My Suspicious Boss

Chapter 06

"Kuya? Hello? Manang?"

Nag-eecho lang ang sarili kong boses sa mga pader ng malaki naming bahay. "What the hell happened here?" I whispered to myself, hesitating to step further inside. The mess suggested a hurried and possibly violent disturbance, an intrusion that left its mark on the space where I had always felt safe. The broken vases and scattered furniture hinted at a struggle or a forced entry, sending a rush of anxiety through me.

The displacement of the couches and the skewed rugs added to the feeling of disarray, as if the entire space had been turned upside down.

Lumabas ako ng pinto at dali-daling hinugot ang cellphone mula sa bag ko para tawagan si Mommy pero naka-off naman ang cellphone niya. Saka ko tinawagan si Kuya na hindi naman sumasagot, at si Manang na unreachable. Nakakainis! Nasa'n ba sila? Ayaw ko namang tawagan si Daddy na busy sa overseas trip niya! Baka pag-ungutan lang ako nu'n!

Praning lang ba ako? Baka tulog lang sila? Baka nag-general cleaning tapos napagod kalagitnaan kaya umakyat na sa sari-sariling kwarto para magpahinga.

Hindi ko alam ang gagawin, nakakainis!

As I turned away from the chaotic scene of my house, a sense of urgency drove me toward Gabrielle's place. I decided that confronting the mess could wait—right now, I needed to find solace or answers elsewhere. Siguro nga, mas okay na palipasin ko muna 'to at pumunta kay Gabrielle. Dapat pala hindi na lang ako nagmadaling umuwi!

Just as I was about to step out of the gate onto the street, an unexpected, aggressive grip tightened around my neck from behind. The sudden pressure was shocking, squeezing the breath from my lungs and making my vision blur. My instinct was to struggle, but the force was overpowering, leaving me weak and gasping for air.

"Nasaan si Cassandra?!" galit na tanong ng lalaking nakasakal sa akin sa likuran, demanding to know where my mother is. f**k! I can't move anywhere!

As I struggled to breathe and free myself from the vise-like grip around my neck, another figure emerged from the shadows. A man in a mask stepped into view, his presence adding to the terror of the moment. May hawak siyang makapal na lubid saka itinali ang mga kamay ko. Kahit na pilit kong pumiglas ay hindi kaya ng lakas kong labanan silang dalawa.

Shit! Are they burglars?! "Nasaan ang nanay mo? Nasaan si Cassandra?!" pag-uulit pa niya.

"God, I don't know!" I replied, struggling to breathe as my throat was starting to hurt from his grip.

Napaupo ako sa sahig nang ibitaw niya ang mga kamay mula sa pagkakasakal saka natapos itali ng isang lalaki ang mga kamay ko. f**k, that hurt!

I landed on my knees before my ass reached the ground. I could see some blood flowing down my legs as I sat down in pain, gasping for air. "Get her in. Baka may makakita pa sa 'tin," utos ng lalaki sa kasamahan habang naghahabol pa ako ng hininga.

Wala pang isang minuto ay kinaladkad na ako ng kasamang lalaki matapos hilain ang buhok ko. "f**k you!" All I could to was curse and shout while being dragged on the concrete floor as more blood were escapung through new scars around my legs.

"What the f**k do you want from me?!" I cried out, when the man threw me on the living room's rug. Umupo siya sa harap ko at ihinampas sa mukha ko ang tote bag kong dala dala kanina. "Wala akong paki sa 'yo. Call Cassandra. Ngayon na!"

I gulped while my hands were shaking, trying to search for my phone inside my bag. What the hell do these men want from my mother?! I doubt she'll answer her phone, I've tried calling her multiple times!

Nanginginig ang parehas kong kamay nang mahawakan na ang cellphone kong may basag na ang screen matapos kong mabagsak kanina ang bag. "f**k, I just bought this," bulong ko habang ang boses ay nanginginig din.

With my hands tightly bound and trembling uncontrollably, even the simplest tasks became a monumental challenge. The rough rope dug into my wrists, making every movement excruciating. I could barely focus, my heart racing as I tried to think through the haze of panic and fear.

The masked man knelt beside me, his presence overpowering and intimidating. He grabbed my chin roughly, forcing me to look up at him. His eyes, cold and menacing, peered through the slits of his mask, sending a shiver down my spine.

"You get one phone call," he growled, his voice low and threatening. "Don't you dare call the police."

The harshness of his words, coupled with the raw fear and helplessness I felt, was too much to bear. I couldn't hold back the tears any longer. They spilled down my cheeks uncontrollably, a mix of fear, frustration, and desperation. "Madali lang. Pag hindi mo napapunta nanay mo dito, huling hininga mo na," dagdag pa ng isa.

I have one phone call. My life is on the risk over a single press on my phone. Hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin. My heart raced as I considered the gravity of the situation—risking my life with this call, knowing that my mother might never pick up in time.

But who else could I reach out to, someone capable of navigating this perilous situation and possibly intervening before it escalated further?

Parang lumiwanag ang paligid at tumahimik ang isip ko nang makaisip ng ideya. With the masked man watching intently, I made my choice, understanding the risk but also the potential for hope. I dialed the number, praying that the voice on the other end would be the one capable of turning this nightmare into a possibility for rescue.

"Hello?" I greeted, crying, my voice still trembling in fear even when I saw a little bit of hope. "Please, help me. Please. I need you," dagdag ko pa bago siya makapag-salita mula sa kabilang linya. Agad na naputol ito nang ibaba niya ang tawag nang hindi man lang nagsasalita.

Napalunok ako. "Tangina, I said call your mother!" sigaw ng lalaki sa harap ko saka naglabas ng baril. f**k! "I did! Didn't you see! Hindi niya ako sinagot!" I bawled.

The instant the cold metal of the gun pressed against my forehead, my entire body tensed in sheer terror. My hands, already trembling uncontrollably from fear and the strain of the ropes, could no longer hold onto the phone. It slipped from my grasp, clattering to the ground with a sound that seemed to echo through the suffocating silence.

"...Pupunta siya, promise. Just... wait like 5 minutes!" pangungumbinsi ko. My breath came in shallow gasps, my eyes wide and filled with tears.

Mukhang ikinapaniwala niya naman ang pagmamakaawa ko nang sumandal siya sa pagkakaupo. "5 minutes," he affirms.

We remained in that excruciating position for what felt like an eternity, until a loud thump from the door caught both of their attention.

Parehas silang agad na napatayo nang makarinig ng hakbang papalapit sa amin matapos ang malakas na yanig mula sa labas.

There, they realized that I fluked when Aiden emerged from the darkness with a commanding presence. The shadows seemed to part as he stepped into the dim light, his silhouette sharp and imposing.

I claimed that he had always been a demon in my perspective. But, as he walked toward me, something in his presence seemed almost angelic. "What the f**k did they do to you?" he asked, ready to take lives.