Drowning Emotions (Isla Series #5)

26

My biggest case was the one against the Valmoridas. Lahat ng pagkasiphayo ko roon ko binaling. Mahirap silang talunin. Kapit kung kapit sa kung saan-saan ang mayroon sila kaya kahit libong pamilya pa ang magsampa ng kaso sa kanila, nakakatakas sila.

But I had no pity and I was so desperate that I'd do everything to get rid of them. I was desperate not only to put them behind bars... but I was desperate to stop feeling and be heartless for a moment. I wanted to have no mercy.

"Dura lex sed lex. These animals will rot in jail. Are you excited? Because I fucking am." I clicked my tongue against my teeth. Nasa hospital kami ni Esme and Cali. Paniguradong mayamaya lang, makikita ko na naman si Marco.

"Thank you, Ica."

"That's a 'yes', right? Excited ka?" Tumingin ako kay Esme para magpakampi.

"Ewan ko sa 'yo," mataray niyang sagot.

I faked a gasp. "Rude, preggy! Whatever! Let's go to a spa after all of this is over. Gosh, I feel like my hair is growing white na dahil sa kasong 'to!" Ginulo ko ang buhok ko bago sumandal sa balikat ni Cali, nakatingin sa higaan ni Manu. "He will wake up, Cal..."

"Will he?" she returned.

"You don't sound like yourself." Why...why was she suddenly losing hope? If it was me, kapanipaniwala dahil negative akong tao. I think of the worst. But Cali was a ball of sunshine, even at the most darkest time. Kaya bakit naggi-give up na siya?

"How do I sound like?" Nagbadya ang luha sa mga mata niya.

"You sound like you're giving up. You're not hoping. You're starting to have negative thoughts. That's surely not the Cali I know." Pareho kaming hindi-makapaniwala ni Esme.

"Oy, gagi, mayroong raisin cookies sa shop! Ayos!" Tuwang-tuwa si Jericho pagkapasok sa hospital room, oblivious sa kaganapan namin dito.

Natigilan siya sa pagnguya nang napansin na iyon. Dinaluhan niya agad si Cali, natulak pa ako dahil sumiksik siya sa gitna namin.

"Oy, ba't ka umiiyak? Bawal iyak dito! Sige ka, hindi kita bibigyan ng cookies!" pananakot niya.

Cali laughed a bit and uttered, "Katumbas ba ng cookies ang kaligayahan ko para sa 'yo?"

Nagtawanan kami at pilit siyang pinasaya. Mga six o'clock, dumating na ang family ni Manu kaya umalis na kaming tatlo ni Esme at Echo.

"Ica, bridesmaid ka sa wedding namin, ah." Esme clung on my arm and rested her head on my shoulder.

"Mahal ko," Jericho called, gesturing his arm.

"No, I want Ica. She smells like a baby. Ikaw, baho." Esme shook her head with a disgusted expression.

"Hoy?! Bawiin mo iyan! Limang beses mo na kaya akong pinaligo ngayong araw tapos mabaho pa rin?!" Hindi tanggap ni Jericho.

I laughed. I remembered I was like that when I was pregnant with Kie. Sensitive sa smell. Second pregnancy na pala niya.

"Wedding?"

"Yes, when Manu wakes up. We don't want to get married in this situation. I'm just informing you so you can prepare. Bawal mo akong takasan." Pinaningkitan ako ng mga mata ni Esme.

Napakamot ako sa ulo ko. "Esme..." Mas sumingkit lang ang mata niya, nagbabanta. Echo chuckled while pointing at my face. Napatango na lang ako kaya pumalakpak si Esme.

"Oy, tol!" sigaw ni Echo nang nakita si Marco. Marco was talking to a beautiful nurse and they were laughing. "Hindi namansin. 'Di 'wag. 'Di naman siya special. Akala mo naman sikat siya..." Masama agad ang loob niya dahil 'di pinansin ng best friend.