NATAHIMIK lahat ng tao matapos iyong bitiwan ng babae. Muntik na ring mabitiwan ni Xibel si Imris. Naputol lahat ng inisip niya kanina at tuluyang hindi nakagalaw. Dahil sa mga pinakawalang salita, lahat ng atensyon ay napunta na sa kaniya. Kitang-kita niya kung paano nagbago ang ekspresyon nila.

As they continued to stare at him, their eyes filled with shock became doubtful. They took a step back as they looked at him from head to toe, thinking that he must be some kind of a fraud, a weirdo . . . or a monster.

"A-are you sure, Miss Jasia? Aren't you just bluffing?" One of them stuttered. "H-how can this be your husband?

The woman was busy typing on her phone. It took a while for her to respond.
"Yes. Got a problem with that?"

"B-but he's . . . a little bit . . ." Hindi nito matapos-tapos ang sasabihin at papalit-palit ang tingin sa kaniya at sa ibang mga kasama. "Scary."

Nilingon naman siya ng babae. Tiningnan nito ang kaniyang mukha bago binalik sa mga tao. "Of course, he is scary. My husband is a make-up artist and he is supposed to attend an event today the reason why he is looking like this." She glanced at the watch on her wrist. "Now, move. We are getting late."

"Oh, is that so?" A man carrying a phone sighed in relief. And that relief became like a domino effect, the fear from their eyes perished and was replaced with curiosity.

Xibel should be happy about it, but he felt even more disgusted. He didn't like their presence at all. He wanted to disappear. Right. Now.

"Anong klaseng event ang pupuntahan niyo?"

"What kind of prosthetic did you put on your face to make those dead falling leaves look real?"

Nagsisimula na naman silang magtanong dahilan para mapakuyom siya. Why do they care? Why do humans love to push themselves so close to people who weren't comfortable with them?! Were they this dumb not to notice their situation?

"Papa . . ."

Naputol ang kaniyang pag-iisip nang humikbi si Imris. Napatingin din ang babae sa kanila.

"I want to go home." Imris buried her face on his shoulder as she started crying. Rinig na rinig niya rin ang bilis ng tibok ng puso nito. She was nervous.

These people made Imris afraid. And that angered him more.

He patted Imris back before he glared at them. "Move away or else I will take your souls instead."

If it was the only way for them to get away from this place, he would do it. Why would he care if he kill them? They were nothing but just random people who got on his bad side. What only matter for him right now was Imris.

There was nothing more traumatizing than getting stuck in a place you don't want to be in and not being able to help yourself from getting away.

At ayaw niyang maramdaman iyon ni Imris.

Ang akala niya'y matatakot silang lahat pero napuno lang ng tawa ang paligid.

"Ibang klase pala ang asawa mo, Miss Jasia. Masiyadong intense."

"Is he acting? Is that part of the event you're going to attend?"

His forehead creased. "Who says I am--"

Hindi niya natapos ang sasabihin nang biglang may tatlong lalaking dumating. Malalaki ang mga katawan nito. Sobrang laki na para lang mga maliliit na langgam ang mga taong nakapalibot sa kanila. Binangga nila ito at pinagtututulak gamit ang kanilang mga matipunong katawan upang gumawa ng daanan.

"Finally . . ." rinig niyang bulong ng babae.

Lumapit ang isang lalaki sa kanila. "I'm sorry we're late. Let us handle them, Miss Jasia."

Tumango naman ang babae bilang sagot. Nagulat siya nang muli itong lumingon sa kaniya. Ngunit sa pagkakataong ito, hinawakan nito ang kamay niyang nakalapat sa likod ni Imris.

"Let's run."

Bago pa siya makasagot, hinila na siya nito. Sabay nilang sinuong ang maliit na daanang nilikha ng mga lalaking dumating. Nabalot ng ingay ang kanilang paligid, nagsisigaw ang mga taong nagpumilit na sumunod sa kanila. Sinisilaw rin ang kaniyang paningin dulot ng mga umiilaw na bagay na dala-dala.

Pumikit siya at hinayaan ang babaeng hilahin siya paalis sa nakaririndi at nakalulunod na sitwasyon.

When he couldn't longer hear too many voices in his head, he opened his eyes and stopped running. Malakas niyang winaksi ang kamay nitong nakahawak sa kaniya.

"Let go of me." Inabot ng nanginginig niyang kamay ang kaniyang hood at tinakpan ang mukha.

Napatigil din ang babae at napatingin sa kaniya. Ang mahaba at itim nitong buhok na nakatali ay medyo nagkagulo na. Nagpakawala ito ng isang malalim na hininga habang ang dalawang kamay ay nakalagay sa baywang.

"I'm sorry."

Hindi niya ito pinansin at tinuon ang atensyon kay Imris. Marahan niyang hinagod ang likod nito upang patahanin. "It's okay now. Hush, Imris."

"Did I scare your daughter? I'm really sorry."

He glared at the woman. Her eyes were indeed saying sorry but why would he believe that? Women were always capable of looking like they mean it. But deep inside, they were all egoistic liars.

"Shut that mouth with your half-baked apology." Nagsimula na siyang maglakad at nilampasan ang babae.

"Wait." Sinundan naman siya nito at humarang dahilan para mapatigil siya. Kaagad siyang umatras nang masiyado itong malapit. "I know you're mad and I know you don't like what happened, so I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to get you into that mess. Nagulat nga rin ako, e. Akala ko naiwasan ko na ang mga reporter pero nakabuntot pa rin pala sila sa akin."

Hindi siya sumagot at muling naglakad. He just wanted to go home. Tumigil na rin sa pag-iyak si Imris ngunit nanatili pa rin itong humihikbi at nakasubsob ang mukha sa kaniyang balikat. She might fell asleep any minute now.

"Uh, wait, mister? Can I know your name?"

Kumunot ang kaniyang noo nang nakasunod pa rin ang babae sa kaniya. Hindi lang nakasunod dahil sinasabayan siya nito sa paglalakad.

"Get away from me." He glared.

"Oh, sorry." Umusog naman kaagad ito palayo. "But anyway, can I have your name? As much as I want to leave you too, hindi ko kasi magagawa 'yon. Lalo na't I told the media that you are my husband."

"Why should I give my name to an annoying woman?" He halted. "Who are you, anyway? Fix your problem yourself."

Natigilan naman ang babae sa kaniyang sinabi. Gulat siya nitong tiningnan. "Hindi mo 'ko kilala?"

He didn't respond.

"Oh, well. I guess hindi lahat nakakakilala sa akin." Nilahad nito ang kamay. Ang kaliwa nitong kamay ay hawak-hawak pa rin ang supot na inabot nito kanina. "I'm--"

Hindi niya ito pinatapos at muli niya itong nilampasan. Naglakad siya nang mabilis. Nang mapansin niyang sumunod ito, pinili niyang tumakbo.

Why on earth is she following me!

"Hey, wait lang!"

'Why does she keep on telling me to wait?' Ang mga katanungang nagpaulit-ulit sa isip ni Xibel habang tumatakbo. He just wanted to leave because he might not be able to hold his vomit any longer. Kanina pa siya nasusuka. Kahit wala na ang mga taong nakapaligid kanina, ang babaeng naging rason n'yon ay nandito pa rin at nakabuntot sa kaniya. She touched him twice, making him extremely disgusted.

He hated their touch so much that he felt sick.

Tumawid siya sa kalsada at mabilis na tinungo ang direksyon ng kaniyang bahay.

Ang akala niya'y tuluyan na siyang nilubayan nito ngunit may isa pang boses ang sumuot sa kaniyang isip. It was from the woman. Ibig sabihin, nakasunod pa rin ito.

"Wait, please!"

He didn't listen, but he slowed down a bit. It wasn't because he wanted her to catch up but because he was losing air. Kanina pa siya hinihingal. All his life he was dependent on his power that running could easily tire him. More than that, he wasn't the type to move around. He usually stay inside his house and sleep.

Curse women. Curse this odd place. Curse this damn weak stamina!

Nasa labas na siya ng kaniyang bahay. Bubuksan na sana niya ang pinto subalit--

"Wait, mister!" He felt her hands on his arm. Even though he was wearing a thick cloth, it felt like he could feel her hand on his body. The fear ran down his spine, making him jolt and slapped her hand.

Napadaing ito. "Ouch! Why would you--"

Hindi nito natapos ang sasabihin nang mapatingin sa kaniyang namamawis na mukha. Natanggal ang kaniyang hood dulot ng biglaan niyang paglingon. He glared at the woman with his pupils shaking.

"How many times do I have to tell you do not touch me!" he screamed. Napaigtad ito sa lakas ng kaniyang boses.

Nagulat din si Imris at nagising.

"P-papa?" Kinusot nito ang mga mata at tumingin sa kaniya.

Binaba niya si Imris. Binuksan niya ang pinto at pinapasok ito. "Get inside and sleep. Susunod ako."

Tumango lang ito bilang tugon at naglakad na papasok.

Nang tuluyang magsara ang pinto, binalik niya ang tingin sa babae. If anger could shoot fire from his eyes, the woman would have already been burning in pain. What she did was beyond his sanity. How could she touch him without his permission?!

"How dare you lay that dirty hands on me?" He took a step forward.

His stern voice made the woman gulp and widen their distance. "I-I'm sorry. I d-didn't mean to--"

"Now you're getting afraid?" He gritted his teeth. Hinablot niya ang braso nito at hinila palapit sa kaniya. "Of all the things you've done to me earlier, you just feared me now? You damn woman!"

"W-wait. You're hurting me . . ." Nabitiwan nito ang hawak-hawak na supot. Pilit nitong inaalis ang mahigpit na hawak niya.

He pushed her hard, making her lose balance and fell on the ground. Even if he saw how her elbow got scraped on the graphite, he couldn't feel any mercy.

"You deserve it. A woman like you should stick to that ground!"

Kaagad na nagsalubong ang kilay nito dahil sa kaniyang sinabi. Handa na itong tumayo at sigawan siya subalit huli na para makaganti ito sa kaniya.

He snapped his finger in order to summon another follower. A shadow crept behind the woman's back until it became a human with a devilish smile, pointing a knife on her neck.

"Do not dare displease my lord."

Tuluyang namutla ang mukha ng babae. Hindi nito kayang paniwalaan ang nakita. Hindi nito kayang maipalawanag kung paano lumabas ang nilalang sa harapan nito.

Xibel took this chance and lit an emerald fire on his hand. This would serve as her warning. "Leave, woman. Do not ever show your face to me again."

And without saying any word, the woman took a step back and ran away.