One Last Crime

Kabanata 30

Betrayed

I cried myself in the car. I burried my face in my palms. Patuloy ang pagtulo ng luha sa aking mga mata. Tanging hikbi ko ang maririnig sa kotse.

I pursed my lips and breathed for air.

When my eyes gazed on the passenger seat where I used to seat when he took me home made me furious. Blood boiled through me together with pain.

Para bang sasabog na ang dibdib ko sa sakit na nadarama. Pinigilan ko ang pag hikbi at binigay ang lahat ng lakas sa pag hampas sa steering wheel.

On every punch I throw at the steering wheel, the redness on my hands started to swell.

My vision became blurry as I drive on the way to the safe house, my eyes won't stop tearing up. I grip tighter on the steering wheel. I step on the gas harder. The car on on the opposite intersection shouted at me when I didn't stop for the red light. I just pass him, and accelerated towards the safe house.

Im hoping he's not there yet... I don't know what Im gonna do to his lying f*****g face!

But who am I f*****g kidding?! for sure he won't be there that early. Hes busy f*****g with Mary. I can't believe him! Sa likuran pa ng presinto! Sa kotse nito! Sa kotse kung saan siya umamin! I'm sure he's car knew the lies he told me.

I didn't park the car on the garage. Basta ko nalang yon pinarada sa harap ng safe house. The screech of the wheels alerted the guards. They rushed to me.

"Ma'am saan ho kayo nag punta?"

"Baki po kayo umalis?"

"Baka ho kung ano ang isipin niya sa pag alis niyo. Mapapagalitan ho kami ni Sir."

"I don't f*****g care what he thinks!"

"Pasensya na po Ma'am pero siguradong nag aalala na yon---"

I cut him off.

My eyes narrowed.

"Really? How sure are you? Because I know where he is and he's far from worried," mapait kong saad, kasabay ng pag tulo ng luha sa aking mga mata.

Umiwas ito ng tingin at kinalaunan ay tumitig sa lupa.

"Ano po bang nangyari Ma'am? Bakit ho---" I cut him off before he can finished his sentence.

Hindi talaga susuko ang mga ito ano? They're so obedient and loyal to Lendhel without knowing how bad of a person he is.

"Why don't you ask your boss?!" aniya ko saka sila nilagpasan. Good thing they didn't follow me in my room. I locked the door and rested on it, the tears that I've been holding back rolled down my cheeks.

Nanghihina akong humiga sa malamig na kama at niyakap ang sarili. I curled while tears are pouring on the bed sheets.

I scanned the big lonely room I'm in. The back park scene played on my mind again. I grip tightly on the sheets and crumpled it in my hand.

This is how my heart feels inside. Pigang piga na ang puso ko sa sakit. My muffled cries echoed in the room.

I took a deep breathe as I stood up.

My feet has its own mind and it unknowingly brought me to Lendhel's room. I stared at it for a minute until I decided to go inside. He never locked his door... It's always open... Or it might have been opened already... by someone.

Ginala ko angtin sa kabuuan ng kwarto nito. Everything is at the same place... Everything is the same... But not the feeling that I used to feel when I'm here.

The cold breeze from the window of his room pressed against my skin . I hugged my shoulders. I sit on the end of his bed. I was laying on his bed without even knowing it. The coldness pulled me in and the sadness started to grow even more.

The place where he used to keep me safe turns out to be a prison of lies, full of pain and danger to my heart.

Mas gugustuhin ko pa ata ng pisikal na sakit kaysa ang nakakamanhid na sakit sa puso ko.

Inikot ko ang kwarto nito, nahinto ako sa desk niya, naroon ang folder ng kaso ni Mariyah... All this time I thought he'll give this up but I was wrong...

This is all what he wanted. To save his reputation and have a clean record of solving cases.

He doesn't want love, he just used me... He fooled me.

I shooked my head as I stare at the folder. I never peak into this case files because I was afraid to get caught and be suspected... But why would I be afraid of him now? He should be the one shivering in fear for lying to me!

My eyes wandered into his written words on the case paper.

Mariya Reyes is innocent and good woman so why would someone kill her?

Pagak akong natawa habang naguunahan ang luha sa aking mga mata.

Innocent and good woman... If she is, she wouldn't end up dead.

Bumaba ang tingin ko sa huling sulat nitong nakabilog.

Who killed her?

I grip on the paper. "Who killed her?"

I ended up crumpling it on my hands.

"I did! I killed her!" I shouted furiously. My tears wet the case papers on my hand. I fummingly tear it into pieces.

"I f*****g killed her!" I screamed and throw all the things on his desk.

I kick his desk and push the swivel chair towards the ceramic vase on the corner of his room. The flowers scattered all over the floor. I crashed his lamp on the window. The glass shattered on the floor.

I cried as I break everything on his room. Kahit anong sirain at basagin ko sa kwarto niya ay hindi makakatapat sa sirang sirang puso ko na binasag niya. I'm on my knees sobbing as the guards entered the room.

Their eyes widened. I didn't mind them and tried my best to get in my foot. Dumiretso ako sa kwarto at inimpake ang mga gamit. Mabilis ko iyong ginawa. I am so sick being in this house.

I want to leave this house as soon as possible. This isn't safe at the first place. The threat to my life is here, waiting to put me to jail to get his f*****g victory on solving his first case! He's f*****g obsessed with his first case!

Bago bumaba ay pinalis ko ang luha sa pisngi. Ayaw kong malaman niya ang nangyari sa akin. Ayaw kong malaman niya ang nakita ko.

"Ma'am saan ho kayo pupunta?"

"Hindi po pwedeng umalis!"

"All of you can't stop me! Kung sino man ang sumubok na pigilan ako ay sisiguraduhin kong mananagot sa akin! I'm a f*****g Callejo and no one dares to stop me! Alis!" I said full of rage.

I drove to Adrian's house.

Bumungad sa kan'ya ang namumula kong mga mata. Pag kapasok palang ay agad kong sinabi ang nalaman. I regret leaving him. He's right all along. He only wants the best for me. He's the one protected me for all my life. I was such a fool to leave him for that f*****g scam!

He let me in on his office, he ordered the maids to make coffee but I can't even take a sip on it.

And of course Mary is not here.

She would even know how I injured she would be if I saw her here.

"I told you he's using you Chantrea. He's using to caught us," he said.

"The way Mary is using you," I spat at him.

"She's controlling you Adrian. She's playing both of us! She planned it all!"

Shes a f*****g good manipulator like her sister!

He reached for my hands. "Calm down Chantrea well get through this."

"We need to know the truth," he said.

Inalis ko ang kamay nito at tumayo. "The truth is infront of our face Adrian!"

Napasentido ako.

"She used you! He..." I paused, "He used me!" My voice croaked.

He stared at me without even blinking. He's not even shocked at all. I can tell that he already knew it.

"They're together Adrian."

"He probably agreed to this so he can solve this f*****g first case!"

Lumapit ito sa akin at muling hinawakan ang nanginginig kong kamay. "You need to rest Chantrea."

I hugged him. I need him...

"Did they know your here?"

I shooked my head

"They should know."

"But I don't want to. I don't want to go back there again," mariin kong saad.

******

"Oh thank God Chantrea!" bungad ni Mom ng matagpuan ako sa sala ng bahay ni Adrian.

Dad is at her back. Nanatili ang tingin ko doon. Is he with them?

Mariin akong napapikit. Why am I even thinking about him?! He lied to me! He used me!

"Andito ka lang pala!" They both hugged me.

"Are you alright? You scared me ih." aniya ni Dad.

"Kung saan saan na kami nag hanap! Mabuti na lang at tumawag itong si Adrian!"

"Thank you Adrian!" aniya ni Mom. Habang tahikim lang na tinanguan ni Dad si Adrian ng batiin siya nito.

"Chantrea needs to rest Tita."

Iniwas ko ang tingin ng usisain nito ang mukha ko. I washed my face and put on make up so they won't notice my puffy red eyes.

She cupped my cheeks. "What happened iha?"

"I'm tired of this set up Mom. I can't take it anymore... I miss you," I muttered and glance at Dad.

She sighed. "It's alright Chantrea. Sometimes everything is exhausting."

I was about to speak when Lendhel entered the room. My fist balled at the sight of him. He's stared at me. His eyes are worried... Lies... I won't let him fool me again.

He rushed to me.

"Chantrea, what happened---" he did not finish his sentence when I step back away from him.

"I want to go home."

"Sure, we should go---"

"I want to go home Mom."

Mom awkwardly smiled. "Yes Chant, Lendhel will drive you back to the safe house---"

I cut him off. "I meant home Mom. I want to go back in our mansion."

Hindi ko na sinulyapan pa ang reaksyon ni Lendhel.

I won't let him break me.

"But you can't there's still threats out there---"

"Threats is everywhere Mom. You don't even know they might be near to us." aniya ko at tinapunan ito ng tingin.

"But Chantrea---"

I let go of her hands.

"I won't leave Adrian house if you're not gonna let me go home in our mansion. After all it's safe here. He's with me."

"But you can't stay with him, Chantrea. Lendhel is your fiance---"

I cut him off.

"Not anymore."

"What is happening? Nag away ba kayo?" Binalingan niya si Lendhel sa likuran, He laugh slightly.

"Mapapagusapan naman yan iha, bata pa kayo natural lang na mag away. Pero hindi tamang pumunta ka sa bahay ng ibang lalaki."

"Ilang oras kang hinanap ni Lendhel. He's devastated when he thought your gone."

"I'm sure he is." I mocked him.

"But I will no longer stay there. And the engagement is off."

"Chantrea---"

"Miguel." Mom called him.

"Fine." Dad sighed.

"Your going home in our mansion. I cannot you stay here."