The Art Of Forgiveness

P R O L O G U E

“Anong nangyari? Bakit ka humahangos?”

“Drive.”

Moni gave Levi a quizzical look. Kitang-kita nya ang paghahabol ng hininga ng kanyang bagong partner. Wala pa rin itong imik. Tinitigan nya ito at nakita nyang kakaibang body language nito. Natataranta at takot na takot. Kita din nya ang paghingal-kabayo ni Levi.

“What the hell's wrong with you Levi?”

“I said drive. Just drive and I'll explain later.” huminhingal na wika nito

Moni gave him another look.

“Drive!” Levi shouted.

Without second thoughts, mabilis na pinaandar ni Moni ang sasakyan at mabilis na pinaharurot ito sa kahabaan ng Mc Arthur Highway. Wala silang imikan. Moni was puzzled sa mga kinikilos ni Levi. Rinig nya ang gigil sa mga hininga nito. Hindi nya mawari kung ano ang nangyari, ayaw magsalita nito.

“Saan tayo pupunta? Kanina pa tayo nagdadrive.” Pagbasag ni Moni sa katahimikang kanina pa kumakain sa kanila

“I don’t know.” Wala sa wisyo sabi ni Levi

“Levi, you don’t know? Are you high?” naiiritang sabi ni Moni

“Keep drivin.” Mahinang sabi nito

Moni sighed. Sa bilis na 120kph ay matiwasay nilang nabagtas ang kahabaan ng highway. Sinilip nya ang kanyang gas, malayo pa para maubusan. Tinignan nya ang temperatura, maayos pa rin ito, maayos pa rin ang takbo ng kanyang Altis.

Nakaraan na sila sa ilang bayan. Mahigit sampu na rin ang nalagpasan nilang stop light. Wala pa ring imik si Levi.

“Are you gonna speak or what? Levi, I’m waiting. I feel so fucked up here. You told me to drive, so did I. Now, return the favor. Tell me what the hell had happened, bakit ka hingal na hingal at parang takot na takot ka kanina nung sumakay ka sa kotse?” Moni said, trying to sound calm, no signs of exasperation.

Without saying anything, Levi started sobbing.

Moni looked at him. Pinipilit nyang maging sensitive sa kung ano mang nangyayari kay Levi. Iniintindi nya ang mga tantrums nito at ang mga weirdong pinagagawa. Umiling sya. He parked his car at the side of an Elementary school which was along the road.

Levi started crying loud.

Moni took a deep breath.

“Levi. Okay. Now, I stopped driving. Pwede bang sabihin mo na sa akin kung bakit? Anong nangyari at ganun yung reaction mo kanina. Now you’re crying. Ano ba talaga ang problema?”

Levi looked at him, crying.

He threw him a stare, a reassuring one.

“Tell me, Levi. I’m gonna listen.”

“Please Levi?”

Gumuhit ang kidlat sa kalangitan. Levi saw it, mas lalong nagmarka ang takot sa kanyang mga mata. Patuloy sa pagmamasid si Moni sa kanya. He grabbed his hands and held it tightly.

“Na-natatakot ako, Moni.” Pautal-utal na usal ni Levi

Nagsimulang sumugod ang malalaking patak ng ulan sa lupa. Masigla silang tumama sa salamin ng Altis ni Moni. Ilang segundo pa, andyan na ang wiper para hindi tuluyang maging blurred ang front window.

“No matter what happens, I’m not gonna leave you. So now Levi, tell me. What happened? Nasaan si Aaron?” tanong nito

Levi made an exaggerated movement. He drew himself away from Moni. Pinilit nyang umusod sa gilid ng pinto ng kotse. Nanginginig ang kanyang katawan, nanlalaki ang kanyang mata, naging mas malikot ang kanyang paggalaw. Hindi sya mapakali. Parang isang kriminal na lilinga-linga sa paligid.

Moni got clueless on what was happening. He got scared on how Levi was moving.

“Levi! What are you doing? What the hell had happened? Bakit nagkakaganyan ka?” sigaw ni Moni

“Ahhhhh!”

“Ahhhhh!”

“Ahhhhh!”

Levi kept on shouting like an addict hallucinating.

“Levi shut up! Shut up Levi!”

“Moni, trust me. Hindi ko sinasadya. Wala akong ginagawang masama Moni! Trust me!” Levi cried hysterically

“What?” gulat na sabi ni Moni

“What are you talking about?” nalilitong dagdag pa nito

Levi cupped his face with his hands and cried.

“Believe me Moni. I did not kill Aaron, it was just an accident. Believe me!”

Moni was astonished. He couldn’t believe his ears. Hindi na sya nakapagsalita, natahimik nalang sya at napatulala.

Levi shook him. That made him regain his consciousness.

“You killed Aaron, Levi?” mahina nyang sabi

“I did not!” pagtanggi ni Levi

He was left speechless. Naramdaman nalang nya ang pangingilabot at pagkagulat, kasabay nito ang pagbagsak ng mga luhang hindi nya inaasahang papatak mula sa kanyang mga mata.

“I did not kill Aaron! Trust me! Wala akong ginagawa. It was an accident! It was an accident!”

Levi got out of the car and ran outside.

Moni was shocked with had happened, he was more than shocked with what he has heard. Nakita nya si Levi sa labas at basa na ng ulan, para itong asong nakawala sa kulungan, sobrang bilis nitong tumakbo.

Mabilis nyang kinabig ang manibela at pinaharurot ito sa kung saan man naroon si Levi.

He got out of his car and chase Levi.

Dahil likas ang pagiging runner, nahabol nya ito sa gitna ng rumaragasang ulan. He grabbed his arm and stared at him.

“Bitiwan mo ako! Hindi ko pinatay si Aaron! Wala akong ginagawang masama! It was just an accident!” umiiyak na sabi ni Levi

“Putang Ina Moni! Wala akong kasalanan, wag mo akong ipapakulong! Ayokong mamatay sa kulungan. Ayoko!”

Moni had his grip held tighter on Levi’s arm.

“Bitiwan mo ako Moni. Let me go. Wala akong ginagawang masama!”

Nakaramdam sya ng matinding kurot sa kanyang puso. Matinding awa para sa kanyang minamahal.

Kasabay ng ulan, Moni, again, shed his tears.

“Moni nagmamakaawa ako, aksidente lang lahat ng nangyari. Hindi ko sinasadya. Parang awa mo na, ayaw kong mawala sa bilangguan!”

Moni stared at him. They were both crying. Moni pulled Levi closer. He hugged him. Mahigpit. Mainit. Puno ng pagmamahal at takot.

“2 days from now, aalis tayo. Pupunta tayo ng Amerika. Magpapakalayo. Pack your things.” Moni said cryingly.

Levi cried harder.

E N D O F P R O L O G U E