The betrothed (COMPLETED)

29

They say when you lose someone, everything you did with that person flashbacks, and for a split second, you are brought back to the time, and every moment, every memory is laid out in front of you.

Every significant thing.

I could never recall a time when my father hugged me, nor comforted me when I was crying. I have never laughed with him, I have never shared stories with him.

He was cold, unfeeling and ruthless.

The only memory I have with him is having him stare at me for too long and tell me I look alot like my mother. Iyan lamang.

Dinungaw ko siya mula sa kanyang kinalalagyan. This is the second night he was here, four days after his death. Halos oras oras ay pabalik balik ako para tignan siya. Just to... see his face. I have never seen him look this peaceful. His brows weren't creasing, his lips weren't form in a thin line. He even looked younger even with the gray hairs.

Now my father lies in this coffin, in a tuxedo like all the other proud men.

I didn't want to believe he was gone until I saw him in the morgue, pale and lifeless. Hindi rin rumihistro sa utak kong si Henry nga ang may kagagawan nito kung hindi pa pumunta ang pulis para umpisahan ang imbestigasyon.

“Nagtamo siya ng saksak sa tagiliran, at head trauma dahil sa pagkakabagok ng ulo niya. Kung nasaklolohan lang sana siya kaagad, his death could've been avoided. Pero ayon sa autopsy, noong matagpuan siya ay tatlong oras na siyang patay.”  paliwanag ng hepe sa amin. The moment Trevelyan broke the news to me, I rushed into the mansion with him only to find my uncle Samuel drinking his scotch while talking to the police.

Nasapo nito ang kanyang ulo. “Hindi ako makapaniwalang magagawa ni Henry ang lahat ng ito. Hindi ko inaasahan na---” his voice broke, na parang hindi na nito kayang tapusin ang sasabihin.

Uncle Samuel loved Henry as if he was his own. My father only laughed around his younger brother. Kahit pa ganoon siya, mahal nito ang kanyang kapatid. They always had each other's back, at ngayon ay wala na ang Kuya nito, wala na rin ang kanyang anak, I could only imagine what my uncle is going through.

Kahit ako, hindi ko lubos maisip kung paano ito nagawa ni Henry sa aming pamilya.

“Xerxes,” Trevelyan's warm hand snaked at the small of my back.

“Treb, nakabalik na kayo?”

He nodded. He led me into a table away from the visitors. Dalawang gabi na rin akong natutulog rito sa mansyon. I was even surprised when Trevelyan wanted to stay here with me. I would completely understand if he didn't want to.

“Kamusta ang paghahanap?” inabot ko ang kanyang buhok gamit ang aking mga daliri para suklayin ito. Humaba na ang kanyang buhok. I don't even remember the last time he's got a haircut.

“We checked here everywhere. Wala kaming nahanap pero sigurado akong hindi siya makakalabas ng Lungsod. May checkpoints sa lahat ng exit. He's somewhere, hiding. Wala ka na bang ibang lugar na alam na pwede niyang pagtaguan?”

Umiling ako. “Hindi rin kasi ako nakakasama sa kanya kapag hindi niya ako niyayaya. Kung ano lang iyong mga lugar at properties na nabanggit ni Uncle Samuel sayo kagabi, iyon lang rin ang alam ko.”

He nodded in understanding. Lumapit ito at nilapat ang kanyang labi sa aking noo. “It's past ten, I think you should get some sleep. Hindi ka rin nakatulog ng maayos kagabi.”

“Okay lang, Treb. Gusto ko ring bantayan dito si papa...”

Tumutulong si Trevelyan sa mga pulis para hanapin si Henry. Though it's dangerous,
Hindi ko rin siya maawat. He always reasoned that he has to find Henry because what if he comes for me next.