Apollo's Crib: A Sinister Fate

EP.37

"I don't know why, but every time I see you, why does it have to be like this?" pabirong wika ni Dylan nang lapitan nito si Audrey na mag-isa na naman sa garden at malalim ang iniisip.

Kakagaling lang niya sa ospital at nailipat na sa private room ang ina. Naghire sila ng private nurse na magtitingin-tingin rito dahil hindi naman nila kayang magbantay o samahan ito bente-kwatro oras. Sinica is still sleeping when she visited her but she is showing an improvement and the doctor told them that it is a good sign.

"And I don't know why you keep on showing up when all I wanted is to be alone," ganting sambit ng dalaga. She rolled her eyes at him. Na ginantihan naman ng ngiti ni Dylan na parang giliw na giliw pa ito sa ginawa ng dalaga.

"Ouch! What kind of rebuttal is that? Too painful for a man who just want to cares." ani ng binata pagkalapit sa kanya.

"Seriously, are you stalking me? Don't you have a job?" pabirong sita ng dalaga.

"Well, I'm rich enough not to think of getting up everyday just to kiss my employer's ass."

"So, instead of doing something more productive, you just decided to keep me company every time I am here. You know what, that is not healthy."

"I don't know that, what I care about is you."

"You're like a mushroom that suddenly appears out of nowhere,"

"As long as I am useful, then so be it," anito. "I'd be happy if I'm edible, too! Rawr!" ani ng binata kasabay ng pagmemake-face nito.

"Good Lord!" ani Audrey sabay ikot ng kanyang eyeballs. She doesn't like the fact that she is starting to like his presence. Dylan keep her sanity when all she wanted is to jump from the garden where Veronica's body was found.

"Well, how's life going?" pag-iiba nito ng usapan.

"Bad news is, my mom is still in the hospital. The good news is, she was moved into thr private room.

"Then, why you're still sulking like a baby?"

"I don't know why, I can't understand myself anymore."

"Maybe you are too bored, want to have some fun?"

"What kind of fun?" curious na tanong ng dalaga.

"Let me see," ani ng binata habang kunwa'y nag-iisip.

"You know the new shopping mall nearby?"

"Of course, the ATT Recharge?"

"You got it right, let's go there!"

"What's so special with that place?"

"There's nothing special but we can still enjoys ourselves."

"What's on your mind?"

"They have skating rink at 7th floor, I was just thinking that maybe you want to do ice skating? I've heard that skating is good and helpful to release some stress in your body, wanna give it a shot?"

Napatingin ang dalaga sa binata. Kailan nga ba siya huling lumabas? Sa tingin niya ay hindi niya na maalala. Noon pa sigurong nabubuhay pa ang dalawang kaibigan.

"Okay, wait for me here. I'll just change my clothes." ani ng dalaga.

"Perfect!" sagot ng binata sabay ngiti sa kanya. See you at the lobby in five minutes. I'll go change my clothes also," anito.

She nodded. Tumakbo siya pauwi ng kanilang unit at nagpalit ng medyo may kakapalang damit. Ayaw niyang lamigin mamaya kaya nagsuot siya ng pang winter attire.

Nang matapos ay nagtungo na siya sa lobby kung nasaan at naroon na si Dylan at maluwang ang ngiting naghihintay.

"I didn't bring my car, would you like to take a walk?"

"Sure, I'd love to!" sang-ayon ng dalaga.

Kagaya ng napagkasunduan ay naglakad sila hanggang sa makarating sa ATT Recharge. Hindi iyon kalayuan sa crib kaya sisiw lang ang lakarin. Nakapag exercise ka na, nag enjoy ka pa dahil napapalibutan ng sandamakmak na puno sa daan. Pagkarating nila sa mall ay dumiretso na sila sa ika-pitong palapag at sabay silang nag skate ng binata. Kagya't na nawala ang kalungkutan ng dalaga dahil na rin sa tulong ng binata. Kwela at masarap kasama si Dylan, taliwas sa una niyang pagkakakilanlan dito na may pagka creepy. Gusto niya tuloy na manghingi ng tawad dito dahil sa pagtataray niya noon.

"I'm sorry if I treated you badly back then, I got scared and pushed you away. Even my friends treated you bad back then," ani ng dalaga habang nakasalampak sa yelo.

"No worries, they're gone for good anyway." pabulong na sagot nito.

"What did you say?" takang tanong ng dalaga.

"I said, let bygones be bygones. Past is supposed to be forgotten. We have an amazing future ahead of us, and you'll not gonna appreciate it if you're always looking at your back." anito.

"I never thought that you can talk like this,"

"Like what?"

"Never mind, let's make a round again?" aya ng dalaga. Inalalayan siya ng binata para makatayo at pagkatapos ay muli na naman silang nagpaikot-ikot sa skating rink hanggang sa mapagod sila.

Nagyaya si Dylan ng hot coffee pagkalabas nila sa skating rink na kaagad namang pinaunlakan ng dalaga.

"What's with the long face again?" usisa ng binata nang mapansin nito ang biglaang pagbabago ng aura niya.

"I just missed my friends. If they're still alive-"

"If there is still alive, so what?!" putol na wika ni Dylan kasabay ng malakas na pagtapik sa kahoy na lamesa. Nagulat ang dalaga sa inasal ng binata ngunit kaagad ding nakabawi ang binata at humingi ito ng despensa.

"I'm sorry if I become rude. I just can't take it anymore... You've been so hard on yourself just because of them. Don't you think it's about time for you to move on? Find some good music to hear, some good books to read, or even some good recipes to cook just to make you occupied. You've become unhappy because of your friend and I think, you're being unfair at yourself."

Napatungo ang dalaga nang hindi namamalayan ang pamamalisbis ng luha sa magkabilaang pisngi. Dylan has a point.

"Hey, find your life's worth, Audrey... Set your soul on fire again." ani ng binata. Marahan nitong hinaplos ang likod ng dalaga para aluin ito. Napapikit pa nang mariin si Dylan ng maramdaman nito ang pagyakap sa kanya ng dalaga. He can feel the warmth of her body and the luscious scent of her hair.

Dylan couldn't look around him as he was drowned with Audrey's presence. He never felt Welbert's burning eyes as he stares at him with disgust. Malakas ang kutob ni Welbert na si Dylan ang salarin sa pagkawala ng mga kaibigan ni Audrey. At hindi siya titigil hangga't hindi niya iyon napapatunayan.

Welbert promises himself to make Dylan as his personal assignment. He has no plans on letting him go. Not unless he is dead.