Stockholm Syndrome (Mature Content)

Roots

CHAPTER THIRTY

Q u i n n

"Where is my girlfriend?!" Hindi ko napigilan ang aking sarili't bigla ko na lang nasuntok si Seth sa mukha. Sa lakas ba naman ng pagkakasapak ko, malamang, puputok talaga ang bibig nito. "That's one hell of a hook punch for impregnating her, taking advantage of the situation, you asshole," Kwinelyohan ko si Seth atsaka hinila palapit sa akin. "Sinong gago ang may gawa nito?!"

"Hindi ako sigurado pero may ideya na ako kung sino," Sagot niya sa akin, hindi alintana ang basag niyang labi. "May atraso kami kay Liandro Saldivar-"

Napaatras ako bigla, nagkatinginan din kami ng kaibigan kong si Kai. "Quinn, kumalma ka. Hindi pa natin alam ang buong pangyayari."

"Siguro mas mainam kung papapasukin muna natin ang mga bata sa kwarto," Nginitian niya si Meadow pero wala itong karea-reaksyon. Good girl, bitch na rin gaya ko. Tama 'yan, no smiling at strangers. "Wait, is that her? Ang laki na niya. She's so much like Grey."

"Meadow, you know what to do, babe," 'Ka ko at agad naman itong sumunod. Kai wanted to let Seth in but I refused. "Ugh, no. I don't want you here."

"Quinn, be nice."

"Ayos lang ho," Napalingon sa kanya ang bata habang naglalakad papasok ng kwarto. "Visible pa ba ang malaking peklat niya sa kanyang likuran? Pareho silang meron ni Gr-" Ewan ko kung bakit pero bigla ko na lang ulit siyang sinikmuraan. "Alam kong galit ka, pero isipin muna natin ang kalagayan ni Grey ngayon. Mahal natin siya pareho at ayaw nating siyang mam-"

"Ano? Mahal mo pa siya?!"

"Siya ang pinakamatalik kong kaibigan, syempre mahal-"

"Kaya naman nagtalik din kayo, ano?" May panahon pa rin ako upang maging sarcastic. "Kai, Taylor is already here. She'll watch the kids habang hinahanap natin si Grey." Taylor, my polar opposite, hugs me. "Taylor, can you do it? Baka ma-trigger ka-"

"No, Kai, I can do this. No worries."

"Thank you." My phone rang. It kept on ringing, it's annoying. "Quinn, I think that's yours," Biglang bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko. I missed a call from an unknown number. Tumatawag ulit pero ayokong sagutin. "Take it. Tita Tori is coming over, Ice called her."

At sinagot ko na nga ang tawag. Narinig kong humalakhak ang isang lalake. Pamilyar ang kanyang boses. "Kumusta? Balita ko may iba ka na."

🎶 Ruelle, Game of Survival

"L-Liandro?"

"May ipapakausap ako sa'yo, magugustuhan mo."

I heard a woman yelping in pain, it was Grey. "Quinn, please, 'wag mo na akong hanapin! Take care of Meadow for me, she's ours. Maxene will tell you everything." Maxene? The teacher? What does have to do with Meadow? The three of us?

Rinig na rinig ko ang malakas na pagkakasampal sa aking kasintahan, "Kai, what are they doing to her?" Nanginginig ako sa takot at galit. "Kai..."

"She's being tortured," Kai says after pressing the mute button. "Let's not show them weakness, that we are scared. Just listen to Grey. She might give us some info indirectly. I hope she does." Kai looked at Seth before saying, "She's a police asset after all."