The Mafia's Slave: Dare To Kiss The Devil

Kabanata 5

Sicily, Italy

"What are you going to do with that girl, Draco? Did you know her?" It was a woman's voice.

"Will you shut up! This is my business, Anika, not yours!" A man answered. I could clearly sense his words with authority.

"You're out of your mind, Draco."

"Yes, I am, Anika," wika ng lalaki. "I could see Logan's face right now. I'm sure he's dying to see and kill me." Napahalakhak ito.

"How did you get the girl? Seriously, this place was far from where she came."

"Connection, Anika. Money moves everything, remember that."

Habang nag-uusap pa rin ang dalawa ay maingat kong iginalaw ang aking ulo, natatakot na baka malaman nilang gising na ako. Rinig ko pa rin ang malutong na tawa ng lalaki maging ang pagsaway ng babaeng kasama nito. They both talked with accent. Alam kong hindi sila mga Filipino. Sino sila?

Bigla akong kinabahan. Naghuhurumentado ang puso ko na halos hirap akong huminga. Saan ba ako dinala ng mga lalaking iyon? Ano ba ang kailangan nila sa akin?

Pinakiramdaman ko ang sarili. Walang kahit anong masakit sa akin maliban na lang sa aking ulo. Alam ko rin na walang kahit anong nakatali sa akin dahil walang mabigat na bagay akong nadarama. I could move freely if I wanted to. But, it wasn't necessary at the moment.

"So, you're going to hide her here?"

"Yes."

Hide? Ano ang ibig nilang sabihin?

Dahan-dahan kong iminulat ang mga mata ngunit napapikit muli nang biglang umalingawngaw ang isang putok ng baril. Halos mabingi ako sa lakas niyon. I bit my lower lip to stop myself from screaming. Please, tama na!

"Bullseye isn't it," wika ng lalaki. What did he mean?

"I'm out of this s**t, Draco. Logan will surely find me too if he finds out that I agreed with your plan."

I heard a gun's c*****g. "Isn't it fun, Anika? Don't tell me you are afraid of him. Are you?"

Narinig ko ang matinis na tunog ng stiletto at ang pagbukas ng pinto. "Nope. But I am afraid to die. Ciao, pazzo bastardo." (crazy bastard)

"Crazy b***h! Don't forget to clean the pawn. She looked like a mess." Narinig ko ang tunog ng paghawi ng kurtina.

I closed my eyes tightly as the rays of the sun directed to me. Then pretended to stay asleep as I heard footsteps nearing me.

"Too beautiful to wear this fancy clothes." I felt the man touched my cheek. "Too beautiful to be my slave. I can't wait to see you awake. Be mine, amore mio." (my love) He chuckled.

Be mine?

Slave?

Baliw ba ang lalaki na ito?

I shouldn't panic after everything I heard. I didn't have any idea of what was happening, and why did they abducted me. Baka nagkamali lang sila ng hinala? Baka hindi ako ang kailangan nila?

"Shane. . . What a beautiful name." Ramdam ko ang paglapit ng kaniyang mukha sa aking pisngi. Kasabay niyon ay ang tila paglundo ng kinahihigaan ko.

Ano ang balak niya?

Is he going to kiss me? No!

"God is merciful. But I don't believe God, so you're mine now." He kissed my cheek.

Gusto kong pumalag. Gusto kong ibuka ang mga mata at sampalin ang lalaki. Gusto kong magwala at saktan ito. But I chose not. Kahit gusto kong bumunghalit ng iyak ay hindi ko ginawa. Natatakot akong kapag gagawin ko 'yon ay baka katapusan na rin ng buhay ko. Baka kapag dumilat ako ay baka hindi ko mapigilan ang sarili.

"Sleep well, amore." Narinig ko ang papalayo niyang yabag.

Nang tuluyang maisarado ang pinto ay saka pa lamang ako nagmulat ng mga mata. White ceiling greeted me. Puti rin ang dingding at kurtina. Walang kahit anumang gamit maliban sa kinahihigaan kong kama at bedside table. May isang nakasaradong pinto. Restroom maybe if my hunch was right.

Nagsimula akong gumalaw mula sa kinahihigaan. I was still wearing my wedding dress. My hair was partially scattered but it was still in a bun. Suot ko pa rin ang wedding shoes at ang engagement ring namin ni Clark.

"Nasaan na ako?" I whispered. Umupo ako sa paanan ng kama at tinanggal ang suot kong heels. Luminga sa paligid habang nag-iisip.

Paano ako makakatakas sa lugar na ito?

Paano na ako ngayon?

Si Clark?

Nasapo ko sa dalawang palad ang sariling mukha. Frustration enveloped my whole system. Pain and sorrow. Remembering my already ruined wedding and Clark, it made me want to yell in anguish. Mga wala silang puso. Wala naman akong atraso kahit na kanino.

"What now, Shane? Ano na ang gagawin mo?" Para akong baliw na kinakausap ang sarili.

Sino ba naman ang hindi mababaliw kung wala kang kahit anong ideya sa mga nangyayari?

I did not know anything. Ni hindi ko nga alam kung mabubuhay pa ba ako pagkatapos nito.

Naiiyak na napatayo ako mula sa kama. Nahihirapan pa rin akong gumalaw sa suot na wedding dress pero pinilit kong maglakad papalapit sa nakabukas na bintana. Binuksan ko iyon at napagtanto na may balustre doon. Lumapit ako kahit natatakot. Pinagmasdan ang paa habang maingat na humahakbang. Nang nasa dulo na ako ay saka ko itinaas ang paningin.

Bumungad sa akin ang napakalawak na lupain, purong berde na humahalik sa bughaw na kalangitan. Unti-unting nilalamon niyon ang araw na nagbibigay ng kahel sa nag-aagaw na dilim at liwanag. It was such a beautiful sunset in sight. Kung wala lamang ako sa sitwasyon na kinasusuungan, marahil ay napagmasdan ko ito nang may ngiti sa labi.

But the reality slapped me as the cold breeze from outside touched my bare skin. The pain from my exposed feet and the tears that unconsciously escaped from my eyes, as well as the emptiness of my heart. I could also taste the bitterness of my own thoughts.

Naging masama ba ako para maranasan ito?

Naging makasarili?

Umiling ako. Umiyak nang tahimik. Maybe, it would lessen the burden I was carrying. Maybe, if I cry my heart out, all of these bad things would vanish. Kasi hindi ako makapaniwala na nararanasan ko ito ngayon. I never dreamt to feel this kind of miserable my whole life.

"I found you."

Napalingon ako nang may nagsalita. Isang babae na may bob cut na buhok ang bumungad sa akin. Naka-itim na puting top na halos labas na ang pusod na pinarisan ng isang itim na maikling leather skirt. Naka-boots ito ng itim rin na abot hanggang tuhod ang haba. She looked wicked in her all black makeup, highlighted with a big piercing on top of his nose.

"Sino ka?" I asked, thankful that despite the fear I felt I did not stutter.

The woman rose her eyebrows. She smiled mockingly. "English, please."

I wiped my tears and looked at her straight. "Who are you? What do you need from me?"

She looked at me with disgust. "I don't need you. Oh, Draco needs you." She pointed her finger at me. "By the way, the name is Anika."

So, she was the girl a while ago?

Ano'ng kailangan niya sa akin?

Bakit siya narito?

And, Draco? That was the man who kissed me with consent. How dare he!

"Come on. Don't just stare at me. Move!" She motioned her hands in front of me. "You need to change. You look disgusting." Tila diring-diri ito sa hitsura ko.

Umiling ako. "Take me home." May diin ang aking bawat salita.

Anika, the woman, chuckled. "That's impossible, darling. Now, if you don't want to move. . ." She took something on her pocket.

My eyes widened. It was a swiss knife!

"Die or move? You choose." She did not even blink while saying those words. She looked deadly now. The bitchy and naughty facade she had a while ago was gone.

Dahil sa takot, wala akong nagawa. Nagsimula akong maglakad papasok sa kwarto. Nilampasan ko siya. But she pushed me harshly that I lose my balance.

"Clumsy," she sarcastically commented.

Napaupo ako sa marmol na sahig. Napapikit dahil sa sakit mula sa pagkakadapa. "You witch!" I hissed. Tinitigan ko si Anika. Nakangisi lamang ito, marahil natutuwa sa nakikitang reaksyon mula sa akin.

"I am, dear. If not for Draco, I would have kill you here. You're ruining my mood, little rat. Tsk!" She did not even say sorry and just pass me by.

Nagpupuyos ang kalooban ko. She was a heartless b***h. Bastos at walang modo.

Naikuyom ko ang kamao. Should I fight? But if I fight, what if they would do bad to me? Saan ako pupulutin? What if the only way out was to obey them? Kaya ko bang tiisin ang lahat? Kaya ko bang itago ang galit sa ginawa nila sa akin?

I should know where I am right now.

I should know if how many days since I was abducted.

I should make a plan.

"What are you still doing there? Come on!" A loud voice and a tight grip awakened my thoughts. It hurt me, but I endure.

Dinala niya ako sa banyo. Hinubaran at pinaliguan. Pumalag ako pero katulad kanina, wala akong nagawa kundi ang sumunod at magpaubaya. She gave me a clean towel to dry myself after. Nang matapos ay ipinasuot niya sa akin ang isang white ruffled crop top at itim na high waist fitted jeans. May kasama na rin iyong personal na gamit ko para sa sarili.

Wala na ba talagang pag-asa na pakawalan pa nila ako?

"Now, you look human." It sounded like an insult but I did not mind at all. Walang kwenta ang makipagbangayan sa kaniya. Hindi nakakaintindi ng Filipino. "I will send you to Draco after this little make over."

Draco. . .

Sino ba ang lalaking iyon?

"Who is he?" I asked while my eyes was fixed on the mirror in front of me. I saw Anika's expression changed. Her eyes suddenly became lighter. It was obvious, she liked the man.

"A special friend. A crazy one. Someone you don't want to mess with."

"I don't know him."

"Of course, you don't. But he knows you," makahulugang wika nito. "Faster, the time is ticking."

"What day is it today?"

"Why are you asking me so much questions?" maarte nitong balik tanong.

I did not answer. I waited for her to speak again.

"It's Sunday."

Sunday?

Ibig sabihin, isang araw na ang nakalipas nang kunin nila ako? Sigurado akong hinahanap na ako ni Clark ngayon.

May pag-asang umusbong sa puso ko sa naisip.

Yes, I was so sure he would find me. Mahal niya ako kaya siguradong hindi siya titigil hanggat hindi ako nakikita.

Make it fast, Clark! piping hiling ko sa sarili.

"Stop day dreaming. Italy is far. No one will find you here." Si Anika na para bang nahulaan ang iniisip ko.

Napatda ako sa narinig.

Italy?

Ibig ba nitong sabihin ay nasa Italy ako?

"Y-You're kidding me." Hindi ako naniniwala. Sure, she was lying.

"Sorry to burst your bubble, sweetie, but I am not." Marahas niyang hinila ang aking buhok. Inayos sa estilong gusto niya.

My little hope vanished.

Mahahanap pa kaya ako kung nandito ako sa malayong parte ng mundo?

How the hell did I get here?

"What took you so long?" I froze. Natigil din si Anika sa pag-aayos ng buhok ko.

"D-Draco, you're here!" Halata sa boses ni Anika na kinakabahan ito. Ganoon din ako. I was scared while seeing the man from behind walking closely to us from his reflection on the mirror in front of me.

He looked rugged and dirty with his long hair, but dignified in his black suit on. Matangos ang ilong at may makakapal na kilay na nagbibigay ng nakakatakot na impresiyon sa mga malalalim nitong mga mata na nakatutok sa aking likuran. Nakapamulsa habang seryoso ang tingin at ekspresyon.

"What took you so long, Anika?" ulit nito sa tanong kanina. His voice was as cold as ice. It was authoritative that it seemed like it demands answer to every question.

"D-Draco. . . We—"

"Answer me."

Humigpit ang pagkakahawak ko sa dulo ng estante ng vanity mirror. Pilit pinatapang ang sarili. Pilit pinapakalma ang nag-uunahang kaba at takot na naghahari sa puso ko. I should never let myself have room for cowardness. I should stood up and face this man—my abductor.

Tumayo ako. Hinarap ang nasa likuran ko nang lalaki. Nakitaan ko siya ng pagkagulat ngunit agad ding napangisi—nakakalokong ngisi sabay suyod ng mata nito sa aking kabuuan.

"I am impressed. No doubt you caught Logan's attention. His new obsession," he commented.

"I don't know what you are talking about. I am out of this s**t! You don't have the right to take me!"

Mas lalong lumawak ang pagkakangiti nito. "You don't know me, but I know you. I am watching you, Shane, from the day you saved my rival, Logan Del Rios Griffin." His eyes locked with mine.

Mas lalo akong naguluhan. Hindi ko kilala ang sinasabi niya. Ano ang kinalaman ko sa karibal niya na Logan ang pangalan? Sino ang sinasabi niyang niligtas ko?

@sheinAlthea