Pretty but Deadly

Chapter 30: Traceable

Xam Monteverdi. If I had to murder all people in this world, I think he's the last person I would kill. But now, the table had turned. I want him to be first in the line. I breathe deeply as I try to control my anger. I can still taste his betrayal in the air. He said he understands my sentiments. He said he supports my decisions. He said he's on my side. He said...

"I thought Monteverdi is not your enemy. You seems so close back then. He's your friend, right?" Gazelle gave me a quick glance while driving. The image of Max pointing a gun at me briefly flashes on mind. Naikuyom ko ang aking kamao.

"He's not. I don't befriend anyone," I told her. He's just the closest being I had whom I thought understands me. I thought we're on the same page.

Now, he just proved me wrong.

"'San pala tayo pupunta ngayon?" tanong nito. "T-teka! May sugat ka ba? I think the blood on your seat is expanding."

Bumagsak naman ang tingin ko aking inuupuan. Ang nagtalsikan na dugo sa aking damit ay kapansin-pansin. Pero sa tingin ko'y 'di 'yon sapat para magkaroon ng maraming dugo ang aking inuupuan. Doon ko naalala ang aking sugat sa hita. Damn. I almost entirely forgot about my wound because I'm too busy thinking about Monteverdi's betrayal.

"Nadaplisan pala ako ng bala sa hita kanina," I informed her. Ngayon ay unti-unti ko ng nararamdaman ang matinding pananakit nito.

"Hah?! 'Bat ngayon mulang sinabi?" gulat nitong saad. "We need to clean that first before it gets dark. You'll pass out if you'll continue losing blood."

She parked the car in an open space and went out. She informed me that she's going to get her first-aid kit at the back of her car. Tumango lamang ako at pinanood ang unti-unting paglubog ng araw. Masyadong maraming nangyare ngayong araw. I can't help myself but to feel tired. This day is full of sick revelations that caught me off guard.

Napabalik na lang ako sa realidad ng may kumatok sa bintanang sinasandalan ko. Binuksan ko ang pinto at bumungad si Gazelle na may hawak na puting kahon at supot.

"Magpalit ka muna," sabi niya at inabot sakin ang supot na may bagong biling damit. Kung saan niya man ito nakuha ay 'di na ako nagtanong.

I closed the door again and changed my bloody shirt into a white one. Pinangpunas ko na rin ito sa aking mukha at buhok na natalsikan ng mga dugo. Tsk, I don't like the smell of blood but I'm used to it. Sunod kong tinanggal ang aking suot na pants ng dahan-dahan habang tinitiis ang sakit ng sugat sa aking hita. My breath shuddered and I leaned back at my seat when I'm done wearing the shorts Gazelle bought. Binuksan ko ng muli ang pinto sa aking tabi.

"Mabuti't hindi sila sumunod," narinig kong wika niya bago tanggalin ang tingin mula sa kalsada. She's talking about the Clementes'.

"They wouldn't," maikling sagot ko. "They asked me to leave." Lumapit ito sa akin at tinignan ang aking sugat. Binuksan nito ang first-aid kit at kinuha ang mga kailangan. I slightly winced when she started cleaning it.

"I never thought that the Don would be that young and handsome," she said and chuckled. I just rolled my eyes and didn't talk back. Ibang-iba rin ang nasa aking imahinasyon tungkol sa Don noon. "Pero hindi ba't nakakapagtaka..." Natigilan ito sa ginawa pero kalauna'y pinagpatuloy din.