No Escape Series #2: No Resolve

Chapter 06: Vahn Darrel and Rhian Desirae

VAHN DARREL AND RHIAN DESIRAE

Naalimpungatan si Rhian nang marinig niyang nagbukas ang pintuan ng kaniyang kuwarto, ngunit hindi niya magawang dumilat dahil napakasakit ng kaniyang ulo, maging ang kaniyang katawan ay nag-aapoy na sa init. Even though he wanted to get up, she really couldnʼt until someone caressed her neck and forehead.

Suddenly, blinded by the unexpected, she sat up on the bed she was lying on and realized that the man was next to her. “Ч-что ты делаешь?” (CH-chto ty delayeshʼ?” means, “W-What are you doing?”) pagtataka niyang tanong, at medyo namamaos din ang kaniyang boses.

“Mainit ka; for sure you have a fever,” the man said, causing her to check herself, and thatʼs how she felt when she rubbed her whole body. “At saka... anong lengguwahe ba ʼyang sinasabi mo? H-Hindi ko maintindihan, maliban na lang kung magsasalita ka ng Frech, mas naiintindihan ko pa iyon.”

“Ililigo ko lang ito, sapat na iyon para maalis ang init sa katawan ko.” Tatayo na sana siya nang tumayo ang lalaki sa kinauupuan nito. “Basang-basa ka na nga kagabi sa ulan tapos maliligo ka pa. Just stay there, and Iʼll just get some warm water and a towel so you can just wipe yourself off,” sabi ng lalaki at muli itong lumabas ng kaniyang kuwarto.

Rhian just leaned back and sighed. She just felt that she was hungry, and the only thing she remembered was that she ate last when she and her friends were at a Korean restaurant. It didnʼt take long for the man to return with a stainless steel basin filled with warm water and a towel submerged in it.
 
She also brought medicine and water for Rhian to drink. The man took her hand and rubbed the towel, and Rhian felt a little relieved when she felt the smoothness of the young manʼs palm. But suddenly he grabbed the towell from him. “You donʼt have to do this. I can do it,” Rhian said without looking the man in the eye.

Tumango-tango na lang ang lalaki at muling tumayo. “Okay, babalikan kita mamaya. Tatapusin ko lang ang niluluto ko doon sa kusina para na rin makakain ka na.” The man turned and left the room again. Only then did Rhian stop wiping her body and looked at the man, but it was too late when he closed the door.

Hindi niya alam kung pagkakatiwalaan ba niya ang lalaking iyon o hindi, pero kailangan niyang maging nice, dahil siya mismo ang humingi ng tulong sa lalaki, at dahil hindi naman nag-alinlangan ito na tulungan siya, kailangan niyang suklian ang kabutihang loob na ibinibigay sa kaniya ng lalaki. And another thing: heʼs a detective; for sure, sheʼs safe in this rest house, at least temporarily.

A few minutes ago, the door to the room opened again, and Rhian immediately looked at the man. He was carrying a tray with food in each bowl and rice on a plate. The man placed it on top of the bed, next to Rhian. “Hereʼs the food; I know youʼre hungry.” She looked at the food, and it looked delicious and freshly cooked.

Umupo naman ang lalaki sa kaniyang tabi at binuhat ang isang bowl na may laman na mainit na soup. He held the spoon and blew on it. Ipinagtaka naman ni Rhian kung bakit ginagawa ito ng lalaki sa kaniyang harapan at sinusubuan siya nito. “What are you doing? Kaya ko namang gawin iyan; I have my own hands,” sabi niya, at hinawakan ang kutsara na nakatapat sa kaniya.

Isinubo niya ang pagkain sa kutsara at tiningnan ang lalaki at muling inilapag ang bowl sa tray. “Alam ko na iyan, kahit gutom ang isang tao, pero may karamdaman sila na parang ayaw nilang kumain.” Ibinalik ni Rhian ang kutsara sa pagkain. “Pero kailangan mong pilitin ang sarili mo para gumaling ka kaagad. When you get better, maaari na kitang maihatid sa bahay mo dahil baka hinahanap ka na sa inyo at ng mga kaibigan mo.”

“Besides them, wala nang ibang naghahanap sa akin,” Rhian said while looking at the food on the tray.
 
The man looked at her, and she stopped putting away the things she had brought earlier. Rhian turned her gaze to the tabletop, where her gun was resting. “Why? Nasaan ba ang pamilya mo?” tanong ng lalaki.