Chapter 30
"Umalis ka nga sabi dito, e! Bobo ka ba?!" I heard Nicole's voice. "Kahit pa lumuha ka ng dugo, hinding-hindi ka mapapatawad ng kaibigan namin."
"It's better for you to go out, Mr. Scott, before she wakes up. For sure magwawala siya kapag nakita ka. Please lang," Jona said.
I didn't open my eyes. Nanatili akong nakapikit habang nakikinig sa kanila. I also don't want to see him. Naninikip ang dibdib ko kapag nakikita siya.
Memories kept flashing inside my head, and I know any moment I might sob.
"I want to talk to her," paos nitong sagot.
"Gamutin mo muna ang noo mo bago ka namin hahayaang makausap siya," anas ni Kiara.
Hindi niya ginamot ang sugat niya?
"T-this will be quick. Ayoko rin naman siyang magising na nandito pa ako," he said.
Tumahimik naman sila. Sunod kong narinig ang mga yabag ng kanilang lakad paalis. Maybe they agreed that I secretly wished they didn't.
Ramdam ko na may humawak sa kamay ko at ang pagdampi ng malambot na bagay sa likod ng palad ko. I heard him sniffed.
"I'm sorry..." he said. "If sorry if it took me eight years for me to confess."
I remained acting asleep. May parte sa 'kin ang gustong makinig sa sasabihin niya.
"Kailangan kong gawin 'yun para sa kapakanan mo. I'm sorry for manipulating your life. Your dad was the one who told me to stay away from you since you've forgotten all about me. Sobrang sakit para sa 'kin nu'n, mahal. I'm just watching you from afar and being so happy like I didn't exist in your life, while I'm suffering every night because I badly want to see you."
Did he just call me mahal?
"Alam kong hindi mo naririnig 'to ngunit sasabihin ko pa rin ang rason ko. Kasi alam kong pagkagising mo, itataboy mo na ako. Hindi mo papakinggan ang sasabihin ko kaya't heto ako, nagsasalita sa taong tulog." His voice cracked. "I just want to protect you from your mom. Your mother was suffering an illness that she doesn't want to admit she have. I didn't agree to this plan, baby. But when Tito died, sino na lang ang poprotekta sa 'yo sa tuwing gusto kang patayin ng Mommy mo? That's why I agreed to Ferrell's decision to fool your mom."
Naramdaman ko ang muling paghalik nito sa likod ng palad ko. "I'm sorry for fooling you. But, baby, I didn't cheat. I can't cheat on you. M-masyado kitang mahal para magloko ako sa 'yo. But I need to take part of my duty as one of the members of Pericolosi. Our target was your mom."
Si mommy? Anong Pericolosi? Kating-kati na 'kong idilat ang mga mata ko ngunit nagpipigil ako. I want to hear futher kahit na natatakot ako.
"I can just easily hire someone to kill your mom, baby. But someone's stopping me and even threatened your life." He sniffed. "I have tons of money, Kitty. Damn, kaya kitang ilayo rito at kalimutan ang misyon ko."
Nanatili itong tahimik. His lips is still touching the back of my palm and I heard his small sobs.
"It was all my fault, fuck." Naramdaman ko na parang namamasa ang kamay ko. Is he crying? "K-kung sana naabutan kita at nagpaliwanag, siguro buhay pa ang anak natin. Sana buhay pa si Lassie. K-kung sana hindi ako pumayag sa desisyon ni Tito na lumayo, sana hindi nasayang ang walong taong nagkalayo tayo.
"Every night I was hurting myself. That's for eight years. Gabi-gabi kong sinasaktan ang sarili ko dahil deserve ko lahat ng 'yun. I even asked Lucifer to beat me til death because of what happened." I felt his thumb touching cheeks. "I was so damn happy when we took a step on Samar. After three years, finally we came back from where we started. I can't explain my happiness that time. I can finally hug you, kiss you, and do things I badly want to do with you without fear that your mom might caught us and kill you on your sleep."
Nang humagugol ito ay ramdam ko ang pagsikip ng dibdib ko. "Sorry for what I did. Gagawin ko lahat ng gusto mong gawin ko para mapatawad mo ako."
Sa sinabi niya, dahan-dahan kong dinilat ang mga mata ko. "Lahat gagawin mo?"
I saw him stunned. "Y-you're awake."
"Tama ba ang narinig ko? Gagawin mo ang lahat para sa kapatawaran ko?" mahinang tanong ko.
He nodded and kissed my hand. "Yes, Kitty. Anything."
"Ipawalang bisa mo ang kasal natin," I said; trying not to let my voice crack. "I want an annulment, Lace."
Pain stabbed my chest the moment I saw tears fell on his cheeks. "N-no... Gagawin ko ang lahat, 'wag lang 'yan."
Pagod akong ngumiti. "Ayoko ng masaktan dahil sa 'yo, Lace. K-kung totoo man lahat ng sinabi mo, wala na akong pakialam. Your reasons didn't justify your actions. You kissed my mom and you do things-"
"Baby, we didn't." May hinugot ito sa kanyang bulsa at pinakita sa 'kin. A syringe. "I would use this everytime she tried to kiss me. You know how much I hate it when someone's trying to touch me. Please, believe me."
"Mom said it herself. You did extraordinary things," I said and the thought itself broke me into pieces.
"It's her hallucination." He squeezed my hand. "She had a Borderline Personality Disorder and Obsessive Love Disorder. She also hallucinates things that aren't true."
Nakaramdam ako ng pagtataka ngunit hindi ko ito pinahalata. "How did you know that?"
"Your dad. He told me that." Yumuko ito habang hawak ang kamay ko. I saw his shoulders shaking. "Please, Kitty. 'Wag mo 'kong iwan."
Umiwas ako ng tingin dito. I pulled my hand from his hold and I felt a pang of pain on my chest. "Three days from now, an annulment paper will arrive at your office. Kung gusto mong patawarin kita, pirmahan mo 'yun at huwag ka na magpakita sa 'kin. Let's move forward and end everything here. Because if you really love me, you would think of ways to have me back without hurting me.
"Siguro rin isa na itong senyales na hindi talaga tayo pwede." Hot tear rolled down my cheeks as I took a deep breath. "Oras na para tapusin lahat ng 'to, Lace. Pirmahan mo ang annulment paper at hayaan na nating maging malaya ang sarili mula sa isa't-isa. Your reasons can't change my mind, Leslie. Even if you explain to me a hundred times."
--
"Miss Keith, may gustong kumausap sa 'yo." Gemma knocked on the door.
Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga. "I'm busy, Gemma. Kung wala siyang appointment, send the person out."
It's been a week since I last saw him. Simula nang lumabas ako ng ospital ay wala na siyang paramdam. Hindi na rin sila umuuwi ng mansion ni mommy.
I'm hurt and broken at the moment. Pero pilit kong iniisip na tama ang ginawa ko. That decision is only to set the both of us free. Inaamin kong isang linggo ko rin iniisip ang mga narinig kong rason sa kanya.
Hindi ako naniniwalang may sakit si mommy. If she has, then dad should've submitted her to a phychiatric. That's funny. Wala na akong tiwala sa kanya.
"Miss Keith..." Bumukas ang pintuan at sumilip si Gemma. "They are persistent po. Gusto ka raw pong makausap."
Napahugot ako ng malalim na hininga at tinanguhan si Gemma. "Let them in."
Tumayo ako at nagtungo sa pang-isahang sofa. Hindi ko kilala kung sino man itong nais akong makausap. But I feel like there's something in me na gusto ko itong kausapin.
Bumukas muli ang pinto at pumasok ang dalawang lalaking hindi ko kilala. Tumayo ako at tipid silang nginitian.
They both had the looks. Pansin ko ang isa na may pagkakahawig kay Ysrael ngunit seryoso ang hitsura nito. The other one looked really a pure foreigner.
"Hi, Mrs. Scott. I'm Lucifer Russo and this is Cameron Ferrell."
Napaangat ang kilay ko nang tawagin niya akong Mrs. Scott. "Just call me, Keith. Have a sit and spit what you wanted to talk."
Umupo si Lucifer sa mahabang sofa habang si Cameron naman ay umupo sa single couch. He then looked at me with his cold eyes.
"I don't waste time so I'll tell you exactly what's our agenda." Sumandal ito sa couch habang nakatitig sa 'kin. "It was me behind your husband's decision."
Nangunot ang noo ko. "What?"
"I was the one who told him to be with your mom in exchange for your safety," he said.
"Your mom is our suspect for killing my sister eight years ago and until now, her corpse is nowhere to be found," Lucifer said.
Napasinghap ako sa sinabi nito. "You think my mom could kill?"
"She can. Muntik ka na rin niyang patayin, 'di ba?" Cameron said. "And by now, alam mo na ang rason ng asawa mo at hindi mo ito tanggap. Sarado ang utak mo para sa kanya."
Natahimik ako sa sinabi niya.
"I witnessed his suffering while you are happy with your life and can't remember him. Minsan na kaming magsuntukan dahil sa katangahan niya. Believe it or not, he took the blame of losing your child. Hindi niya rin ginusto ang nangyari. He didn't cheat on you. We provided him sleeping pills to inject your mom if ever she does something he don't like," anas ni Lucifer. "Hindi lang ikaw ang nasaktan sa lahat ng nangyari, Mrs. Scott. Both of you are just the victims and I'm sorry for using your husband to find my sister."
Napatayo ako at nanubig ang mga mata ko. "Mga walang hiya kayo. How dare you to sacrifice someone's happiness and freedom for your selfishness?! Kaibigan niyo ba talaga si Leslie?!"
"We are not just friends, Mrs. Scott. We are his family," Cameron replied.
"Family?! May family ba na inaalila ang isa? Nagpapatawa ba kayo?"
These assholes...
Umiling si Lucifer. "That's his duty, Mrs. Scott. He acted to be your mother's husand to get near you and guard you even when you're asleep. He's hitting two birds in one stone. Do you think buhay ka pa kung hindi pumasok si Lace sa hospital room mo matapos kang bagukin ng ina mo? After your father died, that's when he decided to accept his mission. Sinong magbabantay sa 'yo sa tuwing tulog ka at pinagbabalakang patayin ng mommy mo? Think about it, Mrs. Scott."
Tumayo si Cameron kaya't napabaling ako dito. "As of now Lace had the annulment papers you want him to sign. We came here to clarify that everything he did was against his will. You can blame me for what happened to your life. But now you finally had the decision to end everything with him, goodluck with that."
"As of now rin," ani ni Lucifer. "He might be signing the annulment. Gaya ng ginawa namin sa 'yo, we let him choose. And he choose your happiness so expect that tomorrow, you're no longer Mrs. Scott."
Napipilan ako sa sinabi nito. Bigla akong nakaramdam ng pagsisisi sa mga sinabi ko sa kanya nang nakaraan.
Are they guilt-tripping me? Kasi kung oo, tang ina. They did well
Nagpaalam na si Lucifer habang si Cameron ay walang imik na lumabas ng pinto. My knees trembled and the moment they left my office, I fell into my sofa and I let out a small sobs.
"What have I done?" mahinang tanong ko sa sarili.
Napaangat ang tingin ko kay Gemma nang bigla itong pumasok sa silid at may bitbit na wireless telephone. "Miss, Keith. Sorry for bargin in without knocking but this is urgent. Nanay Bebeth wants to talk to you."
Wala sa sarili kong inabot ang telepono at dinikit ito sa tenga ko. "H-hello, nanay?"
"Anak! Umuwi ka muna rito dalian mo." she said. I heard some screams and I recognized it was my mother's voice.
Parang nagkaroon naman ng sariling buhay ang paa ko na agad tumayo at tumakbo palabas ng opisina. I pressed the button hard and I pressed ground floor button.
Nang makarating ako doon ay mabilis akong sumakay sa 'king sasakyan at pinaharurot ito na hindi man lang nakapag-seatbelt.
Pakiramdam ko ay sasabog na ako sa samo't-saring emosyon na nasa loob ko. Hilam ang mga luha ko sa mga mata at hindi ko na masyadong naaaninag ang kalsada.
Mas binilisan ko pa ang pagpapatakbo ko patungo ng mansion dahil sa kaba.
"A-anong nangyayari rito?" mahinang tanong ko.
The moment I arrived at the mansion, I saw several policemen and scene of the crime cooperatives wandering around. Napabaling naman ang tingin ko sa grupo ng mga kapulisan na may dalang sako mula sa likod ng mansion.
Nagtataka ko naman itong nilapitan at narinig ang kanilang usapan.
"Ito po ang bangkay na pinaghihinalaan ni Mr. Russo na kapatid niya," wika ng isang lalaki.
"Keith, anak!" Napabaling naman ako kay nanay Bebeth nang nagtatakbo itong lumabas ng mansion at nilapitan ako. "Halika rito!"
"N-nay, ano pong nangyayari? Bakit may mga pulis?" I pointed the sack the guy said that was a corpse. "S-saan galing 'yan?"
"We're here for search warrant and your mother's warrrant of arrest." A policeman approached me and showed me my mother's warrant of arrest.
"B-bakit-" My remaining words vanished into thin air as I saw two people in nurse uniform went out of the mansion holding my mother.
"Bitiwan niyo ako! Hindi ako makukulong! I have money! Ipapapatay ko kayo! No!" She kept struggling to get away from their grip.
Napatakip ako sa aking bibig habang pinapanood siyang isakay sa isang van at humarurot ito paalis.
"Thank you for the cooperation, Manang Bebeth, Mrs. Scott. Mananatili muna ang iilan sa aming team para suyurin ang tunnel sa ilalim ng mansion niyo."
Wala akong maintindihan sa sinasabi ng police. My mind's in chaos.
Bakit nangyayari ang lahat ng 'to?
"Miss Keith," nakangiting bumati sa 'kin ang abogado kong kakarating lang sabay abot sa 'kin ng isang brown envelop. "Mr. Scott's secretary handed this to me. Naipasa na rin ang shares niya sa kompanya ng daddy mo sa 'yo kaya't ikaw na ang bagong chairman ng Gil Empire. Congratultions, you are now back to Miss Gil."
Parang mas lalo akong nanghina sa sinabi nito. Wala sa sarili kong inabot ang envelop at binuksan ito.
I bit my lip to stop myself from crying after reading the paper. It's already approved.
"May inilakip daw na liham si Mr. Scott para sa 'yo. Kindly read the letter, I'll get going."
Agad kong binusisi ang envelop para tignan kung may liham ba. At meron nga. Mabilis ko naman itong binuksan at binasa.
Kitty,
The moment you're reading this, maybe I'm already somewhere far away where you can't find me just like what you told me.
Please be happy now. Malaya ka na. You can do things you want to do without holding back. Masaya na akong makita kang masaya. Just please, if you find someone new, tell him to love you more than I did and not to hurt you the way I did.
Your happiness means everything to me, Kitty. Remember that.
I love you, you're now free.
Sincerely,
Leslie