The Midnight Lies (THE PRESTIGE 3)

36

The Return

Every day, I find myself lying awake, going through those moments in my mind like a never-ending loop.

I felt completely numb. Tears streamed down my cheeks, but I was just... empty inside. All I could focus on was this deep, hollow void in my soul. I couldn't sense him anymore. Hope seemed out of reach, and it felt like my life was just snatched away in an instant. What have they done to my son?

"Villaroel."

I heard a familiar voice behind me while I was just chilling in the chair by the windows, lost in my thoughts. It felt like someone had nudged me to snap me back to reality.

Someone from my past has shown up again, and I'm totally at a loss. I have no idea how to handle this after all this time.

"Elene Villlaroel."

My tears fell in an instant when I heard a familiar voice calls me again. My heart sank instead of rejoicing.

Hinang hina ito. Payat at puro pasa ang katawan. Kapansin pansin ang pangangayayat nito. Halos magmukhang hanger na ang katawan niya dahil sa sobrang kapayatan. Lumang damit na ang suot nito pero malinis. Ang lumang lumang tsinelas nito ay halatang pinilit lang isuot sa mapuputi nitong paa.

"How are you?" He asked.

I didn't answer.

Wala namang sagot doon.

"I found you in the middle of the road. I brought you here in my place. Your wounds were treated by someone I know."

Hindi ako sumagot. Bagkus, gumapang ang kamay ko sa tiyan ko. Dumapo rin ang tingin doon ni Hugo. Kalaunan ay nag-iwas ito ng tingin.

"I look like shit, right?" Hugo asked in a small yet weak voice.

He can't even met my eyes. He looks so ashamed of himself. Something I am not familiar with. He's used to be filled with confidence and arrogance.

Where. . .where did it go?

"Look at my karma." Hugo joked that break my heart more in the most brutal way.

I can't symphatize with him. I lost it along the way. As much as I want to know what has happened, I can't. I can't even utter a single word for months now.

I don't even know where am I staying at. I don't know what happened to Migo and Haya. Or to those people who's chasing me. I don't give a damn anymore.

My son. . . My precious son.

He's so tiny. . . And innocent. . . He doesn't even have a name yet. . . So, why?

Tears fell from his eyes but he is trying so hard to still give me a smile. Was he the one who found me. . .in this kind of state?

I saw how fear stretched in his face. His hands are even trembling.

"Got hijacked. Tortured. My memories are even altered."

I flinched.

Hijacked? Tortured? By whom?

All I wanted is a normal life. This isn't what I wanted. This is not the life I dreamed of.

"I studied in law school. I was planning to baile out someone. Someone I knew. Someone innocent. . .But after I graduate, someone hijacked me. I. . .I woke up in a cell." His voice broke.

Nanatili akong nakinig.

"They tortured me." He mumbled. "They t-tortured me, Elene."

Para siyang bata na nagsusumbong. Pagod na pagod at aping api. Hindi ko magawang makapagsalita dahil sa awa para sa kaniya.