Remains in the Sand | Los Quiros Series Book #01

13

RITS: Chapter Thirteen

"How is she?"

I decided to stop by at the Hospital to visit Hane before going to work dahil sigurado akong hindi pa natutulog si Renz kakabantay sa kaniya. I brought fruits and foods for them but unfortunately, hindi pa raw nagigising si Hane.

"Mukhang natrauma raw yung utak niya sa nangyari." Renz hid a yawn by shifting his gaze back to Hane.

Napatingin naman ako sa kung paano niya siya tingnan...

"I'm sure you have something you should be telling me." I said when we went out of the hospital to breathe fresh air. I crossed my arms while looking up high in the clear blue skies.

"Hindi naman siguro pwedeng alam mo yung lahat tungkol sa'kin dra," he chuckled slowly.

"Kasi gusto mong siya lang yung nakakaalam sa'yo ng buo?"

I look back to him and I saw how he smiled sadly while avoiding my gaze. He hugged himself and before I could even go near him, he broke down before me.

"M-masama ba 'kong tao dahil pinilit kong gustuhin yung taong alam kong may gusto nang iba?" He cupped his face and I saw how his tears fell one after another. "Ako naman yung nauna e..."

I let him pour his heart out after I softly pulled him inside the nearest chapel. Alam ko yung mga nakikita ko... nakakaramdam ako sa kung paano niya siya ibang titigan at tratuhin sa opisina... and witnessing his feelings for her before me in first hand, had me admiring him for not giving up because behind those thick curtains of defense that Hane claims having a boyfriend... are those scars and internal devastation she hid from us with an energetic and joyous smile. His boyfriend had been abusing her.

"B-baka ako talaga yung may kasalanan kung bakit nangyari sa kaniya 'to..." He continues sobbing. "Baka kung hindi niya nalamang pinopormahan ko si Hane... hindi naman siguro aabot sa ganito kalala yung sitwasyon niya..."

"Blaming yourself won't change the fact that she wasn't hurt by you, Renz." I only hoped for the Gods to deliver my consolement to the deepest of Renz's purest heart. He didn't deserved to blame himself for any of this... he just... loved someone with all his heart.

It took him a few good seconds to process what I've said hanggang sa dahan-dahan niyang pinahiran ang kaniyang mga luha.

***

"What? No."

Kumunot naman ako noo ko nang marinig ang sagot ni Lincoln. I sat on the chair in front of him and he stared at me the moment he got some folders inside his drawers. Matapos itong basahin ay inilahad niya ito sa'kin.

"If you're not handling this case, then who?" I raised a brow.

"Lachlan,"

Nagulantang ako sa nabalitaan. But there was no room for my worries lalo na't may mga pending cases pa 'kong kailangang gawan ng autopsy report. I was almost over my limit kaya nagdesisyon akong um-order ng kape, pero kaagad rin namang napahugot ng isang malalim na hininga ng makita ang magkasunod-sunod na text ni Islear, telling me that I shouldn't meddle in the case and at the same time asking for my forgiveness dahil hindi niya raw nasabi sa'kin ang tungkol sa kaso.