Certain Uncertainties

XXIII

"THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING" Sabi ni Leo. Nasa airport na kami ngayon and today is his flight. "You have got to be strong, okay?"

Tumango s'ya, "Ikaw rin, please take care. Naiintindihan ko na kung bakit gustong gusto n'ya na magkakilala tayo. He was right, you're a great person"

"Ikaw din, he always bragged about you and now I see why. For a few times na nagkita tayo, nakita ko kung bakit minahal ka ng husto ni Eros. He was lucky to have you"

Hindi pa rin nawawala sa mga mata n'ya ang sakit sa pagkawala ni Eros. "I'm lucky to have those memories with him. Hindi ko alam kung saan ako magsisimula para makausad" napatingin s'ya sa ibang direksyon para pigilan ang luha.

"You, going back to Canada for a new beginning is a good start. Mag-iingat ka do'n, ha?"

"Thank you for being such a good company during my stay here and I know I've said this before but I'll say this again... thank you for standing up for me" Sabi n'ya. I gave him a quick hug and pat him on his shoulder.

"What you and Eros had was beautiful, I'd do it all over again for him if I had to."

"How about you and that guy?" napalingon ako, he's talking about Gelo. Medyo malayo s'ya sa amin at hinihintay lang kami matapos mag-usap. He drove us here. "We're friends, mali ka ng iniisip" natatawang sabi ko pa. Kita ko naman sa mukha n'ya na hindi s'ya convinced, "Denice, there's no way a guy will drive all the way here for his 'friend', and the way he looks at you—"

Pinutol ko na ang sasabihin n'ya, "You're getting it all wrong" natatawa pa ring sabi ko. "A lot of people say that too maybe because he's my on-screen partner and we have this natural chemistry together but to save your time I'm telling you... we're nothing. Okay? And oops, look at the time kailangan mo na magcheck in"

Pailing iling s'ya, "I'm telling you—"

"Bye bye Leo. Have a safe flight!" nakangiti pa ako habang kumakaway at humahakbang palayo.

Nasa sasakyan na kami pareho ni Gelo, "I got this list from Theon, ito 'yung complainants against Marco for the past years, it's quite many. Paanong hindi nakakarating sa media ang mga 'to?"

I'm browsing the names, puro sila babae. "Maraming pwedeng gawin ang impluwensya, he's a powerful one. What do you expect?" he's driving.

Sa lahat ng mga pangalang ito, assault at rape lang ang mga kasong isinampa. There are exactly 17 names on the list. Are all these his victims?

"The first case was... wow, it was over a decade ago" tiningnan ko ang pangalan. "This has been going on for 10 years, and he's not been caught once? Lupit" Komento ni Gelo.

"Malupit 'yon? Idol mo?" naiinis na sagot ko dahil parang impressed pa s'ya. "Hindi ko sinabing idol ko, ang ibig kong sabihin lahat 'yan nalusutan n'ya ng walang bahid sa image n'ya. That's quite a talent"