2

KABANATA 2: The Massacre

IT WAS really dark so I had no idea who the hell walked in my room. But right at the moment I find solace because of the fact that I am not alone. I silently laid down my bed and heave a deep sighed.

"Ethan?" I nervously asked.

The person didn't move, but from his features and figure he is a man. He just stared at me, and because of that I confirmed that he isn't any of my family. I immediately stood up and ran to the opposite side of my bed.

"A fucking girl?"

His baritone voice made me stiff and shivered. Magkandaugaga ako sa pag-atras at tuluyang naiyak nang mapagtantong pader na ang aking nasasandalan. I freaked out when he stepped towards me, I let out a silent scream because of fear and depression.

My eyes widened when I felt a hard thing on my forehead. Napalunok ako dahil nasa harapan ko na siya habang nakatutok sa aking noo ang hawak niyang baril. Napapikit ako at nanginig ng sobra, malamig ang aking pakiramdam at wala nang mapaglagyan ang aking pagsinok.

I knew it, he was trouble, he's one of the killers.

"Please, please, don't kill me," I begged hard as I whispered. "Please, I'm begging you." My voice cracked.

Malakas akong napasigaw ng marinig ko ang pagkasa ng kaniyang baril at muli nitong pagtutok sa aking noo. Napaatras akong muli hanggang sa tuluyan ko nang nasiksik ang pader.

Bakit nangyayari ang mga ito? I thought the night was safe, we have numbers of guards and even the police joined the security. Imposibleng napatumba silang lahat para mapasok kami ng ganito?

Unless these people are professional hired killers. Alam kong maraming nagtatangka sa mga magulang ko ngunit dahil sa magaling na security ay walang nagtatagumpay. Until this night, this is unbelievable!

"Are you a Beau Monde?"

Mabilis at paulit-ulit akong tumango habang nakapikit. Napalunok ako ng maramdaman ang kaniyang hininga sa aking mukha, ibig sabihin lamang niyon ay masyado kaming malapit sa isa't isa.

"I didn't know, that old man has a daughter?"

I clenched my fist. Kung may kakayahan lamang ako katulad ng ginagawa nila kanina ko pa napatumba ang isang 'to, ngunit alam kong sa sitwasyong ito'y hindi ako magtatagumpay ngayon. Kapag kumilos ako ng hindi kaaya-aya sa lalaking ito'y mabilis na mababaliktad ang lahat at tuluyan akong mawawalan ng buhay.

Nawala ang kaniyang presensya sa aking mukha. I thought he went away, but I was wrong. The moment I opened my eyes, his dark menacing eyes widened as he stared at my soulful hazel eyes. I was begging, and he was shocked. I was scared and he looked confused. Matalim na nagtama ang aming paningin, ang paraan ng kanyang pagtitig ay nakakapaso, tila binababa at pinapasok ang kaibuturan ng aking loob.

I loudly gasped. Mabilis na namuo ang luha sa aking mga mata ng muli niyang itinutok sa aking ulo ang kaniyang baril, muli akong napapikit ng mariin at matunog na napalunok. Kung may microphone lang sa aking dibdib, paniguradong dinig na dinig ang pagtambol ng aking puso. Hindi ko na malabanan ang halo-halong takot, pangamba at kung ano-ano pa, tuluyan akong bumagsak at napaupo dahil sa panghihina.

"Damn!"

He was mad and immediately kicked me. Napahiga ako, pagkatapos ay mabilis niya akong sinipang muli patungo sa ilalim ng aking kama. The next thing I knew, the lights opened and someone entered my room.

"Have you found the black book?" The old man from the door asked. Nakagat ko ang aking labi ng marinig ang parehong tinig. He was the man I talked to at the stairs earlier.

Kaya pala iba ang pakiramdam ko sa kanya. He said he was my father's friend yet he didn't knew my Dad has a daughter.

"No,"

"Sumama ka na sa 'kin, paparating na ang mga pulis. Kailangan na nating makaalis."

A moment of silence before the old man spoke again, "What? C'mon, faster!"

"I'll find a way to escape, you go first. I'll go home."

"Lyreb?"

"I'm serious, I can always find a way."

I heard the door closed ngunit hindi parin ako makahinga ng maluwag dahil alam kong naroroon parin iyong lalaking piniling manatili. Why did he let his boss went away? Ano ang dahilan niya upang magpa-iwan rito?

Hindi pa natatapos ang iniisip ko'y biglang tumagilid ang aking kama at tumambad sa akin ang estrangherong lalaki. "AAHHHH!" I screamed hard and did my best to kick him, ngunit isang lapit niya lang sa akin ay tuluyan akong napahandusay sa sahig habang hawak niya ang aking bibig, pinipigilan akong sumigaw.

"Damn you, shut up!"

Hindi ako natinag, kinagat ko ang kanyang kamay at pilit na tumakas ngunit hindi ako nakaalis. Mabilis niyang nahila ang paa ko at muli akong natumba sa sahig, naramdaman ko ang pagdagan niya sa aking likuran at ang muling pagtakip ng aking bibig.

"Shut up, or I'll shoot your head. Believe me, I don't lie, lady."

Ipit akong umiyak at pilit na pinigilan ang aking pagsigaw ng maramdaman ko ang kanyang baril sa aking sintido.

"Good girl."

Malakas ang aking paghinga, hindi ako nakapalag ng hilahin niya ako patayo nang hindi inaalis ang pagkakatutok ng baril sa aking sintido. Itinulak niya ako upang humakbang.

"Don't ever make a sound!" Banta niya. Dahil sa takot ay sinunod ko siya, hirap na hirap ako sa pagpigil ng aking iyak at sigaw. Pakiramdam ko'y hihimatayin ako sa panghihina, sobrang sakit at bigat ng aking dibdib. Sasabog na ito oras na hindi ko mailabas ang nasa aking loob.

"AAHHH!"

Hindi ko na napigilan pa ang aking sarili. Tuluyan akong bumagsak at gumulong pababa ng hagdan dahil sa aking nakita. The dazzling people from the ground floor were now lying with gunshots in their head, they were shot with a sniper, including my family.

"MOM! DAD!" Kahit na masakit ang tuhod at katawan ay tumakbo ako patungo sa aking mga walang buhay na magulang, "No, no, no, Evan? ETHAN? No, no, oh no please! You were all happy earlier, why, what the fuck?" I screamed and yelled, I let everything out, I howled in extreme pain and grievance.

"EVAN, ETHAN, ARRRGHHH!"

Muli akong natumba sa gitna ng aking pagtakbo patungo sa aking mga kapatid na duguan at naghihikahos sa gitna ng groundfloor. I was distance away from Ethan before my leg was shot, I tried reaching his hands. Napahagulgol ako ng mahina siyang lumingon sa akin.

"Evan..."

Mas lalong lumakas ang paghagulgol ko nang makita si Ethan na nadapa habang putol ang paa. Tila bumaliktad ang sikmura ko dahil sa nasasaksihan, gusto kong sumuka dahil sa amoy at mga dugo, ngunit pinili kong abutin ang mga kamay ni Evan.

"Evan,"

"B-belle,"

I yelled when my leg ached, "ARGH!" I still reached Evan's hands, kaonti na lamang ang distansya niyon ng bumagsak na ang kanyang mga kamay at tumagilid ang kanyang ulo. Indicating that my birthday brother has died.

"No, Evan, no, no," I screamed hard as I could. I am in the midst of my agony and deepest sorrow, hindi ko na alam ang aking gagawin. Pahina ng pahina ang aking pagsigaw hanggang sa naging bulong ito, pati bulong ko'y pumipiyok. "Happy birthday, Evan, Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you, Happy Birthday... Evan,"

I felt sad for my brother, we never had the chance to taste the foods, he never had the chance to hear our messages, he never had the chance to see our gifts, and we never had the chance to sing happy birthday to him.

"Happy birthday, Evan."

Malakas ang aking pag-iyak, nakakapanghina, ngunit wala na akong tinig, at mas lalong wala na akong lakas.

"Mom, Dad, Ethan, Evan..."

Bakit nangyayari ito? I still can't accept the fact that I am alone now. I never had the chance to celebrate my debut with my loving family, they're all gone. And I was supposed to be dead now too, ngunit hindi parin. Bakit hindi? Dahil hindi nila alam na isa akong Beau Monde? Is this the reason why they hid me for seventeen years? Well, I could say it wasn't successful. I was not killed, but I'll suffer real hard, alone.

Hindi pa malinaw sa akin ang sagot kung bakit ako itinago ng aking pamilya. Nadagdagan na naman ang aking tanong. Why are they massacred? If this is massacre, why they didn't killed me?

Napalingon ako sa mga matang kanina pa nanunuod sa akin, sinalubong ko ang nakakapaso niyang titig. He looks confused yet ready to kill me anytime.

Bakit nga ba? Bakit hindi niya parin ako pinapatay?