Heartfilia's Premises

Chapter 43

I felt how my entire body trembled.

Nanatili ako sa kinatatayuan ko habang hinahabol ang aking hininga. 

"What's wrong, Ate?" 

It was Allen. Mabilis siyang naglakad palapit sa akin ngunit ang atensyon ko ay nakatuon sa nabasag na frame sa sahig.

"What's this?" tanong niya at kaagad na yumuko.

Dinampot niya ang frame at napapikit ako nang muling masilayan ng malapitan ang litrato.

It was a picture of Nazaire entering his car while someone is pointing his gun on him.

"Is this Tito Niccolai's son?" tanong ni Allen at tila roon lang ako bumalik sa ulirat.

"Allen..." buo ang boses ko na tinawag ang kapatid ko at agad naman siyang lumingon sa akin, "If you and mom won't tell me, then I'd better go back now. I can't risk any second here while he's in danger."

Naging madilim ang mga mata ni Allen nang muli siyang tumingin sa akin.

"I did a research to everyone who is close to you back in the Philippines and Tito Niccolai's son is not an ordinary person, Ate. He might have killed whoever this person is already."

Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi ng kapatid ko.

"What do you mean?"

Mataman niya lang akong tiningnan.

"I know what you have with this person and that is one of the reason why I do not want to tell you what really happened to our father. I know what Tito Niccolai had done for our family but I will not let you use our father's case for his son."

Seryoso lang akong napatingin kay Allen habang sinasalubong ang madilim niyang tingin at mabibigat na ang paghinga ko.

"What more are you keeping from me, Allen?" tanong ko sa kanya sa mabigat na boses.

"Everything that I found out on my own," sagot niya ng nakatiim-bagang.

Tila napaatras ako sa kintatayuan ko dahil sa ekspresyong ipinapakita ni Allen. I have never seen him this dark. Pakiramdam ko ay hindi ko kapatid ang nasa harapan ko.

"Look, Ate.I know that you left because of him and I know that you are doing this because of him. And I also know that this is no longer about our father. You just want to know what happened because you want to use it for him. To get him out. Am I saying it right, my dear sister?"

Naramdaman ko ang muling panginginig ng aking katawan dahil sa mga sinabi ni Allen. Hindi ko alam kung galit ba itong nararamdaman ko para sa kanya.

"Let me tell you this," aniya pa at diretso akong tiningnan sa mga mata, "You can't get him out and neither mom can get us out. Now, if you are still that eager to find out dad's death, then you better ask mom. And if you want to save him, you better go back."

Hindi na ako nakapagsalita pa nang magsimulang magmartsa si Allen palabas ng aking kwarto. Narinig kong nagbukas ang pinto ngunit ramdam ko pa rin ang presensya niya sa aking likod.

"If that box reach here, then the traitor is just near. I hope this time, mom will not lose a family member again."

Saka lang ako binalikan ng lakas nang marinig kong magsara ang pinto. 

Ilang beses akong huminga ng malalim. Bakit ibang Allen ang nasa harapan ko kanina? But I admit it, he gave me another puzzle.

Ilang araw akong hindi lumabas ng aking kwarto matapos ang naging engkwentro namin ni Allen. Hindi ko na rin siya nagawang kausapin dahil matapos kong makita ang dilim sa mga mata niya ay tila nawalan na ako ng lakas.