"When you've lost someone precious and you can't turn back the time to save them, all you can do in the present is to confront it head on since everything occurs for a purpose.” – Miss A, Erity
Nanginginig na ginamit ko ang towel na nakuha sa aparador. Madaling pinunasan ko ang aking hita na may agos ng dugo at kinuha ang bag ko na tinago nya rito. Tumingin ako cellphone. Gigil na kinagat ko ang pang-ibabang labi ng makitang basag na ito at ayaw gumana. I sobbed silently and look at the little girl who save me. I could see the pity on her eyes. I frustratedly brushed my hair and nod at her. Patakbong umalis kami sa kwarto pagkatapos nyang ilagay ang chain sa kamay ng lalaki. Nang makalabas ng mansion ay naplingon-lingon ako sa paligid. Hindi ako pamilyar sa lugar na ito. Ni hindi ko alam kung saan kami dumaan. Napansin ko ring walang ni isang tao sa paligid. Panong nangyari iyon? Ilang oras na ba ang nakakalipas simula ng nawalan ako ng malay?Napakagat ako ng labi. I really need to call my family. They will do everything they can to track me here. “Ate, dito po tayo daan”Napatingin ako sa bata ng hinila nya ang kamay ko papunta sa kakuhayan. Naningkit ang mga mata ko at sumunod dito.“Where are we going? Do-do you have a phone? I need to call someone that could help us get out of here.” Sambit ko sa nanginginig na tono. I cannot afford to be weak right now but, I couldn’t stop my body from trembling so hard. Mabuti nalang ay inaalalayan nya ang katawan ko. Malayo na kami sa mansion, but we are still here in the middle of the woods.“Amm… Kapag po dumating tayo sa Stellar, sasabihan ko po ang kapatid ko na pahiramin ka ng cellphone.”“Stellar?” nagtatakang napalingon ako rito.“Amm, opo. Doon ako nakatira.” Simpleng sagot nito pero makikita ang takot kanyang mga mata. Napaiwas ako ng tingin at napatango. Kinuha ko ang aking kamay sa kanya. Sinubukan kong tumayo ng maayos at maglakad ng mag-isa kahit nanghihina pa.Madilim, malamig at puro puno sa paligid. Tanging liwanag ng buwan at flashlight na hawak nya ang nagsisilbing daan para di kami tuluyang maligaw dito sa kakahuyan. Ngunit kahit wala iyon, pakiramdam ko magiging ligtas parin kami dahil tila kabisadong-kabisado nya ang lugar na ito. Habang naglalakad ay napahinga ako ng malalim at nagsalita upang basagin ang katahimikan na namamagitan sa amin dalawa.“What’s your name kid?”“Vin’nyl, Vin’nyl Castillano po ate” mahinang sabi nya at gamit ang flashlight ay tinutok nya ito sa kanan, kung saan tahimik sya lumiko. Sumunod ako sa kanya ng di nagtatanong.“Thank you, Vin’nyl” I whispered and smile faintly even though she can’t see it. The kid is too focus on our way out.“Amm wala po yun. Nagkataon lang po na andoon ako.” She said nervously and softly cough.“Hmm... I just w*---” napatahimik ako ng may marinig na tunog ng nadurog na dahon. Naging alerto ang aking kataw*n at tumapang ang aking mukha. Nagbago ang ekspresyon ko ng sa ilalim ng buw*n, dahan-dahan kong nakita ang pamilyar na mukha ng lalaki. His hypnotizing silver eyes appear in sight. Napahugot ako ng hininga at nagtatakang napatingin rito. His, the poice investigator I saw in school two days ago.I pressed my lips tightly and watched him mindfully.
Bakit nandito ang lalaking to? Police? In the middle of the woods, really?Napabaling ang atensyon ko sa kanyang gilid ng may babaeng lumabas mula sa madilim na parte ng kakahuyan. Naglalakad papalapit sa likod ng lalaki habang ang mga asul nyang mata ay diretsong nakatingin sa akin.“Elisha?” kunot-noo kong sambit sa pangalan ng nag-iisang babae na malapit sakin.“Fancy finding you here, Vanessa,” she said with a smirk. Unconsciously, a small smile rose on my lips. Nakaupo ako ngayon sa loob ng umaandar na sasakyan, tahimik na nakatingin sa kalangitan. Mahigpit kong hinawakan ang isang kamay kong hindi matigil sa pag-nginig at huminga ng malalim. It should be gone by now, I'm already safe. “What happened to you?” mahinang tanong ni Elisha. Nakaupo sya sa passenger seat at diretso ang tingin sa harapan. Gamit ang reflection ng bintana, nakita ko na napatingin sakin si Vin’nyl.“Ahh. Lady Elisha, natagpuan ko po sya sa kwarto na naka---”“I’m not talking to you Vin’nyl.” Matalim na sambit ng Eli sa bata. I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms. So mean. Hindi na ako nagtataka pa kung bakit kilala nila ang isa’t-isa. Knowing Eli. The second person who always find me whenever I am, just like before.Nanatiling nakatingin ang mga mata ko sa bintana ng kotse. Saglit akong nag-angat ng tingin pero ang sumalubong sakin ay ang malalim na tansong mga mata ng lalaki. I sigh.What is he doing here anyway? With her?“I apologize, lady Elisha”“Don’t be too hard with the kid, Eli. She saved your Bestfriend after all” He softly said and I heard her scoff but didn’t say anything after that.Lumipas ang ilang minuto ng tumigil kami sa isang abandonadong lugar.“We’re here.” Sambit ng lalaki sa malamig ngunit malambing nyang tono. Napatingin ako rito. Tumango ang lalaki sakin at lumingon kay Eli.“Go home now Elisha. While me and Miss Folk will go in the precinct. I already reported the case and she needed to be there. Miss Folk has to make a statement and answer some questions.”“I’m coming with you two.” Elisha firmly said."No Elisha. You knew the situation. Coming in the precinct with us, will not help your Bestfriend.""Then, I'm not going out the car. I just want to be there for her and if somethings went wrong... I could help""Help what? Kill people, you got to be kidding me." the man said in disbelief. “I didn’t say that. Too quick to judge, Investigator” Elisha rolled her eyes at the man. I closed my eyes and rested my back in the seat. I'm too tired to listen with their argument. It still doesn’t change the fact that even if he goes in prison or not. He already got what he wanted. This time, I know I lost. Hindi ko namalayan ang malayang pagpatak ng luha sa aking mga mata. From what I experience this night, what I feel right now and what I’ve lost. I wanted to something for it. I wanted that person responsible for this to be gone, forever.... "Don't be foolish" a cold voice stop my trail of thoughts.I gasped and looked at Eli whose holding my hand. I look around and saw that we are already outside the precinct. The man with silver eyes is not here anymore. "Kanina ka pa tulala and I know you. Don't do something stupid. Be smart." she murmured and look at me in the eyes. My lips quivered and I held her hand tightly. "I-I lost my child Eli. I didn't know… how could I say this to Nathan? How can I a-accept this?" I said trembling and my eyes are full of tears. I feel lost, scared and I don't know... It happens so fast. Is this real? Or this is just another nightmare because if it is, please wake me up. "What are you fucking talking about?" she sharply asked and loose her grip on my hand. "He—That monster! He fucking punched me in my stomach twice and after that, all I feel is immersed pain. And then I-I saw blood coming out on me. Hindi ko alam Eli. Hindi ko alam na mayroon sya sa loob ko. Kasalanan ko to. I-I was the reason of my child’s death.""No, no. Don’t say that. We need to go in the hospital. Fuck. You’re going with me right now”I nodded. Hilam ang mata sa mga luha.“Remember. This, is not your fault Vanessa. Now what I want you to do is be brave. We’re gonna face them and file a case. Let him pay. Put him in prison forever." She nodded and hug me. Then pull the car’s maneuver, going in the hospital near us.Nang pumasok ako sa loob ng presinto ay lumingon ako sa paligid at natagpuan ng mata ko ang pamilya kong naghihintay sa akin. They are talking with the police investigator who was with use earlier. I could feel my hand trembling but I tried to stop it. My eyes are bloodshot. But all I could feel is anger. I wanted him gone. That monster. I would never, ever forgive him.I walked head on, with no emotion that could be seen in my face while going near them. "I will file a case of abduction, attempted rape and fecticide on Mr. Franco Gonzales" sambit ko at tumingin sa name plate na nasa dibdib ng lalaking kausap ang pamilya ko "Can you help me with that, Investigator Hali Adral?"His silver eyes stared at me intently as his nod firmly.Sa loob ng puting kwarto, kung saan nakaupo ang police investigator sa harapan ko. Walang reaksyon na nakatingin ako sa kamay kong nakapatong sa lamesa. Katahimikan ang bumabalot sa aming dalawa. "Miss Irishka Vanessa Folk. Can you tell me what happened?" Napasulay ako ng buhok at huminga ng malalim bago magsalita. Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kanya. “Before that, can you… tell me what day is it? What-what time is it?”Tumitig ito sakin gamit ang malalmig nyang kulay tansong mata bago sumagot.“Sunday, 4:00 am.” I bit my bottom lip and nod before I started talking."It’s Friday, 6:35 pm when I get out of his office because I’ve been waiting there for an hour. Then, hinintay kong dumating ang kapatid ko sa parking lot. Suddenly, a noisy car came and they almost hit me. I was caught off guard. I thought they were just a bunch of fools dahil nilagpasan nila ko. But it happens so fast, they drive the car in reverse and someone pulled me inside. I-I couldn’t anything about it. It’s too sudden and they, they drug me."I stopped. Nag-angat ako ng tingin dito, tuluyan ng tumulo ang mga luha sa mga mata ko. Nagulat ako ng hinawakan ni Investigator ang kamay ko. He leaned forward and watched me intently. I gasped. Napaiwas ako at kinuha ang mga kamay ko sa kanya. Inilagay ko ito sa hita ko. Kinakabahang tumingin dito.“I’m sorry. I wouldn’t do anything to you okay? I just want to make you feel at ease. You could tell me everything. Trust me, I’ll do anything to investigate this case so I can help you. That’s why I want your cooperation.” He softly said.I simply nodded.When my amber eyes found his, agad akong nag-iwas ng tingin. He doesn’t understand. I’m not scared of him. I know that I could trust him because Eli, trusted him. It just that, his sudden move makes me feel nervous and I’m afraid, I don’t know why.Huminga ako ng malalim. I composed myself and relaxed my trembling hands. Kinuwento ko sa kanya lahat ng nangyari sa loob ng kwartong iyon, excluding the part where someone saved me and the hazy memories I just recovered earlier while coming here. I think that’s the time where the drug they injected me is having an effect. What happened at that time is too personal and irrelevant to the case. Sapat ng malaman nila that Franco Gonzales intentionally drug and hit me. That he tried to rape me. I didn’t tell him about Vin'nyl, even if he knew already, because I felt like Investigator Adral is not the only one who's listening to me right now.And they have no idea that Investigator Adral asked for Eli’s help.
Bahagyang lumingon ako sa malaking white board na nakadikit sa wall, on the right side of the room. Bago binaling ang atensyon sa lalaking nasa harapan ko. I don't need Vin'nyl to testify for me anyway. She's just a child, for Pete's sake, and she saved me. I owe my life to her. So, I'm not going to expose her identity to anyone just to make me win this case. “I’m sorry for making you say this. For what happened. I didn’t find you before he did that to you. I apologize Miss Folk.”Naningkit ang mga mata ko at tumitig dito “What do you mean?”“I saw you. I witnessed the kidnapping and I was too late to get you. We’ve been tracking you since then.”I frustratedly brushed my hair and looked at my knuckles who was gripped tightly on my lap. Lumunok ako upang pigilan ang sariling magsalita. Namuo ang saglit na katahimikan sa paligid namin ng bigla syang muling nagsalita.“I need your answer, you said them? How many is them you are talking about?”I harshly signed, crossed my arms and spoke looking bored.“Two. One is a professor and the other, is a student.”“A student. How sure are you, Miss Folk? The court wouldn’t accept this conclusion as fact if it has no definite grounds.”Napalingon ako dito at nabuga ng hangin.
“I do. I wouldn’t say that if I’m just overlooking things.” I seriously said. Sinalubong ko ang mga titig niya."And from what evidence would you prove that his accomplice in crime is a student?" He stated coldly."His ID""What?" He looked confused, so I continued. "It's under the bed. I saw it. I didn't touch it or get it because I know, pwede tong magamit as evidence. Unless the man tried to erase the evidence. So, I suggest that you move now. Get them. Make them pay for what they've done to me." I spoke those last words coldly. Making him understand what it means to me.Investigator Adral gritted his teeth and slowly stood up "We're going to continue our talk. Go home for now. I'll get him before it's too late. Now, will you excuse me."Hawak ang bukas na pinto ay napatigil ito sa paglabas ng magsalita ako."I trust you. Please, do your duty, Investigator Hali Adral. Because if the law can't do it, I will do it myself, and I assure you, it will end very ugly. " I firmly said. My amber eyes coldly glanced at him when he looked back at me."I will. I wouldn’t be here to help you, if I’m just overlooking things." he smirk and walked out on the door. Tskk... Turning my own words to me huh. Really childish, Investigator Adral. I sighed and rested my back on the chair. Sandaling ipinikit ang mga mata at huminga ng malalim.I just really hope you can help me win this case. That your words are not just a shallow promise.“Once you get over the first hill, there is always a new, higher one lurking, of course.” ~ Esa-Pekka SalonenMabilis na tumakbo ang sugatang lalaki sa kagubatan. Nang mapansing wala ng humahabol sa kanya. Marahan syang tumigil at hinihingal na napasandal sya sa likod ng puno. Hinubad nya ang kanyang jacket at pumunit siya ng tela sa laylayan ng kanyang tshirt upang balutan ang nagdudugong braso. "Arggh" pagpipigil nya ng sakit habang paulit-ulit na bumubuntong-hininga. Napatikom ang kanyang bibig ng marinig ang papalapit na mga yapak. Dali-dali niyang sinuot ang kanyang itim na jacket."Wag nyong hayaang makatakas ang traydor na yon!" Umaalingangaw ang galit na sigaw ng lalaki sa paligid at ang tunog ng kalaskas ng dahon na kanilang tinatapakan. Napakuyom ang kanyang kamao at mabilis na umalis sa kanyang pwesto. Tila ba'y siya ay nakikipaglaro sa dilim, ang kanyang mga yapak ay walang ingay at ang kanyang mga kilos ay napakagaan. Sumasabay sa malamig na simoy ng hangin ng papas
"Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end." – John LennonI woke up feeling lethargic. It's like theres an empty hole inside my chest and I don't know how to deal with it. Just like before, after that tragedy happened. I felt the same emptiness, like the energy is drained out of my body and I was tasting my own poison, my own karma. Dahan-dahan akong bumangon mula sa pagkakahiga at tamad na nagstretch ng katawan. Napatitig ako sa labas ng malaking bintana at napapikit na pinakiramdaman ang nakakapasong sinag ng araw. I heavily sighed and think about what happened last night. After I got home, uminom pa ko ng beer magisa at nagisip-isip. I'm wondering, what is he talking about? Is there something I need to know? Maybe this is not just about serving the justice. I'm not fool. For a short time, I haved known Investigator Adral and he is not the type of person to defend bad people. I was blinded for a while because of anger. But why push about the true kill
“It has been said, 'time heals all wounds.' I do not agree. The wounds remain. In time, the mind, protecting its sanity, covers them with scar tissue and the pain lessens. But it is never gone.”― Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Saglit na natigilan ako sa tinitignang mga papeles kasama na doon ang litrato ng isang lalaking napakapamilyar sa akin. Napahawak ako sa kaliwang kamay ko upang pigilan ang panginginig. I breathe in and out. Knowing that it was him, who once part of my beautiful fairy tale life before. Indeed, the pain may left for a while but as long as the scar is there. It was never gone. I have come to a decision in life to never go back to where I am before. I knew that it was but I also knew that in the moment, for me, it was necessary. I am desperate and hurt. So I did what I did. For the months I have runaway to my hometown, I experienced a beautiful life of healing and soul restoration. Not until now. A gorgeous who came to invade my life once again... Tumalim ang tingin
"I once dreamt of someone holding my hand until daylight, on a freshly vague page of my life." - Miss Erity They claimed that people will meet someone who is mysteriously connected to them at some point in their lives. The unknown force, breathing and whispering from your skin as if it were the largest portion of your soul. I had never believed that until I met one. Surprisingly, his eyes connect the gaps in between. However, it is frightening to consider that one person has the power to either heal or destroy you. That is something I will never, ever allow to happen to me. I'm no stranger to this kind of feeling, but this time it's unfathomably strong and scorching. All I could do was flee. Run as far away as possible to avoid being burned. But how can I? If the fire has its own mind and keeps on coming towards me "We meet again." nakangiti kong sambit sa kanya pagkalabas namin namin ng haunted house display dito sa carnival. Ang haunted house ay tila isang maliit na man
“Your soulmate will be the stranger you recognize.” — r.h. SinNapabalikwas ako ng bangon ng tila nahulog ako sa gulat dala ng aking panaginip. Napahilamos ako ng mukha ng magpatanto kung ano yung napanaginipan ko. I look at my phone and saw that he didn't reply on my message until now. Tumingin ako sa orasan at nakitang mahigit isang oras na ang nakakalipas. Sa pagod ay hindi ko na namalayan na nakaidlip pala ako kakahintay sa kanyang reply.I sigh. Nilinis ko ang pinagkainan ko at kinuha ang malate. Masyado pang maaga para matulog ako, pero tinatamad na ako kumilos. Umakyat ako sa taas kasama ang dalawang maleta at pabagsak na humiga ako sa kama. Nakatingala sa ceiling habang ang utak ko ay patuloy na gumagana. Until thoughts conquers my consciousness. It's been a while. I didn't how fast the time was until time, became the only hope I have. Totoo ngang hindi mo kayang diktahan ang tadhana mo. Sinubukan kong laruin ang tadhana ko at ng ibang tao, pero sa huli ipinakita nito sa aki
"The two most powerful warriors are patience and time." – Leo Tolstoy"I never expected you to be here. How are you... bella?"Nakabalik ako sa reyalidad ng maramdaman ang paglagay ng hat sa ulo ko. Napatingin ako sa labi niyang tipid na umangat ang gilid. His red lips looks so soft and glossy. It was like seeking my attention. Nakakatitig ako sa labi niya habang bumubuka ang mga iyon."There. You should secure your things Bella" Umayos ako ng tayo at umiwas ng tingin nang lumayo ang lalaki sa akin. He cleared his throat and chuckles with his low husky voice. "What are----"I hissed in pain when someone pushed me at my back. Tumama ang noo ko sa dibdib ni Hali at pakiramdam ko nauntog ako sa pader kaya naman hinimas ko ang parteng nasaktan. "Careful! May nababangga kayo" sigaw ni Hali gamit ang malalim niyang boses bago bumaling sakin. Hali leaned over and whispered in my ear "Are you okay?"I was about to answer but before I could even open my mouth, someone stumbled beside us b