Love
Diana dragged me to the bay deck of the resort, where we could see the calm sea. But it was the opposite of what I'm feeling. Tahimik akong nakaupo at umaagos ang luha. Hindi ko matanggap. Hindi ko kayang tanggapin na parte siya ng malaking sindikatong ito!
"Why, Diana?" I asked weakly.
Palakad lakad siya sa harap ko. She looked nervous, but at the same time, I sensed she was serious about this. Gusto kong isipin na baka nandito siya dahil may kailangan siyang gawin ngunit parang napaka imposible noon.
"Nangako siya..." she whispered weakly.
I shut my eyes and held my head as I bowed. Umiling ako.
"At naniwala ka? Anong pangako niya? Na gagawan ka niya ng mansyon sa impyernong ito?" I whispered with so much disappointment.
"A-Ayeselle—"
"This is wrong! Alam mo 'yan!" I shouted frustratingly and looked at her with my bloodshot eyes.
Binasa niya ang labi at nag-iwas ng tingin. She looked so fancy and simple at the same time. I couldn't see that she was stressed, but damn it, she's living the wrong choice of life!
"You were part of them! Alam mo ba kung... gaano kalaki ang kasong ito? It reached the internationals, Diana! And if you were caught with them, kahit na sabihin nating hindi ka nagd-drugs, pero dahil parte ka, kasama ka nilang guguho!"
Her jaw clenched, but her eyes remained weary.
"At dahil ano? Dahil sa pagmamahal na pinaglalaban mo?!"
She closed her eyes and sighed heavily. Umihip ang malamig na hangin sa loob na galing sa karagatan. I shut my eyes and shook my head.
Masasali siya! Soon, if the woman in the seven-eleven gave the piece of information I handed her, this place would be raided! And worse, she's here!
I stood and walked toward her. Noong dumilat siya, kita ko ang pangingislap ng luha sa mga mata niya. I held her hands and squeezed them.
"This is wrong, Diana..." I whispered achingly.
"Alam ko mali, Ayeselle. Pero business ito ng asawa ko..."
Asawa...
I looked down at her hand and saw that... she's wearing a ring. She married him. In spite of his darkness, in spite of his evilness. She married and tolerated him!
"You've chosen the wrong man." My shoulder loosened.
Huminga siyang muli, tila ba, gabi gabi na iyong nasa isip niya, ngunit araw araw ay kumakapit siya sa maliit na pag-asang binibigay sa kanya ni Russel, kaya hindi siya makalabas.
"Malaki ang pananalig ko na magbabago siya. Nangako siya, Ayeselle. Na huli na ito. Pag... naitawid 'yung droga sa New York, titigil na kami. Aalis kami sa bansang ito—
Nailing ako at umalis sa harap niya, naglakad patungo sa balkonahe. Sumunod ang tinig niya, sa pagkakataong ito, mas determinadong kumbinsihin ako.
"Sa Switzerland kami mananatili! At magbabagong buhay na kami! Para sa anak namin!"
Muli akong humarap at agaran siyang nakita sa harap ko. Hinangin ang aming mga buhok habang titig na titig kami sa isa't isa.
"For how many years have you settled down with a man who can't even give you a... decent life?"
"M-Malaki ang pananalig ko ngayon, Ayeselle. Gusto ko siyang pagkatiwalaan. Mahal niya ako. Ramdam ko 'yon. P-Pinakasalan niya ako oh!" She showed the ring proudly.
