Beneath Those Glasses

Chapter 28

Khiane Courtney's POV

Nang marinig ang sirena ng mga Pulis ay kinabahan ako. Nasa harap ko man si Aly ay iniwan ko siya roon kasama si Ash at Rae na nagtatalo, natigilan lang nang marinig ang narinig ko.

There, I started to believe that what Rae said was true. Hindi sana ako maniniwala, e... kasi hindi magagawa sa akin ni Aly 'yon! Hindi n'ya kayang gawin iyon...

Bakit niya... bakit niya ipaglalaban sa korte ang krimen ng daddy ko?

"Uncle, a-anong nangyayari?" Sambit ko nang makalabas at makita si Uncle. Mukhang karatating niya lang kasabay ng pag-rinig ko sa sirena ng kotse ng mga Pulis.

I saw Dad trying to ran away. Nakapasok na ang kotse na mga pulis kaya imposible ito. What is he doing?! He is endangering me! Why was he running away from the Police?!

Hindi ako nasagot ni Uncle at galit siyang lumapit sa kotse ni Dad. Marahas niyang binuksan ito at agad na binigyan ng malakas na suntok si Dad.

I gasped when his punch echoed. Sinubukang manlaban ni Dad but Uncle Marvin was much stronger than him. Nang makapasok ang mga Pulis ay agad na nag-silabasan ang mga ito sa kani-kanilang kotse.

My heart thumped loudly, I suddenly felt cold seeing them point their gun at my Dad. I felt scared hearing them order my Dad to put his hands up.

Napa-takip ako ng bibig ko at gano'n na lang ang takot na kumalat sa buong katawan ko. The guns scared me. Suddenly, I felt someone's hands holding my shoulder.

I knew who it was because her scent's familiar. I want to push her away but I don't have the energy to do so. Gusto ko siyang sigawan at sabihang h'wag akong hawakan sa pang-ilang pagkakataon na ngayong araw pero mas nangingibabaw ang takot ko.

Ni hindi ko napansin na dumating na pala si Tita Aria at mahigpit akong niyakap. She was Mom's youngest sibling. Sunod-sunod ang naging pag-tulo ng luha ko, gano'n din ang pagtatahan ni Tita sa akin.

I saw how she glanced at Miss Alyona before caressing my back. Ash and Rae remained quiet as we could only hear sirens and the sound of the guns being loaded.

"T-Tita..." tawag ko kay Tita gamit ang nanginginig na boses.

"Shush," she hushed me.

"Kaleb Adelstein, inaaresto ka namin sa salang tangkang pag-patay kay Attorney Tonyo Marquez at pag-gamit ng pinagbabawal na gamot. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to have an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you."

I froze when I heard that. Attempted murder? So... it was true? Totoo ang mga sinabi ni Rae?

Kumalas ako mula sa pagkakayakap kay Tita at mariing tinignan si Dad na ngayon ay naka-titig sa babaeng nasa likod ko.

Right. It was fucking true. Alyona Desteen Estrella will take Dad's side in court.

The time went fast like a bliss that I didn't notice that it was only me, Ash, Rae, Aly, and Tita Aria who's inside the house. The police arrested my Dad. Sumama si Uncle Marvin at Ate Ana sa kanila.

And why is Alyona still here?! She should be there with my Dad! Siya ang abogado niya sa kaso ni Dad... 'di ba?

Tangina, akala ko wala nang ikalalala 'yong mga nangyari, e...

Sebastian and Aly, Ash and Aly, Rae's problem with me and Aly, me being accused of stealing someone's copy of a test paper... tapos, ito na naman?

Kailan ba 'to titigil?!