The Unseen Trial [Ace Lucifer's Series Three] ON GOING

Forty Sixth Trial

PRESENT TIME 

"Bryson... bakit... anong nangyari? Bakit wala akong makita?"

Pare-parehong nagkatinginan si Bryson, Trisha, at Macey. Candace's grip on his hand tightened. It was not a grip of anger or anything awful, but fear. A confusion, and a query grip that fishing information out of him, in an instant possible way.

"Candace..." he called unsure, if he's really hearing things right. Kahit siya ay confused, katulad ni Macey at Trisha. Hindi nakapagsalita ang mga ito. Nakatingin lang kay Candace, at malalim ang gitla ng noo.

"Bryson." Candace answered, hopeful but frightened. Pumisil muli ang kamay nito sa kaniya. Ang mga mata ni Candace ay nakapako sa kisame, pero hindi tulad noong mga nakaraan, at simula nang magising ito mula sa aksidente, it's blining repeatedly. Paulit-ulit na para bang sinusubukan nitong gumana ang paningin.

Napatakip sa bibig si Trisha. Para bang napagtanto o ano...para bang may naintindihan habang nakatingin kay Candace. Worry's evident on her eyes as she looks at her friend.

"C-candace..." Macey can't even say a word. Parang kahapon ay tinakasan pa sila nito dahil sa galit sa kanila, pero ngayon. Anong nangyari? "H-how do you feel?" she asked instead.

Macey looked at Bryson, questioningly. Weighing what to say dahil hindi niya alam kung anong dapat sabihin. Obviously, Candace doesn't remember a thing... at hindi nila alam, hindi niya alam kung hanggang saan ang nakalimutan at saan huminto ang ala-ala nito... but obviously, it was too far away from what happened to her, and to their break up, months ago.

"Anong nangyari...nasaan ako? Bryson... Macey?" Candace asked once again.

"Candace, anong naalala mo? Anong... anong huli mong naalala?" Macey asked.

Nanapikit si Candace. Bryson's grip on her tightened this time. "Candace..." tawag niya. "Do you remember what happened?"

Umiling ito. "Hindi ko alam..." walang emosyon ang boses nito pero halata ang kaguluhan sa isip dahil sa pangyayari. "Anong nangyari? Nasaan ako? Bakit... bakit wala akong makita?"

Napapikit si Trisha. "Robot, anong huli mong naalala?" tanong nito.

"Anong nangyari? Bakit ayaw niyong sabihin?!" Tumaas na ang boses nito, at nagsimula ng manginig. "Bryson, sagutin mo ako. Bakit?"

Napalunok siya. "You... got in a car accident, Candace." Matipid na sagot niya. It was so sudden that he thought of taking advantage of the situation. Para bang may nagbukas sa isip niya bigla... na kahit hindi dapat gawin ay kusa na niyang naisip, and the urge to do it was too strong.

"Robot—"

"Kailan? Anong aksidente? Bakit...wala akong maalala?" tanong nitong muli.

"You got into an accident, months ago, Candace. You were in coma, and some... some of your memories are..." natigilan siya sandali. Hindi makapaniwalang tumingin si Trisha at Macey sa biglaang sinabi niya. Hindi niya pinansin ang dalawa. "It will return soon... it will, and your eyes are affected too, but your doctor assured us that... once you wake up... they can operate on you—"

"H-hindi... a-anong... wala akong matandaan!" Candace said, starting to get hysterical. "Anong nangyari... bakit?"

Bryson knew that he has to say everything, that he has to confess, but he will take advantage of the situation of Candace right now. She... she forgot everything. Magmula ng break-up, nakalimutan nito, and he will take it as an advantage to take Candace away from the pain. Marapat lang na gawin dahil kung maalala ni Candace ang lahat... masasaktan lang ito.