My Untamed Princess

Chapter 33: Gestures and Standards

Mahihinang bulong at kaluskos mula sa paligid ang nagpagising kay Cassie kinabukasan.

"Sigurado ka ba na walang nang ibang sakit si Johnson, Matt?" mahinang tanong ng isa, boses lalaki.

"Sure as hell," mabilis namang sagot ng isa.

"Biktimang-biktima ang manok natin mga dude. Nas'an ang hustisya?" reklamo ng isa pa, pabiro.

Pigil na hagikhikan ang sunod niyang narinig.

Who are these people?

That’s what made her open her eyes. Panandalian pa siyang nasilaw mula sa malakas na buhos ng ilaw na nagmumula sa bintana ng hospital suite. Her eyes needed a few more seconds to focus and when it did, she almost gasped in shock when three equally handsome men were surrounding her bed and quizzically looking down at her.

She abruptly pulled the blanket and covered herself with it. Panic instantly crept on her skin. Agad na tinambol ng kakaibang kaba ang dibdib niya. Mabilis siyang napaupo at wala sa sariling isiniksik ang katawan sa headboard ng kama.

"S-si W-will?" natatarantang tanong niya.

The last time she was surrounded like that by strange men was when...

She quickly shook her head and dismissed the bad memory from her head. She should keep her head sane, this ain't the time to get scared. She had to convince these people she's not scared, not anymore.

She bravely met the gaze of the man who was wearing a white gown like that of a doctor's. The man was clean shaven; his eyes were a darker shade of brown just like his hair. He could sure pass as a doctor at a glance. He had a resemblance to the man beside him. Most especially their jaws, it's almost identical. She was sure they share the same bloodline. The other man on her left, has jet black hair the same as his eyes. And though she tried to hide, his gaze was welcoming that she almost forgot her fear.

But no. She should know better.

The bad can always disguise as good, waiting for the perfect moment to pounce.

"H-how did you find me?" she demanded.

Nangunot-noo ang mga lalaki, nagkatinginan sandali, bago muling ibinaling ang tingin sa kanya.

"Did Gerald--" She almost choked with the name she had uttered.But she continued nonetheless. "Did he ask you to get me?" Naningkit na ang mga mata niy. "Hindi ako sasama sa inyo!" she declared angrily.

"Miss, we're not bad guys, okay?" anang katabi ng mukhang doktor. The man frowned, but he is too handsome to get ugly.

"Miss... uhm… Echavez, " anang lalaki na naka-doctor’s uniform. Tumingin pa ito sa hawak nitong chart. "I am Dr. Matthew Lavigne, ako ang attending physician ni Will. This is my brother Dax," turo nito sa katabi nitong kamukha nito.

"And I am Ivan Sandoval, the nicest guy among the bunch," anang nasa kaliwa niya. Inilahad pa ang kamay matapos siyang kindatan.

She swallowed. Hard.

They are too convincing and it’s scaring her more!

Sa'n na ba kasi nagpunta si Will? Bakit ‘di man lang siya nito ginising? Now, she's stuck her with these... strangers!

"Hey, Cassie. You're Cassie right?" anang lalaking nagpakilalang Ivan. "We're not here to hurt you. We were just visiting Johns- I mean Will. You don't need to be scared," paliwanang nito, baghaya pang tinapik ang balikat niya.

"Don't touch me!" she hissed.

Mabilis naman nitong inalis ang kamay nito sa balikat niya.

"Nas'an si Will?" nagpa-panic na tanong niya.

"Matt, she's panicking, I think you need to sedate her," suhestyon ng lalaking ipinakilalang Dax ng doktor.

"I think that's a great idea," segunda pa ng Ivan.

She gasped. If they will sedate her, pa'no siya manlalaban? She'd rather die than come face to face with the devil incarnate again!

Mabilis niyang kinuha ang unan at inihampas iyon kay Ivan. Nagulat ang mga lalaki sa ginawa niya.She took that chance to get out of the bed. She needed to get out of that room, fast!

She was about to dash to the door but Dax caught her left arm.

"You won't go anywhere, Miss. You need help," ani Dax. It was more than just statement, it was a command.

She can't let these men drug her. She'll fight up to her very last breath.

Nagpumiglas siya. She even pushed the man but to no avail. Lalo pa nga 'atang humigpit ang pagkakawak nito sa braso niya.

At that point, she was already overtaken by fear, making her defenseless and confused.

"Please, don't take me to Gerald. Please," she pleaded.

"Who the hell is Gerald?" iritableng tanong ni Dax, nilingon si Ivan.

"Why ask me? I'm not the one babysitting her," sagot naman ni Ivan.

Napatingin naman siya sa doktor, abala ito sa pakikipag-usap sa telepono. Maybe he's reporting her location.

Oh my god!

"He's coming," balita ng doktor nang tapusin nito ang tawag.

Who's coming?

Lalong siyang natakot.

"B-bitawan mo ‘ko!" angil niya habang pilit na pinipiksi ang kamay ni Dax sa braso niya.

Maya-maya pa, umingit pabukas ang pinto. Sabay-sabay silang lahat na napalingon sa direksyon niyon

"Will!" naiiyak na tawag niya rito.

He's right on time again. This kapre is really excellent on this guardian thingy.

"What the fu... Why are you holding her?" mataas ang boses na tanong nito, tinuro si Dax. "Get your hands off of her Lavigne or I swear I'm gonna blow you head off," he warned.

Agad naman siyang binitiwan ni Dax. Nagmadali siyang tumakbo kay Will at yumakap dito. He automatically held her, protectively.

 "P-please, h'wag mo akong ibibigay sa kanila, Will. I will not complain anymore. I will do everything you say. Just don't give me to them. Not until Daddy returns, please," tarantang pakiusap niya bago isinubsob ang mukha sa dibdib nito.

"Hey, it's okay, Cassie. They’re my friends," mahinang bulong nito, bago siya masuyong kinintalan ng halik sa ulo.

So they are really his friends. Pinakalma na niya ang sarili sa puntong iyon. 

Nang bumitiw siya kay Will, narinig niya ang bulong-bulongan ng mga kaibigan nito. Napilitan siya tuloy na harapin ang mga ito habang nagpupunas ng luha.

"Hey, Sandoval, ano na naman chinichismis mo d’yan? At saka bakit ‘to umiiyak? What the hell did you do to her? Dammit, Lavigne! I swear I’m going to put a hole in your head ‘pag ‘di ka nagsabi ng totoo!" ani Will,

Dax scoffed. "What? We didn't do anything!”

"Yeah dude, we didn't do anything," segunda ni Ivan na ikinumpas ang kamay sa ere na parang wiper lang sasakyan. "As in nothing, dude."

Humawak siya sa braso ni Will. Bumaling naman ito sa kanya.

 "T-they want to sedate me, " nanunulis ang labing sumbong niya rito.

Agad na umigting ang panga ni Will, ibinalik ang tingin sa mga kaibigan nito. "And why the hell would do that for, you f*cking psychos?"

 Dax cursed in another language before saying, "Hey, in our defense, we're innocents, okay? She panicked kahit na sinabi namin na kilala ka namin."

"She even thought were some guys who'll take her to that goddamn Gerald, whoever that guy is! I ain't gonna work for some man with a lousy name like that," mabilis na segunda ni Ivan. "What a shitty name, so old school," dugtong pa nito, panay ang iling.

"Well, you once worked for Roberto," singit ni Dr. Matt.

Sandaling natahimik sina Dax, Ivan, at Will, nagkatinginan, bago sabay-sabay na bumuntong-hininga.

"Yeah, Matt is right. Rob's name is some kind of..." Sandaling napaisip si Ivan.

"Medieval," dugtong ni Will.

"Yeah, medieval," segunda ni Dax na bahagya pang tumango-tango.

"It's ancient, you psychos!" ani Ivan.

Sandaling nanahimik ang mga ito bago sabay-sabay na natawa. Napairap siya. These men and their inside jokes. Gusto niya tuloy maawa kay Roberto, kung sino man ito.

When the laughs died down, tumikhim si Wil. “H’wag ninyong ibahin ang usapan,” he demanded.

"Sinabi ko na i-sedate na lang siya ni Matt, kasi nagpa-panic na siya at gustong tumakas. Besides, noong nag-panic siya sa Palawan kasi gusto niyang sumama sa Thea Island, you sedated her that time too. So anong kaibahan ngayon?"

Napakurap siya.  Kaya pala pamilyar si Dax. Tama, nakita na niya ito noon sa Palawan, two years ago. Nagbago lang nang kaunti ang itsura ng lalaki. He looked sadder and gloomy. It's clearly shown in his eyes. He looked like a different man from before. Kaya siguro hindi niya ito namukhaan agad.

"That was different!" salag agad ni Will. "At saka puwede ba, lumayas na kayong tatlo? Ang aga ninyong mambulabog a!" patuloy na reklamo ni Will.

"Hey, I still need to check on her and you," deklara ni Dr. Matt.

"She's healthy. Ako na lang ang i-check up mo," mabilis na sagot ni Will.

"Sabi ni Dra. Mendez, she came here last night almost freezing to death. Ipinilit mo rin na dito siya sa kuwarto mo i-confine. In-endorse siya akin ni Dra. Mendez. I will check on her Will, whether you like it or not,” sabi ni Dr. Matt.

Sandaling natahimik ang silid. Tila lahat ay nag-iisip.

"Fine! Just make it make it quick!" pagalit na sabi ni Will. "But you and you," Turo nito kina Ivan at Daz. "We will all go outside."

"What? I'm behaved. I can stay," ani Ivan, nangungumbinsi pero nakangisi.

Dax murmured something again in a different language. "Nangyari na 'to noon ‘di ba, Matt?" sabi ni Dax habang naglalakad patungo sa pinto.

"Kaya nga kayo magkakaibigan nina Carlo, ‘di ba?  Mahihilig kayo lahat mambakod," sagot naman ni Dr. Matt.

Carlo? As in si Mr. Reyes na asawa ni Raine, her family’s friend? Magkakakilala na ang mga ito noon pa?

Napakurap siya. What a small world indeed! Pinanood niya ang paglabas nina Ivan at Dax ng hospital suite.  Pumasok naman ang isang nurse na may dalang tray ng gamot. Nilapitan ito ni Dr. Matt at kinausap.

 "I'll just be outside," pukaw ni Will sa kanya maya-maya.

"H'wag ka na ulit aalis," habol niya rito bago ito tuluyang humakbang palayo.

Tinitigan siya nito. Seryoso. Maingat. Masuyo.

That was the first time he looked at her that way.

He gave her a quick kiss on the forehead. "I won't leave, not until you ask me to," sabi nito bago tuluyang naglakad palayo.

When the door opened, she saw Ivan and Dax standing by it.

"Hindi pa kayo niya ha?" narinig niyang biro ni Ivan kay Will bago muling sumara ang pinto.

She blushed and contained her smile.

-----

Pagbalik ni Will sa loob ng kuwarto, mag-isa na lang ito. Nauna na raw umalis ang mga kaibigan nito. She would've wanted to apologize for the way she acted, pero sa susunod na lang siguro.

Sa susunod.

Kung may susunod pa na pagkakataon na makikita niya ang mga ito. If her calculation was right, Will and their guardian-ward relationship will be over in 5 weeks time. And she's sure, she won't see Will again not unless if...

"You should've told me na sumasakit 'yang nabali noon na ribs mo. Hindi sana kita pinagta-trabaho ng mabibigat sa bahay," anito agad na umupo sa tabi niya sa kama.

She shrugged her shoulders. "Okay lang naman ‘yon. Natitiis ko naman 'yong sakit. Besides, saka lang naman ulit sumakit about a week ago. Halos buong linggo kasi na walang tubig sa tenement. I needed to collect water everyday" paliwanag niya. Hindit ito sumagot, tumitig lang sa kanya. “W-why?” tanong niya nang mailang siya.

Marahan itong umiling. "Nothing. Nag-recommend ng painkillers si Matt. Nagbilin din siya na hindi ka puwedeng pagbuhatin ng mga mabibigat na bagay," pahayag nito bago marahas na nagbuga ng hininga.

Her brows furrowed. "A-are you... mad?" alanganing tanong niya.

"No.”

"You looked like you are.”

"I'm just...bakit kasi hindi ka umuwi noong sinabi ko na umuwi ka na? Nagtiis ka sa tenement kahit hindi naman kailangan," he explained, irritation in his voice.

Napasimangot siya. Nanlilito na naman ang kapre. Kanina ayos naman ito. Pero bakit ngayon, hindi na naman.  "I thought you liked it that I didn’t go home and waited for you?" 

Muli siya nitong tinitigan, matagal. Kapagkuwan'y parang walang lakas nitong naihilamos ang kamay sa mukha nito.

"That didn't go out the way I intend to. I'm sorry," anito, umiwas ng tingin. "What I mean is, kung umuwi ka sana sa inyo, hindi ka na nahirapan pa sa tenement. You could've been spared from pain. You would've been better taken cared in your house. You would've been safer there--"

"I'm safer with you," putol niya rito. He looked at her intently.  “I’m fine, Will,” paniniguro niya.

Bumuntong-hininga ito.

"Matt said you are free to go. I'm supposed to stay for 2 days more but he gave me a furlough of 2 days. I have to be back on the 3rd for my official release. Gusto ko kasing bisitahin si Chelsea," pahayag nito.

Napakurap siya at the mention of Chelsea’s name. She hates to be the bearer of bad news but…"Will, wala na kasi sa compound si Chelsea." 

"I know of Yaya Lucy's passing. I called Chelsea the other day. Too bad I wasn't there when she... Anyways, thank you. Malaki raw ang naitulong mo sabi ni Chelsea."

“It’s… nothing. I just did what I needed to do,” sagot niya, pabulong.

"You can use the bathroom first," anito, maya-maya. May kinuha itong paper bag ng isang sikat na clothing brand at iniabot sa kanya. "Wear this. Kaya ako maagang umalis kanina kasi may inutusan akong bumili ako ng pamalit mo. Ikaw na lang bahalang mamili ng susuotin mo," anito bago tuluyang tumayo. "I'll be back."

Sinilip niya ang laman ng paper bag.  It contained dress—all above-the-knee in length, plus a couple of underwears.

"Will!" habol na tawag niya rito. Nilingon naman siya agad nito. "But, these are all dresses. You hate me when I wear a dress. "

Nangunot-noo ito. “Do I?”

Tumango siya. “Remember, you don’t want me wearing my dresses in the tenement.”

Sandali itong natigilan bago nagkamot ng batok.  "No I don't. It’s just  that you looked so damn gorgeous in one and--" Natigilan ito, humugong. "Just... wear anything that suits your taste. I'm going,” anito bago tuluyang lumabas ng suite.

 What’s that he said? She looks gorgeous in dresses.

She smiled.

Something in Will has changed. She can feel it. And she must admit, she's liking it.