His Bride

11| Jorville Mansion

CHAPTER ELEVEN
 

"Listen, Evy, I think I found them. Nagpatulong ako sa isang kaibigan na marunong mag-track ng cellphone number at nakuha ko ang lugar na ito— Jorville Mansion. I don't know what the hell are they doing there but I'll go and find them. Tatawagan kita after an hour."

That was five hours ago.

Hindi na maganda ang nararamdaman ko sa bawat pagpatak ng segundo na wala pa rin akong natatanggap na tawag ni Candice. I feel sick, there was this feeling in the pit of my stomach that I couldn't seem to shake off. Tila nararamdaman din iyon ng isda ko kaya hindi siya mapakali sa loob ng tubig. Meatballs swam restlessly like she was trying to locate her coral.

Sinubukan ko muling tawagan si Candice pero nanatili itong hindi sinasagot ang tawag ko. That's odd, considering how protective and worrisome she was. There was never a time she did not pick my calls. Kahit nasa kalagitnaan ito ng klase at pagligo ay sasagutin niya ang tawag ko dahil lagi siyang naiisip na baka emergency call iyon.

Benjamin jumped in the bed. Lumapit ako dito at naupo sa dulo ng kama, agad siyang lumipat sa kandungan ko at maingat na binangga ang ulo sa kamay ko. He wanted me to rub him, so I did.

Naalala ko ang sinabi ni Nana tungkol sa deep feeling.

"It's our soul actively reminding us of the danger ahead. Don't ever ignore it. It might one day save your life."

It does many times. Meron iyong Grade Five ako naghihintay ako sa labas ng school kay Uncle Pitt na susundo sa akin. Isa sa parent ng ka-klase ko ang nakakita sa akin at sinabing sumabay nalang ako sakanila sa sasakyan nila para hindi na ako maghintay ng matagal. Then suddenly I felt nauseated, I knew I had to decline, so I did and insisted on waiting for my Uncle. Ilang minuto ang lumipas nang umalis ang sasakyan nila ay dumating na si Uncle Pitt, humihingi ng pasensiya kasi nangitlog daw ang manok niya. Once we got home and Nana was watching the news on the television, isang crime scene ang pinakita. Isang sasakyan na bumangga malapit sa school namin. Apat ang laman ng sasakyan, dalawang magkapatid na estudyante at mag-asawa. They didn't survive.

Uncle Pitt thought I have super magic and made me try to fly to see my wings. Pinalayas siya ni Nana bago niya ako hinarap. It was a rare gift, her words.

Bumalik si Uncle Pitt na may suot na kapa kasama si Candice na clueless sa nangyayari.

"I have super magic too. Kaya kong magpatumba ng buong syudad sa isang kumpas lang ng kamay!" And he danced his hand like an orchestra conductor.

"Cool! Kaya kong matulog nang nakadilat ang mga mata!" sabi rin ni Candice.

"That's cool, sweetnose."

I remembered my beaming face, Nana's 'I'm so done' face, and Uncle's excited grin.

My chest tightened at the memory of them. Nami-miss ko na sila, as if sensing this, Benjamin meowed and rubbed his side cheek to my hand. Ginamit ko ang isang kamay para kamutin siya sa tagiliran, he purred under my touch as he relaxed on my lap and licked my hand.

"I know, Benjamin. Sana tama ang gagawin ko."

I knew I had to do something. Anything to settle the turmoil inside me. I decided to take my chances again.

"They could be a Mafia's puppets. You cannot trust any one of them."

Dashiel's voice rang in my ears as I stood outside the Precinct. The sky's grey, casting down a somber ambiance. Panandalian kong nakalimutan na summer ngayon dahil sa bagyo na nararamdaman kong paparating.