TriangGULO (Chapter 19)

The next day, Lorraine was already released at the hospital. As we entered the house, she headed straightly to her room. My parents are wondering so I told them to let her be. Alam ko ang dahilan kung bakit siya nagkulong agad sa kuwarto. Yun na ang pagkakataon niyang malaman ang katotohanan.
We didn't talk until night came. I went to her room to say goodnight. I'm about to leave when she suddenly asked me to stay for a while.
"Bakit naman?" I questioned her, delighted. I was near the door and holding the knob.
"Let's talk for a while, please?" She pleaded like an angel.
"Sure!" I tried to make my voice alive. But I knew it from the start that when she already read it, she'll cry and be hurt from what she's gonna learn.
"Upo ka dito sa tabi ko," she patted the bed. Beside on the spot where she was sitting.
I sat. Again, a moment of silence. That time, I understood what silence meant. I know that it meant so much pain. She spoke after a while.
"Nung nabasa ko yung diary," the diary was nowhere to be found, "I started dreaming to become a police."
"Why?" That question is sincere. I didn't know her purpose.
"Ikwento mo nga yung nabasa mo sa diary," she commanded me without looking at me. She just bowed her head looking on the floor.
"Si," I don't know where to start, "Carlo. Ka.... Kapatid mo daw siya. Magkapatid kayo sa ama. The father you knew as a child isn't your real father. Your mother and Carlo's father had past." Her fists clenched, "One time, nalasing ang mama mo, kasama niya nun yung kinilala mong tatay. Something happened at yun, nabuo yung nakatatanda mong kapatid. Ang kaso, pinalaglag ng nanay mo nung malaman nung tatay ni Carlo ang nangyari. Carlo's father accused your mother as a gold-digger. Nasaktan nun yung nanay mo." I paused for a while dahil hanggang dun lang ang nabasa ko.
"Ba't ka huminto?" she looked at me. Anger was blazing on her eyes. Kung nakakatakot dati, mas nakakatakot ngayon.
"Hanggang dun lang ang nabasa ko." I looked at her. Yung tingin na parang gusto mong ipakwento sa kanya. Alam kong nahalata niya yun, so I cleared everything, "Pero kung ayaw mong sabihin lahat, ayos lang."
"Nagka-ayos sila." Nagulat ako nung tinuloy niya. "Kasal na nun yung mama at papa ko. Namasukan ng katulong yung mama ko dahil may sakit sa puso ang papa ko. Hindi nila napigilang ibalik ang dati." She lifted her head high, "That time, may pamilya na rin ang daddy ni Carlo. Lumaki ako na hindi ko alam ang lahat. Lumipas ang taon na hindi alam ng mama ni Carlo ang lahat." She looked at me with tears on eyes.
"Kaya ba pinatay ng papa mo ang mama mo dahil nalaman..." she interrupted me.
"Oo. May nakakita kasi sa mama ko at tatay namin ni Carlo. Akala ng papa ko, parehas kami ng kapatid ko sa nanay na anak ng tatay ni Carlo. Kaya pinatay niya," her voice cracked. She paused then continued on speaking, "Dapat ako ang namatay," lumala ang pag-iyak niya, "kasi yung kapatid ko yun ang totoo niyang anak. Nakakainis!" she shouted.
"Tama na," all I did was just to hug her.
"Yung mama ko, nung napagod na sa kakatrabaho, ako na ang pinagtrabaho niya. Lahat ng galit niya sa mundo ibinubuhos niya sa akin everytime I failed her. Di ko alam kung bakit ganun siya."
"Yan siguro ang dahilan kung bakit nag-tanong ka sa akin tungkol sa halaga ng bato," she stopped hugging me to look at my eyes.
"Oo," she said coldly. "Pag galit ka, minsan binabato mo ang bato. Pa'no naman ang bato? Pa'no kung may buhay ang bato? Edi siya ang masasaktan. Ang walang kamalay-malay at inosenteng bato ang nasasaktan." she stopped crying while saying those words.
"Bakit mo gustong maging pulis?"
Again, yun na naman ang style niya. Titingin sa malayo while talking, "I know that that is the only way to revenge. Two persons. Ang tatay ni Carlo, sa pag-gulo ng buhay ko. Ang papa ko, sa pagpatay sa kapatid ko."
"Si Carlo? Hindi mo ba siya huhulihin?" she gazed at me with a blank face.
"Never. Hindi ko kayang pahirapan ang taong mahalaga sa akin."
"Mahal mo pa siya?"
"Hindi. Ayoko na. Alam kong malabong magkita kami ulit. Isa pa, natatakot akong gumulo ulit ang buhay ko. Kahit ganun ang nangyari, mahalaga pa rin siya sa akin. Siya ang naging susi ko sa lahat."
"Kung ganun, may I know kung sino na ang nasa puso mo?" I was praying that she'll confidently answer my name.
She smiled at me. "Si Luke." She bowed her head after saying his name.

Ouch!