Chasing Sanity (Chase Series #1)

Chapter 36

Hindi napigilan ni Charlie na magbuntonghininga nang madatnan niya sa kwarto si Kelly. She was sitting on the floor in a fetal position with a phone on her right hand and a half empty bottle of wine on the other. Mukhang bagong ligo pa ito dahil bathrobe lang ang saplot niya sa katawan niya't basa pa ang buhok niyang nakaipit na sa isang hairclaw pin. She was scrolling on her social media feed again while she was drinking wine.

"I thought you'd deactivate." He walked in the room. "Yet here you are, reading comments again."

Minsan pang tumungga si Kelly at lumagok ng maraming wine bago inilapag sa sahig ang bote at humarap sa kaniya. "Hindi ko mapigilan, eh," she coldly said before she wiped her mouth with her hand.

He sighed.

"Ang dami pa ring comments tungkol sa 'kin. Iyong iba nga do'n... hindi ko na alam kung bashing pa ba o compliments na. Kasi sinasabi nila ang ganda ko daw, tapos ang puti at ang kinis raw ng balat ko. At saka kahit hindi daw ako 'yong nasa video, sigurado na daw sila na magaling ako sa jugjugan. Ang sarap ko daw siguro. Gusto nila akong tikman." She suddenly chuckled.

He briefly shut his eyes as he put his hands on his hips. Ayaw niyang magsalita na muna dahil hindi niya gusto ang mga naririnig niya.

"Siguro kung nagpopokpok lang ako ngayon, ang dami ko ng parokyano, 'no—"

"Kelly," he cut her off with his stern voice. "I know that sex work is work. But please, huwag mo naman sanang gawing joke. Hindi nakakatawa."

"Hindi naman ako nagjo-joke." She grabbed the bottle again and drank all the remaining wine. "Nagsasabi lang ako ng totoo."

He took a deep breath. Marami sana siyang gustong sabihin pero minamabuti niyang huwag muna dahil baka hindi naman ito makatulong sa sitwasyon nila ngayon. Baka nga masaktan lang ang asawa niya kung sasabihin niya ang laman ng isip niya.

She finally moved and decided to stand up.

"Kelly," he called as soon as she lazily walked past him.

Nilingon siya nito.

"Can I ask you a favor?"

"Ano?"

"Can you please refrain from being chronically online if you can't really deactivate your accounts?" he calmly asked. "I don't mean to control you but I just want to protect your mental health. Hindi makakabuti sa 'yo, pati na rin sa ating lahat kung patuloy nating—"

She suddenly cut him off mid-sentence, "Okay."

Wala na siyang nasabi nang bigla niyang marinig ang malamig na tinig nito. He just watched her as she went to her dresser table. Pinanood niya kung paano dahan-dahang kinuha ni Kelly ang paddle brush niya mula sa lalagyan nito.

Akala niya'y ilulugay na ni Kelly ang buhok nito para sa wakas ay masuklayan na niya pero hindi iyon nangyari. Sa halip, tila napako ang tingin nito sa salamin na naging dahilan para hindi ito gumalaw. She had no expression as she stared at her own reflection, but he knew she wasn't okay.

Minabuti niyang lapitan siya.

"Love," he softly called as he stood behind her. He gently held both of her arms. "Tutuparin ko ang mga pinangako ko sa 'yo."

Napapikit si Kelly.

"Alam mo, nag-file na kami ng libel cases sa ilang individuals na nanirang-puri sa 'yo, sa 'kin at sa law firm. Tapos pinapa-track na rin namin kung sino ang nasa likod ng paggawa at pagpapakalat ng deep fake na 'yon. At kapag nahanap namin siya, sisiguraduhin kong pagbabayaran niya ang ginawa niya sa 'yo," he informed her.

Mabilis na dumilat si Kelly. She turned around and faced him. Nagtagpo agad ang mga mata nila. "Kailangan pa ba 'yon?" she hesitantly asked.

"Yes."