Masked Feelings

Chapter Forty-Three

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"Hey."

Lumingon ako sa taong nagsalita, si Dos lang pala. Tinaasan ko sya ng kilay bilang tanong kung anong kailangan nya.

"I just noticed you're being quiet today. May problema ba?" She asked.

I blinked a few times before sighing deeply. "May iniisip lang."

"Care to share?"

Napairap ako. Ang tsismosa talaga ng babaeng 'to kahit kailan.

"It's just about the investigation." I said.

"Hm? Why? May progress na ba?

Umiling ako at tumalikod. Sinandal ko sa railings ang likod ko at nagcross arms. "Wala pa din silang nahahanap na ebidensya until now."

She scoffed. "Baka kamo hindi naman talaga sila naghahanap."

I look at her and she's shaking her head, disappointment is evident on her face.

"They've been investigating for almost two years yet, they haven't found anything, even just a small evidence? That's kind of suspicious, you know?" She pointed out.

Napaisip naman ako. She has a point. It really does kind of suspicious. I sighed.

"You think they're just fooling me?" I asked.

"I don't know. Maybe?" She shrugged. "I mean, it is possible. Pero hindi ako sigurado, ah."

"Hinala lang, ganun?" I frowned.

"Yup."

Napailing na lang ako at napairap dahil sa kalokohan nya. "I trust my men, Dos. And they're my mother's most trusted people. Kaya imposible 'yang hinala mo."

"Alam ko naman 'yon." She sighed. "It's just that.... hindi ko lang maiwasang maghinala."

I pinch the bridge of my nose and shut my eyes, calming myself down to avoid hitting this very talkative friend of mine.

At mukhang napansin nya ang kinikilos ko kaya bahagya syang lumayo. Pero hindi naman tumigil sa kakadaldal.

"Ganito kasi, just hear me out, okay? Pero kasi, what if tama ako? What if they're really just fooling you? Kasi naman come to think of it, halos dalawang taon na silang nag-iimbestiga, diba? Pero until now, wala pa din silang nahahanap na ebidensya regarding the 'you know'? Ayokong mag-overthink ka, ah. Pero what if nga totoo yung hinala ko?"

I glared at her. "Tang—— ayaw mo 'kong mag-overthink pero ikaw din naman nagbigay ng dahilan para mag-overthink ako? Dati ka bang siraulo?"

Napanguso naman sya. "Nagsasabi lang naman yung tao, eh. Nagagalit ka naman agad. Hmp!"

"Ewan ko sayo. Imbis na makatulong 'yang sinasabi mo, pinasakit mo lang lalo yung ulo ko." I shook my head na lang.

"Edi tanggalin natin ulo mo para wala nang masakit." Sinamaan ko sya ulit ng tingin dahil sa pamimilosopo nya. "Hehe. Joke lang. Nagbibiro lang ako. Bye!" Saka sya kumaripas ng takbo papasok ng bahay.

I just closed my eyes tightly and took a deep breath to calm myself. Baka hindi ako makapagpigil at mahampas ko ng tsinelas na suot ko ang bruhang yun.

Pumihit ako paharap sa malawak na bakanteng lote sa harap at tahimik na napatitig na lang sa kawalan.