HIS OBSESSION (UNDER EDITING)

CHAPTER 21

"Fine, this is about— you know Daniel Clemente."Panimula ko.

"I'm sorry Yohan, hindi ko pa nagagawa  alam mo naman na sobrang busy—"

"May pumatay sa kan'ya."

"What??" They shouted in unison.

"Paano? E hindi pa naman ako kumikilos," nagtatakang tanong ni Julia. "Babe alam mo ba 'to?"

"Bakit ako? Alam mo naman na takot akong humawak ng baril o kutsilyo kahit na gustong-gusto  ko na siya na mawala sa landas ni Yohannie."

"I don't even know either, and worse it was Elle herself who heard the gunshots."

"Heard? That means, wala kayo sa crime scene kasi narinig niya lang. Tama ba?" tanong naman ni Sam.

"Daniel called me but Elle is the one, answered his call. Ang sabi niya sakin ay bigla na lang daw siya na nakarinig ng putok ng baril from Daniel's line."

"I did nothing, Sam and I have been together for three days, I swear." That's Julia, her voice almost crack.

"Baka naman bukod sa'yo Yohan ay may iba pang tao na galit sa kanya, ano ba naman kayong dalawa? Is that even a bad thing? You should be happy, especially you—Yohan. There is no one to stop you and Elle, if Daniel  really dies, your secret will be buried along with him." That's Sam.

Sam had a point, but what I was most afraid of was that if I persisted in pursuing his case, I would end up being identified as the primary suspect in his murder.

After the call,  I immediately turned to Elle who was asleep in bed. I was suddenly worried about her safety. I sighed as I sat down next to her and stroked her cheeks.

"I have to keep you safe, I don't want you to get engaged in my problems."

When I looked closely at my sleeping Elle—who was still in her deep slumber,  an overwhelming sense of guilt built up inside me for what had occurred. She's so innocent of what is going on, so pure, and I can't stand it if something bad happens to her.

Natatakot ako na baka nang dahil dito pati siya ay mawala sa akin.

"Yohan, Elle," it's Tito Jun—Elle's stepfather. He was knocking at the door. "Elle, Yohan? Nariyan ba kayo sa loob?"

Humalik  ako sa noo ni Elle bago ako bumaba mula sa kama at naglakad patungo sa pinto, dahan-dahan ko naa pinihit  ang doorknob at binuksan ang pinto.

"Tito, ikaw po pala. Bakit po? May problema po ba?"

"May naghahanap sa'yo na babae, Ate mo raw siya." usal niya.

"Ate ko po?" Sino sa anim?

"Yanna raw ang pangalan niya, kausap siya ng Nanay mo sa salas. Bumaba ka na roon." wika ni Tito Jun.

Anong ginagawa ni Ate rito?

Paano niya nalaman ang bahay nila Elle?

Lumabas na ako mula sa kwarto, hindi ko na inintay pa na magising si Elle, paaalisin ko lang naman si Ate—hindi niya kailangan na malaman. Agad na akong bumaba sa unang palapag ng bahay—na may kaba. Nasa hagdanan pa lang ako ay nahagip na ako ng paningin ni Ate Yanna—na nagpasidhi sa namumuong kabog sa dibdib ko.

"Ate…"  wika ko nang makababa ako at makalapit sa direksyon niya. "What are you doing here?"

"Finally Yohan, finally after two weeks of searching nakita na rin kita. Where's Elle?" aniya habang malapad ang ngiti.

"How did you find this place?"

"I have my ways Yohan, utos na rin ni Daddy." Mariing tugon niya. "Tour fiancée, si Elle nasaan?"