“How am I going to keep my distance when every time you’re out of my sight I feel like dying?”His voice was soft but carries immense pain.“How can they expect me to survive without you when even a single day of your absence shatters my sanity?”The pain in his voice receded and sheered sadness causing his voice to crack.“How can they ask me to let you go when I couldn’t even imagine a second of my life without you?”His sadness turned into desperation. He uttered each word with strong emphasis and strained defiance.Every time he spoke, he sounded more and more desperate. I could feel the heaviness in his words, the pain, and it shatters me. I slightly opened my eyes and saw his green eyes staring back at me brimming with tears.“Xeonne...” The moment I called his name, tears streamed down his cheek. I smiled at my barely opened eyes. “It’s nice to see you again kahit na sa panaghinip lang.”I know I was dreaming. Naaalala ko ang sariling nagtatrabaho pa rin sa madaling araw. Hin
“Why do you have to come back?”I heard Tremaine’s voice. I felt a sharp pain on the back of my head. My migraine is getting worse as time passes by.“Why come back, Anastasia?” She touched my cheek.I was stunned. It was indeed Tremaine’s voice. And her touch. It was gentle and warm like it used to be. Am I dreaming? “Sobrang liit ng mundo. Sa dinami-dami ng mga bata ikaw pa talaga ang na pusuan ko.” Hinaplos niya ang pisnge ko. “I know it’s not your fault but why do you have to look like her growing up?” Look like who?“It would have been easier if you don’t move like her, talked like her, looked like her.” Kinuha niya ang kamay ko at kinulong ito sa pagitan ng mga palad niya. Her warmth felt so real. I know I wasn’t dreaming. I want to open my eyes and let her know that I was awake but I want to hear from her more. I want to hear her the answers behind my whys. Why did she mistreat me, hurt me. I want to know her reasons, her real deep reasons and not that reputation bullshits.
“When?” Hinawi ko ang ilang hibla ng buhok sa noo niya. “When are you coming back to me?” Binaba ko ang palad sa pisnge niya. “To is?” Hinaplos ko ang pisnge niya gamit ang hinlalaki.Ramdam ko ang pagtusok ng patubong balbas niya sa balat ko. Pinagmasdan ko ang mukha niyang mahimbig na natutulog. Napakaamo ng mukha niya, napakatahimik.“I miss how your brows crease evertime you’re confused or bothered.” I ran my thumb across the gap between his brows. “I miss how your green eyes stare at me.” I brushed my thumb over his eye lids. “I miss how your nose nozzles against my neck.” My fingertip trailed down his pointed nose. “I miss how your lips call my name.” I touched his warm plumped lips.Hinubad ko ang suot na heels bago umakyat sa higaan niya. Umupo ako sa tabi ng ulo niya habang nakasandal sa headboard. Sinuklay ko ang buhok niya gamit ang mga daliri at nagsimulang magkuwento.“You’re dad is giving me a hard time. Madali lang sanang panatilihin sa tuktok ang Mont de Corp but he’s
“What do you know, Ella?”Napahilamos siya ng mukha. Mula sa mukha ay pinasada niya ang palad pataas sa buhok. Pagkatapos ay huminga siya nang malalim.“After we bailed her out of prison, she told me he was there, he was everywhere.” She started. “I saw cuts all over her body hidden under her clothes.” Tears welled to the brim of her eyes.Inabot ko ang kamay niya. “I saw it too. I’m sorry.”“No, Anastasia, I wasn’t talking about scars.” Napatakip siya sa bibig.“What?” Nagbangayan ang mga kilay ko.“They were fresh, Anastasia.” Napayuko siya at napatitig sa sahig. “It started the day they took her in. I asked her patrol officer, Officer Torres, and I was told she did to herself.”“And they didn’t inform the family?” Napaangat ang kaliwang kilay ko.“They did.” Malungkot niya akong tiningnan.“Tremaine?” Pinanlakihan ko siya ng mga mata. Tumango siya bilang tugon.Napahilot ako sa sintido. That old witch. I know she’s goddamn manipulative but I didn’t know she could let her daughter g
“Mama, where’s dada?”Napahinto ako sa paglalakad sa biglaang tanong ng anak ko. For the past few weeks, I’ve kept him occupied with toys, games, shopping, sports to distract him from his father’s absence. I expected it to last longer but it’s only been a little over a month and he’s already looking for him.“Where’s dada?” pag-uulit niya.Binaba ko ang tingin sa kaniya. Ngumiti ako habang pilit na pinipigilan ang pagtulo ng luha.“Dada is still on a business trip, anak,” pagsisinungaling ko.“When is he coming back?” tanong niya ulit.“Oh, sweetie…” Lumuhod ako. Hinawakan ko ang magkabilang pisnge niya. “One day you’ll wake up and he’ll be here. Time flies. You won’t even notice it.” Ngumiti ako para itago ang lungkot. “Don’t worry, sweetie.” Hinaplos ko ang pisnge niya.I don’t know who I’m persuading, my son or myself.“Come here.” Hinila ko siya at niyakap. “He’ll be back,” bulong ko.He has to.“Mama, I want to play,” aniya pagkatapos ay kumalas sa pagkakayakap ko.“Sure, sweetie
“We found their medical records.” Lucero handed an envelope.Binaba ko ang tasa ng kape bago ito buksan. Naglalaman ito ng dalawang folder, kulay abo at puti. Una kong nilabas ang kulay puti. Bumungad sa ‘kin ang mga litrato ng sari’t-saring klase ng sugat at hiwa sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng katawan at sandamakmak na X-Rays.“Multiple wounds and fractures,” saad ni Lucero. “Her first fracture was twenty-one years ago, the same year-”“I was adopted,” pagpatuloy ko sa sasabihin sana ni Lucero. Hindi ko maalis ang tingin sa X-Ray ng braso ni Drizelle. “She was just seven years old,” mahinang banggit ko.“His first fracture was seven years older. It was a miracle that they both survived the torture,” aniya.“Kaya pala parang wala lang sa kanila ang masaksak at mabugbog. They’ve seen worse.” Napayukom ako. “Have you found him?” “Hindi pa,” dismayadong sagot niya. “May sa daga kung magtago ang matanda.”Napabuntong hininga ako. Binaba ko sa mesa ang hawak bago buksan ang isa pang folder. Nagl