(Interrogation Room)
"Mr. Salcedo, lahat ng ebidensiya ay nagtuturo sa'yo. Ang fingerprints na natagpuan sa murder weapon ay sayo lamang. Isa pa, ikaw lang ang kasama ng biktima nung naganap ang krimen. Siguro pagkatapos mong saksakin ang iyong nobya ay binagok mo ang sariling ulo para palabasing biktima ka rin. Tama ba ako, Mr. Salcedo? Umamin ka na sa iyong sala para hindi na madagdagan ang sentensiya m-
"Putang-ina! Paulit-ulit ko ng sinasabi na hindi ako ang pumatay!" Nagngingitngit na sigaw ni Jepoy. Pagod na pagod na siya. Hindi pa nga nagsisink-in ang tuluyang pagkawala ng kanyang pinakamamahal, panibagong dagok na naman ang kanyang kinakaharap. Parang sa isang oras, sunod-sunod ang delubyong dumating at ang makahinga ng maayos kahit isang segundo ay pinagkait sa kanya. Napakasakit sa kanya ang biglaang pagkawala ng kanyang nobya, pero hindi niya maipaliwanag ang pighati na mapagbintangan na siyang pumatay sa kanyang pinakamamahal. Parang panaginip ang lahat sa sobrang bilis- isang bangungot na gusto na niyang lisanin.
"I could never do that to my girlfriend, damn, I could never even have the courage to graze her skin even with the slightest force. I could never, never do that," he whispered in surrender. Even talking felt like a curse to him now. He was exhausted, and in times like this, only Via's embrace was all that he needed.
"Vivi, why?" His tears he thought ran dry already flowed down his cheeks with no signs of stopping any soon.
"Vi, I couldn't do this. Please, come back to me, I can't. If you can't, please, then take me with you. Don't leave me alone like this," tangis niya. Hindi na niya alintana na may ibang taong saksi sa kanyang pag-atungal. Ang bigat ng kanyang damdamin ay bahagyang nababawasan ng luha.
"Let me out of here. I need to see her, please," pagmamakaawa ni Jepoy.
Walang tugon ang pulis na umakusa sa kanya. Tinablan ito ng awa at pakiwari nito'y hindi nga nagsisinungaling ang lalaki.
"Please, Sir. I just need to see her. I'll come back in my own volition after thi-
"Kailangan mo munang umamin sa kasala-
"What you are doing is a violation of a person's constitutional rights, Mr. Policeman. Mr. Salcedo, I suppose you are aware of your right to remain silent," saad ng isang lalaki na naka suit na biglaang pumasok sa silid.
"I am Franco Ferrer, the attorney of Mr. Salcedo. From now on, you can only talk to me regarding this case as Mr. Salcedo is still mentally unstable. As it stands, you are coercing my client to plead guilty. This would count as an offense, officer," matiim na sambit ni Atty. Ferrer.
Napatungo ang pulis sa kahihiyan habang napabuga na lang ng hangin ang nasabing abogado.
"Unfortunately, you will be under detention, Mr. Salcedo. But don't fret, your father and your legal team is doing everything to uncover the truth and plead your innocence. Sa ngayon, gusto kang makausap ng iyong ama. Naghihintay sila sa labas," saad ni Atty. Ferrer.
Dali-daling lumabas si Jepoy at doon naghihintay ang kanyang pamilya. Agad siyang niyapos ng kanyang ama at ni Yuki, at gustuhin man niyang gantihan ang yakap, hindi niya magawa dahil sa posas.
"Kuya, you don't deserve this," her sister wept uncontrollably on his chest.
"You didn't even get the chance to mourn for Ate Via," she added, breathless.
"I trust you, anak. I have no doubt that this was all a misunderstanding. I am sorry that you have to undergo all this pain. Kung maaari, ako na lang sana ang nasa kalagayan mo ngayon," maluha-luhang saad ni Governor Salcedo.
"You did everything you could, Dad. Don't worry, I know we could get through this. For Via's sake, I wouldn't give up," his voice cracked as he spoke of her name. "I know, justice will be served accordingly. I wouldn't lose hope."
"Oo, makakamit natin ang hustisya. I will do everything in my power for truth to come to light as soon as possible," his father reassured.
Naudlot ang kanilang yakapan dahil sa mga bagong dating na bisita.
Kakaiba sa nakasanayang tuwa, puno ng poot ang natatanging repleksiyon ang nakikita ni Jepoy sa mga mata ng kanyang magiging ikalawang magulang sana.
"Tita, I a-
Jepoy's word stopped by a crisp slap, and his world ceased to turn for a moment.
Her Tita Aveline had always been a sweet, gentle woman. He never saw her lose her temper, even when they were still rowdy kids paying a visit to Madrigal's mansion. That's why she was one of the most sought pediatricians in the city, because aside from her expertise, she exudes comfort in all her ways.
Pero ngayon, hindi na mabanaag ni Jepoy ang nakagisnan niyang Tita Aveline. Kung titigan siya nito ay parang isang nakakadiring insekto na kailangan puksain sa madaling panahon.
"How could you do that to my daughter? How could you? I thought you loved here?" Sigaw ng ginang habang sinusuntok-suntok and dibdib ni Jepoy. Sinubukan ni Governor Salcedo na awatin ang ginang pero sinabi ni Jepoy na hayaan ito.
Alam niya kung gaano kasakit sa mga magulang nito ang nangyari, at kung may ibang tao man na makakaintindi sa pagdurusang sinasapit niya, si Tita Aveline at Tito Victor niya ito.
"I truly love your daughter, Tita, Tito. You witness that, in all these years. That's why, please, believe in our love for each other. I could never-" napahinto si Jepoy dahil parang sinasakal ang kanyang lalamunan sa pighati.
"I could never want her gone. Doing that is the same as taking my own life," tumakas na naman ang mga luha na akala niya ay ubos na.
"But all the pieces of evidence pointed all to you, Mr. Salcedo. Some affiliates also confessed that you two were not on good terms in recent days," biglang sabat ng isang babae na naka corporate attire at salamin. Mukhang ito ang abogado ng pamilya Madrigal.
Lumapit si Atty. Victor kay Governor Salcedo at kalmado man ang anyo nito, mararamdaman naman ang bagyo na kayang lamunin ang lahat ng bagay na madaraanan.
"Sisiguraduhin kong wala kang magagawang pandaraya dito, Governor. Buhay ng anak ko ang nawala, kaya sisiguraduhin kong mananagot ang tunay na may sala," tiim na pagbabanta nito.
Pagkatapos nito, umalis na ang grupo at naiwang mas lugmok si Jepoy.
Ipinasok na siya sa selda, at lumisan na rin si Governor Salcedo at si Yuki para asikasuhin ang mga dapat gawin para siya'y mapawalang sala. Nakakatawang isipin na ang isang lalaki na buong buhay tumatalima sa batas at pangarap na magpatupad ng batas ay nakakulong ngayon sa napakabigat na sala. Hindi niya alintana ang ibang kasamahan na inuuyam siya dahil sa kanyang kaawa-awang kalagayan. Buhat ng pagod at pighati, nakatulog ito, at sa mabuting palad, sa kanyang panaginip, masaya pa ang buhay. Nandoon pa si Via.
----
"Do you love me?" Via asked out of nowhere.
Jepoy chuckled. He guessed it was her time of the month again. He snuggled closer to her and nodded repeatedly on her neck, brushing his lips on her skin.
"Let me rephrase that. Gaano mo ba ako kamahal? Till death do us part?"
"Not even death could separate us, darling. I am willing to sell my soul just to take you back from Hades if things come to worse. I am willing to defy fate and change the course of time just to be by your side again."
---
Nagising si Jepoy sa isang magandang panaginip. Pero pagmulat niya, agad niyang hiniling na sana di na lang siya nagising.
"Via... Bakit... Bakit mo ko iniwan?"
YOU ARE READING
TIMELESS SERIES BOOK 1: TWICE UPON A TIME
Adventure"Do you love me?" Via asked out of nowhere. Jepoy chuckled. He guessed it was her time of the month again. He snuggled closer to her and nodded repeatedly on her neck, brushing his lips on her skin. "Let me rephrase that. Gaano mo ba ako kamahal? Ti...
