Deceret Series #2: Bleed for Love

Chapter 8

Napabuntong-hininga ako at pinasalamatan ang kaibigan bago ibinaba ang tawag. My pulse starts racing when I finally arrived. Nag-park ako katabi ng kotse niya at lumabas, nanginginig ang tuhod. I don't know where to start or how to tell him, but I'm telling him.

The two-minute elevator ride almost felt like forever until I arrived. I took in a deep breath and steps inside.

"Rigor-"

Natigilan ako. I saw him standing in the middle of his studio, silent. My eyes widened. Nanlambot ang hawak ko sa doorknob habang pilit na sinisink-in ng utak ko ang nangyayari.

"Oh my God..." the breath in my throat died. Nawalan ako ng lakas na maisara man lang ang pinto.

Rigor finally turns to me, his eyes empty. I was expecting to see rage, regret, and hatred in his eyes but there's just nothing. He walks towards me. Hindi ako gumalaw o umalis sa kinatatayuan. He reached for the doorknob behind me and pushes the door close.

"The police will arrive soon." He says in a murmur. "I told Lyle that there's no need to call them but he insisted."

Nilingon ko siya, nag-iinit ulit ang sulok ng mga mata. "How can you not report this! This is... this is..." pumiyok ako at binalingan ulit ang studio.

Everything is ruined. His paintings are ripped apart. Different colors of paint bled on the floor as if a typhoon raged inside the studio all night. The painting supplies is a mess and the computer on the desk is missing. Some of his more important works are also missing. One of his works that he just finished yesterday is already in pieces, barely recognizable.

Nilampasan ko siya at naglakad, nanlulumo.

"Be careful, Czarina. There are shards of broken glasses everywhere," he says in a stern voice.

I ignore him while I survey the surroundings. Kung anong bigat ng loob ko kaninang umaga ay mas lalo pang nadagdagan sa nadatnan dito. I turn to Rigor. Nakita ko ang lungkot at galit sa mga mata niya, pero wala siyang sinasabi.

Rigor picks up a broom and starts sweeping the broken glasses. Hindi ako makagalaw nang ilang segundo, nagmamasid lang sa kaniya. In the end, I sighed and took my phone. I took pictures of everything, so that we have something to show to the police. I hope they'll have an in-depth investigation about this. Hindi rin biro ang mga sinira nila!

Pagkatapos, tinulungan ko si Rigor na maglinis. He decided to categorized the ruined paintings—works that can still be saved, works that needs to be stored away, and works that are hopeless and needs to be thrown away.

Mga kalahating oras na ata kaming naglilinis nang dumating si Lyle at ang mga pulis. Rigor went to them to explain what happened. Nilapitan ako ni Lyle, malungkot ang mukha.

"Anong nangyari dito, Lyle? Kanina niya lang ba 'to nalaman?"

Tumango siya at kinuha ang walis mula sa akin. "Hindi po umuwi si Sir kagabi, Ma'am kaya umaga nan ang makita namin 'to."

"Where did he go?"

Umiling ang lalaki. "Hindi ko alam, Ma'am, e. Basta pinauwi niya lang ako nang maaga at may pupuntahan daw siya. Sabi niya rin bukas ng umaga nalang daw kami magkita kasi hindi raw siya uuwi."

Binalingan ko si Rigor. he's already shaking hands with the police officer and then they left. He turns to us and takes out his phone.

"I'm ordering pizza. Anong gusto niyo?"

Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa ni Lyle. He's acting as if nothing happened. Siniko ko si Lyle nang makitang naghihintay ng sagot si Rigor. It looks like he's not leaving the studio tonight.