Fence Academy: Living Flesh (Flesh 2)

CHAPTER 17: DIARY

HAVANNAH clenched her hands into fists when she remembered her father's words to her mother. Her hair was being blown by the wind as the boat continued to propel to their destination.

I know that you love me. I also know that you still love him. Hindi na iyon mawawala at tanggap ko 'yon. He's your great love. But I'm your true love.

Great love? True love? What's the difference? She didn't understand. And she didn't want to understand. Ang gusto niya, ang daddy na lang niya ang mahal ng mommy niya. Hindi niya matanggap na hanggang ngayon ay mahal pa rin ito ng mommy niya kahit na matagal na itong patay. What was so great about Daniel Fontamillas, Sr. anyway? Hindi ba iyon kayang pantayan ng daddy niya? Bakit hindi pa rin ito nakakalimot kahit na nandyan naman ang daddy niya? He was the husband. Dapat ang buong pagmamahal nito ay sa kanila na lang ng daddy niya. Bakit kailangan pang isali ang isang patay?

But then who was she to say that? Hanggang ngayon naman ay mahal pa rin niya ang Kuya Ace niya kahit na five years na mula nang iniwan sila nito. And if ever someone was going to ask her to stop loving him just because he was dead, she will definitely throw that person into the deepest pit of hell. She laughed sarcastically in her mind. She was such a hypocrite.

Sa kaisipang iyon ay bahagya niyang naintindihan ang mommy niya. At baka naman sa daddy niya talaga dapat ang sisi. Ito ang pumiling mahalin ang mommy niya kahit na may anak na ito sa ibang lalaki at hindi pa nakakalimot sa pagmamahal dito. Or maybe she was just selfish. She never met that man. Kaya siguro ganoon na lang kalaki ang insecurity. Anong klaseng lalaki ba ito para mahalin ng mommy niya kahit na ilang taon na mula nang mawala ito?

A tap on the shoulder woke her from her trance. She turned her head and saw Jeena. Binigyan siya nito ng maliit na ngiti na isang segundo lang ang itinagal.

"Jeena," she said. "Do you need something?"

"Ito na ang diary ng mommy ko." Itinaas nito ang isang black leather journal. "Gusto mo na bang mabasa ang laman?" Iniabot nito iyon sa kanya na agad niyang tinanggap.

"Yeah. Nabasa mo na ba?" Tinitigan niya ang journal. May kaunting alikabok pang nakakapit sa mga cracks ng leather cover, tandang matagal na iyon at ilang taon nang hindi nagagalaw at nakatago lang.

Jeena shook her head meekly. "I-I didn't. Hindi ko kaya. That's my mom's property." Kinagat nito ang pang-ibabang labi habang nakayuko lang. Guilt was written all over her face.

Nakaramdam din tuloy ng guilt si Havannah. "I'm sorry for making you steal this. We just needed to know everything before we arrive. And I know that they will not going to tell voluntarily."

"It's okay," sagot nito. "I don't think I really stole it. It was in our storage room. All of her full diaries are in a box. Kinuha ko lang 'yan nang walang paalam. Will that count as stealing?" Sa wakas ay nag-angat ito ng tingin sa kanya at nagkamot sa gilid ng ulo gamit ang hintuturo. "At kung matutulungan tayo niyang mas matutunan pa ang tungkol sa mga makakalaban natin, mas malaki ang chance na makabalik agad tayo kapag nalaman na natin kung anong nangyari kina Kuya."

Tumango siya. "This will definitely be helpful." Itinapik niya sa kabilang palad ang diary. "Will you tell them to assemble at the deck after," tumingin siya sa relong suot, "two hours? Gusto kong sabay-sabay niyong malaman kung anong laman nito."

"Sure. I'll go first," paalam nito na tinanguan niya.

Pinagmasdan niya ang kababatang maglakad papasok sa hatch ng yate upang makapunta sa cabin ng mga kasamahan nila. Ang itim na itim at tuwid nitong buhok na hanggang bewang ay hinangin. Mabilis iyong sininop ng kabilang kamay nito upang hindi maharangan ang mukha ng babae at nagsimulang humakbang pababa.