Harrowing Verity

Chapter 34

Pain was overflowing. Pain because of the memories we have shared together. Pain since now we're meeting because of a... problem? I don't even know but I 'was' feeling pain.

Lumapit ako sa kanya while calling her, "Anna!" She turned around and gave a small smile. I returned it unconsciously. Kane was still there. He was just standing. I told him to stay there and I should be the only one talking to Anna.

Was I afraid that there will be an attack? Yes, I am! I was afraid the Anna led me here just so I could be... in pain. Physically and emotionally.

"Hi," she greeted when I sat down in front of her. Ngumiti lang ako sa kanya.

"Bakit mo ako pinapunta dito?" tanong ko. "At... kumusta na pala pamilya mo? Ayos lang ba sila ngayong quarantine?"

She smiled bitterly. "Magulo sa pamilya ko, Lyn. Tinawag kita para sabihin na hindi ang pamilya ko ang may kasalanan nito," she said and gestured to our surrounding.

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Anong hindi kasalanan ng pamilya mo 'to? Ano ba ang kasalanan ng pamilya mo? 'Di ba at sila ang nagpadala ng mga tao para saktan kami? O para patayin kami?"

Nanlaki ang kanyang mga mata. "Ha? Ano'ng sinasabi mo? I was talking about the virus."

"Anong virus? Ang pamilya mo ang may kasalanan no'n? Pati ang pag-atake sa'min sa tinulugan namin? Sila... I mean, kayo rin ba ang may kasalanan kung bakit 'yon ginawa ni Fraust?"

"I— I didn't know about that. Ang alam ko lang ay ang tungkol sa virus."

Tumaas ang aking kilay. "An—"

"At bago ka magsalita, Lyn, sinasabi ko sayo na hindi ako o ang pamilya ko man ang may
kasalanan. Sige, may kasalanan ang pamilya ko pero hindi kami ang puno't dulo nito" she said.

"Ano ba ang sinasabi mo, Anna?"

She sighed. "Ako nagpapa-sorry sa mga ginawa ng pamilya ko. Oo at ang tito ko ang gumawa ng virus pe—"

"Ano?!" I shrieked.

"Ang tito ko, siya ang gumawa ng virus," she said while tears were falling on her face.

"Kayo? Ang tito mo gumawa at alam mo?! How heartless, Anna. Pinabayaan mo lang siya. Walang kang ginawa para pigilan siya. Ang daming namatay."

She sobbed loudly, unable to to cry silently. "Sorry. Sorry. Pero inutos lang 'yon sa tito ko. She promised something to my uncle. Also, she threatened my tito."

"Sorry, Lyn," she muttered. "She threatened my tito that she will harm us—my family— if he doesn't follow her."

"Ha? Sino ba 'yon? You said 'her'." My heart was pounding, and my palms were sweating like crazy. I had a feeling who 'she' is. But I was still afraid of the answer.

A second passed before she answered, "Ang nanay mo, Lyn."

That was all it took. I lost hope. I lost hope that my mother will do something good. Her appearance to me was crashed into pieces like an object thrown to a mirror. I have been with her for so long. And it also took me so long to realize the truth. I was living in my own world, in my own fantasy. I was thinking that everyone close to me was good, always helping me. Tears were falling. I did not care if someone saw me. It was like I was slowly starting to not care at all. But I am crying, am I not? That still shows I care. But my body, my mind... They're tired, tired of receiving these kind of news. They're still trying but when they give up, what happens to me? Would I also be lost like my hope?