Kristine Series 21 - The Blue-Eyed Devil (UNEDITED) (COMPLETED)

34

"ARE YOU sure this is the right town?" tanong ni Renz kay Steffanie nang makalampas sila sa arko ng San Juan. Hindi niya pinayagan si Steffanie na tawagan si Basil upang iabiso ang pagtungo nila roon. Kung naroroon si Shannon, hindi niya gustong makapagtago ito."I've been here, Renz. I've met her mother, a retired teacher. Dapat ay nasa party si Mama Guada subalit nang gabing iyon ay sinumpong ng nervous breakdown kaya nga halos magkasabay lang kayong dumating ni Basil nang gabing iyon sa party." Biglang kumunot ang noo ni Steffanie. "Bakit natin hahanapin sa bahay nina Basil si Shannon?"

Nagbuntong-hininga si Renz. Hindi rin niya kayang sagutin iyon. Pero may hinala siyang masasagot ni Basil ang tanong na iyon.

"You love her, don't you?" wika nito makaraan."Yes. I love her, Steffie. I'm sorry, but what happened two years ago between her and Jeffrey was—"Umiling si Steffanie. "No, Renz. It wasn't Shannon's fault. Nang hindi gusto ni Jeffrey na dumalo ako sa party ay nabahala ako. Sa loob ng ilang araw ay wala siyang bukang-bibig kundi si Shannon. Iyon ang dahilan kung bakit tinawagan kita upang samahan ako sa mansion niya..."Nilingon siya sandali ni Renz bago muling itinuon sa daan ang pansin. "What are you talking about?"

"May hinala akong nilagyan ni Jeffrey ng drug ang alak niya.""What!" Muli siyang napalingon sa pinsan. Someone drugged my wine, Renz...Nagsasabi ng totoo si Shannon! His anger almost overpowered him. "And you let us all believed that Shannon broke your engagement? And you let the whole world believed that she was a tramp?"

Steffanie shivered. She had never seen Renz this angry. "P-please pull over," nahihintakutang sabi nito. "Baka maaksidente tayo... o makaaksidente ka. Let me explain."Marahas nitong kinabig sa gilid ng daan ang sportscar at nagpreno. Kung wala ang seatbelts ay malamang na sumubsob sa dashboard si Steffanie."It had better be good, Steffie, or you'll—"

"Oh, Renz, please, don't scare me," she said fearfully. "I'm sorry I didn't say anything about it during that time." She sobbed. "Ginawa sa akin ni Jeffrey ang ginawa niya kay Shannon...""Ano ang ibig mong sabihin?" The dangerous tone made Steffanie cringe."I was so helpless, Renz. I couldn't tell the family. I was so ashamed of myself because I gave him the chance to do that to me. Nagpakita ako ng motibo. I really had a crush on him during those time. And it was too late to do the right thing. I threatened to use family connection if he didn't marry me.

"He knew Franco had friends that could ruin his career. He talked to Mommy and offered marriage, lyon ang ikalawang pagkakamali ko, it made him so angry he wanted to physically hurt me but couldn't, dahil makikita ng lahat iyon. He dated other women, harap-harapan. Then he introduced me to drugs." Renz swore savagely.

"That night, I...I tried to warn Shannon. We had started to like each other already. I knew she wasn't like me. Hindi siya nagpapakita ng interes kahit na kaninong lalaki. Napakadali para sa kanyang ipagtabuyan ang mga ito. Pero wala siyang laban kay Jeffrey dahil hindi niya alam ang plano nito...

"Nang dumating tayo sa mansion, we were too late. At hindi ko magawang sabihin ang katotohanan nang hindi ko maihahantad ang kahinaan ko... ang sarili kong kahihiyan. So I let everyone believed she was to blame. I got hook with drugs all the more because I felt so guilty." Nagtuloy-tuloy ang iyak nito. Humugot ito ng tissue mula sa tissue box at nagpahid ng luha. "I know Shannon was strong and could take care of herself. She really did make it despite the nasty rumors. It made her so famous some of the guilt was taken off me." Tumingala ito sa kanya. "I'm so sorry, Renz. I'm so sorry."