LOHIKA 4: I See Murders [COMPLETED]

Chapter XXXVI - The Secret of Florante's House

Gamit ang batuta ay kinalampag ng prison guard ang nakasaradong makalawang na pinto ng bartolina. Binuksan rin nito ang maliit na parihabang butas sa bandang itaas ng pinto at sumilip doon. "Ancheta..."

Dario Ancheta glanced at the prison guard. He had been staying in that claustrophobic room after being involved in a fist fight with other prisoners. Dahil baguhan at napag-alaman ng mga bilanggo na 'di umano'y mayroong napatay na tao ito, pinagtulungan s'yang bugbugin. Kalibak-libak na s'ya pa ang pinarusahan at inilagay sa bartolina imbis na ang mga nambugbog sa kanya. And it came to him that injustice had never left his side. Tila ba nakadikit na ito sa kanya na parang isang parasite, unti-unti s'yang kinokonsumo.

Ipinagpatuloy ng guwardiya ang balitang hatid. "May balita galing sa General Hospital. Patay na daw ang nanay mo."

Napahinto sa paghinga si Dario. Tila huminto rin sa pag-ikot ang kanyang mundo. He couldn't seem to process the truth that the woman who gave birth to him, took care of him, and whom he loved the most was already gone. And to think that he wasn't on her side when that happened, he felt like the heaven had officially turned its back to him. Ang kanyang ina lang ang tanging mayroon s'ya. Ang kanyang ina lang ang kanyang tanging kayamanan sa mundo. What was the point of living when she was already gone?

Ang tahimik na pag-iyak n'ya ay unti-unting lumakas. Iyak ng paghihinagpis.

The wretchedness that he was feeling had became unbearable and he made a substantial decision. Hinubad n'ya ang suot na damit at itinali iyon na parang lubid sa grills ng mataas na bintana. Ginamit n'yang tungtungan ang toilet bowl upang maabot at maisabit n'ya doon ang kanyang leeg.

For the last time, he tried to picture his mother's loving face. He closed his eyes and calmly imagined that she was just in front of him, smiling. Then he slid his feet off of the bowl.

***