On My Own Confusions

Confusion: Nineteen

Truth

Sinabi ko kay Tito ang nangyari mula sa simula. Sinabi ko rin ang tungkol sa hinala ko. He never invalidated my hunches, instead, pushed me more to investigate about it.

"Call that number the moment you sat next to each other, Leigh. Para sigurado tayo na siya nga ang may-ari ng number na ’yon," paalala niya na agad akong tumango.

He handed me things which I don't understand about.

"This is a special hidden camera," pakita niya sa akin sa maliit na camera.

How lucky things unfold on its own. Parang kagabi lang gustong-gusto ko magkaroon ng mga ganitong bagay. May iba pa siyang pinakita pero hindi niya sinabi kung para saan.

Unexpectedly, time is running faster than water. I'm already picking up all the pieces in me in order to be ready. Mixture of fear and fulfilment.

Sapat na sa akin na may usad ang pangyayari na ito. This might not end everything, but this is a step for it.

I wore a black-buttoned tweed coordinates. At pagkatapos kong magbihis ay bumaba na ako sa sala kung saan nandoon si Tito Marshal.

"Leigh, come here," tawag niya sa akin.

When I neared him, he placed that small camera near the second button of my top. Surprisingly, it's not noticeable. Its color seems to match.

"That's already connected to our monitor, we will know who your acquaintance is," Tito explained.

Tumango naman ako sa sinabi niya. I really don't understand how this actually works. Last time I check, body cameras here in the Philippines are in its usual camera size. Parang size ng GoPro. But maybe they already have these things now considering the innovations in terms of technology. I hope so.

May nilagay din siya sa likurang bahagi ng damit ko. It's just below my nape.

"That's a recorder. We have earpieces. We can hear you, but you cannot hear us, Leigh. Madi-distract ka lang kung may maririnig ka galing sa amin. The important thing is, we can hear you," tumango ulit ako sa sinabi niya.

I sat down after he placed those things. Umupo rin si Tito sa harapan ko. The other men seems not to care about what's happening. They are used to this probably.

"Tito, paano kung anak ng General ang makikita ko mamaya?" tanong ko.

He laughed at that. "Then, that's even better. Why are you so afraid of the General, Leigh? Trabahante lang din ’yan ng gobyerno. Sunod-sunoran lang din ’yan sa gobyerno. They aren't that free to do things. Mas may magagawa tayo, Leigh," mahabang sabi niya.

"You were softened so much towards this case, Leigh. I wasn't expecting for you to drift so much because of this na hindi mo naisip na may mas magagawa tayo. We can just eliminate them and no one would blame us," tumawa siya.

Umiling ako. "I don't want such injustice, Tito. Surely, we can do something to avenge me. But I want it in a fair way," I told him.

Tumawa siya nang mahina sa sinabi ko. "Well, I'm sorry, Attorney."

"Don't worry, Leigh. I have snipers ready as well. This is a bit scary once again for you, but we won't fire back unless you're shot," he informed me.

What the fuck? Na naman? I'm already so scared of this. From now on, I will loathe guns so much! Gusto ko maiyak sa sinabi ni Tito. He looks so apologetic, though.

"Don't take too long. Unahan mo siya sa meeting place," usal niya habang tumatawa.

Bakit lagi siyang tumatawa? Didn't he know that this is so serious for me and he's actually here laughing? But then, it made me at ease as well.