Twenty-One

I blinked.

"Ano?"

"Thomas O'Connor was murdered the other day," the police said. "Iniimbitahan ka po namin sa prisinto."

"Tama lang sa kanya na mamatay!" my Dad snarled.

My body started shaking.

"You have the rght to remain silent. Anything that you will say can and will be used against you in the court of the law." Pahayag ng police.

My Mom placed her hands on my Dad's arms, probably to remind him of the Miranda rights. Humugot nang isang malalim na hininga si Dad.

"I need a lawyer." He finally stated. He knew better than not to say anything to the police.

Tumango-tango sila. "You have the right to an attorney. The government will provide you if you can't afford one. You have the right to an attorney. You also have the right to remain innocent unless proven guilty."

Sumama si Dad sa mga police. Nangilid ang luha naming dalawa ni Mommy habang tinitingnan siya na ipasok sa mobile patrol nila.

"Mom..."

"He's going to be okay..." My mother swallowed hard. I could barely hear her words dahil sa sobrang hina nito. "Your father's going to handle this."

Sumunod kami ni mommy sa police station kung saan nila dinala si Dad. When we arrived, they said my father is still under interrogation.

"Anong nangyari kay Thomas?" tanong ni mommy. She pursed her lips.

"He was found dead inside his prison cell. Poisoned." Sagot ng police officer.

"And what makes you think that my husba— my ex-husband has got to do with this?"

The police officer sighed and placed down his pen, probably tired and weary from dealing with all the cases in their precinct.

"Wala pong kasalanan ang Dad ko!" mataman ko siyang tiningnan sa mata.

"Then there's nothing to worry about," he said, his tone flat. "This is going to undergo due process. Huwag kayong mag-alala. Kung totoong walang kasalanan si Thunder Ferguson, makakalabas siya dito."

I paced back and forth inside the station, waiting for the interrogation to be over. My phone suddenly vibrated inside of my pocket. Dinukot ko iyon.

Bahagya akong napamura nang makitang si Harry pala ang tumatawag. I promised him a date tonight! Dalawang oras na akong late.

"Mary Grace?"

"Harry, sorry..." bungad ko. Pinigil ko ang panginginig ng labi bago ako muling nagsalita. "Nagkaroon kami ng problema sa bahay. I'm really sorry for ditching you,"

"Oh," I could hear the disappointment in his voice. "Should I cancel the reservation, then? The waiter is shooting daggers at me with his looks. Dalawang oras na ako dito." Hilaw siyang humalakhak sa kabilang linya.

Kinagat ko ang pang-ibabang labi ko. "Harry kasi... si Dad. He's in the police station right now."

"Police station?" dinig ko ang pagka-alarma sa boses niya. "Bakit? Anong nangyari?"

My fingers started shaking so bad. Halos mabitawan ko na ang cellphone sa pagkakadikit sa tainga ko. "He was invited for an interrogation. Someone murdered Uncle Thomas."

Napamura si Harry sa kabilang linya.

"Is this for real?"

"Yes..." pinilit kong pakalmahin ang boses ko. "But I know Dad..." I trailed off, remembering the times when he swore he would kill him with his bare hands for what he did to me. "Hindi niya magagawa iyon..." paos ang boses ko.

"Mary Grace, saang police station kayo?" tanong ni Harry.

I told him where we are right now. Ang sabi niya'y pupuntahan niya daw ako sa lalong madaling panahon. Ibinaba ko na ang tawag. I joined my mother silently waiting at the lobby, her hands fidgeting nervously in her lap.

"Mom..." hinawakan ko ang kamay niya. I gave her a reassuring smile. "Dad's going to be okay."

Isang buntong-hininga ang pinakawalan niya. "As much as I wanted that demon to die..." her lips is quivering to bad. "I just can't believe this is happening."

Hindi ako nagsalita. Hinawakan ko lang ang kamay ni mommy hanggang sa nakita kong pumasok si Harry sa prisinto. Nagpalinga-linga siya sa paligid. When I saw him, I quickly pulled myself up and ran to him. Niyakap niya ako nang mahigpit.

"Your Dad's going to be alright, Mary Grace." Wika ni Harry habang hinahagod ang buhok ko. "Wala siyang kasalanan..."

Tumango-tango na lamang ako. He held my hand as we went back to where my mother is sitting. After what it seemed like forever, they let us see my father. Niyakap ko kaagad si Dad pagkalabas niya ng interrogation room.

"It's okay, Mary Grace. Everything's fine."

Sumunod sa kanya ang isang matangkad na lalaki. I assume this is his lawyer.

"Mr. Ferguson, you need to validate your claims para makalabas ka na dito. We don't need to waste our time here." Matigas nitong wika.

Tumango-tango si Dad at binitawan ako. "I'm just going to fix this and we're all going home."

I nibbled on my lower lips as I watched the two of them disappeared inside a room, probably to talk to the officers.

I still can't believe it. Someone killed him. Someone killed Uncle Thomas.

My head started spinning widlly. I could almost feel the dark cloud trying to drown me again. Tumayo kaagad ako mula sa kinauupuan ko. Nag-angat ng tingin sina mommy at Harry sa akin.

"Sa labas lang po ako," wika ko saka mabilis na naglakad palabas.

I found a nearby park near the police station. Gabi na kaya wala nang masyadong tao. I walked faster and saw a quiet place. I sat down cross-legged on the grass.

I let Dr. Siang's words rang inside my mind once more.

Huminga ako nang malalim. Ipinikit ko ang mga mata ko. I focused on my breathing. I tried slowing it down.

Dad's going to be fine. You're going to be fine. Everyone's going to be okay...

Unti-unting bumagal ang paghinga ko. I tried to block the noise from the surroundings. Inayos ko ang postura ko.

Magiging ayos ang lahat.

I remained like that in a few minutes, trying to regain control of myself. Nang idilat kong muli ang aking mga mata, ang mukha kaagad ni Harry ang nakita ko. Napaigtad ako.

"You're meditating?" tanong niya. He sat across me.

Dahan-dahan akong tumango, a little embarassed of my awkward position. "Dr. Siang taught me this method. It can help me avoid my panic attacks."

Tumango-tango siya. He sat cross-legged as well. Ginaya niya ang magkadikit kong mga kamao. Ipinikit niya ang mga mata.

Napangiti ako sa ginawa niya.

He never failed to support me in whatever I'm going to do.

I closed my eyes and focused on my inner balance again, knowing that Harry is just beside me. It made me feel a lot better.

---

"Tumatakbo na ang kaso Mr. Ferguson," inayos ni Attorney Barlovinto ang salamin niya sa ilong. "There's nothing to worry about. Wala silang ebidensiya laban sa iyo. You are only invited for an interrogation. They can't hold you here in the precinct."

Nakahinga nang maluwag si mommy sa narinig. Maging ako ay nabunutan din ng tinik sa dibdib.

Harry interlaced my fingers with his habang nakikinig kami sa attorney.

"Ako na ang bahala sa iba. Just please, do not say anything irrelevant pertaining to this case." He scowled at my father. "The main reason they invited you here is because of your threat to kill Thomas O'Connor."

I could feel my throat closing in again. Hindi ako makapaniwalang wala na siya. Ang lalaking kinakatakutan ko noon ay malamang isa nang malamig na bangkay ngayon.

"Where is his body?" tanong ni mommy.

"It's taken care by his partner, Mr. Alistair Ferguson." Wika ni Attorney. "He is also the one who filed the case against Mr. Ferguson."

Kumuyom ang mga kamao ni Dad. "That bastard!"

"I'm going to update you with the case. I need you to stay in your house as much as you can. Malamang ay binabantayan na nila ang bawat galaw mo."

Pagod kaming lahat nang makauwi sa bahay. Harry offered to drive us all home since naiwan ni Dad ang kotse niya. Nasa likod silang dalawa ni mommy sa backseat habang nakaupo naman ako sa front seat. Tahimik kaming lahat hanggang sa makarating kami sa bahay.

My mom switched the lights on and wearily dropped her bag on the table. Nang makapagpaalam na ako kay Harry ay dinaluhan ko sila sa loob ng sala.

"Dito ka na matulog, Thunder..." wika ni mommy.

Napatingin si Dad sa kanya. My mother fidgeted and glanced at her wristwatch. "Ah, eh... Anong oras na kasi! Uuwi ka pa..."

Umangat ang gilid ng labi ko. Pinakain ko saglit ang mga isda bago ako umakyat sa kwarto ko. My mother helped my Dad to set the futon on the floor in the living room. Ngayong hindi na niya ibebenta ang bahay, siguro'y ibabalik na rin niya ang mga muwebles at home appliance namin noon.

---

Lumaki nang lumaki ang kaso na kinakaharap ni Dad. Tito Alistair showed himself again. Galit na galit siya kay Dad. Sinisisi at dinuduro niya ang tatay ko sa pagkamatay ni Uncle Thomas.

Alam kong nagpipigil din ng galit si Dad sa kanya. Hindi nalang siya sumasagot dahil iyong ang sabi ng attorney sa kanya. He needs to remain silent at all times.

Habang nakaupo si Dad kasama ang kanyang lawyer sa loob ng interrogation room ay lumabas ang dalawang police. Kasama nila ay isang matangkad na priso. Masyadong matalim ang kanyang paningin. I took a step back when they walked past me. They guided the inmate inside the interrogation room. Napatingin kaagad ako kay mommy, nagtatanong ang mga mata.

"Sino siya?"

Umiling-iling siya. "Hindi ko rin alam, anak."

Tumahimik ako at pinakinggan ang pag-uusap nila sa loob.

"Thomas O'Connor was poisoned." wika ng isang police, nagbabasa ng report. "It happened inside the jail. The inmates reported the crime but when the police came, it was too late. Hindi na siya humihinga."

Inis na tiningnan ni Dad ang police. Alam kong gusto na niyang lumabas dito. The attorney shot him a warning look, probably to remind him to be in his best behavior.

"Sigurado ka bang dito ka lang?" tanong ni mommy. She placed her hands on my arm and gave me a soft look. "You don't need to be here, Mary Grace. You're missing Dr. Siang's session. At isa pa, hindi nakakabuti sa iyo ang mga ganitong klaseng sitwasyon."

"Your mother's right." Napalingon ako kay Harry. Palagi na siyang sumasama sa amin simula nang malaman niya ang nangyari. I know he still has work to do but here he is, dipping himself in one of my many problems. Paniguradong hindi na natutuwa ang tatay niya sa akin.

"I'm fine." I insisted. "I need to be here for my Dad." Kinagat ko ang pang-ibabang labi ko. I don't want to overthink. Dad assured me and my mom that there is nothing to worry about. Hindi niya magagawa ito.

"De Leon..." binalingan ng police ang dinala nilang inmate sa loob ng interrogation room. "Ikaw ang inutusan na lasunin si Thomas O'Connor. Ang lalaki bang ito ang nag-utos sa iyo?"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa narinig. Matagal na tinitigan ni De Leon si Dad. Nakipagtitigan din si Daddy, para bang hinahamon ito. After a long stretch of agonizing silence, he opened his mouth.

"Siya ang nag-utos sa akin na lasunin si Thomas."

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