OBSIDIAN ISSUE #1: PUSHED

FORTY-SIX

Final chapter

Azriel insisted my admission to the hospital. Pagkatapos akong kunan ng pahayag sa nangyari, agaran ang pagpupumilit niya na ipatingin ang tama ko sa ulo at sugat sa binti kahit nagamot na naman niya ito. He wasn't convinced that I am fine seeing that I can still function, although limping a little bit. Kung sa isang katulad niya ako makikipagtalo, I'd only end up hopeless lalo na't sa pagod na rin ako. So I spent three days in the facility. Doon ko nakuhang malaman ang nangyari.

Fazio found Phoebe a week ago in the outskirts of the city. Sa takot ng pangalawa ay pumayag itong makipagsundo at iyon ay ang dalhin ako kay Fazio kapalit ng hindi na nito pakikialam pa sa buhay niya.

Is that why she's so hell-bent into forcing me to talk Azriel out of the marriage? Kasi alam nito ang peligro sa buhay ko kung hindi. I could see through her desperation as she shook me. Her solid fear and apology. But she made a deal with the wrong man! Nilinlang pati siya sa pag-aakalang susunod ito sa kasunduang ilayo lamang ako.

In the end, she admitted to her mistake. I may have hated what she did but it doesn't mean that it disqualifies for my forgiveness. May pinagsamahan pa rin naman kami at iyon ang hindi ko kayang kalimutan.

In the light of Fazio's capture, the government has also freed me from the protection program. Kasama sa mga nadakip ng araw na iyon ay ang mga kasamahan niya umano sa kagubatan. Tatlo pa sa kanila ang malaya, but the high-ups were convinced that they were after someone and not me. The news heated national television, yet my exit from the program remains unknown to the public. It would stay that way until forgotten and I couldn't have been more relieved by that.

"Bakit? Sayang, ipapakilala ko pa naman sana boyfriend ko sa 'yo. Sinundo namin siya kahapon sa airport. But you weren't with us."

I can imagine my bestfriend's pout on the other line. She called me when I was on my last day in the hospital. Gusto niyang sabay kami na bumalik sa Negros but I told her that I still yet to spend a few days here and she suddenly was fine with it. Siguro naisip din na maso-solo niya ang balikbayan nitong iniirog.

"Kita na lang tayo sa school," huling sinabi ko bago binaba ang phone.

There's a nudging part of me that wants to tell her the truth. I owe it to her at least, sa hindi inaasahang pagkakaibigan na binigay niya sa akin noong nag-iisa ako. Maybe in time, when I'm ready. Or maybe when I get back to school.

And I have many more truths to tell that I owe to her when I get back.

Hindi na rin pinatagal pa ni Azriel ang masinsinang usapan nila ng anak. I was there when he sat down with him one time in their house. At first, I thought he was too young to make understand of his parent's situation. But when would be the right time? At seven, he was shot. He grew up believing that his mother is dead. Ngayon na buhay pala ang ina niya, sa bilangguan naman niya ito makikita.

After all, she didn' t lie to us about her employer handing half of the latter's estate down to her. Sila ni Azriel ang nag-usap ukol doon at pinili kong hindi na manghimasok. I chose to stay inside the car during the first visit. Lumabas lang ako ilang minuto ang nakalipas kasama si Maddox at narinig ang hikbi at sumamo ng kanyang ina. I didn't feel a tinge of hate when I saw her pleading, holding Azriel's hand.

"I'm sorry. Alam mo naman kung bakit ko nagawa ' yon, 'di ba? I hope my son will visit me. Sana hindi niya ako kamuhian.... Please, make him visit me, AJ. I love him so much..."

I looked at the boy beside me. Nakayuko at awkward na tinatapik tapik ang sapatos sa sahig. Nasa bulsa ang isang kamay habang inaayos ng isa ang baligtad nitong cap. I squeezed his shoulder as an encouragement.