AGS 4: The Best Man's Wedding

Chapter 16: Scarred

Sometimes, the reality is way scarier than any nightmare, and my childhood absolutely proved that fact.

Parang movie 'yon na naka-auto repeat every time na natatapos, then it would leave me with pain, shock, and fear no matter how long it has been since it happened.

We lived in Zamboanga City, but nasa village kami. Wala kaming permanent address before kasi palipat-lipat ang parents namin ng work. Si Mum, weekly may flight from Zamboanga to Cebu. Si Dad, sa Manila naman to work on his growing company. Being with our parents would always equate to holidays for us. Kapag nasa bahay sila, ibig sabihin, holiday. Walang work. Walang gagawin kundi mag-outing. Ganoon namin sila ka-rare makasama, na parang dinadalaw na lang kami kapag libre sila.

Kampante ang parents ko sa village kung saan kami nakatira kasi kilala naman kami roon, especially we were backed by the Mendozas and Argentes. May connection sa military si Tito Ferdz and si Mum. Governor ang lolo ni Mat. Exclusive subdivision iyon pero malapit kami sa may gate, unang corner kami at kitang-kita ang bahay namin mula sa labas.

I was in Grade 2, Friday of mid-March when it happened.

The afternoon sun wasn't that prickly on the skin as compared to now. I was sneaking in Kuya's room kasi ang dami niyang toys. Ayaw niya akong pumapasok sa room niya kasi alam niyang mangingialam ako.

I took Mr. D, his favorite dino plushie, then his Voltes V action figure and a military toy car. Kuya Matthias liked playing with me kasi wala akong ibang kalaro. Since I didn't want Kuya Ronie to kick me literally, pumunta ako sa labas ng bahay namin para hindi niya ako maabutan. Kuya Matthias's house was three houses away from us. Hindi nga malayo kung tutuusin.

I carried all the toys in my chubby arms as I ran outside the house while shouting, "Kuya Maaaat! Play ta!"

Eight years old, I only stood three feet nine and couldn't understand any language aside from English, Bisaya, and a bit of Tagalog. I was a chubby kid way back then, and our neighborhood wouldn't question my family's capacity to feed me kasi nakikita naman sa katawan ko.

I ran towards the second house when an arm grabbed me from behind.

"P're, ikot! Baka maabutan tayo!"

And the only words I shouted were, "Mr. D!"

Kuya's dino plushie landed on the asphalt road. Nakailang gulong iyon hanggang sa mapuno ng alikabok. Kuya Ronie would definitely punch me in the face once he saw his dino plush rolling on the road full of dirt.

"Mr. D! Kuyaaaa!"

The arm didn't let go of me. Pumalag ako pero buhat-buhat lang ako ng malaking lalaki.

Mula sa gate namin, nakita ko si Kuya galing sa bahay. Nakasuot pa nga siya ng uniform pero nakaalis na ang mga butones ng blouse.

"Kuya, heeeelp!"

Ang sama ng tingin sa akin ni Kuya, sunod sa mga laruan niyang nasa kalsada.

May scary na mamâ na tumatangay sa akin, pero isa-isang pinulot ni Kuya ang mga laruan niya sa kalsada saka ako tiningnan nang masama. He didn't move. Hinayaan lang niya ako.

"Kuyaaaa!"

Then the man threw me inside the back part of an owner-type jeep. Bukas na bukas ang halos buong sasakyan kaya hindi mahirap makita ang loob.

"Kuyaaa!"

The car already moved, and no one was around dahil hindi madalas lumabas ng bahay tuwing hapon ang matatanda roon sa village. Madalas, tulog nang ganoong oras. I had no idea about the village's guard, not really sure if it was an inside job or something.