The Other 'I'

21 : Who

"If Terrence happen to be there, then what do we do?" tanong ni Mike matapos maisara ni Cali ang compartment ng sasakyan para sa ilang pagkaing dala namin. Seryoso ang ekspresyon niya habang nakatayo sa tabi nito.

Mula sa liwanag ng lamppost sa gate na naro'n sa gate ng building apartment ko'y nagkatinginan kaming apat. Panandaliang nilamon ng katahimikan at malamig na hangin ang dilim ng gabi. Kapwa man nakasuot ng jacket ay hindi pa rin maipagkakaila ang lamig sa sistema.

Cali shrugged with no evident expression on his face. "I don't know, man. Seize him? Squeeze out the truth from him? Make him confess with his crimes or else..." He threw me a sly look, a sinister smile creeping on the side of his lips. "His girl won't get it easy."

Meeting his gaze, I pointed a sharp look at him. Raising one corner of my lips to mirror his smile. "Oh, I would love to see you try."

Malakas ang naging halakhak ni Cali habang pinagmamasdan ako kaakibat ng dilim, namamangha. Isinandig niya ang magkabilang palad sa likod ng hatchback.

"You are becoming feisty, Eunice. How interesting. Malapit ko nang isiping may kinalaman ka sa mga krimen o posibleng may sabwatan kayo ni Terrence." He was still laughing then but I could see the guarded and observant look on his eyes. That or maybe I'd been putting so much thought about things lately.

"Be extra wary, then. You wouldn't know for sure if this trip will lead you to your deaths for having done a fatal mistake of bringing me with you." I gave him another smirk and tried to reciprocate his joke sarcastically, almost sounding like the moody bitch who was leaning her back on the front door while watching us.

Natahimik siya ngunit ang parehong tingin ay nanatili, hindi natitinag.

"Bitch, you're starting to give me the willies. Can't we just hop in the damn car and get going? The trip is a twelve fucking hour drive," iritableng ani Dina bago umahon sa pagsandal para magtungo sa front seat. "Let's go!" Pabalya niyang isinara ang pinto niyon matapos makasakay.

Michael went to the driver's seat after giving me and Cali a long, watchful look. Nagtungo na rin ako sa backseat, ang tingin ko'y naiiwan pa sa kaibigan nitong nanatiling nakasindig sa likod ng sasakyan, hindi nagbibitiw ng tingin sa akin.

We'd decided to drive during the night so we would arrive there by daylight. Hindi namin sinabi sa mga magulang ni Terrence ang tungkol dito dahil na rin sa suspetsang maaaring tinatago nila ang anak. We all agreed to talk to them and ask for their permission if we could stay at the rest house once we clear the place out—for at least a night to rest before we drove back.

It was a reckless and impulsive move, I'd have to admit. Ni wala nga kaming plano kung ano ang maaari naming abutan doon. Ngunit lingid sa kaalaman at motibo ng mga kasama ko, wala akong ibang balak sa pagsama kundi ang pag-asang mahahanap at makakausap ko si Terrence—dahil ngayon, sigurado na ako sa desisyon ko. After confirming if he was okay and everything was just a misunderstanding, I would try to convince him to go back and do the right thing. I couldn't be sure if I would be of any help but I promise to not let him do all that alone—like how he never left my side before.

Regardless if he wasn't the Terrence we all know of—a psychopath or a serial killer or whatever the hell he was supposed to be. Because he would always going to be Terrence for me despite everything that happened between us.

I started feeling different when Cedric manifested. But it was only after my accident that I actually realized how I've been holding onto Terrence because of the thought of loving him. Yes, I still love him but I was certain that it wasn't in the same way anymore.

I was confused then with my feelings that was why I kept running back to him. I had mistaken the affection I have for him to be a romantic one because that was what I had been used to. But it wasn't like that anymore. I still care for him and that was the sole reason why I went here. I didn't care if Cali just wanted to have a road trip or fun for himself.