When Back In Time

"ANONG GINAWA mo sa kanya? " Clara asked while looking at the guard. (Qhat did you do to her?)

The guard was taken aback.

Clara drew closer to him and start pounding her fist on him, accusing him on the bruises and wounds that Esperanza had.

The guard looked desperately to his boss. Agustin shook his head as if saying that he must claim this blame.

Esperanza looked at Agustin and rolled her eyes. 'Such a pathetic man,' she thought to herself.

Agustin caught Clara's hands and told her to stop, "Ginagawa lang niya ang kanyang trabaho, mahal ko." (He is only doing his job, my love)

Clara looked at him, "Pero... Mahabaging panginoon, papaano niya nagawa ito sa isang inosenteng dilag?" (But... Oh merciful God, how can this man do such thing to this innocent girl?)

Esperanza looked at the two with wide eyes. 'Wait... My love?' she asked herself and looked at the hideous face of Agustin. 'What does he mean by saying, my love?'

Clara looked at Esperanza with teary eyes. Clara said, "Anong ginawa nila sa iyo Esperanza?" (What have they done to you Esperanza?)

Clara looked at her from head to foot. She gasped and covered her mouth with her hand.

Esperanza remembered the same thing to Clara. The latter was always kind and caring. Esperanza could not believe to see Clara is here in Cebu. When the last time she saw Clara, she left her in Luzon without telling her.

'Have she forgiven me after what I've done?' Esperanza thought to herself, 'I left her there and I really feel bad for it.'

Agustin laid his hands on Clara's shoulder, "Ano bang pinagsasabi mo, mahal? Bakit mo kilala itong babaeng ito? At bakit tila sinesimpatya mo pa siya, siya na nanakit sa akin?" (What are you talking about, love? Why do you know this girl? And why it looks like you sympathize her, she who hurt me?)

"Sinaktan?" Clara asked, "Sa tingin mo ba na magagawa ng isang babaeng katulad niya iyan sa iyo?" (Hurt you? Do you think a girl like her could do such a thing to you?)

Clara looked at Esperanza. Tears began to come out from her eyes as she scanned Esperanza's bruised eyes and left cheek, swelling lips, dried up bleeding nose, her bruised arm, and the blood on her clothing. She reached Esperanza's hands and discovered a burnt remnant on Esperanza's arm.

Clara was aghast.

Clara uttered, "Sinong demonyo ang gumawa sa iyo nito?" (Who is the devil who did this to you?)

Esperanza's eyes landed on Agustin. The latter was surprised and looked cautiously to Clara.

Clara demanded Esperanza's release. She reasoned to her husband that he must have made some mistakes and the guards and whoever beaten Esperanza up, she will make sure that they will perish.

With her strong conviction, Esperanza was released from jail. Clara accompanied Esperanza to the nearest hospital.

Esperanza gripped Clara's hand while they were riding the kalesa. She asked Clara while hoping that her suspension was wrong, "Huwag niyo pong sabihin sa akin ate Clara na siya ang iyong asawa?" (Don't tell me Clara that he is your husband)

Esperanza eyed Agustin who was sitting on Clara's other side.

Clara beamed and held Esperanza's hand. "Sa wakas ay nagkita na din kami ng aking asawa." (At long last, I finally meet my husband)

It was as if Esperanza's world crumbles. The woman who she considered as her sister and also a mother was the wife of a murderer, the one who tortured and almost killed her.

But Clara did not know the shadow that is lurking inside her husband's heart, whom she waited for a long time.

Esperanza's grip on Clara's hand tightened. "Pero masama siya." (But he is evil)

Clara's smile was slowly wiped out. Agustin glared at Esperanza and held his wife's shoulder softly while saying that she shouldn't listen to this stranger's words. He also added that Esperanza m8ght just blabbering nonsense words after the things that she's been through. The people who tortured her might have banged Esperanza's head on the wall that's why she's saying such stuff.

Esperanza looked at him and to his hand. She is not afraid of him but she's afraid of what he can do to Clara.

When they finally get to the hospital, Esperanza was treated immediately

Afterward, she slept like a log on the hospital bed.

Meanwhile, Clara stood beside Esperanza to guard her. She looked at Esperanza with a worried face and also satisfaction.

And when Esperanza woke up it was already night on the other day. She looked at her right side and saw that Clara was not with her. Some apparatus was connected to her and she noticed she was in a small room.

"Psst."

She heard a sound from her left. She rolled to her left to see where the sound was coming from.

Suddenly hands embraced her neck tightly. She tried to get his hands off of her but he was too strong.

Agustin said, "I don't know how did you know my wife but it doesn't matter because I'm going to kill you. I should have done what was told to me instead of torturing you."

"You----" she coughed and tried to gasp some air but his hands were so tight on her neck.

"I'm pretty sure if we'll just make this look like you had unexpected heart failure, Clara would not suspect that I kill you. I'm sure Clara would be sad after you're gone. But don't worry, I'll be there to comfort her. So die!"