𝙲𝙻𝙸𝙲𝙺𝚂 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙷𝙴𝙰𝚁𝚃𝚂 | 𝙲𝙾𝙼𝙿𝙻𝙴𝚃𝙴𝙳 ✓

chapter 39

Naramdaman ko ang bigat ng mundo habang nakatitig ako sa harap ng laptop. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko kakayanin ang lahat ng nangyayari. The past few days had been a whirlwind of emotions, discoveries, and betrayals. Pero nandito pa rin kami ni Alexander, magkasama at handang harapin ang mga susunod na kabanata ng aming buhay.

"Isa, are you okay?" tanong ni Alexander habang inilalapit ang upuan niya sa tabi ko. His eyes were filled with concern, and I could see that he was as exhausted as I was.

"Hindi ko alam, Alex," I sighed, leaning back on my chair. "Ang dami nating nalaman, pero parang kulang pa rin ang mga sagot."

"Tama ka," he nodded, looking at the files spread out on the table. "Pero we're closer than ever to figuring this out. Malapit na nating malaman ang buong katotohanan."

Hinaplos ko ang mga papel sa harap ko, filled with names, dates, and connections that had haunted us for weeks. Hindi ko alam kung sino ang dapat kong pagkatiwalaan. The deeper we dug into the mystery surrounding my family, the more secrets we uncovered. At ang mga sikreto na iyon ay hindi madaling tanggapin.

"Naaalala mo ba si Rica?" biglang tanong ni Alexander.

Napatingin ako sa kanya, nagulat sa tanong niya. "Of course, she's been my best friend since forever. Bakit mo natanong?"

"May napansin akong kakaiba," Alexander said cautiously. "Sa mga records na tiningnan natin, may mga pangalang lumilitaw na konektado kay Rica. Hindi ko pa ito sinasabi sa'yo kasi gusto kong maging sigurado muna."

"What do you mean?" I asked, feeling a knot of anxiety forming in my chest.

"Rica's family... may mga koneksyon sila sa mga taong kasama sa imbestigasyon natin," he explained. "I don't know if it's a coincidence, pero hindi ko mapigilang magduda."

Parang bumagsak ang mundo ko. Rica had been with me through everything. Hindi ko inaasahan na ang pangalan niya ay maipapasok sa kaguluhang ito. "Alex, you can't be serious. Rica has nothing to do with this."

"I know, Isa," he reassured me, placing a hand on my arm. "I'm just telling you what I've found. Hindi ko sinasabi na may kasalanan siya. Pero kailangan nating tingnan lahat ng anggulo."

Hindi ko alam kung paano tatanggapin ang mga salitang iyon. Rica had been my rock, my support system through all of this. Pero kung totoo ang sinasabi ni Alexander, paano ko ito haharapin?

"We need to talk to her," I finally said, my voice shaky but firm. "Kailangan natin siyang kausapin para malaman ang totoo."

"Are you sure?" Alexander asked cautiously. "Baka masaktan ka lang lalo."

"I have to know, Alex," I replied, standing up and pacing around the room. "Hindi ako matahimik hangga't hindi ko nakukuha ang sagot mula sa kanya mismo."

Tumango si Alexander, understanding my determination. "Okay. Pero we have to be careful. Baka may mas malalim pa dito kaysa inaakala natin."

The weight of his words hung in the air as we prepared ourselves for the confrontation that was coming. Sa pagkakataong ito, wala nang atrasan. The truth needed to be uncovered, no matter how painful it might be.

*****

The next day, I found myself standing outside Rica's house, my heart pounding in my chest. Pinilit kong kumalma, kahit na nanginginig ang mga kamay ko. Kailangan ko itong gawin. Kailangan kong malaman kung totoo ang mga suspetsa ni Alexander.

"Ready?" Alexander whispered beside me, squeezing my hand for reassurance.

I nodded, taking a deep breath before knocking on the door. Ilang sandali lang ay bumukas ang pinto at lumitaw si Rica, nakangiti ngunit halatang naguguluhan sa bigla naming pagdating.