Song: Actions- John Legend

Trauma

"This is such a bad idea."

Natatakot akong lumingon sa mga kasama ko nang mapansin ko kung saan kami dinala ni Alex ngayon. I don't even know how they managed to convince me to come with them!

I'm already tipsy and the decision to come with them, I surely didn't mean it. It was a spur in the moment since everyone already agreed and I'm the only one who still haven't made a decision.

Nakita ko si Carmela na nanatiling nakatulala ngayon. Hindi makapaniwala sa nakikita. Maingay ang paligid nang dahil sa laban na nagaganap. Everybody keeps on cheering for their bets.

I can't believe that there are actually people who come to watch this illegal fight! I mean, it's just so brutal! No one's even stopping them unless the one on the ring gives up!

Napangiwi pa ako nang makita kong halos sira na ang mukha ng isa sa mga nasa ring ngayon. I gasp when his opponent threw him like he was just a... sack of rice.

I shudder and groaned. Matalim kong binalinganng tingin si Alex.

I swear my brain just left my body ever since we got here! I couldn't think straight! I wanted to get out of here but I think my capacity to think completely vanished! Mukhang regular rin si Alex dito dahil napansin kong marami-rami rin ang bumabati sakanya.

"Are you trying to put us in jail!?" I asked Alex hysterically.

Tapos na ang unang laban ngayon at halos hilahin nalang paalis ng ring iyong natalo. He was covered in blood. Halos naliligo na siya sa sariling dugo at parang wala na ring malay.

I've been exposed to trauma cases before wherein it involves a lot of blood and some traumatizing experiences. And the scene right in front of me is just as gruesome as it is!

"You're not going to jail, Felicity. Chill!" ani Alex na para bang mapapagaan nito ang loob ko.

Sa aming anim siguro, siya lang ang hindi na-culture shock dahil mukhang madalas na siya dito. Kahit sila Kisha, Tim, at Nigel, tulala na at hindi makapaniwala sa nakikita.

"Just by being here is already enough to put us in jail, Alex! What were you thinking?!"

"You were all bored! I just brought you to something even more fun!"

I widened my eyes at him. I can't believe him!

"Fun doesn't mean we're going to do something illegal! Are you kidding me?"

Bigla kong sumagi sa isip ko ang sasabihin ni Daddy sa oras na malaman niya na nagpunta ako sa ganitong klaseng lugar. I know I'm old enough to make my own decisions but of course, I'm still afraid of what my father will think!

Gusto ko pang mabuhay nang mas matagal! At gusto ko rin na may mauwian pang bahay!

Pero 'di niya rin naman siguro malalaman kung 'di ko sasabihin diba?

But still, Felicity! Are you out of your mind?!

Ugh! Maybe I already am. The tequila that I had a while ago is taking over my system now. Pagod akong nagpakawala ng malalim na hininga.

Hinigit ko ang braso ni Carmela upang kunin ang atensyon niya. She turns her head but her eyes weren't on me. Inililibot niya ang tingin sa buong paligid.

"Wow!" She mouthed.

Damn it! Even my best friend is already tipsy! I need to get myself together here. Kailangan naming makaalis sa lugar na 'to bago pa kami abutan ng mga pulis!

Carmela went back to her senses when I tapped her cheeks lightly. Napakurap siya at agad rin namang namilog ang mga mata nang matauhan.

"Oh god!" she exclaimed. Tumango ako dahil ganyan din ang nasa isip ko ngayon.

Wala naman kami sa binggit ng kamatayan pero pakiramdam ko ang Diyos nalang ang bukod tanggi na makakatulong sa amin na makaalis na dito.

Paano kung may lisensya na kami? Kapag nahuli kami dito, tiyak na matatanggalan kami no'n! 'Di pa nga nagagamit ng husto, mababawi agad!

"We need to get out of here. It's not safe!" sigaw ko sa likod ng malalakas na hiyawan.

Mukhang may panibagong laban na naman ang magaganap ngayon. Everyone started to cast their bets. Nanlaki pa ang mga mata ko nang makita ko kung gaano kalalaki ang mga perang ipinupusta nila.

Mas nakakabigla pa na may mga babae din dito na nanonood. I feel like there are also big names who go here to watch the show.

"A place like this really does exist, Fel. I thought this only happens in movies." sabi ni Carmela.

"I know..." my voice shook because I feel so terrified. We feel so out of place. Halatang baguhan lang at walang kamuwang-muwang sa nangyayari. "Let's get out of here, Carms."

She sighed heavily.

"Gusto ko na rin umalis. Pero paano?" aniya sabay turo sa likuran niya.

Bumagsak ang balikat ko at napapikit dahil bukod sa nagiging maingay na ang paligid, mukhang padagdag pa ng padagdag ang mga taong gustong manood.

It's so crowded now and it seems impossible for us to get out of here! Paano kung may mangyaring masama sa amin? Ano ang gagawin ko?

Nag-isip ako ng iba pang paraan. Siguro naman kapag nakisuyo kaming makikidaan kami, padadaanin naman nila kami 'no?

Ugh! It's so annoying that I couldn't think critically! Parang lahat ng naiisip ko ngayon puro nonsense nalang!

Hinawakan ko ang palapulsuan ni Carmela. Nabigla siya sa ginawa ko kaya nagugulohan niya akong tiningnan.

"Tara na. Gusto ko nang umalis dito."

Bago ko pa siya tuluyang mahigit paalis ng lugar na 'to, agad kaming natigilan nang umugong ang ingay sa buong lugar. Halos takpan ko ang aking mga tainga sa lakas ng sigawan. Sa sobrang kuryosidad, nilingon kong muli ang ring.

"Welcome to Monster Fight Club! Mukhang marami-rami ang gustong makasaksi ng magiging laban ngayon ah?" Sabi ng host.

Naghiyawan ang mga tao. Napangiwi ako dahil sa sobrang excitement ata ng ilan, natutulak na nila kami. Dahilan kung bakit halos magkabunguan na kami ng nga kasama ko.

I turn to Carmela and saw that Alex is trying to keep her in place. I rolled my eyes and pulled my best friend away from him.

Damn him! It's because of him why we are at this place!

Pero pumayag ka naman...

Pero 'di ako 'yon! If was my tipsy self who decided on that part! Not the Felicity who is sober. Sober Felicity is rational. Tipsy Fel is not!

Humalukipkip si Carmela at inirapan si Alex. She leaned a bit to whisper something in my ear.

"Buti nalang 'di pa ako naaattach. Pupwede nang i-ghost."

Inirapan ko nalang siya at mas lalo siyang inilayo kay Alex.

"Just a few reminders about our fight club," pagpapatuloy ng host. "Whether you are just watching or you want to participate later on... you are NOT allowed to talk about fight club outside this place. What happens inside, stays inside."

I can't believe we have a duty to not speak about this damn illegal underground fighting! Gusto lang naman namin mag-saya, bakit naman biglang may ganito?

Umangat ang kilay ko.

"Do not even dare to speak about our fight club outside this place. Once you step foot in here, you have the responsibility to keep your mouth shut! Understood?"

The crowd roared and started to cheer harder.

"Bago ko ipakilala ang maglalaban ngayon. Gusto ko lang ipaalala ang rules sa magiging laban ngayong gabi. We will only stop the fight unless someone taps out, your opponent tells you to stop, goes limb, and if your opponent blacks out."

The hell?! That's so brutal!

"Fights will go on as long they have to. Walang rounds dito gaya ng inaakala niyo. The longer they want to fight, the longer they stay here inside this ring. No deadly weapons allowed since this is a bare fight. May the best man win."

Napanguso ako at inilibot ang tingin, hinahanap kung sino ang mag-lalaban ngayon.

Naunang pumasok ang isang matangkad at may malaking katawan na lalaki. Nagtatalon siya sa loob ng ring habang hinihintay ang kalaban. He even encouraged the crowd to cheer louder for him. Malakas na hiyawan ang iginawad sakanya.

"I heard he is the best fighter in this club." Bulong ni Tim sa akin.

My forehead creased. Tingnan mo nga ang isang 'to, nakasagap pa agad ng balita!

"How did you know?" I asked.

Tim pointed at the guy in front of him using his lips. Mukhang regular ito dito at parang kilala niya rin ang mga lumalaban. I rolled my eyes.

God! I hate this place!

Sunod na ipinakilala ang makakalaban nito. The person's shadow appeared behind the ring. Base palang sa anino niya, mukhang matangkad rin siya.

Ngunit sa laki ng katawan ng makakalaban niya? Wala siyang binatbat dito.

The person lifted the ropes up so he could enter inside the ring. The room was suddenly filled with 'boo's'. I got confused so I looked around.

My eyes even widened when I saw some people giving this man a finger! The hell is wrong with them? Ang laki ng galit ah?

Ibinaling ko naman muli ang tingin sa ring. Ang huling ipinakilala ay mas naaninag ko na. My eyes widened a fraction when I realized who it is.

It's Archer.

Agad na bumuka ang bibig ko nang dahil sa pagkabigla. What the hell is he doing here?! Why is he participating in this kind of thing?

"Oh my god!" Carmela exclaimed.

Nilingon ko siya, umaasang parehas kami ng reaksyon ngayon. Sigurado akong hindi lang ako ang gulat ngayon! Malamang si Kisha ay nabigla rin!

Pero nang makita ko na iba ang itsura ni Carmela, nadismaya ako. She's looking at Archer like he was an angel sent from above! Kulang nalang magkaroon na ng puso sa mga mata niya habang nakatingin sakanya.

"Oh my god!" ulit niya sabay baling ng tingin sa akin. "Ang ganda ng katawan niya!"

I scoffed unbelievably at her. 'Yun pa talaga ang napansin niya!?

Binaling kong muli ang tingin sa ring. Nanatiling walang ekpresyon na nakatayo si Archer kahit na iniikutan na siya ng kalaban niya.

His opponent is massive! Kahit siguro si Kuya Jaxon at Kuya Kiel walang palag sa laki ng lalaking 'to! But in terms of skills, of course I believe in my in-laws more!

Naghahalo ang hiyawan at boo's na para kay Archer at sa kalaban niya. Archer looks unbothered, mukhang walang pakealam sa paligid at parang gusto nalang tapusin ang laban na 'to.

But can he defeat this man? He's bigger than him! Baka isang suntok lang sakanya, 50-50 agad ang lifespan niya! That's so terrifying to think!

I saw him curl his fist. Matalim niyang tiningnan ang kalaban bago iangat ang nakakuyom niyang mga kamay. His opponent smirked teasingly at him.

Mas lalong lumakas ang hiyawan ng mga tao. Mukhang ang signal nalang ng host ang hinihintay nila.

Nagpakawala ng malalim na hininga si Archer. Nagulat ako nang aksidente niyang mahagip ang mga mata ko. Kahit siya ay mukhang nabigla rin nang makita ako dito.

Kasabay ng pagbuka ng bibig niya at pagkunot ng noo niya sa akin ay ang pagtunog naman ng bell. Hudyat na mag-uumpisa na ang laban.

At dahil nakatuon parin ang tingin niya sa akin, hindi niya napansin na pasugod na sakanya ang kalaban niya. I gasp. Mabuti nalang at mabilis ang reflexes niya at agad niyang napansin ang kalaban. Mabilis siyang umiwas dito.

Alex—who seems to know him personally—started to cheer for him. Sumisigaw siya at may kung anu-ano pang sinasabi. Akala mo siya ang nag-cocontrol ng laban.

Habang pinapanood sila, doon ko lang din napansin ang pagbilis ng tibok ng puso ko nang dahil sa kaba. How can he participate in things as dangerous as this? Matatanggap ko pa kung nanonood lang din siya. Pero ang sumabak sa laban?!

"Fel! Oh my god! Palit na tayo ng case, please!" Si Carmela na mukhang naeenganyo na sa nagiging laban.

Nakalimutan niya na atang gusto na namin umalis dito kanina. Hinihigit niya pa ang braso ko. Busangot kong ibinalik ang tingin sa ring. Mabilis namang napalitan ang expression nang masuntok si Archer, dahilan kung bakit siya bumagsak.

"Oh my god..." I whispered.

Archer groaned in pain. Mas lalong bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko. Malakas na naghiyawan ang mga tao at tinaas pa ang mga kamay. Mukhang tuwang-tuwa na naitumba si Archer.

For a moment, I felt the urge to come up to the ring and help him. But then, that thought completely vanished when his opponent gave him another punch in the face. Sa lakas ng suntok sakanya, napansin ko ang pagtalsik ng dugo mula sa kanyang ilong at bibig. Please... I hope he didn't lose any teeth.

It felt uncomfortable watching him get beat up like that. The force that his opponent exerted from his punch made Archer's head turn sideways, making him look at us.

Nag-aalala ko siyang tiningnan habang may dugong bumubulwak sa kanyang ilong at bibig. I didn't know what to do. Gusto kong lumapit sa ring pero agad akong pinigilan ni Alex.

Umiling siya sa akin nang magkatinginan kami. My forehead creased. Ibinaling kong muli ang tingin kay Archer at nakitang pursigo ata siyang gulpihin ng kalaban niya.

Nagkatinginan kaming muli. My chest keeps on heaving up and down because of nervousness. And for the record, this is probably the most nerve-wracking moment I've ever had in my life!

Mas kinakabahan pa ata ako ngayon kaysa noong oral revalida namin!

"Do something!" I shouted, as if he's going to hear that.

Pumasok sa isip ko ang kapatid niya. I wonder how would she feel if she finds out that her brother is participating in a fight as dangerous as this? And most of all, I wonder what has gotten into his mind to go here and fight?!

Wow! Same as you, Fel! What has gotten into you to go here and watch!?

"I think he's going to lose." bulong ni Nigel.

Nakita kong ibinalibag si Archer ng kalaban niya. Kahit na nahihirapan, sinubukan niya paring tumayo. He spit out some blood and wiped his lips using his thumb. Mariin kong ipinikit ang mga mata ko.

Why can't he just give up and tell the host that this fight is over!? Pupwede naman 'yon diba? Sabi iyon sa rules kanina! Narinig ko!

Dahan-dahang nagtungo si Archer sa kalaban niya. Mas lumakas ang hiyawan ng mga tao ngayon dahil magsasalubong ang dalawa. Pinikit ko ang mga mata ko dahil ayaw ko nang makita pa iyon.

At first, I was expecting their cheers to roar louder. But then I was even more surprised, when they toned down. Iminulat kong muli ang mga mata ko nang dahil sa kuryosidad. I gasp when I saw that Archer managed to pin his opponent down.

My mouth parted in surprise.

"I knew it!" Alex cheered. "Yes! That's right! Go punch him, man!"

Archer moved on top of the man and did the same thing that he did to him a while ago. Nga lang, mas malakas ang pwersa ni Archer ngayon. Mukhang hindi rin makapaniwala ang mga nanonood dahil natahimik sila.

Archer brutally pulled the man up and kicked him on his stomach. Natumba muli ang lalaki. I wasn't expecting the sudden turn of events! Akala ko si Archer ang mukhang mag-50-50, hindi pala.

Putok na ang mukha ng kalaban niya at mukhang wala pa siyang balak na tigilan ito. He is about to give the man another punch when the host suddenly stops him. Napaatras siya sa pagpigil nito.

"Enough. He's limbed now." He whispered to Archer. But because he's holding a mic, we managed to hear that.

Bumuka ang bibig ko at tinanaw ang nakahandusay na kalaban ni Archer. He isn't moving. I couldn't even point out if he's still breathing or not.

Kahit na nabigla ang mga manonood sa nangyari, nagawa parin nilang palakpakan si Archer nang dahil sa pagkapanalo nito. I couldn't even look at him because I was so worried about his opponent.

Paano pala kung patay na 'yon? No one's even attending to him to see if he's still okay!

Wait...

I'm a fucking doctor. Why aren't I doing something to help this injured man? This is an emergency! Baka kailangan niyang isugod sa ospital!

I moved my feet, wanting to get near the injured man pero nabigla nalang ako nang may humablot sa palapulsuan ko. Si Alex.

"What are you doing?" He asks angrily.

"We have to help him!" Sabi ko sabay turo sa lalaki.

"No! We don't! Stop. Let's just go."

Hihilahin niya na sana ako palayo nang pinigilan ko siya. Carmela and our other friends are still in shock of what happened.

"We're doctors, Alex! This might be an emergency! We should-"

"No!" He cut me off. "We are not doctors here. Keep our profession aside and let's just go."

"But-"

"Hindi ba't gusto niyo nang umalis kanina? This is the best time to leave, Felicity! Let's go!"

At wala na nga akong nagawa dahil tuluyan nang hinigit ni Alex ang palapulsuan ko.

I pulled Carmela with me as we leave this traumatizing and illegal place.