Justice

23

Trevor's Point of View

Because of what happened that night, Malia avoided me.

I tried to take Malia to her house the night after I brought her to the cliff. But she refused to come with me and took the bus instead.

I tried calling her yesterday but she did not even answer the phone. She hadn't been on any news reporting ever since the article about her showed up. And I know that she isn't busy at all.

She is  the number one topic on the bulletin board in social media. I just wanted to know if she is fine. But she avoided me, of all time.

I am just looking at the building where she is working. Should I come in? Just like the first time I met her. Should I come and tell her to go with me?

Pwede kong sabihin na may irereport ulit siya kagaya ng dati, but I don't know why I just can't. I sighed and leaned on my seat.

Suddenly, my eyes caught something strange. I looked at a green purse under the passenger's seat.

I stretched my arm to get it and take a look at the unfamiliar purse. Why is this here?

I bet, this is Malia's. Siya lang naman ang sumasakay sa passenger's seat.

Hindi ko ito napansin dahil ang bag lang niya ang nakita kong dala niya nug gabi na dinala ko siya sa bahay niya.

Suddenly, a victory smile flashed on me.

Now, I have the reason to meet her. Out of curiousity, binuksan ko ang purse niya, which is not really my job. She might get angry if I see something I shouldn't.

But she doesn't have to know.

I opened it and saw her picture with her son. I never saw the smile on her face like at this picture. I took the picture to take a look closely, but something fell off.

Something behind the picture is hiding on the slot on the purse. It fell on my lap so I had no choice but to get it. Hindi ko sana titingnan ang nakatuping papel pero natigilan ako ng makita ang seal dito.

I am familiar with the seal on the paper card so I opened it.

My serious composure suddenly faded when I saw a young man in the photo. A very familiar picture of the boy.

Why...

Where did she get this picture?

Theories and ideas formed up in my head. 

Ito ba ang ama ng anak niya? No way. This can't be happening.

Bakit sa dinami-rami ng tao, siya pa talaga? Anger rose up in my head as I felt my hands trembling with it.

I am the young boy in the photo, my face is on it. But I am sure that this is not me but Travis. I clenched my fist after I folded the photo card and put it back to the purse.

I drove back to my unit and angrily walked as fast as I can. Pumasok kaagad ako sa kwarto ni Travis. I saw him sleeping peacefully so I went straight to his cabinet.

I took all his clothes out of it and threw them on his bed. He groaned when one piece of cloth hanger hits him.

Mas lalo akong nagalit dahil parang wala man lamang ito sa kanya. I walked towards him and grabbed his collar. Nagising siya pero parang wala pa siya sa sarili niya. I punched him as hard as I could.

Tuluyan na siyang nagising at naiinis siya sa akin.

"Ano bang problema mo, Trevor?" he angrily asked. The side of his lips has a mark of blood that he didn't bother to swipe off.