CHAPTER 2

"Hindi naman po malala ang sugat nya. She will be fine soon, Ma'am," sambit ng nurse pagkatapos linisin at lagyan ng gasa ang pulsuhan ni Xabrina pagtapos saktan ang sarili nito. She felt pity for this little girl, but she can't do anything about it. She might be killed if she tried to help her. The nurse realized how fucked the world just for the sake of money.

"Siguraduhin mo lang, binabayaran ka namin at dapat lang maayos yang tinatrabaho mo kung hindi malalagot ka," pagbabanta nito sa nurse. May bahid na kaba at takot sa mga mata nito habang inaayos ang mga gamit na kanyang dala.

"O sya, bantayan mong maigi ang hampas lupang iyan at baka tumakas na naman malilintikan ka din samin tandaan mo yan," sambit ng auntie nito. Agad na tumango ang nurse kahit na labag sa kanyang kalooban. She can't think of something why this little girl deserved this at the first place. She looked so peaceful in sleeping yet her bruises and injuries standing out indicating she was a victim of physical abused.

"Oho Ma'am, ako na hong bahala habang wala kayo." agad na yumuko bilang respeto. The Auntie immediately walked away without looking back to her nephew. Nurse Klara sighed heavily. She can't endure the presence of that evil family. Her heart filled with rage and vengeance every time she saw them.

She was worried at the girl sleeping in peace covered with white hospital gown, yet her bruises can still be seen on her arms and face. She was curious who did this thing to the poor little girl but when she saw her auntie, she already knew who. Napailing na lamang sya sakanyang mga iniisip kahit na'y labis ang kanyang pag aalala sa babae. Ginawa na nya ang kanyang trabaho at bago umalis ay sinigurado nyang maayos na ang lahat. She looked at the girl one last time and she wished that she survived from that torment.

"No, Mom..D-Dad." agad napabalikwas ng bangon si Xabrina at hinabol ang kanyang hininga. The sweat was all over in her face and it was so sticky. She looked around at the place and it’s all white. She thought she was already in heaven when she realized that she was wearing a white hospital gown and all her bruises were covered with bandage. She can feel the chills on her whole body. It was too cold for her petite and pale body, yet she had no one with her in this room of misery.

Napahawak sya sa kanyang noo nang makaramdam ng pananakit at pagkahilo. Dinalaw na naman sya ng mga ala-alang pilit nyang binabaon sa limot ngunit para na itong nakaukit sa kanyang pagkatao. Napasabunot na lamang sya sa kanyang sarili nang marinig nya ang mga huling sambit ng kanyang magulang at ang kalagayan nilang hinding hindi nya malilimutan. She can still hear them. Their own voices. How her mom asked if she enjoyed the party even though she was screaming in pain inside. How she made her breakfast and took her to shopped with her like her own friend. The way she brushed her hair and sang her song every time she was scared because of thunder. The way her dad jokes every time to make her smiled because he hates her being sad and lonely. She fucking misses them. She misses her family. She misses her home.

Xabrina tears stopped from flowing and the fear stroked her inside when a fearsome memory split in her mind. Dahan dahang inilahad ang kamay sa kawalan at agad na napapikit ng mariin nang maalala nya ang bahid ng dugo sa mga kamay mula sa kanyang mga magulang. She screamed at the top of her lungs as if the whole world were listening.

"P-please stop.. make it stop,” Xabrina said. She can hear them. Their murmurs. They were blaming her to the death of her own family. Her heart filled with anger and rage. Hindi na nya alam ang sunod nyang ginawa at pinagbabasag ang mga bagay na nakita nya sa loob ng kanyang kwarto. Some of the scattered pieces pierced into her feet but she doesn’t feel anything. The pain inside her was much deeper and more pierced through her shattered soul. She was crying desperately to make them stopped yet the voices in her head won't stop talking. They kept on telling her that it was all her fault. They died because of Xabrina.

"Stop! Just fucking stop please!" aniya sa kanyang sarili. Ramdam nito ang umaagos na dugo mula sa kaniyang noo dulot ng pagdiin ng kanyang kuko. Unti unting nanghina ang kanyang katawan at napaupo sa sulok ng silid habang nakatakip ang mga palad sa kanyang tenga. She wanted them to stop but every time she told them stop, mas lalo silang lumalapit at lumalakas. She don't know what to do anymore. She was fucking scared. They wanted her worthless life. She hope someone would killed her. Just please.

"Bakit naging ganto kamiserable ang buhay ko?" she was asking herself like a mad man.

"Why did you leave me.. pagod na pagod na ako lumabang mag isa sa buhay na puro paghihirap ang ibinabato.Why?! Why,Mom..Dad."she buried her face on her knees and wrapped her arms around her legs. She just wanted to die. She can't take this anymore. She can't take any punch and torture they were doing to her. She was praying for someone to helped her.

She was begging desperately when she heard someone opened the door. She immediately covered her face and hustle herself through the corner. Someone in a hospital uniform entered and she looked so worried, yet she knows she can't be trusted. Unti unti syang lumapit at nakaramdam agad ng takot at pangamba si Xabrina na baka sya'y saktan nito tulad ng ginagawa sa kanyan.Akmang hahawakan sya nito ngunit nagpumiglas si Xabrina.

"W-wag mo akong sasaktan, p-parang awa mo na.. " she begged desperately for her life. Just one strike, she would probably loss her sense again. She looked so fragile, and a small touch would crash her along with her soul.

May bahid nang awa ang mata ng nurse nang makita ang nangyayari sa babae. She slowly walked forward to her and tried to brush her hair to give comfort to her heart. However, she knew that no one can repair the broken soul of someone already experienced the agony.

"Hindi kita sasaktan, iha. Andito ako para bantayan ka at alagaan." she tried to calm her down and she became calm, yet her eyes were full of misery. Xabrina looked at the nurse with confusion. Alaga? Simula nang mawala ang kanyang magulang trinato na syang parang b****a at hindi tao ni kadugo. Hindi na nya pa naranasan ang pag aalaga simula nang mawala ang kanyang tahanan. Araw araw na lamang sya nakakaramdam ng sakit at hinagpis sa impyernong buhay meron sya.

"Tahan na,hindi kita sasaktan," sambit sakanya ng ginang at iginaya sya sa kama at inalalayang humiga. Agad naman syang sumunod ngunit umiiwas pa rin sa presensya ng nurse.She can’t trust her. She can’t trust anyone except from herself. She chuckled from her thought. Even herself can’t be trusted anymore.

"Kailangan mong magpalakas at gumaling. Kabilin bilinan ng iyong tita na bantayan kitang mabuti at alagaan para maiuwi kana agad," the nurse said. Para syang nabingi sa sinabi nito at unti unting nakaramdam ng takot. She took Klara's hand and begged to her. She kept on trembling and shaking her head from fear. She doesn't want to go back. She doesn't want to live anymore from that suffer. Nurse Klara saw how she was so desperate for her life. She hoped she can’t help her but she doesn’t have any idea how.

"Huwag nyo na po akong iuwi doon. Ayoko na po...ayoko na..." pagsusumamo ni Xabrina sa ginang. Tiningnan lamang sya nito na may namumuong luha sa mga mata nito. Klara caressed her cheek to calmed her down again and talked to her peacefully.

"Ano bang nangyare sa iyo? Bakit nagkaganyan ang katawan mo? Minamaltrato kaba?" tanong sa kanya ng nurse kahit na alam na nito ang nangyari dito. She just wanted to know if they did something more horrible to the poor woman. Hindi sya sumagot dahil ang kanyang isip naglalakbay sa kalawan at nais makalaya mula sa pagdurusa. Iniisip nya pa lamang na bumalik sa lugar na iyon ay nanghihina na agad sya.

"Help me, please. Ilayo nyo po ako sa kanila," pagmamakaawa nya. She didn't trust her yet fully, but she hoped Klara would help her. She doesn’t know what to do anymore. She just wanted to run away from the torment of her sin.

"Teka muna,iha. Sabihin mo muna kung ano bang nangyare, kung bakit ka nagkaganyan," ani ng ginang habang nakatingin sa kanya. Napatitig sya sa ginang at di alam ang sasabihin basta ang gusto nya lamang ay ang makatakas at makalayo mula dito. Xabrina was crying silently, and Klara's heart poured with pity to this woman. She felt sorry yet she can't do anything. She hugged her tightly and patted her back softly.

"Hindi kita matutulungan hangga’t hindi mo sinasabi ang totoong nangyari at ginawa nila sayo," Klara said. Xabrina can't open her lips as if it was sealed because of fear from her Auntie and Uncle. If they would know that she told her about what happened to her, they would probably locked her and hit her again. Napailing sya sa kanyang naisip at agad niyakap ang sarili dahil sa takot at pangamba. Nakatulala at nakatanaw lamang si Xabrina labas ng bintana at walang sinasabi ni isang salita. Klara smiled at her to assure her that she can wait and cleaned the broken glass. She also cleaned the bruises of her and covered it with bandage carefully.

"Aalis na ako,Xabrina. Mamaya babalik ako para bigyan ka ng pagkain." nurse Klara genuinely smiled to her.

Hindi umimik si Xabrina at patuloy pa ring nakatulala sa kawalan.Tinignan muna sya ni Klara at siniguradong walang natirang basag na mga baso at bagay bago umalis. Xabrina was still looking from nowhere. She kept on ignoring her thoughts from the past but it seems it would never leave her and would always hunt her.

Napapangiwi sya’t napapapikit ng mariin sa mga naalalang boses at itsura ng mga magulang. She sighed heavily then she slowly stands when her knees trembled, and she almost fell. Gladly, she managed to hold on to the wall and continue to walk to the window as if someone was calling her to go there.

She opened the window and looked at the sky. She watched the birds fly with freedom and flowers shining with beauty. The warm air from above gave her warmth and she felt like someone was hugging her. She felt peace for the first time in her 2 years of hell life. She was on the 7^th floor of the hospital, but she didn’t think about and slowly lift her feet to the edge of the window.

“Mom...D-Dad,take m-me with you.. please,” bulong sa hangin ni Xabrina at may tumulong butil ng luha mula sakanyang mga mata.Naramdaman nya ang hangin na humahaplos sakanyang katawan at pisgne na tila bang pininipigilan sya sa gusto nyang gawin. Yet, for her, they were inviting her to continue her life to the other side.

She closed her eyes to feel the presence of her family when she heard a howl somewhere. Inilibot nya ang kanyang tingin sa paligid nang nakita nya ang isang kakaibang bagay na umiilaw sa may likod ng isang malaking puno. The pair of glowing red eyes gave her chill throughout her body. She can’t see the whole body since it was too far away and dark due to the crowd of trees in the forest in front of the hospital. She felt scared for her life as if this pair of eyes were looking through her soul. However, she felt weird when her heart suddenly became warm from the look its eyes. Tinitigan nya ito na mabuti at di namalayan na sya ay pahakbang na sa kawalan nang biglang bumukas ang pinto at nakita nya ang taong kinasusuklaman nya sa lahat.

“Xabrina! Don’t you dare do that!” sigaw sa kanya ng kanyang uncle.Nakaramdam sya ng takot at muntikan nang malaglag nang mahawakan sya ng kanyang uncle at ibinababa sa binatana. Pilit syang nagpupumiglas at kumakawala sa mahigpit na hawak ng uncle. She doesn’t want to be hold by this monster.

“Nasisiraan ka na ba ng ulo?! Tigilan mo yang kahibangan mo!” he pushed her to the bed, and she squirmed in pain from the impact. She screamed loudly because she can’t take it anymore. Her uncle looked at her with disgust and rage. Walang ganang tinapunan nang tingin pabalik ni Xabrina ang uncle. She glared at him as if she was cursing her and wanted to kill him even though she was trembling inside.

“T-tama na.. p-pagod na ako. Pagpahingahin nyo na ako. G-gusto ko ng makasama sila m-mom and dad. Hayaan n-nyo na ako,” matapang ngunit nanginginig nyang sambit. Her Auntie came into the scene, and she was shocked on what happened.

"Tatawagin ko ang guard. Bantayan mo iyang babaeng yan." agad na naglakad palayo ang kanyang uncle at natira na lamang doon ang auntie na galit na galit sa kanya. Agad namang dumating ang kanyang nurse.

“Nababaliw ka na talagang babae ka. Sige, magpakabaliw ka lang dahil sa oras na nasa amin na ang pera, ibibigay ka na namin sa magiging bagong amo mo,” ngumisi ang kanyang auntie. Xabrina felt numbed when she heard what her auntie said. What would they do to her? No. She can’t imagine another life with someone evil as her auntie and uncle. She tried to get lost from the grip of the nurse. But then, her eyes felt heavy when the nurse sting a needle to her wrists. She was slowly losing her senses, but she was still begging desperately in her mind that someone, just someone, to help her.

Nagising si Xabrina sa isang pamilyar na kwarto. The same room she was tortured and abused. The same empty dirty room with a small window above that served as her light through the darkness. The rusty old metal chain covered with blood were still there showing that she would be chained up again. She covered her head from the memories flowing through her mind in this filthy room. Hindi mapigilan ang pag agos ng luha sa kanyang mga mata habang nakatulala sa madilim na kawalan. Biglang pumasok sa kanyang isipan ang pulang mga matang nakatitig lamang sakanya. She can’t explain why she feels that those eyes were caring for her. Her mind relaxed and her nerves loosened up when she thought about that. She wanted to saw that pair of eyes again.

Bigla syang nagulat ng bumukas ang pintuan ng kwarto at tumambad ang kanyang uncle na lasing at wala sa sariling binalibag ang pinto. Hindi nya namalayan ang presensya ng tito dahil sa lalim ng kanyang iniisip. Nakaramdam agad sya ng takot at pandididiri nang biglang nagtanggal ang kanyang tito ng damit. She wanted to scream but her uncle covered her mouth to shut her up. She kept on shaking her head as a sign of disagreement. She tried to get lost of his grip, but he was too strong since he was drugged. She was crying helplessly and begging him to stopped.

"Masyado mo na kaming pinapahirapan," sambit ng kanyang uncle. Unti unting sinsisira ng kanyang tito ang damit nito. Nagpumiglas sya nang maramdaman nya ang mga haplos nito.

"Papakinabangan muna kita ngayon gabi bago ka namin idispatsa," her uncle said. Tumawa ito na para bang wala sa sarili. Impit na sigaw ang ginawa ni Xabrina at pilit iwinawaksi ang kamay ng kanyang tito. Napagtagumpayan nyang tanggalin ang kamay nito sa kanyang bibig.

"W-wag uncle.. T-tulong!" Halos mapaos na kakasigaw si Xabrina para makahingi ng tulong ngunit walang nakakarinig.

"Walang tutulong sayo tandaan mo yan, nakasangla na ang buhay mo samin." aakmang hahawakan sa binti at maselang parte ng katawan ni Xab nang nakita nyang unti unting bumukas ang pinto at tumambad sa kanya ang nurse na nagbabantay sakanya at may dala dala itong malaking tubo.

*****

Nurse Klara immediately followed the car to helped Xabrina. She was scared for her life, but she can’t ignore the fact that someone needs some help. When the car parked to a filthy apartment, she followed it and hid among the bush. A lot of men and women were gambling and drinking in the area. Some people were making out and it look like they were drugged. This was the place where Xabrina brought, a horrible place for woman like her.

Sinubukan nyang makihalubilo sa lugar at muntikan pa syang alukin ng isang lalake. Buti na lamang at nakatakas ito. Hinanap nya kung saan itinatago si Xabrina ngunit masyadong malaki ang lugar na iyon. Bigla syang nagtago nang makita nya ang uncle ni Xabrina na umiinom at tila wala sa matinong pag iisip. A horror can be seen to the face of Klara when the uncle walked near to her to go somewhere. She immediately blend herself from the people around while still watching the uncle walking away.

Sinundan nya ito nang dahan dahan at maingat upang hindi ito mahuli. May nakita syang isang malaking tubo sa gilid at kinuha nya ito pang protekta sa sarili. Biglang lumiko ang uncle at dumaan sa isang basement sa gilid ng basurahan. Sinundan nya ito at nakitang binubuksan ang isang metal na pinto at agad rin itong isinara. Klara felt that Xabrina was inside. She was about to open the door when she heard a loud scream asking for help. She instantly opened the door and saw the uncle half-naked and Xabrina crying defenceless from the monster above her. She didn’t think anything and hit the uncle with her bat with full strength.

“Run, Xabrina. Run!” she run away while covering her torn clothes. She didn’t look back, yet she was hoping that Klara would be safe. She ran and ran as if someone was running after her. She didn’t know where she at, she just wanted to run far away from that place. Unti- unting gumaan ang kanyang pakiramdam dahil sa wakas ay makakalaya na sya. Pero ang hindi nya alam ay may isang taong nakaabang sa kanya, hinihintay syang maikulong sa mga bisig nito.

*****

F.Ace