Sightless Love [COMPLETE]

Chapter 33: Her Trust

Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga. Hindi na ako magugulat. Carl's family is undeniably rich. And when I say rich, I mean multi – millionaire. Kaya nga pinagtataka ko kung bakit siya nasa police department eh noong nasa college pa lang kami, he's dreaming of becoming a pilot.

"More money, more power." A bulky and stern voice said from behind us.

"Oh Chief, you're here." Martin said in a monotonic voice. Halata mo ang kawalang – gana sa boses niya.

I heard a slight chuckle. "Hindi ko pwedeng iwan si Chloe mag – isa kasama mo, Martin. You're drunk."

"I'm not." he replied in a serious tone.

"Whether you're drunk or not, I'll stay."

Martin grunted. Pumasok na ako sa usapan nila upang hindi na humaba pa ang kanilang pagtatalo. Tutal hindi ko na rin kaya pang itago ang mga tanong sa isip ko. "Bakit siya naging ganun, Martin? Chief?"

Binalot kami ng katahimikan.

Chief Verzosa was the first one to break the ice. "He's high on ecstacy, Chloe."

"E – ecstacy?" Hindi ako makapaniwala. The most respected Carl in our college years was now a drug user. "Pero pa'no?! Bakit?! He's a police officer, right? Surely someone will notice. They had this medical exams, right?" sunod – sunod kong tanong.

Anong nangyari sa buhay mo, Carl?

"You're underestimating the power of money, Chloe." Chief Verzosa answered. Medyo malayo ang boses niya pero malinaw na malinaw sa'kin ang sinabi niya.

"But how? Where's your evidence?"

"The evidence is in my custody." Chief Verzosa continued. "The day we accused Martin as our suspect? That's when I discovered his dirty secret."

I took a deep breath. "Paano? Anong nakita mo?"

"He went after you two, right? I was about to follow him but a phone call stopped me. Naiwan niya ang cellphone niya. Hindi ko alam kung anong naisip ko at sinagot ko ang tawag pero kung hindi dahil doon mahihirapan akong pagtagpi – tagpiin ang kwento na magiging daan upang malaman ko na siya ang killer."

"Who's in that phone call?"

"The one on the other line was the dealer of the drugs, Chloe." Martin replied.

"Matapos nun, I made my own underground investigation and fortunately, it became successful dahil nakakuha ako ng ebidensya. Nalaman ko kung saan niya tinatago ang mga binibili niyang illegal drugs. The problem is hindi ko pwedeng ipaalam sa buong kapulisan ang nalaman ko." Chief Verzosa continued.

I was about to ask why ngunit inunahan na ako ni Martin.

"He's the commanding officer, Chloe. Siya ang pinapaniwalaan ng karamihan."

I jerked away my hand from him and with a fuming voice, nearly shouted at them. "Then do something! Have a drug test whatever! I won't let him be, Chief! Hindi pwedeng magtatago lang tayo ng ganito! I won't give a d*mn sa kung ano mang makakabangga ko – "

" - you'll give a d*mn care, Chloe kung ang mga mahal mo na sa buhay ang nakasalalay dito." Intervened Chief Verzosa, cutting me off and leaving me dumbfounded. "More money, more power, more connections."

"That's why..." Binaling ko ang ulo ko sa direksyon ni Martin.

"Yeah." Martin said tiredly. "That's why he killed my father because I nearly killed him."

Naramdaman ko ang panginginig ng mga kamay ko. Ayoko 'tong nararamdaman ko. 'Yung pakiramdam na wala kang magawa at ang tanging solusyon na lang ay magtago at tumakbo sa kamatayan. Sa sinabi nilang 'yun, biglang pumasok sa isip ko ang mga mukha ng pamilya ko. Hindi ko kayang mawala sila ng dahil sa akin. Mas gugustuhin ko pang sumuko na lang kay Carl kaysa may mangyaring masama sa kanila.

"Don't ever think of that, Chloe."

"H – ha?" Anong sinasabi niya? Nababasa ba ni Martin ang nasa isip ko? "What are you talking about?"

"Sabi ko sa'yo, madali ka lang basahin. Your face says it all."

I rolled my eyes. "Right. Prove it. What am I thinking?"

"Wag kang susuko sa kanya. Hindi ko hahayaang makuha ka niya ulit. Hindi ko hahayaang mahawakan ka pa niya, ni hibla ng buhok mo, hindi na niya magagalaw. I would never let that man lay his eyes on you ever again." he said in full sincerity. Pa'no ko nalaman? Hindi ko alam. I just felt it. And that feeling is overwhelming. Nakakapanlambot ng puso.

I smiled at him. "Thank you, Martin pero... wala tayong laban."

"Meron. As long as we have our backs, kaya natin siyang talunin. Kahit apat lang tayo, makakaya natin siyang pigilan at ilagay sa tamang kinalalagyan – in prison where he would live for eternity."

"Ang hirap maniwala sa sinasabi mo..."

"I know but do you trust me? Do you trust us?"

Tumango ako. Unti – unting nagkakaroon ng liwanag sa madilim na daang tatahakin ko.

"Good. Last question..." He once again held my hand with so much tenderness.

"Yes?"

"May tiwala ka ba sa pagmamahal ko sa'yo?"