CRIMES AND MYSTERIES 3: AKO SAPATOS

XVIII. THE CURSED IMAGE

XVIII. THE CURSED IMAGE

Nasa harapan pa rin ng computer screen sina Mondael, Fille, at Caroline.  Kabisado na ni Caroline ang posisyon ng keys na gagamitin sa pagpiprint ng larawan.  While they were waiting for the cursed_chatmate to appear, Mondael was lost in thought.

May ideya siya kung sino ang may pakana ng pagkakabit ng sumpa sa larawang iyon.  Isa iyong babae, pero hindi pangkaraniwang babae.  He’d like to call her “the powerful evil.”  He escaped from her.

May ideya na rin siya kung ano ang itsura ng isinumpang larawan.  In fact, Mondael knows he would always remember that face.

Then, finally, cursed_chatmate resurfaced.  Fille gasped.  She could feel her hands shaking.  Hinawakan ni Mondael ang nagnginginig niyang kamay.   Kahit hindi nababasa ni Caroline ang nasa screen, tila nakaramdam siya ng panlalamig.

“Nagmessage na ba yung magsesend ng picture?” tanong ni Caroline.

“Yep.  Sasabihin ko sayo pag magpiprint ka na,” sagot ni Mondael.

                   Cursed_chatmate: looking for a friend?

                Carowozniacki: yes

                Cursed_chatmate: I’m your friend now

                Carowozniacki: not if I don’t know how u look like

                Cursed_chatmate: wanna see my pic?

                Carowozniacki: yeah

                Cursed_chatmate: wait. Magsesend na ako

Naramdaman ni Mondael ang matinding pagpapawis ng kamay ni Fille na hawak-hawak niya.

“Close your eyes.  Don’t look at the picture, okay?” bulong niya kay Fille.  “You’re gonna be fine.  Your friends are coming.”

“Will you also be safe?” Fille asked, but Mondael didn’t answer.

“Thank you… thank you for saving me, for risking your own life for this…”

Fille was sobbing quietly.  “Para sa kaalaman mo, Cainglet, I’m not doing this for you.  You know that my friend’s mom is also a victim,” Mondael stated.  “Now close your eyes, silly girl.”

Nang hindi pa rin ipikit ni Fille ang mga mata niya, napilitan na si Mondael na yakapin siya at isubsob ang mukha ni Fille sa bisig niya.  Then, he closed his eyes.

Caroline did as was instructed.  Iprinint niya ang larawan, pagkatapos ay pinunit-punit ito.

“Done,” she announced.  Mondael slowly opened his eyes.

“Where are the torn pieces?” he asked.

“Ewan.  Baka nilipad na ng hangin, but who cares?  Basta, pinunit ko na.”

Saka pa lamang dumating sina Lou, Anjo at Nastja.  Sugat-sugat ang mga mukha at katawan nila.

“Fille,” Anjo called out her name nang makitang tila nakayakap ito kay Mondael.  Saka pa lamang umalis si Fille sa tabi ni Mondael.

“Okay ka lang ba, Fille?” Anjo asked.

Tumango si Fille.  Maybe the curse was stopped, but she felt a big hole in her heart thinking that the torn picture was Erno’s.  Ni hindi man lang niya iyon nakita, kahit sa huling pagkakataon na lang.