Gunned Down

CHAPTER 32

Isang linggo ang nakalipas, walang nabalitaan si Danelle sa lalaki. Wala siyang narinig na kahit ano rito kahit pa ng tanungin niya si Mino. Hinintay niyang magpakita si Pion upang magpaliwanag sa larawang natanggap niya kinagabihang iyon, subalit wala.

Pauwi na siya ngayon galing sa site, malapit na ring gumabi kaya binilisan na niya ang pagpapatakbo sa kanyang sasakyan. Napatingin siya sa cellphone niyang nasa dashboard. Umilaw iyon at nakitang may text siya galing sa kaibigang si Xia. Instead of replying, she dialled her number.

“What—

[“Come over to my house. I have something to tell you.”]

Tiningnan ni Danelle ang oras, “Okay, I’ll be there. Just prepare foods for me, you know I’m hungry already. Hindi ako kumain ng lunch at wala pa akong meryenda. I’m starving to death.”

[“Sinong may kasalanan? By the way, nakausap mo na ba si Captain?”]

Natahimik siya sa tanong kaibigan. She sighed before answering, “No, not yet. I don’t care. Magsama silang dalawa, wala akong pakialam. Sige na, mag-usap nalang tayo mamaya pagdating ko. You’re asking me too much questions, baka maaksidente ako kakasagot sayo.” She heard her friend laughed before turning the call down.

Danelle focused on driving and in just minutes, her phone rang again. She annoyingly slid her finger to answer the phone without seeing the caller.

“What Xia? I already told you, pagdating ko nalang tayo mag-usap. I’m driving and if you’re gonna’ ask about that man, well I don’t care. I don’t give a damn anymore. I’m cutting off my connection with him. Jerk, asshole, liar, cheater. Argh!” she groaned in annoyance

[“Where are you?”]

The phone was on loudspeaker that’s why she was able to heard the voice. She stepped on the brake and the car immediately stopped. She was surprised upon seeing the caller on her phone.

[“I said, where are you, Danelle Greogo?”]

She composed herself, “Pake mo? Huwag mo akong pakialaman dahil gagawin ko lahat ng gusto ko.”

[“Answer my question.”]

Although she felt uneasy with the tone of the man, she still managed to answer him. “Answer my question, my ass. Jerk.” And she cut the call coming from Pion.

Nakarating si Danelle sa bahay ng kaibigan at kakapasok pa lang niya sa sala ay masaya na siya nitong sinalubong at niyakap.

“I have good news for you!” Xia excitedly said

“Yeah, it’s too obvious. What is it?”

“I’m pregnant.”

She was about to congratulate her friend but she stopped when she got to process her statement. “What?! Who’s the father?! Ilang months na, Xia?! Bakit ngayon mo lang sinabi?!”

Tumawa ng tumawa ang kaibigan niya kaya agad na kumunot ang kanyang noo.

“Tanga! I’m just joking. Ito na talaga—

Masamang tiningnan ni Xia ang kaibigan matapos siya nitong batukan.

“Baliw. Why would you say that? Aminin mo nga sa’kin. Buntis ka ba talaga o hindi?” mataas ang boses ni Danelle kaya napalingon lingon si Xia sa paligid

“Tumahimik ka nga, baka marinig ka nina yaya at maniwala tapos isumbong ako kina Daddy. Eh di natapos ang maliligayang araw ko. Papaniwalain ka talagang babae ka.” Tinalikuran niya ang kaibigan saka ito naglakad upang maupo sa sofa.