I don't know how to thank him. Kung hindi siya dumating... hindi ko na alam ang mangyayari sa 'kin. When I got a chance to reach his jaw, I tried my best to give him a soft kiss into his cheeks.
He stopped and everything just got frozen. After a seconds of silence, he replies, “I'm glad to be, no worries. I'll be here for you from now on, to be with you and to protect you from anyone like him, I promise that,” he said without looking at me but still, I felt the sincerity and it heals me.
I smiled with my tears. My head flips to the way where he walks. I saw people partying over there. While on the other side, I saw that boy running away and smashed the sand castle that I made with my full effort. “M-My castle,” I murmured.
“It's okay, we will make another, much better from this, okay?” We reached the shore and he stopped in front of my ruined masterpiece. My mouth falls open when he kicked them, totally flatting the surface. “Someday I will make a huge castle for us, not just made of sand... but for real,” he added, the same moment when I finally feel a heart ache and another pieces of tears falls.
He saved me, and it heals me... but why does he needs to ruin the thing that I valued the most?
“Mary, kanina ka pa namin hinahanap tawag ka na ng mommy mo — M-Mary?” A baritone voice echoed on the air. Dahan-dahan niya akong ibinaba nang makita ko si Kuya Badong na lakad-takbo papalapit sa 'min.
“Anong nangyari sa 'yo? Bakit ganiyan ang itsura mo? Basang-basa ka! Halika na. Kailangan mo pang magpalit.” I can hear the concern through his voice as he guides me. I keep my mouth shut, I don't know what to say, I don't know how to explain, I'm still lost of air and I almost lose my mind.
I heard his deep breaths. I let Kuya Badong to carry me, my arms are around his neck and my head is resting on his shoulder.
“She was almost drowned?” my saviour stated but sounds like questioning.
“Ha?!” Halos mabingi ako sa reaksyon ni Kuya. My lips started to vibrate as my chest goes back and forth, both of my eyes starts to gain waters again and it's ready to fall, any moment from now.
“May nanlunod na sa kaniya't lahat wala pa rin po kayong alam? Maybe next time, you should tape your eyes on her para nababantayan ninyo siya ng maayos at hindi umaabot sa ganito.” My vision blurred as my fists tighten it's hold on his upper shirt.
He pressed himself to me and hugged me tighter, the reason why I started sobbing, louder than the waves. “Jusko... May masakit ba sa 'yo? Sabihin mo kay Kuya, gagamutin ko, sabihin mo ang nararamdaman mo. Dadalhin kita sa doctor — I-I'm sorry.” I don't know but I can hear in his tone that he felt guilty and accusing himself for what happened to me, and it punched me.
I can't stop myself from letting out my hard feelings, mentally, physically and emotionally. I can't imagine that I almost die, those sea waters, they are traumatic. “Nakita mo ba kung sino ang gumawa sa kaniya? Sabihin mo sa 'kin. Mary sabihin mo, si Kuya ang bahala,” he almost pleased but I cannot let out a words but sobs.
I don't know who is that boy. I just know that, he is bad, he curves a huge mark on me that I will never forget. It will give me nightmares whenever I see those waters. How could be my favourite place became my dying and hurtful-scary spot?
“Excuse me.” Mula sa pagkakatalikod, lumingon ako sa taong kausap ni Kuya, my saviour.
“Salamat,” Kuya said.
The boy with beautiful brown eyes just nodded as an answer. I smiled at him with my face covered with tears... My face, covered in tears, in tears... No! Tears are water, I don't want to drown by it, never again! Please, don't let me drown with my tears, I'm begging!
Instead to stop from flowing, it just became more aggressive.
Ayaw ko na, please!
Ipinunas ko lahat ng basa sa mukha ko sa manggas ni Kuya. Hindi ako tumigil hanggang hindi nauubos ang mga 'yon.
Ayaw ko nito, ayaw ko nang malunod. Ayaw ko na ng tubig, ilayo ninyo ang kahit ano. Ayaw ko na.
“K-Kuya... A-Ayaw ko nang umiyak, baka malunod ako. K-Kuya, help me, p-please...” I begged on my knees. I wanted to stop but I can't, my chest is heavier and I can't control it. I don't want to lose my breath, again, please, don't.
He spread his palm on my back and helps me to escape from these tears to make me calm, but he failed. He hugged me tight na parang hindi na alam ang gagawin.
“Badong, what happened—” I heard a feminine voice from behind, another waves of tears came out and I can't help it anymore.
“M-Mommy!” I hugged him and Kuya started to discuss everything.
When the atmosphere calms, she says, “Don't trust anyone, baby. Don't come with strangers, understood?”
I nodded. “Mommy, my saviour, he's good.”
“No exceptions. He might, but be careful. Even the kindest person do bad things, even the most passionate one can hurt people. Even me, I can, so don't trust anyone but yourself.” My last tears fell.
That was my 7th birthday, that unknown boy gave a lot of traumatic surprises while Tim saved me. Kuya welcomed me on his shoulders, and Mom told me not to give my full trust because nothing in this world cannot do bad things.