CHAPTER 4

ALIYAH POV

She tightened her grip on my neck. I think I can’t take it any longer.

Biglang bumukas ang pinto. I saw Eddie and some maids. Agad nilang hinawakan si Maris. Eddie took the injection from his pocket and injected on her.

“Papatayin ko kayong lahat!” sigaw ni Maris. Habang pinagtutulungan siya ng mga katulong na ibalik sa kama at itali.

Pinuntahan ako ni Eddie at tinulungang makatayo. “Aliyah, bumalik na muna tayo sa kwarto mo. Hayaan mong tulungan kita,” sabi niya.

“Salamat Eddie,” habang naglakad kami patungong pintuan, bumaling ako saglit kay Maris. Sa tingin ko ay unti-unti na siyang nakakatulog dahil sa gamot. Patungong kwarto ko, kinausap ako ni Eddie.

“Aliyah, huwag ka nang bumalik sa kwarto na iyon. At huwag mo nang kausapin ang babaeng iyon. Matagal na siyang baliw. At hindi ito ang unang beses na nanakit siya ng tao.” Ayon kay Eddie.

“Ganoon ba Eddie? Kaano-ano ni Lorenzo ang babae na iyon?” tanong ko.

“Kinupkop lamang siya ni Master. May sakit sa utak ang babae na iyon. Pero huwag kang mag-alala, hindi magtatagal wala na yun dito.” Seryosong sagot nito.

“Bakit siya mawawala Eddie? Saan siya pupunta,” tanong ko ulit.

“Sa tingin ko ay ibabalik na siya sa syudad ni Master. Siguro sa pamilya niya? Hindi ako sigurado.” Sabi niya.

“Ganoon ba? Siguro kailangan na nyang bumalik sa syudad para mapagamot siya doon.” Sagot ko naman.

“Narito na tayo Aliyah, magpahinga ka na muna. Huwag kang mag-alala, nasabihan ko na si Master na gusto mo siyang maka-usap,” mula sa sinabi ni Eddie para akong nakakita ng liwanag.

“Maraming salamat Eddie, sige magandang gabi, magpapahinga na ako,” sabi ko bago ko sinara ang pintuan ng kwarto.

It was good news actually. At least I will have a chance to talk to Lorenzo. I hope he can answer my questions and I hope that he was a nice person too.

I went to the mirror to see the bruises I got on my neck. Hindi ko inaakalang baliw na pala ang kausap ko. I pitty her, I should’ve not trusted her. Buti na lang dumating sina Eddie.

I made myself comfortable on the bed. Napaka-lambot ng kama at ng mga unan. I tried to take a nap until suddenly I fell asleep.

A few hours maybe after sleeping, I woke up again. I opened the curtains and it was still dark outside. I think nasa mahigit isang oras lang ata akong nakatulog.

I can still feel a little pain in my neck. Habang nakaupo sa kama, I heard a sound. It was the sound of the piano. I think someone is playing it. Being so curious as always, I tried to find the source of the music. I found another stair going to the next floor. Buti na lang at may konting ilaw. I think I need to go up to check.

I walked slowly and carefully. I am not familiar with the house in the first place. When I reached the next floor, mas lalong naging malakas ang tunog ng piano. May nakita akong kwarto at medyo nakabukas ang pinto nito.

There was a light inside the room so I can clearly see what was happening.

Sa loob ay may nakita akong isang malaking piano at may nakatalikod na lalaking naka-itim. He was playing the piano and he was really good. I saw his broad shoulders at kahit nakatalikod alam kong malaki ang katawan niya. I love the way he played the piano. He is a good pianist.

He stopped for a while and looked up the ceiling. He reached for a glass beside him. I saw that it was red liquid. Ininom nya ito at ibinalik sa mesa. I tried to look at the glass. I tried my best to look at it, and realized it was not a wine. It was actually thicker than wine and its crimson red. I stepped backward as I realized that it was blood. I am sure it was blood. I think I created a sound. I think he was able to sense me.

Nanaig ang takot sa akin, kaya umalis ako sa harap ng pintuan at tumakbong palayo. I don’t care if he noticed me, I just want to go away from that room. Hindi ako pwedeng magkamali, he was drinking blood. It was blood. Humihingal ako nang makapasok sa aking kwarto. I tried to lock the door. I can’t believe what I saw. Inabot ko ang isang baso at uminom ng tubig na nasa mesa. Anong klaseng mansyon ba itong kinaroroonan ko? Kung hindi mga baliw, ay mga katulong na hindi mo naman makausap ang makakasalubong ko. Yung lalaking umiinom ng dugo, is he Lorenzo? I can feel cold sweat all over my body. Bigla akong napaigtad nang may kumatok sa pinto. I am so scared, is that him.

I don’t want to open the door. May kumatok muli and it was trying to open the door. I prepared myself to face him. I tried to inhale and exhale. This is it. The door burst open at pumasok si Eddie.

Hinawakan ko ang dibdib ko habang nakatingin sa kanya.

“Ok ka lang ba Aliyah?” tanong ng matanda.

“Yes Eddie, I thought it was another person trying to get in the room,” I told him.

“Pumunta ako para kamustahin ka Aliyah. Kamusta na ang leeg mo?” as he examined the bruises.

“Medyo masakit pa ng konti Eddie. But I am fine.” Sagot ko.

May inabot siya sa aking cream. Pwede ko raw iyong gamitin para sa pasa. Nagbigay din siya ng iinuming gamot para mawala ang sakit. Sabihan ko lang daw siya kung may kailangan pa ako. He was good to me. Nang umalis siya, I started to rub the cream on the bruises. Ininom ko na rin ang gamot at nagsimula nang magpahinga sa kama.

I was in my deep sleep when I felt someone kissing my neck and hands caressing my legs. I tried to open my eyes but all I see was darkness, there was no light inside the room. I can see a man’s figure beside me in the bed. I tried to move to stay away from him but I can’t. Parang nanigas ang katawan ko at wala akong magawa. I can’t even say a word. I just remained in the bed while he started to take off my dress and my underwear.