90: The cry of a witch

SAM'S POV

"The file contains a detailed information of how exactly the smuggling activities operates, Samantha.. There's even a list of people that were linked in this illegal operation kaya naman naiintindihan ko na ngayon kung bakit kailangan 'tong itago ng mabuti. I don't know how did papa able to get this file pero ang mahalaga ngayon ay nahanap na natin ito..."

I just remained silent habang nakadekwatrong nakaupo sa gilid ng kama at kunot-noong nakatingin lang ng maigi sa kanya. Kasalukuyan na itong nakaupo ngayon sa upuang inuupuan ko kanina malapit sa may bintana while still clad in his drenched shirt. He had took off his suit earlier at nasa ibabaw na ng mesa ito.

I don't know how he had managed not to take off his shirt with his suit pero mas mabuti na rin siguro ito. This way, there won't be any temptation kept disturbing my sanity kapag nakahubad ito ngayon.

I may appear attentive to his eyes now pero ang totoo nyan, I still haven't get over with his blackmail earlier.

"I said marry me, Ms. Javier. Be my Mrs. Del Fuero..."

When his voice echoed through my head for an nth-fucking time, I couldn't help but bit my lower lip as my heart began to pound again.

I know I should be happy na nalaman ko narin sa wakas kung ano talaga ang laman ng file na'yon at dapat kinukulit ko na ito ngayon na sabihin sa'kin kung sino talaga ang tunay kong ama  but his damn words won't just leave my mind at peace!

Lumalalim na rin ang gabi and I should've been taking a rest by now dahil medyo napagod rin ako sa kakabato ng pagkain sa kanya kanina but my mind won't just let me do that with his proposal kept disturbing me.

Hindi parin ako makapaniwalang pumayag ako sa inalok nyang kasal kanina. Hindi man lang ito nag-abalang bigyan man lang ako ng singsing. I know I shouldn't expect something 'extravagant proposal' from this bastard pero kahit isang simpleng singsing man lang sana, that would've been enough for me!

I was maybe forced to say yes to his proposal pero bukal naman 'yon sa kalooban ko. It had bloody came from the tiniest arteries of my heart so how could he forget the ring now???!  How??

This is just making me so frustrated now.

Napabuntung-hininga na lamang ako dahil rito as I tried to concentrate listening to him again.

"Hindi lang isang tao ang tinuturo ng file na'yon, Samantha. Maraming tao ang tinuturo nito but for the meantime, isang tao lang muna ang kailangan kong ipakulong.... ." I heard him continued which I just blankly answered with a small nod, with my thoughts still flying everywhere.

Yes. Forever. I'll be forever tied up with this bastard kapag kinasal na kami. I'll be forever tied up with this stingy bastard who hadn't even thought about getting me a ring!

At the thought of that, hindi ko mapigilang mapatiim na lamang ng mga bagang while stopping myself to lunge at him and demand him to get me my ring.

Kung pwede lang sana.. kung pwede lang sana talaga..kanina ko pa sana 'yon ginawa----

"Are you not even going to ask me kung sino ang tinuturo ng file na 'yon?"

That question pulled me out of my frustrated thoughts. Kunot ang noo na itong nakatingin sa'kin ngayon, clearly he was closely studying me why I wasn't asking anything.

Oh yeah.. kailangan ko ng itigil ang kakaisip sa singsing na'yon dahil may kailangan pa'kong pagtuunan ng pansin ngayon.

I still have to get the answers that I wanted to hear from him. And speaking of that file, I think I already have an inkling kung sino ang maaaring tinuturo ng file na'yon.

"....I bet Cameron had even get a list of people which connected to this case but I think hindi nya lang ito inilalabas sa media dahil tyak maraming babagsak na kompanya kapag inilabas nya 'yon, Sam."

"John Enriquez, Charles' father..." Wala sa sariling nasambit ko na lamang ito when I remembered Allan's words this afternoon.

A slight surprised instantly registered on his face but after a few seconds, agad namang naglaho ito and then he just nodded at me. Probably he was just surprised with me knowing it before he could even share it to me.

"You're right. Siya nga 'yong taong 'yon.. 'yong taong itinuturo ng file na'yon, Samantha.."

When he confirmed that, a certain conclusion been concocted in my mind now.

Being piqued with it, I looked at him na maiging nakamasid lang sa'kin.

"Kung sya nga ang tinuturo nito, then could it be---"

"Sya 'yong mismong tao na gustong makuha ang file na'yon kaya palaging may humahabol sa'tin noon. And it could be possible ....."

When he trailed that off, my heart began to pound louder than ever as I tightly clenched my fists with me. Dahil alam ko na kung ano ang susunod na sasabihin nito... I can see hesitations in his eyes but knowing that it was my right to know everything, he continued.

"Maaaring sya rin 'yong taong hinahanap mo, Samantha.. 'yong taong matagal mo ng hinahanap."

At the hear of that, the clenching of my fists tightened more. So tight that I could even feel my nails digging up into my palm now.

Yong taong 'yon... Yong mismong taong 'yon..

"We don't need to kill her...She's dying after all.."

Nang maalala ko na naman uli ang mga katagang 'yon, my thirst to kill came back. And this time, it had tripled dahil hindi ko na lang ito parang naririnig sa isipan ko ngayon kundi parang nakikita ko narin ang mukha nito.

And it was with that John Enriquez's face being flashed through the TV screen this afternoon.

Sya man o hindi ang taong 'yon, my anger was now directed at him.

That man.. that blasted man could be that same man I was hunting for so long. Too long that hunting him became my life mission. At ngayon, hindi ko inakalang sya lang pala ang taong 'yon.  And here I thought na baka sya at ang tunay kong ama ay iisa, how foolish of me to assume such stupid assumption!!

Maraming John sa mundo and there's no way na sya rin 'yong tunay kong ama. That was just so impossible and.... Unacceptable!

Cameron just stayed muted in his seat but I can feel his intense stares at me, probably he was just observing my reaction.

Straightening myself up, I looked up and met his stares before I queried.

"Ito ba ang dahilan kung bakit ayaw mong lumapit man lang ako kay Charles? It was because of his father?"

"No." agad na tugon nito with a shook of his head na ikinakunot pa lalo ng noo ko.

"Isa lang yan sa mga dahilan kung bakit ayokong makalapit man lang sa'yo ang taong 'yon, Samantha..  There are other reason kung bakit ayokong makausap ka man lang nya. Gusto ko ring ako mismo ang magsabi sa'yo sa mga gusto nyang sabihin sa'yo."

That got me frowned more at him, confused and at the same time curious with what he was saying.

"Anong ibig mong sabihin?"

He didn't answered right away, dahilan para tumayo na'ko mula sa gilid ng kama saka lumapit sa kanya, desperate to hear his answer now.

"What is it, Cameron? Anong ibig mong sabihin na isa lang 'yon sa mga dahilan mo?" Tanong ko uli sa kanya pagkalapit ko sa kanya, staring down at him with desperate look in my face.

Hesitations was still visible in his eyes with his balled hands that were resting on his thighs tenses.

He's still hesitant. Parang nagdadalawang-isip parin ito kung sasagutin nya ba'ko ngayon o hindi. And that's just making me more desperate to get some answer from him now kahit na kinakabahan na'ko lalo sa maaari nitong sabihin sa'kin.

"Cameron, anong----"

"John Enriquez wished to meet you, Samantha..."

Natahimik na lamang ako nang bigla nalang nyang sabihin 'yon, saying it with his jaw twitching terribly and without cutting his stares on me.

"He wished to meet you at dahil ayokong mapalapit ka sa pamilya ng taong 'yon kaya ginusto kong itago muna kita sa bahay ko. That way, Charles won't even get a chance to see you and take you to his father.".

Pagkarinig sa kanya, napatanga na lamang ako sa harapan nya. But after I recover from that, I couldn't help but let out a dry laugh. A laugh of disbelief while shaking my head.

"He wished to meet me?" I laughed again, unable to contain my surprise and disbelief with his ridiculous 'wish'.

The gall of that man!

"Pagkatapos nya'kong muntikan ng ipaligpit ng mga tauhan nya, he really have the gall to wish that?! Ano bang gusto nyang mangyari? Did he want me to kill him in jail nang malaman naman nya kung anong ginawa nya sa buhay ko?? Did he want that, Cameron?  Gusto nya ba talagang tapusin ko----"

"Tapusin mo ang ano, Samantha? Ang buhay nya ba??"

That got me shut my mouth when he suddenly snapped that in a growl habang bigla namang tumigas ang panga nito ngayon. Alam kong hindi nito nagustuhan ang mga sinabi ko kaya naman bigla nalang itong nagkakaganito. Pero kahit na magalit sya sa'kin ngayon, I don't have to lie now just to calm him down.

Fixating my eyes at his own, I answered him.

"You're right. Tatapusin ko nga ang buhay nya once I'd confirm na sya nga talaga ang taong 'yon. He doesn't deserve to live and-----"

I wasn't able to continue my outburst when he suddenly got up on his feet and then pulled me in each of my arms closed to him habang matalim naman itong nakatitig sa'kin, looking at me like he was having difficulties controlling himself not to strangle me.

"Then what about me, Samantha? What about me and our baby? Mas pipiliin mo bang makulong dahil sa taong 'yon kesa makasama mo kami ganun ba??"

When he growled that in between his teeth, hindi ko mapigilang matahimik na lamang as I stared up at him with wide eyes. Surprised with that.

And just staring closely at his face now, parang hirap na hirap ito ngayon habang matiim na nakatitig sa'kin. The 'arctic' look he always had in his face were now slowly fading. And if my eyes wasn't deceiving me, I can tell he was in a verge of ----bursting out in tears now.

Oh yeah shit. Ang tanga ko. Ang tanga ko kasi hindi ko man lang pinag-isipan ng mabuti ang sagot kong 'yon before even utterring that. Ang tanga ko kasi hindi ko man lang inalala kung ano ang mararamdaman nito once I'd answer that.

"This was why I didn't tell you about him before dahil alam kong ito ang gagawin mo. Itutuloy mo parin ang binabalak mo to kill that man than choose us over your plan. Hindi ko na lang talaga sana sinabi to sa'yo, Samantha. Hindi ko na lang sana sinabi 'to sa'yo...." He continued while his hold in my arms tightened, not once cutting his stares at me.

"Dahil kahit na ano pang gagawin ko, I know you will always choose that man over us----"

"No. Hindi yan totoo."

When I firmly denoed that, a bitter smile appeared in his lips before he shook his head as he slowly took off his hands from my arms.

"No, Samantha. Alam kong di ko na mababago pa ang gusto mong mangyari. Iiwan mo parin ako sa huli kahit na ano pang gawin ko.."

I can't stop but glared at him when he answered that, still refuses to believe me and I HATE THAT!

And I HATE YOU TOO, SAM! I HATE YOU FOR BEING AN INSENSITIVE SHIT TOWARDS THIS BASTARD!

Napapamura na lamang ako sa sarili ko when my mind berated that. Dahil totoo naman ang sinasabi nito. I wasn't sensitive enough to consider what he would feel kapag sinabi ko 'yon.

Dahil kahit noon pa man, alam kong hindi nya gusto ang sagot kong 'yon just like how he hadn't like it before...

"From the very start, I know I can't stop you from doing that kaya naman takot akong sabihin ang totoo sa'yo but now, I'm certain that it was impossible for me to change your mind----"

"it wasn't like that!"

"Well, it was for me, Samantha! Afterall you have lived all your life planning how to kill that man and then yourself after that!"

My glare at him intensified as I growled at his way habang mas lalo namang tumigas ang panga nito ngayon. Nagsisimula na'kong mainis sa kanya ngayon. Nagsisimula na'kong mainis na makita itong nasasaktan dahil sa katangahan ko.

Akala nya talaga gusto ko paring mawala rito after I'm done with my case! This bastard really thought I'd leave him after that!

"Tama ka nga. I had lived my whole life planning all that shits, Cameron." Inis ko ng amin ko na lamang sa kanya which made his face more darker than the cold night outside.

"Tama ka nga na balak kong gawin lahat ng 'yon but 'that was before bastard'! Before I even got to know you better and before I even love that thickhead of yours! Kaya kung balak ko mang patayin ang taong 'yon, killing myself after that doesn't include in my list at all!."

I groaned when the bastard just gave me a small smile with a forlorn look still glinting in his eyes.

This bastard really want me to smack his head for that! Couldn't he just be happy with my answer now?

"Nasasabi mo lang 'yan ngayon dahil hindi mo pa alam ang lahat tungkol sa taong 'yon, Samantha..."

My frown deepened at the hear of that, confused and at the same time frustrated with him dahil sa lungkot na nasa mga mata nito ngayon.

"Anong hindi ko pa alam tungkol sa taong 'yon, Cameron? Bukod sa pagiging hayop nito at pagiging ama nito kay Charles, what's more I had to know about him? May dapat pa ba'kong malaman-----"

"John Enriquez..."

"What? What's with that old man again?" Atat na tugon ko rito, having a little to no patience for him.

"Gusto nyang mag-usap kayo."

At the hear of that, a mocking scoff escaped from me.

"He wished to see me and now, he want to talk to me! Ang kapal talaga ng mukha nya para hingin sa'kin yon! Gusto nya bang mapaaga ang libing nya kaya gusto nyang makipag-usap sa'kin??" Inis ko ng sagot sa kanya. Just thinking that man, hindi ko mapigilang mahighblood ako ngayon.

He just groaned and remained muted while his lips form in a thin line, obviously not liking my reaction. Ignoring his reaction, I continued with my speech. i just to let out my anger towards that man.

"Natatawa ako sa mga hinihingi nya pero kung gusto nya talagang makita ako, then I guess I should just pay him a visit tomorrow. It would be my pleasure to do that dahil gusto ko rin namang marinig ang boses nya. Gusto ko ring marinig man lang ang boses nya to confirm that he was really that man na syang hinahanap ko. Kung sya ba talaga ang hayop na----"

"He's your father. He's your father, Samantha that's why he wished to meet you in person."

My breathing suddenly halted as my eyes instantly went wide at the hear of that---- that ridiculous joke!!!

My Father??...

I can't help but let out a dry laugh while shaking my head at him kahit na nagsisimula na'kong kabahan ngayon.

"You're not funny, Cameron. Hwag mo'kong biruin ng ganyan dahil hindi ako nakikipagbiruan sa'yo ngayon---"

"Hindi ako nakikipagbiruan sa'yo, Samantha. Sya nga talaga ang ama mo at kahit na hindi ko gusto ang katotohanang 'yon, it's the truth that's why I don't want Charles to talk to you dahil gusto kong ako mismo ang magsabi sa'yo nito."

My smile gone in a second habang natitigilang nakatayo lang sa harapan nya, waiting for him na bawiin ang lahat ng sinabi nyang 'yon. But after a few seconds na wala man lang itong sinasabi habang seryosong nakatitig parin sa'kin, my knees started to tremble terribly. Trembling like I was experiencing spasm which made me clutched on him.

That man... That man is my father???

At the thought of that, mas lalo pang sumikip ang dibdib ko as my eyes started to sting with tears, causing me to cling at him more tightly while he just stiffly stood there and not even saying anything.

"N-No! Y-You're just l-lying... You're lying..." Wala sa sariling nasambit ko na lamang while shaking my head in refusals. Refusing to even think about it.

"H-Hindi totoo yan. Hindi totoo yan. Nagbibiro ka lang, Cameron! Hindi pwedeng----"

"Gusto ko ring maging kalokohan lang ang lahat ng 'to, Samantha but we can never change the fact that you are his daughter..."

When he growled that out without even a tinge of joke in his face, my tears that were threatening to fall rolled down on my cheeks. Falling like forever and blurring my vision as I just silently looked up at him.

Hindi maaari... Hindi 'to maari...

So this was why he want me to stay clueless about the file.. gusto nyang itago 'yon mula sa'kin so that I would never know about my father's identity...

John Enriquez... John Enriquez is my father.. and my father could be that man I've been seeking for so long...

This damn truth just didn't set me well. How could my bloody fate be this bad? How could that old shit turns out to be my father? And how could my life be this complicated now??

With that thoughts clouding my chaotic system, tuluyan na'kong napahagulgol sa harapan nya while still tightly clutching his shirt for support.

"Hindi 'to totoo. ..Hindi 'to totoo..." I uttered in between with sobs while shaking my head, still refusing to believe such thing.

"P-Please tell me na hindi 'yon totoo, Cameron. Please tell me that you were just trying to joke now. Please!" I begged at him, hot tears kept rolling down on my cheeks as I gazed up at him with pleading eyes.

Pero kahit na lumalabo ang mga mata ko ngayon dahil sa mga luha but still, the painful look in his face didn't get out of my notice. Dahilan para mapapikit na lamang ako ng mahigpit while more hot tears came out.

How I wish that he'd chuckle right now at sasabihin nito sa'kin na biro lang ang lahat at nakakatawa ang mukha ko ngayon pero parang malabong mangyari 'yon.. Because Cameron del Fuero wasn't the type to joke around me.

And here I thought everything would be fine dahil sa wakas, nabuksan na namin ang file na'yon and Cameron had finally popped the question to marry him pero hindi. Everything turns out like a total mess when my father turns out to be the culprit of my crime case.

"Your mother had admitted that, Samantha and John Enriquez already knows about you and I understand kung ayaw mong makipagkita sa kanya.. It'd be better if you won't."

Mas lalo pang lumakas ang hagulgol ko when I heard him said that. Tears staining my cheeks as I kept sobbing and this time, it was on his chest. I bet everyone outside could hear my wail now dahil sa lakas nito. Wailing for my blasted fate against his chest and soaking his already soaked shirt habang mahigpit paring nakakapit sa kanya.

I have to atleast clung on him dahil tingin ko, bibigay na ang mga binti ko anumang oras with how it was terribly shaking right now.

He just stayed immobile on his feet habang walang imik. His body was stiff as he just kept heaving up a deep breath. But after a few seconds, I felt him wrapped his arms around me and pulled the back of my head more towards him for a tight hug before burrying his face at the crook of my neck.

I was grateful na ginawa nya 'yon dahil tuluyan na'kong nawalan ng lakas para tumayo pa. I was literally leaning up all my weight on him now habang patuloy parin ako sa pag-iyak, mindless with his cold shirt soaking my own clothes.

"Kung pwede ko lang sanang baguhin ang pagkatao mo, matagal ko na sana 'yong ginawa just to keep you from being hurt like this pero hindi, Samantha... This is your truth and it pains me so much na wala man lang akong ibang magawa ngayon kundi yakapin ka nalang ng ganito..." I heard him whispered against my ears but I just stayed silent habang panay parin ang hikbi ko sa mga bisig nito. I just wanted to cry now dahil gusto ko lang ilabas lahat ng sakit sa dibdib ko ngayon through crying.

With my heart felt so numb right now, hindi ko alam kung may salita man lang na lalabas sa bibig ko ngayon kaya naman hindi na'ko sumagot.

He sounded tormented and with his voice wavering out, I know he was just stopping himself to join me with my cry to comfort me.

"I can't promise you na magiging okay lang ang lahat pero isa lang ang maipapangako ko sa'yo ngayon, I love you at kahit ano paman ang pagkatao mo, you will always be my witch and nothing can change that. Remember that..."

When he had whispered that with love and a promising voice, my hold at him tightened as I burried my face more on his chest, wanted to let him know that I heard that habang mahigpit paring nakapikit ang mga mata while crying my heart out.

I didn't know this bastard that I used to hate before would end up the man that would comfort me like this, the man that I'd fall with so hard.

So hard that I'd clung up on him like this ng wala man lang hiya-hiya. Without reserving any shame on my body while wailing out like a baby.

~~~~~~~~~~~

CAMERON'S POV

My heart breaks in tiny pieces just seeing her sobbing against me. I felt useless and weak right now dahil wala man lang akong ibang magawa para patahanin ito kundi yakapin lang ito ng mahigpit. Wanted to lend her some of my energy to cry more. Dahil baka sa ganung paraan, gagaan ang pakiramdam nito ngayon.

Nanatili lang itong nakayakap sa'kin habang panay parin ang hikbi nito. She wasn't uttering any answers pero alam kong nakikinig ito sa mga sinasabi ko.

But after a few moments of just sobbing and sniffing against me, I frowned when I suddenly heard her let out a loud deep sigh. And then soon, bigla nalang itong tumahimik. Her even breathings was the only thing that can be heard of habang nakasandal 'to sa'kin.

"Samantha?"

My frown deepened when I heard no answer from her. I was about to pull her out of my arms to confirm my suspicion that she had fell asleep but before I could even do so, I heard her grumbled out as she burried her face more on my chest.

Mukhang nakaidlip na nga ito...

Well, that's better than exhausting herself crying for her father. That man doesn't even deserve that dahil sa laki ng kasalanan nito sa kanya.

Blowing out a breath, maingat ko nalang na kinarga ito para hindi malamigan ito sa basang suot ko at nang makapagpahinga ito ng maayos.

Gusto ko mang buhatin 'to ngayon and bring her back to where she really belong--to my house--- I guess I just have to do that later kapag gising na ito. I want her to take a rest for now.

I know she's exhausted with all the crying, shouting and throwing those cakes at me this morning. So later. I'll just take her home later.

With careful and gentle movement, kinarga ko na ito patungo sa kamang nasa tabi ko and then with extra care,ibinaba ko na agad ito sa kama saka kinumutan.

By the time her back touches the white soft duvet, isang malalim na buntung-hininga ang lumabas mula sa bibig nito.

She's sleeping right now but her face still shows her agony with her cheeks still marred with tears, swollen eyes and red puffy nose. Getting down on my knees at the cold floor beside her bed, I quickly wiped that tears from her face saka maiging tinitigan ang buong mukha nito while gently caressing her face.

Ngayong alam na nya ang lahat, all I have to do now is to watch her out. Watch out for every action she would make pagkagising nya dahil baka ano na namang gagawin nito. She tends to do wreckless things once confused kaya kailangan ko itong bantayan ng mabuti. Lalo na't nagdadalang-tao na ito ngayon...

"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 her words resounded in my head, my desire to keep her safe fueled up. She already said yes to marry me kaya wala na syang kawala sa'kin ngayon. We must marry no matter what.

At the thought of that, agad ko ng kinapa sa bulsa ko ang bagay na hindi ko naibigay sa kanya kanina. The thing that would symbolize that she was mine and no one should ever touch her but me.

Nang maramdaman ko na ito sa loob ng bulsa ko, I quickly took it out and then without wasting a second, I slid the ring on her fourth finger on her left hand.

A diamond princess cut ring.

And just seeing it on her, I can't stop the urge to kiss it on her hand, feeling satisfied with it with how it perfectly fits on her... As if it was specially made for her..

For awhile, I just stayed there on my knees. Just staring at her while tightly clutching her hand with me. But after a while of just staring at her, I decided to just got up on my knees saka agad ng hinubad ang damit ko. Leaving only my drawers before I joined her on her bed.

~~~~