✔ 01 | Crime Of Passion [Published Under PSICOM]

Capitulum 51

Eastwood Cemetery
5:32 p.m.

"Thursday na, Gwen. Isa na namang araw ang magtatapos maya-maya, at isa na namang buhay ang tatapusin ko bukas."

The Heartless Killer knelt in front of his wife's grave. Walang emosyon ang kanyang mukha habang kinakausap ang asawang pinatay niya noon. He can remember that tragedy like yesterday. That night, he endured so much pain and his sanity slowly slipped away. 'Ganito ba talaga ang tadhana ko? Oh, what a evil and twisted fate I have!' Mahina siyang natawa.

Matagal nang alam ni Cassio ang lihim ng asawa. Ilang beses na niyang nahuli si Gwen kasama ang kabit nito. Ilang beses na rin silang nag-away tungkol dito. Cassio Salvador was a calm and composed man, and he loved his wife with all his heart.

But the problem is, her heart didn't belong to him.

Gabi-gabing naglasing noon si Cassio, at unti-unting nasira ang reputasyon niya sa trabaho dahil sa dalas ng pagiging late o absent. Nagsasama pa rin sila ni Gwen noon kahit na halos ibenta na niya ang lahat ng kanyang ari-arian para lang masiguradong kumakain ng tatlong beses kada araw ang pinakamamahal niyang asawa.

At kahit na paulit-ulit siyang ginagago noon ni Gwen, patuloy pa ring nagmahal si Cassio.

He almost begged for her to stay, to not file a divorce.

"P-Please, Gwen... 'Wag mo naman akong iwan! You're the only person I have left in this world.."

He did everything for her. He treated her like a queen. Cassio Salvador loved her too much---that it slowly poisoned him inside-out.

"Cas, a-ano bang nangyayari sa'yo?! Bitiwan mo nga ako!"

Naging malamig ang pakikitungo ni Cassio sa kanyang asawa. Soon, his love slowly transformed into obsession and he started treating Gwen as a "property" more than a wife. Naging matigas ang loob ni Cassio, at walang-emosyon niyang kinakausap ang asawa.

"Subukan mo lang ulit makipagkita doon sa lalaki mo, tingnan natin kung makakalabas ka pa ng bahay! Tangina naman, Gwen! Paulit-ulit na lang!"

"N-Nagbago na ako! Hindi na ako nagloloko, maniwala ka..."

"After lying so many fucking times to me? I don't believe a shit you say anymore, Gwendolyn."

Abuse.

That's what happened inside the Salvador household. Pareho nilang alam na hindi na muling malulunasan ang kanilang relasyon, kahit pa dalawang taon na silang kasal noon.

"But you have to ruin everything, Gwen." Mahinang bulong ni Heartless Killer habang nakakuyom ang mga kamao sa gilid. Naaalala na naman niya ang araw na 'yon.

Ang araw kung kailan niya nawala ang lahat---ang kanyang bahay, kagamitan, asawa, at katinuan.

Nahuli niya noon si Gwen na nakikipagkita na naman sa kabit nito. Nakainom noon si Cassio, at sa tindi ng kanyang galit, bigla na lamang itong kumawala sa kanyang dibdib. The monstrous rage fueled by betrayal and jealously took over him. Kinaladkad niya noon pauwi si Gwendolyn at ginulpi nang paulit-ulit. Ginapos niya ito at tinali sa kama.

Cassio ripped out her heart and kept it in a jar.

He then grabbed a bottle of gasoline and drenched her naked body in the liquid.

Finally, he set the whole house on fire.

Pinanood niya ito mula sa kabilang kanto. Unti-unti niyang pinanood ang pagguho ng kanilang tahanan kasama ang lahat ng kanyang mga pangarap. Cassio Salvador only realized what he had done when he saw Gwen's charred remains. Sunog at halos wala nang matira sa katawan ng kanyang asawa.

Cassio cried, screamed, and became a madman.

"Kasalanan mo, Gwen. Ang akala ko hindi mo na ako lolokohin. Pero anong ginawa mo? Nakipagkita pa ka rin sa gagong 'yon. You emotionally killed me. You made me into a killer." Nanginginig niyang sinabi habang pinipigilang tumulo ang kanyang mga luha. Huminga nang malalim si Heartless Killer at iniwan ang isang pulang rosas sa puntod ni Gwen.

Tumayo siya't pinagpag ang damit. His stone cold eyes remained on the headstone.

"Hindi lang ikaw ang dapat kong pinatay noong gabing 'yon. Now, I'll finish what I've already started. Let's see how those detectives can solve this one." Isang nakakaloko at mala-demonyong ngiti ang sumilay sa mukha ni Cassio Salvador.

No.

He is not Cassio Salvador anymore. Matagal na nga pala niyang pinapalitan ang dati niyang mukha. Now, thanks to plastic surgery, he wears a permanent mask that no one will suspect.

But the madness is still inside, and the Heartless Killer is yet to dissect his final female victim.

"This is the last time I'll be able to visit your grave, Gwen. Don't worry, your preserved heart is still in a safe place."

At iniwan na niya ang puntod ng kanyang asawa't sumakay sa kotse. It's time to complete the puzzle pieces before the grand finale tomorrow.

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