We secretly cling
for hope
to find love
to find meaning
in this cruel life/25/ These Memories
[THEODORE'S POV]
"MR. Gomez?"
Napatingin ako sa pulis na kaharap ko ngayon at hindi ko sigurado kung ilang beses na niyang tinawag ang pangalan ko bago maputol ang pagtitig ko sa kawalan. I don't know what's happening, I just woke up this morning without no clear memory and now I'm here in a police headquarters, receiving appalling and terrible news.
"Ayos ka lang ba, Mr. Gomez?" tanong ng isa pang pulis na babae.
Tinanong ko sa sarili ko ang tanong na 'yon. Ayos lang ba ako? Matapos kong marinig ang kagimbal-gimbal na balita. Tito Ivan is the mastermind arsonist of Hema's Coffee, he kidnapped me last night and now he's dead. The police rescued me and it was strange because I woke up in my room the next morning, sabi nila'y dinala ako sa ospital at pagkatapos ay pinilit ko raw umuwi ng bahay para sa aso kong si Buddho.
"Mr. Gomez?" tawag ulit ng pulis na babae. "Sigurado ka bang wala kang ibang natatandaan?"
Sunud-sunod akong umiling at napabuga ng hangin. Paano ko ipapaliwanag sa kanila na ang huling memorya na natatandaan ko ay na-suspend ako sa university dahil sa ginawa kong pananakit sa senior professor namin, that was nineteen days ago.
What the hell I've been doing these past nineteen days? And Hema's Coffee? Paanong na-renovate ulit 'yon at pinasunog ni Tito Ivan? This makes no sense. And the worst part? My uncle was murdered by my friend, Nadia, she's my co-professor too, and according to the authorities, it was Nadia who saved me and killed my uncle.
The authorities are still keeping some information, I don't know what it is but I'm sure it's related to Tito Ivan's secret.
In the end, I still told the police the truth, that my last memory was nineteen days ago.
"Kailangan mong sumailalim sa therapy, Mr. Gomez. We found out that your uncle is also a hypnotist, he manipulated you psychologically." Sabi ng pulis na kaharap ko.
Hindi ko matanggap ang bagay na 'yon. How could Tito Ivan do that to me? At ngayong wala na siya ay hindi ko malalaman ang dahilan niya kung bakit niya 'yon ginawa sa'kin. My head is spinning and it hurts, nakaka-frustrate, nakaka-drain ng energy, parang gusto ko na lang magkulong at huwag nang lumabas kahit kailan.
"Mukhang iyon nga ang kailangan ko," sagot ko at bigla akong may naisip. "C-can I talk to her?"
*****
"NADIA?" I softly called her when she got out. Binigyan lang kami ng ilang minuto para makapag-usap ngayon. She's wearing an orange shirt, the prisoner's shirt, naka-posas din ang dalawang kamay niya. According to the police, Nadia confessed what she did at dahil doon ay masasampahan siya ng kaso.
BINABASA MO ANG
Will You Cry When I Die? (Published Under PSICOM Publishing)
RomanceWhen lethargic university lecturer, Theo Gomez, meets an enigmatic and mysterious woman one night, he never expects his life to change forever. Yet, when Juniper asks him the haunting question "Will you cry when I die?" he is drawn into a passionate...