Vanessa's POV
"I HEARD about what happened . . ."
I slowly nod my head at my Uncle Simon who's beside me. After I took a bath, we went to the living room because he wanted to talk to me about something
"Naikwento sa'kin ni Jamie ang mga nangyari habang wala ako," he heavily sigh "Are you okay, Vanessa Kacey?" He worriedly ask
I don't know what to say. Am I really doing fine? Am I really not affected? Because I don't think so.
Kahit ako ay hindi alam ang sagot sa tanong na iyon. I feel betrayed, disappointed and lost . . .
"I don't k-know," I honestly answered "I d-don't know, Uncle. I . . ."
I couldn't finish what I'm about to say. It's like my mind is occupied by darkness. Damn.
"Do you love him, my niece?" He caress my hair
I do love him.
I really do.
I didn't answer his question and just lay my head on his shoulder. I feel tired. I can feel that I will fall asleep anytime. I can feel my body getting weak.
"Vanessa . . ." he pats my back "Everything's gonna be fine, okay?" He comforts me
But even if my Uncle Simon comforts me, why am I still longing for Axel's presence? "I'm tired, Uncle . . ."
Binaon ko ang mukha ko sa kaniyang balikat and that's when I realized that I'm already crying on his shoulders.
"I'm damn t-tired," I almost whisper
Uncle sighs, "Normal lang mapagod, Vanessa." He continues to caress my hair "Naiintindihan kita,"
I closed my eyes while sobbing beside him. I'm tired physically, emotionally and even mentally. And only Axel can ease all of that.
Even if I'm disappointed that he disappeared again, I'm still waiting for him to come back. I will always wait for him even if it takes another year to find him.
"Mahal ko siya, Uncle . . ." umiiyak kong sambit "Mahal na m-mahal."
I won't give up my love for Axel. Under no circumstance, I will never leave him alone. The moment I said I love you to him, that's when I promised myself that I will fight for our love even if my life is at sake
LATE IN the evening but I'm still wide awake. I took my sleeping pills a while ago but I still couldn't sleep. I sat on the bed frustratingly as I get the sleeping pils on the side of my bed.
I was ready to take those medicines again when I heard footsteps at my balcony. I couldn't see what it was because the curtain's blocking my view. I didn't pay attention to it at first but I suddenly heard soft knocks on the sliding door.
Tumayo na ako at dahan dahan pumunta doon para tignan kung anong nangyayari sa labas. I parted the curtains as my eyes widened when I saw a familiar man with his messy hair.
His hands are trembling and his body seems weak. I panicked and immediately open the door to let him in
"A-Axel . . ."
He glance at me and tried to look glad, "Baby," he walked towards me and hugged me.
Fuck, I'm crying again! "Where have y-you been, are y-you okay?" My eyes noticed some scratches on his face "What's that scratch on y-your forehead? Did something happened?"
He shook his head "I'm fine, baby. Don't worry about me."
The smile he showed me gave me an assurance that I'm not hallucinating or even dreaming. I let him in and made him sat on the bed. I even pour my glass with water and offered it to him.
When he finish drinking the water I gave him, he pulled me to sit beside him. "Where have you been?" I ask him
He was frozen after I ask him that question, "Eric told me something," panimula ko
I felt his hand on mine. He intertwined our fingers. Good thing, I opened the lampshade a while ago so that I will be able to see his smile again.
"You didn't try to k-kill him, right?" I know you won't do that, baby. I know that but I want you to say those words to me to remove the hatred in my heart
"What made you think that I can do that?" I guess I offended him
I bit my lower lip and look down to our fingers, "Then,"
"What was the bloodstains on your shirt a few days ago?" That made him stunned.
He didn't utter a word but he continues to stare at me. My brows furrowed. Hindi ba niya ako narinig? "Axel, I'm--"
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang bigla niya akong halikan. His kisses are aggressive but I just found myself kissing him back because I'm getting drunk by his kisses
My mouth parted when I felt a sharp needle on my arm. Napatingin ako sa kaniyang habang namumuo ang luha mula sa mga mata ko.
I checked what it is and saw a syringe on his hand, napatingin muli ako sa mukha niya at nakita ko ang pag aalala sa mga mata niya. Unti unti akong napahiga sa kama dahil sa panghihina. It feels like my eyes are going to close anytime due to fatigue.
Mahigpit niyang hinawakan ang kamay ko. I let out a breath as a tear escapes from my eyes
"W-why . . ." I couldn't speak clearly
'What have you done to me, Axel? Why . . . ?'
He caress my cheeks. His reaction is different na para bang may gusto siyang sabihin but he couldn't say it.
My eyes close as I drifted to sleep but I heard him say the words I've been wanting to hear ever since he disappeared and left me hanging.
"Mahal na mahal kita, Vanessa . . ."
A LOUD noise coming from the balcony woke me up. I slowly sat on the bed and caress my arm. I remember how Axel inject me something to make me fall asleep.
I've missed him so much but what was that for Axel? Bakit mo ako lalong nililito?
That was my chance to confront him--ask him about the truth to clarify and give peace to my mind but he didn't let me, instead he made me fall asleep.
I feel weak when I got up from the bed, kinapa ko ang lamesa sa tabi ng kama ko at nakita ko na wala doon ang sleeping pills ko.
Fuck, where did I put those?
I was about to search for it because I will need those later when I saw something that caught my eye.
A piece of paper with a rose. Kinuha ko ito at binasa.
I'm sorry for forcing you to sleep, baby. I needed to do that because I don't want you to put your life in danger. Sa ngayon, ang masasabi ko lang ay hindi ako ang nagtangkang pumatay kay Eric. Kahit kailan ay hindi ko iyon magagawa at alam kong alam mo 'yan, Vanessa baby.
If you're wondering why I disappeared at Michelle's house, then uunahan na kita. I wasn't the one who made Jamie fainted dahil katulad niya, nawalan din ako ng malay. I lost consciousness as well and I ended up in a dark warehouse. My eyes were covered by a rough cloth and my hands were tied up. I wanted to be with you these past few days but I couldn't. Gusto ko pero hindi ko magawa.
And now, he told me to visit you and ask me to break up with you. Gusto ka niyang makitang nahihirapan at nasasaktan kaya gusto niya akong makipag hiwalay sa'yo, because he knows that I am your weakness. That's why, I have no choice to inject you something that will make you drift to sleep because he put a device that records our conversation on my shirt that I couldn't find, kaya ginamit ko sa'yo ang syringe na mayroon ako.
I miss you a lot, baby. But give me some time and I will fix this fucking mess. I just need you to stay safe and eat a lot. I want you to go back to your normal life while I'm away. Take care of yourself and wait for me.
And please, don't look for me.
Ayokong madamay ka. Ayokong pati ikaw ay masaktan niya. So, let me handle this instead. I won't let him hurt you.
Lastly, I threw out all of your sleeping pills so don't take those medicines ever again, 'kay? Or else, I will really tie you on the bed and I'm not fucking bluffing so don't test me.
That's all, I love you.
- your baby
Nakagat ko ang ibaba kong labi matapos kong basahin ang mensahe ni Axel. Kahit papaano ay gumaan ang pakiramdam ko but I still have a lot of question in my mind that he hasn't answered yet.
And who was he pertaining to? Who put a device on his shirt to record our conversation and locked him up in a dark warehouse?
I clenched my fist when I imagine Axel in a dark place; alone and helpless.
If he wasn't the one who tried to kill Eric and if he was also a victim who lost consciousness just like Jamie, then who the fuck is the mastermind of this fucking mess?
Is it really possible that there is still someone else who wants to bring me down aside from Michelle?