Waking Nightmare

Epilogue

YVES

Whatever you do, you’ll always end up getting hurt. There is no safety net in life, nor will there be one in death. And we have no idea what comes after death, but we do know that the people we’ll be leaving behind will be hurting. Life comes after the pain of a mother during birth, and greater pain when a life is taken away.

There is pain when people close to you dies. Tragically, might I add. Pain and regret, when you knew you wasted every second you could’ve spent with them, instead of wallowing in your anger and pride. There’s also pain in silence, especially when you know you could’ve done something you should’ve. This pain will come with a lot of maybe’s and what if’s. You’ll be blaming yourself for what couldn’t and could’ve happened.

People think loss is to blame for the sufferings, when the life causes a lot more. The reason why there is so much hate and anger is because of the pain inflicted from another. To oneself. As long as this goes on, our sufferings will never end. 

Naomi Hana finally realizes this, I can see it in her eyes when the police took her away. Everything she did didn’t change anything. It didn’t make her pain go away. It didn’t do her any good either. Nothing does.

“Why do you think Naomi end up doing it?” Jade asked, leaning into the wall near the easel.

“She was planning to do it from the start.”

“Maybe you’re right,” she said. “But by the looks of it, she was trying to save you.”

Natawa ako. “Save me? Muntik na nga ako mahulog dahil sa pagbaril niya sa matanda na ‘yon.”

“You and I both know that wasn’t what she was aiming for.”

Nanahimik ako. Hinarap ko na lang ang painting ko. Ilang araw na ang nakalipas matapos ang insidente, nagawa namin bumalik ni Jade sa Desmond High para kunin ang naiwan kong painting.

Marami pinagbago sa school, bukod sa mga estudyanteng parang mga multo na walang imik at hindi nagpapansinan. Ang principal ay nasisante ng board of directors dahil sa mahinang pagresponde niya sa nangyaring gulo.

Maraming nagbago sa totoo lang. Pagkatapos kami matagpuan ng mga pulis, inaresto nila si Naomi, at iniuwi kami. Doon kami lahat nag-usap, nagsiiyakan pagkatapos malaman ang lahat ng mga nangyari. Kinabukasan, lumabas ang balita na nilalaman ang pagsuko ni Naomi sa pulisya. Inamin niya na siya ang nagsimula ng laro sa Desmond High, ipinapasa sa isang kaibigan na siyang sana ay ang mata niya sa loob. Ayon sa kanya, tinalikuran siya ng kaibigan na ‘yon dahil sa pag-ibig. Nahulog si Tabitha kay Chase na unang target niya sana, at naging sunod-sunuran si Tabitha, at tuluyan na binigay sa kanya ang kontrol ng game.

Naalala ko pa ang sinabi ni Naomi, “I was angry. The only person I trusted turned her back on me. What hurt me the most, is that she didn't think twice to betray me... and killed my sister for that man.”

After Payton’s death, Naomi decided to take matters into her own hands. She claimed to have approach Inspector James Montreal, and asked him to help her. She knew the inspector was investigating his colleague, Kyle Montero’s, death. She wanted to use it to her advantage and so she did.

“I heard Chase pulled a stunt in a diner, so I told James na kunin niya ang phone ni Chase. Dahil naroon ang medium na nagko-control sa buong laro,” patuloy ni Naomi, mangiyak-iyak na umiwas ng tingin sa camera. “Kinuha ko ang pagkakataon na ‘yon para balikan ang mga taong nanakit sa’kin, and James was willing to help me.”

Unfortunately for him, it cost him his life. Nang malaman ni...Tito Victor, inutosan niya si Leo Sanchez na ligpitan siya. Gayon hindi natuloy ang paghahanap ni Inspector James ng ebidensiya laban sa kanya. Pagkatapos ng nangyari sa Lover’s Cliff, ilang oras ang nakalipas, natagpuan ang bangkay ni Inspector James sa kalibliban ng kagubatan, malapit sa candy house. Nalaman ng lahat na ang candy house ay kung saan ginagawa ang drogang idi-distribute sa brothel kung saan pupunta ang ilan sa mga kliyente nila para bumili o kumuha ng stock para ibenta sa labas ng Lost Valley.