Ineffable Euphoria

Kabanata 39

[Trigger Warning: Violence, Death]

Kabanata 39...
Memories

Tulala pa 'ko nang gumising kinaumagahan na binabalot ng amoy ni Ali, ngunit wala s'ya sa tabi ko.

Kare-receive ko pa lang ng message n'ya na patungo na raw sa court at ngayon ay binabalot na lamang ako ng pangamba at pag-aalala. Mistulang mag-isa ako sa malaki n'yang bahay, pero napaliligiran ako ng mga mas dumami pang sumisiguro ng seguridad ko.

My body is all jittery, my legs keep bouncing as I sat in his living room, watching the news.

"Ms. Bernaldez—"

"Fuck!" Napapikit ako sa gulat nang may biglang magsalita sa aking gilid.

I didn't even hear footsteps! Where did he come from?!

"I'm sorry. Gusto ko lang ipaalam na may tao sa labas,"

Nangunot ang noo ko nang tuluyang maka-recover sa gulat, pero hawak pa rin ang tila nanikip na dibdib.

"Wait. Who are you?"

He seems awfully familiar.

"Kirby, ma'am. Hindi na 'ko nakapagpakilala kanina dahil inayos namin—"

"Wait. I know you," my forehead crumpled more. "You're my bodyguard before. One of my bodyguards!" Itinuro ko pa s'ya.

Is he friends with Ali as well?

The way Alex and Rael addressed him yesterday, it seems like they were close. They even called him Kirb. Is that why when literally no one is allowed to enter my room when I was in a hospital one time, Ali was still able to come through?

What the hell?

"Ah... Ma'am Bernaldez, mabuting tingnan n'yo na lang po muna 'yong tao sa labas. Sinubukan na s'yang paalisin, pero ngayon ay nageeskandalo na s'ya sa labas. Baka maka-attract ng atensyon ang bisita at hindi maganda iyon."

Mabilis n'ya akong iginiya sa hamba ng pintuan kung saan kita ko si Heaven na hindi na maipinta ang muka habang lumuluha. Isinisigaw n'ya ang pangalan ni Ali, pero tuwing sinasaway ng guard ay galit n'ya itong sinisigawan.

What the hell is happening...

"If she's a threat and you don't want her here, we can get rid of her. Or do you want us to open the gate and let her in?"

"She might be a threat, but let her in."

"Kung maaaring may ibinabalak s'ya—"

"Papasukin n'yo s'ya, and you also stay here to ensure she won't do anything wrong."

Mabilis kausap si Kirby at mabilis n'ya ring natugunan ang sinabi ko.

Oras na nagtama ang tingin sa'kin ni Heaven, ang masalimuot n'yang mukha ay agarang binalot ng galit. Kung hindi agad nahuli ni Kirby ang katawan nito, maaabot na n'ya ang katawan ko para siguro saktan o kung ano.

"It's your fucking fault! What are you doing here?!"

Umiling si Kirby nang makita akong humakbang, pero wala na s'yang nagawa nang sampalin ko si Heaven.

I've been wanting to do that again for so... long.

"I'm the one who should ask you, what the fuck are you doing here?"

"This isn't your house! This is Aga's! Lahat na lang inaangkin mo!" She screams so loud it actually hurts my ear.

"Unlike you," my eyes traveled from her head to toe. "He actually wants me here. So, either you tell us what you're doing here, or I'm gonna fucking sue you for stalking. Talk."