Round 38
"Nikki Clemente, ring a bell?" her father asked me.
My heart started pounding.
Napatitig na lamang ako sa matanda.
Tinapunan ako ni Sunny ng nagtatanong na tingin.
"Is that true?"
"I told you, I got you checked." he added.
"What?!" she turned him "Why do everyone hide everything from me huh? Ano bang tingin niyo sakin? tao-tauhan ha?!"
"I just want to protec-----" she interrupted him
"That's bullsh*t! If you want me safe, you should have told me the truth and not lies." she walked out from the room.
I'm about to ran after her when her father spoke.
"You're a crimi----"
"I did not kill her!" I yelled then ran aftet her daughter.
"Sunny!" kanina ko pa siya hinahanap pero hindi ko makita.
Nahalughog ko na ang park malapit sa kanila pero wala pa rin.
Pinagpatuloy ang paghahanap
hanggang sa makita ko siya sa ilalim ng isang puno. Nakaupo at nakaobob.
Agad ko itong nilapitan.
"Hey."
She looked up and had blood shot eyes. She's been crying.
Tatabihan ko sana siya ng bigla itong tumayo.
"No, please."
Nagtataka ako tumingin sa kanya.
"I don't know what to think, I don't know what to believe anymore."
W-wait? Is she--?!
"You think I can do that? kill someone?"
"No! b-but he's right. I don't know you. Marami akong hindi alam. Ni simpleng bagay wala akong alam tungkol."
"Because there are things that should not be shared!"
"Bakit?"
"Dahil ayoko nang maalala ang mga yun!"
"Bakit? dahil ba may ginawa ka nga?"
Napatawa ako ng mapakla "You believed him don't you? Sabagay, tatay mo yun. You'll believe him more than me right? I'm stupid to think that you'll let me explain but it was too late. Nahusgahan na ako."
"That wasn----"
"It was! The moment you took a step back, I know then. You have doubts. In the back of your mind, I'm a criminal." I smiled sadly "But that's okay, I'm used to it anyway."
Ang sakit.
Yung taong mahal mo, walang tiwala sayo.
Love without trust is nothing.
I took a deep breath.
"You're right, we don't really know each other. Maybe it's best if we end this. It'll save us both." I looked at her, trying my best not to cry.
She slowly closed her eyes and tears started rolling down her cheeks.
I turn around and walked.
I left without a heart.
And whatever happens, she will always have it.
Hahawakan ko palang ang door knob ng bigla itong bumukas at iniluwa si Dom.
"Where have you been? Kanina pa kita hinahanap. Hindi naman kita matawagan dahil naiwan mo pala ang phone mo dito." she stopped and stared at me "Hey are you okay?"
"We broke up."
She gasped "Why? What happened?"
"Nikki." I simply answered.
Shock was written all over her face "H-how?"
"Her father accused me of killing her."
"But you didn't."
"Well, who am I compared to her father? I'm just a stranger."
"Um h-how is she?"
"I-I don't know." I looked at her straight in the eyes "Tell me, am I that bad? What did I do wrong? Why does it have to be like this?"
She didn't answer me instead enveloped in a tight hug.
"Sssh it's going to be alright."
I found myself returning the hug.
Days passed since we talked. I haven't been outside of the house. Wala akong ganang gumawa ng kahit ano.
"Ate . . ." tawag pansin sakin ni Lala.
"Hey, come sit beside me." ngiti ko pa
"Kelan ko makikita si Ate Sunny?"
Natigilan ako sa tanong niya. Pano ko ba ipapaliwanag sa batang katulad niya?
"Baby, ndi muna natin makikita si Ate Sunny mo ha? Marami kasi siyang ginagawa ngayon."
"Nag-away po ba kayo?"
I tried to smile "Hindi kami nag-away. Pare-pareho lang talaga kami na may ginagawa ngayon."
"Ang lungkot mo po kasi. Namimiss ko na po yung masayang ikaw lalo na kapag andiyan siya."
"Marami lang talagang iniisip ni Ate Sky. Malungkot siya kasi, oo namimiss niya rin si Ate Sunny pero wala eh kelangan namin na pagtuunan ng pansin ang ibang bagay. Pero don't worry, kakausapin ko siya at sasabihin ko na namimiss mo na siya. Okay?"
"Okay po." she smiled then hugged me "Wag ka na po sanang malulungkot."
I pinched her nose "Oo na po, hindi na ako malulungkot." I returned the hug.
I was watching tv when I heard a knock.
Tok!
Tok!
Tok!
Wala akong ibang kasama ngayon sa bahay. Namasyal sina Dom at Lala. Nababagot na kasi yung bata.
Pumunta ako sa pinto at sumilip sa peep hole.
There were two cops outside my door.
Kinabahan ako bigla. Wala naman sanang masamang nangyari.
Humugot ako ng hininga bago buksan ang pinto.
"Good afternoon po Ma'am. Kayo po ba si Sky Quintana?" tanong ng isa.
"Yes."
"Iimbitahin po namin kayo sa presinto para sa isang imbestigasyon."
"Para san?"
Nagkatinginan ang dalawa "Kayo po ang itinuturong suspect sa pagkidnap kay Sunny Avila."
"What?! She's missing? Kelan pa?"
"Ayon kay Mr. Fernando Avila, umalis ito kahapon ng umaga. Nakarating sa kanya na may mga taong dumukot dito at ikaw ang itinuturo niya. Kaya su-----"
"I'll go with you." kinuha ko ang susi ng kotse at nilagpasan ang dalawang pulis.
Dumating kami sa presinto at tumambad sakin ang isang stressed na Mr. Avila.
Pagkakita nito sa akin ay bigla itong sumugod. Buti nalang at naagapan siya ng mga pulis doon.
"You! Where's my daughter?! Ilabas mo siya!" nanggagalaiti niyang sambit.
"Calm down Mr. Avila! Wala tayong mareresolba kung ganyan ka." biglang sulpot na tantiya ko ay hepe ng presinto na ito.
Tila nahimasmasan ito at umupo muli.
Habang ako ay nanatiling nakatayo.
"Ms. Quintana, nasaan ka ng mga bandang ala una ng hapon kahapon?" tanong ng hepe.
"Nasa bahay ko."
"Kelan kayo huling nagkita ni Ms. Avila?"
"I haven't see her for almost a week."
"Liar! Wag kayong maniniwala
sa kriminal na yan!" muling sigaw ng tatay ng dalaga.
"Be careful on what you say Mr. Fernando Avila." a very familiar voice errupted behind me.
Lumingon ako at nakita si Papa at Mama. Nasa tabi nila si Dom at Kuya.
"Pa . . . " I uttered.
"Anong tinatayu-tayo mo diyan? Come and give us a hug." paanyaya nito ng may ngiti sa kanyang labi.
Dali dali akong lumapit at umakap sa kanila.
Walang katumbas ang yakap ng mga magulang mo.
Ring!
Ring!
Ring!
Mr. Avila took out something from his pocket. A phone.
"Hello?" he answered.
"What have you done to her?!"
"100 million? where would I get that?"
"Wai---- ugh those bastards! They got my daugther!"
"Ano pang sinabi sa inyo ng mga kidnapper?" tanong ng hepe.
"Tatawag nalang daw sila kung saan dadalhin ang pera."
"Now that you know that my daughter has nothing to do with this. Can we go now?" my father asked.
"Yes, sir. I'm sorry for the inconvinience." the Chief said.
"Let's go Sky. You're brother is waiting in your house."
Tumango ako and we left the place.
But my mind is still there.
I need to do something.
For her.
Malapit na ang pinto ng unit ko ng tumunog ang phone ko.
"You go ahead po. Sagutin ko lang 'to." pinauna ko na silang pumasok sa bahay.
"Bilisan mo nak ha?" my mom
"Yes Ma."
Saka ko lang sinagot ang tawag ng tuluyan na silang nakapasok.
"Hello?"
"Well hello there."
I can't recognized the voice but it's definitely a guy.
"Who's this?"
"Who am I is not really important but who I am with is." shuffling noise was heard in the background "Get your hands off of me!!!"
That's Sunny!
"Who are you?! Why are you doing this?"
"Hmm dalawang bagay. Una, dahil magkakapera ako and second, makakaganti na ako sayo. Sky Quintana."
The way he said my name sounded familiar.
Think Sky.
Think!
"You're the one who tried to abduct her weeks ago!"
"Nice one Sky! Tama nga ang sabi ng kapatid ko, matalino ka. Too bad she wasn't here anymore to witness my vengeance. Pero okay lang yun dahil soon after, susunod na rin tong girlfriend mo sa kanya."
"Don't y---- tot tot tot"
Arrgggh bwiset!
I need to find her fast!
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Last two chapters mga bes! 😂 oh and may good news ako, may idea na ako for the upcoming special chapters. Don't expect too much nga lang, tandaan ndi ako marunong magpakilig 😂
Thank you for reading!