Kapitulo 16

“H-HOW, why is t-there—where did the sky c-came from?” she’s bewildered. 

“Divine made that. I don’t know how she did it, that woman is genius when it comes to technology.” Tumayo siya para magpaalam. 

“Wait, I’ll go get some food.” Her facial expression didn’t change a bit when Austin came back.

“I know you have lots of questions, don’t worry It will be answered soon. Kapag maayos na ang lagay mo, I will tell you everything,” Sabi nito sakaniya pagkatapos ilapag ang isang platong cookies na may kasamang fish crackers at may karton ng gatas na dala.

Kumain na sila habang nagkukwentuhan, marami silang mga pinaguusapan hanggang sa mayamaya na ang paghikab ni Austin.

Kita niya na pagod na ito, kita niya din ang nangangalumatang mukha nito.

Hindi na muli nagsalita pa si Fauzia para hindi na pilitin ni Austin mulat nitong matang inaantok, nanahimik na siya para bigyan ito ng pagkakataong matulog.

Nang naramdaman niyang tulog na siya binigyan niya ang sarili ng pagkakataong titigan ito. 

Alam niyang nagiging komportable na siya sa presensya ng binata at hindi niya na iyon pipigilan kahit saan pa siya marating nito. 

Siguro si Austin na nga ang sagot sa kahirapan niya sa buhay, siya yung tutulong sakaniya upang mapabuti at magpatuloy.

She’s still not used to stare at him, she wanted to look at him longer but she can’t. Nakikita niya parin ang mga lalaking nagpahirap ng buhay niya. And that was an everyday torture for her.

Walang gabing hindi nakatulog ng maayos si Fauzia simula nang manirahan sa Pilipinas. She was handcuffed and her neck was chained. She can’t move, her whole body is numb to that kind of situation. 

She closed her eyes, trying hard to fall asleep. 

FAUZIA hasn’t fallen asleep yet when she overheard someone’s pace inside the room. 

Hindi niya maaninag ang taong iyon dahil nakapatay ang ilaw, tanging liwanag lang ng buwan sa bintana ang nagbibigay liwanag doon. 

Her weak body stilled, her eyes peeled when she felt someone touched her inappropriately.

This person is on top of her. She can’t draw breath, her body shuddered in trepidation. 

Her tears leisurely streamed down to her cheeks.

Fauzia squirmed when the person undressed her, something poked her womanhood.

She hollowed when he thrust it inside her. 

“Don’t scream, bitch, let me fuck you.” It was Cane when she heard his voice. 

Her whole body was trembling. Again and again, Fauzia felt hopeless and feeble. 

Fauzia was brought back in her senses when she felt someone touch her back. She sprung up, she was petrified that she began to squeal. 

“S-Stop. P-Please just s-stop. S-Stop violating my whole being. S-Stop taking advantage on me p-please!” nakayakap siya sa kaniyang tuhod habang nakatungo, nagmamakaawa ang kaniyang tinig. 

Takot na masaksihan muli ang nangyari sa kaniyang nakaraan. 

A hand reached out for her but she was so scared, she started crawling away from the hands that are holding on to her. 

Her mind was havoc, she keeps shaking her head to make the memory go away, yet it’s not working. 

“Fauzia, calm down, it’s me Austin. I’m not going to harm you, Fauzia, please.” She remained deaf. 

Fauzia went deaf for a few seconds, she focused on how to get rid of the memories that keeps on leaking in her head.

Someone touched her chin to make her look up.

Umurong siya dito pero pilit parin siyang inaabot ng kamay na iyon hanggang sa puwersahang may isinubo sa kaniya ito.

Nakapikit ang mata niyang nginuya ang isinubo sakaniya hanggang sa maramdaman niya ang asim ng kinakain.

Halos ilang minuto rin bago natutok ang atensiyon niya doon sa kinakain, kumalma na ang kaniyang sarili habang patuloy pa rin ang pagluha niya.

She stilled when someone’s arm gathered her in its broad chest. 

Austin started caressing her back, she senses the security of his soothing touch. Her body and mind relaxed.

“We’ll fight this together okay? I’m here, I’m always be here, Fauzia? Hmm?” he spoke in a soft but firm voice.

Austin felt her soft sobs on his chest, he never stopped caressing her.

Matagal silang nasa ganoong posisyon, walang balak na bitawan ang dalaga na unti-unti nang kumakalma.

His fist hardened. `I will make them pay for hurting this precious angel.`

It’s hard to watch Fauzia had trouble with herself, it’s torture.

“Austin?”

He stilled, ito ang unang beses na tinawag siya sa pangalan ng dalaga. “Hmm?” 

He peaceably brushed her hair.

“Thank you.” His breathing was uneven, mas isiniksik pa ni Fauzia ang mukha sa kaniyang dibdib at ramdam niya ang mainit at mabigat na paghinga nito. “For staying.”

“Salamat din.”

“Huh? Why?” nagtatakang tanong niya kay Austin.

“Thank you for coming into my life.” Bulong niya dito, patuloy parin niyang sinusuklay ang mahabang umaalon nitong buhok.

Gumalaw ng kaunti si Fauzia, ang ulo nito ay tumagilid dahilan para dumikit ang tenga nito sa mabilis na tibog ng puso ni Austin.

“Why are you thanking me? I’m just a burden in your life,” Matabang nitong sagot.

“You’re not a burden, you’re a godsend.” Dahil sa sinabi ng binata bumilis ang tibok ng puso ni Fauzia.

Wala nang nagsalita sa sandaling iyon, parehas lamang nilang dinadamdam parehas ang isa’t isa.

It was already midnight and there they are, wide awake under the faintly misty sky.

“Takot ka pa rin ba saakin?” hindi maiwasang tanong ni Austin. He can see that Fauzia has improved but he still can see uneasiness whenever she looked at him.

Hindi nakakatagal ang dalaga sa paninitig niya. 

“Hindi ako takot.” Huminga siya ng malalim. “It’s just t-that…” she was hardly hesitant to answer.

“Tell me, it’s okay if it is bad or not. I understand.” Udyok nito sakaniyang sumagot.

Napakagat ng ibabang labi si Fauzia. “I still can see their f-faces in you, hindi lang ikaw—kahit kanino ako tumingin nakikita ko sila. I c-can’t, I’m sorry but I just can’t look at any men right now,” aniya, may pagsisisi sa pananalita.

“It’s okay, Fauzia, I’m just here, whatever battle you’ll face. The heck I care, sasamahan kita sa lahat ng laban mo po-protektahan kita sa abot ng makakaya ko.”

Her heart fluttered.