.
Naabutan ko ang apat na lalaki na nasa labas ng pinto ko. They're completely towering all over my door. Pare parehas na nakasandal ang mga ito at tiyak na kanina pa naghihintay na pagbuksan ko sila.
Napatalon sa gulat si Trav nang makita akong may face mask sa mukha. Napatawa ako sa reaksiyon nito.
Napahalakhak ako nang parang domino effect ang pagkagulat nila. Parang ngayon lang nakakita ng babaeng may face mask eh.
"Damn woman. Why are you wearing that? Tanghaling tapat." Napapaos na tanong ni Clay na hindi makatingin ng ayos sa akin.
"Such a pussy boys. Nags-skin care lang naman ako." Natatawa kong saad.
"Mouth." Clay mouthed. Inirapan ko ito. Since when does my mouth affect them?
"So...?" I asked. Pambihira. Bakit nandito 'tong apat na 'to? Anong kailangan nila?
"We formed a plan. We need your help, especially about the hidden rooms." Diretsong wika ni Gray. Nang tingnan ko ito ay umiwas lang ito ng tingin.
My lips formed into a grimed line. I nodded silently waiting for them to continue it.
So the girls actually told them the rooms huh? I wonder...
"We need your help to open Chris's room. We need to train for survival. We also need your help to get a full map of the village. We need surveillance." Dugtong ni Henry at nagkibit balikat.
Napaawang ang labi ko. May balak silang lumabas?!
Napabuntong hininga nalang ako at pilit na tinimbang ang magiging desisyon ko.
"Didn't Clay told you that you can choose to tell me and not include me to the plan? Why didn't you all choose the latter?" I asked disappointedly.
Natahimik ang mga ito, hindi makapaniwala sa tinatanong ko.
"We need your expertise, not because we want you. That's a different matter." Sagot ni Clay. Nakipagtitigan pa ito sa akin. Napangisi ako.
"I can help with Chris room... I can also give you surveillance, but a map? No. If you can accept that, I'll gladly help." sagot ko.
Hindi ko na ang mga ito hinayaang makapagsalita. I slammed the door on their faces.
Inis na tinanggal ko ang facemask at tiyaka naglakad sa gilid ng kama para kunin ang bag ko na naglalaman ng ilang survival kit.
Hindi ako makakapagyag na ibuwis pa nila ang buhay nila. They aren't even sure where we are even though it looks like our house.
I will make sure that they'll stay... stay and train. That's the nice plan! Not their risky plan! Damn it!
I entered the room easily with my pupil, right palm fingerprint, Full body search and lastly, my voice recognition.
"Bitch." I muttered and the computer began to recognize my voice.
"Voice confirmed. Hidden room is now opening..." Sagot ng computer at tiyaka dahan dahang nagbukas ang maliit na butas pa ibaba. Mabilis akong pumasok sa loob para buksan ang kwarto ni Chris at kumuha ng ibang surveillance sa ibang bahay.
Gamay na gamay ko na ang computer sa kwartong ito na kahit hindi ko tignan ang tinitipa ko ay alam kong tama ito.
What made me think was why does it looked like we are in our house but it's not?
Pinagmamasdan ko ang CCTV feed ng bahay sa katapat namin. Napakunot ang noo ko ng makitang wala silang inaaktong kakaiba.
When I looked on other house, they all looked like they are having a nice environment... na parang hindi kami nito sinugod nang nagtangka kaming lumabas tatlong araw na ang nakakaraan.
Patuloy kong chinecheck ang iba't ibang bahay nang may mahagip ako sa garahe.
Binalik ko ang feed dito, napaawang ang labi ko ng makita ang sarili ko.
No... I'm hella sure it's not me. But what the hell! It really looks like me.
I gasped in shocked when I found her smiling while talking to people who gathered around her when they saw that she's there.
Parang mga asong nakawala ito sa kulungan at nakita ang amo nila.
Sabay sabay na tumigil sa pagkilos ang mga ito nang sumenyas ako— I mean ang kamukha ko— na tumahimik.
Napasinghap ako ng sabay sabay ang mga itong tumingin sa pwesto ng camera ko at ngumiti. Ngiting paniguradong kikilabutan ka.
Hindi pa ako nakakahuma ng biglang mawala ang footage. I tried locating it again but failed.
"Damn!" Mura ko at hinampas ang keyboard.
Huminga ako ng malalim at sinubukang tignan ang ibang footage na malapit sa pwesto ng mga ito. Pero wala. Hindi na gumagana ang mga CCTV rito.
Nang sinubukan kong lumipat ng ibang CCTV footages ay wala nang gumagana. The only CCTV footages taht are still working is our very own CCTV at ang CCTV ng bahay katapat namin.
Mariin kong kinagat ang labi ko. Who is she? Why is she good? How.. How the fuck is she better than me?!
LUGONG LUGONG umakyat ako pabalik ng kuwarto dala dala ang hinihingi ng mga ito. Hindi ko na talaga nahanap ang CCTV footage. Like it has been erased completely. No back ups.
But I think this come in handy. Paniguradong magtataka ang mga ito kapag nakita ang nakita ko.
Muntik na akong mapatili nang makitang nakaabang sa labas ng pinto si Clay at nasa akto ng pagkatok.
Nakita ko itong namula at mabilis na ibinaba ang kamay. Kinunutan ko ito ng noo.
"Problema mo?" I asked him.
"Kain na raw ng lunch. Pinapatawag ka na." wika nito.
Naramdaman ko ang pagkirot ng dibdib ko. Napailing ako at ipinagsawalang bahala ito.
Inabot ko sa lalaki ang flashdrive na nagtataka naman nitong tinanggap. He looked at me curiously while eyeing the flash drive liked I gave him something weird.
"Laman niyan lahat ng hinihingi niyo. Anyway, Thank you nalang sa alok. Hindi pa ako nagugutom..." ngiti ko.
"Atsaka, Alam ko namang ayaw niyo akong makasama. Ako nalang ang mag aadjust... Sige. Eat well." dagdag ko pa bago nakangiting isinarado ang pinto at iniwanan siya doong nakanganga.
Lies! Gutom na ako! Ikaw kaya ang hindi magalmusal?
Napabuntong hininga nalang ako bago i-chineck ang gamit.
Their food won't last for another week. I need to gather resources. I need to have my own research. My own findings. Then go back to leave some informations they can use and then find some clues about them, their family.
Yes. That's my plan, Alone. With no manipulations.
Surviving? I am already doing that alone. This is easy as piece of cake.
Or so I thought.
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