AlONE (Chapter 7)

"Inuurong ko na ang kaso," and all was shocked.
"I agree!" tumayo si Mr. Lucious and clapped his hands. Mrs. Bernice stood up also and clapped her hand. Tumayo ang judge and he also clapped hi hands. Nagtataka ang mga tao kung bakit sila pumapalakpak.
"Ano ba 'to?" Claro Canlas cut them off. "Ba't kayo pumapalakpak? Dahil ba pinag-lalaruan niyo ang pamilya ko?!" at the back, he went in front with anger.
"Let me explain, Sir Claro." Lorraine stopped him but never did she looked at him.
Claro stopped walking and went near to Lorraine's place. He clenched his jaw and asked her to explain.
"I did this all to seek revenge. I was deeply in-loved with Luke. But she killed him that's why I was angry to her. And if there's a word that means more than anger, then that's what I felt for her. I took the knife she used to kill Luke. Ang nasa isip ko, magagamit ko yun para makulong siya. But how? She's still under age and maybe she'll not be imprisoned for a long time. That's why I waited till she turned 18." Tumingin siya kay Clarissa. It's a sympathetic look. "I'm sorry, Clarissa," bulong sa sarili ni Lorraine.
"Ganun pala. Ngayon naiintindihan ko na kung bakit ka lumayo. Matalino ka talaga! Nakipag-deal ka pa sa'kin na hindi mo sasabihin ang lahat kapalit ang pag-ayos ng mga papeles mo sa school niyo para makaalis at pera. Pero sinabi mo rin ang lahat! Sa harapan pa ng maraming tao!" and he punched the table in front of Lorraine.
"Order in the court!" announced the judge while he hit the gavel.
"May karampatang parusa ang pagpatay. Lalo na kung mahal mo ang taong yon! Ang kasalanan ko lang, nagmahal ako ng sobra kaya't naging ganito ako." at niyuko ulit niya ang ulo niya mula sa pagkakatingin kay Clarissa.
Lahat ay nanahimik. Lorraine walked-out and never knew what happened next.

After two weeks, napalaya na si Clarissa. Una niyang pinuntahan ang residence ng mga Collins. Hinanap niya si Lorraine pero sinabi nilang hindi ito nakatira dun at may sarili siyang condo. She tried to get her address but Mr. Lucious didn't gave it believing that there will be another fight between them.
Naghanap si Clarissa buong araw. But she failed to locate her. Gabi na ng umuwi si Clarissa. As she walked into a dark night, may tumawag sa pangalan niya.
"Clarissa," that warm voice! Clarissa recognized it immediately. Ilang taon din niyang hindi narinig ang tawag na yon sa pangalan niya. Lumingon siya and she spotted Lorraine. Nakasandal ito sa isang dingding sa may eskinita. She was wearing a long suit na astigin ang design. Nakapamulsa ang kamay.
"Lorraine!" her voice was like a hundred years of pain and at last! She was set free. Parang huminga siya ng malalim at sinabing "Hay!"
Lumapit si Lorraine at nakapamulsa pa rin ang kamay nito. "Bakit mo ako hinahanap? Hindi ka ba natatakot na baka galit pa ako sa'yo?" there was a light that lit her face. Parang anghel dahil puti pala ang suit niya.
"Bakit ako matatakot? I know how to face problems. Salamat dahil kahit kinulong mo ako ng ilang taon, marami akong natutunan. Natuto akong mamuhay ng mag-isa. Kahit andiyan pa ang mga magulang ko, alam ko na ang feeling na'ng ako lang. Natuto akong humarap sa mga mabibigat na problema. Yun lang ang lamang ko sa'yo. Ikaw wala kang natutunan dahil puno ka ng galit." and she smiled.
"Salamat sa pagmamahal mo sa akin. At sorry kung hindi kita pinapansin. Salamat dahil buong buhay ko, namuhay akong mag-isa. Mag-isa!" she gave her a serious look.
"Hindi ka nag-iisa. Hindi mo lang napapansin ang mga tao sa paligid mo. Hindi mo kasi kayang basahin ang mga nasa isip nila eh. Kung alam mo lang. Kahit na ganun ang ginawa mo sa akin, kasama ka pa rin sa panalangin ko."
"Ano naman ang pinapanalangin mo para sa'kin?" and Lorraine crossed her arms. She took a deep breath.
"Sana kung ano mang problema mo, tulungan ka niya. Kasi alam mo, sa ating dalawa ikaw ang may pinaka-mabigat na problema." she bowed her head.
"Kung ano mang problema yun, salamat sa pag-sama ng buhay ko sa panalangin mo." She looked far away. Tila may iniisip. Clarissa looked at her dahil biglang tumahimik. Maririnig lang ang tunog pag gabi.
"Ba't ka tumahimik?" may takot sa boses niya. Feeling niya na may balak na masama si Lorraine.
"Wala. Naisip ko lang," she placed her hands to her pockets again and looked closely to Clarissa, "diba may tanong ako sa'yo?"
"Ano yun?" halatang nagtataka si Clarissa dahil sa expression niya.
"Emotionally, bakit nakahiwalay ang araw sa ibang stars?"
"Ahh...." Clarissa looked around to think.
Lorraine chuckled. She turned her back and walked two steps and after that she stopped. She turned her head on the left side and said to Clarissa, "Alam kong masasagot mo yan, in time. Babalikan kita kapag kumpleto na ang nawawalang parte ng buhay ko."
Lorraine took another steps but Clarissa was able to stop her by speaking, "Uuwi ka na?"
She turned around and showed a passport from her right pocket, "America!"
"Pero diba naka-assign ka dito?"
"I quit." She turned around again and bid goodbye.

At yon na ang huling pagkikita nila. Magkikita pa kaya sila?