Living With Him

Chapter 20

            RANIA has no slightest idea what she is doing at the moment. She's standing outside the prison building where Vent was detained. She's also not sure if its the same person she's looking for as she has a slight memory of him. Though she know she can recognise him if ever she sees him.

She's still doubting herself to why she's doing the thing now but she doesn't understand as well why something is urging her to do it makes her more eager.

Balisa at namamawis ang mga kamay na bumuntong hinga si Rania bago tuluyang pumasok sa loob ng presinto. Kinakabahan man siya sa maaaring mangyari ay wala na siyang pakialam pa. Iyong gusto niya ang gagawin niya at walang makakapigil sa kaniya kahit na may pag-aalinlangan siya, sa totoo lang.

But how does she going to know it if she will not take her chances. Whatever the outcome, she might not be prepared for it but she will try.

Rania finally went inside to see Vent for herself and to feed her curiousity of course. A female police assisted her and guided her to the cell where Vent has been detained for so long.

Naghintay si Rania na lumabas ang lalaki. She was tapping her fingertips on the table while her other hand was rested on her chin.

"Narito na ang bisita mo, boy," ani ng isang warden nang maihatid nito si Vent sa visitor area at kung nasaan nakaupo si Rania na nakapahalumbaba.

"Buhay ka nga talaga," pukaw atensiyon ni Vent kay Rania.

Napaayos ng upo ang dalaga at gulat na nakatingin sa binata. She felt a twitch of pain in her heart when she saw him. She felt pain and anger towards him but she doesn't know why.

"Everyone's been saying that since I got back here.  Maraming tanong sa isipan ko at maraming bagay ang bumabagabag sakin. I don't know you but somehow you seem familiar to me." pinakatitigan ni Rania ang lalaki at sinusuri ang ekspresiyon ng mukha nito bago siya nagsalita ulit.

"I am completely lost and I need answers. I hope you can help me achieve my goals." Wala nang patumpik tumpik na saad ni Rania sa taong kaharap niya sa mga oras na iyon.

"Ano ba ang gusto mong malaman?" direktang tanong naman ng huli.

Bumuntong hinga si Rania at nagsimulang magtanong sa taong iyon. She told him everything what she has in mind. Everything that keeps bugging her since she came back.

The man stared amusingly at her like she was saying something amuseful. Then a smirk appeared on his face.

"I will tell you what I know but first I have a condition to make," he said grinning.

Rania didn't know if she will continue or back out because of the look he has on his face right now. It seems like he was just playing at her but if she backs out she will lose the chance to know things she wants to learn as well.

With determination, Rania looked straight at him and gave her permission to take his condition.

"Only one condition. Spill it out." Determinadong saad ni Rania at sinalubong ang mga titig ng lalaki sa kaniya.

"Fierce. Okay, here's my condition."

Rania was listening all this time as the man speak and after a while her brows began to crossed. But she didn't interrupt him and she was patiently listening to whatever he say and as he say the details of his condition, she cannot help herself but be more interested and got invested with it.

Humalukipkip si Rania habang nakaharap sa lalaki at hindi niya mawari kung ano ba ang totoong nasa isip nito habang nagsasalita. After telling him everything and after listening to his condition, she must say she's convinced with his words. Although she is still doubtful but only a bit.

"Okay, I accept the condition. But i need to make sure that I'll gain something from all of this."

Agreeing to his term and condition, she shake his hand to seal the deal.

"Nice! This should be fun." Vent exclaimed sounding so excited after the handshake.

"Okay! I need to go now. I'll visit again once I get the chance." Paalam ni Rania sa huli.

Hindi naman ito tinutulan ni Vent at hinayaan na makaalis na si Rania bagamat may nakalimutan siyang sabihin dito na matagal na niyang gustong hilingin at masabi sa babae. Kaya naman tinaeag niya muli ito.

"Rania..." he called for her.

Nilingon siya muli ni Rania at nagtatanong na tiningnan siya.

"It's many years late, but i still want to tell you how sorry I am for everything. I regretted it all and once you gain your memory back, I hope you will find it in your heart to really forgive me."

Then he gave her a genuine smile and he turned his back first to go back to his cell. But once again, Rania was left with another confusion and unlike the rest of it, she let it go and just shrugged her shoulders. 'Cause whatever he meant by those words, and why he is apologising to her, she's confident that she will learn about it, eventually, she hopes.

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            NASA balkonahe ng bahay niya si Samson at sumisipsip nang kape habang napapaisip sa maraming bagay. At nahihiwagaan siya sa lahat ng mga nangyayari sapagkat hindi siya napapakali habang maraming iniisip at hindi niya makuha ang mga sagot sa katanungan na meron siya magmula nang malaman at makumpirma niya ang katotohanan tungkol sa asawa niya. Hindi na matahimik ang kalooban ni Samson at giniit na niya sa sarili niya na buhay nga ang kaniyang asawa.

Bagamat hindi niya alam kung pagpapanggap lang ba ang lahat para bumawi sa pananakit na ginawa niya kay Rania noon kaya nga naisipan nitong maghiganti sa kaniya o may iba pa bang dahilan. Ngunit natuto na si Samson sa pagkakamali niya noon na diretso nalang siya nagpadala sa naiisip niya at pinaniwalaan ang gusto niyang paniwalaan. Maaaring paghihiganti ang dahilan kung bakit kunwari ba o hindi siya kilala ng kaniyang asawa, ngunit aalamin ni Samson ang lahat. Masaktan man siya o hindi sa kaniyang mga malalaman ay bahala na. Ang mahalaga sa kaniya ngayon ay ang malaman na buhay ang kaniyang pinakamamahal na asawa at may pag-asa pa para sa kanilang dalawa ulit. Na may pag-asa pa na gawin niya ang tama at ayusin niya lahat dahil hindi pa pala huli sa kaniya ang mga bahay.

There's still hope and there's still chance for him and his wife, Rania. And that's what kept him going and more reason for him not to give up. So he reached for his phone and dialed his assistant's number.

"Do you still have Sison's details and contacts? The private investigator that our investor suggested months ago?" tanong agad ni Samson sa kaniyang assistant nang sagutin nito ang kaniyang tawag.

"Yes, sir. I still have his details and contacts. I can call him after our conversation. Should I reach out to him and offer him a deal?"

Samson shook his head as if his assistant can see him doing so. "No. I need to talk to him personally. Please call and tell him that I want to meet him in my office on Monday afternoon. Thanks!"

He then ended the call after giving the instructions to his assistant. He needs to move fast so he can solve it piece by piece like a puzzle and discover the mysteries so he can unveil the truth completely. That way he knows what to do after.

Hinawakan ni Samson ang kuwintas na suot kung saan nakasabit ang wedding band nilang dalawa ni Rania. Then he clenched it tightly inside his fist and closed his eyes.

"Whatever it is, painful or not, I am taking you back, my dear wife."

He said through air whilst his eyes are closed. He then heaved a sigh before opening his eyes again and took a deep breath. He's sure he's gonna need a lot of patience for it all.