Emotionless Shadow

[31] Chim

[31] Chim

"Tasmania, it's the last day. Are you sure you'll stay here?" Napatitig ako kay mommy na nakasandal sa may pintuan. She's wearing a black dress. Mas lalo akong napaiyak ng makita ang suot niya.

Naramdaman ko ang mga yapak ni mommy hanggang sa yakapin ako nito. "Anak, please stop crying. She doesn't want to see you like this."

"M-mom, why does He need to take her? Mom, she's innocent! T-those bastards! T-they should be the one dead!" Inalo ako lalao ni mommy. I can't belive Chloe's dead and the cousins are still alive. Chloe needs justice! And the only way to justify her death is death too!

"Tasmania, everything is made for a reason. Anyways, please eat. I'll be late for the funeral." Sambit nito bago tuluyang kumalas sa yakap at iwan ako sa kwarto.

I can't believe everything that's happening. Kung sana..kung sana di ako nagpadaig sa lason, eh di sana naligtas ko siya. Sana...sana...sana buhay pa s-siya. I blame myself for everything. Me being a weakling. Me unconscious while my friend d-died. Me not doing anything to save her. Me attacking impulsively. Da-dapat di ako sumugod ng walang kasama. Sa-sana, naligtas namin siya.

"Tas, I still remember how she muttered your name before her last breath. Wag mong sisihin ang lahat sayo, Tas kasi para sakanya, masaya siya. Masaya siyang ligtas ka. At di mo lang alam kung ilang sorry ang narinig namin mula sakanya para sayo."

Napatigil ako sa paghikbi ng maalala ko ang sinabi ni Heat sa minsanang pagbisita niya sakin dito. Those first days that's full of depression and agony. Ilang beses rin akong nagtangkang magsuicide sa kadahilanang namatay ang kaibigan ko ng dahil sakin. I can't even believe that even with Chloe's last breath, she said sorry to me. Nakakainis na kailangan niya pang magsorry sa kabila ng lahat. Na para bang di niya nagawa lahat para sakin. I can't believe you Chloe. Hanga ako sa katapangan mo.

I heaved a sigh. A friend to me is someone trustworthy. And Xindy, you just ruined my trust. I'll give you the justice you deserve, Chloe. Hindi pa naisasabatas ang parusang, ibibigay ko sayo Xindy, hindi pa.

HEATHER'S POV

Nandito ako sa lamay at walang pakundangang pag-iyak ng mga kapamilya ni Chloe ang nadatnan ko. Nakaupo ako sa isang silya sa gilid habang tinatanaw sila. Sinisisi ko rin ang sarili ko sa nangyari. Pero mas malala si Tasy.

Tatayo na sana ako ng may lumapit sakin. "If only you let me." I heaved out a sigh.

"Elizabeth, I understand you. Chloe's your sister. But Tasy made an unexpected attack at the mansion kaya di natuloy yung plano. Elizabeth, kahit ako gusto ko siyang sisihin pero alam nating lahat, na nadala lang siya. She just wants to rescue Chloe. Ku-kung sinabi lang namin ang totoo, h-hindi sana hahantong sa ganito." My voice cracked as I said those.

K-kung sinabi namin sakanya, Chloe would still be here. P-pero, kung sinabi ko sakanya, mamamatay pa rin si Chloe. Damn you Xindy.

Napatigil ako sa pagiyak ng marinig ko ang paghikbi ni Ate Elizabeth. Her face was burried in her palms. "I-i just want my sister to have a great future. S-sana, napigilan ko siya sa pagiging gangster. B-but no. Hindi. Kasi mas gusto niyang makasama kayo." She took a deep breath before she wiped the tears away. She chuckled. "Hashtag friendshipgoals for all of you."

"Tss." I laughed a little. I guess Elizabeth's fine now.

"I'm sorry, Heat. I shouldn't have blamed you. Hindi mo kasalanan." Tumango na lang ako at umalis.

"T-tell, Tasy, I'm sorry. T-tell h-her....."

Bigla kong naalala ang huling sinabi ni Chloe bago siya pumanaw. Why is she sorry?

And then naalala ko, she said something after that.

Short Flashback....

"T-tell, Tasy, I'm sorry. T-tell h-her....."

I hugged her tightly after saying those. Nasa bingit na nga siya ng kamatayan, ang kapakanan pa rin ng kaibigan namin ang inaalala niya. "Don't give up, Chloe." I said while bursting in tears.

She moved closer and whispered something that made me confused. "S-she needs to know, e-everything. Te-tell her everything." I said amidst of the blood flowing from my mouth. "Chim...find her. S-she knows everything." She said and the most unexpected thing happened. She slowly lost grip of me and I can't feel her heartbeat anymore. Dun na siya kinarga ni Kurtis palabas ng mansyon.

End of Short Flashback.

Chim? Who the hell is she? Chloe said she knows everything. Everything that Tas needs to know.

Pumunta ako sa parking lot at sumakay sa kotse ko while trying to crack my brain to find that fvckin' girl named Chim. More over, why would Chloe tell all the facts to Chim? Bakit di niya sinabi samin?

Pinaandar ko na ang kotse at nagdrive. Di ko alam kung saan ako pupunta. Drive lang ako ng drive hanggang sa...

*screeechhhh..*

"Fvck!" Napasubsob ako sa manibela sa katangahang ginawa ko. Ba't nga ba ako nagbreak ng bigla-bigla. Tss. Mabuti na lang ako lang ang dumadaan ngayon sa kalsada kundi baka naaksidente na ako.

Bigla naman akong napabalikwas at parang may light bulb na sumulpot sa utak ko. Tama, Eunice is the person closest to Chloe. I bet she knows about this Chim girl.

Mabilis kong kinuha ang phone ko at kinontact si Eunice..

[Hello?] Mabilis naman itong sumagot.

"Asan ka?"

[Nasa bahay. Umalis kasi sina mama. Tell tita (mommy ni Chloe), I can't come at the funeral.]

"Yeah. Yeah. It's alright."

[So why'd you call?]

"Do you know Chim?"

It took just a few seconds before I could finally get an answer from her. [No, Heat. Hindi ko matandaan, but she sure does seem familiar. I just can't put a finger on it] Napabuntong hininga ako. Pano na? If Eunice doesn't know Chim, how will I find her?

[But, Heat.] Napunta sa kausap ko sa telepono ang atensyon ko. But? May paraan pa ba? [You can locate whoever she is. Don't forget that you're an amazing tracker, Heat.] Napahinto ako saglit bago ngumiti.

"Thanks, Nice."

[You are welcome. So go find her, Heat!]

*tooott....toooooot

She's right, I'm a tracker. I can track whoever that Chim is.

***