Uncontrollable Obsession

Kapitulo 37

Bugok

Para akong natauhan habang nakatingin sa kaniyang likod na ngayo'y nasa malayo na. Nalaglag ang balikat ko nang matantong hindi nga siya nagbibiro. Sinundan ko siya ng tingin at pinapanood na sumuko sa mga tauhan ni Zekeil. I've got it. What I heard on that device was all for her show! Someone knows that there's someone hiding here, and in order to prevent them, she chose to escape. It was her plan! Alam niyang dito ako nagtatago. Hindi siya tumakas para makalaya. She claims that she is the one hiding here, and I know that no one will believe in her because of what I heard on the radio.

I need to help her–no! We need each other!

She knows that I am waiting for her to look back at me, so she did nothing. She didn't even try to steal a glance at me. Naisip niya sigurong baka makita ako ng nanghuli sa kaniya. Paano nalang kung bibigyan sila ng permiso na maghalughog rito? Edi masisira ang plano niya? Na tingin ko mula't umpisa pa namang sira!

Nakita ko ang lalaking nagngangalang Ismael. Mukhang kasama siya sa dadakip ni Katriyah. Habang nanatili ang pananaw ko sa kaniya, biglang bumalik sa akin ang napag-usapan namin.

Puno ng pag-asa akong nakatingin sa kaniya.

 
 "I have no right to speak," she said as she was about to walk away, but stopped when I spoke.
 

Ramdam ko pa namang naunahan ako ng excitement dahil sa maaari niyang ikwento, ngunit naglaho ito nang narinig 'yon.

Naging alerto ako agad at nangapa ng sasabihin. Natuwa ako't nakahanap agad.

 "I-I... I remember some things... I remember! It's just that I don't know the people because... they're blurred."
 

 
 
I heard her take a deep breath before looking back at me. I never thought that could stop her, but I was glad it did. I watch her sitting back in her seat.
 
 

 
"I don't want to cause you trouble, but because you're so persistent, then at least you want to know this..." yet she stopped to mess with her hair.
 
 
 
Nangunot ang noo ko dahil sa ginawa niya sa buhok. Nagmistula siyang baliw sa kinalabasan ng panggugulo niya sa buhok.
 
 
 
Tahimik ko lang siyang hinintay at nangangati na tapusin na niya ang pinutol na sinasabi. Nang masiyahan na sa hitsura, saka pa siya tumigil. Napakurap-kurap ako dahil sa pagkatulala. Tinaasan naman niya ako ng kilay nang matantong kanina pa ako nakatitig sa kaniya.
 
 
 
She cleared her throat, and I can see that she's being reluctant about something. Umangat na ang labi niya ngunit biglang tumikom at napaismid. Mabilis nagbago ang ekspresyon niya. 
 
 
 
"What is it? Don't you think it's unfair for me? Alam mo ang lahat, samantalang, ako? Clueless!"
 
 

I wonder if she knows about the photos I discovered? My gaze landed on it for a moment. She probably noticed these, but why didn't she look at any of them? I was actually planning to ask her about this, but based on the expression I saw, I thought I should be the one to find a way to confirm it.

 
Bumalik ang paningin niya sa akin.

 
 "Si Viahna... she's your cousin." 
 
 
 
I straightened up and eventually slumped down. My lips parted a bit. That wasn't what I expected to hear from her. 
 
 

"T-talaga?" Doon pa ako tuluyang nakapag-react. "P–pinsan ko siya... Wow!"

Sa side ba ni Papa? Alam kong bumudha ang iba pang katanungan sa aking mukha kaya siya muling nagsalita. Inunahan ako.

"Hindi ko na sasabihin ang iba dahil kung gagawin ko... baka pagsisihan mo."

After that, she looked away, but the coldness on her face didn't have the chance to escape my gaze.