One Last Crime

Kabanata 29

Errand

Nangunot ang noo ko ng magtama ang mata naming dalawa ni Lendhel. Kababa lamang nito. sinundan ko siya ng tingin mula dito sa sofa sa sala. Bihis na bihis siya.

"Where are you going?"

"I need to run an errand. Babalik agad ako," aniya.

My eyebrows furrowed.

Errand huh?

Pero bihis na bihis siya!

There's something odd about his answer.

"Then can I go?"

"You can't Chantrea, delikado pa sa labas---" I cut him off.

"Then why are you leaving if it's dangerous outside? Why are you leaving me alone---"

He sit on the arm of the sofa. "You're not alone baby. The guards are everywhere in the house. Don't miss me, babalik din agad ako."

Bago pa man ako makapag protesta ay umalis na ito.

I took a deep breath. I need to know whats the errand he's talking about.

Hindi naman kaya ay makikipag kita ito kay Mary?

Mabilis akong nag palit ng damit pang alis. I tricked the guards and used the back door without them knowing I grabbed the car keys on one of his cars.

I followed his car from afar. Sinigurado kong hindi niya ako mapapansin.

My forehead creased when a gold metal arc greeted me at the road. It says Rancho Monte. This is his cousin's town.

What is he doing here?

He dropped off a huge mansion.

He fixed himself before entering. I parked the car near the colossal tree so he won't notice. I stayed and spied on the car for thirty minutes.

My eyes widened when a familiar woman strolled outside the mansion, Lendhel was on his side.

She dropped something and while Lendhel is busy looking for it. Her eyes darted in my direction.

Oh no! Does she notice I've been here for minutes? I need to do something! Hindi pwedeng malaman ni Lendhel na sinusundan ko siya!

I get out of the car. I put my shaking hands on my back, afraid she'll notice how nervous I was.

When I get closer to her, it sinks in to me why she looks familiar... Because she's the freaking Verine Garzon!

Even though my knees went wobbly I did not let her notice it. I strolled towards her with my chest sticking out, proud and tall.

"Do you know where the nearest hotel is?" I asked.

She observed my face before answering.

"Oo, meron. Tierra Monta Hotel. Malapit lang yon dito."

My eyes travelled down on his big tummy. Sobrang busog naman ata nito.

Hinimas niya iyon. Hindi siya busog! Shes pregnant!

"Artista ka ba miss?"

My eyes widened at her question. Nakilala niya ba ako? Baka sabihin pa niya kay Lendhel na andito ako!

Before I could answer her I heard Lendhel's voice so I ran away.

I hid behind the car and waited for them to go away before I started the car engine.

Kailangan ko ng makauwi kung hindi ay tatawagan ng mga guards si Lendhel para sabihing nawawala ako.

Habang nag da-drive ay pumasok sa isip ko ang babaeng kasama ni Lendhel. The Garzon girl.

My thoughts fade away when my phone rings.

Nanatili ang tingin ko doon.

It was Adrian.

I declined his call.

I don't wanna talk to him, I don't know what to say...

There's still a place in my heart for him. I don't know... Maybe it was still him but Dad's right. Lendhel is the best for me. And come to think of it, I would be out of the case if he truly loves me even if he found out about the case he will protect me as he says.

But I don't want to condemn Adrian for all of it...

I sighed.

Lendhel did not notice I was sneaking out. It was all good until the past few days, Lendhel is acting weird. He's kind of distant to me and I don't know why. He's going to the precinct when he should be here!

But since I've got nothing to do I'll just go there too. There's nothing that's gonna stop me. Besides, I'm gonna check on the case that I solved. I wanna know if the suspect is already caught.

I sneak out and drive the car. Agad kong hinanap si Daxon pero wala ito doon. I asked the officers and they pointed me to Lendhel's office.

The smile on my face faded when my eyes landed on the girl sitting comfortably on his swivel chair. She didn't even notice my presence if I didn't open the door widely.

Tinapunan niya ako ng tingin at binalik ulit iyon sa mga papeles. "He's not here."

"Obviously. Why are you here?"

"I'm working on the case as you can see."

My eyebrows raised. "In his office?"

"That's his files.You shouldn't be in here." mariin long saad.

"Actually Ms. Callejo, I can. I'm also a detective and all of us are allowed to work here if Lendhel agrees."

My eyes narrowed at her.

"I can't believe he trusted you. For all I know you planned to flirt with him in this office but he's not here so you find an excuse to stay here and wait to flirt with him like you're working on a case."

I don't know where I got this rage from her. I just really don't like it when she's around him.

"Oh come on Ms. Callejo. Kaya ba ganyan ang pakikitungo mo sa akin?"

Hindi niya man lang ba napansing ang pag irap ko sa kan'ya? I'm distant to her. Doesn't she know the reason in the first place?

"Hindi ka dapat mag selos sa akin. I swear, mag kaibigan lang kami ni Lendhel isa pa ay kasal na ako. Kung mayroon ka mang dapat pag selosan ay ito." Tumuro ito sa folder na nasa lamesa kung nasaan ang isang confidential case.

"Hindi ko alam kung bakit baliw na baliw si Lendhel sa kasong ito. Matagal naman na... Siguro dahil ito ang unang kaso niya na hindi na solve. Kung sa normal na pakikitungo ko kay Lendhel ay nagseselos ka paano pa kaya sa kapatid nitong namatay? Laging napunta iyon dito at nakadikit kay lendhel na para bang batang nawawala. Naiinis na nga ako doon dahil abala lagi sa trabaho. Uunahin ni Lendhel ang babaeng iyon kaysa sa trabaho namin. Kaya nade-delay ang ibang kaso."

My heart thudded. It was Mary.

"How often did she go here?"

"Almost everyday. Bihira na nga lang nitong nakaraang araw dahil nga binabantayan ka niya."

I gulped.

"D-did you know how they met?"

She shook her head.

"Basta ang alam ko lang ay isang araw bumisita siya rito, pagkatapos non ay araw araw na atang napunta dito."

Mariin akong napapikit ng kumunot ang ulo ko. Napasentido ako. Must be aching because of too much information.

"Okay ka lang ba?"

"Y-yeah," I stammered.

Nanatili ang tingin ko doon kahit kumikirot ang ulo ko.

"Kilala mo ba ang babaeng yon? Nako pag nakita mo yon ay siguradong maiirita ka din. Hindi naman sa naninira ako pero para kasing nagpapanggap lang."

"Mabuti nalang at na-assign si Lendhel sayo. Nakatulong ka pa sa kaso hindi katulad noon, walang dulot puro iyak lang!" natatawa niyang saad.

But I cannot laughed with her. Because I knew I was right. She's just acting like her sister. Masyadong magaling umattended ang magkapatid na Reyes. Napapaniwala nila ang mga tao sa mala anghel na mukha ngunit hindi nila alam kung ano ang nasa likod ng inosenteng mukha nila.

But I do.

And Rochelle noticing and saying what I already noticed on them says a lot.

I'm not the only one who knows how crazy Mary is.

"Sige maiwan na kita at asikasuhin ko pa ito." I grabbed her arm when she stood up.

"Wait!"

"Where is Lendhel?"

She shrugged her shoulders. "Hindi ko pa nakikita pero ang sabi pumunta na daw kanina."

I pursed my lips. "Thank you... And uh... I'm sorry for mistreating you."

Turns out she's different from what I thought she was. Sometimes my judgement is blinded by my trust issues with people around the person I love.

"Okay lang, lahat naman ata ng babae magseselos kung ganun ba naman kapogi!" aniya.

We both smiled.

Nag intay pa ako ng ilang minuto sa opisina nito. Nang maburyong ako ay umalis na rin. Huminto ako sa harap at ginala ang tingin sa paligid. Maglalakad lakad na muna siguro ako. Malapit lang naman ako sa presinto siguradong kung may magtatangka sa akin ay may sasaklolo agad.

Habang nag lalakad lakad ay hindi ko maiwasang isipin ang sinabi ni Rochelle. Malapit si Lendhel at Mary sa isa't isa. Matagal ng tanong sa isipan ko kung paano sila nagkakilala.

Now where are you Lendhel?

I sighed as I delve my eyes around. And stared at the stranger's face hoping I'd bump into him.

Nang papunta na ako sa kotse ay hindi ko mahanap ang susi, agad ko namang naalala kong saan iyon naiwan kaya bumalik ako sa presinto.

Nang makuha ang susi ay hindi ko maiwasang magawi sa likuran ng presinto. Naalala ko noon na nakita ko si Lendhel at Mary sa doon, sa Maynila nga lang. Kahit na gano'n ay gusto ko lang makampante ang utak ko at pag aalala. Patuloy kong tinahak ang direksyon patungo sa likuran ng presinto. Hindi ako dumiretso dahil baka may ibang tao na nandoon at maistorbo ko pa. Kaya naman sisilip nalang ako. Pero impossible naman sigurong makita ko ulit sila Lendhel at Mary---

Nanikip ang dibdib ko ng dumapo ang tingin sa kotseng nakapark hindi kalayuan sa kinatatayuan ko. Nanigas ang buong katawan ko sa nasaksihan, nakasandal si Lendhel sa gilid ng kotse, naka diin naman sa katawan niya si Mary, ang mga palad nito ay nakalapat sa dibdib niya habang ang mga kamay ni Lendhel ay nasa bewang nito. Magkalapat ang mga labi nila. Tears pooled in my eyes as I stated at them. Mary devouring his lips as her hands travel on his body. I cannot fight back my tears anymore. I turned around and pressed myself on the cold wall. I rested my head and closed my eyes tightly. It didn't help at all because I can still see the scene in my mind. Tears rolled down my cheeks. I put my hands over my mouth. Nanginginig ang baba ko habang pigil na humikbi sa sulok.

I didn't have the courage to speak to them again. I've already seen enough. I took a deep breath. I forced my foot to take a step forward even though I slipped because of my wobbly knees.

When my strength came back I ran away. I didn't even care about the people I bumped into passing by. I just want to be away...

Alone.