Wreaking Havoc

trīgintā trēs

I still couldn't wrap my head around that someone died just a couple of hours ago because of Felix. Lola said I shouldn't be dahil nag-assign naman na siya ng security detail kay Eli... but even then, I still feel like we weren't safe just as long as he's roaming around the streets stealing cars to get away from police. He'd just do anything recklessly just so he wouldn't get caught...

Or he probably just wants the chase... I don't even know anymore.

"Ate," Isla called kaya mabilis akong lumapit. My sister had to drop out of school and focus on therapy after she got out of jail. I'd probably let her transfer schools if she'd asked me to because I saw how she was bullied online by most of her schoolmates. Ayaw ko namang pumasok siya ulit do'n sa school na 'yun just to get hurt all over again... I was already wrong by not even trying to listen to her, I won't let anyone hurt her again. "Lola asked if we could give Kuya Eli a bulletproof car?"

I smiled a little and nodded. Eli wouldn't probably agree with his much security, but I'd probably just convince him more... I can never risk him going out there as if making yourself a free target. We had enough to keep him safe, it'd be really dumb of me already to just waste away that many resources as if it was the last moment of my life.

That's not heroic anymore... that's a suicide mission.

"Do you have a session today?" I asked Isla as I was helping her flatten the chocolate modeling clay. Her psychiatrist advised her to find a hobby na kailangan niyang mag-focus talaga... not that she was advising for Isla to not address the problems, pero mabuti rin daw kung magkaro'n siya ng diversion dahil baka mas lumala 'yung kondisyon ni Isla if she'd let herself wallow with the pain of her traumas—from the words she received from the public to witnessing Mary's death. I know it'd take long for Isla to be able to cope... but I'd never get tired. She did that to save me... I would do everything now to protect them.

Isla nodded, "Bake ko lang po 'tong cake tapos papahatid na lang po ako sa driver."

I frowned, "Ayaw mo bang ihatid na lang kita?"

Natawa naman siya habang sini-sift 'yung dry ingredients, "Wala po ba kayong pasok sa hospital?"

I shook my head and walked towards the pantry para kumuha ng eggs bago 'yun inilagay sa counter, "Mamaya pa. Kakauwi ko nga lang , pinapaalis mo na ako agad?"

Isla laughed.

"Sorry nakalimutan ko po," sambit niya. "Pupunta po ba si kuya Eli mamaya?"

I checked my wristwatch, "Sabi niya he'll try to come," I uttered with a smile. Ever since Isla busied herself with baking cakes, naging habit na talaga niya na ipatikim sa'min ni Eli 'yung cakes na bine-bake niya. I was just really grateful for Eli kasi alam kong sobrang busy niya aside from attending on Isla's case dahil siya 'yung kinausap ng pamilya ng biktima bago nila kinausap 'yung Prosecutor. It should've been the Prosecutor in the first place that they'd come to, but they didn't know if they could trust him at first kaya lumapit muna sila kay Eli... as Mary's father and since related pa rin naman sa acquittal ni Isla 'yung kaso. 

Isla smiled.

"Can I ask something?"

"Hmm?" I turned my head and looked at Isla who was busy pouring the cake batter in the cake pan bago lumingon sa'kin.

"Are you and Kuya Eli together again?"

Biglang nanlaki ang mata ko sa tanong ni Isla na kamuntikan ko pang mabitiwan 'yung hawak kong bowl if not for Isla's quick reflex to hold its base. 

"What's with that question?"

Isla shrugged her shoulders, "I'm just really curious," she uttered. "Or like are you both just going to get married randomly?"