Date uploaded :5-10-14
Chapter 20
Tanya
I rolled my eyes as another batch of crying fits engulf the room.
Binulungan ko si Andrew na halatang kaninang kanina pa naiinis at halos hindi na maipinta ang mukha. Mabuti nga at hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa sumasabog. At least maski papano ay namaster na nya ng konti ang "art of being patient".
"Walang mangyayari sa 'tin dito, puro ngawa ang ginagawa..."
Nasa loob kami ng hotel suit namin ni Andrew, kasama namin ang mga facilitators ng game, ang mga kasamang coaches ng FU at ilang mga imbistigador. They all came here as per our request, para hindi naman masyadong intimidating sa bata ang ambiance, at para matanong ng mabuti. Napatunayan na hindi aksidente ang nangyari kay Alex. Kitang kita sa video ang pagsadyang paghulog kay Alex at hindi lang iyon, hinawakan pa ito sa paa bago tuluyang mahulog sa pyramid! Talk about sadistic, pwedeng ihilera ang ginawa nito sa anak ko. But looking at her now, hindi ka makapaniwalang kaya nyang gawin iyon. She looks like a lost puppy, wailing for her parents to come rescue her. Unfortunately, hindi pa nakakarating ang mga magulang nya.
Ang gusto lang naman naming malaman ay kung bakit nya nagawa ito. Kung may kasalanan din ba ang anak namin sa kanya? Kilala naming pilya si Alex, baka sakaling maunawaan namin ang dahilan kung bakit kinakailangan nyang saktan ang anak ko. But we cannot do anything about the expulsion, siguradong sipa sya sa Falcon. That's one heck of a major offense. We are just trying to figure out if we are going to press charges or not..
Pero sa isang oras na pagtatanong namin ay wala kaming nakuha kahit na isang impormasyos dahil hindi tumigil ito sa kakaiyak.
"I'm getting out of here. I think I'm having a headache. Do you want a latte?" Tanong ko kay Andrew at mukhang kailangan nya talaga ang pampalamig ng ulo, kanina pa nakadikit ang dalawang kilay. Pumapangit tuloy ito.. halikan ko kaya?! Hehehe.... Well,,, now is not the time... Maybe later..
"Yeah, I need three." He said massaging his right temple. " Why is she crying out like that like she's some kind of a weeping whale or something?!"
I giggled. Loko talaga itong asawa kong ito, pintasero talaga!
"Ikaw naman, Hindi naman e. Para lang syang blob fish..."
" That is just cruel." He gave me his traditional smirk. " Why don't you just call the cafe and order something for all of us. Para hindi ka na mahirapan magbitbit."
"That is just an excuse for me to get out of here... masyadong tensionado ang paligid. At ikaw, stop glaring at the girl. Kapag tinititigan mo mas lalong lumalakas ang ngawa! Mukha kang cannibal na manlalamon ng buhay!"
"I can't help it!"
"Well, it's not helping."
"Fine.. fine..."
I kissed me quickly at the lips.
"Annabelle, you want to grab a bite?" Kahit na mabigat ang loob ko sa babaeng yon, I should show some hospitality, she is a part of the family.
"Wag na po tita. " Sabi nito. " Dito na lang po muna ako, I think Nikki needs somebody by her side. She's not that all bad naman po, base po sa pagkakakilala ko sa kanya."
Hay salamat at hindi pumayag... I'm not at ease kapag kasama ko sya. She gives me the creeps. Mabait sya, pero feeling ko pakitang tao lang ito. It's as if there's cruelty behind those sweet smile.
"Ok, maybe you can talk some sense on that girl. Para naman matapos na tayo dito. I think she needs a guidance counselor instead."
"Baka naman po kailangan nya lang ng pahinga. "
"Baka nga. "
Pumayag naman ang mga na pagpahingahin muna si Nikki at sinamahan ito ni Annabelle sa kwarto. Sobrang emotionally stressed na rin yung bata. Ng wala ng ang dalawa ay kinausap ng masinsinan ni Andrew ang mga facilitators.
I'll just leave all the talking to Andrew.. ayoko munang ma-stress.
"Adrian, want to come with me?"
Nakasalampak sya sa isang mga couch at kung ano ano ang kinakalikot sa laptop nya.
"I wanna go to ate." He said pouting.
Awwwww.... He's just so cute. Ganito din kaya si Andrew nung bata? Spoiled daw yun nung bata pa. E kung ganyan ba naman ka-cute ang anak mo, siguradong ma-i-ispoil!
"We'll go to the hospital later...."
"But Mom.. Ate needs me?"
"Really? Since when?"
Tinignan nya ako ng masama. It reminds me of Andrew's frown that I have to control myself for not laughing out loud.
"Mom!!!"
Niyakap ko sya at kniliti sa tagiliran. Ang cute cute nya kasi! Manang mana sa AKIN! Hahahahaha!
"Ok... we'll go to your ate after we're finish here."
"But that will take millenniums of years!!! I've been sulking here in boredom! "
Itinayo ko na sya.
"Let's just get those Latte's and we'll go to your ate."
"Yes!"
Paglabas naming ng pinto ay naalimutan daw ni Adrian ang cellphone nya. Knowing that little guy, hindi makatiis hanggat walang nakasusol na earplugs sa tenga nya. Tumakbo pabalik si Adrian.
"I'll just meet you at the café! " Sigaw ko sa kanya.
"OK mom!"
Para at least ready na ang mga beverages pagdating nya.
Adrian
I was about to go fetch my cellphone when I heard frantic voices at the room beside mine.
"You are just soooo pathetic. Simple simple lang ang pinapasabi ko say o hindi mo pa magawa!"
Is that Ate Annabelle's voice?
I heard sobbing.
"Stop crying you idiot!"
What is happening in here!
I rushed to my room to get my cellphone and went back to eavesdropping. I just hope that this recording will work despite the thickness of the door.
"If you back out now... I will see to it that your dad's company will suffer. In both ways naman mawawala ka rin naman sa Falcon. Pero kung magdedesisyon kang isama ako sa kwento, expelled ka na, sisirain ko pa ang kompanya ng daddy mo. Pero kung aamin ka ng hindi ako idadamay, you'll only get the expulsion, you will still save your dad's company...."
More sobbing....
BLACK MAIL!
I knew it! Ate Annabelle is behind all this! Wait till my dad hears about this!
I ran towards my dad, I don't care if they are talking serious right now. This is URGENT!
"Dad! Dad!" I said holding up my cellphone towards him but he gave me a disapproving look.
"Adrian, how many times do we have to remind you not to meddle in grown ups conversations." He looked at me in a scary way...
"But dad.... "
"Just go to your mom. "
"But..."
"Now! "
OK! Ok! I'm going! I'll just have to tell my mom about this. She will listen to me.
Tanya
"Mom! Mom!" Tumatakbo si Adrian papunta sa akin.
"You're so excited to see me already?! Ilang minuto pa lang tayo magkasama a, and you miss me already.. I'm so touched" Kinurot ko ang pisngi nya at niyakap ko sya...
"Eiiiiwwww mom! Stop it! People are staring!"
"So? You’re still a kid. My kid."
"I am not a kid anymore..."
"Ok, you're a young man... "
Sinimangutan na naman nya ako..
"Kunin mo na nga yung ibang latte at umakyat na tayo.."
"But mom, I have something very important to tell you... let's just sit for a while." Hinila nyang bigla ang kamay ko at halos madapa ako...
"Adrian! Baka naman pwedeng mag-itay ang sasabihin mo, inaantay na nila ang mga drinks nila."
"NO! This is far more important than those stupid drinks!"
Huh? Anong nangyari sa anak ko? I've never heard him so excited like he's on a mission or something.
"OK, wait lang... stay put ka lang dyan. Sandali at ipapaakyat ko na lang muna ang mga ito sa kanila."
Iniutos ko na lang sa mga crew na dalhin sa penthouse yung mga latte at pinuntahan ko si Adrian sa isang table at halos hindi mapakali. What’s up with this kid? Alam kong hyper to, pero na triple ata ang pagkakahyper!
“What’s up kiddo?”
“Know what mom, that Nikki girl? She’s not the one who did it.”
I frowned. May nakain sigurong hindi maganda ito, nagha hallucinate.
“Adrian, I don’t know where you got that theory but it’s really quite obvious in the video that she did it. Nakita naman nating lahat diba?”
“I know, I know.. I saw it too… but.. she did it for a reason! You have to hear this.”
Inabot nya sa kin yung earbuds at inantay kong i-play nya kung ano man ang gusto nyang iparinig sa akin.
Napataas ang kilay ko sa naririnig ko…
Tinanggal ko ang earbuds and he smiled widely at me.
“What can you say mom?”
“ummm Adrian, all I can hear are mumbled voices and squeeks… what exactly do you want me to hear?”
Sumimangot sya ulit at pinakinggan ang recording.
‘DAMN!”
“Don’t curse young man.”
“But Dad do it all the time! “
“Don’t mind your Dad. I Don’t want to hear that from you.”
“Sorry. But Mom… I swear! I heard it all!”
“OK, so what did you hear?”
“I heard Ate Annebelle blackmailing that girl…”
“Don’t you think that that is a very hard accusation? We don’t have any evidence unless Annabelle confess. And that video is very clear that Nikki did it not Annabelle.“
“Can’t you just rely on what I have to say?”
Parang biglang na-drain ang energy ni Adrian at napangalumbaba. Lumapit ako sa kanya at inakbayan.
“It’s complicated. We need hard evidence. Maybe your judgment is just clouded because you hate your cousin.”
“I’m telling the truth mom!”
Huminga ako ng malalim. This is going to be hard to convince Adrian to put this aside and leave everything to the grownups. He’s kind of hard headed when he put his mind into something.
“yeah I know… but…. Let’s just leave it to the experts Ok? I know that they will find out the truth.”
Tumango lang sya,,, but I know that look.. may iniisip itong batang ito.
“Can we go to Ate Alex na?”
Tumayo na kaming dalawa…
“OK. Papaalam lang ako sa Daddy mo.”
Alex
I just woken up from a deep and dreamless sleep. Dahan-dahan kong binuksan ang mata ko. Ang bigat ng katawan ko. Bakit ganon? Feeling ko ang haba haba ng tulog ko pero bakit parang wala akong kalakas-lakas?
Pinakiramdaman ko ang kanang binti ko. Why is it so numb, parang wala akong maramdaman dito.
Hindi kaya? Hindi kaya? OH MY GOSH! BAKA PINUTOL NA NILA! WAAAAAAAAAA!
Parang biglang nawala ang antok ko at napabangon ako bigla. Tinanggal ko ang kumot na tumatabig sa lower part ng katawan ko.
Nakahinga ako ng maluwag nang makita ko na buo pa naman ang katawan ko.
PARANOID MUCH!
Napangiwi ako sa binti ko dahil may nakakabit dito na dog collar?!
“WHAT THE HECK!”
“So, the sleeping beauty has arise.. welcome back!”
Napatingin ako sa nagsalita.
“Dr. Jin! What are you doing here?”
“Hello to you too.”
Napahiya naman ako… where’s my manners.
“Hello Dr. Jin. This is a surprise… Is it morning already?”
“Nope. It’s already 3 in the afternoon.”
“What!! I slept that long!” Hala! Napasarap pala ng bonggang bongga ang tulog ko.
“And you drool.” Hindi si Dr. Jin ang nagsalita kaya napatingin ako sa pinanggalingan ng boses. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko ng tumama ito sa lalakeng nakasandal sa pader.
“Joshua! Oh my gosh! You’re here!”
Napangiti lang sya. Lumapit sya sa kama ko at hinawakan ang tuhod ko.
“What did you do to yourself this time? “
“Naaksidente na nga ako tapos ganyan pa sinasabi mo sa kin! Where’s the compassion here! “
Napatawa sya ng mahina at ginulo gulo ang buhok ko.
“feeling mo ba talaga aso ako! Ha! And what’s with this dog collar! Kainis ka Jung Hwa!”
“How many times do I have to tell you to…..”
“Stop calling you that….. Oo na sige na…. JOSHUA….” I said in a teasing manner.
Pinanliitan nya ako ng mata na halos wala ng makita dito.
Hinarap nya si Dr. Jin at nag-usap ng Korean…
OK.. eto na naman tayo… out of place na naman ako… hula-hula na naman ng mga pinag-uusapan nila…. Oh yeah! Let me talk to the hand!
Inihiga ko na lang muna ang sarili ko at naramdaman ko na naman ang pamimigat ng katawan ko. Hindi lang iyon. I felt a tingling sensation in my leg. Pakiramdam ko ay parang lahat ng energy ng katawan ko ay pumupunta sa binti ko.
I feel so light headed again at pakiramdam ko ay makakatulog na naman ako. Pero halos 24 hours na akong tulog.. bakit inaantok na naman ako?
“Feeling so drowsy again.. that’ll be natural.” Sabi ni Josh.
“Hindi mo pa sinasagot ang tanong ko…. What’s with the dog collar. Ano na namin experiment ang ginagawa mo?”
“The one that will fix your bones and your muscles. That’s why you’re feeling drained. Hinihigop nya kasi lahat ng energy ng katawan mo papunta doon sa damaged part ng katawan mo. “Tinuro nya ang lugar kung saan nakakabit yung dog collar. Inangat nya ang wrist ko at meron din doon na nakakabit na dog collar. Tinignan ko ang kabilang wrist ko at meron ding dog collar. “This things will give you more energy in your body. Alam ko naman na ayaw mong sinasaksakan ng needles. So ito na lang ang ginamit ko say o. Actually, it’s no longer an experiment. Ilang beses ko ng ginawa ito.”
“Talaga? Magiging normal na ulit ang binti ko?”
“Yup.”
“But what’s with the dog collar? Aso ba ako?” I said sarcastically.
Nagkatinginan sila ni Dr. jin at nagtawanan.! PASAWAY! Ang sarap pag-untugin! KAAINIS! Kung hindi lang ako groge, lagot sa kin itong dalawang ito. But it’s really good to know that Josh is already laughing. Napangiti na rin ako.
“Actually, I started developing this experiment when cuddles broke a bone in his leg… you remember cuddles… “
“How can I forget?”
Iyon yung aso ni Josh na na-meet ko noong pumasyal kami sa kanila sa Korea. Dapat hindi cuddles ang pangalan ng Doberman na yon! Katakot parang demonyo na palaging susugod sa yo! Noong minsan nga ay hinabol kami ni Sky at napa-akyat kami sa puno ng wala sa oras. Talk about wa poise!
“Those are his collars actually. Sa sobrang pagmamadali kong makarating dito, I didn’t have to time to go to my lab. Kaya dinampot ko na lang ang gadget na available. “
“Sige, patatawarin..” Napahikab ako. “Nasaan si Charles?”
“Pinaalis muna namin silang lahat. No visitors for 2 days. We need to gather all the energy that we can get without them to fuss over you including your family. Yung mommy mo kasi hindi mapakali. Si Ardiran naman pilit na ginigising ka. Yung daddy mo naman, palaging may pinagagalitan sa phone.”
“How soon can I get out of here?”
“After the two day therapy, then you need to rest your leg for 3 more days. But you can do the resting at the university.” Sabi ni Dr. Jin na hindi inaalis ang mgata sa isa sa mga monitor.
“Bartolina days again?!”
“Anong gusto mo, almost one week of rest or you’ll limp for the rest of your life.” Tanong ni Josh
“Sabi ko nga.. rest muna… “ Humikab ulit ako… talagang too yung sinabi nila na ma-d-drain ang energy ko.
“Hey, Josh.. Namamasyal ka bas a gym. Parang nagkalaman ka a… saka …. Hmmmmmm….. gumwapo ka ba?”
Hindi ko alam kung dala lang ng antok ito.. pero hindi e… he has grown muscles in the right places… hala.. mukhang drool worthy na din itong kaibigan kong ito a!
Ngiti lang ang sinagot nya sa kin. Ok sige.. iyon ang hindi pa din nagbago sa kanya… deadma guy. Geez!
“It’s really nice seeing you again. I miss you.. We missed you so much… Please come back to FU with me.”
Deadma….
“Please Josh…… “
Humikab ulit ako…. “Josh.. sige na.. hindi ka ba naawa sa amin? Miss na miss ka na naming.. please???”
Kinulit ko pa sya ng kinulit.. pero deadma…. Hindi ko sya tinitigilan hanggang bumagsak na ang mga mata ko sa sobrang antok. But I heard what he said beforeI drifted off to wonderland…
“Malapit na………”