Stockholm Syndrome (Editing)

Chapter 25

Chapter  25

Lonely

"Here..." Inabot sa akin ni Zak ang isang makapal na album na may dark blue hard bind. Tinignan ko ang binata at tahimik itong umupo sa tabi ko.

Binuksan ko ang album at binuklat ang mga pahina, sa bawat pahina ay may mga litrato ni Zak at ng babaeng kamukhang kamukha ko.
   

"What's this?" Tanong ko ng naguguluhan pa rin.

"You said you wanted to know who am I before you came here, that is why I show this." He said reffering to the album.

 Tinuon ko ang pansin ko sa album at nag-browse ng mga litrato. Karamihan sa litrato ay puro ang babae which is they called "Risa", ang iba ay litrato nila ni Zak ng magkasama. Tumigil ang mga mata ko sa isang litrato, si Zak at Risa na nakatayo sa harap ng Tiffany's. Naalala ko nung nag almusal kami doon, hinaplos ko ang mukha ni Zak sa litrato. Parehas silang naka black coat at may beanie si Zak, nakangiti ito at nakaakbay kay Risa na may matamis na ngiti. They looked like a lovely couple in this picture...

Mahaba at unat ang buhok ni Risa sa litratong ito at tulad ng nasa portrait, brown ang buhok ng dalaga. It feels odd to see someone you've never known had the same exact face like yours.

Tinignan ko ang petsa sa gilid ng litrato, 03-16-13. This picture was taken five years ago...

"Who is she? Who are you, Zak?" Tanong ng naguguluhan pa rin sa lahat.

He let out a deep sigh and began speaking, "That was my life before... I took you." He said in a low voice.

"Before, I've been living my life to the foolest," He chuckled sarcastically.

"I'm a hard drinker, gambler, and womanizer, all the bad deeds you can name, I did them without hesitation. But, one night I've met her, Risa..." Wika niya. Kita sa kislap ng mga mata niya ang pag-alala kay Risa, his Risa...

"We've met in a bar." Aniya.

"Is she doing..." Hindi ko na tinapos ang sasabihin ko ng dahan dahang tumango ito.

"Yes, she's a high paid escort in a bar where she works." Napatango ako sa sagot niya, kaya ba ganun ang pakikitungo sa akin ng mga tao doon sa Belle de nuit?

"You owned the bar?" I ask and he shakes his head.

"No, it was owned by a politician but it was under the management of his wife." Tumango ako.

"Who's the politician?" I asked again.

"It doesn't matter." Aniya kaya't tumahimik na lang ako ng bulgaran niyang iniwasan ang tanong.

"Continue," I told him.

"She was a beautiful woman and naturally she became my target turn be my pleasure for one night. But I was so smitten to her charms to let her be my one night. " He spoke and lit up his cigarette.