Perennial Blooms (Ciudad de Escalante #2)

Phase 37

Gaviana and Axton broke up. My sister was devastated. I can feel her pain from her cries every night and lack of appetite whenever we're having a meal.

It's been nineteen days and as I expected, Cassiel and I haven't talk. I don't have the audacity to contact him. Siguro ngayon alam na niya ang lahat ng nangyari sa Kuya niya. Kasama niya na rin ang pananahimik ko.

If Gaviana and Axton are involved why he went missing, I am too because Cassiel knew that I was with them on that day. Hindi ko alam kung bakit hindi nasasali ang pangalan ko, baka hindi binanggit ni Gaviana at Axton ang tungkol sa akin sa pulisya.

Maybe Arissiel didn't mention it too. Hindi niya babanggitin dahil may ginawa siya sa akin na ikakapahamak niya.

I don't know what I feel right now. I'm not even hurting because I have overthought this situation for a long time. I spent endless nights imagining that it would be the end for whatever between Cassiel and me if this day came. I saw it coming, so it didn't create pain.

Yeah, it didn't...

I badly wish it didn't.

Dahil kung gaano kasakit ang nararamdaman ni Gaviana, parang ganoon na rin ako. I'm not crying but I'm really broken inside. Regrets and guilt are eating me up. Kahit wala akong balita sa kanya, alam kong nasasaktan siya. 

His silence told me that he's hurting, angry and disappointed at me. For all those days, I'm waiting for him. Alam kong ang kapal ng mukha ko na ako pa ang maghintay sa kanya pero hindi ko talaga kaya na ko ang unang lalapit.

If I show up to him, I know he'll force himself to approach me. So I'll wait whenever he's ready.

"Ma'am Gaea! Ma'am Gaea! May mga pulis po sa labas, hinuhuli si Ma'am Gaviana!" natatarantang sigaw ng kasambahay nang makita akong pababa ng hagdan.

Wait, what? Police?

Tumakbo ako para makumpirma ang kanyang sinabi. Then, I saw a group of police officers outside our house. May mga iilang reporters pa na nagkalat para kumuha ng larawan.

"Gaea! Call Guiliana or Daddy, please..." Gaviana said when she saw me.

She's crying!

What the hell is happening?! Nanlumo ako ng makita na nakaposas na ang kanyang mga kamay. Naglakad ako papunta sa kanila. I instructed our house guards to stopped the reporters who are recording the scene.

Humarap ako sa mga awtoridad at magsasalita na sana ako para hingin ang warrant of arrest ngunit inunahan na ako ng pulis na nangunguna sa pagdakip.

"She's under arrest for attempted murder and kidnapping. Sa presinto nalang po pag-usapan kasama ng abogado..." he said while showing the warrant in front of me.

I gasped when I read the complainant's surname.

Saldivar.

I saw an another police car and Axton is already inside. Nakaposas din at mukhang walang pakialam sa nangyayari. Hinila si Gaviana palayo at sumunod ako sa kanila habang nanginginig na tinatawagan si Daddy.

"Daddy! G-Gaviana was —" I said hysterically when he answered the call, but he cut me off.

"I know, Avi. Don't worry about everything. Your Mom and I will handle this. For now, stay inside the house..." si Daddy na nagmamadali sa kabilang linya.

Narinig ko ang makina ng sasakyan at sa tingin ko, papunta na rin sa presinto.

Napako ako sa kinatatayuan at nanghina ng makita na pinasok si Gaviana sa sasakyan. Punong-puno ako ng pag-aalala sa kung ano man ang pwedeng mangyari.