It Started in the Library (Completed and Editing)

Chapter 34: Aftermath

"No problem. Just give me an hour," she replied before she hung up.

"Kuya," I felt Adam put something warm on my hand. The welcome scent of coffee assailed my nostrils.

"Thanks," I replied and took a sip. Hindi ko man lang napansin na umalis siya para bumili. My senses must be getting dull from all this fatigue. "Hindi ka ba uuwi muna? Ako na magbabantay kay Aidan. Iuwi mo muna rin si Aya."

"Ayoko po..." Aya mumbled and I heaved a heavy sigh. I cupped her cheeks and gave her a frown, "Diosa, uwi ka muna baby," she shook her head. Ang tigas ng ulo. "Sige na please, request ni kuya."

"Gusto ko dito lang." She pouted. "Ayoko po umuwi. Paano pag gumising na si Kuya Aidan?"

"Baby girl, ikaw naman magkakasakit pag di ka nagpahinga. Promise, tatawagan kita pag gumising na siya."

"Tama si Kuya Alfredo. Uwi muna tayo Diosa." Adam tried to convince her too. "Mamaya sabay tayo na bumalik. Tulog muna tayo sa inyo, okay?" She looked really reluctant pero napapayag din namin ni Adam.

"Kuya gamitin mo muna yung kotse ko," Adam handed his car keys to me. Fuck, another reminder why this is such a hellish day. Argh. I can't believe what happened to my Lady. Parang gusto kong balatan ng buhay si Brian Tiu. And she's been just upgraded. Ni hindi ko man lang na-enjoy nang husto yung modifications nila Ali. I took a mental note to ask Trixie later.

"Sige, mag-ingat kayo ha. Alam mo na," The situation last night has made me more than a little paranoid. Alam kong patay na si Hernandez but as long as Tiu is still alive, I still can't shake the idea na may bigla na namang mang-threaten sa mga kapatid ko.

"Are you kidding kuya? I won't let anything get past me," Adam replied coldly. I grinned when I remembered kung paano niya isinabit ng grapnel sa tulay yung tauhan ni Tiu kanina na bumato kay Aidan ng bomba. Adam has his own vicious side if he wanted to.

"Sige na. Stay alert, baka makatulog ka habang nag-dri-drive." He nodded and threw his arm around Diosa' shoulders. I watched them enter the elevator and waved good bye. I took out my phone and dialled Prince's number.

"I need to talk to you," I told him as soon as he answered. I didn't give him time to reply and disconnected the call.

"Hey, can you call me if there's any news? Any news at all." Red met my eyes and gave a brief nod. "Babalik ako agad."

This is the first time in my life that I wished the day would end even before it started.

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"Prince ayoko sa pamilya ng babaeng yan," Napapikit ako sa kirot na naramdaman ko sa aking ulo. Pagdating pa lang ni Mama ay nagagalit na kaagad siya. Gusto kong magpaliwanag pero alam ko naman na kapag ganito ang mood niya ay hindi siya handang makinig.

"Sinabi ko na sa'yo ang gusto kong mapapangasawa mo yung maayos at hindi ka dadalhin sa gulo. Ano 'to? Mas malala pa pala yung ngayon. Anong mangyayari sa susunod, paglalamayan na kita?" Napahagulgol si Mama at yumakap kay Papa.

"Mama okay na po ako," I tried to reassure her. "Saka hindi po kasalanan nila Kuya Alfred. Ako po ang dahilan kaya nagkarambulan kagabi."

"Anong hindi sila ang may kasalanan? Dinala ka nila sa bar para mag-inuman tapos wala silang kasalanan? Di ba sinabi ko sa inyo, unahin ang pag-aaral. Anong inaatupag mo? Inuman?"

"Mama kapatid ni Mel yung nakaaway namin sa bar. Siya po ang sumugod sa amin. Sila Kuya ang nadamay sa rambol, hindi ako," I badly want to see Aya. Kung hindi lang biglang dumating sila mama, kanina ko pa sana dinischarge ang sarili ko. Kuya Alfredo came here earlier and filled me in on the details ng excuse namin. He looked like hell. Mukhang wala pa sa kanila ang nakakatulog. Sabi niya yung apartment ko rin daw ay parang dinaanan ng bagyo so that means wala rin pala akong mauuwian for now. Kuya Ali's people are working on the clean-up pero it might take a day or two bago maisaayos ang lahat kaya okay na rin na mag-stay ako dito sa ospital in the meantime.