44: The Confrontation

SAM'S POV

"I'll contact you kapag may nakalap na'ko, Sam. For now, mas mabuting 'wag ka munang pumunta rito sa office. Lots of reporters were still lurking around here kaya mas mabuting magtago ka muna ngayon."

I can't help but let out a frustrated sigh when Al informed me that.

Katatapos ko lang maligo and now, I'm heading down the stairs habang kausap ito.

I guess I have to hide myself for the meantime then habang mainit init pa ang kagagahang ginawa ko kahapon. If I hadn't done that stupid act, e di sana hindi ako magtitiis na suotin ang mga lumang damit ko ngayon.

With that thought, I glanced down at my outfit again.

Fiitted white shirt and---

I cursed out as I threw a dirty glare at my short shorts.

Shit! Ba't naman kasi sa lahat ng damit na meron ako nun, Why does it have to be this darn things ang tanging kasya sa'kin! WHY?!!!!

I made anothe tortured groan when again, I was reminded with my awful outfit.

"Sam? Are you still there?"

When Al suddenly asked that from the other line, I blew out a deep sigh before answering him.

"Okay, Al. Thank you for the heads up. I'll just hide for now. I'll call you once I get a new phone with me. Just please find that man for me."

"Sure thing." When Al answered that, agad na'kong nagpaalam dito then I ended the call.

Agad na'kong naglakad patungo sa office ng dad ko nang tuluyan nakong makababa ng hagdan.

I shouldn't have taken that bastard's advise na dito nalang mag-ayos. I could've wore a more comfortable outfit right now at mas lalong hindi ko na sana kailangang makita uli ang mga bagay na'to.

I gritted my teeth when again, reminded with my skimpy outfit right now.

"But then, gamit mo lang yan noon and whether you'd use it or not, still, you will always be reminded with your past ."

I halted my steps when his words echoed in my head again.

The bastard must've hit his head somewhere bago pumunta rito para masabi ang mga salitang yon.. That bastard knows nothing but to annoy me kaya nakakapanibago lang na bigla na lamang niyang sasabihin 'yon.

"....Kailangan mong sumunod man lang sa mga sinasabi ko kahit minsan lang. This case isn't just some joke and definitely not a joke for me."

Mukhang seryoso na nga talaga ito na tulungan ako sa kasong 'to.

And because of that, hindi ko nalang muna sisisihin ito sa suot kong 'to ngayon. Pero yong sumunod sa lahat ng sasabihin niya? Huh! In his dirty dream! Never gonna happen!

I smirked at that thought at saka nagpatuloy na sa paglalakad patungo sa silid kung nasaan ito.

I'm sure nagpuputok na ang butsi nito ngayon for making him wait for almost an hour now.

Inihanda ko na muna ang sarili ko before opening the office door. Malay natin, may nakaabang na palang bomba sa loob para sa'kin. Especially made for me.

And when I thought na okay lang ang lahat sa loob and no ticking bomb was inside, I twisted open the door then get inside.

I expected him to look annoyed and all ready to kill me with his shuriken glare dahil sa tagal ko but I frowned when I found him just glaring at some paper in his hand while his other hand holding his pants between his thigh.

As if he was protecting that precious 'thing' under his pants from someone. And that someone could be me dahil kaming dalawa lang naman ang nadito ngayon.

I can't help but smirked while looking at his funny face.

Hmmm.. probably. I'm all ready to give him that anyway if he'll only allow me. My pleasure!

At the thought of that, di ko mapigilang mapatawa but I suddenly clamped my mouth when his glare were snapped to my way. Probably interrupted by my noise.

"YOU!"

Napakunot agad ang noo ko when he suddenly shouted that while pointing his finger at me. His jaw was tight and his eyes were ablazed with fire. As if he was ready to sack me and throw me out to the Atlantic sea.

I wonder what makes him look like this. Don't tell me lumuwag na naman ang turnilyo nito ngayon O di naman kaya nireregla si manong?

"What about me? May problema ba?" Maang na tanong ko sa kanya as I walked towards him. Confused with him.

"SO YOU ARE THAT BRAT!!" Galit na sigaw parin nito sa'kin with his lips tightly pressed together.

"I am that brat?? Anong kalokohan ba yang pinagsasabi mo diyan, Mr. Del Fuero? Aalis na ba tayo o hindi pa?" Litong tanong ko parin rito, stopping a few meters away from him. Just to be safe.

"I thought we don't have so much time to waste here kaya ano ba yang pinagsasabi mo diyan ngayon?"

He didn't answered and just growled with a glare at me habang mahigpit na hawak hawak ang munting papel na nasa kamay nito.

Ano kayang nakain ng taong to? And what was in that paper he had in his hand right now?

When still, he hadn't answered and just kept glaring at me, probably strangling me in his mind, napabuntung hininga na lamang ako and then shook my head.

"Okay. Nevermind. Mas mabuting umalis nalang tayo ngayon----"

"You are that brat in Canada"

I groaned in annoyance when again, he had growled that while starting to take a predator steps towards me. Causing me to take a step backward.

"What are you spouting? Anong kalokohan na naman ba yang mga pinagsasabi mo?" I asked, now alarmed with his sudden behavior.

"Nakalimutan mo na ba, Ms. Javier?"

"Ang alin?" Litong tanong ko sa kanya with my brows almost overlapping each other.

"Ang misyon ko o ang halikan natin kahapon? Well, if you're talking about the latter, hindi pa naman kaya----"

"I am not talking about that!!"

I winced when he suddenly shouted that in a rather deafening voice, as if ikakamatay nito ang marinig man lang ang tungkol sa halik na'yon.

This shit!

"Pwede ba! Ano ba kasing pinagsasabi mo? Kung may gusto kang sabihin sa'kin, pwes diretsahin mo'ko! What incident in Canada are you talking about then? Yong muntikan na tayong malunod at mamatay o ano?" Nanggagalaiting sigaw ko sa kanya, now irritated with him.

"I wasn't talking about that either, Ms. Javier! I was talking about that incident years ago. At the bookstore in Canada and you---"

I frowned when he suddenly stopped, looking so tormented with what he was going to say next.

"And what? Anong ginawa ko noon sa isang bookstore sa Canada? I haven't been there until our trip last week kaya ba't mo naman ako makikita sa lugar na 'yon aber? " Pagsisinungaling ko habang kibit ang mga balikat, challenging him to continue his talk.

He doesn't have to know na pumupunta kami noon sa lugar na'yon. That was something I want to keep from anyone.

His jaw twitched more than ever as his glare at me intensified. Talagang may pinaghuhugutan talaga ang galit nito ngayon just looking at his reddened face and veins ready to pop out from his temple.

For a few seconds, he just stayed silent habang parang hirap na hirap paring magpatuloy sa pagsasalita, confusing me more.

But after awhile of his silence, he suddenly showed up the small paper na kanina pa nito hawak hawak na isa palang litrato.

A picture of-----

My brows furrowed when it looked familiar to me.

Three familiar people were in it and----

my eyes widened in recognition nang tuluyan ko ng makilala ang mga taong 'yon.

Our family photo!

With me and my parents...

Where the hell did he get that photo???!

"You are this girl, right?" Tanong nito without taking his eyes from me habang ako, nanatili lang na nakatitig sa bagay na'yon.

Just why the hell he had that with him?

"Bakit nasa sa'yo ang bagay na'yan? Pinakialaman mo ba ang mga gamit ni dad dito?"

"Don't even try to change the topic here, Ms. Javier. Alam kong ikaw ang batang 'to at base sa litrato na'to, this was obviously taken abroad kaya wag mo ng ikaila sa'kin ngayon na hindi ka pa nakakapunta noon sa Canada."

"Then so what kung dun nga kinunan ang litratong yan, Mr. Del Fuero? May problema ka ba dun? Ano bang ikinagagalit mo ngayon huh? Lumuwag na naman ba yang turnilyo sa utak mo that's why you're acting this way?" Naiinis ng sagot ko sa kanya.

He must've really bump his head somewhere inside this room dahil sa pangingialam nito sa mga gamit ni dad dito. Walang duda.

"Do you even have an idea kung anong ginawa mo sa'kin noon, Ms. Javier?"

"Sorry but I don't dahil hindi ko alam kung ano yang mga pinagsasabi mo. At kung ano man yan, I hope it was quite remarkable!" sagot ko with my arched brow and a pointed look at him.

Pagkarinig dun, mas lalo pang umasim ang mukha nito with his veins in his hands ready to pop out anytime dahil sa higpit na pagkakakuyom nito.

"It was indeed 'quite remarkable'." he hissed with emphasis while taking a slow steps towards me without even taking his eyes from me.

Shit! Anong ginagawa ng gagong 'to??

"Hindi mo na ba ako natatandaan?"

Mas lalo pang umarko ang kilay ko when he'd asked that. More confused with him asking that stupid question.

"Natatandaan? Bakit? Ikaw ba yong nawawalang aso ko noon na nagbagong anyo at nagbabalik ngayon huh?"

Mas lalo pang tumigas ang panga nito while a loud rumbling sound can be heard inside his throat.

"Pwede ba! I'm talking about that incident where you had kicked me in----" agad na huminto sa pagsasalita ito as the twitching of his jaw tightened, obviously gritting his teeth so hard. And as if he was hesitant to what he was going to say next.

I was able to let out a sigh of relief when his steps stopped as well.

I thought kailangan ko ng tumakbo mula rito palayo sa gagong to.

"Sa ano, Mr. Del Fuero? I've kicked you in your what???" Curious kong tanong sa kanya, wanted to know kung saang parte ng katawan nito ang sinipa ko noon.

"You had kicked me in my---my----" buhol-buhol parin nyang saad na para bang hirap na hirap sabihin ang susunod na kataga.

Now my eyes narrowed in a suspicious glare at him.

I wonder what had gotten with him right now. Nakakapanibago lang na makita itong maging ganito.

"Ano nga kasi yon?? Saan nga kasi kita sinipa noon huh? I had kicked countless asses before but one thing is for sure, I hadn't kicked yours dahil hindi naman tayo magkakilala noon at mas lalong hindi naman tayo schoolmates noon so why would you insist na ginawa ko ang bagay na inaakusa mo sa'kin ngayon? Baka gusto mong gawin ko nalang yan ngayon to make it a fact now?" Hamon ko rito, now starting to get annoyed with him.

I heard him muttered a curse under his breath as his lips pressed in thin line as his face reddened in rage. All ready to explode.

"At 'the Genius' bookstore. You had kicked me in my---"

"In your head? Yong ulo mo 'yong napuruhan ano kaya nagkakaganyan ka ngayon because if not----"

"YOU HAD KICKED ME IN MY BALLS, MS. JAVIER! IN MY BALLS! ARE YOU HAPPY NOW???!!!"

Pagkarinig sa malakas na sigaw niyang yon, I just stood there habang nakatanga sa harapan nito. Wide eyes just staring at him with my mouth hang agape, shocked with his sudden outburst.

His balls? I had kicked him in his balls? In Canada? Seriously??

I had kicked someone's ball before in Canada but him?

No. I don't think so. Ngayon ko lang ito nakilala kaya ba't naman magiging sya ang lalaking yon?

"What now? Natamime ka yata, Ms. Javier? Have you finally remembered that incident now? Have you finally realized kung anong ginawa mo sa'kin noon?"

I didn't talked and just stared at him while still trying to remember that man's face. Nagsisimula nakong kabahan ngayon just the thought of that incident.

There's no way he was that man before! Shit!

With gritted teeth, I tried to open my mouth for an answer.

"I--I swear I haven't seen you till that night with my case with Mr. Alvaro kaya ba't ko naman magagawa 'yon sa'yo----"

"Do you want me to make you remember that then?"

I took another alarming step backward when again, he started to take a predator steps towards me. Looking all ready to make me remember that. Holy shit!

"Don't you dare take another step! Hindi ko nga sabi ginawa 'yon sa'yo okay? I've been to Canada before but heck! I'm sure as hell that I hadn't kicked you in your balls----"

My mouth snapped shut when he growled loudly, growling like a lion that were ready to eat his prey WHOLE. As in, in all Capital letters.

Oh no.

"And I'm sure as hell that YOU! YOU are that brat who acted like an adult that you were not back then! 'YOU' are that brat who had heartlessly kneed my balls and then ran out from that bookstore!"

At the mention of all that, my eyes almost rolled down to the cold floor as memories instantly flooded through me.

'I said I'm not a kid anymore!'

'But you are, kid. You're still your mom's baby.'

'Cursed you damn brat!'

'You'll pay for this brat! You'll pay for this!'

When that memories echoed in my head, I can't stop but swallowed hard as my breathing suddenly became heavy. Specially when his last words sounded so promising.

Holy shit of all! Maaari nga kayang ang gagong 'to at ang taong 'yon ay--- iisa lang?

Again, I swallowed another lump in my throat, lalo na nung mas lalo pang tumalim ang pagkakatingin nito sa'kin.

Oh oh... I think sya nga ang taong 'yon walang duda. Now looking at his face closely, talagang magkakamukha nga ang mga ito. Mas lalo nga lang tumigas ang mukha nito ngayon kesa noon.

Oh my Goodness!!!

I thought I was safe from that man's ire dahil ilang taon na ang nakakalipas matapos ang insidenteng yon! But shit! How wrong I was!

"Wag mo ng ikaila pa, Ms. Javier. I know you were that kid before. I can still clearly remember that incident kaya wag na wag mong----"

"I--I don't know what you're talking about..."

I bit my lip hard when I stuttered.

Shit! Pull your act together, Sam! You have to deny that no matter what! His words sounded so promising that time kaya 'wag na 'wag mong aminin sa kanya that you are that kid before! Never ever!

"And now you're denying that to my face when I'm very certain na ikaw nga ang batang yon!"

"S-Sabi ng hindi eh!"

I cursed out again when I stuttered again.

Stupid lips and stupid fate!! Why do I have to bump into this specie after so many years??!!! WHY???!!

With gritted teeth, I heaved a deep shaky breath as I tried to calm myself and stop stuttering my goodness!

I held up my chin and folded my arms on my chest and looked at him with straight face, trying so hard to act unaffected kahit na gusto ko ng kumaripas ng takbo ngayon palayo rito.

Mama Mary, Papa Jesus and whoever Saints na nandito ngayon, please save me from this monster!!!

"Hindi ako yon, Okay? I had kneed lots of balls before but I'm pretty sure that you're not one of those and besides, hindi nga kita kilala noon eh kaya paanong mangyayari yang mga pinagsasabi mo diyan huh?"

"Stop denying it, Ms. Javier! I know you had remembered that incident now kaya wag---"

"Hindi nga sabi eh! Ang kulit mo talaga----"

Napatigil na lamang ako bigla as I became more alarmed when he suddenly rushed towards me with his dark eyes determined to murder me.

Naloko na talaga!

I quickly made a defensive stunt and prepared my fists beside me for defense.

To kill or get killed. Mukhang nasa ganyang sitwasyon na'ko ngayon just looking at how red he was right now. Ready to blow some fire on my face.

When he was just a step away from me, I was about to throw a punch at his face but I stopped nang bigla na lamang tumunog ang phone niya na kanina ko pa pala hawak-hawak sa kaliwang kamay ko.

Then relief coursed through me when 'William Montero' appeared on the phone screen.

William!

Bago pa ito tuluyang makalapit sa'kin, I quickly tapped the receive button then answered it.

"William! Hi! Kumusta kana! Napatawag ka yata? May kailangan ka ba? Ilang araw ding hindi tayo nagkita ah. Baka gusto mong makipag-inuman naman sa'kin minsan?" Sunud-sunod kong tanong sa kabilang linya, causing the roaring bastard del Fuero halted on his steps.

hoo my God! I thought katapusin ko na kanina. Woosh!

"Samantha??? Ba't nasa sa'yo ang phone-----"

"Oh yes, yes, Liam! Magkasama nga kami ng 'mabait' mong kaibigan ngayon." Agad na putol ko sa iba pa nitong sasabihin while glancing at the scowling bastard before me who groaned in disapproval at the mention of 'mabait'.

Pero hindi ko na ito pinansin and just quickly headed to the door for an escape.

"May kailangan lang kaming gawin ngayon, Liam. No need to worry about him dahil nasa mabuting kamay naman ang gagon--- I mean, ang kaibigan mo." Agad na bawi ko. Mahirap na, baka malintikan na naman ako nito.

I was able to let out a loud relief sigh pagkasara ko ng pinto sa silid na'yon, now finally having a safe distance from his ire.

Agad na'kong dumiretso sa labas ng bahay, just wanted to breath some fresh air to calm my raging pulse.

Whooshh! Muntikan na talaga. Shit! Ba't ba naman kasi kailangan nya pang makilala ako pagkatapos ng mahabang panahon!

My god! Muntikan na tala----

"Sam? Ano ba yang pinagsasabi mo diyan? Anong kaharutan naa naman ba 'yang mga pinaggagawa niyo ngayon huh? Are the two of you perhaps taking your relationship to the highest level now? Hmm?"

Liam's teasing tone and laugh from the other line interrupted my thoughts, causing me to groan in disapproval.

"Shut up, Liam. Kung anuman yang kalaswaang iniisip mo ngayon, erase that. We're not doing such dirty thing. May kailangan lang kaming asikasuhin ngayon and it was about my case." Seryosong saad ko sa kanya as I headed to the gate and to where I had parked my car.

Just in case Mr. Del Fuero would attempt to do some stupid act against me.

"Ba't ka nga pala napatawag? Do you have something to say to your friend now? Sabihin mo lang, pwede ko namang sabihin 'yon sa kanya para sa'yo."

Kahit na ayokong maging isang metro man lang ang layo mula sa kanya. I wanted to add that pero mas pinili ko nalang na tumahimik.

"Well, wala naman. Gusto ko lang naman sanang kamustahin si Cameron at tanungin kung bakit hindi man lang 'to umuwi kagabi. Pero dahil magkasama pala kayo, okay.. no need now.."

My brows furrowed the instant he uttered that.

"Hindi umuwi kagabi? What do you mean, Liam? Are you saying he was out for the whole night?"

"Yes. Sabi ko nga. I don't know where he was last night and it was a surprise for me that he----"

"WILLIAM MONTERO!!"

I winced out nang may bigla na lamang sumigaw sa may kabilang linya sabay kalabog ng tingin ko pintuan.

"Suzy!!" I heard Liam suddenly uttered, sounding surprised seeing that someone.

Suzy???

Don't tell me he was talking with Suzane right now???

Just the thought of him having a connection with her, my protective instinct took in.

Wanted to protect her from this playboy.

"Liam? Sino yan? Is that Suzy? Why are you with her----"

"N-No, Sam! No... I'll end this call now. Bye, Sam!" Then the beeping tone can be heard next as the line went off.

That shit! Binabaan talaga ako ng telepono!

Napapamura na lamang ako while glaring at the phone, imagining it was the idiot Liam.

Malilintikan talaga sa'kin ang taong 'yon kapag may ginawa man lang na kalokohan yon kay Suzy.

He better prepare himself to face my ire kapag nagkita kami!

"That shit! Humanda talaga sa'kin ang----" bigla na lamang akong napatigil when I heard that creaking sound from the rusty gate behind me.

The indication that another 'shit' had appeared.

I didn't turned around and just stiffly stood beside my car in contempt.

I don't think I could even face him right now.

Just act like nothing happened, Sam and that you are not that brat na siyang muntikan ng bumaog sa kanya noon. Alam kong kaya mo 'yan. You're good at that anyway.

I mentally nodded at that thought saka huminga muna ng malalim before I faced him with a tight smile on my face.

I found him just stiffly standing malapit sa may gate, just throwing a dirty glare at me. That 'I-Can-see-through-your-lies' kind of glare. Alam kong galit na galit parin ito ngayon and just stopping himself to make me pay for what was due to me dahil sa ginawa ko sa kanya noon.

Okay. Mas mabuting hindi ko talaga aamining ako ang batang 'yon. Just to be safe.

I cleared my throat first saka nagsalita.

"Ah nangungumusta pala sa'yo si Liam. He said he was worried."

Still glaring at me, he asked.

"Worried about what?" Galit paring tanong nito as he started to head to his car na nasa tabi ng sa'kin, his lips still in tight purse.

"He was worried about you not being home last night." Saad ko while looking at him with scrutinizing stares, studying his reaction.

Pagkarinig sa'kin, napaarko agad ang kilay ko when he suddenly healted with his steps and his back suddenly turned rigid.

hmm.. Mukhang hindi nga talaga ito umuwi kagabi ang gagong to... I wonder kung saang lupalop na naman 'to pumunta kagabi.

Hindi naman kaya sa bahay ni Gloria ito umuwi kagabi?

At the thought of that bitch, my hold at his phone tightened as my gaze narrowed at him, making a deep hole at the back of his thick head.

This shit! Pagkatapos ng mga nangyari kahapon, he really had the gall to even meet that bitch kahit na may maraming problema pa kaming kinakaharap! This bastard must've really wanted me to give him another kick on his balls nang matuto at maging baog na talaga ito. FOREVER.

Nang mga ilang sandaling hindi parin ito umiimik and just stiffly stood there with his back facing me, I folded my arms and leaned against my car with pursed lips habang naghihintay ng sagot nito.

"So ano? hindi ka nga talaga umuwi kagabi ano?"

I groaned when he still hadn't answered me..

"May I know kung saan ka pumunta kagabi, Mr. Del Fuero? Are you perhaps with Gloria last night kaya hindi ka umuwi kagabi sa bahay mo and just stayed with that bitch dahil----"

"Let's go now, Ms. Javier."

I scowled when he cut me off saka dali-dali ng pumasok sa sasakyan nito without even glancing back at me.

Can I throw this phone on his head now? Can I?

Dahil gustung-gusto ko talagang gawin 'yon sa kanya ngayon. Grrrrr!

How dare he to just ignore me when I was dying to hear his answer to that!

Isa lang talaga ang ibig sabihin nito. Pumunta nga talaga ito kagabi sa babaeng 'yon right after our talk last night!

Nanatili lang akong nakasimangot while still glaring at him na ngayo'y nasa loob na ng sasakyan nito.

"Are you going to just stay there at iwan na lang kita rito o gusto mo ng sumakay dito, Ms. Javier??"

My scowl deepened when he suddenly asked that without even glancing at my way. Dahilan para mas lalo pa kong mainis rito.

"I'll drive my own car. Mauna ka nalang."inis na lamang na saad ko sa kanya saka padabog ng pumasok sa loob ng sasakyan ko.

I didn't heard him uttered an answer, just the sound of his engine as he started it on.

I started my own as well while still giving a dirty glare at his car.

Mga ilang sandali lang, his car started to move na syang ginawa ko naman. Just following him kung saang impyerno man balak nitong pumunta ngayon. He better be not planning to go to that bitch dahil kung ganun man, baka tuluyan na talaga itong mabaog ngayon once I'd give him another kick on his balls.

And this isn't just a threat, I tell you. This time, talagang sisiguraduhin ko ng walang maiiwang hindi basag na itlog pagkatapos.

~~~~~~~