Chapter 1
I heard a loud thud.
Sumilip ako sa salas mula rito sa may kusina at nakita ko ang nakatumbang upuan sa sahig kasama siya. Sinubukan niya pa ang tumayo ngunit nabigo siya dahil parehong nakatali sa upuan ang kaniyang mga braso, kamay at paa.
Muli kong isinuot ang takip sa aking mukha bago mabagal na naglakad palapit sa salas. He quickly raised his head when he heard the creaking floor caused by my footsteps.
"Hmm!"
Walang kahirap-hirap kong hinila ang upuan at sa pangalawang pagkakataon, ay muling nagtama ang mga paningin namin.
"Hmm—what the fuck?!" he blasted when I suddenly took the duct tape off his mouth.
Hindi ko pinansin ang reklamo niya dahil umalis ako para bumalik sa kusina upang patayin ang naiwang nakabukas na stove. Kumuha ako ng dalawang bowl bago isinalin dito ang inilutong chicken pasta soup.
Muli akong bumalik sa may salas dala ang dalawang bowl. Inilapag ko ito sa isang bakanteng lamesa na gawa sa kahoy bago ito ipinuwesto sa harapan niya.
"How can I eat? I'm tied here, just so you know," aniya nang makaupo na ako.
Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kaniya.
"Sino ba ang may sabing kakain ka?" balik kong tanong. "These bowls are for me, just so you know."
"Who the heck are you? I thought, you're one of our guards or agents because you saved me from my captors, but I can now see clearly that I was wrong about that."
"Aren't you going to thank me? You just said I saved you from them, hmm?"
"Let me get out of here, then you'll get my gratitude."
Napangisi ako ako kahit na may tela pa ring nakatakip sa aking mukha.
"You think, I'm stupid?" I chuckled. "I saved you from them, but who's gonna save you from me?"
He heaved a deep sigh. Seems like he's almost losing his patience, although, we both know he can't do anything with his hands being tied.
"What do you really want? Don't you even know who I am?"
Unti-unting nawala ang ngisi na nasa aking labi. Ilang segundo rin akong napatitig sa kawalan bago ibinalik ang paningin sa kaniya.
"I know you," mariin kong sagot. "I know you so damn well, First Son of the President."
"Then, what are you doing? Don't you know the concequences you'll have to face when they catch you?"
"I'm aware of that," I snap back. "But that won't happen unless I get what I want."
"Which is what?"
"Your life."
He scoffed. "My life?"
Tumayo ako. Inilibot ko ang aking paningin dito sa loob ng bahay at ramdam ko naman ang pagsunod niya ng tingin sa akin.
"I don't even know who you are, and certainly, I didn't do anything to you."
"Yes, you did not. But your father?" I looked him straight in his eyes. "Unfortunately, he did."
Kumunot ang noo niya.
"What are you trying to say?" he impatiently asked.
"How well do you know your father, hmm?"
Hindi siya kaagad nakasagot sa aking tanong at nakipagsukatan lang ng tingin sa akin.
