Red Strings of Fate (Haunted Series 2)

Strings 38: Punishment

I knew this already. Example nito ay nung walang nabanggit na Del Valle at Ces Vallis noong nagkaroon ng barilan malapit sa St. Ceara University.

"Their influence is considerable because they work behind the scenes. Financing a lot of our politicians and the media." Nagkibit balikat siya at tinignan ako sa mata. "There are a lot of people who want to make use of their name. They have old money, power, and people you don't want to anger... Questions?"

Umiling ako. Kahit papaano hindi ako nabigla sa lahat ng sinasabi niya.

Ilang segundong katahimikan ang pumagitna sa'min habang kumakain nang magsalita uli siya.

Sa totoo lang, nagugulat ako pag nagsasalita si Hera dahil karaniwang hindi kami nag-uusap dalawa pag magkasama.

"How have you been holding up?"

"Fine." Hindi umangat ang tingin ko nang sinagot ko siya. At nang hindi siya sumagot, nagtataka akong lumingon nang mapansin siyang nakatitig ng mariin.

"The truth?"

Napapikit ako at napailing na natatawa. Hera suddenly feels like an older sister. She's so persistent.

"I'll be okay. It's just a lot to handle in a week." I breathe deeply as I confess. "My parents, Nana, lahat ng putanginang Itasaki na 'to. It's just one crazy thing after another. Ni wala akong oras para magproseso kung ano ang nangyari bago pa ako may malamang bago."

Napatigil ako nang mapansing nakatitig siya sa'kin.

"Oh, sorry, I said—"

"You don't have to translate. You can speak in Tagalog freely, I understand."

"You understand?"

Tumaas ng kaonti ang gilid ng kanyang labi. "I might not be Filipino, and I might not speak fluently, but I understand the language. Ilang taon na akong nakatira dito, Scarlet."

English pa'ko ng english naiintindihan naman pala niya.

Natulala ako sa kanya, she sounds so awkward speaking in my language and it sounds cute—pero hindi ko sinabi kasi nakita ko kung pano pumatay si Hera ng tao gamit ng kanyang mga kamay, baka hindi niya ma-appreciate na tinatawag siyang cute.

"Anyway, continue." She bats her arms to let me resume.

"Ayun... hindi ako sanay na palaging sinusundan. Multiplied by three na ang security detail ko ngayon."

"You die, your father won't cooperate. And if you're taken..." Sumimangot siya. "You'll never know what Itasaki plans for you. If you're going to marry for connections, or you'll be trafficked to another country."

Nalaglag ang panga ko, "May ganon na nangyayari? Arrange marriage? Trafficking their own flesh and blood?"

Tumango siya, tapos umiling na parang nalilito rin.

"Since you're royalty, I believe they wouldn't traffick you... But selling you for marriage, yes."

How is this my life? Gusto kong bumalik sa panahong namomroblema ako dahil sa trabaho, hindi dahil may mga taong nang h-hunt sa akin.

At the end of the day, I'm indebted to these people. To these agents. They're literally sacrificing their lives for my safety.

I'm still thankful. Lalo na sa lalakeng hindi ko na nakikita ng dalawang araw.

Bumuga ako ng mabigat na hangin. "Thank you, by the way. We don't know each other, but you've been so kind to me."

She scoffs. "I'm not kind."