s i Ni s t e r

Untitled Part 51

SHE TRIED TEXTING AND CALLING. SHE TRIED SWEET AND FRIENDLY, also angry and desperate. Under a different circumstance, she wouldn't even care. But the situation was not ordinary.

Paige was avoiding her and she wanted to know why.

"Hi, Mamsh." Amber presented her gift before the designer could speak. Chocolate cake. You could never go wrong with chocolates.

"Oh, thank you, dear, but I'm afraid Paige is busy."

Amber handed him the cake, "I won't be long, Mamsh. Is she upstairs?" Pumasok na siya sa bahay, derederetso sa hagdan.

Hindi na nakaangal si Mamsh, "Alright, first door."

Nasa kalahati na ng hagdan si Amber, "Thanks, Mamshie!"

Kumatok siya sa unang pinto, "It's Amber! I'm not going away, Paige."

Bumukas ang pinto, "Marami akong ginagawa, Amber." Sabi ni Paige.

Pumasok si Amber, "Yeah, sure looks busy." Malinis na malinis ang kwarto. Pati ang kama. Mukhang kapapasok lang rin doon ni Paige. Nakita nitong dumating siya, nagkulong sa kwarto. She sat on the neatly made bed.

"Ano ang kailangan mo?" Tanong ni Paige.

Natawa si Amber, "You have to ask? Iniiwasan mo ako. I want to know why."

"Maraming pinapagawa si Mamsh. Hindi ako kagaya mo--"

"Cut the crap, Paige. Tell me."

Hindi ito nagsalita. Kinuha ang cell phone sa nightstand. After a couple of taps, ipinakita nito ang picture. One of the many she took of Paige.

"Sorry I've to shave your brows." Aniya. "So, that's the reason you're avoiding me. You could have just asked me, Paige."

"Ask you? Eh, hindi ka nga nagpaalam nung kinunan mo ako ang pictures. Tapos gusto mo tanungin ko sa 'yo kung bakit na parang balewala lang? Dapat ikaw ang nagtanong kung puwede mo bang gamitin ang picture ko at pinaliwanag mo na rin kung ano ang dahilan.

"Pero hindi 'yun ang ginawa mo. You drugged me! Wala kang intensyon na ipaalam sa akin ang ginawa mo. Ginawa mo 'yun na may malisya! Manloloko ka!"

Tiningnan ito ni Amber ng deretso, "I had no choice, Paige. Ayokong gawin 'yun, I swear to God. I... I like you, I'm so glad I met you. Oo, kamukha ka ni Darby and maybe that's the reason I like you. You look like her ...and maybe I like to pretend that you're my sister and you're nice to me, not mean all the time--"

"Nasaan si Darby?"

"You can't tell anyone, Paige. I'm risking everything by telling you but...I owe you the truth. But please, swear you won't tell a soul."

"Hindi ako mangangako hanggang hindi mo sinasabi ang totoo."

Amber sighed, "Darby...she's not well and I hate what I had to do to protect her when she's caused me nothing but pain. Hindi ko alam kung kailan ito matatapos. Hindi ko alam kung kailan ako makakawala. I just want to live my life...but...maybe Blanche was right, you know? Maybe death is the only way out."

"Ano'ng nangyari kay Darby?"

"She's at Norton. It's a...um...a private facility for the mentally ill."

Napanganga si Paige. Obvious na hindi inaasahan ang sinabi ni Amber.

"Baliw s'ya?" Anito.