Mountains To Cross

Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Tain Justin Diaz

"Tain!"

Mommy's voice is the first thing I heard when I woke up. I am happy to hear her but deep inside me, I expected someone else to be here.

Ang puting kisame ng ospital ay nakakasilaw para sa akin. When doctors came, everything is just slow for me. Their voices are echoing through my ear. Isa lang ang nasa isip ko. Isa lang ang gusto kong makita at masigurado.

Risela.

She went home, right? She's safe now, right?

The last thing I heard before I lost my consciousness was a loud gun shot. Hindi ko na alam ang susunod na nangyari. I am too weak to even open my eyes. I am too weak to stay awake in the forest.

"Tain..." Juan Luis went to my room just hours after I woke up. My face lighted up. He's here! And he probably knows what happened to Risela now!

"JL!" I said, "Nakauwi na ba si Risel?"

He did not answer me. Nang pumasok si Daddy at tinapik ang balikat niya ay lumabas siya agad. My eyebrows furrowed as I look at my father. Naka-formal pa siyang damit pero wala ng necktie. He looked at me, "You did not even think of your mother when you escaped the house and went there."

"Where is Risela?" Tanong ko.

"Your mom was so scared, Justin! Hindi mo manlang siya naisip! Kahit siya lang!" He said, "Kaming dalawa! Si Tanya! Do you know that we searched for you for four hours at kung nahuli pa kami ay mauubos na ng tuluyan ang dugo mo?!"

"I'm sorry, okay?" Yumuko ako at mariin na pumikit, "Just... just tell me where Risela is."

"They are searching for her." I snapped at that. Para akong nabingi.

"What do you mean, Dad?" I asked.

"Naghahanap sila ngayon sa mga tabing dagat na malapit doon. Sa mga kalapit na isla..." Lalo akong nalito. Tabing dagat? Bakit? Kumunot ang noo ko.

"I really don't understand..." I uttered.

Daddy took the remote control and turned the television on. Sakto at balita na ang palabas.

"Pinaghahahanap pa rin ngayon ang panganay na anak ng may-ari ng isang malaking publishing company sa bansa. Ayon sa mga pulis, nag-ugat ito sa isang kidnapping situation na nangyari sa Balingoan, Misamis Oriental..."

I don't understand...

"Naaresto na ang may sala na si Sid Serada sa mismong lugar kung saan sinasabing nahulog ang biktima matapos makarinig ng isang putok ng baril..." The reporter continued, "Kinumpirma ni Serada na nabaril niya ang labing siyam na taong gulang na dalaga at tuloy-tuloy na nahulog sa dagat."

"No..." Tears filled my eyes, "They are... that asshole... that asshole is lying..."

"Ang nakita po ng mga rescuer sa ilalim ng dagat ay isang bato na may bahid ng dugo at sa ngayon ay sinusuri pa ito ng ating mga eksperto kung magmamatch sa DNA ng biktima." Sabi ng leader raw ng mga rescuer, "But as of today, we are positive that Risela Lopez fell in the water. Police authorities who went with the operation last night confirmed that they heard a gunshot that leads towards this area. May basyo rin ho ng bala na nakita dito,"

Umiling ako. No... no... that gunshot? No... right?

"Sir, ilang percent po ang chance na buhay pa siya?"