✓ | The Power of Mind [Season One]

T1 • Chapter 16: The Serial Seriousness

When we were outside the station, Raishin left to get his car and I was alone standing on a gray pavement, outside the building.

In such a state: one sprained ankle, a crutch on my right armpit should make me avoid more accidents but a man riding a motorcycle suddenly arrived on the same platform as I was, and instead of pressing the brakes he might have pressed the acceleration button? I highly doubt he would be puzzled about it if he is not a newbie.

"Kuyang driver! Alam mo ba na nasa estasyon ka ng pulis, baka gusto mong matikitan!" sigaw ng taong sumalo sa akin.

To further elaborate. Everything just went into slow motion, and I thought na mababangga ako ng motor pero may humablot sa akin para iwasan iyon. Luckily, someone did notice it because I was caught off guard, and without his help I'll probably suffer another injury aside from my sprained ankle.

"Okay ka lang, Miss?" tanong nito sa akin. I looked at him. His face is flawless, hair's black and his forehead shines through. I do remember who he was.

"Thank you," I said with a flat smile. Ngumiti ito, at lumantad ang pagka gwapo ng mukha niya. Is he fond of stretching his lips and cheeks?

"Muntik na iyon, ha. Buti nakita kita," sambit nito at agad rin naman akong napatingin sa driver ng motor. The Police already noticed the small incident, and I hope he will be suspended. Muntikan nga ang nangyari pero dapat hindi siya nagpapraktis sa maraming tao. Baka may masagasaan siya.

"Anyway, anong ginawa mo rito? Did you file a report or something?" tanong niya sa akin. I gave off a force smile and shake my head.

"Hindi, hinihintay ko lang ang kasama ko," sagot ko rito at agad rin naman siyang tumango, "Ikaw? Did the police finished interrogating you about Madeline Gajes's Suicide?"

Nagulat ito sa tanong ko, "You are not an ordinary passerby, aren't you?"

I shake my head as an answer to his questions, which made him laugh, "Ahahaha. Hindi ko na tatanungin kung ano at mukhang kilala mo na ako, pero sa tanong mo naman, kakatapos lang nila akong tanungin kaya ngayon lang ako nakalabas."

"Can I ask? If you don't mind." He seems carefree and very polite. Tumango lang ito sa tanong ko. He even crossed his arms and ears to my question. "How long have you been in a relationship with her?" I asked Raphael Tolentino the question I've been brewing inside my mind. Ngumiti lamang ito.

"6 years. We were in love for six years," sagot niya.

"For a person who is in love with a wonderful woman for six years, you seem fine knowing your girlfriend took her life."

"Everyone says that. Why? Should I cry? Drown myself in alcohol? Hating the light and dwelling in my room and mourn?" a sense of sarcasm was present in his voice, "not everyone has the same coping mechanism, Miss."

I did a slight continuous nod, "Right. Not everyone shows how they mourn.....then, if you really don't mind me asking. Did you two often fight?" I then added a question.

"Lagi naman present ang away sa lahat ng relasyon. In our relationship, we always argue about my habits."

I arched my eyebrows and asked again, "And what are those habits?"

"Ilang mga gawain na umuubos sa oras ko. Stuffs that she doesn't like, and she never really pays attention to what I pursue. Maddy likes attention so much, and we argue always about me busy working and training instead of spending them with her."

"That must be hard."

Raphael nods, "Super. Minsan gusto ko nalang siyang hiwalayan, pero mahal ko eh," sambit agad nito. But why did you cheat with Mariz Santos? My head suddenly told me that.