Shades of Kagan

Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Avian Burn's Point of View

"Dalawang araw lang kita hindi nakita pero napakadami na agad ng mga nangyari sa'yo. How did you end up meeting Dan and Kagan?" Klaude asked me, glancing before focusing his attention on the road. We're heading to Coben Medical Hospital now, and I keep glancing at my wristwatch. I'm already one and a half late. I've never been this late to my shift. I blame Dan for this.

Klaude looked like he doesn't want to drop the topic. Napakamot na lang tuloy ako sa kabilang pisngi at sinabi sa kanya ang lahat ng mga nangyari sa nagdaang araw. Pero hindi ko sinabi sa kanya na nalaman kong may gusto din sa kanya si Nadia dati. I guess that's not my story to tell. At isa pa, hindi ko rin sinabi sa kanya kung ano ang relasyon ni Nadia at Dan. Nadia put a lot of effort hiding the state of her relationship with Dan, so I am not in the position to tell it to the world. Just like how I tried to bury my past away. Everyone has their own secrets to keep. Deep and dark secrets that can ruin an individual once they are known in the public. I suddenly thought of myself telling other people I killed someone, it will ruin me for sure.

I'm sorry, Emma, your death will never come to light. It shouldn't be.

I only told Klaude how I met Dan and ended up working at Kagan's art studio. He listened to me attentively without trying to make me stop. Once I was done talking, he nodded his head as if he had finally understood everything.

"When Kagan's alter ego shows up again, be careful. Okay?" Seryoso na pahayag nito.

"Why?" I asked. Kalix seems okay. I know he won't hurt me, but he's a jerk for not showing up last time.

"Just be careful, Avian. He might hurt you."

"He won't." I firmly said and looked at the window. I've met Kalix thrice and he doesn't look like he'll going to hurt me. Sa totoo lang ay mas nakakatakot pang tingnan si Dan kumpara kay Kalix. Hindi ko pa rin makalimutan ang naging reaksiyon ng mukha ni Kalix nang iwan siya namin ni Klaude magisa. Pain cross his eyes... is that really pain or I'm just imagining it? I don't know. I don't want to think about him even more. I am not in the position to think about someone else.

Klaude let out a heavy sigh, not believing the words I'd said.

"Parang sinasabi mo na rin na magingat ako sa kapatid mo."

"Kagan is... unpredictable. Look what happened. His other shelf just showed up out of the blue. Besides, Kagan doesn't know that he has a dual personality. Reus told him to go and meet psychoanalysis, but he refused." Sabi nito at umiling. The image of Kagan crossed my mind, but I easily shrugged it away. Mukhang napapadalas na ang pagiisip ko kay Kagan at Kalix. Ilang beses na rin silang dalawa pumasok sa isip ko. Since I'm convinced that Kagan has a dual personality or split personality, whatever they call it, I will treat Kalix a different person, even if they share the same body.

We bid goodbye when we arrived at the hospital. He told me he was going to visit his cousin Reus while I was going to the emergency room to meet my Aunt and proceed to halmeoni's room. I was actually looking forward to meeting her.

"Halmeoni!" Bati ko sa kanya nang makapasok ako sa loob. Naabutan ko siyang nakahiga sa hospital bed na mukhang nanghihina. Dahan-dahan siyang tumingin sa akin at nakita ko ang pagsilay ng kanyang ngiti.

The room is colder than before. It's not because of the AC of the room but because she was alone in here. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi ko pa rin nakikita na bumibisita ang mga anak niya. But halmeoni looked like she doesn't mind.

"How's your day, Halmeoni?" I asked. My voice is low and soothing. Inayos ko ang sphygmomanometer para kunin ang blood pressure niya. Nakailang ikot din ako ng pressure cuff sa kanyang braso dahil bakas na ang pagpayat ni halmeonie. Lalo siyang humihina sa mga araw na nagdaan.