Wages Of Sin

Kabanata 12

Kabanata 12

Weird.

That's how I see the man in front of me right now. He really acts weird. I can still recall what he said earlier, but I can't shrink it into my mind. He can't get out? Why? Kagagawan na naman ba ito ni Dr. Valencia?

Bigla akong natigilan nang may maalala.

"Why are you at the party that night?" I suddenly asked him in the middle of the silence while we are walking.

"Let's say, someone hired me to be her fake boyfriend. Just like you," he said. Napakunot ako ng noo. How did he know?

"Naglaro rin ba kayo sa riddles?" I asked. He nodded before the long silence occurred again.

So, yep. Naglakad kami nang naglakad. I suggested to him that we'll ride a car, but he insisted. He said that he left his money, so do I. So we left no choice. He's quiet. Unusual. Bigla ko tuloy ulit naisip ang sinabi niya kanina.

"From the very beginning where I decided to help, I am already implicated to you. Too bad, I can't get out anymore."

Why? I mean, weird, right? He has choices. I don't want to say this, but I can sense that there is something wrong going on here.

"Are we there?" I asked. "I'm hungry."

Natigil naman siya sa paglalakad saka napasandal sa isang kotse. Napahawak siya sa kaniyang tuhod at pinahid ang pawis na tulo mula sa noo niya.

"Gutom na rin ako," he professed. Luminga-linga siya sa paligid. "Don't you have any money?"

"No," I said. "Should we go back?"

"Para mamatay?" he said sarcastically. "I prefer to stay."

"So, ano na nga?" Namewang ako. "Alangan namang magnakaw?"

Bigla siyang natigilan saka napatingin sa 'kin. He smiled and pointed somewhere. I gulped when I saw a store. Uh-oh.

"No, no." I shook my head and wave my hand in front. "There's no way on earth I'd do that."

"Then I will," he said and start walking. "Watch and learn."

I rolled my eyes when he said that and folded my arms. Mula rito ay naglakad siya patungo sa kabilang kanto kung nasaan iyong mini market. The convenience store is transparent, kaya't kita ko siya mula sa labas. Lumingon-lingon muna siya bago pumunta sa section kung saan maraming pagkain.

Nakita kong lumingon siya sa 'kin. He even smirked. How arrogant. You even haven't got any food yet.

Maya-maya pa'y nakita kong may tinitingnan siya mula sa malayo. Sinundan ko ito and I saw a guard. Kunot-noo kong sinundan ang mga galaw niya pati no'ng guard. Maya-maya pa'y umalis ang guard mula sa kaniyang pwesto at pumunta sa fire alarm. Muli akong napatingin kay Robin. I saw him clapped his hands.

"Fire!" the guard shouted as he pressed the alarm.

I gasped when everyone panicked, even inside of me panicked. My heart suddenly beats rapidly.

What was that?

Is that a show? Does the guard coordinates with Robin? No, impossible. Ni hindi nagkalapit ang dalawa. But when as soon as Robin clapped his hands...

Wait, is that even possible? No, no. But why? How?

"Run!" Robin suddenly shouted, grabbed my hand and ran.

Bigla akong napalingon kanina sa convenience store. It's on fire! May pasabog pang naganap. Wait, wala 'yun kanina. The guard just simply pressed the fire alarm without checking if there's a fire.