Corpse Mistress (A NOVELLA)

V

"Trinity, ayos ka lang ba? Mag-iisang oras ka na riyan sa banyo?" Napalingon ako sa pinto ng banyo ng marinig ko ang boses ni Marshall. Hindi siya nagkakamali sa sinabi niyang mag-iisang oras na nga ako rito sa banyo. Nakasuot na rin ako ng bra. Paano ba naman kasi nilamon na ako ng kahihiyan ko. Matapos ang pangyayaring 'yon wala na talaga akong mukhang maihaharap sa kanila.

"Trinity, please open this door. We're already worried." Pagkalabog naman ni Samuel sa pinto.

I rolled my eyes out of annoyance. "I'm fine. Can you guys just leave me alone first!?" I exclaimed.

"Hindi mo ba kakainin itong basag na itlog ko, sunog na talong ni Marshall at itong mga gulay na hinain ni Hullian?" may pagkasarkastikong tanong ni Samuel.

Medyo umusok ulit ang tainga ko sa inis.

"Kakainin ko 'yan mamaya! Iwanan niyo na lang d'yan at lumabas na kayo!" bulyaw ko rito.

"You need to eat, Trinity. You need to regain your strength," wika naman ni Hullian.

Suddenly, the surroundings devoured by silence. I feel like they're already gone. I can't here any murmur of them anymore. Maybe, they're gone. I'd better check it this time.

Dahan-dahan akong tumayo saka kabadong hinawakan ang lock ng sliding door na ito sa banyo. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako kabado, para akong nagtatago sa isang killer.

I leaned my ear on the door first, trying to observe if my ears can hear a sound from behind but as what I have said, it was a deafening silence.

I lowered the lock and it echoed inside the comfort room. I slowly opened the door. My eyes followed my footsteps on the floor until I am able to got out. I turned around to close the sliding door.

Nang humarap ako sa direksyon ng kama ko kung saan nakapatong ang mga pagkain, ay nanlaki ang mga mata ko. My body froze and a sudden shiver held my body.

Marshall, Samuel and Hullian is still in here, staring at me in awe.

They all exchange looks. At para bang nangungusap ang mga titig ng tatlo sa isa't isa.

"I told all of you to get out!" I yelled at them.

"W-were about to leave and you suddenly get out from the comfort room. We're sorry, Trinity," Hullian explained and apologized.

I turned around attempted to get inside of the comfort room again and lock myself in there until they leave me alone but another second hand embarrassment made me ashamed of my existence.

I hit my forehead on the door. I close my eyes as I groaned in pain. I also heard the three of them said my name in obvious concern.

That moment it hit some flashes of memories came into my mind.

I was in a car singing along to the music of a not so old song, I can't remember what the title of the song is but I know it was already there at the tip of my tongue. I was happily singing with someone who is driving the car. Laughters filled inside the car. His voice sounds like an angel. It's so precious.

I know that moment, he was my husband.

The only thing that's weird is his identity that's still unclear to me. The image of him in my memory is still blurry. Until I heard a loud honking of a vehicle. And our memory faded.

"Trinity!"

"Trinity!"

"Trinity!"

I turned to them and opened my eyes while I was holding my forehead. The moment I opened my eyes, I whispered to my self, that the first man that this eyes would take glance is the image of my husband.

I slowly opened it with the hopes of my fate. The moment I opened it, I don't know what would I feel because I equally saw them in my eyes.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit tatlo pa rin sila. Pinaglalaruan ba ako ng tadhana?

"Trinity, are you okay? Anong nangyari?" Samuel asked. Bakas sa mukha nito ang sobrang pag-aalala.

"Anong problema? Bakit ika'y 'di mapakali?" wika naman ni Marshall at bakas din ang pag-aalala sa mukha nito at akmang hahawakan ang noo ko ngunit pinigilan ito ni Hullian sa pamamagitan ng paghawak nito sa kamay ni Marshall. Nakakunot noo namang tinitigan ito ni Marshall. Nagtaka rin ako kung anong ginagawa niya. Sandali, nagseselos din ba siya?

"Let Trinity rest," he said and I was a bit enthralled with what he said. Akala ko ay kukulitin niya rin ako sa nangyari.

Hullian gazed at me with some unknown intent. I honestly felt weirdness in him.

"We should go out now," Hullian added. Binaba niya ang kamay ni Marshall at saka walang pakundangang dumiretso sa pintuan. Sinundan naman ito ng titig ng dalawa, na may pag-aalinlangan pang lumabas sa kwarto.

Hullian signaled the two to get out using his head. Nagtinginan muna si Marshall at Samuel at sumunod na rin kay Hullian sa pintuan. Bago sila lumabas ay napalingon muna ito sa akin, na hanggang ngayon ay walang imik pa rin na nakatayo rito.

Before they close the door, I get back to my senses. Agad akong tumakbo papunta sa pintuan at hinabol silang tatlo.

"Sandali!" Hinawakan ko ang doorknob. Kaya napahinto silang tatlo at sabay-sabay na napatingin sa akin.

"I need to tell something," I said seriously, they all gazed at each other confusedly.

"Ano 'yon?" sabay-sabay nilang tanong. I was a bit tense when I heard their voice. It lingers into my ears and all I can hear from their voice is the voice of my husband in the car. Mas lalo pa akong naguluhan.

"Trinity?" tawag ulit nila sa akin. Bumalik ulit ang animo ko

"I know this really hard for all of us. So, I-I decided to give each of you some time," nauutal na wika ko. I was a little bit nervous with this idea but I guess this will help.

"What do you mean?" Hullian asked.

"Since, I can't handle the three of you well...at para maiwasan na rin ang pagtatalo ninyo." I took a deep breath before I continued, "I'll give you a week to prove yourselves to me." They exchange looks again.

"I guess if I spend time to only focus to know each one of you, it will help me remember and identify who my real husband is."

I know this is too risky because I might fall in love with a wrong one but I'd rather try my fate than letting myself wonder and longed for that vow of love.