Blink (Ability Series #2)

CHAPTER 21

BLINK - PROPERTY

Ajax and I have decided that we should head back to his flat after sharing a warm meal with his brother. Mamayang hapon ay aalis si Chandler dahil isa siya sa mga kalahok sa isang tattoo competition na gaganapin sa Cebu. Gusto ko nga sanang ihatid namin siya kahit sa may labas lang ng airport, ngunit sabi niya ay may kaibigan raw siyang tattoo artist din na kasali sa patimpalak. So, he wasn't the only one who joined the competition.

Komportable akong nakahilig sa may front passenger seat habang pinagmamasdan ang mahaba-habang pila ng mga sasakyan sa labas. Hindi na talaga mawawala ang traffic sa Manila. You could only dream about having a traffic-free highway when you live here in the Philippines. Nilingon ko si Ajax na kasalukuyang abala sa cellphone niya. He's been talking with someone on the phone for more than an hour now. And I guess it's an important call because his voice is formal and stern which I often heard from him.

Napansin niya sigurong nagtagal ang titig ko sa kaniya kaya siya napalingon sa gawi ko. He raised an eyebrow, symbolizing that he was asking me if I have any problem. Pinilig ko ang ulo ko at binalik na ang tingin sa unahan.

My lips automatically quiver when my now large eyes met Mr. Santisimo's dead body in front of the car. The priest stands tall as if he was still alive and kicking. Nakapako ang mga nakakakilabot niyang tingin sa'kin. Bigla kong naramdaman ang pagtaas ng mga balahibo ko sa braso. I quickly shut my eyes and covered my ears tightly.

This is not real. He's not real. He's already dead, and I know it! Patay na si Mr. Santisimo. Si Chandler ang bumaril sa kaniya pero ako ang nag-utos sa magkapatid na gawin iyon. Kasalanan ko ang pagkamatay niya. I don't have a third eye and I'm not like Tita Brooke who can see ghosts. Patay na siya at wala siya sa labas ng sasakyan. Imahinasyon ko lamang iyon.

"Lucy?"

I flinched when Ajax caressed my shoulder. Minulat ko ang mga mata ko at siya'y tinitigan habang nanginginig pa rin ang mga labi. I forcefully bit my lips to stopped it from quivering. Litong-lito na siya sa inaasta ko.

"What happened? You're shaking, Lucy." He concluded, gently removing my hands that were covering my ears.

"S-Si... Mr. Santisimo..." Dahan-dahan kong inangat ang daliri ko saka tinuro ang labas ng sasakyan niya.

He instantly followed my trembling finger pointing outside of the car. "What are you talking about? Mr. Santisimo? Isn't he dead already? Lucy... you're only imagining things. W-Wala si Mr. Santisimo sa labas."

I was not fully convinced with what he responded. Baka kapag tumingin ulit ako sa unahan ay magpakita na naman ang duguang katawan ni Mr. Santisimo. I have zero regrets regarding his death. Priests are destined to protect and guide the children here on Earth, but what did he do? Instead of teaching them good deeds, he had led those poor innocent souls astray.

Wala dapat akong katakutan. Ginusto ko ang pagkawala niya. I made Ajax do what he ordered to his brother. I shouldn't be feeling this way. This is what I wanted, and I'm sure those children wanted to take revenge. Ginawa ko ang bagay na 'yon para sa kapakanan nila. Ano ang halaga ng buhay ng isang tao kung marami naman itong naagrabyado? I know myself too well. No one can stop me when I made up my mind about things that matter.

It's a piece of cake to pretend that everything is fine. Sinalubong ko ang mga mata ni Ajax at saka siya nginitian para ipaalam na ayos na ako. That he was right. Pumanaw na si Mr. Santisimo. Patay na siya. He can't possibly be outside of the car standing like he's murdering me inside of his head.

"Y-You're right, Ajax. I'm sorry. Guni-guni ko lang yata 'yon." I tapped his lap and sat properly on my seat.

There's no Mr. Santisimo outside of the car. Mga sasakyan lang ang naroon. Umusad na ang traffic. Nagmaneho na ulit si Ajax habang nagpabalik-balik ang tingin sa'kin at sa kalsada. I pointed my hand ahead when I noticed that he's still checking up on me every second.