Joy Has Gone

Chapter 17: The Free Fall

Chapter 17
The Free Fall

"I CAN'T trust anyone right now, pero kilala kita. I know I can trust you," saad ni Emily kay Jace. "Bago mahuli ang lahat, you need to know the truth."

Kapwa sila nakaupo sa upuang nasa loob ng locker room.

"Trust. I can't believe I'm saying this but I don't want to trust anyone anymore. Kahit kayo. . ." malungkot na saad ni Jace.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Emily sa gulat. "Wait. What do you mean? Did somebody tell you the truth? Shit, hindi pwede."

"What truth?" Agad na lumingon si Jace sa kanya. "Bakit hindi pwede?"

"Jace, few days ago bago ka magising I received a note saying the prince will be up and we need to shut our mouth. Something really tragic happened three years ago and now we need to pay the price, ika nito! I realized now why the killing is happening!" bulalas ni Emily. "You were in coma for three years, and now you're awake. . . Jace, ikaw 'yung tinutukoy na prince sa note! Someone's trying to prevent us from letting you know the truth!"

"What truth? What's happening?"

"I. . ." nag-aalangan si Emily. Malakas ang pagkabog ng dibdib niya na halos parang sasabog na ito. Natatakot siya. Hindi niya alam kung tama ba ang gagawin niya. Dahil sa oras na gawin niya ang bagay na 'to, paniguradong huli na ang lahat para sa kaniya. "I'm not sure if this is the right time to do this, but I guess this is the right thing to do to prevent the bullshit that's about to happen. It all started with Anime, then Jenny. . . Amy, and now, Lane."

"Si Lane?" bulalas ni Jace.

Tumango si Emily na puno ng takot ang mga mata. "Jace, Lane just died. And now, Molly's missing. She could be the next! Or anyone. . ewan! Basta Jace, someone's hunting us for what we have done three years ago!"

Sandaling nanahimik si Emily, pilit na hinahanap ang salitang babasag sa lahat ng nangyayari sa kanila ngayon.

"This is about her," sambit ni Emily. "We let her die and we didn't do anything about it. Instead, we lied. She wasn't really abducted by the Dimsdale Monster. Wait. . . shit, si Charity! I think everyone tried to forget everything about her, too!"

Magre-react na sana si Jace nang biglang tumunog ang cellphone nito. Agad silang nagkatinginan ni Emily bago niya ito kunin sa kanyang bulsa. Sinenyasan naman siya agad ni Emily at agad na sinagot ang tawag.

"Hello?"

"Jace. Nasa'n ka? Jace!" Bumungad sa kaniya ang nagsusumigaw at nag-aalalang si Hani.

"I'm with Emily. Bakit ka sumisigaw?" nagtatakang tanong ni Jace.

"Stay away from her! Don't believe what she's saying! Please?"

Bumuntong hininga si Jace. "Hani, we already talked about this. I can't just stay away from our friends. About what you told me, Hani. I need to ask them about it, too. Hindi mo sinabi kung sino ang tinutukoy mo, pero baka sila, sabihin nila sa'kin."

"Jace, please?"

Umiling si Jace. "Sorry, Hani. I can't do what you want," sagot nito at tuluyang binaba ang tawag.

"Sorry, Emily. Ano ngang sinasabi mo? Sinong tinutukoy mo?" Inilagay niya ang kanyang cellphone sa bulsa ng kanyang pantalon. Nang lingunin niya si Emily, nagtaka ito nang makitang nakatayo na ito at animo'y handa nang umalis.

"I'm sorry, Jace. Just like Hani, I don't want you to be in danger. Ayokong madamay ka, at ganun din ako," malungkot na saad nito. Walang anu-ano'y nagbago ang ekspresyon ng mukha nito na animo'y pilit tinatago ang takot at lungkot na nararamdaman. "Bitch ka, bahala ka na dyan. I need to find Molly by myself."