Chapter 13
The Knight

TW: Sexual Assault

His cold stare tells me that he didn't enjoy the evening. Maybe I was too insensitive to notice it. We were getting ready to leave the venue and I was gonna grab my bag when he suddenly stopped me with his hand.

"We will stay here for a while," saad nito kina Jerald at Chelsea. "If that's ok with ya'll." Paalam nito sa kanila. Nagdugtong naman yung kilay ko after hearing his excuse.

Jerald didn't impose and nodded. "Okay bro, thanks for joining us tonight." Chelsea removed her birthday hat and smiled bitterly at Calix.

"Goodbye kuya, I'm gonna miss you na already. Hanggang sa maulit muli." He hugged Calix and then headed out together with his kuya. Naiwan naman akong nakatulala sa kung saan, avoiding Calix's stares.

Sa buong party kanina, I can say na medyo na naiilang si Calix makihalobilo sa amin. I had fun but I am also concerned para sa kaniya. Di ko naman pala alam na he was gonna fetch me earlier, nagpakampante ako kasi nando'n si Jerald. Tapos kanina sa ordering, I'm kinda feeling guilty because I chose Jerald's menu over his because that was actually what I wanted to try. Mali ba 'yon? Yung isinantabi ko muna siya?

Wait, di naman kami mag-jowa ah! Why do I have to be guilty sa kaniya. He didn't even court me eh. But I did make him feel bad earlier, at least doon I am accountable.

"Claude, sorry for not fetching you earlier." I heard him apologize. Wow, nagsorry ulit siya, di ko iyon kayang tanggihan. So, I finally faced him. He wasn't directly looking at me, instead he was looking at my hands. He reached to caress it sensibly.

"Sorry rin, I was kind of a jerk for leaving you in the air." I apologized. Calix leaned over at the menu and showed me something.

"Do you want this?" Binasa ko ang tinuro niya and my eyes widened kasi unang bumungad sa akin ay ang price. 10,800 ang isang baso ng caviar?! Grabe isang swelduhan na ni Calix 'yun sa akin ah.

"Cal, ang mahal naman n'yan. H'wag na busog pa ako." I acted. He shooked his head and smiled.

"I want to give you something special." Malumanay nitong sagot. Napatigil ako at nag-isip.

"I don't want something grande, Cal, may mga espesyal na bagay na makikita mo sa mga simpleng bagay." Sabi ko. He also stopped and looked intently into my eyes. "Cal, it's alright. Ayos lang ako."

"Okay," he paused and sighed, making remarks of disappointment. "Sooner or later, I'm gonna give you something special."

"Oh you don't have to Cal, 'di ako maluho."

"No, you deserve the best of the best Claude. I'm gonna make you my world." My heart melted on the spot. My eyes got a little bit watery for him saying that. I was about to say something when he gently caressed my cheeks. "I'm not gonna give up on you, Claude."

UMALIS na kami sa resto na iyon at dumungaw saglit sa may cliffside. We didn't order na kasi busog naman. We did a few chats here and there hanggang sa napagdesisyonan naming lumabas nalang. Umupo si Calix sa may isang malaking bato habang ako ay nakaupo sa bermuda grass at pinagmamasdan ko ang paglusot ng mga tala sa kaninang madilim na kalangitan.

"Claude, do you still like Jerald?" Napatigil ako sa kaniyang tanong.

"Ba't mo napatanong?" I asked back.

"Wala lang, ambilis mo kasing napa-oo nung inaya ka ni JayJay." He added.

"Uh, he was just being kind. Wala namang masama diba?" I teased. He seemed to be irritated and rolled his eyes and let out a loud sigh of annoyance.

"Yeah-yeah,"

"Bakit, nagseselos ka ba?" I teased him once more. Tumayo siya at sinugod ako making me lie down at the green bermuda grass. He poked me and tickled my tummy.

"I said I am not jealous!" He exclaimed while I laughed mercilessly. Napapaluha na ako sa sobrang kiliti. I've never laughed this hard ever since in my life nor have I had someone tickled me this hard before.

"STOP! STOP! NAKIKILITI AKO CAL!" I shouted. Our laughter echoed across the vast sea. The wind joined our laughs as the moon peeked behind the clouds. My heart was so full at that time.

"I am not gonna stop kasi sinabihan mo akong nagseselos ako," he grinned. "Sabihin mo munang di ako seloso." He dared. I was about to say it when his digites burrow deeper on to my armpit area.

"Stop! P-pleaseee." I pleaded.

"Sabihin mo muna kasi." He teased me.

"Okay, h-hindi ka na seloso!" I stated.
We laughed. Endlessly. Until he asked me again, this time he was serious.

"Claude, gusto mo pa rin ba si Jerald?"

"..."

"It's okay if di ka pa sasagot. I won't fo--"

"You know what, Cal, Jerald might be special to me before, but you manage to capture my heart. Just win me over and I am yours to take." Bulas ko. His eyes widened and then smiled. He leans closer to me and gives me a kiss of the century. The moon shines down on us as we devour each other's worlds. Never in my life have I had this type of scenario. He makes me feel like I am somewhat secure in his arms. Though it may be too early to say any of these things but one thing is for certain, that all this is genuine, what I have yearning for a long time.

The night slowly turns as our hearts come at peace. We parted our lips to savour the sensation and sat there for a while. We caught each other's breaths as the wind awakened our senses. The leaves from the old Narra tree beside us sang as its branches danced from the guidance of the wind. I am trying to cope up with the pace and yet I am still floating somewhere on cloud nine.
Calix's hand slowly touches my unsure palm as he leans over to my left ear and gently whispers. "I love you, Claude. Mi Amor."

I turned to him and replied. "Me Gustas, Calix Levarde."

INUWI ako ni Calix sa bahay. I bid him goodbye and gave him a kiss before he drove off. Pagdating ko sa loob, Ellise was already sleeping. Maayos na ang hapag at nakatupi na ang mga labahan. May nakita rin akong note sa kabilang parte ng ref na nakaharap sa may pintuan. It was written by her, 'kuya, may natitira pang paksiw. Initin mo nalang." I smiled and stared back at her. I love my sister.

I went straight to the bathroom and there I washed myself and as I was going all through my cleaning process, there I paused in front of the mirror. May hickey ako sa bandang leeg. He must've kissed me hard enough kanina. How come di ko iyon naramdaman masyado? Siguro talagang nahulog na ako sa kaniya.

Pasimple akong napangiti habang dinadama ng mga daliri ko ang marka. My cheeks turned red as I recall the things we did inside his car.
I guess if he starts courting me na madami pang ganito ang mamumutawi sa balat ko eme.

My mind is overflowing with flashes of his face. Mga bagay na di ko nadanasan kay Jerald noon. Yes, I did fantasize a bit about him but nothing compared to what Calix is doing with my mind. UGH!
Matapos kong maghugas ng katawan ay agad akong tumungo sa dining table at doon umupo sa upuan. Binuksan ko ang aking phone at bumungad sa akin ang kaniyang chat na kanina pa pala niya si-nend.

Calix | 9:59 PM

Hope you got this message. I just wanna say. I love you and Goodnight.

My mind went through the roof and my heart is pounding like a ruined record player on repeat. I've heard him say this before but it still doesn't fail to amaze me how this Godforsaken guy has the balls to send messages like this.

I went up to bed with a smile on my cheeks and still couldn't believe what I had just witnessed. I placed my palms right above my heart and felt its overwhelming beating. For a long time ngayon ko lang ulit naramdaman ang pagtibok nito ng may ligaya. Sana di ito maudlot kagaya nung dati.

MALAYO-LAYO pa ang restroom na tatahakin ko nang biglang may babaeng naka high ponytail ang lumapit sa akin. Medyo di maayos ang pagkakagawa ng kaniyang make-up gawa ng di pantay ang kulay sa pisnge at leeg.

"Are you, Claude?" She asked, "Claude Alverado." Paniniguro nito.

"Mhm?" Tango ko. She smiled and gave a little peck to the book that I was carrying. She handed me this pink scented letter.

"May secret admirer ka kuya, my classmate thinks you are cute so she made this letter for you." she smiled. But there is something about her that doesn't sit right with me.

"Thank you," sabay kuha sa letter. "Pakisabi nalang sa kaniya salamat." I smiled. She also smiled and nodded before leaving.

Bumalik na ako sa paglalakad patungong C.R. pero ang isip ko ay nasa sulat na hawak-hawak ko. Before I could enter the comfort room naisipan ko munang buksan ang letter.

Hi! I am watching you :)

Walang pangalan. Scary. Stalker ang vibes nung sulat niya. I crumpled the letter and threw it away. My senses tell me that there is something some Omen lurking to haunt me. Ayaw kong mag-isip ng masama but I've been in that trigger before, siguro dala lang ito ng takot ko noon sa nangyari sa akin. Dapat di na ako nag-iisip ng ganito dahil tapos na iyon. Dapat ko ng kalimutan lahat ng iyon.

I went inside the cubicle ng CR at doon ginawa ang deed ko. Habang umiihi ay may narinig akong pumipito ng nakakatakot na tugtog. Parang yung sa ili-ili na tugtog. Agad kong inilibot ang aking mata sa paligid ngunit wala naman akong nakikitang tao.

Naghugas ako ng kamay pagkatapos at akmang aalis na sana sa lugar ng biglang kumalabog ang isang cubicle na ikinatigil ko. I turned my head to check it out kaso tanging isang siradong pinto ang bumungad sa akin. Ayaw kong pangunahan ang sarili ko kaya umalis na ako sa CR. Nasa may pinto ako ng biglang may humarang sa tapat ko na siyang ikinagulat ko.

"AAHH!" Sigaw ko.

"Oh! What happened?" Anthony jolted. Anthony Fontana, siya 'yung class treasurer namin. Moreno siya at malakas rin ang appeal kaso notorious ito pagdating sa pambabae at paglalasing kaya di ko siya masyadong pinapansin.

"W-wala, akala ko ano. S-sorry." Aalis na sana ako ng hinarangan niya yung dadaanan ko.

"Hey, quick question?" He asked.

"Y-yes?" Di makatinging tugon ko.
He brushed his hair with his hands before leveling his face into mine.
"Are you the guy Calix has been having around?" I slowly nodded. "Hmm. Did he give you that?" turo nito sa marka sa aking leeg na ikinagulat ko. My mind went silent at naestatwa narin ako sa aking kinatatayuan. I need to lie.

"K-kagat 'yan ng lamok." Akto ko. He laughed, not buying my act. He then again leaned closer to me.

"Sa tingin mo madadaan mo ako sa pagsisinungaling mo?" He smirked teasingly. "I know who you are, you wh*re." He whispers. My heart starts to beat aggressively. What does he mean?

"A-ano ang ibig mong sabihin."

"Let's just say, I know your little secret." Does he know anything about my video? With Desmond?

"I don't know what you are talking about." I shut him down and took a step forward away from him. He then reached for my hand and forced me to face him.

"Nobody dares to turn their backs at me." Nangigil nitong saad. "Not especially some low headed peasant like you!" He exclaimed. His hands grappled me roughly to the point na babaliin na niya ang buto ko.

"Bitawan mo ako!" I pleaded. He laughed.

"Give me head, then your secret will be safe with me." He demanded. My eyes widened dahil alam ko ang ibig nitong ipahiwatig.

"Please let go of me!" Nagpupumiglas kong ani. He pulled me inside an abandoned inventory closet at doon marahas na inilapag sa nakapatong na old newspapers. He then buckles his belt slowly revealing his monster.

Tatayo na sana ako kaso he pushed me hard again, this time hitting my head sa isang podium. Napahawak ako sa natamaang parte and there I saw blood. Halos malula ako at nanghina.

Anthony then roughly grabs my hair, aiming my face onto his c*ck. My mind and sight were all in a blur and I couldn't defend myself kasi nahihilo na ako.

"Isubo mo na." He seductively said.

Before he could ever put his manhood inside my mouth, the door swung open and someone grabbed Anthony's neck and slammed the bastard's face near the old fire hydrant.

"YOU F*CKER!" The guy shouted.
Unang sumagi sa mata ko ang liwanag na nagmumula sa labas ng pintuan, until cold hands grabbed my cheeks. My eyes slowly recognize the man who saved me. It all went slowmo as my mind spins but the focus is on his angelic face.

"C-Calix." I uttered before losing consciousness.

***

"KUYA!" Ellise greeted me with tears in her eyes as I just woke from my slumber. May bandana na sa aking noo at medyo kumukirot parin talaga 'yung ulo ko.

She hugged me and wiped her tears off. "H'wag ka nang umiyak maayos na ako. Isinugod ako ni Calix dito sa Ospital." I calmed her down. Inayos niya muna sarili niya before she could speak.

"Totoo bang muntikan ka nang mapagsamantalahan kanina?" she asked worryingly. I nodded. She gasped before hugging me again.

"Oh kuya, di mo kailangan pagdaanan iyon ulit." She added. I could sense Calix's confused face.

"Ulit?" Rinig kong sambit nito sa akin. He is sitting right next to my bed. Before I could face him ay nagsalita ulit siya. "Did this incident occur to you before?" napatikom ang bibig ni Ellise at pinili na lamang nitong manihimik.

Kahit ako ay ayaw ko na ring balikan ang nakaraan. Gusto ko nang kalimutan iyon.

"It's a long story, Cal." Mahina kong tugon. Before he could ever say anything, a nurse barged in and told us na di naman daw gaano ka lalim yung sugat. The x-ray had shown us no signs of fractures or injuries na maaring maka-apekto sa bungo ko, all is well naman daw at p'wede na akong mailabas sa ospital.

"Let's wait for a bit, you need some rest." Calix suggests. Umalis saglit si Ellise dahil mag-c-cr lamang siya kaya naiwan kaming dalawa ni Calix sa loob ng silid.

"Where did Anthony go?" tanong ko sa kaniya. He just shrugged habang napahilamos siya sa kaniyang kamay. Kitang-kita sa kamay nito ang mga galos na natamo niya from fighting with Anthony. Para ako nitong kinukurot kasi I felt somewhat accountable for making him defend me.

"He was expelled. I made sure of that." Mahinang sambit nito bago ako hinarap. "What he did was uncalled for, no one should be assaulted like that."

"Pero may nabanggit siya sa akin, Cal." Mahina kong sambit sa kaniya. Calix's face shifts from being concerned to worried. "Does he know about us?" I asked.

"Fuck!" He hissed. Napatayo siya sa kaniyang kinauupuan at napasabunot sa kaniyang ulo.

"What was it?" Singit ko. He then hides his face, maybe worried for the expression that he is holding.

Biglang lumakas ang kabog ng puso ko kasi wala akong ideya sa mga nangyayari, why is he acting so concerned, so frazzled all of a sudden.

"I'm gonna go to the bottom of this." He utters before storming out of the room.

"Cal!"

✒️INKMAGINE

HI! It's me! Long time no update. I have been on hiatus for almost 5 months I guess. Ngayon lang ulit ako naganahan hehe. I am also figuring things out since newbie sa college.

But hey, shout out to @wontoonprince, this user made my day because sinubaybayan niya talaga yung story ko. Hehe. Never pa kasi ako nagkaroon ng fan eme. Thank you for supporting this small project of mine🌷.

I've been planning to write another chap soon. Abangan niyo nalang. Mwa🤩 Care to share this story and vote po🩷.