Crimes and Punishments [SPG]

6: Stalker

REALIOUS CASH'S POV

"Biglaan naman ata ang desisyon mong magpakabit ng mga CCTV, Real." Rinig kong wika ni Vinny sa aking tabi habang pareho kaming naglalakad papasok ng shop nila.

"San mo gagamitin? Sa apartment mo ba?" Tanong ni ulit nito na ikinatango ko na lang.

Vinny's parents owned a digital shop, at isa na ang mga CCTV na binebenta nila kaya kaagad akong lumapit sa kanya tungkol don.

I need to buy at least 6 cameras for today as soon as possible.

"Eto ang mga camera na available namin ngayon, iilan lang dahil hindi pa dumating ang ilang shipment ni mama," aniya atsaka ipinakita sa akin ang nag-iisang shelf kung saan nakahilera ang mga samu't-saring camera.

"Kailangan ko yung maliliit lang," sabi ko dahilan upang mapaderetso ito ng tayo.

"Maliliit lang?"

"Oo, yung matatago ko." Kaagad na kumunot ang noo nito sa aking sinabi bago kinuha ang isang box na puno ng maliliit na camera.

"Gaano ba kaliit ang kailangan mo? Ayaw mo yung kinakabit sa ceiling? Mas maganda 'yon, may audio pa tsaka--"

"This will do. Magkano lahat ng 'to?" Walang pagdadalawang-isip kong sabi sa kanya dahilan upang hindi na niya matapos ang gusto pa niyang sabihin.

"Uh... ipapunch ko muna," aniya atsaka dinala ang isang kahon papunta sa counter. Inutusan niya ang isang tauhan nila na ipunch lahat ng mga camera bago sinabi sa akin ang halaga.

Kaagad ko namang hinugot ang aking wallet atsaka inilabas ang black card ko at walang pagdadalawang-isip na ibinigay sa kahera nila.

"Now, teach me how to make this work," sabi ko matapos itong harapin habang bitbit ang malaking tote bag na puno ng mga camera.

Vinny blinked several times before tilting his head to the side.

"Ngayon na?"

"Ngayon na."

"P-Pero may date pa ako eh."

"I'm a fast learner, it won't take that long."

"Pero man, magagalit yung girlfriend ko kapag malate ak--"

"I'll pay you--"

"Bakit ngayon mo lang sinabi? Lika na, pumasok na tayo dito sa loob." Kaagad nitong sambit, siya pa mismo ang nagbitbit ng bag papasok sa testing room nila.

It doesn't last that long, and I immediately know how to use it.

So, I left that night to start what I planned for the whole week.

I AM waiting for Dorothy to come out from the restroom when I felt my phone vibrated. Nang tignan ko ito ay may natanggap akong text message galing sa kapatid ko kaya mabilis ko itong binasa.

Rex: Real, kailan ka magpapasukat ng suit? I need your measurements to be taken as soon as possible.

Imbes na replyan ko ito ay kaagad ko itong tinawagan. Tamad akong magtext sa kahit na kanino, pwera na lang pagdating kay Dorothy.

Wala pang ilang ring at sinagot na niya ito.

"I'm free this weekend." Kaagad kong bungad sa kanya habang nakatingin parin sa pinto ng women's restroom.

[Alright, can you tell Dorothy as well? Isa siya sa mga bridesmaid ni Tanya.] I immediately straightened my back when he mentioned that to me.

"Bridesmaid?"

[Yes.]

"Then put me together with the groomsmen. Pair me with her."

[W-What? Pero best man kita.]

"Then make her as Tanya's maid of honor."

[I can't, kapatid na ni Tanya ang magiging maid of honor niya.] I frowned when he said that.

"Kung ganon groomsmen na lang ako."

[Real, come on, ikaw nga ang best man ko. Wag na nating pagtalunan 'to. Just take Dorothy with you this weekend para sabay kayong makapagsukat. Bye.]

"But-- hey, Rex? Rex?" I almost rolled my eyes when he hanged up.

He sometimes gets into my nerves.

They planned to get married the same year they got engaged. Recently lang nagpropose si Rex sa long-time girlfriend niya na si Tanya, if I'm not mistaken, he proposed just a month ago.

Nang mapalingon ulit ako sa women's restroom, saktong lumabas na roon si Dorothy habang bitbit ang isang envelope. I immediately rushed towards her and took the envelope which made her startle a bit.

"R-Real! Ano ang ginagawa mo rito? Akala ko ay nakauwi ka na?" Sunod-sunod niyang tanong sa akin.

These past few days, after the incident in her apartment, Dorothy decided to forget that as if nothing happened. I know she's doing this for Ulysses, I know she's acting like what happened is not a big deal for the sake of Ulysses.

Dahil alam niyang sa oras na hindi niya ako pansinin, mapapansin kaagad ito ni Ulysses. At sa oras na mapansin niyang may mali sa pagitan naming dalawa, he will certainly ask questions that Dorothy couldn't avoid.

Everything just for him-- for him alone.

So, I decided to go with it. Just for the meantime.

"May reporting pa tayong gagawin, hindi ba?" Tanong ko sa kanya habang pareho kaming naglalakad papalabas ng building.

"Ah 'yon? Kaya ko na yung gawin mag-isa, isesend ko na lang sa'yo ang part mo para makapagready tayo next meet--"

"I can help." I said, cutting her off before looking inside the envelope.

I saw some printed information about our report before putting it back inside.

"Hindi naman kailangan, kaya ko naman--"

"I got my laptop with me." I said, cutting her off once again. "San tayo gagawa? Apartment ko o apartment mo?" She blinked when she sensed the eagerness in my voice to help with our report.

To be honest, I sabotaged this report with my professor and made sure he'll pick me as Dorothy's partner, in exchange, I gave him a free-expense trip to our exclusive island-- Isla Fuego.

Not all can access that island, even if you pay us millions.

So yeah, I'm using my name and so far, it really helps me a lot.

"Apartment ko na lang." Sagot niya bago nag-iwas ng tingin dahilan upang palihim akong mapangiti.

I know you'll chose your apartment, Dorothy.

You're afraid Ulysses might see you inside my place and think of something else, so you picked the safest thing. Great analysis, Dorothy, you won't be the smartest in the room if not.

"Alright, see you in a bit." I said as I waved the envelope in my hand at her before running towards the parking lot to prepare my motorbike and the things I needed.

I SPEND several hours in Dorothy's apartment, just the two of us. She cooked our dinner even if I insist to get some take-outs instead.

When we're in the middle of finishing our PowerPoint presentation, I received a phone call, it was from the delivery guy.

"Dorothy?" I called her name while I'm sitting on the floor with my laptop on my lap.

"Hmm?" Aniya habang tutok parin sa screen ng laptop niya.

The light from the screen that flashes on her beautiful face made me want to stare at her even more but I need to do get straight into my goal.

"May pizza sa baba, pwede mo bang kunin?" Tanong ko dahilan upang mapatingin ito sa aking direksyon.

"Nag-order ka?"

"Yeah, I got hungry again." I said and she frowned.

"Ikaw na lang ang kumuh--"

"Please?" I said which made her stop. Nagkatitigan kaming dalawa bago ito nag-iwas ng tingin at salubong ang dalawang kilay na tumayo mula sa sofa niya.

"Bayad na ba 'yon?"

"Oo naman." Sagot ko habang nakatingin dito na hinahanap ang tsinelas niya.

"Wait, you're going out wearing that?" I asked as I look at her.

She's wearing her pajama pants, but her top is sleeveless, kaya expose na expose ang balikat nito. I immediately threw my leather jacket at her which she immediately caught.

"Wear that," I said before looking away.

Hindi na ito nagsalita pa at ang sunod kong narinig ay ang pagsara ng kanyang pinto.

I immediately got up from my feet and opened her door to make sure she left. When I saw her getting inside the elevator, I swiftly went back to my position and took the cameras from my bag.

I spend the whole 3 minutes placing the cameras on the angle I wanted to place. The last camera was inside her bedroom. When I successfully placed them all, I hurriedly went back to my laptop the right moment Dorothy's apartment door opened.

My heart leaped when she opened the door.

"Ayos ka lang?"

"Y-Yeah, of course, you're fast." I said before clearing my throat.

"Oh pizza mo."

"Thanks." I said as she handed the box of pizza to me. I placed it on top of her center table and took the first slice before giving it to her.

Napatingin sa pizza si Dorothy bago niya ako tinignan sa mukha atsaka kumurap.

"Ayoko, busog pa ako." I shrugged my shoulders before taking a bite and took her hand. I placed the pizza on her palm before getting back into my job.

I saw how Dorothy made face when he saw the pizza I just took a bite on.

Wala sa huwisyo akong napatawa ng mahina dahil sa ekspresyon niya atsaka tuluyang tinapos ang ginagawa naming dalawa.

Throughout the PowerPoint presentation making, I keep on glancing at Dorothy's serious face and kept on smiling every time I do so.

PAGKAUWI ko sa aking apartment, kaagad kong kinuha ang isa kong personal laptop atsaka ito binuksan.

I went inside my room immediately, not minding changing my clothes, just to activate the cameras I placed on Dorothy's apartment.

When I opened the specific app where I can see the cameras, a grin suddenly appeared on my face when I saw her apartment using all the cameras in different angles.

Kaagad kong hinanap si Dorothy sa screen ng aking laptop, at nang bumukas ang pinto ng banyo, bigla na lang akong natigilan nang makita itong nakatuwalya lang.

I froze when she freely removed the towel wrapping around her body and do her thing.

Hindi ko mailihis ang aking paningin sa screen habang nakatingin sa kanya. Ilang beses na akong napapalunok ng sarili kong laway pero hindi ko parin magawang mag-iwas ng tingin.

"Jesus christ..." I whispered while looking at her who is now fully clothed.

Napasuklay ako sa aking buhok at hindi maiwasang matigilan ulit nang may makapa akong pawis sa aking noo.

I immediately turned the ac on and wiped my sweats away while still looking at her.

She's now sitting on top of her bed and opened a book. She's reading.

"Dorothy." Banggit ko sa pangalan niya habang nakatitig sa kanyang mukha sa laptop screen ko.

Napasandal ako sa headboard ng aking kama habang patuloy parin sa aking ginagawa. I stare at her face, examined her movements, and even memorize every detail inside her room.

When she laid down on her bed and looked up to the ceiling, that's the moment I take a closer look on her face.

"How could you be so beautiful?" I whispered before slowly pressing my finger against the screen where her face is located.

Dahan-dahan kong dinausdos ang aking daliri mula sa kanyang mukha pababa sa kanyang buong katawan.

I exhaled slowly before swallowing as I traced her whole structure against the screen.

"Goodnight, princess... sweet dreams..." I whispered as I watch her fall asleep.

Unti-unti umangat ang isang sulok ng aking labi nang mapagtagumpayan ko ang isang linggo kong pinaplano. The moment I stepped inside Dorothy's apartment for the very first time, this idea suddenly came up to my mind.

I want to keep her safe, I want to make sure she's fine, but I know I can't do that unless I'm living near her or she'll let me stay with her-- which is obviously, impossible to happen.

So, this idea came up to my mind.

Evil. I know.

But who the f*ck cares?

If this is a crime, I'm willing to take the punishment afterwards, if it means I can watch my girl like this.

Whenever... and wherever... I want...

Crazy? Probably. Obsessed? Definitely.

And I plead guilty for it.