Withered Roses

Kabanata 2

Kabanata 2

Zahrah

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

I smiled at the camera, waving my hand. I could hear the cheers from everyone, mixing from girls and boys but what I've noticed the most were the people in front.

A man and a woman.

They were cheering and everyone had their banners, screaming for me when I was announced as this year's Miss Intrams.

Wow.

Those two, that man and woman were holding hands and were screaming I was their daughter. How proud they were of me. How happy I made them, and it was more than just the sash and the crown from the pageant.

It was too bright—from the spotlight, from the twinkling lights until the cheers turned to screams.

Biglang dumilim.

I screamed a name... someone I couldn't grasp.

"H'wag n'yong sasaktan! Let me go! Let me go!" I screamed so loud my ears began ringing.

"Tangina, bilis!" a man behind me screamed. Mas nagpumiglas ako at sumigaw. "Yari tayo kay Ma—"

I screamed more, scratching these large men behind me with my fingers. Wala na akong pakialam pa kung masaktan ako, basta kailangan kong makaalis!

Sasaktan nila ang best friend ko! Sasaktan nila ang mga mahal ko!

"Let me fucking go!" Sumipa ako nang hatakin nila ako papasok sa likod ng sasakyan. Siniko ko nang malakas ang may hawak kaya nakawala ako.

The car was already moving.

I moved hastily, reaching for the handle to open the door to jump out when a gunshot echoed and when I looked back, I saw a man running after the car falling on the ground.

"N-no..." I shook my head, screaming. "No! No!"

Inabot ko ang handle pero nagdilim ang paningin ko nang maramdaman ang pagtama ng kung ano sa likuran ng ulo.

Napasinghap ako at napaupo. Naghahabol ako ng hininga. Nagkukumuhog akong tumayo at nanginginig na tumayo paalis sa kama bago sumiksik sa gilid.

It was so dark. So dark.

Were those men here? Will they take me away again? Will they...

Nanginginig na inilusot ko ang kamay sa ilalim ng unan at inangat sa ere ang cutter.

I looked around, adjusting my gaze.

I could still hear the whispers. I could still hear the way they laugh. How stinky the place was. How dark...

Nanginginig pa ang kamay ko nang magbukas ang pintuan ng kwarto at sumilip ang liwanag galing sa hallway.

My heart raced. I was frantic again.

Nand'yan na sila... Nand'yan na sila... Nand'yan na—

"Zahrah?" I screamed, inangat ko ang cutter para lumaban nang kumalat ang ilaw sa buong kwarto at nasalubong ko ang tingin ni Yaya Mildred.

"Zahrah!"

Umawang ang labi ko at nabitawan ang cutter na hawak. I heard a loud thud when it hit the ground. She walked closer and hugged me.

"Zahrah..." she called gently.

"Y-yaya..." I whispered, shaking. "I-I'm s-sorry, I-I was...oh God...I'm sorry..."