OFFLINE (Suspire Series #4)

Kabanata 15

Nathalie

Pagkatapos na pagkatapos ng seminar namin ay umuwi na ako agad. Doon ko lang naalala na buksan ang phone ko at agad na bumungad ang missed call ni Aklan. Palabas na ako ng elevator nang may humarang sa akin. Nagulat ako nang makita si Francine. Magsasalita na sana ako ngunit bigla siyang naglabas ng baril sa bag na bitbit niya.

"This reminds you of something?" she said smirking. "Let's have a little chat. Back away."

Sinunod ko ang sinabi niya at humakbang palikod para makapasok siya. She tap the rooftop button. I was quitely looking at her and choose not to show my emotions. Halatang mas natutuwa siya kapag pinakitang natatakot ako.

Ibang-iba ang itsura na ngayon kumpara sa huling nagkita kami. Noon ay natural lang ang mukha niya at walang masyadong makeup. Halata ang pagod sa mata niya base sa pamumula ng kaniyang mga mata. Kahit na may makeup ay halata pa rin ang pagod sa mata niya. Nanginginig rin ang kamay niya na mukhang hindi niya pansin.

Nakasuot siya ng kusot-kusot na puting see-through na sando at short.

Pagdating sa rooftop ay bumaba na kami. My phone suddenly rang, and before I could answer Atty. Montante's call: Francine took my phone and threw it in the pool. I gasped when I saw her back. She had the same tattoo as those thugs who kidnapped Lulliane and me. A cobra with two swords embedded in its head.

She's the girl in the photo. She's Lulliane's killer.

"What's his name?" she began. "Attorney Levi Montante, right? The guy who's investigating Lulliane's murder. I tell you, he's good." 

That must be why he was calling me earlier.

"Kaya ka ba nandito kasi napatunayan niya na na ikaw ang nag-utos na ipapatay si Lulliane?" I pointed. "Girlfriend ng kapatid mo 'yon," hindi makapaniwalang saad ko.

"I know." She tilted her head examining the gun she was holding like it's just a luxury bag. "Dale loves her so much that he choose her over family, over me. Her half-sister." Tiningnan niya ako nang may lamig sa mga mata.

"Is that why you killed her? 'Yon nalang ba ang naisip mong paraan para maresolba ang problema mo?" hindi makapaniwalang saad ko.

She laughed like a maniac. "You don't know what it's like to be a Costa. I may have been born with wealth, but they treated us like objects. Puppets that they can control. And you don't have any choice but to follow." Her eyes settled on me with hatred. "Pero ano bang alam mo? You're a peasant. But even so, Aklan chooses you. He's the only guy who treats me like I'm human. Because everyone treated me like my family treats me. An object. All because I have the Costa name."

"That doesn't justify everything you did. You murderer. You almost got me killed. Ang daming taong nasaktan sa ginawa mo."

"I did what I had to do to be back in Aklan's arms again. I love him more than anything. I need to get rid of those who blocked my way. And Lulliane was in the way."

"And now, I'm too," I said, pointedly.

Hindi ako nakagalaw nang itutuk niya sa akin ang baril na hawak niya. At that point, I wasn't afraid anymore. I'm done being afraid. I am angry for all the bullshit she said. All I saw was a monster. When you see a monster, you should run, but I didn't. 

Before she pulled the trigger, I launched at her. She's all bones, and I'm full of meat and fat, so I'm stronger and heavier. She unheld the gun before both of us crashed in the pool. As I surfaced in the water, I saw the gun sitting beside the pool. Hindi ko na hinanap si Francine at lumangoy paalis sa pool. Before I even touched the land surface, the bitch pulled me under the water. I kicked her in the face as I swam and caught my breath.