MONTGOMERY 7 : Free Fall

Ikaapatnaput-apat na Tugtog

Good thing

"Ritzelle..." Clyde almost choked at the mention of his name.

Hinawakan ko ng mahigpit ang kamay niya at dinikit lamang ang noo ko sa pisngi niya.

"The night I volunteered to bring the clothes you bought for her..." hirap na hirap siyang sambitin ang mga salita. "... the... accident..."

Gusto ko itigil ang usapan... ayokong makitang nahihirapan siya. Pero sa likod ng isipan ko, alam kong malaki ang tyansa na ito rin ang makatulong sa kanya. To let it all out...

"... happened..." halos hangin nalamang ang lumabas sa kanya.

His hands were trembling, mahigpit ko itong hinawahan at bumulong sa kanya...

"Shh... it's okay, I am here, everything you say is safe..."

Niyakap ko siya gamit ang isa kong kamay at hinayaang isiksik niya ang sarili niya sa akin.

"The governor's son went for her..."

"I know..." bakas ang galit sa boses ni Adrian. "... that son of a bitch."

I shivered from the words he uttered. Sa masayahin na pamilyang meron sila, their wit and safe environment within their homes... ngayon ko lamang nakita ang galit na ito kay Kuya Adrian, not even from the issue we had between me and Angelo.

Ngayon... parang kaya niyang ibaliktad ang mundo maibalik lang ang nakaraan.

As if he could do something about it.

I didn't even dare look.

"Ibinalita ni Dos lahat sa akin. But... I don't get the part... you got into an accident... at paano siya nakaalis? Mag-isa lang ba siya? Did somebody help her? Did she run away? Did she leave me? Sumama ba siya sa kanya? Ano?! Tell—" pigil hininga ang bawat katagang lumabas sa labi niya.

Galit at frustration lamang ang naririnig ko roon.

"Adrian." Madiin an tawag sa kanya ni Kuya Carl. "You're here to listen... not to interrogate my brother. Nasa pamamahay ka namin baka nakakalimutan mo."

Clyde breathed heavily.

Humiwalay ako sa kanya at hinanap ang mukha niya. Inabot ko iyon at pinaharap sa akin. His eyes were crying nonstop. Durog na durog ang puso ko sa nakitang sakit sa mga mata niya.

I held on his face and smiled subtly. "I am here... I am just here... if ayaw mo ng sabihin, okay lang 'yon, we can just go and rest. Walang pumipilit sayo..." dahan-dahan kong sabi.

He nodded and weakly cried.

"I can..." mahina niyang sabi. "You're here... so I can... I want to do this... for you..."

He licked his lower lip and faced Kuya Adrian again.

With stronger eyes...

"Noong dumating ang taong 'yon... kasama ang mga tauhan niya. They tried getting her by force. I fought..." he gasped as if he remembered the horrors of yesterday.

Pumikit ako at sumandal sa kanya.

He fought... I know when he say he did... he fought... hard.

"I fought with my life... but they outnumbered me. I was hit... and shot on my leg..." Hinang hina niyang sabi. "The only thing I can think of is..."

Wala kaming marinig na iba kung hindi ang mabibigat na hininga ni Kuya Adrian at ni Clyde.

I want to take him away from here so bad...

"...to run... we should run..." parang may lubid na mapapatid nang sambitin niya ang huling salitang lumabas sa bibig niya.

Running... is a sign of defeat for him.