by M.G. Marquez
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
MAGGIE
I took shelter at the tree house. I stood in front of the dart board, a dart in hand. This is the dart which pierced Lyn’s nape. This is the same dart as the others in here.
I should’ve trusted my instinct.
SWISH.
I screamed my lungs out when a dart went past me and straight to the board. When I turned around, I saw him, his eyes as wide as mine.
“What? I’m a ghost now?”
“Guji…” my eyes welled in tears. I smiled. “My goodness, you scared me!”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” He chuckled a bit before taking a seat on the sofa. “I saw you running in here so I thought of following you. What’s the matter? You look like you’re so scared of something,”
“What? No! I’m fine, really.”
“So, do you mind telling me what happened to your neck?” My eyes popped out of its pockets when I heard that. I instinctively covered the wound with my hand, but that didn’t help me at all. “SB, what happened to your neck?”
“This is nothing. I uh, scratched it with my nail. Yeah, it’s too itchy so I scratched it. Scratched it too bad tho,”
“Scratched it too bad?” He stood up and approached me. He grabbed my hand and took a close look on it. “How about that? Your nails are trimmed so well. I doubt they could make thin lines on your skin, can they?”
He looked at me intently, his eyes deep brown and daunting. And I swear to God, my wrist is dying in his grasp. “Guji, it hurts… let me go!”
“What happened to your neck?”
“Okay fine! Just promise that you won’t get angry with me –”
“Fuck that,” He harshly let go of my hand that second. “You actually think I won’t get angry? You got hurt! And I don’t want you getting hurt!”
“Guji, just calm down!” I could see him pacing to and fro, brushing his hair from time to time, and cursing in the air non-stop. He’s on his way to getting angry, to getting wild. He’s now stitching the facts together. I know he’s observing us. He’s going on the right track.
“I know there’s something going on. They’ve been so protective of you and I don’t know why for so many days, weeks.” He stopped pacing and faced me. “Why Janella? WHY?”
I couldn’t take looking at him in the eye, so I planted my stare on the floor. “Someone’s going to kill me two days from now. I got caught in your family’s trouble, in your Dad’s trouble. I am your girlfriend, directly related to you, and indirectly related to your father,”
“What? What did you say? My dad caused you this?”
“It’s my choice to stay with this situation. I didn’t tell you anything because I was hoping they would change their minds, that they would forgive your dad’s mistake during the 99-days period. I didn’t tell you because I know you’ll push me away –”
“What the fuck are you thinking, Janella?!” He suddenly grabbed the table that’s in his way and threw it aside. I gasped for air. I think I’m trembling in fear. Part of me says I’m afraid of him, another part of me says he needed release and I should let him. I let him. I watched him go over his anger, confusion, and frustration for the next ten minutes.
“So that’s why my stupid dad gave you bodyguards, huh? To protect you. So that’s why he forced me to follow you to Baguio? To protect you. Well, how about me? I know nothing about this!”
I watched him reached down his pocket and took out his phone. His eyes never left me while he’s making the call.
“Hello DAD,” he said. “What the hell is this, DAD? WHAT DID YOU DO? My girlfriend is going to die and that’s because of – WHAT?! You son of a bitch – ALL THESE YEARS?! How dare you Dad. How dare you! Why did you not tell this to me? Is there someone I could trust in this world?!” His look at me became as grim as hell. Be calm Maggie, be calm.
He put his phone down and walked to me. “What do you think you’re doing, Janella? You think you’re strong enough to face this alone? How many times did you lie to me? Why do you have to lie?”
“I needed to lie to protect you. You’re so happy, too happy that I never wanted that to end. I am protecting you from sadness, Guji. I don’t want to see you that sad like before. I needed to lie for you not to get hurt,”
“Protect me? I am the guy here, Janella. I am the one who’s supposed to protect you, not the other way around! SHIT.” I watched him knelt in front of me, his face covered with both of his hands. He screamed so loud, I cried. I wanted to kneel in front of him and hug him tight, but I restrained myself.
“Everybody knows, right? I could see you guys exchanging nervous glances to each other these past few days. I didn’t mind because I thought that was nothing. Then this? Everybody knows but me. I am your boyfriend, Janella. Please give justice to that. Just a little bit’s enough,”
“I’m sorry.”
He stood up and grabbed my arm. He pulled me along and told me to go down the house. He will follow he said. When we’re both down the house, he dragged me toward his car.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“Shut up.”
I did.
