His Obsession

Chapter 40

Inspector Santiago

After that day, I focused my attention in finding that book. I looked in everything that can give me information on where she possibly hiding it. Pero wala pa rin akong nakukuhang impormasyon.

Ang ginawa kong pagpapahirap kay Marielle kung saan nalaman ko ang librong hinahanap ko ay maaaring kumitil sa 'kanya ay nagbigay sa akin ng pagdadalawang isip.

Pero pilit kong pinagsawalang bahala. I need to focus on my goal. Just like what I said to her, I need to stop them. Masyado na akong malayo para tumigil pa.

I step inside the glass room. It's been two days after I tortured Marielle. Ito ang muli kong pagpasok dito. Wala akong lakas para harapin siya matapos kong gawin ang pagpapahirap sakanya. I felt guilty.

For the past days, I can't sleep. The guilt haunts me every night because of what I did to her. Ngayon lang ako nagkalakas ng loob para harapin siya.

It's the first time that I hurt her physically. I hate it when I make her cry. Ang magtampo nga lang siya noon ay hindi na ako mapakali. Kaya mahirap sa akin ang ginawa ko sa 'kanya. But because I'm desperate to end this, ay ipipikit ko ang mga mata at tatakpan ang tainga magtagumpay lang ako sa plano ko.

How ironic, thinking about this stuff. Ako pa ang nakakaramdam ng hiya sa nagawa samantalang siya, nagagawa niya akong tingnan sa mga mata habang palihim akong niloloko. But what can I do? No matter what she did, no matter how she hurt me, I still can't hate her. My love for her is so strong that I'm willing to pretend that nothing happened, just so I can't lose her.

Nanghihinang itinaas niya ang ulo niya at tiningnan ako. Tinanggal ko ang mga kadenang nakapulupot sa 'kanya bago siya binuhat at hiniga sa kama.

"Ric." mahina niyang tawag.

Sinalubong ko ang namumungay niyang mata.  I gently tucked away a few strands of hair that had fallen over her face, placing them behind her ear. Kita ko ang pagod sa mukha niya kaya hindi ko mapigilan ang mapatiim ang bagang sa galit. I hated myself for making her go through all of that.

"Hello, love."

Kita ko ang panginglid ng luha sa mata niya.
"I'm sorry, Ric. I'm sorry for everything I've done."

I gently stroke her face and nod my head. "Shh. It's okay. I know you have your reasons. But I can't forgive you right now. It's hur, love. You did really crushed me." I let out a humourless laugh.

My heart beat so fast but unlike before—every pump of it, hurts so bad.

I stood up and turned around to reach for the bag of blood I had placed on the table. I opened it and handed it to Marielle. She took it immediately and drank from it. I chose to lean against the doorframe and watched her finish the blood.

"I will give you the location of that book, but please promise me you'll be safe? Promise me, Emeric." sabi niya matapos maubos ang dugo sa bag.

"I... promise." I reluctantly said because I don't know what things awaits me from getting the book. 

Tinitigan niya ako at kahit gustuhin ko mang iiwas ang mga mata ay hindi ko magawa. Magkatitigan lamang kami. Walang gumagalaw at walang gustong mag-iwas ng tingin. Namumungay ang mga mata niya habang may nangingilid na luha sa gilid ng mata.

"Emeric." mahinang bulong niya sa pangalan ko. Narinig ko pa ang bahagyang pagkabasag ng boses niya. Her voice was laced with longing and pain.