Hypocrisy (2): Run or Die

In times of peril, you need to run,

Because once you stop, you'll  be a trap or worse you'll die

Unless someone comes to save you at the nick of time.

-----------------

SYR

"I'm not an enemy. Stay put, they are near." He whispered near my ears. I tried to take his hand off my mouth but he's too strong.

He waited for the thugs to pass through in our position and then, he let me go. Agad akong lumayo sa kanya and gave him a back kick but he blocked it with his bare hand and grabbed my foot. Magaling siyang umiwas. Nakakainis!

"Careful lady--- masakit yan."

"Let go of my foot." Sabi ko nang mahina para hindi marinig, "or else I'll kick you in the head."

Pero bago ko pa maangat ang isa kong paa ay agad niyang hinila ang hawak niya na paa ko palapit sa kanya at tinulak ako sa gilid na nagpaupo sa akin sa damuhan. He's wearing a black hoody at ang inner niya ay black na turtle neck na damit. Sakop nito ang kalahati ng mukha niya. May matipuno rin siyang katawan, halatang nagwowork-out.

"If I were you, I won't make a fuss and just hide here silently." He said in an annoyed tone.

"But it's too late to do that. Say hi to your pursuers."

Marahas akong napaangat ng ulo upang tingnan kung saan siya nakatitig at nakita ko ang isa sa mga lalaking pumasok ng bahay ko. Nakasunod sa kanya ang isang lalaking nakahawak sa ilong niya na nagdurugo. Parating din ang isa kanila na parang nagsulputan dahil pinatawag sa meeting.

"Sino ka?" Maangas na tanong nito sa lalaking katabi ko. Tumayo nako sa pagkakaupo at pinagpag ang mga dumi sa jogging pants ko.

"Don't mind me, I'm just loitering here. Actually, I'm just here to watch." Simple niyang sagot at sumalampak sa damuhan. He's clearly not on their side but his remarks made me gritted my teeth. I thought he's going to help me.

"Ano raw boss? Loitering?" Tanong ng lalaking nakablonde hair. Why did he speak English? Can't he see that he's talking with some goons who don't like to speak English?

"Naintindihan mo ba yun boss?" The other guy asked. Bumuga pa ng usok sa pagyoyosi niya. Does he think that he's cool with that thin physique that is covered by tattoos while smoking? I scoffed.

"Oo! Ano ako, bobo?!" Their boss confidently said.

"Eh ano ibig sabihin boss?" The blonde hair asked again.

"Nagkakalat!" Sagot niya ng alanganin, he meant littering not loitering.

Anyways, I don't expect too much from him. At least the blond and tattooed guy didn't pretend that they knew. I feel so sorry for them. How did they end up being thugs? But I felt sorry the most for the guy who was still holding his nose because it was bleeding. I didn't mean to make him bleed that much. 

Why does my nose feel hurt for a moment? 

Mahirap ba sila kaya hindi sila nakapag-aral? Baka ganitong mga tao ang nagpalaki sa kanila? O baka someone is blackmailing them? What kind of harsh experience have they been through that made them like this? Or do they do this even if it's against their will because they need money?

I pity them. Kung meron lang sana akong maraming pera, I'll be glad to help them. I shook my head to get rid of such thoughts.

But what the hell are they doing here in my house?

"Anak ka ni Ildefonso diba? Asan siya?" I creased my forehead. Why would he search for my father?

"What do you need from my old man? He's not here."

"Bakit ba inglis kayo ingles ha? Eh hindi nga kayo maintindihan ng dalawang kasama ko. Pero saan ba tinago ng daddy mo yung file?"

Palusot niya lang na hindi raw maintindihan ng dalawa niyang kasama, eh siya 'tong hindi rin makaintindi. Pero anong file? For what?

"Pasensya na. I don't know what you're talking about."

After I answered him he quickly taps his phone and dialed someone's number.

"Capt! Sabi ng bata, wala siyang alam na ebidensya at wala yata rito and erpats niya," pagsusumbong niya. "Linagay naming lahat sa box ang pwedeng paglagyan ng file capt." Sabi nito sa kausap niya sa telepono at lumayo sa kinaroroonan namin.

I don't know who he's talking to but I don't care. I need to run away from them.

The other three thugs were left to watch me and the strange guy. Hindi ko gusto ang mga titig na binabato nila sa akin. I never fought two enemies at the same time but they are amateur, my chance to win is more than fifty percent if I take them on.

Ang lalaking may blonde hair ay unti-unting naglakad palapit sa akin habang ang isa naman ay dumeritso sa lalaking nakasalampak sa damuhan. I heard him hissed.

"Ba't mo ako iistorbohin. She's your target and I'm just a mere AUDIENCE." He said and yawned. What's his deal?

"Ngayon ko lang napansin na may maganda ka pa lang mukha."

"Kung sipain ko kaya ang mukha mo at paduguin din ang ilong mo?" No hard feelings sire, I only did that a while ago because you're about to shout--and beat me?

"Well, thanks." I replied. He stand up in front of me at yumuko siya para maging kasing-lebel ang mga mukha namin.

"Gusto mo ba ng langit?"

"Gross," komento naman ng lalaki habang nagkukunwaring nasusuka siya. Napakunot naman ang ulo ko sa inasta niya.

Tiningnan ko naman ang lalaking palapit ng palapit ang mukha niya sa akin, "How about you? Do you want to see hell?" Tanong ko sa kanya ng seryoso at mabilis na hinawakan ang dalawa niyang balikat ng sobrang higpit at tinuhod siya sa kanyang tiyan.

His eyeballs pop out because of pain, the other guy rushed in to look at his colleague.

"Anong ginawa mo?!" Sigaw niya at agad na sumugod sa akin ng suntok but before he landed his fist on my face, I gave him a forty-five kick on his left calf. He shouted in pain na kumuha sa atensyon ng boss nila. 

While the guy who had a nosebleed ran. Maybe he's thinking that one is enough?

"Noice! Bravo! Bravo!" Side comment ng lalaki habang pumapalakpak.

"Time to run." Seryoso niyang sabi at hinigit ang kamay ko. Palabas na sana kami ng gate ng marinig naming ang tunog ng mga motor.

"Shit." He cursed in my side. Binilisan naming ang pagtakbo palabas at dumaan kami sa masukal na gubat malayo sa main road.

"Why the hell did you live in this secluded place?" Inis nitong tanong sa akin. Bakit parang naninisi siya? Bakit parang kasalanan ko? 

"And that was supposed to be my fault?" Nahihingal kong tanong, pero hindi na siya sumagot at dinukot ang telepono niya.

"F*cking fetch us." Galit niyang sabi sa phone at agad na binaba ito.

"Hoy na saan kayo?" Rinig naming sigaw nung boss at may sumunod na putok ng baril. Agad nanlaki ang mata ko, bakit sila may baril? Pero seriously, did they think that we will answer his question?

"Damn, let's go." He said at agad akong hinila ulit.

I can't believe it, why am I running right now? W—with—a stranger holding my hand—oh! Scratch the hand, it should be my wrist. Just an hour ago, I was doing my plates but here I am running for my dear life. 

I would be glad if my pursuers are tall, dark, and handsome. Holding a bouquet of flowers and chocolates in their hands. Not a grandpa with a big belly or looking an addict with a gun on their hand.  

Tumigil kaming dalawa sa pagtakbo para magpahinga. Nailigaw naman siguro naming sila gamit ang mga pag-iwan ng pira-pirasong tela nangg damit namin? Sana lang, hinihingal na ako tumakbo.

"Who are you?" I asked while panting but he didn't answer.

"We need to call the police or just go there." Malapit na rin kasi kami sa police station. Nakalabas na kasi kami sa kakahuyan at nandito na sa isang madilim na eskinita.

"Do you wanna die?" He annoyingly asked.

"Of course, I don't!"

"Then shut up and just follow me." I scoffed at his statement. Follow him? Is he nuts, I don't even know him, how could I just follow him blindly? What if he's from the other party that wants to take advantage of me? That would be a big--big no!

"I saved you. Hindi ba yun sapat para malaman mo na hindi ako masamang tao?" He calmly asked me. Umiling ako bilang sagot sa tanong niya.

"No, I don't trust anyone that easily. Baka isa lang 'to sa mga gimik mo eh para makuha ang tiwala ko." He shook his head and turned his back at me. Maya-maya ay may biglang dumating na sasakyan, magpapanic na sana ako upang magtago pero agad na binate ng driver ng sasakyan ang lalaking kasama ko.

"Sakay na," the driver said. He is wearing a coat and a neon mask. Napatingin naman ang lalaking kasama ko sa akin, upang maghintay ng sagot.

"Are you coming or not?" he asked in an annoyed manner. "If you want to postpone your death and prolong your life even just for a couple of days, you should come with us."

I step back as a sign of rejection and that made him turn his back at me.

"Then—just die." He said and instructed the other guy to drive. May binulong ang driver sa kanya. Para silang nagtatalo dalawa.

"Sa tingin ko miss, kailangan mong sumama sa amin." Pangungumbinsi nung nagdridrive pero tinalikuran ko na sila. I decided that I'll go to the police station to report.

"Hah," I heard him scoffed. "Looking forward knowing you're dead through the news in next day." What did he just say?!Narinig ko na pinaandar nila ang sasakyan at umalis. I wanted to shout but I restrained myself. Hindi naman ako tanga para ibigay ang location ko.

I let out a deep sigh at nagtungo sa police station. That's right, I don't need the help of those faceless strangers.

*****

"Ano pong nangyari sa inyo ma'am?" Agad na salubong sa akin ng isang mataba na pulis na may makapal na bigote. Pinaupo muna niya ako sa upuan at binigyan ng tubig. Agad ko 'tong kinuha para inumin.

"Ikwento niyo po ang nangyari ma'am." He instructed. I started to tell him what happened. Pero habang nagkwekwento ako ay nakaramdam ako ng kakaiba sa katawan. Why do I feel so sleepy? Ang bigat-bigat na talaga ng mga mata ko.

"Sir, I—I'm sorry." I was about to apologize for being sleepy while talking when I saw a wicked smile form on his face. Damn this fat guy. I should resist this sleepiness, but fuck! Don't tell me that water---- potangina talaga. Kahit on the way na ako matulog, mapapamura pa rin talaga ako.

Dad, where are you? I need you.

"Mga bobo ba kayo? Eh isang babae lang 'to, tapos hindi niyo pa mahuli? Paano na lang kung hindi ko shift ngayon edi na------"

Why did I let my guard down? Now, I get why he asked me if I want to die. Sana lang maganda pa rin ako sa balita kahit patay na. 

"Dad, please save me."