Garden of Wounds (Panacea Series #1)

Chapter 42

Forty-two.

I was afraid to voice out everything before. Takot na takot akong may makaalam ng nangyari sa akin. It left a big impact into my life. Naging dahilan 'yon kung bakit kahit gustong-gusto ni Kazuo na magsumbong sa awtoridad ay 'di niya magawa dahil sa akin. I was still traumatized... I was still afraid. I don't want to remember what he did to me.

Nakakanginig, nakakatakot, at nakakapanlamig.

My mouth remained shut at what had happened to me before. I was silent for a long time and kept it in myself. It's really not that easy to vent it out. It needs courage and I was not brave enough. Everything were still fresh. It took a lot of time for me to overcome that trauma.

Kazuo took care of me at my worst days. He knew that voicing out my experience would trigger my PSTD more, so instead of forcing me to speak it out, he chose to be with me and gave me the safety that I need.

"Damn!" Kazuo growled. "I will kill that man, Elvira! I will kill Ambrielle!"

"I'll settle everything. Calm down," I sighed. "Zavion is already making a move. Hayaan mo na ang batas ang magparusa sa kan'ya."

"No!" His veins are now visible. "Let me punish him! Ako ang papatay sa kan'ya. Bakit? Magdudusa ba 'yan sa kulungan? Hindi! Makukulong lang siya pero buhay pa rin! Dapat sa kan'ya, pinapatay! He doesn't deserve to live!"

"Lower down your voice. Marinig ka ni Atharv," I look up to meet his gaze. "Aalis kami ni Zavion mamaya para pumunta roon. May operation lang siya ngayon."

"How can you be do calm after knowing the rapist's whereabouts?! You must find him and kill him!"

"Dahil hindi na siya makakawala ngayon," malumanay kong sagot.

"Ako, tangina, hinding-hindi ako kakalma! Ang sarap baliin ng leeg ng gagong 'yon!" Asik niya.

Looking at my brother's state, I know that he's fuming mad. Pulang-pula ang kan'yang tainga at leeg. Matalim din ang tingin niya kapag nagtatama ang mga mata naming dalawa. Naiintindihan ko kung saan nanggagaling ang inis at galit niya. He saw me at my worst state... he was watching me from the very beginning of everything.

"I'll go with you later. Hindi ko palalagpasin 'tong araw na 'to," diretsong wika niya bago umalis sa aking silid.

I took a deep sigh. I took a quick shower and dressed up so I could ready myself. Wala pa si Zavion dahil abala siya sa kanilang hospital. Lumabas ako sa kuwarto at dumiretso sa lunch area. I saw Atharv watching a TV. When he noticed my presence, he quickly gave me a peck on my cheek. Napangiti ako at hinanap si Archis.

"Mama!"

There he is.

"Wala po si Papa?" He asked in his innocent voice.

Tumingin ako sa kan'yang gawi at napailing ako nang makitang nagkalat na naman ang kan'yang mga laruan sa carpet. I called them to eat lunch with me. It's weekend so it's our family day. Nakita ko rin sa gilid ng aking mga mata si Kazuo na halos magdikit na ang kilay sa inis. He sat in front of me and poured a water on his glass.

"He's a great doctor. Of course, he has no time for himself," pagbabara sa kan'ya ni Atharv.

I chuckled. "Nandito na rin mayamaya 'yong Papa n'yo. May operation siya ngayon kaya hindi pa siya nakakauwi."

"Tito! What's the matter?" Archis asked Kazuo in his soft voice. Nagtataka itong nakatingin sa kan'ya dahil nahalata niyang tahimik ito. Archis sat beside him and looked at him.

"Matter is anything that occupies space and has mass," Kazuo answered him nonchalantly.

I cursed under my breath. Humagalpak sa tawa si Atharv at nagtataka naman siyang tiningnan ni Archis.