ELLE
It's already 8:30 in the evening pero pauwi pa lamang ako. Nauna nang umuwi si Jomari kanina dahil may dadaanan pa akong importante.
Jomari insisted to go with me, but I offered him not to. At first ayaw niya, but thankfully, napapayag ko rin siyang huwag nang sumama saakin.
I focused myself on driving until I reached the gate of our village.
Few more minutes, I reached the gate of our house but I saw someone's standing in front of our gate.
Nakatalikod siya and bagsak ang kanyang mga balikat. I parked my car and stop the engine.
Lumabas ako at sinara ang pinto ng kotse.
"What are you doing here?" I asked him. He didn't reply. Slowly, he faced me.
At nakita ko ang gusot gusot niyang sleeves at may dugo pa sa kanyang labi and messy hair. Overall, he's drunk and a mess!
"You looked a mess! Ano bang ginagawa mo dito?" Walang emosyong sabi ko sa kanya. He laughed.
"I'm a mess? Yes, probably." He said while laughing. "Anong ginagawa ko dito? Para ipakita sayo na nagtagumpay ka sa plano mo. Diba ito naman ang gusto mo? Ang bumagsak ako, right? Well, it happened." Bakas sa kanyang boses ang matinding galit.. I remained firm.
"Yes, I'm very happy. Now, go home because you're blocking the way." Utos ko sa kanya. Ngunit tumingin lamang siya saakin. Suddenly, he smirked.
At unti-unting naglakad papalapit saakin.
"You know what? Maybe we can celebrate together." He said breathless.. Bigla akong nakaramdam ng kaba. "What are you saying? You're drunk! Umalis ka na dito!" Madiin kong utos sa kanya.
"I see that you are scared now, right, Elle?" Sabi niya at ngumiti nang nakakaloko.
"No, I'm not! Go home, Kyle!" But he acted as if he didn't hear anything.
Kada hakbang niya, umaatras ako kaya dali-dali kong binuksan ang pinto ng kotse ko but he grab my waist and lean me on my car.
"W-what are you doing?! L-let me go, K-kyle!" I yelled at him. Pero parang wala siyang narinig. I'm being cornered by his hands.
"Trying to escape uh?" He said on his gritting teeth. "Sorry but I won't let you." He said while smirking.
"Get a life, Kyle! Let me go ano ba!" I exclaimed. He eyed me and then smiled evilly. "Don't you like it, Elle? After all, we're still married. We can make it if you want."
"KYLE ANO BA!" I tried to push him away, but he's too strong. I'm feeling his breath on my neck and sniff it. "Smells good." He added.
He faced me and lock his stare on my lips. "I want to feel how soft your lips are, Elle. I missed those lips damn much!"
"Stop, Kyle! Stop!" Sigaw ko. Walang anu-ano'y bigla niyang sinunggaban ng halik ang leeg ko. Nagpupumiglas ako pero hindi siya natitinag.
Suddenly, a memory flashed back in mind.
Those times when Nick attempted to rape me. I was so scared back then but Kyle came in and save me. I was saved. But now, it's different.
I'm starting to lose my energy at hinayaan na lamang siyang gawin ang kanyang ninanais saakin.
Pumikit ako habang nararamdaman ko ang kanyang mga kamay na naglalakbay na sa iba pang parte ng katawan ko.
He was about to unzip my dress nang maramdaman ko na may humila sa kanya papalayo saakin. "F*ck off, Asshole!" Rinig kong sigaw ni Jomari sa kanya. Kita ko na sinugod ni Kyle si Jomari but because Kyle is already tipsy, madaling nakaiwas si Jomari mula sa suntok nito.
Jomari then pushed Kyle away and kick him on his *ss. "You better get lost or else, hindi ako magdadalawang isip na tumawag ng pulis!" Jomarie added.
He faced me and worries drawn in his face. "Are you alright?" Suddenly, I felt my knees trembling and shaken. I almost lost balance, but Jomari assisted me until we reached the house.
"You stay here. I'll get you some water." He said softly at nagtungo sa kusina para kumuha ng basong tubig. Nanginginig na nilagay ko ang dalawa kong kamao sa aking tuhod at napayuko.
"Here. Drink this first to calm yourself." I heard Jomari's voice. Naramdaman ko na lamang ang pagpatak ng mga luha ko.
"Come here." He hushed as he held my face and place it on his chest. "You're safe now. Don't worry. I won't leave you."..
Hinayaan niya lamang na umiyak ako. Hindi ko aakalaing muntik nang maulit yung nangyari dati, but this time with Kyle.
Unti unting kumalma na ang pakiramdam ko, at kasunod nun ay ang pakiramdam ko na sobrang pagod.
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JOMARI
Gabing gabi na, nasaan na kaya ang babaeng yun? Kanina ko pa siya tinatawagan, hindi ko naman siya macontact.
Nakapagprepare na ako ng pangdinner namin, ngunit wala pa rin siya.
Napansin ko sa bintana sa may sala na may kotseng huminto sa may side ng gate namin.. Napatingin ako rito sapagkat familiar ang kotse.
At tama nga ang hinala ko, it's from Elle.
Bumaba siya at parang may kausap siya.
Hindi ko makita kung sino ang kausap niya kaya napagdesisyunan kong lumabas para tignan kung sinong kausap niya.
Kaso nasa may gate palang ako, naririnig ko na ang sigaw ni Elle na parang galit siya.
Kitang kita ko kung paano siya halikan ni Kyle. Aminado akong kasal pa sila at legal yun, pero ayaw ni Elle nung nangyayari kaya kailangang irespeto yun.
Nagdilim ang aking paningin ko at hindi ko na alam ang sunod na nangyari.
Bumalik ako sa katinuan nang mapansin kong nanginginig nang sobra si Elle kaya inalalayan ko siya papasok sa bahay namin.
Pinainom ko na muna siya ng tubig at isinandal sa aking dibdib. Ramdam ko ang takot sa kanya, dahil sa kanyang pag-iyak.
I know Elle is tough and strong person, but when people attacked her weaknesses, she will cry like a child who lost her favorite toy.
And there's something within me that wants to take care of Elle. Not because something happened to us, but because she is precious.
Muli kong pinagmasdan ang natutulog na si Elle. Ang amo ng kanyang mukha.. Parang walang problemang kinahaharap. Ang himbing ng kanyang tulog.
"Don't worry, Elle. You'll get through of these.. I'll help you.. And I'll never leave you. I promise.." I whispered at hinalikan siya sa kanyang noo at inayos ang kumot sa kanyang katawan at umalis sa kanyang kwarto.
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To be continued...