The Culprit (UNDER REVISION)

Case 085. ALEXIS 👮

ALEXIS
The chaos has ended. Now people in Capitol will finally able to sleep at peace. Especially those people who fight for justice.

"Grabe no? All this time si Matt lang pala 'yong taong hinanahanap n'yo," Ena said as they lie on their beds.

"Oo nga, until now I still can't believe of all the things happened."

Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin siya makapaniwala sa mga nangyari. Bago tuluyang malagutan ng hininga si Matt at nagtapat pa ito ng pagkagusto sa kanya bagay na hindi niya matiyak kung anong mararamdaman niya... kung dapat ba siyang matuwa o malungkot. Isang bahagi ng isip niya na nagsasabi na dapat siyang matuwa dahil sa wakas at nabigyan na niya ng hustisya ang pagkamatay ng dating kasintahan. Ngunit hindi niya magawang matuwa. Hindi niya makapa sa puso niya ang kasiyahan na dapat sana niyang maramdaman.

"I just hope... na kung nasaan siya ngayon, matahimik na rin siya," that's the least she can do for him. Sa sandaling panahon na nakasama niya ito, ay tinuring niya naman itong kaibigan.

"Sana," Ena replied. "Eh kamusta naman si Alejandro? Ngayon na tapos na ang lahat, are you planing to confess your feelings to him?" tanong ni Ena at mapanuksong tumingin sa kanya at ipinatong ang kamay sa kanyang balikat.

Tinapik niya lang ang kamay nito. Ena pouted mocking hurt. "Bakit? Don't deny it Alexis, alam 'kong gusto mo siya!"

She bit her lower lips. "But it's not the right time for that. Isa pa, baka pagtawanan niya lang ako," sa totoo lang minsan na ring sumagi sa isip niya ang bagay na iyon ngunit alam niyang wala siyang matatanggap na pagtugon mula kay Alejandro.

At least confess to him 'di ba? Kaysa naman sa hindi mo masabi. If he rejects you...at least you say what you feel, it's for you  to be free."

"Matulog na lang tayo," she answered dismissing the topic. She don't have a guts to tell Alejandro what she feels. She's afraid of rejection. She's pretty sure that Alejandro would never reciprocate the love she feels for him.

Inisip niya na mas mabuti pang maging magkaibigan sila ng binata—no expectation, less harm.

But hearing Ena's advice, she suddenly feel confused. She's having a second thought, so many "what ifs"running on her minds. On some point, what her friend said was right. She should confess. She didn't have to asked anything in return from him. Kailangan niya lang masabi ang nararamdaman para mapalaya ang sariling nararamdam...pero natatakot siya.

•••
Master George called her early this morning saying he have a very important matter to discuss. They already fixed their misunderstandings, Master George explained everything to her.

Naabutan niya si Master George sa opisina nito. Kumatok siya sa pinto kahit na nakabukas naman iyon. Master George lift up his head and smiled as he saw her. He motion her to get in and sit in from of him.

Umupo naman siya sa silya sa harap ng desk nito. Master George look seriously at him for a few seconds.

"Good job Alexis."

She flashed a smile."Kayo po 'yon Master George at sorry nga po pala sa mga nasabi ko sa inyo."

Master George returned her smile."Wala 'yon Alexis, kalimutan na natin 'yon," Ngumiti ito at pagkatapos ay may nilapag itong isang maliit na kahon sa mesa at bahagyang tinulak palapit sa kanya.

"Ano 'to Master?" she asked, wondering what's inside the box. Yes, she knows that they've just accomplished their mission. But she thought the present in front of her is too much. The box looks so expensive and for sure whatever inside it was expensive too.

"Why don't you open it?" Master George answered, the happy smiled still plastered on his plastered on his face.

Dahan-dahan niyang binuksan ang maliit na kahon, nanlaki ang mga mata niya nang masilayan ang nasa loob. The box looks expensive but the thing inside was priceless.