The Alphabet Killer

29

-29-

"MAMA, kamusta po araw niyo?"

Yan ang tanong ng isa kong anak nung makarating ako sa bahay, ibinaba ko ang bag na dala ko at umupo sa sofa. Ang babae kong anak ipinatong ang dalawa kong paa sa coffee table

Ang anak ko namang lalaki ay minasahe ang balikat ko "how's your day, mama" Sabay halik nito sa pisnge ko

"It's not great, someone made a scene sa opisina eh" Umupo sa tabi ko si Lauel.

"Dad, seems to be a ladies man" Tugon ni Aikros, tiningnan ko ito at tumawa ng bahagya, I pinched his nose

"Kayo ha, nagiging chismoso at chismosa kayo dahil kay tita niyo"

Then the two giggled, "I'm interested kasi kay papa, mama. He seemed awesome"

Lihim akong ngumiti at ginulo ang buhok nila at tumango "he is awesome"

DAYS passed, I think bumabalik na uli? He was already a clingy type. Pero di ako nilulubayan ni Auden. Kakaloka, nilalandi nanaman ako.

I tried to be cold once, kasi nga di ako maka focus sa gawain ko dahil sakanya. May papagawin ito sa department namin tas pag busy ako halos gusto niya na sakanya atensyon ko

I shrugged it nalang, "Tigilan mo ko, umalis ka dito at bumalik ka sa opisina mo" Sabi ko kay Auden

"I'm bored, so I'm here" Sabi nito at ngumuso saakin

"Pag ako sinugod nanaman nung haliparot na un, kakalbuhin kita"

Tumayo ako at binigay sakanya ung inisketch ko para sa bagong hotel daw niya. Ako ung nagdesign nun "ayan na ung design nung hotel mo, kaya lumayas ka na sa harapan ko" Pagtataray ko dito.

As the time passed, pagabi na. Syempre alangan naman di gumabi. Umalis na ako sa department namin at bumaba na.

Nagano ako ng uber. Di ako nag dala ng sasakyan eh, I have some gut feelings. Pero I decided na wag pansinin ung gut feeling na un

And the next thing I knew, I passed out with something on my nose.

PAPUNTA na ako sa department nila Ellouise. Balak ko sana magtanong kung pwede siya mamaya, u know I'm shooting my shot right here.

Di ko na patatagalin, I waited for 12 years for her. Alam ko na rin naman na pinatawad na niya ako.

"Andito pa ba si Ellouise?" Tanong ko sa head nila, she shook her head

"Umalis na siya, sir. Kanina pa." I nod at her response to what I ask

I contacted her phone. Na saakin rin naman ang number niya eh. Pero out of coverage un.

Umalis nalang ako dun at pumunta sa lobby, bukas ko nalang siguro. I bid goodbye to the receptionist. Lumakad ako papunta sa kotse, started the car. Then drove off

It was the middle of the night nung nag riring ung selpon ko, sinagot ko ito "Is Ellouise with you?" Nagpapanic na tanong ni Histerix

"No, bakit? Anong nangyari?" I asked confused "someone from her home called me, wala pa daw siya sa bahay nila"

Napabalikwas ako ng tayo, wala siya sa bahay nila. "Anong wala sa bahay niya? Maaga siyang umuwi kanina. You aren't pranking me right?" Tanong ko dito

I was worried, "I'm not pranking you, I won't. Alam ko kung gaano ka katagal naghintay sakanya"

"I'm going to your house."

I pulled myself together, I put my shirt on, grab my keys and went to my car.

Nag drive ako papunta sa bahay ni Histerix. I can't loose her again. I open the front door at pumasok sa loob. "Her phone isn't available. Nakapatay ang phone niya"

Nakarinig akong nagpapanic sa may salas. I froze nung nakita kong may dalawang bata na naka upo sa sofa. Looking so hopeless.

"Did you contact Zachary? He might help us." Ani ko kay Histerix

Tumango ito, "Ikaw may kasalanan nito eh" Biglang sabi no Rhyzielle.

"If you didn't take her away from Ezio's company, Edi sana andito pa siya." Ako ung sinisisi niya.

Bumuntong hininga ako, "blame me all you want, pero bakit ako? I waited for her for 12 years. You think ako may kagagawan nito?" I was hopeless

"You have connection left and right, why don't you use it?" Nangingiyak na tanong ni Rhyzielle

"I already contacted them."

I looked at the kids who are just looking at me, intently. "Save our mom, please." That sentence shooked my core

She have kids.. "Save her, dad. Please" Pagmamakaawa nito saakin. He just called me dad

"It's yours and Ellouise's children." Pagtapik ni Histerix saakin. Thats when I went back to reality.

I have kids with her, I should have guessed it. It's not the time to get angry to Ellouise. Lumapit ako sakanila, I lightly smiled

"I will save her."

Halos lahat ng may connection ako tinawagan ko sila, this will make me crazy if I don't see her again! The kids are going to stay at Histerix' house for now.

I already called Astrid about this. For now, hahanapin ko muna siya.

"Be strong for me, honey. I'll save you, I promise you that."

I WOKE up in a strange room, ang baho dito. Wtf. Asan ako?

I look around the place. It's dark and nasty in here. I heard a creak. Natakot ako bigla. "Hello?" I said

I heard someone's laughed after that, nakakatakot siya. What is going on? Anong oras na? Kailangan ko pang umuwi sa mga anak ko

I was scared, naluluha ako. Someone smoked "what a pity, no one is looking for you" He gripped my face

"Sino ka, what do you want?" Tanong ko dito, kabado

"Oh, I'm someone that your little boyfriend owes" Nakita ko ang pag ngiti nito. It's creepy.

"He killed my brother."

I felt goosebumps, nakita kong bumukas ang pinto. Light was coming from there. "Good job, Diaz." Tinapik tapik nito ang braso ng lalaki

That voice.. It sounds familiar "I'll make your life living hell, Ellouise" Tumawa ito ng nakakaloko

"I'll take him away from you by torturing you" She kicked my stomach making me cough out.

She punched and kicked me until I was numb, masakit ang buong katawan ko. I closed my eyes and let my tears fall

Now it's clear who the lady was, it's Leanna Gavin..

Help me, Auden.

-T.M.B-