The Devil Who Wears My Eyes

30 : The Dark Ending

Sobrang sakit ng ulo ko nang makarinig ako ng ilang mahihinang usap-usapan sa paligid ko. Mahihina, hindi malinaw, para bang iba't iba at napakarami nila at hindi ko maintindan kung guni-guni ko lamang. Sandali ko lang ding pinakiramdaman ang paligid ko dahil sa hindi ako makahuman. Malinaw sa akin ang lahat ng nangyari simula nang bawian ko ng buhay si Tito Jeremy. Kung paanong naramdaman ko ang pagsaksak niya ng kutsilyo sa akin. Kung paanong wala akong ibang matawagan kung hindi si nanay Meera, at kung paanong alukin ako ni Leopold ng isang nakakapagtakang alok.

"You can be a great succubus, Ariella. Feed on men's lust and desires, pleasure them, and suck their life from it. Killing them through lust is always a good job. Just tell me, Ariella. One yes and you'll be in great hands."

I was not able to see after that. Nang bawiin niya ang mata niya ay hindi na niya pinahiram sa akin iyon muli bagkus ay inalok ako ng sa palagay niya ay mas maganda. If I become one like him, I'll forever have my sight back. I will not be that pathetic blind woman who has always been taken advantage of. I will be someone powerful who pleasures and kill men in their dreams, men who are as lustful as those I hated in this world, and a chance to live without being abused. I will be someone who will make men follow my commands.

"She is fine. Fortunately...and still a mystery that she is okay despite all the stab and the wounds she got. Sa initial report, she has been bleeding for more than two hours before she was run into here and the emergency. Nakakapagtaka na sa dami ng nawalang dugo sa kaniya ay hindi siya napahamak."

"Thank God," boses ni Daddy iyon.

I didn't open my eyes because there is no sense. It will be better to let them think I am not awake and just pretend I am not listening to everything that I am hearing. Malamang ay nasa ospital na ako gayong naririnig ko na ang mga salitang doktor, initial reports, and even the little beeping of machines that are probably wired onto my body.

"Salamat, Doctor."

"Under observation pa po ang anak ninyo. Marami-rami ang dugong nawala sa kaniya at malalaki ang tinahing sugat kaya naman kahit hindi niya ramdam iyon dahil sa gamot ay ramdam iyon ng katawan niya. It is weak and still healing."

"Got it, Doctor. Salamat po ulit."

Iyon lamang ang narinig ko at agad na nawala ang usapan. I then heaved a sigh. I cannot take it anymore. Nagmulat ako nang maramdaman ko ang marahang paghawak sa kamay ko. I know it is Daddy's hands.

"You're awake. Thank God,"

"What happened?"

"Nasa ospital tayo, anak. Sana pala ay isinama na lang kita kahit pilit sa kasal ko para naman hindi ka nagkaganito."

"What...exactly happened?"

"Ang sabi sa imbestigasyon, it was homicide. Hindi pa namin alam at wala pang suspect sa nangyari pero ipinapangako kong makukuha natin ang hustisya sa ginawa ng sinuman na na gunawa sa inyo nito. You and Jeremy, you were both wounded but...Jeremy did not make it."

I was the murderer. And I am also the one who took my own justice with my own hands. Justice was served right, Daddy.

Muntik na akong matawa dahil sa tuwa habang iniisip ko iyon ngunit hindi ko ginawa. I know it might ruin everything if I smile for a bit about that news.

"I know it is shocking. I am sorry, Ariella. Anak..."

"Sa ngayon ay hindi pa muna tayo makakauwi nang dahil sa kalagayan mo at dahil may mga nag-iimbestiga sa bahay. Ang sabi ay may mga fingerprints daw ninyo ni Jeremy sa crime scene at sa kutsilyo. They think that Jeremy might have protected you pero hindi namin alam. Now that you are awake, kahit masakit, tiisin mo muna, anak, hmm? You need to give your statement."

"There was a man. He tried to rape me and so Tito Jeremy was there, but he was weak. He could not protect me. Nakatakas ang may sala pero hindi ko siya kilala o kahit na clue man lamang sa kaniya. I just know...he was wearing gloves when I accidentally held his hand. That is maybe why only our fingerprints were there." sambit ko. Muntik pa akong magulat sa galing kong gumawa ng kwento. I am the key witness. I know playing and manipulating with my statement and the crime I perfectly did, a blind girl that was about to get raped, is believeable than a blind girl killing her uncle. It feels so lovely. "I did not hear his voice, nor touched anything on him. Basta ang alam ko lang, sinaksak niya kaming dalawa ni Tito Jeremy nang manlaban siya."

It's the perfect alibi.

"I'm so sorry, anak."

I heaved a sigh. Umarte pa na natatakot ngunit ang totoo noon ay sobrang tuwa ko na.

"I called Nanay Meera. Where is she?"

"Yes, si Aling Meera. Siya ang tumawag sa amin kaya agad ka naming napuntahan. She was here...to donate her eyes to you."

I am confused. There is no way I heard Daddy right. Anong ibig niyang sabihin na narito si Nanay Meera para lang idonate ang mga mata niya sa akin? Nababaliw na ba si Daddy o sadyang mali lang ako ng pagkakarinig dahil sa mga tama ko ng saksak at pagkagroggy sa mga gamot na ibinigay sa akin?

"Kaya magpahinga ka nang marami sa ngayon, anak. Sabi ng doktor, kung kaya na raw, pwedeng-pwede ka nang operahan. Makakakita ka na ulit, anak."

"What? No. That is not possible. Nasaan si Nanay Meera? Ano? Bakit?" sunod-sunod kong tanong. "Where is she? I need to talk to her! Hindi niya pwedeng i-donate ang mata niya sa akin! That's too much. Nanay Meera! Nanay Meera!"

Nagsisigaw na ako sa naghahalo-halong emosyon. Nanay Meera is really too much. She has been saying that she will donate her eyes to me if she can and she really was not joking. I was screaming her name just to find her until Daddy spoke again.

"A living person cannot donate her eyes, Ariella."