Shallow Promise

"When you've lost someone precious and you can't turn back the time to save them, all you can do in the present is to confront it head on since everything occurs for a purpose.” – Miss A, Erity

Nanginginig na ginamit ko ang towel na nakuha sa aparador. Madaling pinunasan ko ang aking hita na may agos ng dugo at kinuha ang bag ko na tinago nya rito. Tumingin ako cellphone. Gigil na kinagat ko ang pang-ibabang labi ng makitang basag na ito at ayaw gumana. I sobbed silently and look at the little girl who save me. I could see the pity on her eyes. 

I frustratedly brushed my hair and nod at her. 

Patakbong umalis kami sa kwarto pagkatapos nyang ilagay ang chain sa kamay ng lalaki. Nang makalabas ng mansion ay naplingon-lingon ako sa paligid. Hindi ako pamilyar sa lugar na ito. Ni hindi ko alam kung saan kami dumaan. Napansin ko ring walang ni isang tao sa paligid. Panong nangyari iyon? Ilang oras na ba ang nakakalipas simula ng nawalan ako ng malay?

Napakagat ako ng labi. I really need to call my family. They will do everything they can to track me here. 

“Ate, dito po tayo daan”

Napatingin ako sa bata ng hinila nya ang kamay ko papunta sa kakuhayan. Naningkit ang mga mata ko at sumunod dito.

“Where are we going? Do-do you have a phone? I need to call someone that could help us get out of here.” Sambit ko sa nanginginig na tono. I cannot afford to be weak right now but, I couldn’t stop my body from trembling so hard. Mabuti nalang ay inaalalayan nya ang katawan ko. Malayo na kami sa mansion, but we are still here in the middle of the woods.

“Amm… Kapag po dumating tayo sa Stellar, sasabihan ko po ang kapatid ko na pahiramin ka ng cellphone.”

“Stellar?” nagtatakang napalingon ako rito.

“Amm, opo. Doon ako nakatira.” Simpleng sagot nito pero makikita ang takot kanyang mga mata. Napaiwas ako ng tingin at napatango. Kinuha ko ang aking kamay sa kanya. Sinubukan kong tumayo ng maayos at maglakad ng mag-isa kahit nanghihina pa.

Madilim, malamig at puro puno sa paligid. Tanging liwanag ng buwan at flashlight na hawak nya ang nagsisilbing daan para di kami tuluyang maligaw dito sa kakahuyan. Ngunit kahit wala iyon, pakiramdam ko magiging ligtas parin kami dahil tila kabisadong-kabisado nya ang lugar na ito. Habang naglalakad ay napahinga ako ng malalim at nagsalita upang basagin ang katahimikan na namamagitan sa amin dalawa.

“What’s your name kid?”

“Vin’nyl, Vin’nyl Castillano po ate” mahinang sabi nya at gamit ang flashlight ay tinutok nya ito sa kanan, kung saan tahimik sya lumiko. Sumunod ako sa kanya ng di nagtatanong.

“Thank you, Vin’nyl” I whispered and smile faintly even though she can’t see it. The kid is too focus on our way out.

“Amm wala po yun. Nagkataon lang po na andoon ako.” She said nervously and softly cough.

“Hmm... I just w*---” napatahimik ako ng may marinig na tunog ng nadurog na dahon. Naging alerto ang aking kataw*n at tumapang ang aking mukha. Nagbago ang ekspresyon ko ng sa ilalim ng buw*n, dahan-dahan kong nakita ang pamilyar na mukha ng lalaki. His hypnotizing silver eyes appear in sight. Napahugot ako ng hininga at nagtatakang napatingin rito. His, the poice investigator I saw in school two days ago.

I pressed my lips tightly and watched him mindfully.

Bakit nandito ang lalaking to? Police? In the middle of the woods, really?

Napabaling ang atensyon ko sa kanyang gilid ng may babaeng lumabas mula sa madilim na parte ng kakahuyan. Naglalakad papalapit sa likod ng lalaki habang ang mga asul nyang mata ay diretsong nakatingin sa akin.

“Elisha?” kunot-noo kong sambit sa pangalan ng nag-iisang babae na malapit sakin.

“Fancy finding you here, Vanessa,” she said with a smirk. Unconsciously, a small smile rose on my lips. 

Nakaupo ako ngayon sa loob ng umaandar na sasakyan, tahimik na nakatingin sa kalangitan. Mahigpit kong hinawakan ang isang kamay kong hindi matigil sa pag-nginig at huminga ng malalim. It should be gone by now, I'm already safe. 

“What happened to you?” mahinang tanong ni Elisha. Nakaupo sya sa passenger seat at diretso ang tingin sa harapan. Gamit ang reflection ng bintana, nakita ko na napatingin sakin si Vin’nyl.

“Ahh. Lady Elisha, natagpuan ko po sya sa kwarto na naka---”

“I’m not talking to you Vin’nyl.” Matalim na sambit ng Eli sa bata. I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms. So mean. Hindi na ako nagtataka pa kung bakit kilala nila ang isa’t-isa. Knowing Eli. The second person who always find me whenever I am, just like before.

Nanatiling nakatingin ang mga mata ko sa bintana ng kotse. Saglit akong nag-angat ng tingin pero ang sumalubong sakin ay ang malalim na tansong mga mata ng lalaki. I sigh.

What is he doing here anyway? With her?

“I apologize, lady Elisha”

“Don’t be too hard with the kid, Eli. She saved your Bestfriend after all” He softly said and I heard her scoff but didn’t say anything after that.

Lumipas ang ilang minuto ng tumigil kami sa isang abandonadong lugar.

“We’re here.” Sambit ng lalaki sa malamig ngunit malambing nyang tono. Napatingin ako rito. Tumango ang lalaki sakin at lumingon kay Eli.

“Go home now Elisha. While me and Miss Folk will go in the precinct. I already reported the case and she needed to be there. Miss Folk has to make a statement and answer some questions.”

“I’m coming with you two.” Elisha firmly said.

"No Elisha. You knew the situation. Coming in the precinct with us, will not help your Bestfriend."

"Then, I'm not going out the car. I just want to be there for her and if somethings went wrong... I could help"

"Help what? Kill people, you got to be kidding me." the man said in disbelief. 

“I didn’t say that. Too quick to judge, Investigator” Elisha rolled her eyes at the man. 

I closed my eyes and rested my back in the seat. I'm too tired to listen with their argument. It still doesn’t change the fact that even if he goes in prison or not. He already got what he wanted. 

This time, I know I lost. Hindi ko namalayan ang malayang pagpatak ng luha sa aking mga mata. From what I experience this night, what I feel right now and what I’ve lost. I wanted to something for it. I wanted that person responsible for this to be gone, forever.... 

"Don't be foolish" a cold voice stop my trail of thoughts.

I gasped and looked at Eli whose holding my hand. I look around and saw that we are already outside the precinct. The man with silver eyes is not here anymore. 

"Kanina ka pa tulala and I know you. Don't do something stupid. Be smart." she murmured and look at me in the eyes. My lips quivered and I held her hand tightly. 

"I-I lost my child Eli. I didn't know… how could I say this to Nathan? How can I a-accept this?" I said trembling and my eyes are full of tears. I feel lost, scared and I don't know... It happens so fast. Is this real? Or this is just another nightmare because if it is, please wake me up. 

"What are you fucking talking about?" she sharply asked and loose her grip on my hand. 

"He—That monster! He fucking punched me in my stomach twice and after that, all I feel is immersed pain. And then I-I saw blood coming out on me. Hindi ko alam Eli. Hindi ko alam na mayroon sya sa loob ko. Kasalanan ko to. I-I was the reason of my child’s death."

"No, no. Don’t say that. We need to go in the hospital. Fuck. You’re going with me right now”

I nodded. Hilam ang mata sa mga luha.

“Remember. This, is not your fault Vanessa. Now what I want you to do is be brave. We’re gonna face them and file a case. Let him pay. Put him in prison forever." She nodded and hug me. Then pull the car’s maneuver, going in the hospital near us.

Nang pumasok ako sa loob ng presinto ay lumingon ako sa paligid at natagpuan ng mata ko ang pamilya kong naghihintay sa akin. They are talking with the police investigator who was with use earlier. I could feel my hand trembling but I tried to stop it. My eyes are bloodshot. But all I could feel is anger. I wanted him gone. That monster. I would never, ever forgive him.

I walked head on, with no emotion that could be seen in my face while going near them. 

"I will file a case of abduction, attempted rape and fecticide on Mr. Franco Gonzales" sambit ko at tumingin sa name plate na nasa dibdib ng lalaking kausap ang pamilya ko "Can you help me with that, Investigator Hali Adral?"

His silver eyes stared at me intently as his nod firmly.

Sa loob ng puting kwarto, kung saan nakaupo ang police investigator sa harapan ko. Walang reaksyon na nakatingin ako sa kamay kong nakapatong sa lamesa. Katahimikan ang bumabalot sa aming dalawa. 

"Miss Irishka Vanessa Folk. Can you tell me what happened?" 

Napasulay ako ng buhok at huminga ng malalim bago magsalita. Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kanya. 

“Before that, can you… tell me what day is it? What-what time is it?”

Tumitig ito sakin gamit ang malalmig nyang kulay tansong mata bago sumagot.

“Sunday, 4:00 am.” I bit my bottom lip and nod before I started talking.

"It’s Friday, 6:35 pm when I get out of his office because I’ve been waiting there for an hour. Then, hinintay kong dumating ang kapatid ko sa parking lot. Suddenly, a noisy car came and they almost hit me. I was caught off guard. I thought they were just a bunch of fools dahil nilagpasan nila ko. But it happens so fast, they drive the car in reverse and someone pulled me inside. I-I couldn’t anything about it. It’s too sudden and they, they drug me."

I stopped. Nag-angat ako ng tingin dito, tuluyan ng tumulo ang mga luha sa mga mata ko. Nagulat ako ng hinawakan ni Investigator ang kamay ko. He leaned forward and watched me intently. I gasped. Napaiwas ako at kinuha ang mga kamay ko sa kanya. Inilagay ko ito sa hita ko. Kinakabahang tumingin dito.

“I’m sorry. I wouldn’t do anything to you okay? I just want to make you feel at ease. You could tell me everything. Trust me, I’ll do anything to investigate this case so I can help you. That’s why I want your cooperation.” He softly said.

I simply nodded.

When my amber eyes found his, agad akong nag-iwas ng tingin. He doesn’t understand. I’m not scared of him. I know that I could trust him because Eli, trusted him. It just that, his sudden move makes me feel nervous and I’m afraid, I don’t know why.

Huminga ako ng malalim. I composed myself and relaxed my trembling hands. Kinuwento ko sa kanya lahat ng nangyari sa loob ng kwartong iyon, excluding the part where someone saved me and the hazy memories I just recovered earlier while coming here. I think that’s the time where the drug they injected me is having an effect. What happened at that time is too personal and irrelevant to the case. Sapat ng malaman nila that Franco Gonzales intentionally drug and hit me. That he tried to rape me. I didn’t tell him about Vin'nyl, even if he knew already, because I felt like Investigator Adral is not the only one who's listening to me right now.

And they have no idea that Investigator Adral asked for Eli’s help.

Bahagyang lumingon ako sa malaking white board na nakadikit sa wall, on the right side of the room. Bago binaling ang atensyon sa lalaking nasa harapan ko. I don't need Vin'nyl to testify for me anyway. She's just a child, for Pete's sake, and she saved me. I owe my life to her. So, I'm not going to expose her identity to anyone just to make me win this case.  

“I’m sorry for making you say this. For what happened. I didn’t find you before he did that to you. I apologize Miss Folk.”

Naningkit ang mga mata ko at tumitig dito “What do you mean?”

“I saw you. I witnessed the kidnapping and I was too late to get you. We’ve been tracking you since then.”

I frustratedly brushed my hair and looked at my knuckles who was gripped tightly on my lap. Lumunok ako upang pigilan ang sariling magsalita. Namuo ang saglit na katahimikan sa paligid namin ng bigla syang muling nagsalita.

“I need your answer, you said them? How many is them you are talking about?”

I harshly signed, crossed my arms and spoke looking bored.

“Two. One is a professor and the other, is a student.”

“A student. How sure are you, Miss Folk? The court wouldn’t accept this conclusion as fact if it has no definite grounds.”

Napalingon ako dito at nabuga ng hangin.

“I do. I wouldn’t say that if I’m just overlooking things.” I seriously said. Sinalubong ko ang mga titig niya.

"And from what evidence would you prove that his accomplice in crime is a student?" He stated coldly.

"His ID"

"What?" He looked confused, so I continued. 

"It's under the bed. I saw it. I didn't touch it or get it because I know, pwede tong magamit as evidence. Unless the man tried to erase the evidence. So, I suggest that you move now. Get them. Make them pay for what they've done to me." I spoke those last words coldly. Making him understand what it means to me.

Investigator Adral gritted his teeth and slowly stood up "We're going to continue our talk. Go home for now. I'll get him before it's too late. Now, will you excuse me."

Hawak ang bukas na pinto ay napatigil ito sa paglabas ng magsalita ako.

"I trust you. Please, do your duty, Investigator Hali Adral. Because if the law can't do it, I will do it myself, and I assure you, it will end very ugly. " I firmly said. My amber eyes coldly glanced at him when he looked back at me.

"I will. I wouldn’t be here to help you, if I’m just overlooking things." he smirk and walked out on the door. 

Tskk... Turning my own words to me huh. Really childish, Investigator Adral. I sighed and rested my back on the chair. Sandaling ipinikit ang mga mata at huminga ng malalim.

I just really hope you can help me win this case. That your words are not just a shallow promise.