12 Chapter 11

It was a busy afternoon since I have to work my ass off. Mabuti na lang talaga at nag prisinta ang Tito ko sa pamamahala ng kompanyang iniwan nila Mom. Hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin matunton kung nasaan si Dad, ngunit patuloy pa rin si Cole sa paghahanap. Yes, it wasn't his job because he's not under that unit but he's a persistent man after all.

"Coffee po, ma'am?" I came back to my senses when Mara spoke.

"A-ah, yes," I tried to smile.

Minutes have passed when Ares was the one who brought me the coffee.

Walang nagsalita samin, wala rin naman akong balak na kausapin siya. I creased my forehead when he stayed longer.

"Anong kailangan mo?" I asked.

He bit his lower lip before talking. "I know where your father is."

I didn't blink an eye. I was so desperate to know where is he but now that somebody told me parang ayoko na lang magpatuloy.

"I said earn my trust, Ares. Hindi pwedeng—"

He didn't let me finish but put a picture at the top of my table instead.

It was him!

His clothes were torn apart. Kahit na naka-sumbrero at salamin ito siguro ako na siya 'yon, naka-upo ito habang may hawak-hawak na sigarilyo.

This is the first time I have seen him smoke.

"S-saan, p-paano mo nakuha 'to?" Trembling.

Natigil ang usapan namin nang pumasok si Mara, mukhang napansin nitong seryoso ang usapan namin kung kaya't may halong pagpapaumanhin ang itsura nito. "N-nandito po si Sir Cole."

"Let him in," I ordered.

Mara slightly nodded then guided Cole inside my office.

"Woah, look who's here." May halong pang-aasar ang boses nito habang nakatingin kay Ares.

"Anyway," He looked at me, "I found your father, he turned himself in."

I was unable to move for a second. When my eyes heated up I immediately twisted my head. I don't want to cry in front of them, it's so pitiful to see.

"Where is he now?" I tried to sound composed.

I was silent the whole ride, nakatingin lang ako sa labas ng bintana habang nakasandal ang ulo. Si Cole ang nagmamaneho habang nasa likod naman si Ares, hindi raw kasi niya gustong umuupo sa harapan. Ilang minuto nakarating na rin kami sa aming destinasyon. Agad din naman kaming pinapasok ng mga guwardiya dahil kakilala nito si Cole.

"We'll stay outside," Cole uttered.

Nag-aalangan akong pumasok sa silid dahil hindi ko alam ang sasabihin. Oo, marami akong tanong sa isip pero hindi ko na maintindihan sa gulo.

Marahas akong bumuntong hininga saka pinasok ang silid, nakaupo ito sa mesa habang nakatulala. Hindi pa nito nararamdaman ang presensya ko kung kaya't sinulit ko na ang oras na matitigan siya. Malalim ang mata nito at namayat din, may mga tumutubo na ring buhok sa baba at pisngi nito. Halos hindi ko na siya makilala dahilan para mas lalong nanlambot ang tuhod at bumabaw ang luha ko.

"D-dad," I whispered then sat at the chair in front of him.

He looks shocked "What are you doing here? I turned myself in to avoid you!"

"You're just scared, Dad, you didn't kill Mom." I bit my lips, "tell me the truth, please..."

He avoided my gaze. Niliko nito ang ulo habang pinaglalaruan ang mga daliri. Huli ko ng mapansin ang mga pilat sa kamay nito. Nang mapansin ang titig ko agad rin niyang binaba ang mga kamay sa ilalim ng mesa.

"Leave, Skye Erin, I don't want to see you nor talk to you." He was not even stuttering.

He didn't mean it, alam ko dahil ramdam ko. Kahit masakit na marinig mula sa kaniya 'yon tatanggapin ko. Kasalanan ko naman lahat, kung hindi lang ako mapilit sana buhay pa siya. Hindi na sana mas naging magulo. I was blinded by my past and altered it for my sake.

"I will evaluate and know every detail, Dad, just wait and see." I smiled, "I have friends outside they'll surely help me."

I stood up. I gasped when he suddenly grabbed my wrist. "He's not a friend."

Nanatili akong nakatitig sa kaniya habang nirerehistro pa rin sa aking isip ang nabanggit. I glanced at him once again before opening the door.

What does that mean

Naabutan ko ang dalawa na seryoso ang titig sa isa't-isa. Madilim ang mga mata nito tila may pinag-usapan nu'ng nasa loob pa ako. Natigil lang sila nang maramdaman ang presensya ko. I found them strange, para bang laging may galit kapag nagsasama.

"How was it?" Cole suddenly smiled widely when he saw me.

I stood straight after turning off my phone. A modeling agency sent me a message. I'll read it later.

"Nothing, in particular, I'm leaving now, thank you." I slightly waved my hand.

"W-wait! Hindi ba muna tayo kakain?" Cole exclaimed while holding my wrist. Ares's eyes sat there then evaded looking.

"Fine," I answered.

Nagmaneho ang binata sa pinakamalapit na karinderya. Mas pinili na namin dito kumain dahil mura at presko ang hangin ng lugar. Hindi kagaya ng iba na mahilo-hilo ka sa init.

"You have something here—"

Sabay sabi ng dalawa kong kaharap dahilan para magkatinginan sila. Naka-hudyat na ang kamay nila pareho tila may dumi sa mukha ko.

"It's fine, I can manage." I laugh a little trying not to be awkward.

Hindi ko na sila inintindi at mas pinagtuunan na lang ng atensiyon ang pagkain. Kumakain pa sila ng matapos ako kung kaya't tinignan ko muna ang messages sa cellphone ko. It seems urgent since it conveys three memos.

I hissed when it rang, Abby!

[Abby! Napatawag ka?] Sumenyas ako sa dalawang lalabas muna.

[Yes, hindi ka kasi nag-rereply!] She shouted.

Napangisi ako sa boses nito. I missed her.

[Oh, sorry! Iba kasing number ang gamit mo. Pero tungkol saan ba kasi yung sasabihin mo?]

She became silent for a second [Ares Rivera, enlisted for our model job hiring.]

What?