OBSIDIAN ISSUE #1: PUSHED

TWENTY

The incident is all over the news. Ang naganap na habulan noong isang gabi at ang shoot out kinabukasan ay nakuhang maiugnay ng otoridad sa isa't isa. They have also deduced the case as drug-related which is true. As one of the top leading plights in the country, the investigation didn't cease until they caught the right people to face court. 

It went on for days. May mga testigo ngunit walang makumpirma dahil malabo ang mga salaysay. Iyong iba ay siguro natakot kaya ayaw magpaunlak sa imbestigasyon.  

Ang tanging tiyak ay ang kontrabando na iniwan namin sa kotse. The authorities have gathered the drugs and the shooting was said to be the battle of rival connections. The media went in an uproar lalo na't sumabay sa balita ang pagkamatay ng isa sa mga tinutugis na drug kingpin sa bansa.

Bonifacio 'El Trueno' Diaz.  El Trueno. The Thunder, as they call him. A man whose schemes are preceded with silence before he attacks. Kaya malakas ang kutob kong mas malaki ang pinsala pagkatapos ng pananahimik niya kuno. 

Of course, it was just a counterfeited information. A conspiracy. And his sham death is backed up by a government official. Kaya paniwalang paniwala ang lahat na patay na nga siya.

What they don't know is that within this silence is a brewing danger. Dahil alam ko ang mangyayari, ako ang mas nangingilabot. Those who think this news is a trigger for relief, sorry to say it's not. 

The reporter's words were cut when I turned off the tv.  Tumayo ako at tumungo sa bintana. Sa isang hawi ng kurtina ay kita ang aliwalas ng dalampasigan at ang papasikat na araw sa guhit-tagpuan. Lumakas sa pandinig ang hampas ng alon. Hinila ko ang slide door at lumabas sa balkonahe.

The line of light from the sun reflecting in the sea is such a beauty, but it was a line of scar lacerating the calmness for me.

Dinungaw ko ang cellphone sa aking kamay. This has been off for four days, at apat na araw na rin akong nakakulong sa rest house ni daddy habang nagpapagaling ng sugat galing sa barilan.

They fought against my father's men. All, defeated. Ako talaga ang target nila bilang ganti kay daddy. They were all killed while I was licking my wounds in the warehouse, where my father found me. Nalaman ko rin na iyong umatake sa akin sa dormhouse ay matagal na rin nilang niligpit. 

I have never been this scared. These number of deaths in a single day alone becomes an endless nightmare. Hindi ko alam kung makakabalik pa ako sa siyudad. Kung gusto ko man, paano? 

Nanatili ang tingin ko sa labas nang umingit ang pinto. The door closes tailed by heavy bootsteps until it stopped right at my back. Kahit nakatalikod, ramdam ko ang anino niya na kaya pa rin takpan ang aking tangkad.

"Kamusta sila?" 

A sigh escape from him before he took a step beside me.  Katulad ko ay sumandal rin siya sa barandilya.

"Ganon ba talaga iyong si Azriel? Palaging galit? He steps out of his car always looking pissed. O baka may kinalaman lang siguro iyon sa pagkawala mo." 

Hindi ko mapigilan ang lingunin si Kier. My meeting brows is asking for more.  He only turned to me with a two second glance and mockingly smirked. Binalik niya rin ang tingin sa harap.

His eyes narrowed due to the wind's soft caress. The fresh light from the rising sun touched his face making his eyes warmer brown.

"Nakilala niya ako kaya hinanap ka rin niya sa akin. Akala ko mamamatay ako sa tingin lang. I never thought you have a thing for brooding and grumpy men, Aleah." He chuckled.

Hindi ko magawang ngumiti pabalik. Especially when I can still remember Maddox's cry asking me to come home with him. His tears on the other line asking me to call me his mom. Hindi naaawat ang pamumuo ng luha ko sa tuwing naaalala iyon.