El Dotado: The Reader (Filipino BL)

Chapter 9

"I'm sorry, what was that?" I asked him again.

"I need your help." He cleared his throat before he continued talking, "You also need my help. And I'll tell you why." He got something from his bag and placed them on top of the table. "These are the photos and the names of the people who were killed recently. There are witnesses who claim that they saw a man with these people a few hours before their death. That's probably very interesting. The people who saw that person didn't recognize him." Umupo ako ng maayos.

"Then, what's your point, Mr. Carson?" He leaned closer to me to whisper something, "Some of the people said that they saw you before the incident. They are ready to tell the higher ups that you are one of the suspects of the recent kili—"

"What the f**k? Ako? Suspect? How is that even possible? Nakita ba nila ako na sinaksak mismo 'yung mga taong 'yon? Ano naman ang mapapala ko kung papatayin ko sila? Tangina n'yo! Kung ginagawa niyo sana ng mayos 'yung trabaho niyo. Edi sana maayos na 'yung buhay natin at mahinto na 'yung kilings."

"Kaya nga, but kung maraming magtitestify na may ginawa ka, I'm sure they will not just release you. Don't talk about the group in that tone. It's too annoying." This guy is impossible, he is a good person pero minsan nakakabwesit na.

"Kaya nga tutulungan kita pero," I placed the cup of coffee on the table and stared closely at him, "I need your help in return." I compiled the photos and handed them over to him. "So, binabargain mo na 'yung supposed crime na ginawa ko para tulungan kita sa kung anong problema mo? Ayos ka lang? Inosente po ako. I didn't do such thing and wala kayong pruweba." Tatayo na sana ako nang bigla niyang hawakan 'yung kamay ko, "Wait." I stared at his hand. There was a suddenly feeling inside my stomach and I can't explain it, it's like I'm excited, happy and anxious at the same time.

"Please, makinig ka muna sa'kin." I sighed. I rolled my eyes and sat back in my chair. This situation is creeping me out. Bakit ba ako napunta sa sitwasyong ito? Damn it! "Hindi mo kilala ang mga tao rito sa Mortias. The big people will do whatever they can to stop these killings. Naapektuhan na ang ekonomiya ng lugar na'to dahil sa maraming taong lumilipat—" I cut him off.

"Dahil hindi na safe ang lugar na'to? Well, what's new? Hindi naman talaga safe ang lugar na'to eh, noong nandito pa ako. Maraming bullies, wannabes and iba pang toxic na mga tao." Umiling siya dahil sa sinabi ko. "Iba 'yung mga bullies sa mga taong ito. They kill innocent people and sigurado akong ginagawa na ng mga politiko 'yung dapat nilang gawin. Madadamay ka rito at walang kang choice." Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya. Ano ba 'tong gulong pinasok ko? Reunion lang naman 'yung ipinunta ko rito bakit ako naging suspect sa lahat ng pagpatay? Hindi ako nagsalita. I tried to process everything inside my head. I'm supposed to be living at Locrasia happily with my workmates and my loving tita but the universe f****d things up.

"Pinasundan kita," He continued talking. "Bakit mo ako pinasundan?" I asked him. I showed him that I am annoyed. "Dahil may sumusunod din sa'yo. Your life is in danger, Aadi. Hindi mo ba alam na may sumusunod sa'yo kapag lumalabas ka?" Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya. Nagulat ako dahil hindi ko alam kung anong isasagot ko. I've seen a lot of suspicious people pero hindi ko sila pinansin. My life is in danger? Death. Paulit-ulit kong naririnig ang salitang 'yon sa aking isipan. Hindi ko mawari kung anong ibig sabihin non dahil natatakot din akong tignan kung ano ang nakalagay sa mga baraha. Natatakot akong tuklasin kung ano ang katotohanan at kung sino ang mga taong sangkot sa bagay na 'yon.

"I-I didn't know. I'm sorry but I need to go back to Locrasia."

"No, Aadi. It's dangerous, don't risk your life. We don't know what will happen to you on your way to Locrasia. Don't worry about your tita, we've already sent people there to watch over her." Si tita? Paano nadamay si tita rito? Locrasia is far from Mortias, how come umabot doon 'yung kasamaan ng mga taong ito? "Si tita? She will panick 'pag nalaman niya ang mga ito. I'm worried about her."

"Don't worry, my men are under cover. She won't notice them. For now, let's focus on your safety first." Ang bilis ng mga pangyayari, hindi ko ito inasahan sa buong buhay ko. "So, you'll just locked me up here in Mortias while you chase and track the real criminals? Ano 'yon Finn? May buhay ako, may trabaho. I just can't leave that easily." Hindi ko na alam kung ano 'yung hitsura ko. Iba't-iba ang emosyon na nararamdaman ko sa mga puntong ito.

"Don't worry," Bigla niyang hinawakan ang kamay ko. Kagaya ng paghawak ni Alfred sa kamay ko kahapon, but this time hindi ako nakaramdam ng takot, inis o pandidiri. Hindi ako nailang at hindi ko inalis ang kamay niya. I felt his comfort and I felt safe. "Everything will be okay, Aadi. We just need to do whatever we can to stop this killing and live a normal life again."

"Finn, I'm scared."

"Don't be. We can easily solve this but we need your help." Hindi ako nagsalita dahil nagtataka ako sa mga sinabi niya. Help? Don't tell me—"Remember that time nung mga bata pa tayo at pinaglaruan natin 'yung tarot cards mo? You've answered my question and it was accurate."

"Hindi ko na naalala 'yon Finn. Anong ibig mong sabihin?" I lied. Actually, the memory is still fresh in my mind. I will never forget that day. It was the day that I used my ability to help my friend and it ruined our friendship. I was able to help him but I lost him.

"Try to remember it. Totoo 'yung sinabi mo. My mom was raped and murdered, she didn't die in a car accident. My father lied to me all this time at hindi niya alam na nakita ko 'yung reports at dokumento ng ina ko." He leaned closer to me. "Aadi, I beg you. You have a gift and please utilize it sa ikabubuti ng lahat. Please, help me." I can't concentrate. I can see his sincereness through his eyes. His face is almost seven inches from mine and I can hear my fast heartbeat.

"Ah, eh." I closed my eyes. Hindi ko alam kung anong isasagot ko. Am I going to help him? Matutulungan niya ba ako? "Listen, I can help you. Just please do me a favor." I can't just ignore the fact that my life is also in danger, I'd love to help him because though we were apart from each other for many years, I still value our friendship. Naniniwala ako na itong nararamdaman ko ngayon ay dulot ng pagmamahal ko sakanya bilang isang kaibigan. "Wait for a sec," I sighed. Kinuha ko ang cellphone ko at dinial ang number ni Grace.

"Hello?" Sagot ni Grace. Naririnig ko sa kabilang linya na may tina-type siya dahil sa mabilis na tunog ng keys ng keyboard.

"Grace, can you help me? I will extend my leave." The typing stopped.

"Aadi, anong pinagsasabi mo? Alam mo naman na maraming trabaho rito sa opisina and I can't convince our boss for you. Alam na alam mo 'yan." I bit my lowerlip. "Please, Grace. This is urgent. It's an emergency and it's very important. I need to extend my stay here in Mortias for a week. Please, help me." I beg her. Binalingan ko ng tingin si Finn na kasalukuyan ding nakatingin sa'kin at nakikinig sa mga sinasabi ko.

"Sige, I'll see what I can do." This is the first time that I heard her disappointed voice.

"Thank you. I'll personally send a formal letter to sir so—" Hindi ko na natapos 'yung sinasabi ko dahil mabilis niya itong pinatay. She must be angry at me pero mas importante ngayon ang kaligtasan ko at ni tita.

"Fine," I placed back my phone inside my pocket and then I faced him, "I will help you."

"But promise me the you will keep my tita safe, siya nalang 'yung natitirang pamilya ko rito sa mundo. Don't let those bad people hurt her." I stood up. Mabilis akong lumabas ng café.

"Teka!" Sinundan ako ni Finn at tumatakbo siya papaunta sa'kin. "What?" I raised a brow at him.

"Where are you going?"

"I'll go back to the hotel. Mag chi-check in ako ulit and—" He cut me off.

"'Wag na. Doon ka nalang sa bahay tumira, I can take of you." He said. He is so casual at hindi siya nagatubiling sabihin 'yon sa'kin. Para bang plano na niya talaga na sabihin 'yon sa harapan ko.

"Sa bahay niyo? No way. Ano nalang sasabihin ng papa mo? Your father despises me. He doesn't like me kaya 'wag na. Sa hotel nalang ako." Bubuksan ko na sana 'yung pinto ng kotse ko nang bigla niyang isinara ito. "Wala sa bahay si papa ngayon, he is having his vacation in Europe."

"No, Finn. I'll stay at the hotel for a week."

"No, Aadi. He will not know about this."

Napilit ako ni Finn na sumama sakanya papunta sa bahay nila. Pagdating ko doon ay agad kong nakita ang lugar kung saan kami madalas naglalaro noon ni Finn, the place hasn't changed. "Nandito pa pala 'yung gnome na favorite ko?" I asked him. He didn't answer instead he just smiled at me.

"Pasok ka," Kinuha niya 'yung gamit ko at siya ang nagdala nito.

"You'll be staying at guest room. Walang mga bisita si papa ngayon kaya it's clean and available." Umakyat kami sa taas at tinungo namin ang guest room na sinasabi niya. Pagpasok ko ay may naramdaman ako sa loob. It's like Déjà vu, pakiramdam ko na nangyari na ito noon pero hindi ako sigurado. It's feels like I saw this on my vision. "Are you hungry? Magpapahanda na muna ako ng pagkain kay manang." He said.

"No, I'm fine. Busog pa ako." Inilagay ko 'yung gamit ko sa malambot na kama ng silid.

"We used to play here. Ito 'yung dating kwarto ko." Kaya pala.

"Finn, aalis na muna ako. May kailangan akong bilhin sa convenient store." Pagpapaalam ko sakanya.

"Sige. Sasamahan na ki—" Natigilan siya nang biglang tumunog 'yung cellphone niya. "Shit." Bulaslas niya nang mabasa ang pangalan ng tumatawag sakanya. "Si papa, teka I'll answer this for a while. Excuse me," Sabi niya at naglakad palabas ng kwarto.

"Pa, opo. I'm working on it. No, everything is under control and we are doing our best to solve the problem. I know pa, don't worry we can handle this." Lumapit ako sa may pintuan para marinig ang pinagsasabi niya. "Sige po, ingat po kayo diyan." Mabilis akong bumalik sa pwesto ko kanina.

"So, ano? Ready ka na ba? Punta na tayo sa convenient store."

"Kailan mo pa bang sumama? Baka nakakaabala lang ako sa trabaho mo. Kaya ko namang pumunta magisa eh." Sabi ko sakanya. Napansin kong mukhang marami siyang iniisip dahil sa mukha niya. What's bothering him?

"Sigurado ka ba diyan?" Hindi na siya nagsalita at hinila niya ako palabas ng bahay nila at papasok sa kotse niya. Nagmaneho siya papunta sa convenient store. I was tempted to buy alcohol pero nahihiya ako kay Finn. Baka isipin niya na alcoholic ako, dito ko lang naman sa Mortias naranasan ito. So, I bought important stuffs and food.

Nagulat ako nang dumating si Finn sa counter at inilapag niya ang dalawang pakete ng sigarilyo at limang bote ng beer. Damn you, Carson. You're hurting yourself. I just stared at him as he paid the things that he bought. Nang makalabas kami sa convenient store saka na ako nagsalita, "Finn, kalian ka pa natutong manigarilyo?"

"Ano ba namang tanong 'yan, Aadi? Of course, I'm a guy and normal lang na manigarilyo 'yung mga lalaki." Wrong. Kailan man ay hindi naging normal at mabuti ang paninigarilyo, your burning not the cigarette but your lungs. "Bakit? Hindi ka ba naninigarilyo?" Umiling ako. Isipin na niya ang gusto niyang isipin but I will never put a single stick on my mouth. Umiinom ako, yes, pero ngayon lang 'to and I will never try cigarette.

"Edi ikaw na ang mabait," Sarkastiko niyang saad. "Pero umiinom ako."

"Atleast, akala ko anghel ka na sa lagay na 'yan." He started the engine.

"Finn, may sasabihin ako."

"Ano 'yon?"

"Tsk. Nevermind. Gusto kong magpahinga," Iniligay ko 'yung seatbelt ko at binaling ang tingin sa labas. Ang bilis ng mga pangyayari.