Chapter 9

Pinili kong hindi i-park ang kotse ko sa loob ng property at mahirap na baka ma-question ako. I decided to park my car outside, 2-3 minutes walk from the house. 

Now, standing I'm standing in front of the house. I should leave. I should just go back inside my car and go home. Pretend that this never happened. Para akong nasa sarili kong horror film, and I was the stupid girl. If I am watching this scene right now, I would have yelled and curse to myself for being utterly stupid. 

Another thing I noticed is that walang nagbabantay sa paligid. Akala ko ba off-limits ang lugar na ito? Pero bakit ang dali ko atang nakapasok? Tinignan ko muli ang bahay. And a thought came to me. What if the killer is still around? Worse if nasa loob pa rin sya ng bahay. 

'Pwede ka pang umalis, Skyla' I thought to myself. Pwede pa akong umalis to save my ass. The house screams danger. What if something happens? Sino ang tutulong sa akin? I'm being impulsive again. I should just go home. 

Ano naman ang mahahanap ko kung sakaling pumasok nga ako sa loob? I feel sorry for the kid pero that doesn't mean I have to risk my life looking for answers na mismo ako hindi ko alam kung paano sisimulan. I sighed. Minsan hindi ako nag-iisip eh. 

I was about to leave when I heard voices. Sa pagkakataranta ko, ay agad akong nagtago sa likod ng malaking puno. Mas lalong lumapit ang mga boses nila. I closed my eyes at mas lalong dinikit ang sarili ko sa puno, thinking I might be invisible. 

"He's not here" ani ng isang boses na medyo malalim. Halata rin na may accent ito. 

"Of course, he's not here. Probably fücking one of his goomahs." sabay tawa naman ng pangalawang boses. 

I heard a sigh "I can't believe we are here scouting this area. I should be somewhere getting laid" 

"Dude, you had the best threesome last night. Stop frowning" sabay halakhak nila. 

Pigs. Horny pigs. 

"What were you saying earlier?" 

"I heard a car" 

Shit. Shit. Shit. Triple Shit. 

Buti nalang talaga at sa labas ng property ko naisipang i-park ang kotse. Who are these guys? I am pretty sure that they're not from the Police department. 

"Are you sure? Ty?"

"I am"

"Okay, tara at libutin natin ang paligid"

I should get out of here. When I heard them walking away, agad akong tumakbo palabas ng property. Tumakbo ako patungo kung saan naka-park ang kotse ko. When I get inside of my car, my hands are shaking. I started the ignition ang drive away. Halos paliparin ko ang kotse ko makauwi lang.

Nakauwi ako ng mas mabilis sa inaasahan. I'm so stupid, going there was a bad decision pero dahil sa pagiging curious ay muntik ko pang ipahamak ang sarili ko. What could have happen if nakita nila ako? I was about to get inside my room when I heard Uncle's voice.

"Skyla" I bit my lower lip. "In my office. Now"

Agad akong sumunod kay Uncle, kinabahan ako ng makapasok na kami sa kanyang opisina. Dalawa lang dahilan oras na ipatawag ka ni Uncle. First, may kasalanan ka. Second, may importante syang sasabihin. Sa sitwasyon ko ngayon, halatang may kasalanan ako. Nag-iisip na ako ng pwedeng idahilan ng mag-salita sya. 

"Don't even think about it, young lady." he sighed, and rub his temples, "Do you have a boyfriend?" 

"Huh?" halos hindi ako makapaniwala sa tanong nya. 

"Well, you just went out secretly without telling." sabay tingin nya sa labas kung may tao ba doon. 

Halos matawa ako at nawala ang kaba sa dibdib ko. Akala ko pa naman nalaman nya kung saan ako galing, "Nagpahangin lang ako labas. Hehe." I laughed nervously. 

"You do know that I'm completely okay with you dating. You don't need to sneak out of the house just to meet him." 

I can't believe I'm hearing this. Nasaang universe ako? "Uncle Bern! Wala po! I will tell you right away if meron man."

"Young people are really secretive. They think we are stupid just because we are old." He smiled at me, but I'm not smiling at all. 

"Oh my gosh, noooo!" I shrieked at him. Alam ko naman na nasa tamang edad na ako para magkaroon ng BF pero wala namang nanliligaw sa akin. 

He smiled a bit before growing serious, "Don't sneak out again."

Tinignan ako ni Uncle. I can't read him. Mas gusto ko pang sigawan nya ako,but I can't take his silence. Pakiramdam ko ay gusto kong isuka ang mga kinain ko noong hapunan. I love my Uncle pero hindi ibig sabihin noon na hindi ako takot sa kanya, 

Alam kong alam ni Uncle ang ginawa ko at hinihintay nya lang na sa akin manggaling. Kahit na magsinungaling ako ay alam ko ring hindi ako makakalabas dito hanggat hindi ako nagsasabi ng totoo. Wala akong lusot. 

"I'm sorry. I promise it won't happen again" He stared at me for so long at gusto ko ng tumakbo palabas. He sighed. Shit, I forgot that he can track me. He gave Anthony and I a necklace which helps him to track us.

Binigay nya yun sa amin noong mga bata pa kami. Automatiko naman akong napahawak sa kwintas na nakasabit sa leeg ko. It's a heart-shaped locket. Lagi ko itong suot. In some situations, I do remove it when I'm swimming, attending an important event, and etc. 

Why am I such an idiot? He knows I went to a crime scene, and he wants me to confirm it to him myself. Is this why he allowed me to live alone kasi he knows where I am kahit saan ako magpunta?

"You remind me of Marcus. Too curious for his own good" he whispered it so softly that I couldn't hear it. He gave me one last pointed look that scared the shit out of me. Halos manghina ang mga tuhod ko sa tingin nyang iyon. "Don't do it again, Skyla. No more sneaking out."

"Yes, Uncle" 

He stared at me for a few seconds and then he smiled "There's a Charity Ball this Saturday. I want you to be there. No excuses." pagiiba nya ng usapan at nawala naman lahat ng tensyon sa katawan ko.

"Is that why Tia Constanza is here?" 

"Yes," I was about to ask more questions when he spoke again "Now, go back to your room" I sighed and turned to leave. I was about to open the door when he spoke again. "Don't do it again or I might do something you won't like." and I shivered at his last statement.

I closed my eyes and opened the door. When the door closed behind me, I let out the breath I've been holding the moment he utters those words. Tears start to form in my eyes, I blink them away. I love my Uncle but there are times wherein I ask myself if my fear for him is greater than the love and respect I have for him. 

        I miss mornings like this. Yung kasama si Uncle at Anthony sa agahan. It brings good memories.

"Anthony, I would like you to meet someone" 

Anthony gave an exasperated sigh and Uncle gave him a pointed look. 

"Who is it this time? Uncle, aren't you too old to play cupid?" huminto ako sa pagkain at tinignan silang dalawa. Uncle Bern laughed at what Anthony said. 

"She's a nice girl. You'll like her." 

Uncle Bern has been playing Cupid for Anthony when he turned 20. Sa lahat ng mga babaeng pinakilala sa kanya ay wala syang niligawan. Sure, they dated a few times but out of courtesy. 

"That's what you said about Amanda, too. But look at what she did, sinugod nya si Skyla" Anthony gave me an apologetic look kahit alam kong matagal ng nangyari iyon. "Besides, I'm a busy man"

I cringe at the memory. That Amanda girl na talagang hinintay ako sa labas ng Uni para awayin kasi inagaw ko raw si Anthony sa kanya. Umismid ako. 

"Ah.. who would have thought that she had it in her.." Uncle smiled knowingly at Anthony. Umiling-iling lang si Anthony kay Uncle. 

Uncle turned to me "Skyla, tell me. Do you have a boyfriend?" alam kong inaasar nya na ako ngayon. I just hope that he won't tell Anthony about me sneaking out last night. Agad kong nilunok ang kinakain ko. Uncle was never strict to us when it comes to relationships. In fact, he encouraged us to date.

"Wala po, Uncle" I smiled. 

"Why? You are a beautiful lady. I am sure boys are running after you like dogs in heat" natawa ako sa sinabi ni Uncle at umiling. 

"She doesn't need a boy, Uncle. She needs a man" says Anthony. Tinignan ko siya at tinignan nya rin ako, at tinaasan ko sya ng kilay. He shrug me off. Uncle cleared his throat and then I look at him.

"I'm busy with studies." simple pero totoo kong sagot. Wala akong oras para sa relasyon. Marami pa akong gustong gawin at sa tingin ko ay hindi ko pa oras. 

"That's good but I am telling you... You can date anyone you want, as long as you won't come home telling me you're pregnant" 

"Uncle!" halos sabay na sigaw namin ni Anthony at tinawanan lang kami ni Uncle Bern. Uminit ang pisnge ko. Sometimes, being around these men is hard. 

Right after breakfast, I went to school. Palabas ako ng kotse ko ng makita kong palapit si Detective Michael. He's popular and not surprising for he had solved some big cases in the country. Now, why is he here? 

"Good Morning, Detective" He smiled at me. 

"Good Morning, Ms. Vielle. I have a few questions if you don't mind." 

I smiled "Sure. Ano po ba iyon?" 

"What were you doing at the Congressman's property last night?" 

Well, shit. 

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