CHAPTER 39

VALENTINA IMARA MEADOWS

Nagusot ang ilong ko ng maramdaman na parang may malamig na bagay roon. I snapped out of my deep thoughts, realizing that we were in Rafael's and my favorite spot. Nakaupo kaming dalawa sa nakalatag na mat, at kumakain ng dala niyang pagkain. Rafael was holding a small cup of yogurt, and I figured it was what he had put on my nose. Kumuha ako ng tissue at pinunasan ang ilong ko.

"Daydreaming? Anong nasa isip mo?"

Napalunok ako habang hindi makapaniwalang tiningnan si Rafael sa harapan ko; he was now sitting in front of me. Nakakunot ang kan'yang noo habang mariin na nakatitig sa akin. He was wearing a white polo shirt and black shorts. His glasses slid down slightly, and he pushed them back up.

Anong meron? Bakit ako nandito? The last thing I remember was losing consciousness after feeling something sharp prick my neck. Malakas akong napasinghap ng rumehistro sa isipan ko ang mga nangyari sa akin. I was kidnapped!

"Sarah?" Rafael's gentle voice brought me back to the present, concern evident in his tone as he noticed my anxiety. "Are you okay? May masakit ba sa 'yo?"

"Raf..." mahina kong sambit habang nanatiling nakatingin sa kan'ya.

Alam kong hindi 'to totoo... itong mga nangyayari sa akin ngayon. Alam kong imahinasyon ko lang ang mga 'to. But as I stared at Rafael, who was still looking at me, I couldn't help but wonder—was I dreaming, or was this real?

"Raf," I called his name again.

Malambot siyang ngumiti sa akin at tinanggal ang suot niyang salamin. I closed my eyes briefly as the cool night breeze wrapped around me. Malamig na ang simoy ng hangin dahil gabi na, at ang nagsisilbing ilaw sa puwesto naming dalawa ay ang dala niyang lampara sa tuwing pumunta kami rito. The gentle rush of the waterfall and the chirping of crickets surrounded us in this secluded place.

"Yes?" Raf asked tenderly.

I wanted to hug him, to throw myself into his arms and hold him tightly because I couldn't do it when he was alive. Isa 'to sa hinihiling ko na sana ginawa ko noong nabubuhay pa siya... so that I wouldn't be burdened with regrets now. But something deep in my chest held me back for reasons I couldn't explain.

Hinayaan ko siyang lumapit sa akin. Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko na ngayon ay nakapatong sa aking hita. His face was so close to mine. The black of his ash-grey eyes seemed unnervingly large, almost like cat eyes when they saw their prey; his eyes were dilating.

Bahagyang kumunot ang anoo ko ng makita ang sariling replekson sa kan'yang mga mata.

My chest tightened with anxiety. Naguguluhan ako. Something felt wrong—terribly wrong. Dapat makikita ko ang mukhan ni Sarah sa mga mata niya, pero bakit nandoon si Valentina? Parang habang nakatitig ako ng matagal sa mga mata niya at mas lalong sumisikip at bumibilis ang tibok ng puso ko.

Rafael took my hand and brought it to his lips, planting a soft kiss while never breaking eye contact. His tender smile spread across his lips, and I couldn't help but smile back. Nakakahawa ang malambot niyang mga ngiti habang abala sa paghalik sa likod ng palad ko.

"You're beautiful," he whispered softly.

I gasped lightly when he tugged my hand toward him, causing me to fall forward against his broad chest. His cologne enveloped me—it was distinctly masculine yet gentle, a scent that wasn't overpowering but lingered deeply in my senses. Sobrang higpit ng yakap niya sa akin... na para bang takot na mawala o maglalaho na lang ako bigla sa harapan niya.

I should've been the one doing this.

I should've been the one holding him tightly because he had been gone for so long, and perhaps he was only visiting me in my dreams.

Hindi na rin ako nakatiis. Niyakap ko rin siya ng mahigpit. I wrapped my arms around his neck and buried my face in his smooth, fragrant neck, feeling the warmth of my tears soaking his skin.

"You're always beautiful to me, Sarah. Never forget that," he reassured me gently.

I nodded repeatedly, still clinging to him. Whenever I was with Raf, my walls came crumbling down. Kahit na anong ipakita ko na malakas ako sa harapan niya ay lagi 'yong nasisira sa tuwing kasama ko siya. Every emotional barrier I had built for myself seemed to shatter whenever we're together.

It was exhausting being with him, but not in a bad way. It was as if he saw through me, understood me without judgment, and made me feel safe in showing my vulnerability.

"I miss you," nanginginig ang boses ko ng sambitin 'yon habang lumuluha sa kan'ya.

"I know... and I miss you too, Sarah," he replied softly.

I felt his hand move to the back of my left ear, where he gently caressed the heart-shaped mark on my skin.

"I'll protect you, Sarah. I promise," he whispered suddenly.

My breath hitched at his words, and my heart swelled with both longing and confusion. Umangat ang tingin ko sa kan'ya, nanlalabo pa rin ang mga mata ko dahil sa walang tigil na pagtulo ng aking luha. Tears are still evident in my eyes and streaking my cheeks. His expression had turned serious as he gently wiped away the tears that had fallen.

Yumuko si Rafael at naramdaman ko na lang ang malambot niyang labi sa noo ko, at kasabay no'n ang pag buhos ng ulan hanggang sa parehas an kaming nabasa. My clothes quickly became soaked, and my long hair clung to my skin. At the same time, an odd sensation crept over my body.

I tried to struggle but couldn't move. Breathing became harder, as though the air were slipping away from me.

"Iangat niyo na. Baka mamaya mamatay pa 'yan ng hindi natin nakukuha ang impormasyon ni Atlas."

Sunod-sunod na ubo ang pinakawalan ko ng maidilat ko ang aking mga mata. My vision swam, and I saw figures standing in front of me. I glanced downward and realized I was hanging upside down over a large drum filled with ice-cold water. Mahina akong napadaing ng maramdaman ang pagkirot ng ulo ko dahil sa nangyayari ngayon.

Dizziness overwhelmed me, and water continued to drip from my nose and mouth.

I coughed again, gasping for air as I assessed my situation. Ang buong katawan ko ay nakatali, lalo na ang kamay ko na halos mamanhid na dahil sa sobrang higpit ng pagkakatali no'n sa akin. Ramdam na ramdam ko na ang taranta na unti-unting kinakain ang sistema ko, pero mas pinili kong ikalma ang sarili.

They will find me. Oceanus will look for me. Atlas will come. Calm down, Hexia. Calm down. Stay calm, Hexia. They know you've been taken. They'll save you. Don't panic.

"Gising na siya. Tanungin na ba natin?"

The room looked like a torture chamber. Rusty equipment was scattered around, and weak, flickering bulbs cast just enough light to see the outlines of cages and other eerie tools. At sa dulo ng bahagi nitong kuwarto kung nasaan ang parang hindi gaano kalakihan na hallway ay medyo madilim na roon dahil hindi na abot ng ilaw.

The two men in front of me wore black masks that covered their entire faces. Malakas ang kutob ko na sila ang dumukot sa akin doon sa Sanctuario Seguro.

Nakakapagtaka lang din na tinatawag nilang safe zone 'yon, pero bakit nangyari lahat ng 'to? How could this happen if it was truly safe? How was I abducted in what was supposed to be a secure location under their organization's watch?

"Wait for his signal before we start," one of the men instructed, his tone firm. "He only told us to wake her up. Kung gusto mo pang mabuhay sundin mo na lang ang inuutos niya. Don't make trouble."

The other man scoffed, clearly annoyed. "Fine. Ikaw ang bahala."

Pakiramdam ko para akong lasing sa posisyon ko ngayon. It feels like I'm going to pass out again because I'm hanging upside down. My muscles are trembling from the cold I'm feeling.

"Mrs. Collazo," the man called out to me. His companion nudged him, as if they were taking turns on who would speak next. "Pray that your husband will find you soon because you're the one who's suffering here with us."

Matalim ko silang tingnan. If I could just show them my middle finger and curse at them.

"Fuck you!" singhal ko. "Papatayin ko kayong dalawa kapag nakaalis ako rito! I'll make sure you feel every bit of pain imaginable before I kill you! I'll peel back your skin, layer by layer, and I'm going to salt your wounds!"

Umalingawngaw ang tawanan nilang dalawa at parehas na naglakad papunta sa akin. I couldn't move away, and one of them slapped my cheek. My face felt numb, and for a moment, everything sounded far away, like I couldn't hear.

Nalasahan ko ang sarili kong dugo dahil doon. My lip must have burst from what he did. Bahagyang pang nandilim ang paningin ko saglit bago ulit ako makakita ng maayos. He slapped me so hard. I could feel the weight of his palm, and it took a long time before it went away.

Umikot ang katawan ko habang nakasabit ng pabaliktad. Their laughter filled the torture chamber again. I clenched my fist when he grabbed my hair. His grip on my hair was so tight that I couldn't help but groan.

"Ayan ang sakit sa katawan na ibibigay namin sa 'yo, Mrs. Collazo," natatawang sabi ng isang lalaki sa akin. "Hindi mo kami matatakot sa pagiging gan'yan mo dahil nasa teritoryo ka namin. Huwag ka masyadong mayabang at matapang... dahil baka 'yan ang ikamatay mo."

He slapped me again one last time before finally returning to their previous position. I was dizzy from my position; my body was spinning. Pakiramdam ko para akong isang karne na nakasabit dito ngayon. My face was numb, and it felt hot from the man slapping me.

"Nasaan siya?"

"Boss!"

"Perses!"

Napantig ang tainga ko nang marinig ang sinabi ng isang lalake. I looked at the person who had just entered the torture chamber. Bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko ng tuluyan ko nang makita si Perses. He was wearing a black suit and holding a cigarette in his left hand.

Nakita ko ang pag ngiti niya sa akin nang makalapit siya sa puwesto ko. I couldn't see his face clearly because he was leaning over me, but there was only one thing I noticed about him. Ang puting buhok sa niya. He's fucking old. Despite Perses being old, his posture is still screaming that he is strong.

"It's nice seeing you here, Mrs. Collazo," Perses said to me with a smile.

SHANGPU