"Pack your things. You're leaving red-light district tonight."
Hindi ako umimik. I just packed my things quietly. Sa tono ng pananalita niya ay alam ko na kaagad ito. She finally took action.
"Are you really sure about this?" hinawakan ni Abbie ang kamay ko. "You still have time to escape. I will buy you some time."
"No," I answered calmly. "I will not runaway."
Nang dumating na ang sundo ko, bumaba na ako. Pero bago pa man ako pumasok sa sasakyan ay napatingala muna ako. Kaagad kong nakita ang kapatid ko sa balkonahe na nakadungaw sa ibaba.
"Is there something bothering you, Miss?"
Tumitig ako sa kanya. But my sister just looked down at me, expressionless.
Hindi siya nagbitaw ng salita. Tahimik niya lang akong pinagmamasdan at tinalikuran habang hila-hila niya ang isang manipis na kumot na tanging bumabalot ngayon sa katawan niya.
"No. Let's just leave." I clenched my fist, trying to regain my composure.
I am not a coward. I didn't endure those traumatizing years just to be labeled as a coward. What I did was only for survival.
"Umalis na tayo rito."
Humarap ako sa lalaki at ngumiti. "Mahaba pa ang gabi."
Habang papalayo kami sa red-light district ay marami akong nabatid at napagtanto sa buhay ko. Kahit gustuhin ko mang maging malungkot sa pag-alis ay hindi ko magawa ito.
Wala naman kasi akong magandang alaala sa lugar na iyon. The nightmare remains. It still haunts me.
Akala ko ay mabubulok na ako sa lugar na iyon pero hindi. Nakaalis ako. I survived, even though everyone said it was pointless. Rubbing in front of my face that trying is stupidity. But I still managed to escape.
I crawled on top just to slip away from that hell. I am better than everyone else. Those who didn't do anything and remained are the real cowards.
"Things will be better..." napasandal ako at gumuhit ng hugis sa bintana. "It will be over soon."
Nang makarating ako sa tapat ng bahay ay hindi ko mapigilang mamangha nang di ko inaasahang sobrang laki nito. And it's not a mansion. It's bigger than that. A manor.
"This way, my lady," he said as he paved the way.
The chandelier dazzled my eyes as I entered the manor. My gaze wandered. I was at a loss for words. It was aesthetically beautiful.
"You must be Nesrin," a man in his forties appeared.
Kaagad akong napayuko pero agad niya rin naman akong pinaayos ng tindig.
"No need..." he gave me a meaningful smile. "No need to be formal."
"After all, you will become a member of the family."
BINABASA MO ANG
Under the Red-Light District
General FictionNesrin is the wildrose in the red-light district, a prostitution house. She grew up and spent her childhood in isolation. One night, she was caught by the manager and was forced to charm the customers by dancing. Because of her enchanting beauty, sh...
