DIREFUL SANITARIUM - [COMPLETED]

Part 34

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'Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.' -- Confucius

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Hunter's P.O.V

"What a pleasant surprise, Mister Graves!" salubong niya sa akin kahit na wala naman sa mukha niya ang pagkagulat.

"I decided not to call you. Besides, alam ko namang available ka't nandito lang sa bahay mo dahil wala kang trabaho ngayon," ani kong nakataas pa ang isang sulok ng labi ko. "Hindi mo man lang ba ako papapasukin? What are friends for kung hindi tayo mag-iinom saglit? May dala ako," dagdag ko pa na itinaas ang hawak kong paper bag na may lamang alak.

"Who told you that we are friends?" Lumalim ang linya sa noo niya.

"Oh come on." Ngumiti ako ng makahulugan na ikinailing niya saka niluwangan ang pinto.

"Why are you here? Something happened?" tanong niya nang tumuloy kami sa loob at dumiretso sa hagdan kung saan matatagpuan ang private lounge area nila, master bedroom at ang mismong opisina niya.

His house almost hasn't changed. Halos mag-iisang taon na nung huli kong bisita rito pero halos walang pagbabago o renovation. I'm still impressed with the facade of the house, but I'm more pleased with the interior. It really suits him.

"No. I wanna hang out with you," sagot ko.

He chuckled. "You can't fool me, Hunter. You haven't changed a bit. You're still the same spoiled brat that I knew twelve years ago. Grow up, young man."

"I did grow up. I'm a man now."

"But do it in a mature way, will you?"

"I am," pilit ko.

He sighed. "Seriously, what brings you here?" tanong niya ulit nang buksan niya ang isang kwarto kung saan kami pumasok. It's his home-office.

"I wanna talk to you about something," sabi ko.

"About him?"

Agad akong natigilan sa paghakbang nang magsalita siya.

"Actually I'm curious about the two of you. There is something that I can't figure out yet," dagdag pa niya bago ako senyasan na maupo sa sopa. Ipinatong ko rin ang bitbit ko sa mesang kaharap ko.

"What."

Tinungo niya ang mini-bar at kumuha ng dalawang glencairn whisky glass saka pumuwesto sa kabilang panig ng mesa. In-unbox rin agad niya ang dinala ko at binuksan para salinan ng alak ang baso namin.

"Why did you do that?" tanong niya nang magkalansing ang baso namin.

"What do you mean?" naguguluhang tanong ko bago sumimsim mula sa baso na hawak ko.

"Let me change my question, then. Why did you made him do that?"

We locked eyes. Mukhang alam ko na kung anong ibig niyang sabihin.

"I did that because it was for the best for him. I'm trying to help him. Ayokong habang-buhay siyang makulong sa isang pagkakasala na dulot ng nakaraan niya. And that helped me too. I thought I explained that to you already."

"For the best, you say? How did that helped him in any way? You made him kill a person again," mariing wika niya.

"I know. I shouldn't have done that. But look, my goal here is to stop him killing people for money and that's the easiest way to--"

"By exploiting him to further your own interests as well?"

"At least now it's over. My plan worked and he also killed a criminal. I'm trying to help him change. That's the right thing to do. He has a chance to make a full recovery."