68:Older brother

DYLAN CHARLES ENRIQUEZ'S POV

"SAMANTHA! Makinig ka muna sa'kin!" I heard her shouted at Ms. Javier habang umiiyak na hinahabol ito palabas ng sementeryong 'yon.

I know Samantha Javier was crying as well habang tumatakbo ito palabas rito without even giving her real mother a chance to stop her from leaving.

Roselyn Romero just stayed rooted at the entrance way habang yumuyogyog ang mga balikat nitong sinundan ng tingin ang papalayong sasakyan.

The two had talked pretty seriously back there and I'm fortunate enough to witness that. Kung hindi pa'ko nag-imbestiga sa babaeng 'to, I couldn't have been here by now and even overheard their talk.

Kanina pa'ko nandito, just sitting on the ground at a good distance from them pero hindi man lang nila ako napansin dahil sa seryosong usapan ng mga ito. And with how loud were their voice back there, talagang kahit sino maririnig ang katotohanang 'yon.

Roselyn Romero is Samantha Javier's biological mother.

Mas lalo pa yatang nagiging interesado ang mga bagay-bagay ngayon.

And the fact that his real father is still alive, the more I wanted to talk to Roselyn Romero now.

With that, nagsimula na'kong maglakad palapit sa umiiyak na babae. She was still crying pero hindi na ganun kalala kanina, a hint that I waited para lapitan ito.

"Ms. Roselyn Romero.."

When she heard me, she swiftly whirled around on her feet to face .e.

With her eyes instantly widened in recognition, tingin ko hindi ko na kailangan pang ipakilala ang sarili ko sa kanya dahil halatang kilala na nya'ko.

"What are you doing here?" Kunot-noong tanong agad nito sa'kin as she glanced at Ms. Javier's retreating car once again bago ito tumingin uli sa'kin.

She wiped her tears before she sniffed and faced me with her straight face.

"What are you doing here, Charles Enriquez? May kailangan ka ba sa'kin kaya kahit hanggang dito, sinusundan mo ko?" Diretsang tanong nito with an expression that Ms. Javier usually used kapag wala itong balak magsayang ng oras sa'yo.

Hmmm... Walang dudang mag-ina nga ang mga ito. The close resemblance of their faces were there and their attitude was so alike as well.

"I already made an investigation about you, Ms. Romero at alam ko na rin na anak mo si Ms. Samantha Javier.."

The wrinkle on her face became more prominent when her lips turned in a tight purse.

"Then what do you want? Wala ka namang mapapala sa mga ginagawa mong 'to kaya itigil mo na'to. This is a family matter and this isn't something you have to meddle with." Matabang na sagot nito before she started to head to her car.

"This is something that I think I have to meddle with Ms. Romero kung may kinalaman 'to kay papa."

She halted in her steps pagkabanggit ko palang kay papa. With how rigid she was standing right now, I know I had caught her interest.

Slowly, I walked to her way, wanted to confront her face to face.

"Alam kong may relasyon kayo ni papa noon and Samantha Javier believed na buhay pa ang kanyang tunay na ama. So how---"

"You don't know what you're talking about." She snapped as she suddenly whirled on her feet para harapin ako. Puffy eyes were glazing with fire and with her scowl deepened.

"Wala kang alam kaya tigilan mo na'ko."

I just scoffed and shook my head at her.

"Oh no, I know more than what you think, Ms. Romero." I started with a smirk which made her eyes darkened.

"Alam kong matagal kayong naging magkarelasyon ni papa noon at kahit kasal na ito kay mama, alam mong may ugnayan pa rin kayo sa isa't isa."

Mas lalo pang dumilim ang mukha nito as her stare turned in a pinprick. A reaction that was expected from her.

"And aside from that fact, alam ko ring nakaligtas ang anak niyo sa nangyaring aksidente sa'yo noon bago mo pa man tinapos ang ugnayan mo sa' kanya. And I wouldn't be surprised if that baby would be Ms. Javier. Mali ba'ko, Ms. Romero?"

"Ano ba talagang kailangan mo sa'kin? Ba't mo ba ginagawa ang lahat ng 'to? Ano bang mapapala mo rito kapag nalaman mo ang lahat? Are you going to use that against Samantha? Yan ba ang balak mong gawin kaya ginagawa mo ang lahat ng 'to? Ang pakialaman ang buhay ng ibang tao?"

I inwardly smirked at that, liking her snappy answers dahil tingin ko, nakuha ko na ng tuluyan ang atensyon nito and now I can start asking her what I really want to know from her.

I straightened up on my feet before I answered.

"Gusto ko lang malaman ang totoo."

"What else do you want to know? You've already made an investigation about my life and my past so ano pa ba ang gusto mong malaman??"

"Tell me everything you knew about John Enriquez, my father." Diretsahang saad ko rito, eager to be done with what I've really came here for. To talk to her.

Her brows knitted in confusion at that in an instant.

"You are his son so you yourself should know who he is."

"But I don't I know him that much, Ms. Romero kaya nga nandito ako ngayon para tanungin ka mismo. Because you've known him better than I. Better than his own family."

Nanatili lang itong nakatingin sa'kin for awhile, giving me long gaze as if she was trying to read my mind.

Siguro para alamin kung seryoso nga ba ako sa mga sinasabi ko.

But after a few seconds longer, I heard her sighed before she shook her head.

"I don't know why you want to know but if I were you, hindi ko na nanaisin pang kilalanin ng mabuti ang taong 'yon 'kaya mabuti pa, umalis kana rito and ----"

"No. Gusto kong marinig 'yon." I firmly insisted, wanted her to answer me.

"I want to hear it from you dahil alam kong sa simula't sapol palang, hindi siya naging honest sa'min dahil hindi naman niya kami minahal ng totoo ni mama so please tell me. I'd hear it.."

"Of course he wasn't. Because your father adores power over his own family.."

Napakunot agad ang noo ko dahil doon. With how she had stated that, hatred can be detected in her voice.

"What do you mean?"

She just smiled at me with bitterness glinting in her eyes.

"Your father was too hungry for power kaya naman kahit hindi niya mahal ang mama mo noon, nagawa niya paring buntisin ito so that Laila could be forced to marry him. He thought that taking over your mother's family company would be a good start to get what he want."

That fact made my brows creases more than ever.

So that was what actually happened then.. Worse than what I have thought it was. So love was never part of their marriage kaya naman kahit ako, nararamdaman kong malayo ito sa'min ni mama.

Kaya naman parang wala lang rito ang biglaang pagkawala ni mama. And now I'm starting to doubt him na wala itong kinalaman sa pagkamatay niya.

That thought made me bared my teeth. Sana lang wala itong kinalaman sa krimeng 'yon because if he was, hindi ko alam kung anong magagawa ko sa kanya.

"Hindi ko alam kung bakit mo pa ginagawa ang lahat ng 'to, Charles but it would be better if you'll stop this this instant dahil tiyak pagsisihan mo lang ito sa huli."

"Why? Why should I regret this in the end, Ms. Romero?" I asked with curiosity, eager to know her reason why.

She'd squared up her shoulders before she'd answer me with a no nonsense look in her face.

"John Enriquez wasn't the man that everyone have thought about him. Siya ang klase ng taong gagawin ang lahat just to get everything he want. He would never hesitate to do everything he desire kahit makaapak pa man ito ng ibang tao, Charles. And if you'll keep doing this investigation, baka pagsisihan mo lang ito sa huli. Tiyak masasaktan ka lang.."

Just hearing all that facts, I couldn't help but nodded at her in understanding. But the want to ask her about my mother's case now heightened up. Maaaring may nalalaman ito na hindi ko pa alam.

"I understand you, Ms. Romero. Pero may gusto lang akong malaman mula sa'yo."

"Ano pang gusto mong nalaman?" Came her question with her furrowed brows.

"It's about my mother. May kinalaman ba si papa sa pagkamatay niya?"

She gave me a pointed look before she shook her head.

"Hindi ko alam kung may kinalaman ba si John sa nangyari kay Laila. Ang tanging alam ko lang, masyado ng nabubulag sa kapangyarihan ang papa mo to the point na handa na itong manakit ng tao just to get what he want. And what he want is to ruin DFCS and at the same time your mother's friendship with the Del Fueros. Specially Ronaldo del Fuero."

That made my frown deepened at her.

"Siguro naman, alam mo ng dating magkarelasyon ang mama mo at si Ronaldo at kahit hiwalay na ang mga ito noon pa man, malapit parin ang pamilya mo sa mga del Fuero but because of your father, nagkasiraan kayo dahil lang sa pagkamatay ni Laila."

Yes. Tama nga ito. Malapit nga ang pamilya namin noon sa mga del Fuero but after that incident happened to my mother, nasira agad ito.

Pero may isang bagay lang akong hindi maintindihan...

"But Ms. Romero, it was Ronaldo del Fuero who were with my mom bago ito mamatay kaya siya lang ang maaaring---"

"Maaaring nakakaalam kung ano talagang nangyari at posibleng pumatay sa mama mo, ganun ba?"

I nodded when he cut that in. She let out a low scoffed before she went on.

"Ronaldo del Fuero has no reason to kill your mother, Charles. Bagkus, kailangan niya pa nga itong pasalamatan dahil sa ginawang labor ng mama mo sa kanya."

"What do you mean? Anong ginawa ni mama na kailangan nyang pasalamatan?"

Now with my want to know everything intensified, I don't think I could just let her leave here nang hindi man lang ako naliliwanagan dito.

Again, she gave me another pointed look before she loudly sighed. Siguro dahil naiinis na ito dahil sa katatanong ko. Pero wala na'kong pakialam dun. Kailangan ko lang malaman ang sagot niya.

"The day of her death, your mother had given something to Ronaldo na siyang tatapos sana sa lahat ng kagaguhang ginagawa ng papa mo, Charles."

"At ano naman ang bagay na'yon, Ms. Romero?"nalilitong tanong ko rito with my attention was all on her.

"Some file."

"What file?"

Her lips thinned in line when I asked that, probably she was annoyed with me now.

But I was just too desperate now to even care about it.

"Just some file and please don't ask me what file is that dahil kahit ako, hindi ko alam kung anong meron sa bagay na'yon."

"And why do you think mom would do that? Kahit kailan hindi ko naman nakitang pinagbuhatan ito ng kamay ni papa noon so how----"

"It wasn't about that, child. It wasn't about that." Agad na putol nito iba ko pang sasabihin.

"Tingin ko nalaman ng mama mo na may ginagawang kalokohan sa kompanya niyo ang papa mo noon at bago pa man masira ang kompanyang pinaghirapang itayo ng pamilya niya noon, Laila decided to get a concrete evidence para gamitin 'yon laban dito. And that was what she had handed to Ronaldo that same day of her death."

Concrete evidence. If mom had had to do all that para lang makuha ang bagay na'yon, then this could only mean na hindi lang ito tungkol sa selos o ano pa man.

This was just too serious to be a mere jealousy. But a serious crime.

At kung anuman ang meron sa file na'yon, yon lang ang tanging sagot kung anong kagaguhan man ang ginawa nito noon that led my mother to do that extent and even trusted that file to his ex.

And that file could be in Cameron now..

"Palagay ko nasabi ko na lahat ng kailangan mong malaman kaya maiwan na kita rito. I hope we won't meet again in the future." Rinig kong saad nito maya-maya when I didn't uttered any words and then without waiting for my answer, agad na itong tumalikod at naglakad patungo sa sasakyan nito.

Yes. She had answered all the puzzles I had in my mind but there's still something I have to ask her right now.

"Ms. Romero.."

When she heard me, she stopped opening her car door at the driver's seat saka lumingon na sa gawi ko.

"Ano na naman?" sagot nito with voice clearly annoyed with me now.

"Just one last question... "

"What was that?" Tanong nito as she turned to my way, halatang atat ng matapos ang pag-uusap naming ito.

"Kaya ba hindi mo masabi kay Ms. Javier kung sino ang tunay niyang ama dahil pinoprotektahan mo siya laban kay papa? Dahil alam mo kung anong pwede niyang gawin na kahit kadugo niya man ito, he won't even hesitate to harm her. Tama ba'ko?"

Agad na namang tumalim ang tingin nito sa'kin as the tight purse in her lips returned.

"Hindi ko sinabing iisa kayo ng ama, Charles so stop this now."

"But all the evidence was pointing to my father. Kapatid ko sya, hindi ba?" I asked her, but stated it more like a statement dahil halata namang totoo ang sinasabi ko.

For a few seconds, she just stayed like that, giving me a pointed look. Siguro nagdadalawang-isip itong aminin yon sa'kin.

Pero nang napagtanto nitong wala akong balak na tantanan ito without giving me an answer, she blew out an exasperated sigh before she slowly nodded her head.

I smirked at that. It didn't even surprise me na tama ang iniisip ko because I already expected that bago ko paman ito tinanong.

"I'd be glad kung hindi mo 'yon sasabihin sa kanya, Charles. Lalapitan niya lang ang papa mo once she'd find it out."

I just nodded at her saka tuluyan na itong pumasok ng sasakyan nito and drove off from there.

Tama nga na pinaimbestigahan ko ito and even followed her here. Dahil kung hindi, hindi ko sana malalaman ang mga bagay-bagay at magiging bulag lang sana ako sa katotohanan hanggang ngayon.

And I wouldn't have even known that Samantha Javier is my half sister. That stubborn private investigator.

I smirked at that thought.

Nanatili lang akong nakatanaw sa papalayo nitong sasakyan but once her car was out of my sight, umalis na rin agad ako sa lugar na'yon.

Now I have finally understand everything. My father was nothing with how I had assumed him to be. Malayong-malayo ito sa inaakala ko. And I hadn't even known this until now.

Ronaldo del Fuero didn't murdered my mother and someone else did. That's the legit conclusion here. At kung hindi si papa, then who could it be?

That question clouded my thoughts habang binabaybay ko na ang liko-likong daan pauwi.

Mga ilang kilometro pa lang ang natatakbo ko when I noticed a few people and cars na nagsihintuan sa gitna ng daan. Wondering what it was, I slowed down my car and then eventually pulled it to the side nang mamataan ko na ang isang sasakyang bumangga sa isang puno sa gilid ng daan.

My curiosity intensified when I spotted an unconscious woman na nakahandusay sa daan malapit sa sasakyang 'yon. Samantalang isa namang duguang lalaki ang nakahandusay mga ilang metro ang kayo mula sa nakahandusay na babae.

Isang lalaki naman ang nakatayo malapit sa nakahandusay na babae. I think he was talking with someone in a call right now with an earpiece on his right ear. Maganda ang tindig nito at sa baril na nakasuksok sa tagiliran nito, mukhang nagtatrabaho ito sa batas.

Curious to know kung anong nangyari doon, tuluyan na'kong lumabas ng sasakyan saka agad ng lumapit dito.

"Anong nangyari rito? Bakit---" Before I could even finish my statement, my eyes widened in surprise nang masino ko na ang nakahandusay na babaeng 'yon.

Samantha Javier!

I felt like my blood rushed through me as I hastily ran to her side and pulled her on my lap.

Blood was trickling down on the side of her face habang may konti naman itong galos sa ibabaw ng kanang kilay nito.

"Samantha! Samantha!" Tarantang tawag ko rito as I tapped her cheek to wake her up.

And when no response came out from her, I quickly checked her pulse in her wrist and I was slightly relieved nang maramdaman kong may pulso pa ito.

"Samantha! Sam---"

I stopped and my gaze was snapped to my back when a sudden screeching of wheels from behind me came off.

Akala ko isa ng tulong ang dumating na'yon but no, I was wrong to expect that because a furious Cameron was the one who had rushed out from that car. He was still clad with his suit and obviously just came out from his office, looking so disoriented as he scanned the place around him in searching for someone. And when his eyes had focused on me and then the unconscious woman before me, tingin ko mas lalo pa itong nagalit ngayon.

"Get your hands off of her!!!"

~~~~~~~~~~~