Beautiful Mistake

Chapter Forty-One

Tahimik si Abby sa mga nagdaang araw. She already felt better, thanks to Raven and Daniella. Pero mas higit sa una.

Raven really took care of her. Para siyang nasa teleserye, kung saan alagang-alaga ng bidang lalaki ang leading lady nito. He was taking care of the chores, kahit online classes niya, inaalalayan siya nito.

That would be the most pampered week she ever had. Hindi siya nagreklamo dahil... Gusto niya rin naman. She couldn't deny the fact that Raven, no matter how much it hurt when he failed her, is still her safe space.

"Raven?" Kakatok sana siya sa silid nito pero bukas iyon.  She opened it wider and saw that he wasn't inside. Saan naman nagpunta iyon?  Hindi kaya nagpunta kila Mang Julio? Kung ganoon bakit hindi man lang nagpaalam.

Bakit nga naman magpapaalam? Ano ka ba? Napailing siya sa sariling iniisip.

She was about to close the door when she noticed a pile of papers above the bed. Hindi naman ganito si Raven, napakasinop niyon sa gamit.

"Hindi kaya inutusan na naman iyon ni Daniella?" Pero, parang bumait ang kaibigan sa huli nang halos silang dalawa ang magkausap dahil nga nagkasakit siya. 'Hay nako, Raven —" She stopped when her eyes locked into something.

Sinfuego, Clara Abigail case file

She opened it and looked at the photos. It's the night she was... Napapikit siya at tila nanikip ang dibdib. But, she couldn't stop looking at it.

There she saw Joaquin. Ang taong pinagkatiwalaan niya ay biglang — wait... Tama ba ang nakikita niya? Kinwelyuhan ito ni Ed.

"Abby..." Napaharap siya kay Raven. Hindi man lang ito nagulat.

"Raven, ano ito?" Tukoy niya sa mga papel, "What's the meaning of this?" Iniisa isa niya iyon nang pagangat kay Raven.

"I'm investiga—"

"Hindi iyon ang ibig kong sabihin, Raven..." Putol niya rito pagkuwa'y tinapon sa kama ang mga papel. She walked out of the room. Para siyang malalagutan ng hininga. Bumibilis ang tibok ng puso niya.

She could feel that Raven followed her. She held her chest and tried to compose herself, "What are you trying to do?"

"I am keeping my word, Abby..." He advanced at her. She could feel him behind. Hindi niya magawang harapin ito dahil tratraydurin lang siya ng sariling katawan. Until he embraced her from behind, his chest landed on her back making her feel secured inside his arms, "I know I was late. I know that I've already hurt you, but I am keeping my word..."

"Para saan pa?" Her voice broke, "H-Huli na... Binaboy na nila ako... Ayoko ng balikan iyon... At kahit ano pa ang gawin ko, hindi ako mananalo...  Dahil wala akong maalala!"

"I know, Baby..." Humigit ang yakap nito sa kanya, "But someone helped us... Someone reached out to me that can clear your name..."

Napaharap siya rito, naguguluhan. "How is that possible?"

"It's Peter."

Nagulat siya nang marinig ang pangalan ng step-brother, "P-Paano?" Hinawakan ni Raven ang kamay niya at marahan siyang pinaupo sa living room.

Sandali itong dumiretso sa kusina at pagbalik ay may dalang isang basong tubig, "Drink this first. You will need it," agad niya iyong tinanggap at uminom ng kaunti.

Pumasok ito sa silid at pagkalabas ay dala na nito ang sariling laptop, "I was thinking of showing this to you right after everything is settled, but since you already know..." Nilapag nito sa coffee table ang laptop at nakita niya ang CCTV footages.