A Bloodless War

Kabanata 12

Kabanata 12

"DID you contact him?" Trece asked, sitting next to me on the hospital bed.

"No..." mahinang sagot ko at ipinalibot ang tingin ko sa kwarto. I'd been staying at the hospital for a week now.

After that fight, my friends brought me here for my head to be treated. The injury wasn't that severe, wala naman ding internal bleeding ang nangyari kaya ayos lang.

Antonio was really happy for me, talagang binisita niya ako rito matapos mabalitaan na natapos na ang misyon namin. He praised me, telling me na hindi siya nagkamali na ako ang pinili niya.

He was happy I finally killed Archer which I didn't. Hindi ko siya pinatay, that man in black hoodie did it for me.

Hinanap ko siya pero hindi na rin siya naabutan. He's not one of our men, I am sure of that. Wala ring naabutan sina Trece nang ipinahanap ko sa kanila ang lalaki.

He was gone in a blink of an eye, tanging ang bakas na lang ng dugo mula sa kanyang tagiliran ang naiwan sa lugar.

Nasa Maynila rin ako ngayon dahil nga sa nangyari, I lost contact with my husband. Nawala ang phone ko at hindi ko alam kung saan napunta. Maaaring nahulog habang nakikipaglaban doon.

As much as I want to call Zeijan, hindi ko magawa. Una, wala akong number niya and I don't want him to see me at this state.

Magtataka 'yon panigurado, may pasa rin ako sa may pisngi at may sugat ang labi ko.

I looked tortured, what would my husband think if he sees me like this?

"Madadamay siya rito, Vipe," Trece told me. I nodded.

"That's why I have to keep him away from me. Zeijan's a good man," sagot ko sa kanya.

I've already told her everything.

"Anong plano mo?"

"Annulment," mahinang sagot ko. "I need to process the documents urgently, in secret. Baka magamit pa sa akin ni Antonio si Zeij kung sakali. I can't risk his safety."

She sighed and nodded.

"Anong name niya? I can try getting his number para ma-contact mo siya. I know a lawyer din who can help you with this case..."

"Zeijan Cueno," I answered. "But, if ever I'll contact him, anong sasabihin ko?"

"Tell him you have to break up," aniya.

"Eh, hindi naman kami!" nasapo ko ang ulo ko.

"Hindi kayo pero mag-asawa kayo!" ani Trece sa akin. "You just have to choose, his safety o malaman ni Antonio ang mga ito?"

"His safety, of course!" nahihirapan kong sabi. "He deserves better, not some murderer."

"Murderer..." mapait na napangiti si Trece, her chinky eyes shining a little. "Hindi natin gusto pero pumatay tayo ng tao."

"Too bad, fate is cruel to us. Kung normal lang sana tayo, kung maayos ang naging buhay natin e 'di sana..." Malungkot akong ngumiti.

"E 'di sana, ikinasal na kami ni Hawk," malungkot niyang sabi. I stopped, kumalabog ang dibdib ko sa sinabi niya at mabilis na inabot ang kamay niya.

"Trece..." Hinawi ko ang luha ng kaibigan ko.

"Sorry, Vipe..." tumulong siya sa paghawi ng luha niya. "I-I just love Hawk so much, but we can't be together."

"Malay mo, someday..." Mapait akong ngumiti. "Someday, we'll be together with the person we love without barriers and hesitations. Someday, everything will fall into its right place, hindi naman siguro masamang umasa na balang-araw ay makakalayo tayo sa mundong 'to, 'di ba?"