CHAPTER 42

“ARE you okay, Portia?”

Malalim na buntong-hininga ang pinakawalan ko sa ere nang marinig ko ang tanong sa akin ni Jass. I was standing in front of the window and looking outside while my mind was in turmoil; while I was angry with myself because of what I found out earlier. I controlled myself and wiped the tears that had been freely flowing down my cheeks.

Oh, God! I was wrong about what I did and told Crandall, and I feel so guilty now about what I learned from Jass. Why didn’t I believe him when he told me several times that he had nothing to do with what happened to my best friend? Mas inuna ko pa ang galit at panghuhusga ko sa kaniya. Tapos kung anu-ano pang masasakit na salita ang sinabi ko sa kaniya.

Oh, Portia! Ano ba ang nangyayari sa ’yo? Kung hindi pa pala nagbalik ang malay ni Jass ay maipapakulong ko ang taong wala naman talagang kasalanan sa nangyaring krimen na iyon nang gabing ’yon.

Sunod-sunod na pagsinghot pa ang ginawa ko at muling nagbuntong-hininga bago ako pu