7 Kiss of Death

NALULUNOD siya sa napakalalim na dagat. Hinahatak pababa ang mga paa niya dahilan upang hindi siya makaahon. Naninikip ang kanyang dibdib. Kahit anung pilit niyang humpas ng mga kamay at padyak ng mga paa ay hindi siya binibitawan ng kamay ng kamatayan. She needs to swim, she needs air. Breathe. Fight. You need to keep fighting!

Lexine opened her eyes. Her whole body is aching and her chest burns like hell.

Isang matangkad na bulto ang lumuhod sa tabi ni Lexine. Hindi niya masilayan ang mukha nitong nagtatago sa itim na hood. Hindi ito kabilang sa kanyang kidnappers. Sino'ng kanyang kaharap? Ito na ba si Kamatayan? Dumating na ba `to upang sunduin siya? Malaking bunganga ng takot ang lumamon sa kanya.

She's not ready to die yet. She can't end like this without saying goodbye to her Lolo.

Lolo. Kumirot ang puso niya nang maalala ang pinakamamahal na abuelo. Paano na ito kung wala na siya? Baka hindi kayanin ng matanda ang labis na lungkot. Mag-isa na lang si Alejandro sa buhay at hindi niya ito kayang iwan.

Dalawang malaking braso ang bumuhat sa ulo ni Lexine at buong ingat na isinandal sa matigas na dibdib. Surprisingly, the stranger's body felt warm on her skin.

"S-sino ka? Please, kung sino ka man," mahigpit na kumapit ang nanlalamig niyang kamay sa damit nito, "Help me, please."

"Hush... death is a wonderful thing." His voice was gentle like a lullaby

"I don't want to die, I'm s-scared. My lolo needs me. Please, save me."

Walang ibang naririnig si Lexine maliban sa maliliit na patak ng ulan at mabibigat niyang paghinga. Hindi niya alam kung anung nangyari sa mga kidnapper. Pero hindi na `yun mahalaga, ang importante ay ligtas na siya sa kamay ng lalaking ito.

Ligtas nga ba siya?

The stranger gently stroked Lexine's cheeks as though she's a fragile petal of a withering flower. Mainit sa pakiramdam ang palad nito at nakapaghatid iyon sa kanya ng banyagang emosyon. Nanghihina na siya at ilang sandali na lang ay tuluyan nang bibigay ang kanyang katawan.

"Please, let me live."

Ibinaba ng estrangherong binata ang mukha nito. Humahalik ang hininga nito sa mga labi ni Lexine at maihahantulad iyon sa mainit na sinag ng araw na umuusbong tuwing umaga. It gives a sort of comfort that's unknown to her.

"In every wish comes with a price. Are you willing to pay the price?" Mabilis ang pagtungo ni Lexine. "Good girl. In the meantime, I want you to forget everything. When the time is right, I'd come back for our precious deal understood?"

She weakly whispered, "Yes."

Iyon lang ang hinihintay na sagot ng estrangherong binata. Then everything happened slowly in Lexine's senses. His foreign lips caught her breath. It felt warm, soft, and strange. She's dying and ironically feels so alive under the stranger's arms. Akin to yin and yang; hot and cold; death and life.

Burning energy began to pass through her mouth, then down to her throat while his lips grew aggressive. He's possessing her like a newly crowned emperor of his country. After a few seconds, a tormenting pain burst inside her chest. It writhed in every inch of her body like a snake with its poisonous bite. Lexine no longer knows how long they've been kissing until the stranger finally released her lips as the pain faded away.

Lexine opened her eyes once again and greeted by two brown orbs. She probably won't be able to forget those eyes. It reminds her of the lonely nights she has had since her parents died.

"Sleep now my sweet little cupcake." Lexine heard him muttered one last time as she finally surrendered to the alluring darkness. At that moment, her young heart didn't perceive that this sweet yet painful kiss will bind her soul to the hands of the devil.