Suzy Azarcon

Chapter 6

"I'm done here!" Tita popped out of nowhere. "May napili ba kayo para sabay-sabay na tayong magbayad?" she asked but neither the two of us were holding something. She just shrugged and went on the cashier. Naiwan na naman kaming dalawa na magkasama pero wala ni isa ang nagsasalita.

I busied myself on a specific stand. May mga bracelets, watches, rings at earrings na naka-display doon kaya naman tiningnan ko kung may magustuhan ako. An earring caught my attention. I do love fancy earrings pero minsan ay gusto ko lang iyong simple. The earrings were like a pair of fangs but it's gold in color.

Kinuha ko agad iyon at saka inabot kay Tita. Mabuti na lang at hindi pa siya nakakapila. Para naman hindi masayang ang pagpasok namin dito. But I was confused when I saw him handed Tita something, too. Gusto ko sanang itanong kung ano pero nahihiya lang ako. It's none of my business anyway.

"Here's my pay, Tita," aniya pa.

"No, no, I'll pay for this one." The teasing smile on Tita's face was visible. When I looked at Mervin, he just ignored me and glanced away. Ang weird nilang dalawa ngayon.

Looking at them suspiciously, we walked outside the shop. Imbis na bumalik sa sasakyan ay pumasok na naman kami sa isang shop. This time, it's a gun shop. Gusto ko sanang ma-excite habang nakatingin sa mga ito pero inisip ko pa rin ang magiging reaksyon ni Mervin. He doesn't know what I do before coming here.

"I knew you'll love it in here that's why I entered after the boutique. Just enjoy yourself with the sight, Sue. This will be, I think, the last time you'll see them after this," she said.

I did what she told me. Sinuyod ko ang buong shop. This is legal, okay? Madalas na makikita mo rito ay puro mga pulis o kaya naman ay mga sundalo. Kung may pupunta man ditong hindi, which is kami, iyon ay para tumingin-tingin lang. Tulad ng nasa bahay ay may mga glass na nakaharang sa mga baril. May ilang mga nakalabas pero walang mga bala.

"I..." hindi ko maiwasang hindi sabihin nang makita ko ang baril na kamukha ng baby ko – a silver pistol. Sigurado akong ang mga shop na ganito ay may area kung saan pwedeng subukan ang mga baril. "I want to try... just for the last time," sabi ko.

Mervin must have heard me that's why he ambled near me. "We want to try this gun. Pwede niyo ba kaming i-assist sa loob?" aniya sa isa sa mga assigned staffs. Agad namang may lumapit sa 'ming isang lalaki para dalhin kami sa loob. There were some papers needed to be filled but it didn't take us long enough lalo na nang ipakita ko ang lisensya ko na kailangan ko ring i-confiscate kay Tita soon. Buti at hindi agad kinuha sa'kin.

Maraming sinabing payo ang lalaki kanina kung paano gagamitin but I knew exactly what to do. Bata pa lang ako ay trained na ako kung paano humawak ng baril at patalim. This is an easy piece. Gusto ko lang talagang damahin dahil ito na sa tingin ko ang huling beses na makakahawak ako ng ganito after all that's happened.

I aimed for the target. I focused on the heart and fired all the bullets. Nang tingnan ng lalaki ang tinamaan ko ay hindi na siya nagkomento. I loaded the gun again and shot the head with all the bullets, ganoon pa rin ang kinalabasan. The third and the last was at the right eye where I shot all the bullets again.

Nakahinga ako nang malalim dahil parang nabunutan ako ng tinik sa lalamunan. I grabbed the binoculars at the side and looked at my target – a clear 3 holes at the heart, head and at the right eye. Malaki ang butas kaysa bala dahil paulit-ulit iyong dinaanan ng bala kanina. Walang mintis. But it all ends now.

Umalis na ako pagkatapos noon kasunod sina Tita at Mervin. "I want to go home now. Kung gusto niyo pa pong gumala ay ayos lang. I can just take a cab," paalam ko sa kanila nang makalabas kami sa shop.