Escaping Away From Him [Short Stories #2]

Kabanata 17

DIANA is victim? Ilang ulit na bumalik sakanyang utak na parang sirang plaka ang mga salitang iyon. At first she don't want to believe. But when Aleg finish his explanation she understand why Diana became a victim.

Nasa puntod sila ngayon ni Diana. Iniwan muna nila Aleg ang mga bata sa mayordoma.

"After all this years I've been planning bad to her. But I was wrong. I should have understand her." Naramdaman niyang tumutulo na ang kanyang luha.

"Baby. It's not your fault okay? Walang may gusto nito. Kahit naman sa mga naisip mong plano wala ka naman na isagawa ng maayos." Napakunot-noo siyang tinitigan ang binata.

"What are you saying? That my plan are all failed?" Tumango ito sakanya.

"Everytime you escape away from my grip. I always interrupt it." Tinignan niya ng masama ang binata.

"Why?" Batid ang inis sa kanyang boses ng tanungin niya ang binata.

"After I know that Diana is a victim I try to protect her to get information."

"How did you stop all-- wait paanong palpak ang mga plano ko Troy make sure na makakaganti sila sa pamilya ko at kay Diana." Nakita niyang ngumisi ang binata.

"It's true na may kasalanan si Diana sakanya at kay Eunice at Anika but Baby your family is out of reach. Kahit kailan hindi niya ginantihan ang pamilya mo bagkus he protect them from the Duke."
Naguguluhang napatingin siya sa binata.

"What?"

"Diana's mother is really not a mistress right?" Tumango siya rito.

"Yes because he raped her."

"Yes. Kaya nila pinalabas na kabit ang mama ni Diana to cover his sin. His a bad man Baby. Ang mission nila Storm is kill him but first they need to gather information about him. Diana is also a victim of his cruelty. He tried to rape her too but it was too late for him since Diana got back to him. She poisoned him before he can do that nasty thing to her." Wala siyang masabi. Ang akala niya kaya ito isang biktima dahil muntikan na ito magahasa at that Duke try to kill her in any ways to get the antidote.

"Ibig sabihin lahat ng ginawa ni Diana--" tumango ito sakanya.

"Para protektahan ka."

"Why?"

"Naalala mo pa ba ang araw nang mahulog ka sa hagdan I guess you were 9 back then. Siguro hindi muna maalala." Yup. She can't remember it at all.

"Your blood together with you mom's favorite flower is the antidote Dame." She was shock.

"A-ano? P-paano?"

"Diana is a chemist doctor." Napaawang ang kanyang bibig.

"But--s-she's? Oh my God."

"Ang lason na ginawa niya para sa Duke ay isang sangkap roon ay isa sa paboritong bulaklak ng mom mo a kind of cactus I guess and a little amount of your blood and I don't know kung ano pa ang hinalo niya roon basta iyon lang ang nalaman ko." She's still in shock.

"How about Brandon? Bakit galit na galit siya sayo at sakin?"

"His name is Evan not Brandon. He misunderstood everything. Ang akala niya ng dahil sa akin kung bakit nagpakamatay si Diana. After the incident in her party na nag-away kami not because about her and me but because I try to persuade her to stop and let me handle everything but she oppose. She don't want to stop. At lulong narin siya sa droga sa panahong iyon. I left her after she burst into anger." Sumandal siya sa binata at nakinig na lang sa mga sinabi nito.

"When I heard the news from Xochi that she died I was shock. She kill herself after knowing that the Duke had died."

"He died?" Tumango ito sakanya.

"The poison spread into his body. Hindi niya alam ang formula ng antidote for that poison at hindi niya rin ito nakuha kay Diana. After Diana knew about it she killed herself because she's ashamed of everything that she did to you and to everyone she hurt." She look at the name in the tombstone. She was ashamed for knowing everything so freaking late.

"Ang akala ng mga reporter kaya nagpakamatay si Diana dahil ayaw ko siyang pakasalan but they were wrong kaya na galit si Evan. He thought that I was the reason. Hindi sinabi ni Diana ang mga totoong plano niya kaya ganun na lang ang galit ni Evan sakin."

"A-about m-my family?" She ask in almost a whisper.

"They're fine. They try to contact you but Diana block the way." Akala niya minapula niya talaga ang parents niya but she did not.

"Paano na si Mama at Papa. I have to tell them the truth." Ngumiti ito sakanya.

"It's fine. They're your parent's friend Baby. Kaya ka nila inalagaan ng maaigi because they know everything. "

"What?" Naguguluhang tanong niya rito.

"And I'm the one who did it. Kailangan ka nilang i-adopt legally para ma change ang name mo so that Diana's plan won't backfire." Grabe ang gulo pala ng pamilya nila. And all this time she think that she's the victim but she's not alone.

"That girl with me who is she?"

"Grace ex-fiancee ni Xochi." Nakanganga siya habang napatitig rito.

"Really? Is she one of you? A detective?" Umiling ito sakanya.

"Nope more than that." Humilig na lang siya rito at napabuntong hininga.

"By the way how did you know about my plans?"

"I have a alas."

"Who?" Kuryosadong tanong niya rito.

"Your friends." Napahiwalay siya rito.

"Ano!" Nginisihan lang siya ng mokong.

"Hindi mo ba nahalata na chill na chill lang sila. And your secretary and Troy are being weird ang dami nilang alam tungkol sa akin at kay Diana." Then it hit her. She remember Troy talking about something. Hindi man lang niya pinanghinalaan yung bakulaw na iyon. Aarrgh.

"I hate you." She said in defeat.

"I love you more." He wink at her kaya sinuntok niya ito sa braso dahilan para matawa ito sakanya.

"Hmp." Masuyo siya nitong inakap. At sabay na tinitigan ang lapida ni Diana at ni Evan na magkatabi.

"I hope she can forgive me. At sana masaya na sila kung nasaan man silang dalawa." She said.

"They will be."