Stolen lives

SL : 50

Unedited...

Elthon

Pagkasakay na pagkasakay ko sa company van na sumundo sakin sa airport about an hour ago,  nakaramdam na naman ako ng kaba. Noong isang araw ko pa ito nararamdaman, pero ayon sa huling pag uusap namin ni mom, wala naman daw problema. Kaya si Seph ang naiisip ko. Nang muli kong tawagan si Isa ay hindi niya daw makontak si Seph. At ganon din ako. Pilit kong winawaglit sa isipan ko na baka may nangyaring masama kay Seph.

"Dito na tayo boss" anang company driver.

"Salamat" Bumaba na din ako at kinuha ang mga bagahe ko sa likod ng van. Nag doorbell ako para magpatulong kay kuya Nestor na buhatin ang mga gamit ko. I'm tired after a long hour of travel. And it's past eight pm.

"Sir Elthon" bati pa ng guard.

"Kuya Nestor, pakibuhat nalang ng mga gamit ko, pakipasok nalang din sa kwarto ko. Pagod na pagod ako" utos ko dito.

"Sige sir" mahinang tugon nito na hindi nakaligtas sakin. Usually kasi ay nakangiti ito pag kausap o nakikita ako. Hindi na kasi iba ang trato namin dito sa tagal nitong nagsisilbi sa pamilya.

"May problema ba kuya Nestor?" Pag uusisa ko.

"Wala sir" Pag iwas nito ng tingin. Dahil sa pagod ay hindi na ako masyado nag usisa pa.

Pero habang palapit ako ng palapit ako sa aming bahay ay bumalik na naman yung kakaibang kaba ko. At napansin kong maraming tao. Hindi lang maraming tao, sobrang liwanag at may mga bulaklak pa....ng patay.

Bakit may ganito dito?

At dahil doon ay patakbo na akong pumasok sa loob ng bahay.  Just to see a long white with a mix of gold coffin. Beside that coffin is my mom...who look helplessly. And a man standing beside that coffin, not even wearing a single smile when our eyes met. Everyone turn their eyes on me....me, who's still standing on the front door,  I can't move my feet, feels like I'm stuck where I am standing right now. As my eyes roam aroud the house, I've found a big picture...a picture of my loving sister who's smiling sweetly. Taken just a month ago. I remember that coz I was the one who took that shot...and that, as reality sink in, I've lost all the remaining strength I have.

Lumapit sa akin si Zack at tinulungan aking makatayo...tinulungan makalapit sa kabaong na tila ba inaantay akong masilayan kung sino man ang nasa loob non...

And saw that familiar face...

I stood in stunned silence beside that coffin, as my fist clenched. As my eyes starts watery.

"Lalaaaaaaaaaa" it was the most loudest and most painful scream I've ever did in my whole life. Feeling of being stub a million times but still alive and feeling the pain from it.

Lumapit sa akin si mom na halos wala ding patid sa pagluha.

"Mom" as I look up to her helplessly.

"Elthon anak" she said in lower voice.

She pull me for a tight hug.

Sabay kaming umiyak...sabay na nasasaktan..ang pakiramdam ng mawalan muli ng isang taong mahal mo.

Si dad...si grandma...si Lala...

-

After spending an hour beside Lala's coffin...mom called and asked me if we can have a small talk.

She even help me to stand. I just felt so weak.

She guided me sa study room. Maya maya ay sumunod din si Zack.

"Son----galing dito ang mga pulis kahapon lang"

"Ano bang nangyari mom? Anong nangyari kay Lala? Bakit ganito na?" punong puno ng katanungan ang isip ko.

"Policeman gave this, and Lala's shoulder bag"

Walang lakas na binuksan ko ang inabot nitong brown envelope.

At doon ko nakita ang lahat ng larawan.

Lala was lying unconsciously on that road. Beside her is her shoulder bag. Then my sports car...

My sports car...na pinagamit ko kay Lala.

"Mom---ano to?" Pagtataka ko. Kung bakit nandoon ang sports car na ginagamit ni Seph.

"Base sa imbestigasyon ng mga pulis----yan ang kotseng naka bundol kay Lala na naging sanhi ng pagkamatay niya. At sa loob ng kotseng yon-----nakita ang mga gamit ni Seph" lalo akong naguluhan sa sinabi ni mom.

"Paanong si Seph?  I mean----bakit? At nasaan siya?"

"Wala pa kaming balita anak. Ang sabi ng mga pulis, babalik sila dito pag may balita na ulit sila"

"Maybe because Lala discovered something about Seph" Si Zack na tahimik lang na nakikinig kanina pa.

"Anong ibig mong sabihin?" Si mom.

"To tell you the truth----lalo na sayo Elthon. That night----your birthday, we went in a bar. You introduced to us your friend which is Seph. That was not the first time that I've met her"

"Naguguluhan ako Zack " sabi ko dito.

"I've met her first before you. One day, as I drove my way going somewhere, I've almost hit her. Or should I say, she let herself to get hit by me"

"Ano?" Kunot noong tanong ko sa  kwento nito.

"She was not hurt because before that happened, I already step on the breaks. And confront her after that. I knew it was a trap. I've been there Zack. She pulled that trick to get some easy money. And I guess, that day tita Divine, when she helped you, it was not a coincidence that she was there. She conspire with that thief. To get your sympathy. And she did. All of you helped her. Given her almost everything. Money assistance for her mom, that car and most importantly, your trust. You trusted her so much without fully knowing her. You've only known her for months. How would you know if she can be trusted? As for me, she's just using you as an opportunity to be rich"

"No way Zack----that's too much" I disagree.

"It is Elthon. If you only open your eyes to see who she really is. Acting innocent and pitiful----tell me, you love her now don't you?"

To be continued...

Face to face...will Elthon still take the side of Seph...or he'll be another Zack...