In Time (Twist of Fate Series #1)

Epilogue

M A T M A T

But then, something happened again.

She threatened me that if I won't wear her designs, she will kill Aemour by herself. She's fucking crazy! A psycho was hidden on her soft facade.

She drugged me again. Wala naman akong natanggap na galing sa kanya pero ang tanging naalala ko ay may nagbigay sa akin ng pagkain... A guy gave me a food. Ang plastic ay galing pa sa isang fast food chain.

Masyado ako naging uto-uto dahil sinabi lang ng lalaki na galing kay Aemour ay paniwalang-paniwala ako. Iyon pala, inutusan lang ito ni Leona.

And as I woke up, Leona was sitting beside me, looking at my eyes intently, and holding a gun. I was left with my pants. My hands were tied on the headboard ganoon din ang magkabila kong paa. Napakasakit ng pagkakatali. Iyong tali na ayaw ako pakawalan.

"See this?" Itinaas niya ang baril. "I'll end the life of your girlfriend using this." She laughed like she was really out of her mind.

I don't say this to a girl, but fuck, she's not even a human! "You're a crazy bitch!" I shouted. Hindi ko alam kung nasaan kami. Para itong lumang bahay o ano. Lumang-luma na ang mga gamit na nasa paligid.

"You know what?" Side of her lips rose up.

"People thought that my Dad died because of an accident. Akala nila nahulog sa veranda namin dahil lasing." She chuckled and made her head fell back. "I pushed him," parang proud na sabi pa niya. "I was beaten by him... Tapos hahayaan ko lang 'yon? I ended the misery in my life. Then, I met Aemour, she was so good to me. She and I became friends." Mapait siyang natawa bago muling bumaling sa akin.

"She taught me to be good despite the hard life we had. Pero noong nalaman niya na si Papa niya at si Mama may relasyon, nagalit siya sa akin. Well, hindi lang naman iyon, binibigyan ako ng regalo ng Papa niya at baka nainggit..." She sighed. "Bakit ba ako nagkukuwento?" She smiled wickedly.

"J-Just let me go please..." I pleaded.

"Akin ka lang..." He traced my chest until he reached my belt. "And... Aemour will die if you won't wear my designs? Got that?"

Gusto ko na lang mawala no'ng mga oras na iyon. Kapag naaalala ko si Aemour pakiramdam ko, napakasama kong tao. Napakarumi ko.

Mas lalong gumuho ang mundo ko nang matantong sinukuan na ako ni Aemour ko. Ayaw na sa akin ng mahal ko. I asked her to give me time to explain kasi ako mismo sa sarili ko, hindi ko kaya. Sariwa pa lahat ng alaala ng ginawa ni Leona.

Wala akong choice kung hindi suotin ang designs ni Leona. I never wanted this. Pero natatakot ako dahil baka talagang saktan niya si Aemour kapag 'di ko ito ginawa. At dahil sa ginawa ko, mas lalo lang gumuho si Aemour.

"Hindi mo ako iiwanan dahil 'di mo ako kayang bitawan at saktan..." She scoffed. "Hindi mo pinanindigan 'yong mga salita mo, Matmat!" My heart ached so much. So much. Pero alam kong mas nasasaktan ngayon si Aemour.

I tried to reach for her hand but she stepped back. "Aemour... Kasi..." Hindi ko masabi.

"See?" Peke siyang natawa. "You can't even explain now! Ang sakit na, Matmat." She wiped her cheeks. "Ang sakit na rito." She pointed her chest, crying like a child.

Napahulamos siya sa mukha at ito ako, walang magawa. "Alam mo... Okay lang naman lahat sa akin, eh... 'Yung video... ayaw ko mang maniwala roon... pero wala kang mabigay na paliwanag..." She shook her head. "Kahit anong rason, tatanggapin ko. Mahal kita, eh." Suminghap siya.

Fuck. It hurts so much. Kaya pa rin niya akong tanggapin... kahit na nakita niya iyomg video, basta bigyan ko lang siya ng rason... I can't take this anymore. Mahal ko siya. I can't let her go this way... I just need some time... Some time to explain to her what really happened. Hindi ko pa kaya ngayon.