Her

"Traydor 'yang babaeng 'yan!" Aston groaned in pain but my eyes remained on the unconscious Adam on the floor.

My hands were trembling and my feet were stuck on the ground as if something was pulling me deep into the ground, suffocating me to its deepest trench.

Blood . . . they were overflowing. Hindi matigil ang pag-agos ng dugo ni Adam sa sahig kahit na wala na itong malay na para bang nag-uunahan silang umalis sa katawan niya.

This is what you want! You want him death, Arabelle!

"Sunugin niyo na nga 'tong bahay na 'to!" Si Aston kaya napabaling ako sa kaniya.

Nakaakbay siya sa isang kasamahan niya, he looked pale and weak but I could still see the strength of flame on his eyes as he stared at me and Adam.

"Kung ayaw mong sumama sa amin, samahan mo siyang mamatay sa sunog." Malamig niyang wika sa akin.

I was speechless, everything was just too confusing for me. Hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin. Ni wala akong lakas para humakbang dahil pakiramdam ko mahuhulog ako sa sahig dahil sa sobrang panghihina.

Every time the clock tick, more blood flows down from him, every time I waste my time in confusion, he will come closer to death.

Makakawala ka na kung hahayaan mo siya! Wala nang magkukulong sa 'yo sa kuwarto! Wala na ang lalakeng pumatay sa Papa mo!

Maingay ang paligid, rinig na rinig ko ang sigaw at tawanan nila sa baba dahil sa ganoon lang daw pala kadali na sakupin ang bahay niya. Everyone feared him, it was obvious, and they were all happy they were able to defeat him without any problem.

I stared at the almost lifeless Adam, still contemplating what to do.

He kidnapped my father. He kidnapped me. He ruined my heart. He caged me. He trapped me. He killed my father. He's a beast.

But he cooked food for me. He protected me. He comforted me. He hugged me. He kissed me. He embraced my scar. He loved my voice. He loved me. He's my beast.

Humakbang ako papalapit sa kaniya pero dahil sa panginginig ng tuhod ay nahulog ako. Ni hindi ko namalayan ang luhang kumakawala sa mata ko habang pinagmamasdan siyang maputla, walang malay, at duguan.

"B-Bakit? Bakit kailangan mong maging masama?!"

Napakatanga mo, Arabelle! Bakit mo kinakausap ang taong natutulog?

Natutulog?

I panicked. Malapit na siyang mauubusan ng dugo! Dali-dali ko siyang nilapitan at umupo sa tabi niya para matakpan ang umaagos na dugo sa katawan niya. Nanginginig ang kamay ko kaya mayroong nakakawala pa rin. Sa braso, sa tiyan, sa likod, lahat may umaagos na dugo pero ang pinakamalala ay ang tiyan niya kung saan ko siya nasaksak!

Humihikbi ako sa hindi maipaliwanag na dahilan. Dapat iniwan ko na siya! Dapat tumakas na ako! Pero tanga ang puso ko, e! Akala ko matalino ako, bobo pala!

"Anong nangyari?"

Natigil ang hikbi ko nang may marinig na pamilyar na boses. Kaagad kong nilingon ang lalakeng nakaitim. He was panting and sweaty. Isa siya sa mga tauhan ni Adam!

"D-Dalhin mo siya sa ospital!"

"Tatakas ka." Aniya.

"Ano?! Si Ada—"

"Susunugin nila ang bahay kaya itatakas kita! Iyon ang bilin niya sa akin!" Natataranta niyang sabi sabay hila sa braso ko pero nagpumilit ako.

"Si Ada—"

"Papatayin niya ako kapag hindi ka tumakas dito kaya sundin mo muna ako para mabalikan ko siya kaagad!"

Hindi ako nakapagsalita nang hinila niya na ako palabas ng bahay nila.

Wala akong nagawa nang pinasakay nila ako sa isang sasakyan. My mind doesn't seem to grasp the situation. Ni hindi ko nga kilala ang mga lalakeng nasa sasakyan. All I know was that they were Adam's men.

Tanga na kung tanga. Bobo na kung bobo. Pero may tiwala ako sa kanila.

Because they're Adam's men.

Adam might be dangerous, he might hurt or kill everyone, but one thing I was certain— he can never hurt or harm me physically.

Kampante ako dahil naiwan doon ang lalakeng sinigawan ako. Sigurado akong magiging maayos si Adam?

Hininto nila ako sa isang bahay na walang kabitbahay? It looks like a hiding place? It was surrounded by tall trees and uncut green grass. Tahimik ang paligid at pakiramdam ko walang nakatira rito.

Walang imik akong bumaba sa sasakyan. They didn't talk but I know they mean that I'll be staying here for a while.

Hindi nagtagal ay iniwan nila ako. I sighed and walked inside a cabin. It was made out of wood with a chimney on the roof. The house was simple and looks untouched.

Tahimik ito nang makapasok ako sa loob. Walang tao kaya hinanap ko ang switch kung saan pwede kong buksan ang ilaw.

When the lights turned on, no one welcomed me except the wind that passed through the opened window. I slowly walked towards it and locked it.

This feels like prison.

Pero saan naman ako pupunta? I betrayed Aston, surely, he'll kill me. Wala rin akong pera kaya paano ako makakatakas?

Ang tanga ng mga desisyon mo, Arabelle.

Tahimik kong sinuyod ang paligid. Everything was made out of wood. Walang telebisyon pero mayroon namang refrigerator para sa mga pagkain. The foods looked new, it was as if planned. Kaninong bahay 'to kung hindi ako nandito?

Natigilan ako sa pagkatulala nang biglaang bumukas ang isang pinto mula sa kung saan. As if flash, I turned to that direction, ready to flight or fight, but when a familiar girl was out there, I stopped.

"Cara?"

She looked at me dead in the eye, wearing a worn out yellow dress.

"So Adam knew?" She scoffed.

Nalilito ko siyang tiningnan. She looked bitter as she stared at nothingness and I gulped because I could feel the storm looming in from her presence.

"If you don't know this place, then let me introduce it to you. This is his father's hiding place with his mistress." She smiled sweetly at me that my lips parted.

Mistress?

"Kilala mo ba kung sino ang kabit ng Papa ni Adam?"

For unknown reason, my heartbeat started to beat wild against my chest as I stared at her lifeless eyes.

"Mama mo. Mama natin." She smiled bitterly.

Hindi ako nakapagsalita. Wala akong masabi! All this time. I belived how good my mother was! Palaging kinukuwento sa akin ni Papa kung gaano kabait si Mama kaya kailanman, hindi ko maiisip na gagawa siya ng gano'n!

"Did you know? Our father begged Adam's father to sustain his wife's bill when she was ill." Masayang kuwento niya.

Nagkautang si Papa?

"Kaya para mabayaran ang utang ni Papa, ako ang ibinayad niya!" She started to shout that I jolt.

My eyes widened as I stared at her. It was like . . . how I met Adam.

"Tapos babalikan niya ako para lang sa pera? Nabaon lang siya sa utang dahil sa kakasugal, binalikan niya na ako! Tapos ako naman si tanga, binigyan siya ng pera galing sa ninakaw ko kay Adam!"

"Cara—"

"Kalahati daw para sa akin para makatakas ako sa ibang bansa?" She laughed bitterly. "Ang tanga ko! Bakit hindi ko na-realize na ginawa niya lang 'yon dahil gusto niya ring manirahan sa ibang bansa? Plano ka pa niyang dalhin kung hindi lang kayo nahuli ni Adam!"

She started to lunge an attack that I stepped back. Kinuha niya ang paso na malapit sa kaniya at inihagis ito sa kawalan kaya napatalon ako sa gulat.

"Did you know? I fucking fell in love for months that I didn't even think of Adam!" Kuwento niya pa.

"Cara, kumal—"

"Tanginang mga lalake, eh. Alam mo ba kung bakit ako kinupkop ng Papa ni Adam? Ang sabi niya, gusto niya raw magkatuluyan kami ni Adam dahil hindi niya nagawang pakasalan ang mama ko! May sakit yata sa utak! Tapos no'ng tumanda lang ako, no'ng nakita niya lang ang mama natin sa mukha ko, siya ang nagkagusto sa akin?! He's a fucking bastard!" She bursted.

"I'm so—"

"Huwag kang magso-sorry sa akin! I fucking hate that word! Tapos na kaya anong magagawa ng sorry mo?! Wala!"

"Cara—"

"At least he's already dead!" Tumawa siya sa kawalan kaya nanlaki ang mata ko.

"Ano—"

"He's dead! Adam tortured him but I finished him!" She smirked at me, I paled.

"Cara . . ."

"I can't live in this life with blood on my hands. I want to end myself."

Hindi ko alam kung anong nangyari pagkatapos, all I know was that everything was too much for my eyes to bear that everything went black after witnessing what happened.

I was shaking and crying the whole time I was in the hospital. Hindi ko alam kung kailan nagpakita sila Lumiere, Cog, Derobe, Mrs. Potty, but their presence calmed me a little.

My sister . . . did that to herself.

That event . . . triggered something in me. I felt like I was in the lowest point of my life. It felt depressing. Nandiyan sila pero pakiramdam ko mag-isa ako. Umiiyak ako tuwing gabi, napapaniginipan ko lahat ng ala-ala, na kahit alam kong ligtas ako rito, na kahit alam kong malayo ako kay Aston o kay Adam, pakiramdam ko palaging may nagmamasid sa akin.

"Ate, gusto mo ice cream?" Sammy offered me a cone of ice cream.

Natigil ang pagkakatulala ko para balingan ang bata. He was standing short in front of me and I didn't notice it until now. Siguro kanina pa siya nasa harap ko pero dahil nakatulala ako sa kawalan, hindi ko siya napansin.

"Thank you." Tipid akong ngumiti sa kaniya at bumaling sa mga puno kung saan ako nakatulala.

Tahimik akong iniwan ni Sammy, I sighed, thankful he didn't bother me anymore. Ayaw kong may kumakausap sa akin, masyado akong pagod para makipag-usap pa sa kanino.

I ate the ice cream in silence as the afternoon wind blew my hair. I was comfortably sitting on a chair here on our porch when a man suddenly appeared behind the bushes.

Pakiramdam ko tumigil ang mundo ko nang magtama ang mata namin. My ice cream fell on the floor as I slowly feel myself started to shake. Namutla ako, lumakas ang kalabog ng puso ko, at nanlamig ang kamay ko.

He slowly approached me and I immediately stood. Kaagad akong tumakbo sa loob at sinarado ang pinto. Nagulat si Mrs. Potty sa biglaang kalabog ng pinto pero hindi ko siya pinansin. I ran upstairs and locked my door with my shaky hands.

"Arabelle?" Si Derobe sa labas.

Hindi ko siya sinagot at kaagad na lumapit sa kama ko. Lumuhod ako sa sahig at kahit na nanginginig ang kamay ay kinapa ang ilalim ng kama ko. When I found the gun, I pulled it out and held it tight.

"Arabelle? Ayos ka lang?" Si Mrs. Potty.

Hindi ko sila sinagot at hinigpitan ng kapit sa baril. This gun . . . was the gun Cara used to end herself. And I'm . . . I'm going to use this to protect myself.

Sigurado akong papatayin niya ako kapag nakita niya ako. Ako ang sisisihin niya bakit namatay si Cara and I need to save myself!

Hindi ako lumabas kahit anong pamimilit nila. Mabuti naman at napagod sila kaya iniwan na nila ako. I sighed as I slowly calmed down. I leaned my back on the side of my bed as I sit on the floor. Hindi ko namalayang nakaidlip ako kung hindi lang sana biglaang bumukas ang pinto.

And then I met the man I feared the most.

Napatayo ako at walang pasubaling itinutok ang baril sa kaniya. His eyes widened as his lips parted out of shock.

"H-Huwag kang lalapit!" Banta ko sa nanginginig na kamay.

Kill him before you regret it. Uunahan ka niyan! Galit siya sa 'yo!

"Arabelle . . ."

"Huwag kang lalapit o papatayin kita!" My voice quivered along with my hands that shook but my aim remained on him.

"Kakagaling ko lang . . ." Sabi niya pero kaagad akong umiling.

"P-Papatayin kita kaya lumayo ka!"

Kill him. Kill him before you regret it.

His blue eyes stared at my eyes and something in me plummeted. I noticed it now . . . he was not wearing his mask any longer. He was looking at me with his bare face, with his scar displayed in front of me. And I'm . . . pointing a gun at him.

"B-Bakit kailangan mong magpakita?" My voice quivered as I uttered those words.

"I miss you."

I shook my head as my tears fall. Hinigpitan ko ang kapit sa baril dahil ayaw kong magbago ang isip ko.

"Kung . . . kung hindi ka sana nagpakita. Hindi magiging ganito ang buhay ko!" Matagal ko na 'tong gustong isigaw sa harap niya.

His lips parted and he didn't say a word. My vision started to blur but my aim didn't waver.

"Kung sana . . . hinayaan mo kami ni Papa. Hindi magiging ganito! Kung sana . . . pinakawalan mo ako kaagad, hindi ganito ang nararamdaman ko!"I cried for the things that happened in me because of him.

"Beauty—"

"Ayos na ako, eh! Ayos na ako na wala ka sa buhay ko! Bakit bumalik ka pa? Para paghigantihan si Cara? Dahil galit ka sa akin?!"

"Hin—"

"Umalis ka! Iwan mo ako! Huwag kang lumapit sa akin, mamamatay tao ka!"

He gulped as his eyes quivered. I wiped my tears off and pointed the gun straight into his head.

"You're a murderer. A disgusting obsess sick beast. Kahit kailan walang mananatili sa tabi mo dahil sa ugali mo. Walang magmamahal sa 'yo hanggang sa mamatay ka." I spat those words full of anger.

His pupils dilated as he stared at my eyes. He bit his lower lip as he avoided my eyes. I could see something forming on his eyes, and it wasn't rage . . . it was pain and water . . . a tear.

"Sige." Sabi niya biglaan sabay angat ng tingin sa akin.

Pakiramdam ko nabagsakan ako ng langit at lupa nang makita kong tuluyang tumulo ang tubig sa mata niya. His blue eyes . . . they were hurt and in pain, it was like I was looking at the vulnerable little Adam.

"Patayin mo ako." Tumango siya at ngumiti sa akin.

My lips parted as I blink back the blurring vision. Nakamasid lang siya sa akin, nakangiti, nakatayo. At ngayon ko lang napansin . . . he was holding a bouquet of roses.

"Shoot the trigger, Beauty." He urged me with a warm smile. Like a smile from the little Adam who wants nothing but love.

"B-Bakit . . . bakit may bulaklak ka?" Nanginig ang boses ko nang sabihin ko iyon.

"It's for you . . . a gift." Bumaba ang tingin niya sa bulaklak. "Today's your birthday," nag-angat siya ng tingin sa akin at nagtama ang mata namin. He smiled vibrantly. "Happy birthday."

Hindi ako nakapagsalita. Nagpatuloy ang pagtulo ng luha ko. I didn't keep track of the time and date. Ni hindi ko nga alam na ngayon na pala ang kaarawan ko.

"Akala ko mahihirapan akong maghanap ng regalo para sa 'yo." He chuckled. "Madali lang pala." He said with a smile and looked at the gun I was holding.

Bakit . . . bakit ka ngumingiti sa harapan ko?

"I gathered all my courage to remove this mask." Kuwento niya pa. "Because I was expecting you'd be happy."

Please . . . please stop. He's manipulating you, Arabelle!

"If this is the gift that you want. Then I won't mind. So shoot it, Arabelle. I'd be happy." He smiled genuinely at me.

Kill him. Kill him before he kills you.

It was a voice in my head beyond my control. It was like someone was controlling me inside and I cannot even make it stop. It was so loud. My mind . . . it was so loud.

Kill him. Kill him before he kills you, Arabelle.

"I never regret meeting you, Beauty. I'm happy I met you."

Kill him. Kill him before he kills you.

Kill him!

Kill him before he kills you!

And I shoot the trigger just so my mind would be at peace. Hoping this loud thoughts would be in silence. But it just made me realize something.

I was the beast all along.

🥀