Isabella Jaime Wilson, work as an escort. She was forced to live a life she never desired because of the overwhelming debt she incurred when her parents passed away. Started to embrace her new life, losing sight of the divine significance of her fem...
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One incident has the power to traumatize and frighten individuals. I know that people hate me right now, but I refuse to ignore the overwhelming terror that is attempting to surface within me, especially being aware that there is still someone out there who wants to kill me. Whether he is an underling of the mastermind or not, the fact that my life is already in peril is a threat. And even though I made an effort to suppress my fear, it kept coming back.
My thoughts would always imagine a situation in which he returned and succeeded in his once-attempted mission whenever I tried to fall asleep. I might not be as weak as Jam before, but I can't promise that I can defend myself at all times.
“Jam, you should sleep,” Barry said. I give her a tired glance.
“I can't sleep,” pag-amin ko. Naupo ito sa gilid ng aking higaan at tinapik ang aking balikat.
“I know you're afraid. However, worrying too much will make your body weaker. You must get enough sleep so that you will be strong enough to defend yourself if someone tries to kill you again.”
I gave her a single nod, swallowed, and inhaled deeply.
“I'll try.”
She gave me a small smile before turning to face the netbook that was resting on my lap.
“Find anything?”
Gazing at the screen, I let out another rush of breath.
"Not sure if this is useful or not. But I find something."
She took one glance at me, startled, and took a step closer. She stared at the screen, attempting to comprehend what I had said.
“What is it?"
"I think—" I repeated, swallowing, and then cleared my throat.
"What?”
“I think Carter's dad is the mastermind.”
Her eyes grew bigger, and her lips parted in surprise.
“What the hell, Jam? Are you serious? ”
“I'm not positive, or perhaps I'm simply perceiving that I am.”
“Wait, if that's true, why would he let Carter shoot twice?”
Napaurong ako at saglit na hinilot ang sintido.
“Hindi ko na rin alam. But his voice sounds exactly the same as the man I heard in the hospital. Barry, hindi ako nagkakamali. Hindi nakakalito ang boses na’yon.”
“I believe you, but, Jam, we have to be extra careful. Bukod sa tatay siya ni Carter; he's also a powerful man.”
I bit my lip, knowing what she was referring to telling me.
“Mr. Haris Heart is not just Carter's father. He's a well-known lawyer with lots of connections. Isipin mo nga kung gaano tayo kadaling na tuntun ng mga pulis nuon, and it's because his people help the police officers in searching for us. He was clearly protecting Carter when he made a statement regarding his son's involvement in yours,” she added.
“I know, pero hindi ko magawang alisin sa isip ko ang maghinala.”
“Then ‘yan ang kailangan nating simulan ngayon. Carter wouldn't be happy knowing that his father was the cause of this. We have to gather proof and evidence so that it'll be worth it.”
I gave Barry a nod, let out a heavy sigh, went back through the files, and showed her the information I had discovered.
"Look, I noticed that the public defender was representing the court in instances comparable to mine that previously resulted in a guilty conviction a month after the trial. Nobody at all had the opportunity to hire a lawyer of their own.”
“Indeed, exactly like me. Not just because I can't afford it, but also because nobody wants to take the job.”
“Yes, but this is strange as well. One attorney represented Carter and the other suspects, whom Leonard's team was able to spare.”
“Who?”
“Mr. Haris Heart.”
Tila kapwa kaming natigilan at hindi magawang makapag salita. Even I can't afford to think that Carter's dad is behind all of this. I've never known him personally, and Carter has never talked about him, not even once.
“Barry, I'm sorry to say it, but I think Lenard may even be involved in this."
“What?!”
Iniharang ko agad ang aking palad sa kanyang bibig.
“I'm not stating that I'm positive; it's simply an assumption. However, since this is a compilation of evidence, we must record every person that could be involved."
"How did you get to your conclusion?"
"I was just wondering how he made the decision to rescue or not save that person. Since it's obvious that he didn't even come to assist me. I wouldn't have met him if it weren't for Carter."
"How strange, then, that Carter didn't offer to assist you as well?"
“What? He did; sadyang wala lang tumanggap sa kaso ko—”
Bigla akong natigilan.
“Jam, ikaw ang maysabi diba? His dad is a lawyer, and he represented not just Carter's case but as well as the others that they have saved.”
“So, pinaghihinalaan mo si Carter?”
“Based on what you just told me, yes.”
Napatayo ako at hindi makapaniwala na tumingin sa kanya.
“What the hell, Barry? He was shot.”
“I know, but the can just faked it.”
“What?! Are you out of your mind? Haven't you seen the blood? The wounds, Carter almost died.”
“Hindi ko na rin alam, Jam. All I know is that we are not going to prove our innocence if we do not take everything that we know as a sequence of this investigation.”
“No, he can't do that to me,” mapait kong sambit.
“But what if he does?” she asked worriedly.
Suddenly, my body starts to feel intense, and my breathing quickens. I massaged my temples, hoping to calm my anxiety and terror.
Barry got up too and put his hand on my shoulder, causing me to turn to face her.
“Jam. What if this involved him? What if it's all planned? Because of what you told me, a few things now make sense in my mind. What if, Jam, they escalated the situation to the point where you had no choice but to give up? And bullshit! They can catch me too, so it's like killing two birds with one stone.”
Mabilis ang ginawa kung pag-iling at mahigpit na hinawakan ni Barry ang aking balikat ng tuluyan ng bumagsak ang luha ko.
“Please, Jam, gather yourself. This is just a conclusion, as you have stated. However, we have to prepare for the chance that we could be correct.”
“Hindi ko kakayanin, Barry.”
“For now, let's put that out of our minds. Finding evidence to determine whether or not they were guilty is what we currently need to do."
"What if they are? Barry, I would rather be found guilty of murder and root in jail without proving my innocence, rather than being betrayed by the people who have always been my source of strength. That is something I could never handle."
Barry gave me a firm hug and gave my back a gentle stroke. But my heart hurts, no matter how sincere and helpful that is.
I thought about everything that had happened from the start the entire next day. I hate to say it, but there's a chance that Barry's conclusion is correct.
However, I still want to think that we were genuinely connected and that our friendship was real. Despite his mysterious nature, Carter is really kind and has been a friend for many years. He had no intention of hurting Ara or me. He is very trustworthy, kind, and protective.
“Wilson, may dalaw ka,” saad ng pulis na kasalukuyang binubuksan na ngayon ang aming selda.
Barry gave me a weak look before I got out and proceeded to the visiting area.
When I saw Barry sitting there alone, my heart tore apart.
“Ara,” tawag ko rito.
Gulat at mabilis siyang lumingon para humarap sa akin. Ngunit ganun na lamang ang pagbagsak ng balikat ko ng makita ko ang itsura niya.
Suddenly, her complexion, which was pinkish-white, seemed dry and pale. Her normally styled hair is suddenly in a disheveled bun, which is obviously not how she normally keeps it. Even in just one month, I can see how thin she has become.
“W-what happened to you?” Usal ko.
Rather than responding, she grabbed me and hugged me, pressing her face into my shoulder.
Her whining gave me uneasy feelings.
Tears started streaming down my face, so I pleaded, "Ara, please tell me what happened."
“It's Jilbert.”
“What about him?”
Kumalas siya sa pagkakayakap sa akin at hinahid ang sunod-sunod na pagpatak ng luha.
“He's dead, Jam. Jilbert is dead,” she said, almost whispering.
My knees weakened after hearing that, and I feel like my breathing stopped.
“H-how,” I managed to utter.
“I-just found him dead at his apartment,” she said.
Her lips were trembling, as well as her body. Something is telling me that everything is not right, aside from the fact that my cousin Jilbert is dead.
“He called me last night, he told me to meet up with him. He said you refused to listen to him, so he wants to tell me something. But when I got there, he was already dead. Jam, what should I do?”
I wipe my tears away and step closer to her. Gaya ng gawa niya, bumulong lang rin ako.
“Ara, I don't understand. Are you telling me that?”
Hindi ko pa man natutuloy ang sasabihin ko ay tumango na ito. Humagulgol muli habang pilit na tinatago ang kanyang mukha sa dalawang palad.
“Ara, ano kaba bakit hindi ka tumawag ng pulis?” Giit ko. Agad siyang umiling bago tinakluban ang kanyang bibig upang pigilan ang muling paghikbi.
“Because I'm afraid that they might take that advantage and point me as the killer instead. I'm scared, Jam. Anong gagawin ko?”
I took hold of her shaking hands and covered them with my own. The unexpected news broke my heart, but what hurts even more is witnessing Ara in such terror.
“Was Carter aware of this?"
“No, I haven't seen him since the day you surrendered yourself. His father didn't allow any of us to visit him at the hospital.”
“How about Pow and Miggy?”
“They're on their way here now.”
“Tell me, Ara, was there anything that you discovered that led you to choose not to report his death to the police?”
She nodded nervously.
“Jilbert may be aware of the identity of the person who set you up, Jam, and perhaps even more.”
“How could you tell?”
“He sent me this message.”
She showed me her phone, and I stepped back in shock after reading the text.
Jilbert Guam:
Come here immediately, Ara. My conscience cannot let me sleep right now. I was part of setting up Jam, and I want to clear things out with her, but she won't let me. I'll tell you everything; please meet me.
