One Last Crime

Chapter 2

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"Where's Adrian?" Mommy asked as she glanced at my back.

Her forehead puckered when she saw Adrian walking with the guy that I assume to be the chief or detective. The policemen are following them.

What is happening? Bakit kasama ni Adrian ang detective na ‘yon? May nangyari ba na masama?

I gulped as the memory of the past flashed in my mind. I shook my head trying to get rid of the thought but it keeps on bothering me every time I see a detective or a police officer. There's a feeling they will arrest me and put me to jail.

"Why is there a police?" si Mom.

Sinundan ko ng tingin si Adrian at ang mga pulis. I want to answer Mom’s question but my mind is clouded with scenarios of how my career will end if this is all about what I did years ago.

I pursed my lips together and squeezed my fingers, I’am worried for Adrian.

What did he do?

Do they really have to arrest him on the night of my fashion show?

I was hoping to celebrate my success and comeback but here I’am watching him get escorted by the detective himself.

"Madam, kanina pa iyan sa backstage."

"They're backstage?"

"Yes madam, saktong pagkaalis niyo saka naman sila dumating."

Nasa labas kami ng gusali, nakaparada ang tatlong kotse ng aking mga magulang sa tapat lang din mismo. Nakita ko ang aming mga bodyguards na naghihintay kamasa nila.

Mukhang kasunod lang namin sila sa paglabas ng gusali. Hindi parin sila nakakaalis? Kanina pa nagpaalam sa akin si Adrian, akala ko ay nauna na sila.

My parents are watching them just like Rich. Who looks like he's watching an interesting show better than the runway a while ago. For sure it caught his interest in crime movies.

My eyes shifted at them.

Kalmado ang mukha ni Adrian, hindi ko alam kung pilit niya lang pinapakitang kalmado siya o gano’n talaga iyon. Hindi katulad ko na kumakabog ang puso sa kaba. Nanginginig na rin ang tuhod ko, nanghihina sa kabang dala ng takot. Pilit kong tinatago iyon sa harap nila dahil ayaw kong may makahalata.

"Why Adrian is with them? What happened?" Hindi ko sinagot ang tanong ni Mommy dahil maski ako ay walang alam sa nangyayari.

Anong kinalaman ni Adrian sa nakitang bangkay? Nakita na ba ang katawan ng babaeng 'yon? Bakit si Adrian ang hinahanap at hindi ako?

Kauuwi ko pa lang talaga dito sa Pilipinas, problema agad ang sumalubong sa akin. Ito ba naman ang unang balik ko sa bansa pagkatapos ng ilang taon tapos ganito pa ang nangyari.

Impossibleng makita ang katawan ng babaeng 'yon at kung makita man ay hindi na 'yon makikilala sa tagal ng panahong lumipas.

I can't help but question myself at this moment. Did I really make the right decision to go back here?

This is crazy.

Or maybe this is a sign, a warning not to stay here longer. Its fate’s way of telling me this is a wrong decision.

My hands usually don't sweat but right now it's freaking sweating as hell. I stared at it for a second, I crossed my arms to hide my shaking hands and sighed heavily.

Binalik ko ang tingin sa kanila. Huminga nang malalim si Adrian sa kotse rito saka pumasok, gano’n din ang ginawa ng mga bodyguards niya na nakahiwalay ang sasakyan sa kan’ya. Hindi ata ako makita ni Adrian mula sa kinatatayuan ko. Nauna ng umalis ang sasakyan niya.

Nauna ang isang pulis sa pag sunod sa kotse ni Adrian. Ang titig ko ay nanatili sa lalaking nakaharap kanina.

It's the detective. A masculine one who doesn’t look like a detective but a model who can ace runway shows and get billion dollar contracts.

If I didn’t know he's a detective I would have mistaken him as a model, wearing a detective costume backstage.

Bago pumasok sa police car ang lalaki ay binalingan niya muna ang direksyon namin dahilan para magtama ang mata naming dalawa.

I didn’t know why I felt conscious when his deep and cold eyes darted at me.

Even though I felt conscious from his gaze I didn’t look away. I have the courage to keep an eye contact.

My eyes remained on him, it narrowed as I tried to figure out where I saw his face. I don’t know if I’ve seen him somewhere and I'm not sure if I met him before but he's really familiar to me, his deep dark eyes are the first thing you will notice and the last thing you will forget. His stare didn't last that long. He looked away and got in the police car then drove.

Kahit nakaalis na ang kotse ay hindi ko magawang kumalma.

"Does Adrian have a case or something?" Mommy asked.

"He definitely committed a crime Diñana, just like his father," saad ni Daddy na parang siguradong sigurado siya doon.

"Adrian is much better than his father, Daddy."

"Indeed, but still he's like him."

I sighed heavily. "It's been years now... but still your opinion about Adrian never changes, Daddy."

"Because it's true," mariin niyang saad.

"It's in their blood, Chantrea. I never liked Manansala as your friend but you two are bonding so I let it happen. I never thought that friendship would last this long. I even sent you abroad for years and you two still communicate even when I forbid it. Better end what's going on between you too, Chantrea. He's no good for you," seryosong saad ni Daddy.

Mommy throw a glare on Dad. "Miguel stop that. Kauuwi lang ng anak mo."

Namulsa ito. "Pinapaalala ko lang sa anak mo na isa siyang Callejo, hindi siya nababagay sa Manansala lang."

His head shake. "Kita mo nga ngayon, mukhang may kaso na agad."

"He's running for mayor dad. Normal lang na may kasama siyang mga pulis. Pinaghirapan niyang nakarating sa posisyon niya ngayon, kaya hindi nararapat ang paghuhusga mo sa kan’ya. He's not like his father. He's not a killer." Unlike me.