Lost Island ✓

VEINTICINCO

#CHAPTER25

KAAGAD akong umatras nang bigla na lamang sumara nang marahas ang aparador. Muli pang umihip ang malamig na hangin bago unti-unting tumahimik at pumayapa ang paligid. Ngunit dahil doon, lumakas ang bawat hakbang ng kung sino ma'ng papalapit ngayon sa akin.

Mahigpit ang aking pagkakahawak sa kahon nang lingunin ko ang pinto. Pigil ko ang aking hininga habang hinihintay kung sino ang iluluwal nito, o kung may papasok ba rito. Taimtim akong nagdarasal, kagat-kagat ko ang ibabang labi at umaasang daraan lamang siya sa labas ng kwarto.

Ngunit laking gulat ko nang pihitin ng kung sino ang hawakan ng pinto. Parang huminto ang aking mundo. Kung si Alice ang papasok ngayon at makahuhuli sa akin, saan na 'ko pupulutin nito? She looks like an angel sent from above, but I'm not sure if behind her angelic face is a devil in disguise.

Kahit papaano'y nakahinga 'ko nang maluwag nang hindi ko mamataan si Alice. But still, I felt intimidated by the stares Franklin Aguilar—Leah's father's giving me. He looked at me and the box I'm holding suspiciously, but then, after a whole minute, he withdrew his gaze on me. 

I was still stuck where I was standing as I looked at him. I don't know what I should do. If I'd instantly leave without saying a word, he could catch me. Madaraanan ko muna siya bago ako tuluyang makalabas.

My heart beats faster than earlier when he shut and locked the door behind him. I chewed my lower lips as I still don't know what I should do. Naistatwa na 'ko nang tuluyan dito sa aking kinatatayuan. I stopped breathing when he went near me.

I just stood here as I watched him got something under their bed. My eyes widened when I saw the familiar box he got from there. Matapos no'n ay nilingon niya 'ko. Mababasa ko sa kanyang mga mata na hindi niya rin gusto ang kanyang ginagawa, ngunit pursigido ito.

"Give me that," he muttered. "That's the duplicate. This one is the real—owned by Leah," he said dearly. Sa mga mata niya lamang, kitang-kita ko ang pagmamahal niya sa anak, that he could do anything for his daughter—for Leah.

"We're running out of time," aniya na nagpabalik sa akin sa reyalidad.

Tumango ako at saka inabot sa kanya ang aking hawak. Matapos no'n ay kinuha ko ang isang kahon. Nang hawakan ko iyon, doon ko lang nakilala ang pagkakaiba nila. Even if how much they look alike, there's still a difference. You can never really duplicate a thing or a person. Their differences will float like garbage in the water.

"You should go now. No one must see you here. Hurry up, and be careful." He sounded like a real father to me. That's why I couldn't help but remember the vague memory where I was in the car with my father before the accident took place.

I didn't know why but I felt a pang of pain in my chest when I remembered his smile that gives me warmth. His stares that day, how happy he was because I was beyond happy, too.

"You should go now, fast!" 

I was snapped out of my thought when Franklin Aguilar shouted. Sa sobrang gulat ay kusa na lamang humakbang ang aking mga paa. Walang sabi-sabi'y sinunod ko ang gusto niya. Tinakbo ko ang layo mula sa kwarto nila hanggang sa marating ko ang silid na aking tinutuluyan.

Sinandal ko ang aking likuran sa likod ng pinto nang masiguro kong walang nakakita sa akin. Hinabol ko ang aking hininga at napahawak na rin ako sa aking dibdib. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ngunit binalot ako nang matinding kalungkutan. Na para ba'ng mayroong nangyaring masama, may nangyaring hindi maganda sa taong malapit sa akin na alam kong ikalulungkot ko.

Pinikit ko lamang ang aking mga mata at dinama ang kapayapaan ng paligid, na kasalungat ng aking nadarama. Puno ako ng takot, lungkot at pag-aalala. Masaya dapat ako dahil nakuha ko na ang susi para malaman namin ang totoo, ngunit hindi ko magawang maging masaya. 

Why do I feel pain when everything's going smoothly? Did I miss something? Am I missing something important in my life?

Kalaunan ay napilit ko rin ang sariling kumalma kahit na hindi ko alam kung paano. Maingat kong nilapag ang maliit na kahon sa ibabaw ng aking kama. My heart's beating fast as I stared at it. I wanted badly to open it now, but I couldn't find the courage. It was like everything's right in front of me, the answers to my questions were right in front of me, but I turned a blind eye because I didn't have the courage for the truth that I'd find out.

I inhaled a large amount of air before taking a deep sigh. This occasion is another now or never. If I wouldn't do it now, I wasn't sure if I would ever have the time to do it again. I need to know what's in this box before the killer knew that I have this. I hope that no one in this mansion is an accomplice of the murderer.

Mabagal ang aking bawat paggalaw nang maupo ako sa tabi ng kahon. I also made sure that the door is locked and the window in the bathroom locked before proceeding. Leah sealed the box, so it took me minutes before opening it. Halos magsugat na nga ang aking mga daliri nang mabuksan ko iyon. 

With my pounding heart, I opened the secured box. Hindi ko pinikit ang aking mga mata nang buksan ko iyon. Kaagad na tumambad sa akin ang mantsa ng dugo sa loob nito. Wala itong laman maliban sa dalawang piraso ng papel. Halata sa itsura nito na matagal nang nakatago rito. 

Nanginginig ang aking kamay nang kuhanin ko ang naunang papel. There were words written there, the same handwriting style from the first letter I've got from her—Leah.

'To the person who'll read this: I know you are trustworthy, so I trust you. I know that I could tell my secrets to you, and you'd do your best to say this to my family. This letter came into your hands because of God's will. He has his trust in you, so I will, too. Don't be too shocked. Stay calm and composed. Don't let them know that you already knew the truth. Stay alert, be careful. I knew that you could do this. You could give justice to everyone. You could set all of us free from the greedy people.' - Leah Brooklyn Aguilar.

My nervousness doubled after reading her note. It was like I'd enter a war where my life is at stake. And I didn't know whether I'd get out of here alive or if I'd ever get out of here. Her note was alarming, it made me want to back out, but I'm already here. Only one last step and the truth will be right here in my arms. 

Closing my eyes, not sure if my decision was right, I unfold the paper. I opened my eyes and looked at the piece of paper I'm holding firmly. It took me a couple of minutes to read what's written there. After finishing it, I quickly got the second paper and read it as fast as I can.

I was left dumbfounded after reading the two pieces of paper—her secrets. I was so shocked to know the truth. It was them who killed her. What an entertaining show and act they've done. I almost believed them. They fooled everyone. They fooled a lot of people who trusted them. They deceived the people who loved them so much.

They didn't deserve the things they have. They're so greedy, to the point that they killed an innocent girl. Leah's innocent. It just happened that she knew their secret. They kept it in a box because once it was out, it was the end for them.

And I chose to risk my life to announce to everyone the crimes they've committed. They didn't deserve to roam around freely. They deserve to rot in jail. They must pay for the sins they've done, and I will make sure that they'd pay the price.