Tacenda (GxG)

Lacuna Onse

Serafina Teo Fabian

"Zora, do you think this is a good idea?"

We are here in the garden, sitting on the bench in front of the fountain. After namin mag lunch, inaya ko siya dito para magpahangin. The air inside the house is suffocating me. Their vibes are just too much to take.

She shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know. Right now, it doesn't matter whether it's a good or bad idea. As long as you survive, that's all that matters."

Lumingon siya sa gawi ko. Mukhang may sasabihin pa siya kaya I let her speak.

"Humans are born with a natural survival instinct. They base their decisions on what is best for them, what is suitable for them, and what makes them feel safe."

Listening to Zora makes my heart at ease. Her voice is soothing. Lahat ng pangamba ko nawawala kaya malakas ang loob ko hanggang ngayon dahil sa kaniya.

I may be brave and strong on the outside, but the truth is, I'm afraid. I don't want to die, I want to hide. Without Zora and Cleo, I think I wouldn't survive this long. Madalas ko i-lift up ang spirits nila dito pero ang totoo, sarili ko talaga ang gusto ko iahon. That's where Zora came in, she always gives me strength. She gave me something to hold on to.

"You're right. Iba-iba naman tayo ng way of survival." Pag sang-ayon ko sa kaniya. "But I can't help but to doubt and worry. How about you, Zora? What do your gut feelings tell you?"

A broad smile registered on her face. "My instinct tells me to stick with you. That it's better if we are together. And I agree with that, I feel safe when you are around. I trust you."

I felt my heart skip a beat. Hindi ko alam kung dahil ba sa ngiti niya o sa mga sinasabi niya. Or maybe both?

"Do you feel the same way too?"

With just one question, my heart started to beat like crazy. O baka ako na ung nababaliw. Kanina lang nag skip siya ng beat tapos ngayon wala na siyang tigil. And my stomach, there's something inside of it that I can't explain. Eto na ba ang tinatawag nilang butterflies in your stomach? Pero parang hindi lang butterflies ang nararamdaman ko.

Umubo ako dahil feeling ko may nakabara sa lalamunan ko. "Ah yes. I feel safe with you." Mahina kong saad, halos pabulong na nga, sana narinig niya. Hindi ko alam pero nakaramdam ako ng hiya bigla.

"I'm glad you were." Again, flinex na naman niya sa'kin ang smile niya. I can't help but to smile back too. "So what do you want to do now?"

"Let's find some clues first. Pero wag tayo mag focus sa password. We don't even know if that password thingy is true. Paano kung wala pa lang tamang sagot? Or prank lang pala?"

Natawa siya ng bahagya. "Prank? So kahit tumama tayo, hindi siya magbubukas?" Tumango ako. "I didn't even imagine that to happen. Masyado malawak imagination mo, I like it."

"Well, the killer is too hard to read. So dapat open tayo sa any possibilities." Tumayo na ako at pinagpag ang pang upo ko. "Tara."

"Saan tayo magsisimula?"

I tapped my finger under my chin. "Hmm... Sa mga display ng books ni Mangata."

"Okay, let's go."

Tumayo na rin siya at sabay namin tinahak ang daan papuntang living room kung nasaan ang mga naka display na libro ni Mangata. Just thinking about the possibility that Mangata is the killer is enough to send chills to my spine. Wala naman na kong pake kung si Mangata nga ang may gawa. What scares me the most is the idea itself. If ever na siya nga, paano niya naatim na gawin 'to? Sa mga humahanga pa talaga sa kaniya. I can't stand people like that. Too evil.