Behind That Shadow

Chapter 27

CL's NOTE: Stay safe out there, everyone.

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NAPANGIWI SI ELISHA habang nakatingin sa pinto at tinignan ang sarili. Nanlaki ang mata nya nang makitang nakabra lang sya at agad na tinakip ang kumot sa katawan. Nilingon nya si Jess na walang pang-itaas

"What happened?"

"I don't know" sabi nito

Napakurap si Elisha at ginalaw ang hita. Nakahinga sya ng maluwag nang maramdaman na walang kahit anong masakit sa kanya. Hinanap ni Elisha ang damit at agad na sinuot iyon saka nagtungo sa banyo

Naghilamos si Elisha at nagtoothbrush bago lumabas

"Eli..."

Tinignan ni Elisha si Jess na nakasandal sa pader malapit sa pinto ng banyo "Ano?"

"I'm sorry about this"

"Ayos lang, magpaliwanag nalang tayo kay Tita" sabi nya

Tumango si Jess "Let's do that" sabi nito saka pumasok ng banyo

Bumuntong hininga si Elisha saka lumabas ng kwarto ni Jess. Bumaba sya at natigilan nang makitang hindi lang Mommy ni Jess ang tao sa loob ng bahay

"Suzzane, is it true? May nangyari sa inyo ni Jess?" agad na tanong ng Mommy nya

Tila naputol ang dila ni Elisha at hindi nya alam ang isasagot dahil nasa harapan nya ang parents nya. Kinalma ni Elisha ang sarili at napatingin sa taong humawak sa balikat nya

"Nothing happened--"

"I'm not talking to you, Jess Maynard. Elisha Suzzane, answer me." may diin na sabi ng Mommy nya

"Mommy, wala po" sabi nya at napalunok

"Don't you dare lie to me, Elisha"

"Wala pong nangyari samin, Mommy" sabi nya habang nakatingin ng diretsyo sa mata ng Mommy nya. Alam nyang kapag iniwas nya ang tingin ay sasabihin ng Mommy nya na nagsisinungaling sya

"But how come you're both naked when I entered the room? And what's that in your neck, Suzzy?" tanong ng Mommy ni Jess

Agad namang napatingin ang lahat sa leeg nya. Kinapa nya iyon at biglang kinuha ni Jess ang kamay nya saka pinahawak sa sinasabi ng Mommy nito. Napangiwi si Elisha nang madampian ng daliri nya ang parteng iyon ng leeg

"It's a bruise, Mom" sabi ni Jess "Did you hit your neck into something?"

Tumango sya "Nilalaro ko yung sanrio kahapon sa office, pumitik at tumama dyan kaya siguro nagkapasa" sabi nya

"Hindi ka nagi-ingat" sabi nito at napailing

"Sandali, eh bakit daw kayo nakahubad sabi ni Tita?" tanong ni Clarence

Nagkatinginan sila ni Jess at sabay na napangiwi "We don't know" sabi nito

"Diba may CCTV sa kwarto mo?" tanong ni Seth

"Yeah, it has" sabi nito saka sila pumunta sa control room. Tinignan nila ang CCTV Footage kagabi at sabay na natigilan si Elisha at Jess sa nakita

"I stripped naked" sabi ni Jess at tinignan sya

"Me too" sabi nya at hinilot ang sentido

"Lasing ba kayo kagabi?" tanong ni Seth

"Just wine and beer" sabi nya at napapikit sa inis "Maybe that's why. We drank the whole bottle of wine and three bottles of beer"

Inakbayan ni Clarence si Elisha "That's what you get from drinking a lot, Suzzy. Let's have breakfast okay?"

Napangiwi sya at hinayaan si Clarence na igaya sya patungo sa dinning hall

"Sorry, Mom and Dad" sabi nya sa parents

"Just don't drink a lot, Princess okay? You're making your Daddy worried" sabi nito

"Mom?"

"I trust you and Jess. Malalaki na kayo. If you wanna be in a relationship, I'll support you"

"We're not together" mabilis nyang sabi at tinignan si Jess na tumango

"That's right, Tita. And I respect Eli, I won't do anything bad to her. We're just f-friends" sabi ni Jess

Yeah, friends...hanggang doon lang kami

MAGKAKRUS ANG BRASO ni Elisha habang nakaupo sa harapan ng sasakyan ni Jess

"Something's bothering you" sabi ni Jess at sinubuan sya ng fries

Tumango sya at sinandal ang ulo sa balikat nito "Napansin mo pala"

"Hmm I known for so long, Eli" sabi nito

Bumuntong hininga sya "Tito Rence talked to me earlier about the promotion"

Ramdam nyang natigilan si Jess "Are you going to accept it?"

"I don't know. I need time to think about it. Napromote palang ako bilang EIC noong nakaraan, I don't know if I can handle to be a Department Head"

"You're amazing, Eli. They seen your talent and your hardworks to your current position, maybe that's why they want you to take over as a Head" sabi nito

Napalunok sya at pinatong ang baba sa balikat ni Jess "Thanks for the compliment"

Hinalikan ni Jess ang noo nya "Take your time and if you're decided, be fierce"

Napangiti sya "I will"

"Eli..."

"Hmm?"

"We talked about marriage before"

Napaayos sya ng upo "Hmm what about it?"

"I met someone.."

"You did? Who?" tanong nya rito

"She followed me here. I met her when I was in States" sabi nito at tinignan sya

"Wow, that's one tough girl if she followed you. Oh tapos? You like her?"

Umiling si Jess "No. I want someone who will stay by my side even if I'm at my worst or best. Someone who will understand me and lecture me if I'm doing anything stupid. Who will make me laugh by her words and actions. Make me smile whenever I'm feeling sad. Someone that who will help me lift myself up when I'm feeling down"

"You mean someone like Anne" sabi nya at napangiti. Ramdam ni Elisha na parang tinutusok ng karamoy ang puso nya sa narinig sa kaibigan. I spoke too soon. I'm still behind that shadow for Mr. Ten-year-guy

Napatango sya "No one can surpass her love and care for you. Alam kong binabantayan ka nya ngayon kung nasaan man sya" sabi nya

"Eli..."

"Baka naman tumanda kang binata nyan. Entertain mo kaya si Miss from States. Malay mo nasa kanya ang true love" sabi nya at natawa ng mahina

"Eli, I'm not interested with that lady"

"Eh bakit mo inopen ang about sa marriage? Weird mo rin eh" sabi nya at napailing

"Eli, I'm---"

*beep beep*

Napatingin si Elisha sa paparating na kotse at agad na kumaway nang makitang kotse iyon ni Clarence "Tara, nandyan na sila" sabi nya at bumaba saka hinila si Jess

Bumuntong hininga nalang si Jess habang nakatingin kay Elisha na hinihila sya