Unwilling Victim

Chapter 7

Game 

"Sigurado ka ba iha na si Dmitri nga ang nanggaling dito?" buong pag-aalalang tanong niya habang nakatayo sa walkway sa tapat ng CR.

Kinagat ko ang labi at hindi na kumibo nang dungawin niyang muli ang mga naiwang damit ni Dmitri roon. Tumawag na siya ng utility para magligpit noon.

Bumalik siya at lumapit sa akin. Naupo naman ako sa kama at siya ay sa kaninang inuupuan ni Dmitri. Pinagmasdan niya ang gasgas na naiwan sa sahig. Nakikita ko na hirap siyang paniwalaan na si Dmitri nga ang nanggaling dito pero tiyak din na alam na walang dahilan para magsinungaling ako.

Dmitri called for someone to use the telephone to get him clothes. Dumating iyon dala ng staff. Hindi ko nakita ang mukha pero sigurado akong nagtatrabaho nga rito sa condominium. I had no idea what his plans were for the night but I knew he wouldn't let me sleep in peace. And it wasn't like I could sleep knowing that the Chinese man tracked my location.

He's also ordered some food to be brought up here over the phone that did not arrive. Hanggang ngayon hinintay ko na dumating iyon para isa pang patunay kay Sir William. Dmitri left, saying he had to call someone, and warned me not to leave.

"You can report to the police if you want," iyon pa ang huli niyang sinabi habang nakangisi, tila nakakatawa lang sa kanya kung gagawin ko nga.

I was terrified of what he could do so I didn't leave. Wala rin akong mapupuntahan kaya minabuting tawagan si Sir William. He came rushing because it was unusual for me to call him. It was the first time I called him over the phone. I hardly said anything but he was already here.

Siguro ay nalaman ni Dmitri na dumating ang Papa niya. Ayos lang iyon sa akin. Gusto ko nga na magkausap-usap kaming tatlo para magkalinawan pero hindi na siya bumalik.

It was even more unnerving that the workers here, who probably knew he was here, were not saying anything. Nagmumukha akong sinungaling at nanatili namang maunawain si Sir William.

"Would the DNA of that blood be enough to tell I was telling the truth?" marahan kong sinabi, mababa ang loob na halos hindi siya naniniwala.

But then, he probably had no idea what Dmitri had been doing all this time.

"You should see the small fresh wound on his cheek when you see him," I added.

Mabagal siyang tumango. "I'm really sorry, iha. Don't worry, kakausapin ko siya..." Kumunot ang noo niya habang nililingon ang paligid.

"You don't think he can do this?" I hesitantly asked. "That he can come here bloodied, scaring me? He didn't force his way inside but he was here. Tiyak na alam ng mga staff pero walang nagsasalita. You don't think he will scare those poor people, too?"

Kita nga sa mga mata niya na mahirap iyong paniwalaan me. Naging maingat siya sa mga sumunod na sinabi na wari'y ayaw masaktan ang damdamin ko.

"Dmitri's devastated at how my relationship with my wife is going. He must have been rude to you, but iha... Matinong tao naman ang anak namin. Mabait siya sa lahat ng nakakasalamuha. Medyo istrikto pero kailanman ay hindi nananakit... O mananakot nang ganito lalo sa gaya mong nag-iisa rito."

My heart was just breaking hearing those words. Ibang pagkatao nga ni Dmitri ang kilala nila. Iba rin naman ang Dmitri na nakilala ko.

How he could play both his games well was beyond me. Masyadong kombinsido si Sir William na mabuti nga siyang tao. In their eyes, Dmitri had been a kind, sweet child since he was eight.

I wished I could tell him how Dmitri killed those people. I wished I could tell him about Mr. Saunders and Dmitri's relationship to him.

Isang sulyap lang ang ginawa ko sa cellphone na nasa nightstand. The Chinese man's number was there. That should be another proof.