Excelium II: Hunting Season

Kabanata 38

Tahimik ang loob ng kwarto at walang nagsasalita sa dalawa. Si Shane naman ay kasalukuyang nakahiga sa isang kama at hindi pa rin nagigising. Sinulyapan ni Asta ang batang tahimik lamang na nakaupo sa gilid ng kama. Halata ang pag-aalala sa mukha nito at tila ba hindi mapakali dahil sa madalas na pagmasahe nito sa mga sariling kamay.

Malamang ay naiisip nito ang senaryo na kasalukuyang nangyayari sa palasyo. She sighed and walked to where he is as she plaster a smile. Umupo siya sa tabi nito at kinausap upang aliwin, "By the way, Rui. How old are you again?"

Tumingin naman ang mga bilugan at inosenteng mata nito sa kanya. Asta pursed her lips. Does angels really exist? I want to keep him! Just look how cute he is!

"9." sagot nito.

"Do you remember your birthday?"

Umiling naman ito, "I was born as a slave and when I was big enough, my mother sold me to a wealthy man. I'm not that close with my mother so I've never asked her what day I was born."

"You're really fluent in English. Did someone taught you?"

Umiling naman si Rui, "After being purchased, I worked as a housekeeper at natutunan ko rin ang lenggwahe nila sa pakikinig palagi. I have to understand them or they'll be pissed off if I don't do what they want because of the reason that I can't fathom what they're saying."

Ngumiti naman si Asta, "You learned just by listening? You're a smart kid. You'll grow up quite successful. I'm sure Zai will be proud of you when that time comes."

Tila nagningning naman ang mga mata nito sa narinig, "Really? Would Zai really appreciate me?"

Tumawa ng marahan si Asta dahil sa narinig, "Isn't she appreciating you now? Hindi ka aampunin no'n kung wala siyang nagustuhan sayo."

Napuno naman ng saya ang mga mata nito at lalong naging malumanay ang ngiti. Tumingin siya sa kaniyang mga kamay ng nakangiti pa rin, "Zai was the first person who ever held me gently. Before I met her, my mother always beat me up and my buyer as well. No one stood up for me and just looked at me with pity but Zai was different," muli siyang tumingin kay Asta at mabilis namang napansin ni Asta ang tuwa sa mga mata nito, "Zai's eyes are cold but they're honest. Her hold is gentle and her smile makes me feel warm inside. My mother never smiled at me so this the first time I felt it. The feeling of having someone to be happy of your existence. She also loves to hold my hand. Her hand is cold but it's making me warm inside."

Saglit na nagulat si Asta sa biglang pagiging palasalita nito pero kalaunan ay nagpakita ito ng malamunay na ngiti. She then talked gently, "She's that special to you?"

Tumango naman ito habang ang mga mata at labi ay nakangiti, "Yeah, I love her!"

Nagulat na lamang sila noong biglaang bumukas ang pinto. Nanlaki ang kanilang mga mata noong makita ang dalaga na karga-karga ni Sinbad. Mabilis na nagtungo si Sinbad sa isang kama at idinapa ang katawan ni Zai doon. Rui and Asta can see her back that is full of wounds that obviously came from a whip. Mabilis ang paggalaw ni Ero at pinunit ang mga halos sira ng mga bandage na nakapalibot sa dibdib ng dalaga.

"Asta, go get my stuffs!" utos nito. Saglit na napakurap ang babae bago tumakbo sa bagahe nito.

"Rui, go get a basin with water." utos ni Asta habang kinukuha ang mga gamit na pinapakuha sa kanya ni Ero. Ngunit hindi naman makagalaw si Rui habang nakatingin sa duguang likod ni Zai. He's trembling and his eyes are widen with disbelief and fear.

Lumingon sa kanya si Asta at napansin agad ng dalaga ang pagkaestatwa nito sa kinatatayuan, "Rui!" tawag niya sa pangalan nito.

Tila bumalik naman ang diwa nito at mabilis na lumabas ng kwarto para kunin ang pinapakuha nito. Mabilis na pumunta si Asta kay Ero noong nakuha na niya ang mga pinapakuha nito. She squinted her eyes when she saw how bad her wounds are. Pulang-pula ang likod nito dahil sa dugo at dahil na rin sa mga marka na iniwan ng latigo.

Zai groaned as she slightly open her eyes. Her grip on the bedsheets got tighter as she clench her jaw because of the pain. Bumalik naman si Rui na may dala ng plangganang may tubig at inilagay ito sa lamesang nasa tabi ng kamang kinalalagyan ni Zai.

Zai immediately noticed how much the boy is trembling. She raised her hand to touch his na nagpagulat sa bata. Zai groaned, "Go to Shane's bed. Don't look this way."

Rui's scared eyes stared into her tired ones. Tumango naman ito at wala ng nagawa kundi ang sundin ang utos ng dalaga. Zai groaned again, "Ero, use some gloves. You have no open wounds but it's better to be safe. You shouldn't touch my blood with your bare skin."

Tumango naman si Ero dito, "After this, explain everything to us. You hear me?"

Lumayo naman ang iba dito habang ginagamot ni Ero ang mga sugat ng dalaga. Every touches sting at napapansin iyon sa madalasang pagkislot ng mga mata nito tuwing dumidikit ang bulak sa kaniyang likod.

Shane groaned and he began to open his eyes. He sat up and his eyes widen with what greeted him. Walang lumingon sa kaniyang direksyon dahil hindi nila alam kung ano ba ang dapat na gawing ekspresyon sa harap ng binata. Shane's eyes were glued on Zai's back. He clenched his teeth then suddenly run out of the room in frustration.

Ero saw how Zai's grip on the bedsheets tightened and how she close her eyes tight. "Don't regret it now. You made the right decision. The boy needs to learn. Although I doubt that the wound you inflicted in him will heal." Ero said and continued on what he is doing.

Bumuntong hininga si Zai at noong idinilat na nito ang kaniyang mga mata ay bumalik na rin ang madalas nitong ekspresyon, "The more permanent it is, the better."

Ero smirked as he focus on his job, "You really have one unexpected soft spot."

Ilang saglit lamang ay natapos na rin ang panggagamot ni Ero sa likod ng dalaga. Nakaupo na ito at may suot na ring damit habang nakabendahe naman ang kaniyang likod at dibdib. Hinihintay naman nila ang mga sasabihin nitong paliwanag na gusto nilang malaman.

Zai blinked, "Trois will arrive soon. Let's wait for his arrival."

"Now that you mentioned it, he was gone since yesterday right?" Asta asked.

Ilang saglit lamang ay pumasok ang malamig na hangin na nanggagaling sa labas at nakita na nila si Trois na naglalakad patungo sa kamang kinaroroonan ni Zai habang may isang bagay na nakabalot sa tela ang nasa kamay nito. Ero squinted his eyes. Just by its shape, he already knows what it is.

Mabilis naman na dumako ang mata ni Trois sa mga bandage sa katawan ni Zai ngunit hindi na siya nagtanong at nagsalita na lamang, "Southwest. 10 kilometers." tumango naman si Zai.

"But before we begin.." nagtaka naman sila noong biglang itinutok ni Zai ang bagay na ibinigay sa kanya ni Trois sa kaniyang gilid. "I have to deal with this guy first."

Doon lamang nila napansin ang isang lalaki na nakatayo sa gilid nito at nakatutok rin ang kaparehas na bagay sa ulo ni Zai. Sinbad and the others became alert. They didn't feel him came in! They couldn't feel any presence.

Zai looked up to Zenlhoir's emotionless face, "You're aware of who you are pointing that damn gun at, aren't you?"

"And you're aware that you're about to exploit this country's secret, am I wrong?"

"Yeah and I don't give a damn."

Zenlhoir squinted his eyes at her, "Stop being unreasonable."

Except for Ero, they all jerked up when they heard a sound of a small and sharp explosion. Zai continued pulling the trigger but Zenlhoir remained stoic. Not even startled of Zai's sudden shots. Tumama ang lahat ng mga bala sa dingding na nasa likod ng lalaki.

Zai glared at him, "So you swore your loyalty to this country after Dad died? Is your loyalty to our family that shallow for you to point your gun at me?"

Zenlhoir's eyes slightly softened with her words, "Zai, that's not--"

"Or maybe you thought that this little girl that you both left behind is better off on her own? She's a monster after all."

Zenlhoir's eyes widen with the familiar memory she mentioned, "Zai, listen--"

Zai pulled the trigger again, grazing Zenlhoir's cheek. Zai is glaring at him with pure anger and hatred. Then she let out a sarcastic chuckle, "Were you relieved?" her eyes then turned cold and not even a sarcastic smile can be seen on her lips, "To leave your monstrous 'little sister' behind?"