Unveiling Identity

2. Unsolved Mystery

Yey! After a few months of hiatus, I'm back. Happy reading!

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Binitawan ko ang hawak kong puting lobo at hinayaan ko itong humalo sa iba pang mga lobo na malayang lumilipad sa kalangitan.

You're free now, Papa.

Ibinalik ko ang tingin ko sa hukay na pinaglibingan ni Papa. Sinimulan na nilang tabunan ito ng lupa. Bahagya akong napatingin sa paligid ko. Unti-unti nang nag-aalisan ang mga tao pagkatapos nila magpaalam kay Mama. Medyo malayo ang agwat ko sa kanila kaya hindi ko marinig ang kanilang pinag-uusapan. Gusto ko 'mang lumapit kay Mama para sabay kaming magluksa ay hindi ko magawa.

Sleeping in prison for a week feels like I really did a crime. Seeing my Papa's peers looking at me with disgust made me question myself, did I really kill him? When I talk with Atty. Torres, the only thing I'm sure of is that I did not kill Papa. Now, I'm not even sure of it.

I feel guilty.

I went out of prison because they said that there's not enough evidence? I'm not sure. Did Mama pull some strings? But I feel some guilt in my gut. I should not feel guilty. Feeling the guilt feels like I'm admitting someone's crime. Even myself can't tell if I'm innocent, but Atty. Torres said that I am — innocent until proven guilty. And now I fucking feel guilty. Should I surrender myself?

Natulos ako sa kinatatayuan ko nang mapansin kong nakatingin sakin si Mama at si Bailey– the youngest Choi. Riley and Bailey barely get along with each other. Bailey is in his third year college studying in a prestigious university in the UK while Riley graduated three years ago from the same university and he went back to the Philippines to help Papa manage the company.

Mapait akong ngumiti sa kanila. Hindi natanggal ang tingin sakin ni Mama na nagpalamig sa akin. Halos mabuwal ako sa kinatatayuan ko nang nagsimulang humakbang papalapit sakin si Bailey.

He's wearing a white long sleeve button-down shirt paired with jeans and sneakers. His dark hair was brushed into one side and this hairstyle made his very-asian eyes to be more defined. Bailey's features are too sharp for his age– and if it weren't because of his eyes, he wouldn't look asian.

"Ate, why are you not with us?" he said with an accent habang lumilinga-linga. "And where's Kuya Riley?"

I shrugged at his last question. The last time I saw him was yesterday when he got me out of prison. I did not see him today at Papa's burial. Nasan kaya siya?

"I saw Riley yesterday but we did not talk much," I said. "Are you not mad at me?" halos pabulong kong tanong sa kaniya.

His small eyes found mine. His look is making me nervous. "No. You did not kill Papa, so why would I be mad at you?" he answered without breaking a stare– like he's examining my every move. It's making me uncomfortable.

Napatango ako sa sinabi niya. Right! I did not kill Papa. But why do I feel like I did?

Niyaya niya ako na lumapit kay Mama kaya sumunod naman ako sa kanya. Bawat hakbang ko papalapit ay tila pabigat ng pabigat. Umiinit ang paligid ng mata ko habang palapit na ako kay Mama. Parang gusto ko lumuhod sa harapan niya sa at humingi ng tawad ngunit alam ko naman sa sarili ko na wala akong kasalanan– ito rin ang sinabi sakin ni Atty. Torres.

"Ellen, anak," tawag sakin ni Mama nang makalapit ako sa kanya. Hinaplos niya ako sa braso at unti-unting nagtaasan ang balahibo ko roon. "Wala kang kasalanan."

Tumango lang ako sa kanya at hindi ko na napigilan ang kumawalang luha ko. Mama hugged me and patted my back, while Bailey is just looking at us.

Isinabay na ako nina Mama sa sasakyan pauwi sa mansyon ngunit iniisip ko palang na uuwi ako dito ay mabigat na sa pakiramdam ko.