DETECTIVE FILES. File 2 (COMPLETED)

CHAPTER 37: LINKAGE

Chapter 37: Linkage

"You m-must be Ryle..... My sister."

Hindi ako makagalaw sa kinatatayuan ko when Ryu grabbed and hugged me so tight. He buried his face on my neck at doon napahagulhol.

"Ryle....." The devil cried hard in front of me at bumalik sa alaala ko ang lahat ng mga nangyari sa pagitan namin ni Ryu mula sa unang beses na tutukan niya ako ng baril sa masquerade party nina Marion hanggang sa mga sandaling ito. I can't believe that he's my brother. Of all things, it's the least that I expected.

"R-Ryu...."

"Kaya pala may kakaiba akong nararamdaman para sa iyo. I thought I was like those other Vanders who've been falling for you but now it's all clear to me. You're my sister", he said while crying. He kissed my hair and hugged me more.

Nang bitawan niya ako kay hinarap naman niya si Mommy. "Mom..."

"Ikaw ang batang lalaki sa panaginip ko?", Mom said at napaiyak. "God, I really want my memory back. I guess I'll have to schedule another hypnotic session with Dr. Lorenzo."

Naiyak si Mommy at niyakap si Ryu. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang naging resulta ng cosultation niya kanina sa doctor but these things are getting clearer to her. To us.

Sa gulat ko ay lumuhod sa harapan ko si Rionessi. "My daughter...."

Tinulungan ko siyang tumayo. I can't believe that he kneeled in front of me.
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry please patawarin niyo ako.... Sa ilang taon na hindi ko kayo nakasama."

As I saw him cried ay lumambot din ang puso ko. My father. My real father. "Patawarin mo ako Anak. Forgive me for pointing my gun to you..."

"O-okay l-lang po..."

"Sandali lang Tartarus! We can't be sure that she's Athena! Bakit hindi natin siya isailalim sa DNA testing?", suhestiyon ng isang babaeng nasa mesa. They were looking at us like we're taping a soap opera.

Pinulot ni Rionessi ang kanyang baril at itinutok iyon sa babae. "Don't you dare question me on-"

"Tama siya Tartarus. I also feel that this woman is my sister but we have to be sure", wika ni Cronus at ibinaba naman ni Rionessi ang kanyang hawak na baril.

"I'm open for it if that's the only way to answer all my questions. I always wake up next to my husband after seeing another face in my dreams", wika ni Mommy. Bumaling siya sa akin. "I always suspect your father of something, I mean Bernard. Para kasing andami niyang itinatago sa atin. Eventhough he's a good husband and father, nagtataka pa rin ako sa ibang mga ikinikilos niya. I don't know about his other transactions other than those in our business."

"Mom..." Mas lalo pang naglaglagagan ang mga luha ko. Naaawa na ako sa tearducts ko. Noong isang araw pa ito, it must be so tired by now for its nonstop task.

But if I'm Ryu's sister and we're Vanders, it means... Napatingin ako kay Cooler. Gone was his lively and positive mood. I neither see anger nor happiness in his eyes. All I see is a blank stare. If he's a Vander and so is Gray, it means that we're cousins! Sumagi sa isip ko ang halik na nangyari sa pagitan namin ni Gray.

What the hell? I'm all fucked up! My body and mind are tired and I cannot think right. Pero bakit?! Bakit si Gray pa? Did I kiss my cousin?

Naramdaman ko na lamang ang pag-ikot ng mundo and everything becomes blurry. I felt my body softened at bago pa man ako tuluyang mawalan ng ulirat ay nasalo na ako ni Ryu before I fell on the floor.

Nagising ako na nasa malambot na kama at nakatunghay si Ryu sa akin. The reapers Mnemosyne and Poseidon were there too at namataan ko rin si Cooler na nakasandal sa gilid.