His Silent Obsession

PART 1- EPILOGUE

"Tutulungan kita, pero kailangan mong sundin ang lahat ng sasabihin ko," I whispered softly, leaning in closer so no one else could hear. "Kailangan mo'ng kumbinsihin sila Dra. Lucy na ako ang gusto mo'ng maging nurse trainee."

Nang marinig niya 'yon ay pinahid niya ang luha sa kaniyang pisnge at may determinasyon sa aking tumingin.

"Pero huwag kang magmamadali. Huwag kang magpahalata na gusto mo nang magpalit agad," I reminded her, and she nodded like an obedient child. "I’ll come up with a plan. But for now, play along with whatever they want, so I can help you."

After I said that, it was the first time I saw her smile. I couldn't understand why she seemed happy about the idea of dying. From what I’ve seen on TV, people are usually terrified, trembling with fear at the thought of death, but Lilith was different. She wasn’t afraid of dying. She was ready for it.

"Huy dude! Bakit nag-iisa ka dito. Gabing gabi na ah." I snapped back to the present when I heard Aiahn’s voice behind me. I forced a smile and turned toward him.

"Nagpapahangin lang." I replied casually.

"By the way, thanks," he said sheepishly, scratching the back of his head.

I furrowed my brow, pretending I didn’t know what he was referring to. "Para saan?" Tanong ko na natatawa.

"Kinausap na ako ni Lilith." nakangiti nitong sabi, nakatingin sa malayo na tila inaalala ang nangyari kanina sa activity room. "Hindi ko alam kung anong sinabi mo sa kaniya but still, I'm thankful." humarap na siya sa akin at naro'n pa rin 'yong ngiti niya.

"Wala 'yon. Maybe I just found out her soft spot?" I shrugged, and he laughed, as if not fully convinced.

"Yeah, right," he replied sarcastically.

A few moments later, his laughter faded, and his expression turned serious as he faced me.

"Oo nga pala, pinabibigay ni Lilith." inabot niya sa akin ang kapiraso ng bond paper na nakatupi pa. "Sabi niya, ibigay ko raw sa'yo."

Kinuha ko 'yon ng may pagtataka at binuklat upang malaman kung anong nasa loob no'n. I wasn’t sure what to feel as I stared at the paper, but I suddenly found it hard to breathe. Why is my heart throbbing like hell?

"Gawa niya 'yan kanina sa Music and Arts Therapy natin." Aiahn explained, referring to the drawing in my hands. "Ginawa niya 'yan para sa'yo tapos gumawa rin siya ng para sa'kin."

I kept staring at her drawing, and I knew exactly what it meant. She had drawn an animated guy with a halo and angel wings, standing next to a girl walking up a staircase to heaven. I let out a bitter laugh in my mind. Does she really think I’m an angel?

"Siguro alam niyang ipapasa rin 'yong mga drawing nila kay Dra. Lucy 'pag nailagay na natin 'yong interpretation sa likod ng bond paper kaya gumawa siya ng hiwalay." Aiahn added as he watched me admire Lilith’s drawing. I had to admit, she was a talented artist.

After our conversation, Aiahn and I headed back to the dorm kitchen, joining our group and Sir Art for dinner. The food still tasted bland, and our group was still the loudest, but Anthony wasn’t his usual self. His laughter and conversations with Faye seemed forced. It was obvious something was bothering him. But honestly, I didn’t care what it was.

We went into our rooms and prepared ourselves to take a bath. Naunang bumaba si Anthony sa bathroom sa pinaka dulong bahagi ng aming dorm building, habang si Aiahn naman ay nagsusulat sa kaniyang tickler ng kung ano man ang sinusulat niya.

I decided to sit on the bench in front of the dorm habang nasa banyo pa si Anthony at kausapin ang psychologist ko. I saw her text a while ago and she said that Mom is asking her if we already had our session again after our last one. I just rolled my eyes in annoyance and called Dr. Parco.

"Mr. Santos," she greeted as she answered the call.

"Yes po, Dr. Parco," I replied politely.

"Diyos miyo por santo, Iho, your mom keeps asking me about your progress every single day, and I keep telling her the same thing!" she said, clearly stressed out by my mother. "Anyway, I called because I wanted to schedule our next session. How about tomorrow at 8 p.m.? You’re available, right?"

"Opo, Doc," I said, trying to sound more enthusiastic.

"Good. And by the way, don’t take it the wrong way; I understand your mom. She’s just really concerned about you." I forced a bitter laugh in my mind. Concerned? More like scared, I thought to myself. Yeah, that’s more like it.

"Yes po Doc, gano'n na po talaga 'yon si mama," I said, almost throwing up in my mind to what I said.

"Okay, so I guess, we'll see each other tomorrow? I will send you the link to our zoom meeting at 8."

Pagkatapos no'n ay binaba na rin ni Dr. Parco ang tawag. Hindi ko maintindihan kung ano'ng gusto ni Mama patunayan. Na may sira ako sa pag-iisip? Na psychopath ako? She can go to hell for all I care.

I got up and walked towards the bathroom, eager to finally get some rest. But as I approached, the sounds from inside the bathroom grew louder. It was Anthony's voice, but he was talking to someone. It sounded like a video call.

"Bend over more, hurry up, I’m almost there," a man’s voice demanded from the phone.

"Ayoko na, Bryan. Why are you doing this to me?" Anthony’s voice trembled, clearly on the verge of tears.

"Tutuwad ka o ikakalat ko ang video mo?" the man threatened.

Wala na akong narinig pa na reply mula kay Anthony. Tanging mga mahihinang ungol nalang ng lalaki ang maririnig hanggang sa mawala 'yon at magsalitang muli ang lalaki.

"Isend mo na rin pala sa gcash ko 'yong 2,500 na hinihingi ko sa'yo, kung ayaw mo'ng makita ng pamilya mo itong sex video natin."

"Walang hiya ka talaga Bryan! Hindi nalang sana ako sa'yo nakipagkita. Alam mo namang studyante palang ako. Saan naman ako kukuha ng 2,500?" he was holding his voice not to be too loud but he failed. His voice was thick with stress and fear.

"Hindi ko na problema 'yon. Basta bukas dapat naisend mo na sa'kin, kung hindi, bye-bye bayot." pang-aasar naman no'ng lalaki at pagkatapos no'n ay wala na rin akong narinig.

Realizing he was about to get out from the comfort room, I hurried back to our room, not wanting to run into Anthony after overhearing everything.

He’s so messed up.

***

A/N: Hello everyone!👋 This is the epilogue for the first part of "His Silent Obsession". So I divided this novel into 4 parts with 8 chapters each (10 chapters together with the prologue and epilogue).

PART 1- All about Lemuel Angelo Santos. (Done)
PART 2- A psychopath met the patient with an identity dissociative disorder.
PART 3- The Escape.
PART 4- Psychopath's end story.

I hope y'all liked the first part as it was very close to my heart❤️, and I hope you will love this novel as much as I love it. Actually, I have a lot of inspiration while writing this, including 'Daily Dose of Sunshine', 'American Horror Story: Asylum', and 'The End of the F*cking World'.

So, yeahhh. 'Yon lang🤭 Enjoy reading😚.