Shooting Star (Completed) [R-18]

28 : X

Martee

The media is present everywhere. The issue spread like spitfire and everybody suddenly knows it.

My father is innocent.

Tama nga ang kasabihang, pera at kapangyarihan ang nagmamay-ari ng mundo. Hindi ko alam kung saan nanggaling ang issue. But it just came out. Ni hindi ko alam kung kanino nanggaling ang lahat. Someone might have leaked it.

Nang makarating ako sa kulungan ay naabutan ko si papa na nakaupo lamang. He lost weight. Araw araw, habang nakikita ko ang sitwasyon nila, pinapamukha lamang ng mundo kung gaano kabaluktot ang hustisya sa ating bansa. I know I failed him. But I am also barely living. The destruction that the Villamors did was too deep that breathing back is not even an option.

" Ma'am, bawal po muna ang bisita sa ngayon" Untag sa akin nung pulis na nagbabantay. Mahina akong tumango.

Ang daming tao ngayon. Most of them were from the media. Sa TV ay palabas ang news patungkol sa mga magulang ko. Santi was being interviewed and suddenly my heart fell down when his words were clearly interpreted by my system.

" Ex vice governor Romualdez, has been falsely blamed. Further investigations will be pursued and justice will be served" Ang seryoso ng boses niya. The Santi I've seen in the TV is way different from the Santi I have known. Sobrang seryoso at parang kung anuman ang sasabihin niya ay pinal na desisyon.

Biglang nabuhayan ako. Justice will be served.

Tahimik akong nakatingin sa singsing niya sa aking daliri. I'm trapped with him. He isn't called a beast in politics for nothing. Sinigurado niya muna na kasal kami bago ko nalaman ang issue. Bago paman lumabas ang issue. And I hated the fact that I was weak to deny him of what he wants.

" Totoo po bang ang mama niyo po na si Mrs. Kristina Villamor ang talagang may pakana ng lahat?" Tanong muli ng reporter sa kaniya.

Isang tango lamang ang naging sagot ni Santi.

" If proven guilty." Iyun lamang ang sinabi niya.

He knows. Matagal na niyang alam na walang kasalanan ang aking mga magulang pero maspinili niyang manahimik na lamang. I clenched my fist. He manipulated everything and he made it happen according to what he wants.

" So ongoing na po ang imbestigasyon? Kailan po ang tentative na hearing para sa kaso, governor?" Tanong muli nung reporter.

Hindi ko na pinatapos pa ang panood at lumabas na ng kulungan. Pinagkaguluhan ako ng media ngunit iniwasan ko ang lahat. Hindi ako naglabas ng kahit anong pahayag tungkol sa balita dahil pati ako ay hindi ko alam kung ano ba talaga ang totoo.

I went home after. Hindi ko man lang nasulyapan si mama.

When I got home, I saw Santi waiting for me. Mukhang kakauwi lang din niya at hinihintay ako.

" You should have stayed. Ayokong pagpiyestahan ka sa tabloid." He said.

" I am not a slave to your words, Santi. You just awaken an issue that has been dormant." I started.

" I struggled. You know I did. Lumaban kami ng patas sa korte pero natalo kami. My father was accused of a crime he denied but was proven guilty and sentenced to grave charges. You witnessed his trial. You gave away huge amounts of money to win the case and you did not leave any traces of question to that. I kept my silence for all this time because I failed to prove my father's innocence. They suffered in prison and I looked at them and did nothing because I had spent everything that we had. And now, everything seems to feed me like it just happened yesterday? Your mother is under investigation. Someone who could be a potential suspect to the crime that happened and yet you look at me now and tell me you love me? You put a ring on finger. You did it for what? For assurance. To make sure I won't leave you after everything? Well I'm telling you now Santi, if proven guilty. If you paid the law and bought justice. Consider us finished" My heart just want to explode right in front of him. Lahat ng sakit ng loob na naipon ng ilang taon ay parang gustong kumawala nalang.

I saw him close his eyes as he looked at me.

" You're exhausted Martee. Tara na sa taas para makapagpahinga ka" He muttered.

" You do not disregard what I just said Santi. You manipulated everything. Ngayon mo sabihin sa akin na wala kang kinalaman sa nangyari. Tell me how you manipulated everything. Kahit pa alam mong nahirapan ako. My family suffered because of your family. And I will not sleep in the same bed with you." Galit kong wika sa kaniya.

" You fucking told me you love me." He stated calmly.

" Iyan lang ba talaga ang nasa isip mo ha, Santi. Love you? Nabibili mo naman pala ang hustisya diba. And that's perfectly on your advantage. But not this" Turo ko sa puso ko.

" Dahil kahit kailan, hindi ako magmamahal ng lalaking nanggago sa pamilya ko. I thought I knew you enough. But it turns out you are a different person." I justified.

" Ready the annulment papers" Malamig kong untag sa kaniya.

" No" He answered coldly.

" Gusto kong-"

" I said no Martee. You are my Mrs. Villamor and it will stay that way. Hahayaan mong ayusin ko ang lahat. I will put my mother inside bar if proven guilty. And I did not pay for any underground business, nor did I buy the law. Someone must take the blame for everything and I will make sure whoever is that will pay for his or her life. I will not stop until justice is served." He announced.

Umiling ako.

" How can I even believe you now, Santi." I whispered. Pakiramdam ko sobra akong talunan. Ang yabang kong magsalita pero ang totoo niyan, ni maayos na abogado para sa mga magulang ko ay wala akong makuha dahil wala naman akong perang pambayad.

" Because I fucking love you. I love you more than my family. I love you more than everything and anything. If this is the only reason that I'd be losing you then I will fucking pay the law for you. I'd pay just for the law to favor you. Please understand that I have lost my memory, I'm still picking up to where we have left off. But right now, I want you to stay fucking in love with me. Know that I wouldn't let you go. I wouldn't let you leave me. Fucking no annulment." He said seriously. Napalunok ako sa sinabi niya.

Hindi ko na namamalayang lumuluha na pala ako sa harapan niya. Agad niya akong nilapitan at niyakap ng napakahigpit.

" Please. Please trust me. I want you to just trust me on this Martee." He breathed. I silently cried and nodded.

" I love you" He whispered.

——