The Mendacious Top Tier

Chapter 42: Bridges of Understanding

"Nandito na tayo, Ma'am Lyra," Manong Edward said. I got out of the car and looked around. I breathed heavily when I see that there are many houses here. May nakita naman akong tindahan so I approached it.

"Ano ang bibilhin mo?" she asked. I looked at her tinda. I smiled when I saw mr. milk, I just remembered something naman.

"Isang mr. milk po, 'yong strawberry na flavor." She took it and gave it to me. I handed her the payment. Ibibigay n'ya sana ang sukli ko, but I didn't accept it.

"Keep the change na lang po," I said.

Her eyebrow furrowed naman. "Aba'y hindi iyan puwede. Isang libo ang pera mo kaya kunin mo ang sukli na ito."

"If you can answer my question, you can keep the change. Parang bayad ko na rin 'yon sa answer n'yo po," I explained.

Napaisip naman s'ya. "Aba'y sige. Ano ba ang iyong tanong?"

I took out my cellphone and showed her Cyfrin's face.

"Do you know where his house is?" I asked.

She looked at it carefully.  "Aba'y si Cyfrin ba iyan?" I nodded. "Lumiko ka lang sa kaliwa at straight kalang sa paglalakad. Sa dulo nito ay lumiko ka pa kaliwa tapos may bahay kang makikita roon. Iyon na ang bahay ni Cyfrin."

"Thank you po." I followed what she said na. Hindi na ako sumakay pa ng car because the road here is narrow.

A few minutes later, I was here na. My eyebrow furrowed when I saw a house. It looked like an abandoned, but as I got closer and closer ay may naririnig akong mga ingay. Hindi ingay na nakakatakot kundi ingay ng mga tao. I was about to enter the house, but someone stopped me.

"Maglalaro ka rin ba, ma'am?" he asked.

"Maglalaro? Anong lalaruin ko naman?" I asked confusedly. Does Cyfrin really live here? Or nag-lie lang 'yong tindera sa akin?

"Kung hindi n'yo alam kung ano ang lalaruin n'yo, bakit kayo nandito?"

I crossed my arms. "Nandito ako because here raw nakatira si Cyfrin."

"Oo, nandito si Boss Cyfrin. Bakit mo siya hinahanap?" he asked curiously. I breathed a sigh of relief. Akala ko pa naman wala s'ya rito.

"I just wanted to ask him something, so pinuntahan ko talaga s'ya rito," I answered.

"Nasa 3rd floor s'ya pero kailangan mong magbayad ng entrance fee."

I breathed heavily. "How much is the entrance fee?"

"One thousand lang naman." I took out my wallet and gave him the payment. He smiled and gave me something like a ticket.

"Ibigay mo ang ticket na 'yan sa guard doon na nagbabantay para makapasok ka." I just nodded and went to the third floor. There is no elevator here, so I used the stairs. Nakakahingal lang talaga.

When I was here, I was greeted by the smell of cigarettes and alcohol. I breathed heavily when I see that many people are playing billiards. Akala ko pa naman kung ano ang lalaruin dito.

"Excuse me, ma'am. Gusto n'yo bang maglaro?" I turned around when someone asked those.

"No, hindi ako maglalaro. Do you know ba where Cyfrin is?"

"Si Boss Cyfrin? Bakit mo s'ya hinahanap?" he asked confusedly. My eyebrow furrowed. Why may kasaling boss sa name ni Cyfrin? Did he own these place?

"I just want to ask him something."

He nodded. "Ah, gano'n ba. Alam ko kung na saan s'ya, pero busy s'ya ngayon, eh."

"Even if he's busy, if he knows I'm here, he'll still talk to me," I said surely, even though I'm not really sure if he'll face me or not.

"Ah, kung gano'n girlfriend ka n'ya?"

I stopped. If I say no, he might not tell me where Cyfrin is. If I say yes naman, there are possibilities for me to see Cyfrin.

"Yes, I'm his girlfriend," I answered.

He smiled. "Sumunod ka sa akin."

                               ***

"Bakit nandito ka?" he asked coldly.

Malakas ko naman s'yang sinampal. "What did you say to Henry?"

He smirked. "Nakipag-break up na ba siya sa iyo?"

Sasampalin ko ulit sana s'ya, but he grabbed my wrist to stop it. I immediately withdrew my arm.

"How could you do these, Cyfrin? I treated you like a brother!" I said, shaking with anger.

Napasinghal naman s'ya. "Putangina! Ako dapat ang magtanong n'yan sayo, hindi ikaw."

"Is it because of Ayshil?

He looked at me as if he couldn't believe what I said. "Kahit tawagin mo siyang ate, hindi mo magawa. Wala ka talagang respeto no?"

"So that's what you misunderstood. I will explain why I can no longer call her ate." I paused and breathed heavily. "I used to be a taekwondo player, and I was about to get the black belt, but my parents told me to stop. You know why? When Ayshil disappeared, all the pressure and expectations of my parents on her went to me, and that is why I hate her the most."

"Ang daming nawala sa akin since she disappeared from home. Mom and dad have been very strict with me. Even though I want to experience the field trip, have a circle of friends, go out with friends after school, go on food trips outside, and go on vacation every summer, I can't even do that. Kasi gusto nila, mag-aral ako nang mag-aral. Gusto nila palagi akong Top 1."

"Nakakatawa nga lang dahil akala ng ibang students na natural na matalino talaga ako. That I'm a genius kaya na maintain ko ang pagiging Top 1. What they don't know is that I've been studying for several hours every day. If exam days pa nga, I only sleep for one or two hours para mag-study. I hate studying so much, but I can't do anything. My parents are having high expectations sa akin, and when I can't reach those expectations, they would be angry with me and would also hurt me physically. In short, I'm living hell every single day since Ayshil disappeared. So tell me, wala ba akong karapatan na magalit sa kanya?"

He didn't answer. "And that flash drive you saw in my room. You misunderstood it. I accidentally recorded our conversation that day, and I didn't delete it because ayaw kung makalimutan ang voice ni Ayshil. I might hate her, but she's still my sister. It just I couldn't call her ate now."

"I see, pero hindi ko pa rin maintindihan kung bakit support ka sa gusto niya na mag-suicide? Alam mong isa 'yon sa dahilan kung bakit lumakas ang loob n'ya na mag-suicide," he asked confusedly.

"Hindi na n'ya kayang mabuhay, so why would I stop her from doing it? If I just stop her, she is just tutoring herself. It's her life also, so it's her decision to do that. Maybe para sa atin, hindi masyadong mabigat ang problems n'ya but sa kanya sobra na. Hindi na n'ya kayang dalhin pa," I explained.

He breathed heavily naman. "I'm sorry, Lyra . . . Hindi ko dapat 'yon ginawa. Na misunderstood ko lahat. Puwede mo na akong sampalin ul--"

Hindi ko na s'ya pinatapos pa sasabihin n'ya and sinampal s'ya ng malakas.

"Tell me the truth, why aren't mom and dad against your relationship with Ayshil?" I asked seriously. My parents are very strict, so how come they just agreed to let this gangster be Ayshil's boyfriend?