Stranger Next Door

CHAPTER 23

Hindi ako makapaniwala. All this time, I thought he's already dead. Akala ko, nakikipag-usap ako sa isang taong patay na.

"Now, explain everything to me. Why are you still alive? Akala ng lahat, patay ka na pero paano?" gulat kong tanong.

Si Yani naman, nakatingin lang sakanya.

Nandito kami ngayon sa isang private resthouse. Hindi raw to alam ni Keith kaya hindi raw kami mahahanap dito.

Ang ipinagtataka ko, kung paanong nabuhay siya.

"Gosh, how did you manage to stay in your own house?" gulat namang tanong ni Yani habang nakatingin pa rin ng malagkit sa kanya, "Alam mo bang no'ng akala ko na patay ka na? Grabe ang iyak ko, Keifer. Balde balde ang luha ko tapos, buhay ka pa pala?"

"So you want me to be dead now?" saka siya tumawa.

"Ano ka ba, hindi yon. Nakakagulat lang kasi na hindi ka man lang nakatakas sa kapatid mo? Napakaimposible naman non."

"Yani" I look at her with a serious face. "Why don't you try to shut up and let him explain first?"

She acted like she's zipping her mouth.

"Now, explain." matigas kong sabi kay Keifer.

"Well, I have a chance to escape all this time. Pero hindi ko ginawa kasi kahit paano, kakambal ko siya. I think it's better this way if I'll just follow him for what he wants." he sounded disappointed, "You see, Keith is still my brother. After all he did, all I want is to protect him. He just did it because he's obsessed."

"But don't you think it would be much better if you go to the police station and tell them wjat he did?" i butt in, "I know that he's your brother but what about those persons he killed? They need justice."

"Girl, sabi mo, manahimik ako at hayaan siyang magpaliwanag so manahimik ka rin." saway ni Yani kaya inirapan ko naman siya.

"I'm sorry for making that stupid decision. Ngayon ko lang narealize that's why I'm helping you. Alam kong masyado ng huli pero at least, nagkaroon sila ng hustisya. At least, Gwen would be in peace. Her soul would be in peace."

Hindi ko alam kung anong sasabihin, actually. Was it my fault? Did I trust Keith so much that's why it happened again?

"Ano ba kasing nangyari? Bakit siya humantong sa ganon? Diba mabait naman si Keith?" Yani asked again but this time, I let her talk.

Keifer took a deep breath before speaking.

"Bago mangyari yun, maayos talaga kaming tatlo. You know how happy we are, right? Everyone envies us for having a good foundation of friends but it's true. Sometimes, falling inlove could destroy it." he said.

"It all started when Gwen become popular in the school. She has lots of suitors. Well, I can't blame them because aside from being pretty, she's kind. No'ng umulan yata ng kabaitan, sinalo niyang lahat." he's smiling right now but you can see pain in his eyes, "They tried to court her but no one got her attention. Nagulat na nga lang kami ng malaman naming namamatay isa isa lahat ng manliligaw niya. Mas nabahala kami ng kaibigan niya na ang mga sumunod. That time, we're in a secret relationship so I'm much worried about her. I can't identify who's the killer. Hanggang sa isang gabi, umuwi si Keith na puro dugo sa katawan. Nagmamakaawa sakin na tulungan ko siya."

Nanlaki ang mata ko sa mga ikinuwento ni Keifer. Hindi ako makapaniwalang nagagawa yon lahat ni Keith.

"Hindi ako nagdalawang isip. Nagpaplano akong isuplong na siya dahil mali na ang ginagawa niya pero nong nandon na ako sa istasyon ng pulis umatras ako. Hindi ko kayang ipagkanulo ang kakambal ko." he said, "Inamin ko sa kanya na meron kaming relasyon ni Gwen. Nagalit siya. Kinulong niya ako at si Gwen. Ipinalabas niya sa lahat na namatay ako, gumawa ng pekeng libing, lahat lahat."

So, it's true.

Kayang patayin ni Keith ang kahit na sino pero hindi ang kapatid niya.

"At first, I was shocked. Why? Why did he keep me alive? I asked him why but he always answers, because you're me and i am you."

Natahimik kami sa mga ikinuwento niya.

Hindi ko man naranasan pero alam kong hindi madali ang mga pinagdaanan niya.

"I wish I was dead. I would rather be dead but after I saw Gwen again, even if she's only a soul, I begin to have hope." he's smiling but now, it's a genuine smile, "she told me that you can help us to escape in thst hell. You're the only one who can do it, Bella. Nagtitiwala siya sayo."

I didn't speak. I'm just staring at him with a blank reaction.

"Also, I'm sorry if I scared you that time. I badly want to tell you everything but Gwen thinks that you might leave if I'd tell you everything but look, you're too stubborn and you figured things out by yourself." he said while still wearing a serious face, "Kaya ako nagdesisyong tumakas dahil gusto ko ng matapos lahat ng kabaliwan ng kakambal ko. Marami ng taong nadamay. Hindi ko na siya kayang pagtakpan. Hindi ko na kayang manahimik lang."

"Thank you naman at kahit marami ng namatay, narealize mo yan." pang aasar ni Yani, "Teka. Bago ka may sabihin, totoo bang gusto ka ni Herlyn kaya nagbreak sila ni Marlo? Alam mo bang hanggang ngayon, walang nakakaalam ng totoong rason kung bakit nagbreak silang dalawa?"

Nakita ko namang napakunot ang noo ni Keith.

"I don't know a lot about them but Herlyn doesn't like me. It's a wrong decision that I asked her to help me because Keith blackmailed her. Hindi ako nagalit ng nanahimik siya dahil naiintindihan ko naman. Yon lang ang alam ko, pero hindi ko alam na nagbreak sila ni Marlo." he sighed, "I explained everything and maybe that's enough. Alam kong hinahanap niya na tayo ngayon. Kailangan nitong magstay dito. Ako ang haharap sa kanya."

"Pero mapanganib, Keifer. Baka mamaya, may mangyaring masama sayo." nag aaalalang sabi ko.

"Ikaw na rin naman ang may sabi diba? Hindi ako kayang saktan ng kakambal ko." sagot niya.

Kumuha siya ng cap at jacket saka tumanggo samin.

"Alis na ko. Dito lang kayong dalawa." sabi niya saka na siya umalis.