Culprit [COMPLETED]

Chapter 26

Chapter 26: The Fall

Meet me at the Cliff. I want to be with you and escape! Please, take me and if I betray you, you can push me to the cliff.

Mensaheng ipinadala ko kay Liam. I know, it's kinda stupid because I don't have a guarantee that he's coming but I'm desperate to catch him and make him pay for everything he did!

"Don't worry, Celes. We'll back up to your plan," Ms. Salome reassured me.

Nginitian ko siya. I know, we'll catch him if we are together but I should do it alone. I want to take revenge on my own... That makes me proud of myself at least.

***

Napasinghap ako pagkababa ko ng taxi na tila hindi ko mahabol ang aking paghinga. Nakadagdag pa ang malamig na hanging tumatama sa akin, ang simoy ng karagatan at mga puno na tila nagsisilbing mga mata sa bawat kilos ko. I'm being watched. I'm sure of it.

Napailing na lamang ako to realized that my plan of using him led me to this point and the amount of betrayal because I trusted him more than I know. He seems older brother to me. Ilang minuto ng aking paglalakad ay nakarating na rin ako. Hindi naman mahirap puntahan ang dulo ng bangin dahil mayroong daanan ito at tali dahil ito'y naging tourist spot.

"Liam..." pagtawag ko sa lalaking nakatalikod at pinagmamasdan ang malawak na karagatan.

Sa ibaba kasi ng bangin ay ang malawak na karagatan kaya't ang sinumang mahuhulog ay tiyak na malulunod. Napalingon siya sa akin samantalang ang naka-suit na dalawang lalaki sa gilid niya ay matatalim kung tumingin sa akin. Sa tagiliran nila'y may baril. Napalunok ako. Hindi biro ang gagawin ko kung sakali. Halatang nanghihina siya at maputla rin ang kaniyang labi ngunit pinilit niya pa ring ngumiti kahit mahahalatang anumang oras ay bibigay ang kaniyang katawan. What happened?

"Tin! What made you change your mind?" sambit niya na nakangiti sa akin at tumango.

Mula sa aking likuran ay may isang babaeng naka-suit at kinapkapan ang buo kong katawan maski ang mga private parts ko.

"It's clear." she said and vanished into the thin air immediately. The two guys also leave us.

"Are you okay?" I asked without leaving to where I stood up to earn his trust. He looks pale and weak also.

"I'm not. I'd have to remove the bullet." Lumapit siya sa akin ngunit napahakbang ako paatras na siyang ikinakunot ng noo niya. I cleared my throat and hoping that he'll not notice my nervousness.

"How can I trust you that you'll not gonna kill me?" I asked him to turn his focus on my question.

Lumapit siya sa akin at yinakap ako. "You can search it," bulong niya sa aking tainga. I could feel his weakness as he lean his body to me and feel that he's not armed with any guns. I let him as this could be my way to convince him to surrender.

"How did you reach to this point? Why did you do this?" I calmly asked but my voice cracked and my tears started to pour.

"My beloved mom died and all of them must pay so I have no choice but to be like my dad," he replied without breaking his hug as if he's regaining his strength with mine.

"Why did you have to be like him? You can break them without following him. I know the real you." I recall how he helped me and the other students in fighting what they want and how they could achieve their dreams. He is a good leader but not in this way... Illegal.

"Isn't it tiring? We can still start a new life! Just let me help you."

"I can't even if I want to." Mabilis akong kumalas sa kaniyang bisig nang marinig ang sunod-sunod na putok ng baril. Does they take down almost of them before making noises? If they aren't, we're in a big trouble!

Mabilis ding dumating ang dalawang lalaking bodyguard niya ngunit may tama ito ng baril sa balikat. Parehas nila akong tinutukan ng baril. Itinaas ko naman ang aking dalawang kamay dahil alam kong anumang oras ay ipuputok talaga nila ito. Napabuntong hininga ako.

"Look, Liam! I know, it's against your will and you just want to take revenge so do I but it's not the end," pangungumbinsi ko sa kaniya. I hope he'll listen just like before.

Dumikit pa ang dalawang lalaki kay Liam para alalayan siya. Maputla na kasi siya kanina ngunit ngayo'y unti-unti na siyang nanghihina. Malamig din ang kaniyang kamay na dumampi sa akin kanina.

"T-then what? You want me to surrender and be in jail?! I-I'm not that dumb!" Nahihirapan man sa pagsasalita ay alam kong hindi siya susunod pa sa sinasabi ko. I just don't get him. I just don't get his reason!

"Was it for real? All you've shown and said to me? All you've done to me?" I asked him straight into his eyes and sought what was real. Everything seems not right. I want to know the truth about him. He looked away and I could see the tears that he was hiding before his bodyguard could notice. I knew it!

Nakarinig ako ng putok ng baril kaya naman napapikit at napaupo ako. So far ay wala naman akong naramdamang tumama sa akin kaya't alam kong safe ako. Natigil na ito kaya idinilat ko na ang aking mga mata. Just like my expectations, the backup is here and they'll be taking down all of his men.

"It's over, Liam! Just surrender peacefully." sambit ni Nat at nakatutok kay Liam ang baril.

Nakabulagta na ang dalawang bodyguard niya. Pinagmasdan ko ang mga backup ng Task Force at lahat sila ay nakatutok ang baril kay Liam at papalapit sa kaniya. Humarap ako sa kaniya at pinakiusapang ibaba ang baril maski ang ibang kasama namin. Mas natatakot ako para kay Liam. I could feel how much he was frightened.

"Liam..." nag-aalala kong sambit sa kaniya.

Umatras pa siya at tumingin siya sa likuran niya. Wala na siyang maaatrasan dahil bangin na 'yon at dagat sa ibaba. Isang putok ng baril ang narinig namin at kitang-kita namin ang dugong umagos sa kaliwang dibdib ni Liam. Tuluyan siyang nahulog sa bangin.

"Liam!" sigaw ko at tumakbo upang hawakan ang kaniyang kamay ngunit hindi ko ito maabot at tuluyan siyang nahulog. Sa huling pagkakataon ay nagkatinginan kami bago siya kunin ng karagatan. Napaluha ako.

I failed to protect Liam...