Kabanata 15
1788 Words
Dance
My knees are trembling and my stiletto heels are not even helping. Every step makes me dizzy, its like I'm walking on a thin thread, wrong move can make me lose my balance.
Napasandal ako sa malapit na kotse ng nakaparada hindi kalayuan sa harap ng mansyon. Napahawak ako sa sentido, hanggang ngayon ay pilit ko paring pinoproseso ang nangyari.
Adrian killed the guy. He ended the life of Mariya's boyfriend and now he's cleaning the scene. He told me to keep the guests inside the mansion for thirty minutes or longer. He did all of this because he thought Mariya's boyfriend would kill me. I cannot blame him for being impulsive because that's what I thought too.
I thought he would kill me to get the justice he wanted for Mariya but now he ended up like her.
His blood is on my hands just like her... It happened again.
Adrian killed him to save me... To save me from what?
"Wala akong balak na saktan ka. Gusto ko lang kumbinsihin ka na maging testigo sa pag patay kay Mariya!"
Hes not trying to hurt me nor kill me but I'm the reason why he's dead now. It's all my fault.
"Hindi mo kasalanan ang nangyari."
He's wrong... Im guilty. I killed Mariya.
"Alam kong sinisisi mo ang sarili mo sa nangyari pero may magagawa kapa para makamit ang katotohanan at makalaya sa kasinungalingan."
I run my hands through ng hair, my forehead creased. My hair soaked, little bit wet. My eyes widened as it sinks to me... No... No... Don't tell me there's a blood in my golden hair again. I grabbed that part of my hair. . But there's no blood in here... This must be just sweat. I sighed in relief.
I put my hair into a bun in frustration.
Mas mabuti ng sigurado.
He died without even knowing the truth. I'm not even sure if it benefits me because now there's two offenses of murder. I'm guilty on the first count and I'm involved on the second one.
"Tulungan mo ako, tumististigo ka sa pagkamatay ni Mariya, tumistigo ka laban kay---"
I gasped and opened my eyes. I don't think I could ever forget that scene.
"Tulungan mo ako, tumististigo ka sa pagkamatay ni Mariya, tumistigo ka laban kay---"
His voice echoed in my mind. What does he mean by that?
If he knows the truth, why does he keep on asking me to testify about Mariya's murder? I'm the suspect. He shouldn't be asking me to testify on my own crime. Unless it's some kind of tactic to make me admit what I did.
But he said he's there... He knows what happened. He seek help on the wrong person.
Does he really know what happened that night? Did he die together with the real truth?
Argh! My head is aching so bad!
I took a deep breath to calm myself but its not even working!
Hindi pa rin humihinto ang kamay ko sa panginginig at ang panghihina sa tuhod ko ay mas lumala pa ata.
"Chantrea?"
I flinched at the sight of him beside me.
"Where did you go? Kanina pa kita hinahanap."
My eyes narrowed. He looked for me?
Tumikhim ito. "Your Dad asked me to find you." Of course he did!
He looked for me because Dad asked him to. It's his job after all.
"I went outside for a call then I... I got lost on the way back," I muttered.
"Lumaki ka rito kaya paano ka mawawala?"
"But I've been away for a long time."
He nodded even though his eyes are still narrowed. Is he not convinced?
"Good thing you found the right way back but you shouldn't be going out alone. Your life is at risk. What if the person sending you death threats are around."
I gulped.
He is and he's taken care of already.
I pursed my lips together. The scene played on my mind again.
Anger glint on his eyes as he gaze down on my neck. "Hindi ka pa ba nadala sa mga nangyayari sayo?" Probably not, 'cause I got into a mess again.
"And look at your neck. It's not yet healed and your roaming around on dark street alone. Are you trying to get yourself killed?"
He sighed, "Get inside Chantrea."
"Y-you're not coming with me?"
"I need to check the security status of the mansion and the street---"
"Don't!" I shouted, my shaking hand landed in his arms.
Bumaba ang tingin niya doon. Agad ko iyong inalis para hindi niya mapansin ang panginginig ko.
"D-dont leave."
His eyes remained on me.
"Chantrea!"
"Where have you been? Kanina ka pa hinahanap ni Tito Miguel."
"I'm glad you found her Detective! Salamat sa pag hanap kay Chantrea. Naabala ka pa tuloy."
"And you Chantrea, you have a lot of explaining to do but for now go up the stage. Kanina pa nila inaabangan ang complimentary speech mo kay Tito."
"Mauna na kayo, aasikasuhin ko pa ang---"
"Dont be kj Detective, you need to witness how poetic Chantrea can be."
I searched for him in the crowed. My heart started racing when he turned around to leave the party.
"Before anything else I would like to thank Detective Lendhel Montallion for making sure this event is safe and of course he's other co-police."
Everyone applauded him. Making him the center of attention. I'm sure he won't leave now that eyes are on him.
"I cannot say how grateful I am to b your daughter, to be part of the Callejo legacy. I knew this day would come... That, i-i will stand here in front of all of you to give an appreciation speech. You know how much I love you Dad and Mom. For all I guest I hope everyone stays until the end of the party, let's celebrate Dad's succes. This is night so please do me a favor and don't leave." I said while staring at Lendhel.
"Lendhel!"
"I want to thank you..."
"What for?"
"For everything you've done to make sure I'm safe."
"It's my job, Chantrea."
I pursed my lips together. The bright lights died and the blinking colored lights starts to glow in the dark. A sweet jazz music played slowly. People gathered on the centered to dance, mostly couples.
He gupled. "I should go, have fun."
"Lendhel!"
What the hell am I supposed to say to make him stay?
Huminga ako ng malalim.
"Can we dance?"
Hes about to shake his head and say no when I grab his arms.
"Please Lendhel?"
I never pleaded to anyone. For Pete's sake I'm a Callejo!
But this is the only way. I need to do whatever it takes to make him stay.
"I'm warning you, Im not good at dancing."
"You don't need to be good at it. Just hold me and stay."
He reached for my hands. Nangunot ang noo nito. "You are shaking."
I smiled fakely. "Dahil siguro sa speech ko kanina. I was kind a nervous."
"You look stunning tonight, Chantrea."
Bumaba ang tingin ko sa labi niya.
Ayokong malaman niya ang nangyari dahil siguradong magbabago ang tingin niya sa akin.
Sinundan ko ang tingin ng mata nito. I gasp when my eyes laid on her, for a second I thought she was Mariya.
"I need to go Chantrea."
"We're still dancing---"
"This is urgent."
The thought of Mary and lendhel leaving this party. Paano pag nakita nila si Adrian on the way out?
No!
I took a deep breath. I need to stop them!
My heart is racing. Madilim ang buong paligid kaya hindi ko matandaan kung saan dumaan ang dalawang iyon!
Siniksik ko ang sarili sa mga nagsasayawan. Upang makaalis sa gitna noon.
"Chantrea," nahinto ako ng hapitin ni Ferguson ang bewang ko papalapit sakanya.
"Let's dance."
"I can't. I need to do something."
Ugh! This is frustrating! Ayaw niya pa akong paalisin! Muli nitong hinapit ang bewang ko pabalik sa tabi niya.
"Your unfair Chantrea, you dance with that detective."
"Because I need to!"
Nangunot ang noo nito.
"What do you mean?"
I gulped. "I... I need to go."
"Where the hell are they?"
My feet lead me to the main door of the mansion. Pag bukas ko ng pinto ay eksaktong pag lingon nila. Mukhang seryoso ang pinaguusapan nilang dalawa o baka dahil hindi lang sila mahilig ngumiti. Pero nakakunot ang noo ni Lendhel at hindi naman maipinta ang mukha ni Mary.
Ano kayang pinaguusapan nila?
"Uh... Aalis na ba kayo?"
"We're about to when you showed up."
I pursed my lips together.
"But uh..." Come on Chantrea, think! "Dad wants to talk you."
His eyebrows raised.
"He said it's urgent," I reasoned.
Palipat lipat ang tingin ko sa kanilang dalawa ni Mary. Kahit ilang beses ko ng nakita ng malapitan ang babaeng ito ay hindi parin maalis sa isipan ko na siya si Mariya dahil siguro talagang mag kamukha sila. Mas maliit at tahimik nga lang itong si Mary, pero nakakainis din ang pagkamahinhin niya. I know better than her. Its just an act. Im sure she's like her sister. Send blood runs trough them.
"Fine. I'll talk to him for a minute. Wait here."
Should I let her stay here? Paano kung makita nito si Adrian na nililinis ang crime scene. Will he take care of her? She's her assistant after all. Siguradong patatahimikin niya ito. Pero paano kung sumigaw ay mag sumbong siya? Paano kung makilala niya ang bangkay? It's her sisters boyfriend for f***s sake!
"A-aalis na ako."
"You don't need to." I gulped. "Get inside, everyone is welcome to the party. Pwede mong intayin si lendhel habang nasa loob."
I hate that I'm acting nice to her when all I want is to shoo her away. I don't even want her to step her foot on our mansion.
Dahil sa kan'ya kung bakit kami humantong sa ganito. Dahil sa kanila ng kapatid niya!
Lendhel held out his hand for her.
My eyes narrowed.
Ano bang meron sa kanilang dalawa?
Do they know each other? Are they in a relationship or something? Like friends with benefits? I can't believe this fake Mary, acting out so innocent but she's a real w***e.
Adrian likes her and she clinging into Lendhel!
Nang makapasok kami sa loob ay humiwalay na si Mary. Agad ko namang hinanap si Dad.
Dad did not call him for an urgent thing!
His eyes narrowed at me as I keep on running may finger trough my hair.
I pursed my lips. "Stop doing it Chantrea. Halatang kinakabahan ka!"
I always do this when I'm nervous...
I sighed and avoided his gaze.
How can I get through this night without ending up behind bars?
- Writer
