Island of Obsession (Island Series 2)

CHAPTER 24

DISCLAIMER: This chapter includes references to mental health conditions. These references are purely fictional and not intended to resemble or target any real individuals. Any similarities are purely coincidental. If these topics are sensitive or triggering for you, please proceed with care.

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A few weeks had passed since I stopped going out of the house. Rosie was still in a coma, and I was growing more desperate to visit her. But Benjamin had warned me not to—Sir Adolfo was growing more confident, searching for any trace of me or Rosie. Sir Adolfo didn't know that Rosie had been confined at Embera Hospital. Despite Sir Montebello being one of the hospital's stakeholders, sa ngayon, nawawalan na ng kapangyarihan si Sir Adolfo dahil isa iyon sa mga negosyong ni-risk ni Benjamin para unti-unting mawala ang mga hawak ni Sir Adolfo.

Benjamin had sacrificed so much, risking one of their family's businesses in his determination to stop his father's reign of terror. We had tried reporting everything to the authorities, but Daddy had nearly lost his mind in frustration when they turned a blind eye. It wasn't surprising—Adolfo had his people everywhere, even in the police force. Kaya sa ngayon, kailangan naming maghintay at panatilihing kalmado ang lahat habang gumagawa sina Benjamin ng bagong plano.

Wala pa rin akong balita kay Moon hanggang ngayon. Sinubukan kong hingiin kay Benjamin ang number ni Moon, pero inasar niya lang ako, at sa huli, hindi pa rin niya ibinigay sa akin. But he told me na ayos lang daw si Moon at nag-aaral ng mabuti. He sounded like I was an OFW mom asking how my son's life is going. Kaya napagtanto ko na wala talaga akong makukuhang magandang balita kay Benjamin, kaya napagdesisyunan kong kailangan ko nang makalabas ng bahay. 

"Are you sure you want to go back to school today?" Mommy's voice was soft, her eyes filled with worry. She held my gaze for a moment, searching for any sign of doubt in me.

I smiled, trying to ease her concern, and nodded slightly. "Don't worry, Mom. I'll be fine. Nothing bad is going to happen at school. Besides, sabi ni Benjamin, wala na daw silang koneksyon sa university," sagot ko, pilit na ine-encourage ang sarili na magtiwala sa mga sinabi ni Benjamin.

Pero deep inside, hindi ko maiwasan ang kaba. I wanted to believe na magiging okay ang lahat, pero ang takot, hindi mawala-wala. Parang bawat sulok, bawat anino, may tinatago—parang may nagmamasid, ready to pull me back into the chaos I was trying to escape. Kahit ngayon, kaharap ko si Mommy at sinusubukang magpakatatag, ramdam ko pa rin ang bilis ng tibok ng puso ko sa takot na baka may mangyari. Paano kung malaman ni Sir Adolfo kung nasaan si Rosie? Paano kung malaman niya na pumasok ako ulit sa school? The uncertainty was killing me, pero wala akong choice kundi harapin lahat ng 'to.

Napansin ko ang bahagyang paglambot ng ekspresyon ni Mommy, kahit hindi pa rin nawawala ang pag-aalala sa mata niya. Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko, at pinisil ito nang mahigpit, para bang sinasabi sa akin na mag-ingat, na protektahan ang sarili ko. Ramdam ko 'yung warmth ng kamay niya, pero mas ramdam ko 'yung takot na hindi niya sinasabi. Alam kong natatakot siya—para sa akin, kay Rosie, para sa aming lahat.

"I'll be okay," ulit ko, pero parang sinabi ko na lang iyon para sa sarili ko. Dahil sa totoo lang, hindi ako sigurado kung naniniwala ba talaga ako sa sinasabi ko.

Tumango si Mommy, pero hindi pa rin nawawala ang takot sa mukha niya. "Hatid-sundo ka ng daddy mo. Please, huwag kang lalayo o lalabas ng school gate. Just to make sure, Andrea," sabi niya, may halong pakiusap at pagkabahala sa boses niya.

Bahagya akong tumawa, kahit ramdam ko ang bigat ng sitwasyon. "Yes, Mom. I will," sagot ko, pilit na pinapakalma ang sarili at siya. Sinubukan kong ipakita na confident ako, pero sa loob-loob ko, may bahagi ng puso ko na hindi pa rin sigurado.