* * *
CHAPTER 9: THE INTERROGATION
I WOKE UP to the continuous ringing of my phone. Kinapa ko ito sa kama ko habang nakapikit. Nang maramdaman ko na ang bagay na hinahanap ko sa kamay ko ay kaagad ko itong sinagot at tinapat sa tenga ko.
"What?" Pabalang kong sagot nang hindi dinidilat ang mata.
"Sweetie?" Agad akong napadilat nang marinig ang boses ng mom ko. Napaayos ako ng upo.
"Mom." Napangiti naman ako.
"Lucy anak.." Hindi ko mapigilan kabahan nang mapansin kong may kakaiba sa boses niya. Ngunit bago pa ako makapagsalita ay may sinabi siyang bagay na nagpatigil saakin. "Tinawagan ako ng mental asylum kung saan naka-admit ang dad mo. They informed me that he was about to get discharged."
Silence.
"Lucy?"
I didn't speak. I couldn't find my voice.
I heard her sigh on the other line. "Sweetie, I know you're upset. I am, too." There was a pause. "But don't you think it's time?"
Naikuyom ko ang kamao ko. Then, in a low voice, I spoke. "What do you mean?"
"He has been there for 8 long years. If they think he's fit to get discharged, then that must mean that he's changed. He's no longer the man he was 8 years ago."
I knew my mom was a nice person, but unlike her, I could never fathom the thought of having that bastard back in our lives.
Ayokong pati sa mom ko ay magalit ako, kaya imbis na magsalita ay binaba ko nalang ang tawag at dali-daling nagayos, not minding that my head felt as though it was being hammered due to the hangover.
Napansin kong mag aalas-onse na. Kumain lang ako ng tinapay at dumiretso na sa shooting range ni tito Ivan.
Hindi ko alam kung ilang oras na ko nandito sa shooting range. Pawis na pawis na ako pero parang hindi parin nawawala 'yung galit na nararamdaman ko.
Hindi ito yung room na pinuntahan namin ni Parcival last time. Itong kinaroroonan ko ngayon ay para sa mga mas advanced--kaya mas mahal rin ang charge sa room na 'to pero dahil kilala ko ang may ari, palagi akong free of charge. Masasabi kong mas technology-advanced ito dahil may sumusulpot nalang bigla na dummy na target.
Mas delikado rin dito dahil hindi tulad ng lazer tag, totoong bala parin ang ginagamit dito.
I felt a sudden movement behind me. Dali-dali akong lumingon at tinira yung sumulpot na target. Hindi ako natinag at nilabas ko pa ang isa ko pang baril na nasa waistband ng shorts ko. Gamit ang dalawang baril, pinagbabaril ko yung target habang lumalapit pa lalo dito.
BINABASA MO ANG
Where is July? (Wattys2020 Winner)
Mystery / ThrillerLucy de Asis is a bully and a bitch and she doesn't care what others think of her. But when she gets blamed for her archnemesis' sudden disappearance, she devises a plan to prove her innocence―by finding out what truly happened the night of July 13t...