Wages Of Sin

Kabanata 6

Kabanata 6

"We're here," Robin announced. Napa-angat ako nang tingin saka nakita ang isang sign, saying 'Welcome to Resurrection City'.

Nauna siyang bumaba sa bus na sinakyan namin kanina. I didn't tell him that I lost the necklace, and my jeans with pocketful of money in it. Mabuti na lamang at nagboluntaryo siyang magbayad sa pamasahe namin.

"How many streets away?" I asked.

"Malapit na," he said. "Pakiready ng necklace ko, please."

Fuck.

Hindi ako nagsalita at sinundan na lamang siya. I actually understand why he doesn't want to ride again. Maybe he ran out of money?

But goodness gracious. Siguradong ipapapulis niya ako kung sakaling malaman niya na nawawala ang kwintas. If not, baka sigawan niya ako't pagbuntunan ng galit. Posibleng maging utang ko sa kaniya ang buhay ko dahil obviously, sobrang importante sa kaniya ng kwintas. No freaking way! I need to remember kung saan ako noon nakatira before anything else.

"Uh... excuse me?" I called him. He turned. "Do you remember the moment last night? Iyong babaeng niligtas ko sa bar? Do you remember her?"

He shrugs. "Yes? Maybe."

"Kilala mo siya?" I asked and felt hopeful inside.

"Definitely, not," he answered which made me felt disappointed. "Why did you ask?"

"N-nothing!" I said, sounding defensive. Nice, Creep. You're not obvious as hell. "I mean, she used to be my friend. Gusto ko siya ulit makita, b-but I can't recall her address."

"Hindi ko siya kilala," he said as we continued to walk. "But I know the guy na muntikan nang gumalaw sa kaniya."

My face brightened. Oh, yes! I see hope! I can see it!

"Sino?" I asked, excitedly. Come on, tell me.

I cleared my throat when I saw his forehead crease. Marahil ay naghihinala na siya. Uh-oh.

"It's Creg Paralejo," he said. "Maybe he knows a little information about the girl you are saying."

"Do you know where he lives?" I asked. He nodded and told me the subdivision. "Great! Let's go."

Tumalikod ako nag-iba nang direksyon ngunit bago pa tuluyang tumuloy ang bigla niyang hinarangan ang daanan ko.

"Woah, wait right there," he stopped me. WTF? "Give me my necklace back. Ang trabaho ko lang ay ihatid ka sa circus. Pass ako rito sa kung anong gagawin mo na walang kinalaman sa trabaho ko."

Sandali akong natahimik. I cleared my throat bago tuluyang bumawi sa pagsasalita. I shrug and continued to walk.

"Dude, the connection of this thing to your job, is you cannot get your necklace kung hindi mo ako tutulungan," I smiled at him teasingly. "Nevertheless, I don't need you. That means you don't need this necklace, too."

"Fine!" he shouted which made me stop. Bigla akong nagulat sa inasta niya. "Sa 'yo na 'yang kwintas na 'yan. I'm tired of your shit blackmails."

Tumalikod siya at nagsimulang maglakad pasalungat ng direksyon ko dahil doon. I'm shocked. Hindi ko 'yon inaasahan. I felt sorry, really. Bigla akong nakaramdam ng guilt sa loob ko.

Pero hindi ko rin naman ginusto 'to, a?

Nagsimula akong maglakad sa direksyon kung saan dapat ako. Swear, I'll get that necklace and bring it back to him. Saka ako magsosorry.

Goodness! Felt like he doesn't deserve this. Guilt and conscience are killing me. Aah! I can't.

I've encountered some people and asked about the subdivision Robin said. Several people ignored me, but few told some directions. Buti may natitira pang mga ganitong tao sa mundo?