Chapter Ninety-Four

"I like you, Jae, I wanna be your bride when we grow up!" Samantha beamed at her childhood friend, Jae, as the little boy just sternly stared at her with a knot on his forehead.

"No," he replied shortly. Samantha's brow furrowed. Why couldn't she marry Jae?

"But why noooot?" Samantha whined while looking up. She really liked him and she wanted to become his bride when she grows up. She will surely never take a NO for an answer. But the little boy faced her and just stared at her gravely like he wanted her to understand his decision.

"Because I wanna be a superhero," Jae answered simply. Samantha pouted. The cloyingly sweet little girl stomped her feet.

"You can't marry me when you become a superhero?" she asked innocently as she stared at Jae's face. She loved staring at his face.

"The bad guys will kill you if you marry a superhero." Jae spooked Samantha.

"AAAH!!! Scary!!!" Samantha shrieked her tiny voice filling the place. Just then a fat little boy approached them, smiling sweetly at Samantha.

"You can marry me, Sammy! I'm not gonna be a superhero." The little Timmy intercepted as he walked towards the two. Sammy hid behind Jae as she wrinkled her nose at little Timmy.

"But you're still fat, Timmy," Sammy answered squinting over at Timmy's belly. Timmy just flashed her with his toothed smile.

"That's okay! I didn't eat dinner today so I'll become skinny tomorrow!" Timmy beamed as Sammy just rolled her eyes at him.

"You said that yesterday!" she cried. "And the other day and the other day too!" Sammy crossed her little arms and frowned at him. "You're still fat." She scoffed.

That's when Audrey's voice reverberated from a distance calling out Sammy's name.

"Sammy! Let's go inside!" Audrey called her cheerily. Samantha's mood instantly perked up as she rushed towards Audrey, with her frilly dress swishing in the air as she ran.

"Dee! Wait for me!" Sammy called back happily leaving Jae and Timmy behind. Sammy and Audrey held hands instantly as they went inside the classroom to play with the other girls.

"I'm going to marry her." Timmy looked at Jae sternly as if he was telling Jae to back off from Samantha.

"Yeah...yeah...but you're still fat, like what she said," Jae said nonchalantly to his friend and started to go back inside the classroom, leaving Timmy wondering as he looked down on his own belly.

"Should I skip lunch too?" little Timmy murmured to himself as he patted his belly.

***Next Day***

"Timmy, where are we going?" Sam asked the boy holding her little hand, while he yanked her with him.

"We're going outside to play," Timmy replied, wearing a smile on his face. He planned the day quite well today because he was spending it with Sammy. He was still fat but soon his belly will disappear or so he believed.

"But we shouldn't, the teacher is going to be mad at us," Sam whispered at him with visible worry etched on her face.

"No one's gonna know if you're not gonna tell." He kept on towing her. He was really excited to play outside and he wanted to bring Sammy with him, but he stopped dead on his tracks when Sammy stopped walking.

"I don't want to go outside" Sammy voiced out.

"Fine! Suit yourself. I'm going alone then!" Timmy said crossly as he ran to the back gate of the little school.

"Timmy!" Samantha cried out as if she was unsure if she should follow him or not. The little boy turned around and smiled broadly at Sammy persuading her to join him.

"Come on, Sammy!" he urged. Sammy smoothened out her ruffled dress as she started to run towards him again.

"Wait for me!" she yelled.

Timmy smiled again as he held her hand when they both exited at the back gate.

"Are you sure we'll be safe?" Sammy asked dubiously as her eyes roamed around the area. It was her first time to be out without an adult's supervision. She gripped Timmy's hand tightly as they walked together.

"Of course!" Timmy said smugly. "Do you want an ice cream? I saw an ice cream shop just two blocks away from here, we could buy tons!" Timmy exclaimed merrily pointing to the direction of the ice cream shop.

"But Mommy told me not to eat too many ice creams," Samantha said softly

"It's okay, your mom is not here anyway, so let's go!" Timmy replied with a big grin plastered on his face, which made Samantha's worried face break into a small smile.

"O-Okay, I want to eat ice cream too!" she chimed.

"Strawberry ice cream is your favorite," he stated in a matter of fact tone while he was thinking of what other flavors to buy once they reach their destination.

"How'd you know, Timmy?" Sammy asked, her round eyes looking directly at Timmy when he smirked.

"Because I—" But Timmy's words were caught mid-air as a man with dark glasses appeared out of nowhere in front of them.

"Hey kids!" the guy called out as he went near them. "Do you want some candy?"

"Mommy said not to talk to strangers," Sammy squinted at the man as she crossed her arms, giving him a once over from head to toe. "You look like a burglar." She grimaced.

"Hahaha! I see you're the smarter one," the man sneered at them. Sammy squinted her eyes over this man who was definitely too creepy to be trusted. She tugged Timmy's hand to pull him away from that place, but she was outright gobsmacked to see Timmy eating the candy the creepy weirdo offered them.

"TIMMY! Don't eat it!!!" she hollered at him trying to slap away the candy from his little hands.

"But I'm hungry. I skipped breakfast this morning." Timmy wailed in response to her. Sammy was about to take away the candy from him when another creepy man approached them not so stealthily.

"Hey Robert, move it!" the guy hissed. "Get that boy already!"

"Fuck man! This is not the boy we're looking for! This one is poor! He doesn't even have any money to buy lunch! Are you sure it's him?!" The guy looked perplexed as he glanced over Timmy.

The other man approached them and squinted over.

"Dunno man. All I know is that he's fat, and this kid is certainly fat," he grimaced.

"Damn! All for nothing! Let's get out of here, Rick!" Robert glowered.

"No! Wait! I know this little girl! I saw her in the newspaper with Selene Perez," Rick said pointing to Sammy who was looking at them crossly while holding the fat kid's hand.

"You two dumbasses!! GET YOUR ASS INSIDE THE VAN WE'RE MOVING!!!" third guy yelled.

"Little girl, you're coming with us!" Rick tugged the little girl from Timmy's hand as he picked her up like a lightweight doll. Sammy started shaking vigorously attempting to get away from the abductor.

"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!! LET ME GO!!!" Sammy squealed and let out a scream at the guy's ear as she scratched Rick's face. Seeing Sammy being abducted, Timmy charged towards Robert.

"LET HER GO!!!" he roared as he punched him desperately trying to get to Sammy.

"MOTHER OF SHIT!" Robert kicked Timmy knocking him to the wet pavement where he whimpered from the pain.

"AARGHH!! You little brat!!" Rick cursed placing a palm over his face. Anger seethed in him as he slapped Sammy's cheek rendering her unconscious.

"Let's go!!!" one of them yelled.

"Sammy!" Timmy yelped as he desperately tried to get up from the pavement to follow them, wincing at the pain in his stomach and his foot which seemed to have hit a metal in the pavement.

"SHUT UP!!" Robert roared at him as he kicked Timmy again, knocking him over once more, his head hitting the road but Timmy didn't care. He crawled over, inhaling a lungful of air to ease the pain in his head. He ignored his limping foot he had to save Samantha. Just then, another kid came running towards them. It was Jae!

"HEY!!!" Jae yelled when he saw what was happening, dashing as fast as he could to go to Timmy and Sammy's aid.

"Get in! Get in! Get in!!!" the third guy yelled as Robert and Rick sprinted inside the vehicle.

"SAAAAAMMM!!!"

***

"JAAAE!!"

"Sammy!"

Napamulat ako. Nagulat ako nang makita kung nasaan ako. Bumungad kaagad sa akin ang nag-aalalang mukha ni Maggie.

"M-Maggie?" sambit ko nang makita siya.

"Okay ka lang ba?" tanong niya na bakas sa mukha ang pag-aalala.

Ang lakas ng pintig ng puso ko. Pinagpapawisan ako. Bukod doon, sobrang sakit din ng aking ulo.

"Kailangan natin makatakas dito. Ayoko pang mamatay. Wala pa akong nagiging steady boyfriend!" saad ni China na halatang natatakot na.

Huminga ako nang malalim. Nakatali ang mga kamay ko sa aking likuran at may tali rin ang mga paa ko. Tinignan ko ang buong paligid. Nasa isang factory kami. Lumang factory ito at mukhang matagal nang abandunado.

"Ilang oras na ang nakalilipas simula nang makarating tayo rito?" tanong ko sa dalawa.

"Isa't kalahating oras na siguro," hula ni Maggie.

Huminga ulit ako nang malalim. Ang panaginip na 'yon, sobrang totoo. Nakatatak pa rin sa isip ko kung gaano kasakit ang sampal sa'kin ng lalaki.

At si Timmy. Si Audrey. Pati na rin ang batang humabol sa van, si Jae. Ang linaw ng mukha niya. Parang nakita ko na ang mukha niya. Kilala ko siya.

Si Angelo. Kamukha ni Angelo ang batang nasa panaginip ko! Si Angelo! Mabuti na lang at hindi siya nakasama. Mabuti hindi siya naisama sa pagdukot sa'min. Sana naman ayos lang ang kalagayan niya kung nasaan man siya ngayon.

"Nasaan ang bihag?" boses iyon ng babae mula sa likod ng pinto.

"Nasa loob po, Ma'am."

Unti-unti kong narining ang tunog ng kanyang stiletto, hudyat na papalapit na siya. Dahan-dahang bumukas ang pinto at nalantad sa amin ang isang babae.

"What the-!! MGA TONTO!! STUPIDO!! Isang babae lang ang ipinatrabaho ko sa inyo!! BAKIT TATLO?!"

"Eh Ma'am, hindi na namin na-check kung sino ang dapat dukutin. Basta, sila naman 'yung mga nasa picture."

"MGA INUTIL!!! WALANG SILBI!!! WALA SA KANILA ANG BABAENG PINADUDUKOT KO SA INYO!!!"

"Pero Ma'am, y'ung picture—"

"TANGA!!!! BOBO!!! Ang sabi ko, 'yung nasa gitnang babae ang kukunin niyo!! AAAARRGG!!! TATLO NA NGA ANG KINUHA NIYO, HINDI PA KAYO TUMAMA!!!"

"S-Sorry po, Ma'am Rica."

"MGA TONTO!!!! Nagsuot pa man din ako ng sexy dress para ipamukha sa Michie na 'yon na mas lamang ang beauty ko sa kanya!"

"Ah kaya po pala napakaganda mo, Ma'am."

"MORON!!!!!! BUMALIK KA SA PWESTO MO, NGAYON DIIIIINN!!!!!!!!!!!"

"O-O-OPO MA'AM!" Agad na umalis ang lalaki.

Umupo si Riri sa monoblock chair na nasa harapan namin habang nakaupo naman kaming tatlo sa sahig.

"A-Ate Riri, ikaw ang nagpadukot sa'min?" di makapaniwalang tanong ni Maggie.

"Sorry, dears." Nag-flip siya ng buhok at saka nagsindi ng sigarilyo. "Pagkakamali ng tauhan kong palpak ang nangyari sa inyo."

"Kung ganon, pakawalan mo na kami!" utos ni China.

"At ano? Isusumbong niyo ako sa mga pulis? No way! At ang isa pa, naipangako ko na sa Love ko na may babae akong ipapagamit sa kanya. 'Yung sariwa at wala pang karanasan. HAHAHAHA!"

"Baliw," sabi ko.

Natigilan siya sa pagtawa.

"Ano'ng sabi mo?" tanong niya sa akin.

"Akala ko dati, malandi ka lang. Sinasabi ko na nga bang may mali sa'yo eh. Hindi ka lang pala malandi, baliw ka pa. Psychotic slut!"

"SINO SA ATIN ANG MAS MALANDI?! HA?! MAS MALANDI KA! NILANDI MO SI RED KAHIT—Kahit isa siyang...isa siyang—" Tila naiiyak siya. "At ginamit mo pa 'yung stupidong batang 'yon para maitali mo si Red sa'yo?! You're so pathetic!! MY GOSH!! Akala mo kung sinong pa-virgin pero nasa loob naman ang kulo!! MAS MALANDI KA!"

"A-Ano? Ulitin mo nga ang sinabi mo?!" Tuluyan na akong napuno sa mga sinabi niya.

"Ang sabi ko, malandi ka at ginagamit mo pa 'yung batang itinapon ko sa pool na muntik nang mamatay!" Ngumiti siya na parang demonyo. "Sana nga namatay na lang siya."

"I-Ikaw..? Sinadya mong lunurin si Angelo?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko.

"Oh my gosh! That stupid kid kasi! Sana namatay na lang siya para malaya na ulit si Red. 'Yun ang inisip ko bago ko pa nalaman ang sikreto ni Red. Inulit ko pa nga 'yon eh, pero nakaligtas pa rin kayo. Matagal talagang mamatay ang mga masasamang damo!"

"Napakasama mo! Wala kang konsensya! Pati bata pinapatulan mo." Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko. Punong-puno na ako sa kanya.

"HAHAHAHA!! Kahit na magdamag mo pa akong tingnan nang masama, hindi ako tatablan nyan! HHAHAHAHA!! Since nasabi ko na sa'yo ang mga ginawa ko at mamamatay ka na rin naman, sasabihin ko na rin na ako ang dahilan ng aksidente mo!" Lumapit siya sa'kin at nginitian ako nang nakakaasar. "Ako ang sumipa sa kabayo mo kaya iyon tumakbo at naging dahilan kung bakit muntik ka nang mamatay."

Akmang susugurin ko na sana siya subalit bigla kong naalalang nakatali nga pala ang mga kamay at paa ko.

"At kahit sino, pinapatulan ko. Kahit bata, matanda o kahit sino pa mang santo. Wala akong pakialam! Ipatatapon ko lang sila sa ilog nang wala nang buhay kapag binangga nila ako. At isa ka na roon! Hahahaha!" Lumabas siya na patuloy pa rin sa pagtawa.

Nanginginig na ako sa sobrang galit. Ngayon lang ako nagalit nang ganito sa isang tao. At sa sobrang galit ko, hindi ko na namalayan na...

"Sammy, huwag kang umiyak," bulong ni Maggie na naiiyak na rin.

"Huwag kang mag-alala, makakatakas din tayo rito Sam. Tahan na, Sammy," alo sa akin ni China.

Naiinis ako dahil ngayon lang ako nakaramdam nang ganito. Sobra helpless ko ngayon. Pakiramdam ko'y napakahina ko. Ni hindi ko alam kung ano ang dapat kong gawin. Sobrang hina ko at wala man lang akong magawa para ipagtanggol ang sarili ko, maging ang mga taong nakapaligid sa akin─ang mga mahal ko sa buhay. Wala akong silbi.