Bumalik sa akin ang mga alaala.

"So, may suggestion ka ba? Anong gusto mong paraan ng kamatayan mo?"

"Gago ka! Bakit hindi ka magpakita sa 'kin? Kung talagang matapang ka, magpakita ka!"

"Once na nagpakita ako sa 'yo, mapapasailalim ka na ng pamumuno ko. Ano? Payag ka bang maging alipin ko at maging diyos mo ako? Magpapakita na ako sa 'yo."

"Nababaliw ka na."

Nang marinig ko ang pagkasa ng baril tila ba ako ang naging duwag.

Sana hindi na lang ako nagtapang-tapangan.

"Bakit hindi mo imulat ang mga mata mo? Ayaw mo bang makita ang sarili mong kamatayan? Ganitong-ganito ang sitwasyon noon, hindi ba? Ganitong paraan pinatay ang ina mo, hindi ba? Ayaw mo bang matulad sa kaniya ang kahihinatnan mo?"

"Hindi ako sa ganitong paraan mamamatay. Naniniwala akong maililigtas ako ng kaibigan ko. Hahanapin ka namin at pagbabayarin ka namin sa mga kasalanan mo."

Ngunit sa sandaling 'yon, unti-unti akong napanghihinaan ng loob... na tuluyan na akong mamamatay sa pagkakataong ito.

Kaunting oras pa, iminulat ko ang mga mata ko at kitang-kita ko ang mukha ng kalaban namin.

"Umaasa ka pa rin bang darating siya?"

Tama. Wala nang pag-asa. Hindi sa lahat ng pagkakataon may magliligtas sa akin. Sa ngayon, tanging sarili ko lang ang maaasahan ko.

"From now on, I'm your god and you'll be my slave. Welcome to the Apple Fraternity."

"Hinding-hindi ka makakatakas. Sabi ko naman sa 'yo, akin ka lang! Hindi ka ba aware na nasasaktan mo ako sa tuwing nakikita ko sa mukha mo na nami-miss mo na ang kaibigan mo? F*ck Janica! Mabait na nga ako sa 'yo! Hindi mo ba makita? O sadyang ganiyan kayong lahat? Ganiyan ba kayong mga babae? Alam mong kaya kitang patayin gaya ni Apple! Ni Lyca! Pero ginawa ko ba sa 'yo? Alam mo ba kung bakit hindi pa kita pinapatay? Kung bakit hindi kita pinapatay? Mahal kita Janica simula noong mga bata pa tayo. Hindi mo ba matandaan?"

"Hindi ba pwedeng ako na lang?"

"Kung susuko ako sa mga pulis, mamahalin mo na ba ako? I will tell you everything. You can tell it to the police. I don't care. What matters to me is you."

Pinag-isipan ko ang sinabi niya.

"So ano nang gagawin natin ngayong nakalaya na si L. We can't just kill him. Pero, paano kung magsalita siya laban sa 'tin? Paano kung mapatunayang hindi siya si L?"

"Then we had no choice but to kill him and make it look like a suicide."

***

AEDRIAN

Dim light welcomed my eyes. I looked around and search for someone who can answer all of the questions I have on my head right now.

Where am I?

Why am I in here?

Why am I alone?

And then, I realized... There is no one. There's no one for me.

I forced myself to get up even though I am so weak. It feels like there's something under this bed pulling me to get back to sleep. My back suddenly ached because of the sudden move I made. Holy cheese. I can't remember why I am in this state.

I heard the door creaks. Then there's an unfamiliar man who appeared. He's gazing as if he knows me. "Gising ka na. Mabuti naman."

My forehead twitched a little. "Who are you?" I asked.

"It is not important for now."

I simpered and glanced at his visage. "How could I trust someone I did not know?"

I put my attention to my hands. It looks pale and thin. It's shaking. I tried to clench my fist but even this, I can't do it easily.

I sighed.

"I see how she raised you well." He murmured and sat down beside me.

"So you know my mother." I presumed.

"And your father too." He added.

"I suppose, you know me as well---ugggh..." I growled in pain when suddenly felt the burning sensation on my back. It is the same as I had when I stabbed myself. I can't even imagine why I did such a crazy thing.

Wait. I looked at him again and examine his face. I remembered the first time I saw him. It is not now. It is a long time ago? I don't have a clue how long I am here. But the mere fact, that his face is no longer unfamiliar for me is somewhat important now.

"Of course man, you know me. I am the son of the woman you killed. That night, when you approached us and wanted to talk to my mother alone. You asked why my mother was there if someone saw her... F-flor... Flor?"

I stopped when suddenly a single piece of a puzzle was in its right place. "Effloresce... You take her away from the Effloresce... And I got distracted..." Because I met my friend, Nica. And I don't even know why she was there. "And when I decided to leave that place and find my mother... I saw you, with a knife covered in blood. It took me a couple of seconds to hint why you are not with her anymore that time... Surely because, you killed her." I elucidated but still, I am not satisfied. Something is missing. I think I am missing something important.

"Kung gano'n bakit hindi mo ako inimbestigahan at pinakulong? That way, you will be satisfied of the truth you've been longing."

I swallowed hard. I crossed my arms and let my index finger touch my lip.

The truth.

What is the truth behind this man...

Why this man is here...

Why would he approach me if he is guilty?

Suddenly something strikes upon my head. It was like a thunderbolt. I think I know why.

"I will sue you soon for fabricating evidence, Mister, and for protecting someone who's a real murderer."

I removed the tapes from my hand and I saw he immediately stood up seems gonna suppress me. "Where are you going?" He asked.

I smirked. "Don't worry, man. I need some evidence to do so, but I assure you, it won't take a while."

###