THIRD PERSON'S POV.
“SINO BA KAYONG MGA LINTIK KAYO?!” Jerome’s deep, fuming voice thundered almost all over the place as he stared at the men infront of them. Higit sa labinlima ang bilang ng mga nakaitim na lalaki ang nakapalagid sa kanilang lahat habang sapiitan silang nakasalampak sa buhangin. Their presence are most likely unwanted— obviously— and is clearly wasn’t expected. Sa totoo lang ay gulat na gulat nga silang lahat ng bigla na lang itong nagsulputan mula sa kung saan matapos umalis ng tatay at kapatid ni Katana at sapilitan silang isinalampak sa buhangin, tinalian ang mga kamay at kinuhanan ng mga gamit. And right now, Jerome has reached his limits. Halos nag-aapoy na siya sa galit habang ang ibang mga kasama ay nag-iiyakan at kinukumbinsi siyang manahimik dahil sa takot na baka saktanTHIRD PERSON’S POV. THE NEXT few minutes felt like Jerome’s death. Lahat sila ay nakatingin lang kay Belle at sa lalaking nakahawak sa kanya, kapwa nanlalaki ang mga mata. Jerome wants to do something. Anything to get Belle out of that man’s grip. Anything to save her friend out of the possible danger. He wants to save her, but he couldn’t even move an inch so how would he? Ilang segundo pa ang lumipas na tahimik lang ang lahat. Jerome was still trembling in anger on where he stood, the others were shaking and crying in fear, while Belle was helplessly caged in the man’s arms. Ganoon lang ang posisyon nilang lahat ng bigla na lamang batukan ng ‘boss’ ang lalaking may hawak kay Isabelle. “Tarantado!” sigaw nito dahilan ng panlalaki ng mga mata nilang lahat. “Sinabi nang
THIRD PERSON'S POV. BELLE WAS so stiff. Ramdam niya ang unti-unti nang pamamaga ng pisngi niya kung saan dumapo ang palad ng lalaki kanina, pero mas nangingibabaw sa kanya ang takot at kaba para sa kaligtasan nila. Tahimik lang silang nakaupo habang patuloy sa pag-andar ang van. Nakatulog na nga’t lahat-lahat si Remy kakaiyak pero hindi pa rin humihinto ang sasakyan. Dahil doon ay patuloy sa tahimik na pag-iyak sa tabi niya si Jehanna habang si Lynn naman ay panay ang linga sa paligid, sinusubukang hanapin kung saan isinakay ang iba pa nilang kasama. “Kailangan nating makaalis dito.” Belle slowly glanced at Lynn’s direction when she spoke. Maging si Jehanna ay natigil sa pag-iyak at taka siyang tinitigan. “We gotta escape. We gotta... We got
THIRD PERSON’S POV. WHITE. ALL they could see is white. The floor was tiled and white, the walls and the ceiling are boring, bare and also painted white, the lights are all shining perfectly and there is no windows or anything but a huge mirror in one side of the room. It was a simple, clean room. But Belle, as well as the others, knew that there’s more to it. There’s more than what is shown in the surface. There’s something wrong. There’s something unusual— and that’s the metal beds in front of them. Marami iyon, lahat ay nakahilera sa harap nila. Bukod do’n ay mayroon ding mga taong nakaputi ang nakapaligid sa kanila. They all seemed like doctors— only they wouldn’t he
KATANA. KUYA AND I kept on running despite our sweaty bodies and the rapid beating of our hearts due to tiredneed. Walang ibang nasa isip namin kundi ang marating kaagad ang tulay para makahingi ng tulong at mailigtas sina Papa at ang iba pa. Sobrang daming tanong ang nasa isip ko habang tumatakbo pero ni isa sa mga 'yon ay hindi masagot. Sobra rin ang pag-aalala ko para sa mga kaibigan namin na naiwan sa dagat. Pero gustuhin ko mang bumalik, hindi pwede. I may have turned my back on them, I may have left them, but this will going to help us all. We didn’t just left them behind, after all, because we did this to help us to save them. That’s right, Kat. Be rational. Be tough. You were a weakling, but not anymore. Don’t let yourself be a wimp any longer because that clearly doesn’t help.
KATANA. I ADMIRE this fucking doctor. He’s a good talker. He weave words like an elegant cloth and that convinced me more that he’s more likely a dentist rather than a scientist whatever he calls himself. He’s so fucking good at words because he just told us that he’ll help and the next thing I knew, we’re in his car and he’s steering the wheel next to me— babbling about nonsense shits that I just grew bored of. “Uh, mister doctor sir, whatever you want to be called—” I scratched my hand as I cut his idle talks about those things he kept in his lab. “Would you please remind me... why are we here again?” He looks taken aback. Natahimik siya ng ilang sandali bago bahagyang natawa. “Yeah, right,” bulong niya at tumik
KATANA. THE WOMEN’S brisk conversation was ended quickly as they walked closer to my directions. Nanigas kaagad ang laman ko sa takot nang tuluyan silang makalapit, pero nang hilahin nila ang bagay kung saan ako nakahiga ay bahagya akong nakahinga ng maluwag. Not until they started pulling me out of the dark room and in the brightly lit hallway. “Hey...” mahina kong sabi sa dalawang babae nang pumwesto sila sa magkabilang gilid ng parang metal stretcher kung saan ako nakahiga. They were pushing me— or the stretcher, while their focus are up front. They didn’t budge when I spoke, so I assumed they didn’t hear me. “Hey, where are you taking me?” muli kong tanong, pero tiningnan lang ako ng babae bago muling ibinaling ang atensyon sa harap. &
KATANA. “KAT! KAT! Katana!” “Shhh! She’s still asleep! Shut up!” “Baka dumating na ‘yong baliw!” “Just... Just let her rest for now!” I woke up when I heard noises— whispers to be exact. I slowly opened my eyelids, but I immediatley closed it again because of too much light from the ceiling. Nang unti-unting masanay ang mata ko sa liwanag ay agad akong napalingon sa pinanggalingan ng mga boses. I tilted my head to my right, but due to the straps— yet again— it was hard. But I still managed anyway. “K-Kuya...” I called out softly when I saw him. Mabilis siyang lumingon sa ‘kin, bagaman hirap din tulad ko dahil sa mga
KATANA. I COULD feel my chest tightening with the sight of Belle and with the sound of my friends’ cries. Tears continued to flow recklessly in both of my cheeks, signifying deep pain, as we all watched the retreating figure of Roldan and Belle. I felt numb physically after all that had happened, but deep down inside me, I’m slowly dying. Mad wasn't enough to describe how I feel right now. It's as if my chest is burning with anger and my mind is flooded with nothing but the thought of killing Jerez. Napupuyos ako sa galit bagaman pinapanatili kong kalmado ang paghinga ko. I know that Jerez can feel and see my rage, but my fury seems like a carousel to him. The more I fuel the ride with my madness, the more he enjoys. And God knows how much I want to punch the life out of his body right now. &
KATANA. “MAMALA?” Pagkapasok ko pa lang sa dining area ay siya kaagad ang hinanap ko pero wala siya ro'n. “Mamala?” tawag ko ulit at pumasok sa banyo, sa sala, sa garden, sa kwarto niya, at sa buong bahay. Pero walang Mamala. Suddenly, there’s an unexplainable swirls in my stomach that made me want to puke. My heart’s starting to pound loudly against my ribcage while the corners of my eyes started burning with the tears threatening to fall. Hinarap ko si Kuya. Tulad ko ay natataranta na rin ang mga mata niya but he’s somewhat… calm. “Where could she be, Kuya?” tanong ko sa kanya, nangangatal. He took a few steps forward towards me, grabbed my shoulder and smiled at me assuring. “We’ll find her. Now, calm down. Walang nangyaring masama sa kanya, okay?” “Pero pa&r
KATANA. I JOLTED up awake and chased my breath when I felt a strange feeling as though as I was falling out in the darkness. Hawak ang sariling dibdib at nanlalaki ang mga mata, paulit-ulit akong suminghap ng suminghap ng hangin na para bang kaaahon ko lang sa tubig. “S-Shit...” Nangangatog ang mga kamay kong hinimas ang dibdib hanggang sa tuluyan nang kumalma ang puso ko. I blew out a sigh of relief and let myself fall in the matress where I was just lying seconds ago. Then I jolted up again when I realized where I was. I'm in my room... Not that one from Terryn, but the room where I always walk around naked and the same room where I always listen to Imagine Dragons and LANY on max volume. I’m in my room in our house in Manila. Holy shit. What the hell’s happening?! Inilibo
THIRD PERSON'S POV. HINDI PA man tuluyang nakakalayo sina Jeran, Karlos st Katana mula sa pintong pinanggalingan nila ay tuluyan nang naupos ang oras dahilan ng pagsabog ng buong lugar. Karlos and Jeran rolled on the ground from the impact while the almost unconscious Katana flew away from the facility. Nanlaki ang mga mata ng lahat dahil sa gulat matapos makita ‘yon bago nila isa-isang nilapitan ang tatlo para tulungan. “KATANA!” “KARLOS!” “JERAN!” “KUYA!” There were lots of voices, and noises and frantic movements as the facility started blowing fires. Gayunpama’y mabilis na nagtakbuhan ang lahat upang saklolohan sina Katana at Jeran na tila ba nawa
KATANA. “SHIT! WE only have ten minutes!” Napasigaw na lang ako sa sobrang taranta at frustration kasabay ng pagsabunot ko sa sariling buhok. Nang mahimasmasan, saka ko lang naisip ang pagbawas ng oras. Napalingon ako kay Kuya at kay Roldan, pero tulad ko ay natataranta na rin sila. Mabilis akong naghanap ng orasan na maari kong bitbitin at agad na dumapo ang paningin ko sa relo ni Roldan. Without any words, I immediatley grabbed Roldan's wrist and took his wristwatch, making him frown in irritation. “I'll be needing this!” depensa ko kaagad bago pa man siya makapagsalita. “And you think I won't?!” Hindi ko na siya sinagot pa. Nagsimula na lang kaming tumakbo palabas na pinangunahan ni Roldan dahil siya ang may alam n
KATANA. I didn't know how we ended up in this different room but all I know is I don't care about anything and anyone anymore. My mind's a mess. My system’s haywire and I can't think straight. Parang kinakain na nang poot at sakit at guilt ang buo kong katawan— internally, emotionally and physically. The guys in whites made us laid in another metal beds after entering another room with my brother and strapped us down yet again. Sumunod lang kami ni Kuya sa kanila. Hindi kami nagreklamo o nagpumiglas o ano. Basta na lang kaming sumunod at hinayaan sila sa kung anumang balak nilang gawin sa ‘min. Ni hindi nga ako nag-reklamong masakit ang katawan ko at ayaw kong pang mamatay— parang sa mga oras na ‘to kasi, hindi na iyon ang kaso. ‘Cause after hearing the unveiled truth out of Jerez’s mou
KATANA. “THEY... T-THEY were my family...” Those words silenced us like a knife and painfully left a thick and heavy ambiance inside the room. We all watched Jerez as he painfully sobbed on his hands, not minding our presence and curious stares. While my heart throbbed in slight pain, alam kong tulad ko, nakaramdam rin ang mga kasama namin ng super duper slight na awa para sa doktor na 'to. “W-We were happy...” mahina niyang bulong maya-maya habang patuloy pa rin sa paghikbi. “Everything’s working out fine. We were contented. We were complete... not until Lloyd ruined everything!” galit na sigaw niya dahilan para mapapiksi ako sa gulat. “And up until this moment, it still hurts!” he wailed, bringing gloss in my eyes as tears threathened to faill. “I’ve lost them years ago an
KATANA. I COULD feel my chest tightening with the sight of Belle and with the sound of my friends’ cries. Tears continued to flow recklessly in both of my cheeks, signifying deep pain, as we all watched the retreating figure of Roldan and Belle. I felt numb physically after all that had happened, but deep down inside me, I’m slowly dying. Mad wasn't enough to describe how I feel right now. It's as if my chest is burning with anger and my mind is flooded with nothing but the thought of killing Jerez. Napupuyos ako sa galit bagaman pinapanatili kong kalmado ang paghinga ko. I know that Jerez can feel and see my rage, but my fury seems like a carousel to him. The more I fuel the ride with my madness, the more he enjoys. And God knows how much I want to punch the life out of his body right now. &
KATANA. “KAT! KAT! Katana!” “Shhh! She’s still asleep! Shut up!” “Baka dumating na ‘yong baliw!” “Just... Just let her rest for now!” I woke up when I heard noises— whispers to be exact. I slowly opened my eyelids, but I immediatley closed it again because of too much light from the ceiling. Nang unti-unting masanay ang mata ko sa liwanag ay agad akong napalingon sa pinanggalingan ng mga boses. I tilted my head to my right, but due to the straps— yet again— it was hard. But I still managed anyway. “K-Kuya...” I called out softly when I saw him. Mabilis siyang lumingon sa ‘kin, bagaman hirap din tulad ko dahil sa mga
KATANA. THE WOMEN’S brisk conversation was ended quickly as they walked closer to my directions. Nanigas kaagad ang laman ko sa takot nang tuluyan silang makalapit, pero nang hilahin nila ang bagay kung saan ako nakahiga ay bahagya akong nakahinga ng maluwag. Not until they started pulling me out of the dark room and in the brightly lit hallway. “Hey...” mahina kong sabi sa dalawang babae nang pumwesto sila sa magkabilang gilid ng parang metal stretcher kung saan ako nakahiga. They were pushing me— or the stretcher, while their focus are up front. They didn’t budge when I spoke, so I assumed they didn’t hear me. “Hey, where are you taking me?” muli kong tanong, pero tiningnan lang ako ng babae bago muling ibinaling ang atensyon sa harap. &