The Night in Tierra Fima | COMPLETED

Kabanata 31

"Are you sure? She's Apollo Laxamana's daughter?"

Wait. That was my father's name. Bakit niya kilala ito?

"That case is dismissed a decade ago! Are you saying that it can be open again kapag mayroon nagpabukas ulit no'n dahil sa bagong witness?" Patuloy na naririnig ko sa loob kaya nanatili ako roon.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit kinakabahan ako nang sobra. I feel like vomiting while listening to that conversation. Bakit pakiramdam ko ay may hindi magandang mangyayari?

"It wasn't my fault! That hit and run wasn't my fault. I almost got killed because of that incident!"

Again, it was as if cold water had been poured on me because of what I had heard. Pakiramdam ko ay biglang tumigil sa pagtibok ang puso ko at hindi ko na marinig ang kahit na ano.

Hit and run? It was him who killed my father? Or am I just hallucinating and hearing things? I can't be sure because I can feel the alcohol is now hitting my whole being. Pero bakit parang totoo? Bakit bigla akong nakaramdam ng sakit?

I calm myself down while trying to not conclude things first. This can't be true. It can't be.

Bago pa ako mabaliw roon ay nagdesisyon na akong umalis at bumaba na lang ulit. Nang makarating ako sa sala kung saan walang tao ay siya ring pagdating ni Levi kaya padarag na akong napaupo roon.

"Nakita kitang pababa. Saan ka galing?" Tanong niya kaagad sa'kin at dinaluhan ako.

Napahawak ako sa ulo dahil wala akong maintindihan sa kung anong nangyayari ngayon. Nanatili ang paninitig ko sa paa ko while trying to calm myself at pilit tinatanggal sa utak ko ang narinig ko kanina.

"Hey, are you alright?" Levi asked me gently.

He tried to lift my face as he held my chin. Nang maiangat niya ang mukha ko ay tumutok agad ang tingin ko sa kaniya. Mapupungay na ang mga mata nito at tila babagsak niya. Tiredness is visible on him as if he wanted to rest already but forcing himself not to. Bumaba ang tingin niya sa labi ko at muling tumingin sa mga mata ko.

"What's wrong, Rae?" He asked again.

Shut it, Rae. Stop ruining the moments just because of you overthinks too much!

I shook my head while still staring at him. It's true that I don't want to let him go again. I'm not going to runaway from him again and leave him shattering into pieces just because of some misunderstanding. Ang tagal kong tiniis ang sarili ko. Araw-araw ay ramdam kong hindi pa rin nagbabago ang nararamdaman ko sa kaniya at tiniis kong sarilinin iyon. When I was away, I always prayed that it would still be me. Ako pa rin at ngayong alam kong ako pa rin, I will fight for that whatever it takes.

"Hinding-hindi ako nagsisising nakilala kita at hinayaan kong makilala mo 'ko," I declared to him and let him hugged me.

The next day was so hard to analyze dahil ramdam kong lango pa ako. Asteria requested to be with her Grandmother and Grandfather along with her cousins na hinayaan ko na rin. I can see how she enjoys being here at hindi ko iyon kayang tutulan. Ito ang unang beses na marami siyang nakitang tao at may nakakalaro pa.

"You're going with us?" Levi still asked me while I was preparing myself in front of the mirror.

Nakita ko ang pag-upo niya sa kama at matamang tumingin sa'kin. He's now wearing his semi-formal attire dahil papasok ito at sasabay ako sa kaniya. Ngayon ang byahe nila patungo sa Tierra Fima and I'm still thinking kung sasama ba ako sa kanila.

"I'm not sure, Lev. Ria is here and..."

"She's safe here, Rae. Pamilya niya ang narito kung iyon ang inaalala mo," seryoso niyang sambit sa'kin.