Red Roses

Chapter 21

After that quick scenario with Dos, I quickly ran upstairs to enter my room. Buti nalang at hindi ko na naabutan si Dos pagtaas ko dahil baka kung ano nanaman ang sabihin niya.

My plan was to find anything, literally anything that could be used as a recorder or even a mic, basta makahanap lang ako.

Nilock ko ang pinto pati na rin ang kurtina bago ko binuksan ang aparador kung nasaan ang iba kong mga gamit at maleta.

I started scouring through my clothes, and as much as it seems stupid I checked every piece of clothing they gave me and obviously found nothing.

Kinuha ko din ang briefcase na binigay nila sa akin kung nasaan ang baril at mabilis na dinesmantle 'yon. And again, I found nothing.

I opened the suitcase and also found nothing, I tried every bag they gave me and also found nothing. It was just hours later when I noticed how much I made a mess.

Huminga ako nang malalim at wala sa sariling napaupo sa sahig. I licked my lips and looked around the room, pondering on whether or not this is still a good idea.

I was heaving back and fourth when I saw my phone laying silently on the vanity table.

My brows furrowed before standing up to take it.

For a moment, I stared at its black screen. Then it hit me, I have this phone on me almost everytime. Everytime I go out, everytime I talk to anyone, every single time...this phone has been with me.

I clamped my lips together, slowly walking back to where I sat. Tinagal ko ang case no'n at inikot sa kamay ko.

I might actually be right...right?

Paano ba 'to kalasin? Wala akong kaalam alam sa mga cellphone na ganito...

Ibinaba ko saglit ang cellphone ko para buksan ang vanity table para maghanap ng pwedeng ipabgpukpok o kahit ano man na matibay.

I soon gave up and decided to just use my gun. I wasn't planning on shooting it though, that would make such big noise that would wake up everyone in this house.

Ginamit ko lang 'yon para tamaan ang cellphone, bahala na kung masira.

Continuously, I hit it until I saw the back cover fly out of my room.

Napangisi ako sa sarili nang makitang may nakadikit doon na umiilaw, it's a red blinking light that is very small and dainty.

Nakadikit siya sa cellphone kaya kinailangan ko ko pang alisin at kalaunan ay sinira ko din. I stepped on it until I no longer saw it blinking.

Kinuha ko din ang cellphone at saka rin 'yon tinapakan dahil baka may iba pang device sa loob na pwedeng magrecord.

Sa huli, naglinis na ako at nakatulog na rin sa pagod.

***

Kinaumagahan, sinimulan ko ang araw ko sa paglilinis ng sugat ko sa mukha.

It's still not fully healed yet but it looks a tad bit better than before.

Nang matapos ako, lumabas na ako ng kwarto para bumaba at magalmusal. Habang bumababa ako, naisip ko tuloy kung paano ako bibili ng cellphone...at yung sim ng cellphone ko dati, paano ko 'yon ibabalik sa bagong cellphone na bibilhin ko?

I have no idea, sinadya ko namang kunin ang sim nuong luma. Kaya lang, hindi ko alam paano ilagay kung sakali mang bumili ako ng bago.

When I finally stepped foot on the floor, to my surprise, I saw Dos in the kitchen eating peacefully.

Pinagsawalang bahala ko 'yon at dirediretsong naglakad sa kusina para magtimpla ng kape.

He's usually not here in the morning, gano'n lagi simula nuong naging maluwag siya sa akin. Madalas si Tita o si Eleyna ang kasama ko kaya hindi ako sanay na nandito siya ngayong umaga.