57: The Truth

CAMERON'S POV

"Pwede mo bang ulitin 'yon, Mang Doming?"

"Hindi ka ba nakikinig, bata? Ampon lang ng mag-asawang Romero ang babaeng 'yon at tingin ko hindi parin niya alam ang bagay na'yon."

When he repeated that piece of information, now I can fully understand why he wanted me to stop her with her case.

Dahil sa bagay na'to...

Sa katotohanang 'to that could possibly hurt Ms. Javier in the end.

Gustong-gusto kong malaman ang mga nalalaman nito but I didn't expect to hear this from him. To hear Ms. Javier's real identity.

"I wasn't planning to just hide myself from anyone, Mr. Del Fuero.... Killing myself was the right thing to do after I killed that man myself."

When again, I remembered her words last night, I can't help but sighed in exasperation habang napapaupo na lamang sa upuan ko.

Hindi ko alam kung anong nararamdaman ko kagabi but when I saw her burst out in tears for the first time and saying all those things to me, I just suddenly felt like I wanted to silence her and comfort her that everything will be alright.

I have never saw her smiled at me before at mas lalong hindi ko ito nakitang umiyak man lang noon and seeing her act that way last night, the want to just find and kill that man myself was so strong.

And now... Ito na naman... I'm certain she won't take this truth easily..

Kamag-anak. Anak siya ng malapit na kamag-anak nila so she still have the Romero's blood but who could be that Romero? From her profile, ang auntie niya lang naman ang natitirang kamag-anak nito ngayon so her aunt was just her only chance to know the truth.

Sighing, I looked at Mang Doming who was sitting across me.

"Mang Doming, alam niyo po ba kung sinong kamag-anak nila ang posibleng tunay na magulang ni Ms. Javier?"

He gave it a thought for awhile before he answered.

"Hindi ko alam.. "

"Akala ko ba kilalang-kilala mo ang mga Romero? And now you're saying na hindi mo alam?"

I throw him a glare when his face darkened and growled at me.

"Kilala ko ang pamilya Romero pero hindi lahat ng Romero, bata. Ba't di ka nalang kaya magtanong sa tita niya? Siya lang naman ang alam kong malapit sa kapatid niyang si Sir Nickandro."

Yes. Her aunt...

"Sa pagkakaalam ko, siya 'yong naging legal guardian niya after her parents' death. At bukod sa auntie niya, I heard no other relatives na malapit sa kanya, Mang Doming. So do you think alam ng auntie niya kung sino ang tunay na mga magulang niya?"

"Malay natin. " Maikling sagot nito while shrugging his shoulder, na parang wala na itong balak na magsalita pa.

With gritted teeth, pinili ko nalang na magsalita than explode in annoyance at this old man.

"Kaya ba gusto mong pigilan ko siya? Dahil takot kayong malaman niya ang totoong katauhan niya?"

I frowned when he just shook his head then put down his crutches on the floor na kanina pa nito hawak-hawak habang nakaupo.

"Tingin mo ba 'yon lang ang dahilan ko, bata? Napakadelikado ng kasong 'to at hindi niyo kilala ang kakalabanin niyo kaya gusto kong itigil niyo na ito ora mismo.."

"Then tell me now kung sino ang taong 'to Mang Doming and let me decide later kung anong gagawin namin sa taong 'yon. Siya ba ang may gawa diyan sa paa mo?"

When I uttered that directly, hindi ito agad umimik and just balled his hands, confirming our suspicion again.

But just after a few seconds longer of his silence, he sighed in resignation.

"Kapag hindi niyo pa ititigil ito, baka ganito rin ang mangyayari sainyo, bata.. o baka higit pa... Minsan na nila akong pinagtangkaang patayin noon pero hindi sila nagtagumpay na gawin 'yon sa'kin.."

"Hindi ako takot, Mang Doming kaya sagutin niyo nalang ang tanong ko." I snapped and looked at him..

"Sino ang may gawa nyan sainyo?" I inquired with emphasis, not wanted him to beat around the bushes.

"Hindi ko pa nakakaharap ang taong 'yon.."

"What??!!" Gulat na sigaw ko rito, can't believe this man would really have the gall to waste my time!

"Pinaglololoko nyo ba'ko??"

"Hindi. Sinasabi ko lang ang totoo.."

I gritted my teeth when he doesn't even sounded sorry about it.

"Sinasayang mo lang pala ang oras namin rito.. hindi nyo pala kilala ang taong 'yon but you had make us wait for that.. " I hissed at him, annoyed with him.

"Oo. Mukhang nagsasayang nga lang kayo ng oras rito."

I pursed my lips when he quickly agreed to it with a tight smile.

Kung hindi lang sana matanda ito, kanina ko pa sana inupakan ang matandang 'to!

"Pero ang masasabi ko lang sa'yo..."

I glanced at him with a glare nang magsalita na naman uli ito, now without any tinge of joke in his wrinkled face.

"Malalaman mong nandyan lang sila sa paligid nyo kapag may mga hindi magagandang nangyayari sainyo.."

"Gaya ng ano?" Curious kong tanong rito, listening intently to what he was about to say.

"Gaya ng may magtatangkang bumundol sainyo o di naman kaya biglaang aberya ng sinasakyan ninyo.. dahil dyan sila magaling, bata." He bitterly said while glancing down at his legs.

Puno ng panghihinayang ang mukha nito pero alam kong galit rin ito sa mga nangyari sa kanya with how tight he was clutching his trouser right now.

But my attention wasn't really on him now, but to what he just said.

Bumundol o aberya ng sasakyan...

Just hearing those words, I couldn't help but thought about the accident we've been to last week. I was certain na hindi sira ang sasakyan na'yon pero bigla nalang nawalan ng preno nung magkasama na kaming dalawa.

But thinking na kagagawan 'yong lahat ni Enriquez, I didn't suspect anyone but just him.

But now I doubted that possibility, dahil posibleng hindi naman talaga ito ang may gawa but someone else.

Just the thought of that, napapakuyom na lamang ako ng mahigpit while clenching my teeth hard.

"Makikilala mo lang ang taong 'yon kapag nahanap nyo na ang matagal na niyang hinahanap, bata..."

I shifted my gaze back  to his face when he added that.

"Yong file ba ang tinutukoy mo?"

My lips instantly pursed in tight when this time, he suddenly chuckled.

Baliw na yata ang matandang 'to..

"Tingin mo ba talaga ang file na'yon lang ang hanap nila?" Then again, he dryly chuckled with a shook of his head.

Pero kahit asar na asar na'ko sa kanya, I couldn't resist but listen to him.

"Anong ibig mong sabihin? May iba pa bang hinahanap ang mga taong 'yon bukod sa file na'yon?"

"Parang ganun na nga.."

"Alam mo ba kung ano ang bagay na'yon?"

"Hindi."

I let out an annoyed groan when he answered that with a nonchalant shrug.

"Alam mo man lang ba kung saan mahahanap ang bagay na'yon, Mang Doming?"

He just tilted his head to the side, as if he was giving it a deep thought.

"Madali lang namang hanapin ang bagay na'yon.."

"Kung madali nga.. saan nga namin mahahanap 'yon, Mang Doming?"

"Kasama ng file na'yon.. nakatago ang bagay na'yon.... "

"Saan nga? Pwede ba Mang Doming, wag ka ng magpaligoy-ligoy pa! Kung may nalalaman ka, sabihin mo na agad!" I snapped at him, now losing my non-existent patience when he just answered that with voice sounding like I should've known that already.

The annoying old man just sighed loudly and looked at me.

"Makikita mo ang bagay na'yon sa-----"

"Sa isang libro."

Our heads were snapped to the door familiar voice when she suddenly made an entrance at the door.

"Ms. Javier!" I called out in surprise pagkakita ko rito.

Her eyes were glaring at us and obviously, she had overheard our talk. Pero hanggang saan lang ba ang narinig nito?

Did she perhaps heard about her identity?

From the look of her, she was so different from the woman she was last night. She was at it again, pretending like she was all tough. I don't know why I suddenly felt the want to stop her acting unaffected. Ang alam ko lang was that I hate it when she kept doing that.

"Ms. Javier, kanina ka pa ba nakikinig sa'min sa labas?"

She just glared at me and then just turned to Mang Doming with straight face, completely ignoring me!

This woman!

"Tama ba'ko, Mang Doming? Nasa libro ang hinahanap namin, 'di ba?" He queried again with a no nonsense tone in her voice.

The old man just stared straight at her in silence, pero mga ilang sandali lang, he shrugged and then slowly nodded his head for an answer.

"Tama ka, Ms. Samantha... Makikita mo nga sa isa sa' mga libro ng daddy mo ang hinahanap nyo."

"Then can you tell us kung anong libro 'yon, Mang Doming? May maraming libro si dad kaya mahihirapan kaming alamin kung anong libro 'yon.."

"Yan ang hindi ko na alam, bata... Tanging ikaw lang ang makakasagot nyan dahil kasa-kasama mo naman ng matagal ang dad mo.."

I noticed her shoulder tenses as her hands tightly balled in fists. Mukhang nagtitimpi lang ito.

"Okay. I guess nasagot mo na lahat ng katanungan namin.. kaya naman ngayon, kailangan na naming umalis mula rito. Salamat sa lahat."

And then with that, agad na itong naglakad patungo sa silid na tinulugan nito kagabi and then got out with her bag clung on her shoulder. Not even glancing at our way while she headed to the door with purposeful strides.

"We have to leave now, Mr. Del Fuero. Kailangan na nating hanapin ang bagay na'yon." Saad pa nito before she completely got out of the house, slamming the door in her way out.

No doubt. She had heard everything from the very start of our conversation. And she was just pretending unaffected with that truth.

And this isn't good. Samantha Javier acting so cool about knowing her real identity is definitely not good.

"I wasn't planning to just hide myself from anyone, Mr. Del Fuero.... Killing myself was the right thing to do after I killed that man myself."

I quickly shrugged those thoughts off my system when I remembered her words again. Knowing her, walang dudang gagawin niya nga ang bagay na'yon and I'd be a complete idiot if I will let that happen.

With that thought, I quickly took my bag as well. After doing so, agad na'kong nagpaalam sa matanda and sending my thanks to her wife for our stay here saka patakbo na'kong lumabas ng bahay. I ran after her na hindi man lang lumilingon while stiffly walking or shall I say, half walking and half running?

~~~~~~~~

ENRIQUEZ' POV

"I just want to remind you sir na hindi pa rin po napipirmahan ng papa mo ang lahat ng document para sa bagong kontrata nyo.."

I suddenly stopped scribbling my pen when my secretary had said that, informing me with how incompetent she was! As she always be.

Looking up from my paperwork before me, I was greeted with Ms. Ariola. The plain and incompetent Ms. Agatha Ariola in her usual tight bun atop her dark head habang diretsang nakatingin sa'kin with straight face and with her clasped hands behind her. It's a surprise for me na hindi man lang sumasakit ang ulo nito sa higpit ng pagkakatali ng buhok nito.

And it's also a wonder for me why I've still kept her as my secretary when she just always disappoint me with her performance. Gaya ngayon...

Well, not really 'always' but just closed to that word. Siguro dahil sa hindi ito katulad ng mga nakaraang secretary ko na walang ibang ginawa kundi magpaganda and throw their selves at me whereas Ms. Agatha was the complete opposite of them.

And that was maybe the reason why I've kept her under my employ kahit na palagi na lamang itong pumapalpak.

"Haven't I specifically instructed you yesterday kung anong dapat mong gawin sa bagay na'yan, Ms. Agatha? I told you to go straight to his house and let that document be signed pero bakit hanggang ngayon, hindi mo pa rin nagagawa 'yan?"

When I growled that, the woman just straightened up her body before she answered with chin held high.

Looking as if she wasn't even a tidbit affected with it.

"Yes. You did, sir. But if you haven't forgotten, you have specifically ordered me to run some errand for your woman, Ms. Shasha yesterday before I could even head to your father's house. Kaya naman pagpunta ko sa bahay ng papa mo kahapon, hindi ko na ito naabutan."

My glare narrowed at her way when she had reasoned that out. So smart with her reasoning! Saying that like I shouldn't be mad with her incompetence and should blame myself for all of this! And the way she had called Ms. Shasha's name, ba't parang tunog nang-iinsulto ang babaeng 'to?? Not that I really care about that woman but just this woman before me making my blood boiled up.

Tuluyan ko ng ibinaba ang ballpen ko and then looked at her with pursed lips.

"Sinabi ko ngang puntahan mo muna si Ms. Shasha kahapon pero kung ginawa mo lang ng maayos ang trabaho mo, hindi ko na sana kailangan pang ayusin ang bagay na'to dahil sa kapalpakan mo!"

This woman was just so impossible! After more than a year of being my secretary, hindi parin ito natututo. Palagi nalang palpak! Palaging may hindi natatapos na trabaho everytime I'd give her a task.

"Alam mo naman sigurong kailangan ko na ang mga papeles na'yon ngayon, signed and prepared! And now you're saying it wasn't signed yet? Palagi ka nalang palpak! Balak mo pa talagang ako pa mismo ang gumawa ng trabahong 'to!"

Tahimik lang ito and didn't have any plan to utter any words. She just stared straight at the wall behind me while stiffly standing on her feet. A reaction that made me heave an annoyed sigh while gritting my teeth so hard.

She's at it again. Balak na naman nitong tumahimik na lamang sa buong pag-uusap na'to and just stood there, waiting for me when to end my lecture.

A weird woman that she was! It was really a wonder for me kung pa'no nya nagagawang umasta na para bang okay lang ang lahat!

Magaling naman ito minsan but lately, napansin kong palagi na lamang itong pumapalpak. At kung magpapatuloy ang kapalpakan nyang 'to, I think I must warn her with this.

"Ms. Agatha," nagtitimpi tawag ko rito.

"alam mong binabayaran kita ng malaki dahil sa trabaho na'to and you being so incompetent with your job kahit na higit isang taon ka ng nagtratrabaho rito, I don't think I can just let you get away from this... Kapag pumalpak----"

"I'm going to hand in my resignation now sir."

That got me blinked my eyes a few times at her when she suddenly cut that off.

"What do you mean? Anong kalokohan yang pinagsasabi mo ngayon?"

Then I frowned when her eyes meet mine. Eyes that I didn't know it was blue until now.  Probably because this is the first time I ever get to make an eye contact with her.

"I said I'm resigning as your secretary now. As in effective immediately, sir. I don't think I still have to state my reasons dahil tingin ko alam mo na kung bakit." She stated, handing a white folded paper on my table, a 'Resignation Letter' was imprinted on it.

"I know this is so sudden, sir Enriquez pero gusto ko ng umalis na ngayon din."

The gall of this woman!

"Ms. Agatha!" Hindi ko mapigilang mapasigaw rito, now losing my patience.

"Hindi mo pa nga naaayos tong kapalpakan mo ngayon, and now you want to be out of this????! Gusto mo pa talagang ako pa mismo ang umayos nitong lahat kaya naman gusto mong umalis na agad-agad!"

The arrogant woman just squared her shoulder at saka tumingin lang sakin ng diretso, not even giving out any indication that she was affected. So different from the Ms. Agatha I used to know---not that I really know her so well kundi sa natatandaan ko lang sa kanya sa higit isang taon na nitong pagtatrabaho sa'kin.

"With all due respect sir, hindi ko naman talaga kasalanan kung bakit kailangan niyong ayusin ang bagay na'to ngayon because in the first place, ikaw naman ang nag-utos sa'kin kahapon na puntahan ko si Ms. Sha-sha sa condo niya at kung hindi mo lang sana ginawa 'yon, hindi sana inabuso ng bruhang 'yon ang pagiging secretary ko sainyo."

I growled more as my glare narrowed at her when she had called Ms. Shasha as a witch with grudge. As if she had despised that woman so much.

"At balak mo pa talagang isisi sa'min ngayon ang kapalpakan mo? Wag mong kakalimutan na hindi lang ito ang mga palpak na trabaho mo. You know you haven't done anything good for almost a year of being employed here so don't ever blame me for your incompetence!"

"That is why I'm handing in my resignation now, Mr. Enriuez.."

My brow raised up with the changes of how she had called me.

"Mr. Enriquez? Huh! Now you're acting like you are no longer my employee!"

"Yes." She proudly answered with a tight smile, annoying me to no end!

"It's Mr. Enriquez now dahil sa ayaw at sa gusto mo, I'm quitting with this job and I'm done acting like a robot na pwede mo nalang utus-utusan kahit na anong gusto mo. Goodbye, Mr. Enriquez. Please let's not see each other again, forever."

Then without giving me a chance to spat back, agad na itong tumalikod and headed to the door but before completely taking her leave, lumingon uli ito sa'kin with her dark sharp brow lifted to the side.

"Ah by the way, Mr. Enriquez, it was maybe rude of me to say this but I guess I just have to be honest with you now. Wala ka palang kataste-taste kung pumili sa mga babae mo. Ms. Shasha was a total bitch and so the other women na patagong karelasyon mo noon! All of them was. Yan lang. Bye!" Then with a mocking smile, tuluyan na itong lumabas. Leaving me with  wide eyes, speechless and just gawk at the closed door kung saan ito lumabas.

So stunned with that.

Because just how in God's name the plain, boring and incompetent Ms. Agatha became so bold to throw me those insults now???!!!

Well, maybe, hindi ko lang siguro ito ganun kakilala.. Wala naman akong oras para kilalanin ang lahat ng taong nasa paligid ko. I am just too busy despising Cameron Del Fuero to even have time para kilalanin ang mga ito.

Napapahilamos na lamang ako ng mukha as I leaned my back against my chair. So exhausted with everything and the fact that my dear secretary had quit in her job now with a token of insults about my taste in women.

That two-faced woman! Akala ko tahimik lang ito but how wrong I was! May pagka maldita rin pala ang babaeng yon! A witch side hiding behind that silent and innocent facade!

Napapatiim na lamang ako ng bagang as I kept thinking that impossible woman!

Kung hindi lang sana gumuho ang building na pinagagawa ni Mr. Izuki, then this contract would've been almost done by now at hindi na sana kailangan pang baguhin. And thanks to that bastard del Fuero.

Mr. Izuki had demanded to make a new contract para sa project na'to. At hindi ko na sana kailangan pang pumunta ngayon sa bahay ni papa para sa papeles na kailangang mapirmahan nito. Being the president of ECC, his signature and mine were in utmost need for this contract.

Sighing exasperatedly, inayos ko nalang ang mga papeles na nasa harapan ko and once done, I quickly took my suitcase and silvergray coat behind my chair before I left. Trying to shrug the thoughts of some plain, boring and incompetent woman kept appearing in my head.

In my way down to my car outside of the building, all employees had made a curtsy and greeted me but I was just too preoccupied right now to even answer them. They were used to that anyway. Receiving no answer from me.

Driving my car in a fast possible rate I could drive, It didn't took me long to get to my destination. By the time na dumating ako sa harap ng mansion namin, medyo makulimlim na ang mundo. Dark clouds were almost covering up the sky above and rain was threatening to fall anytime.

I just hope na nandito ngayon si papa so I could go back to the company immediately.

With hasty strides, agad na'kong pumasok sa malaking gate with it automatically opened for me and into the house.

But before I could get inside, napansin ko pa ang isang di-pamilyar na kulay abong sasakyan sa harap. I don't think it was my father's dahil wala namang lumang sasakyan ito.

It was probably owned by one of his employees here.

With thaty thought in mind, hindi ko nalang 'yon pinansin and just get inside. Percy, our butler, had quickly greeted me with warm smiles pagkakita palang nito sa'kin which I responded with a small smile and a nod at him.

Matagal narin itong nanilbihan sa'min kaya naman parang pamilya narin ito sa'kin pati na ang asawa nitong si Aling Cora, the head cook here. Kung pwede lang sanang dalhin ang mga 'to sa bago kong bahay, then my house wouldn't have been so quiet and dull as it had always been.

"Magandang hapon, sir Charles. Mabuti naman at naisipan nyong dumalaw rito.."

"May ilang papeles lang akong papipirmahan kay papa, Percy. Nandyan ba sya ngayon?"

I was able to sigh in relief nang tumango ito sa'kin.

"Nasa loob po siya ng study room niya ngayon, sir. May kausap na bisita."

Thaty made me frowned at that, wondering who could be that guest.

"Isa ba sa mga kaibigan niya ito, Percy? Nandito rin ba si Mr. Sogocio?"

"Ngayon ko lang nakita ang babaeng 'yon, sir kaya tingin ko hindi 'yon isa sa mga kaibigan ng---"

"Wait, what? Babae? He was talking with some woman in his study room right now?" I queried at him with creased brows, surprised with that news.

"Yes, sir. At wala po rito si Mr. Sogocio ngayon. Kahapon ko pa po hindi nakikita ang taong 'yon rito."

I just nodded at that saka pinaalis ko na agad ito before I headed to the study room of my father.

Wala namang problema sa'kin na may kausap itong babae ngayon...It was just a surprise to know na biglaang may kausap itong babae.

Shaking my head, dumiretso na'ko sa kung nasaan ito ngayon. And when I reached that room, kakatok na sana ako sa pintuang 'yon but to my utter surprise, hindi naman pala ito nakasarado and was slightly ajar.

Papasok na sana ako sa loob but before I could even step inside, narinig ko na ang boses ng babae na nagsalita.

"Kailangan mo ng itigil ito, John.. Hindi pa ba sapat sa'yo yong nawala si kuya at ang kaibigan nito??"

With the way she had called my father, mukhang matagal ng magkakilala ang dalawa.

And their talk seems so serious para putulin ito kaya naman mas pinili ko nalang na tumayo sa labas at makinig na muna. Eavesdropping other people's conversation wasn't right but I'm just too interested to know who this woman is at kung sino ito sa buhay ni papa.

"Rosie, Rosie.. my dear Rosie.."

My brow lifted up to the side with how sweet he was calling that woman now. Who's Rosie by the way?

"Alam mo naman sigurong matagal ng tinik sa'kin ang kapatid mo at kaibigan nito dahil sa pangingialam nila sa buhay ko noon..."

"At ngayong nawala na sila, anong nangyari? May napala ka man lang ba? Wala, hindi ba?! Wala!"

Now the woman sounding like she was crying. Sino ba ang pinag-uusapan ng mga ito? Mas lalo pang napakunot ang noo ko when a dry laugh came next.

"John! Nakikinig ka man lang ba? Itigil mo na ito!"

"Calm down you there, Rosie... Mas lalo kang tumatanda kapag nagagalit ka."

"Pwede ba, John! Hindi ako nagbibiro rito. Dapat noon pa lang talaga, pinigilan na kita sa mga ginagawa mo! After you've done a great damage to my family, balak mo na namang sirain ang buhay ng pamangkin ko!!"

"Oh? Do you mean that Private investigator na pamangkin mo, Rosie? Well, hindi naman maiiwasan ang bagay na'yon if that woman will continue to interfere us."

Private investigator? At sino namang imbestigador ang tinutukoy ng mga ito?

"Walang hiya ka talaga!!! Dapat hindi na'ko naniwala pa noon na magbabago kapa! Dapat pinutol ko na ang sungay mo noon pa man!"

Again, I heard him laughed again, sounding so amused with the crying woman before him. At nakakapanibago na marinig ko itong tumawa ng ganito, though he was laughing, may kung anong iba lang sa tunog nito. Parang ibang-iba ito sa kilala kong tawa nito.

"Oh, Rosie... Baka nakakalimutan mo, masyado mo'kong minahal noon to even stop me from doing anything... Para makamit ang mga pangarap ko noon. Hindi mo nga maamin-amin sa kuya mo noon na may relasyon tayong dalawa...."

Now that made me froze on my feet there, flabbergasted with that piece of news.

So magkarelasyon ang mga 'to noon? Anong ibig sabihin nito? At bakit parang may hinanakit parin ang boses nito? Could it be possible that he still have feelings for this woman?

"Hindi ba mas pinili mong iwan ako noon after you've lost our baby? Nakakalimutan mo na ba 'yon, Rosie??"

"And I would never forget that! Dahil kahit kailan, hinding-hindi ko pinagsisihang ginawa ko ang bagay na'yon!"

"And do you think I did? Huh! Don't be ridiculous, Rosie... Alam mong si Laila ang naging katuparan ng lahat ng pinapangarap ko noon at hanggang ngayon."

Now their talk became more intense and interesting to hear. Alam kong noon paman, ramdam kong hindi naman talaga nagmamahalan ang mga magulang ko, they just married because of me, dahil nabuntis nito si mama.

And now I would hear him saying na si mama ang naging katuparan ng mga pangarap niya...

So anong ibig sabihin nito? Anong Katuparan ang pinagsasabi nito ngayon?

"Yes. Katuparan nga ng mga pangarap mo, John.... Yan naman talaga ang plano mo, ang umangat sa buhay kahit marami ka ng naaapakang tao! "

"Pwede ba, Rosie... Umuwi ka nalang sa bahay mo and just live there peacefully, okay? Naririndi na'ko sa pangingialam mo.." came his growl, halatang nawawalan na ito ng pasensya.

"I swear to God na hinding-hindi kita mapapatawad kapag may nangyaring masama kay Samantha, John! Minsan mo ng muntikang kunin siya sa'kin noon kaya kapag may nangyari na namang masama sa kanya, humanda ka!!! You won't like what I am going to do with you kapag nangyari yon!" Galit na sigaw nito, now obviously hysteric and sounded threatening in her voice. Na para bang may gagawing masama si papa sa binabanggit nitong babae.

Samantha? So that was her niece's name..

"Come on, Rosie.. alam mong masyadong pakilamera ang pamangkin mo so I can't promise you na hindi madadamay ang babaeng 'yon if she kept on digging up everything!"

"Basta binabalaan na kita ngayon palang, John... Hindi man ako nagsalita noon, asahan mong hinding-hindi na'ko mananahimik man lang kapag may nangyaring masama sa kanya. Tiyak pagsisihan mo lang ang lahat sa huli!"

"Pinagbabantaan mo ba'ko, Rose?"

"Parang ganun na nga... At alam mong hindi ako magdadalawang isip na gawin 'yon sa'yo, John. You know I wasn't..." she uttered with promising voice and after that, I heard some loud approaching steps to my way.

Mukhang palabas na ngayon ang babaeng 'yon..

Before the door would even open up and they'd catch me here, I quickly pushed opened the other door right across that room then stepped inside. Just in time when the woman had flung open the door.

Peeking through the small opening of the door I was in, I was able to see the face of that enraged woman na paalis na ngayon mula sa study room.

I have never seen her before pero base sa narinig kong pag-uusap nila, matagal na ngang magkakilala ang mga ito...

When that woman was out of the earshot, I shut the door and just stood behind it while in deep thought.

I have so many questions in mind that I'd like to ask him but I don't think now was the right time for that. Dahil tingin ko, mukhang may mas malalim pang kwento rito na hindi ko pa alam.

That woman won't just throw some threat to my father kung wala nga itong gagawing kalokohan sa pamangkin nito.

I have always doubtful with his love for my mother before at ngayon, alam ko ng tama nga'ko. Mukhang hindi ko pa nga talaga lubusang kilala ito..

Tightly clutching my suitcase, I quietly opened the door beside me saka maingat ng naglakad pababa.

Kailangan kong malaman kung sino ang babaeng 'yon at makausap man lang ito. When I saw Percy pagkababa ko, I quickly took out those documents from my suitcase na siyang ipinunta ko rito saka ibinigay na yon lahat sa kanya na agad namang tinanggap nito with confused look in his face.

"Ibigay mo ito kay papa, Percy. Sabihin mo na pinapipirmahan ko sa kanya at kailangan na yan ngayon."

"Okay, sir."

I nodded at him then before taking my leave, I turned to him for a favor.

"Please don't tell him na pumasok ako rito... Sabihin mo nalang na napadaan lang ako rito kasi may importante pa'kong pupuntahan.."

When our trusted butler vigorously nodded his head at me, agad na'kong umalis. Trusting him to do what I ordered him to say.

~~~~~~~~