Shattered Souls

Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Commotion

With only the use of a single torchlight to light up a narrow enclosure, I could still see the tiny dirt on his frowzy face. What? He has been here for almost a year now?

"I-I thought you are good..." I couldn't hide how awful it was seeing him in here.

After all this time, while I was feeling comfortable in my bed, he was locked in here and suffering. I felt horrible now looking back when I believed what was written in his letter. I should have known that it was kind of bizarre he couldn't visit me just because he was busy according to him.

"Hey, I'm good," agad niya nang mapansin ang reaksyon ko. Hindi naglaho ang ngiti sa kanyang labi. "Sorry, Astra. Hindi kita nabisita kahit na isang beses lang. At least they let me write a letter for you after a few months."

My lips trembled as my fists started to clench. This is the least thing I expect to witness when I come back, to see Erikson in freaking prison. Hindi ko kailanman naisip ang eksenang ito.

"You look good," he complimented after. Hinawakan niya ang bakal na rehas at mas tinitigan ang mukha ko. "Mas gumanda ka lalo, Astra. Mukhang hiyang ka sa lugar na 'yon ah?"

When I grasped all my thoughs, I blurted out, "What the fuck?! You lied! Ang sabi mo sa akin ay ayos ka lang!"

Tumawa siya. "Do I look like not good to you? I can still kill now just to protect you even in this condition."

I just stared at him in disbelief.

He let out a heavy sigh. "Fine. I'm sorry. Okay?"

"Who did this? Oscar?" I arched my brows.

He shook his head. "I was charged as a traitor for siding with Brix that time. Mabuti na nga lang ay ito lang ang parusa ko. I can't live as an insurgent. I'm still thankful."

"It's Lady Grenda's idea which later also approved by Lord Oscar," sumagot na rin si Celeste.

"Yeah. Mabuti na lang andito si Celeste. Spoiled din ako sa pagkain," natatawa pang sambit ni Erikson.

"Gano'n din naman ang gagawin ni Astra kung sakali," ani Celeste.

Humalakhak si Erikson. "I don't think so. If it was Astra, she wouldn't waste time to dash in Oscar's room and threaten him to release me. You know? Astra makes the most reckless decisions."

"I am not that kind of woman anymore."

"Well... we will see." He grinned.

Nang makabawi ay lumapit na rin ako sa mga bakal na naghihiwalay sa aming dalawa ni Erikson. I looked at him in his eyes as I said, "I'm sorry, Erikson. I will try to do something for them to release you."

"I knew it. No. Don't."

I shook my head. "No. Damn it, Mr. Nadija! May kasalanan din ako na ikaw lang ang nagbayad. Hindi ko hahayaan na lumipas pa ang isang linggo na nakakulong ka sa seldang ito."

He touched my hand holding the jail bar. "I'm glad you are back, Astra. Pero... para saan pa? Mukhang mas maganda ang kalagayan mo sa grupo na tinirahan mo. Why come back in hell?"

"To release you?"

"You miss him..."

Natikom ang mga labi ko.

Sumilip naman ang ngiti sa labi niya. "Huwag kang mag-alala, Astra. Alam kong nasa mabuting kalagayan si Brix. Saka... hindi na rin naman magtatagal at babalik na siya."

"You need to be there when he comes back. For now... I will try my best to free you here."

"Mukhang hindi na kita mapipigilan at kung 'yan na talaga ang pasya mo... huwag kang magpadalos-dalos ah? I can still wait... kahit na ilang taon pa. Basta huwag ka lang mapahamak."