Justice

29

Lia's Point of View

Trevor never let go of my hand. We joined two games from two different game tables.

Halos lahat ng mga tao dito sa loob ay nakasuot ng mamahaling mga damit, alahas at may dalang napakaraming casino chips. Miski yata ang suot ng mga waiter dito ay mas mahal pa sa damit na isinusuot ko sa trabaho.

Sobrang fashionable ng buong lugar at makulay ang bawat sulok ng casino.

"You must be new here?" biglang tanong ng isang matandang lalaki sa likuran ko.

Humarap ako at ngumiti pero hindi nagsalita. Ang sabi ni Trevor kanina, wag akong magsalita hangga't maaari.

Pabor naman sa akin yon. Ayoko rin namang makihalubilo ng matagal sa kanila.

"Let's go, honey?" Trevor wraps his arm around my waist before we left the old guy.

Naupo kami sa harap ng counter bar. Then a bartender serves us a shot of drink. Hindi ko kinuha ang maliit na baso sa aking harapan. But I noticed that Trevor took it. And the small piece of paper didn't escape from my sight. He is an undercover, too. I looked at the bartender before drinking the liquid from the shot glass.

Tubig lang ito.

Malapit na kayang magpakita ang mga kasama nila Trevor? Hindi ko alam kung ilan pa sa mga nandito ang naka-undercover din. Wala pang signal na ibinibigay sa akin si Trevor. Meron nga ba?

"Hi, miss." I looked at the guy on my side when he speaks. "How could I not notice someone like you? Are you---"

"Oh, I am with my guy." I said, using the tone and voice of the cartoon character. I saw how disappointed he is. I turned my face to Trevor and saw that he is pissed off.

"Oh, really? Can you show us some proof?" the old man from earlier showed up.

Anong ibig niyang sabihin? I looked at Trevor and saw that he is really annoyed. Tumayo ako at hinawakan ang kamay niya. Baka bigla niyang sapakin yung dalawang lalaki at masira ang mission nila dahil sa akin.

I captured his eyes and smiled at him, trying to calm him down.

"If you have time, call me. Or just prove that you are a couple." the guy from my side said.

"Oh, we are busy with our honeymoon. Sorry." I energetically said.

"But I don't believe you. Prove me, then." the old man said.

I looked at Trevor when he stood up and was about to fight those guys. I wrapped my hand on his necktie and grabbed it, pulling him towards me. I closed my eyes just even before I kissed him.

It didn't last long as everything strated to mess up. The agents came and made everyone fall on their knees as they are searching for the whole area.

Trevor covered me as we escaped from the back door and went up to the water park. I can feel my hands shaking in fear.

Ilang minuto ang lumipas bago kami makarating sa sasakyan niya. I held my chest as I tried to catch up with my breath.

"Are you alright?" nag-aalala niyang tanong. Wala sa sariling tumango ako.

"Ang astig non..." I said out of nowhere before I smiled. "Ang cool niyo, Trevor."

Humarap ako sa kanya at nakita na nakangiti siya. Biglang kumunot ang noo ko dahil sa expression ng mukha niya.

"Bakit ka nga pala umalis? Hindi ka kasama sa manghuhuli sa kanila?" nagtataka kong tanong.

Umiling siya bago nagsalita.

"I can't do that if I am with you." he answered. Dahil sakin? "Makulit ka at kapag sinabi kong hindi ka pwedeng sumama sa loob, siguradong ipagpipilitan mo lang na makita ang mangyayari don. So I chose to stay with you here, so that I can be sure that you are safe with me." he eplained.

I was temporarily speechless. He is really trying to protect me all this time. I don't know how much I can thank him.

Hindi na ako nagsalita pa dahil sinimulan ko nang i-ayos ang news coverage ko. One of Trevor's colleague sent me the whole video of us from the start. Sabay namin itong pinanood at nailang pa ako dahil sa dalawang beses na nangyaring kiss don. I edited the video and after that, I set the camera that Director Gab gave me earlier.

I removed the make up that Trevor's cousin gave me, I can't let anyone see me like this. And I know that she understands.

Mabilis kong ibinalita ang totoo at nakuhanan pa sa pagbabalita ko ang saktong oras nang paglabas ng mga pulis kasama ang mga hinuli nila sa casino. Ang dami nila!

Nang matapos na ang shoot ng news, ipinadala ko kaagad ito sa GKN. Alam kong gagawin ni Director Gab ang lahat para maipalabas ito. Besides, may kakampi siya sa mga staffs kaya sure akong maipapalabas ito.

Umalis na rin kami ni Trevor pagkatapos. Dumaan kami sa isang drive thru ng fast food chain at kumain sa cliff na hindi naman maganda sa tanghali.

Kumain ako na para bang may tigre sa tyan ko. Nakakagutom ang ginawa namin. Hindi ko na inisip kung puno pa ang bibig ko, susubo na naman ako ng iba.

I can feel the tiredness all over my body. This always happen whenever my fear is taking over me.

I looked at Trevor who is silently eating. I tried to chuckle but the food in my mouth made it sound disgusting. I just saw a bread crumb on the side of his lips.

I pointed the crumb on the side of my lips, trying to tell him that he has it on his face since I couldn't speak. I took a tissue to give it to him but when I looked at him, I just saw him coming closer until his lips touches the side of mine!

I stiffed with his action and it took us seconds before he get back properly on his seat. Bigla akong natauhan at nilunok na kaagad ang mga pagkain sa bibig ko. Uminom ako ng tubig bago tumingin sa kanya ng masama.

"Hoy, Trevor!" naiinis kong tawag sa kanya.

"What?" natatawa niyang tanong.

"Aish! Diba sabi ko sayo wag mo nang gagawin yon!"

"You did it earlier, too." he excused.

"Pero emergency yon!" I defended.

"You pointed your lips, Malia. I thought you want me to kiss you." he said while smiling like he really mean it.

"May dumi ka-- Aish!" hindi ko na itinuloy ang sinasabi ko dahil sa inis at hiya. Namumula na naman ang mukha ko ngayon.

"Bahala ka sa buhay mo!" sabi ko sa kanya. " Wag mo na uulitin yon sasapakin na talaga kita!" banta ko sa kanya. He shook his head while smiling.

"Mahina ka lang naman siguro manapak. Pwede ko na bang ulitin yon---"

"Aish! Isa!" I tried to throw my fist to him but he just laughs at me.

This is the first time I heard him laughing. And it is like a music to my ears.

I might really be getting crazy.

Nakakainis talaga.

I shook my head in disbelief and just laugh along with him.

***
resacoya
***
Happy reading!