I'll Save You Forever

Kabanata XXVI

INIGO

AN HOUR had passed since Karyll left the unit. The sword of her words is still buried in my chest but I wasn't feeling the pain anymore. Callista's presence is soothing the wound caused by it.

The only thing that's left is the heavy confusion in me.

May pag-asa pa kayang mai-settle ang misunderstanding na ito? I've been contemplating with that for hours now but I see no solution.

The pain and anger in Tita Ericha's eyes. The jealousy in Karyll's mind and tongue.

How can those things be fixed with a single explanation? Mas magkakagulo lamang kung sasabihin ko sa kanila ang totoo na si Callista ay isa nang multo na walang naaalala sa kaniyang nakaraan.

How will I tell them that Callista is no longer that woman in the newspaper, but a ghost who died because of me?

This is just miserable.

"Hindi mo ba sasagutin 'yan? SPO3 Lopez is the type of person who finds everything suspicious," sabi ni Callista na ngayon ay katabi ko sa mesa.

My phone's been ringing for five times now pero hinayaan ko na lamang ito.

"I'm on leave now tsaka maiintindihan naman siguro ni sir na kumakain pa ako ngayon. Alas dose na kaya," ani ko at lumunok ng kanin. The moment I finished chewing, tumigil na rin ang pagring ng phone ko for the fifth time.

"Teka, how come you are familiar with SPO3 Lopez?" nakakunot-noo kong tanong.

"Multo nga ako diba?" aniya. For a moment, I saw the sarcastic version of her. "Kaya kong maglaho at lumitaw. There are times na katabi mo 'ko sa office niyo without you knowing," dagdag niya at ngumisi.

Tangina, nanindig tuloy yung balahibo ko. That's a witty and dangerous ability to have. Who knows if Callista has been spying during my private moments?

"Yuck, bakit naman kita sisilipan!"

Nanlaki pa ang mga ko matapos niyang paluin ang braso ko at sumigaw.

"Wait, you can read minds?!" gulat kong tanong.

Is she hiding this all along? Does she know every single detail of my thoughts?

"Baliw, it's obvious naman na 'yon agad ang iisipin mo. You're dirty enough to think of such," tugon niya.

"So you find me dirty, huh?" Agad akong napalingon sa kaniya. I poked my inside cheek using my tongue as I waited for her answer.

"You are a typical man Inigo. Nung bago pa lang kitang makilala, I thought you were different pero matapos mo akong halik—" Natigilan siya sa pagsasalita matapos niyang mapagtanto na kanina pa pala ako nakatingin sa kaniya habang nakataas ang kilay.

"Nevermind," saad niya.

"Tsk." Natawa na lamang ako roon at ibinaling ang tingin ko sa aking kinakain. Hindi na talaga 'yon maalis sa isipan niya.

But I'm glad she didn't finish narrating that night again. If you consider such impulsive action a grave sin, then so do I now.

Hindi ko lubos maisip na nagawa ko 'yon kay Callista dati. I was just carried away. Sa tuwing naalala ko ang kapusukan ko nang gabing 'yon, I just punch myself.

Para akong teenager na naalala bigla yung long sweet message na sinend sa crush niya few years ago kaya binabalikan na siya ngayon ng cringe department.

Ilang saglit pa ay tumunog ulit ang phone ko kaya mabilis nitong naagaw ang atensyon ko. But this time, it wasn't a ringtone but a message notification.