Hush Louder

CHAPTER 20

"WHAT did he say?"

The professor spoke in his usual deep voice while arranging the books on his shelf.

Narito ulit ako sa Villa Vouganville, kalong-kalong si Baby Vougan na may hawak na rhombic dodecahedron Rubik's cube. Ang bata pa ang nagturo sa'kin kung paano 'yon i-spell.

"He actually didn't say anything, Professor." Inalala ko ang gabing kasama ko si Xalvenge. Binanggit ko sa kaniya ang tungkol sa pagyaya ng propesor, ngunit wala siyang isinagot hanggang sa maihatid niya ako sa bahay.

Nagtaka ako dahil napangisi ang propesor.

"Ano'ng meron? Bakit parang happy ka pa?" nakanguso kong tanong habang kinukurot ang pisngi ni Vougan.

"Oh, he'll come for sure." The professor's response was spoken in unshakeable confidence.

"Ha? Paano mo nasabi?" pagduda ko. "I know you can easily decipher a person's thoughts because you're a psych expert. But in Venge's case, hindi mo pa naman siya nakikilala o nakikita."

Professor Xildius ran his index finger over the spines of his books as he continued his explanation. "The attorney hates the Vouganvilles. If this happened months before, tiyak na hinding-hindi iyon magpapakita. But then, you came into the picture."

Naguguluhang niyakap ko si Baby Vougan na parang stuffed toy habang malapit nang matapos ng bata ang hawak na puzzle.

"Professor, hindi ko gets."

Ganito ba ang pinagdadaanan ni Fift araw-araw?

"That night when you and my wife were drinking at Xantiel's mansion. . . It was the attorney who fetched you, didn't he?" Sumandal ang propesor sa istante at inekis ang kaniyang mahabang binti.

"Pagkarating ko sa bahay ni Xanti, naroon si Xalvien na natataranta sa may gate. Hindi makapasok-pasok. Imposibleng ang doktor iyon dahil lahat kaming tatlo ay alam kung paano makapasok sa bahay ng isa't isa."

The professor leaned the back of his head on the shelf, making his Adam's apple portrude even more.

"We all have access to our mansions. They have the keys to Villa Vouganville, too. But in Xanti's case, password ang ginagamit para makapasok sa mansyon niya. Xalvien was acting weird that night because he couldn't get inside. Nang nilapitan ko siya't sinubukang kausapin ay umiwas ito't hindi makatingin sa'kin."

I had no idea that Venge was having that much of a hard time when he fetched me during that night.

"He was sweating cold, uneasy, and having difficulty breathing. The attorney was showing signs of anxiety, yet he still proceeded inside para lang masundo ka."

Xildius smirked once again, accompanied by a haughty scoff. "Reminds me of someone I know, risking his fears just for a girl. . ."

Biglang bumulong sa'kin ang kalong kong bata. "Daddy is talking about himself," Vougan whispered into my ear.

Namula nang kusa ang mga pisngi ko na sinundan ko ng pag-iling. "H-Hindi naman ibig sabihin no'n ay mapapapunta ko ulit si Venge dito."

"Do you know what a grapefruit is, Fiorisce?" kataka-takang banggit ng propesor na hindi ko alam kung ano ang kinalaman sa pinag-uusapan namin ngayon.

"Oo. Nakakain na ako no'n, bakit?"

"It is rich in nutrients and antioxidants, a healthy fruit with lots of benefits," paliwanag niya. "And yet, it can kill people if taken with certain statin drugs that are used to lower cholesterol. Depending on its use, the grapefruit can either be beneficial. . . or deadly."