Rock Bottom (#Wattys 2018)

Chapter 31

"Why did you called me?" I sipped my hot coffee then smiled at him, again.

"I want you to investigate someone." I said. Tiningnan niya ako ng puno nang pagtataka. "We were rival three years ago."

"We aren't." He said. "Wala akong kinakampihan. I'm just doing my job. What do you want?" Siya naman ang ngumiti ngayon. Parang ang daling hanapin ng kanyang kiliti ah. Kailangan niya ba ng pera?

"Help me to investigate Silvestri's death and the woman who wanted to kill me. I'll give what you want." Ngumisi siya sa pagkasabi ko no'n. "Isang kundisyon, ibigay mo lahat ng impormasyon ng mga Selrom."

Natawa siya ng marahan, "I don't give informations, Miss. Lahat ng nagiging kliyente ko ay nakatago sa akin lahat ng sikreto nila." Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin.

"I know the truth behind Silvestri's death. I just need the assurance of everything." Napahawak siya sa kanyang baba. "Like, geez, you're a damn detective. Imposibleng hindi mo tutulungan ang kliyente mo." Napairap ako.

"Let me see what I can do." Dumikwarto ako habang pinagmamasdan siya. Wearing white t-shirt, leather jacket and ragged jeans. Saan ba pinulot ang lalaking 'to? "I need to go."

"See ya." I said then waved my hand to him. Tinitigan niya lang ako saka umalis.

Naglalakad ako sa loob ng mall habang hawak-hawak yung mainit na kape. Wearing my sunglasses, walking with passion. All eyes on me, making me more confident.

Lumabas na ako papuntang parking lot. Napakainit kaya dinalian ko ang paglalakad. Sasakay na sana ako sa kotse ko nang biglang may sumipol. Napatingin ako ro'n at bumungad kaagad sa akin si Hanz na nakasandal sa kotse niya.

"Wasn't expecting that." Nakangising sabi niya.

"Expecting what?" I raised my left eyebrow.

"Arresting my mom inside the hospital while taking her treatments." Oh, he's a mama's boy now?

"So? You're a mayor. Responsable mo lahat ng problema sa lugar na 'to. Bakit pinagtatakpan mo pa ang nanay mo? Does homicide and trespass aren't big deal to you? How 'bout those innocent people getting locked-up behind bars? Tell me! Who's responsible for all these bullshit?!" I can't even calm myself. Lumapit ako sa kanya para higitin ang kwelyo niya.

Nang hawakan niya ang magkabilang kamay ko ay natapon yung kape pero nagaalagab parin ako sa galit. Lalo na no'ng titigan nanaman niya ako.

"Do you deserve being a mayor? You can't even defend your people!" Hinampas ko yung dibdib niya pero nanatiling nakatitig siya sa akin. "How dare you!" I shouted at him.

Sa paulit-ulit na hinahampas ko siya hanggang sa hablutin niya ulit ang dalawa kong kamay.

"You're away for like three years. You don't know how much I ate my pride to throw my people into jail because they were taking drugs. Their faces are so hopeless. I can't even defend them for justice but I did that for the innocents ones!" Matigas niyang sabi. "Nalaman kong masama ang kundisyon ng tatay ko at hindi na kayang gampanan ang pagiging mayor. Hindi madali maging mayor kung hindi mo napapasunod ang mga tauhan mo! Seeing them rolling their eyes and mocking behind me was fucking disrespectful. And, you know what?"

"I don't wanna hear it... Hanz, I don't-"

"I waited you for years! Hoping that you're coming back! But, remembering that I was a fucking asshole saying that you don't deserve me. Well maybe, I don't deserve this position." Umiling iling ako. Pinipigilan ko ang pagtulo ng luha ko. Hinawakan niya ang baba ko at tinaas ang ulo ko para magtama ang paningin namin. "Because, in the first place, I didn't earn your trust being mine."

"Please..." napapikit ako ng marahan.

"Baby, please what?" Hinawakan niya ang dalawang pisnge ko.

"I can't control my anger. So, please... I want you to stop her. I might kill her." Nanginginig kong sabi. I wasn't really a weak woman, but being in front of him, I'm weaker than I thought. "Don't do this for me. Do this for your brother."

In just a swift move, I can feel his lips on my lips. Kissing me passionately. Giving me thousand bolts through my body and even butterflies in my stomach.

Napasandal ako sa kotse niya dahil sa napakainit niyang halik. I can feel his hands wandering into my body. Lumipat ang halik niya sa leeg ko, nagiiwan ng marka. Hanggang sa maibaba niya ang leather jacket ko ngunit napatigil siya.

Nakita ko ang pagtalim ng kanyang tingin sa akin.

"Who fucking did this to you?" Nanlaki ang mata ko nang makita niya ang peklat ko sa likuran. Agad kong sinuot ang leather jacket ko at umiwas ng tingin. "Who?" Madiin niyang tanong.

"Janina." I answered. Nagulat ako nang hampasin niya ang sarili niyang sasakyan.

"Why the fuck?" Marahan niyang hinawakan ang braso ko at itinagilid ako para makita niya ang kabuuan. "Baby, tell me. Why?"

"I was kidnapped before I left the province. She tortured me and I can't even defend myself." Nakita ko ang pagtiim bagang niya. I don't really need his help. But, seeing him in madness makes me wanna tell him the truth.

I wanna slap it hard to him to realize that I sacrificed than him. But, one thing will destroy his purity.

"And..." umiwas ako ng tingin. Ayokong umiyak sa harapan niya.

"And, what?"

"I lost my baby." May tumulong luha sa isang mata ko. Nakikita kong hindi siya makapaniwala sa sinabi ko. "I lost our baby." Naramdaman kong hinawakan niya ang magkabilang balikat ko.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Anger filled inside him. Base narin siya higpit ng hawak niya sa balikat ko.

"Because, I thought you don't even care." Umagos nang tuluyan ang luha ko pero nanatiling seryoso ang aking mukha. Ramdam ko ang pagluwag ng paghawak niya sa akin.

"I'm so sorry." Ayo'n lang ang lumabas sa bibig niya. Napasinghap siya at humawak sa baywang niya at tumingin sa sahig. Narinig ko pa ang pagtawa niya ng marahan. "Kung hindi lang kita ginago noon. Paniguradong buhay ang anak natin at paniguradong namumuhay tayo ng payapa."

"No, I'm sorry. Hindi ko nakayanan ang atake ni Janina." I sighed. "Just help me. Please, Hanz." Nang hindi siya sumagot ay umalis ako sa harapan niya. Nagulat ako nang higitin niya ang kamay ko.

"Seeing your scars, hearing the truth was already enough." He said. "But, baby, I wanna know how you still feel about me."

I smiled at him, "A person that I gave everything. Nothing but a memory, Hanz." Unti-unting lumuluwag ang hawak niya. "It's not yet the time for this. I have things to do."

I saw his eyes glittered. "I see." He answered. "Just tell me if you need me or want me." I nodded.

Nang makapasok ako sa loob ng sasakyan ko ay ro'n ako nakahinga ng maluwag. I wanna know how you still feel about me.

Are you still in love or more deeply in love? Because, baby, I'm madly in love.