95:Back to that day

JOHN ENRIQUEZ'S POV

"Sarado na ang utak nya. She won't take any explanations from me so asking her forgiveness now is impossible." nanlulumong saad ko while sullenly staring at my hands before me.

Halos isang oras na ang nakakalipas since Samantha left. At halos isang oras narin akong hindi mapakali.

"We have to give her time, papa. Naniniwala syang ikaw ang pumatay sa mga taong nag-aruga sa kanya so I know it's hard for her to accept you but in time, I know she will."

Hearing that reassuring answer from my son, a scoff escaped from me while shaking my head.

Kahit na gusto kong umasa na posible ang mga sinasabi nito, her outburst awhile ago was just the proof na malabo ng mangyari 'yon.

Right after Samantha had left, agad naman itong dumating rito in a hope that he'd get the chance to talk to her kasama ako. But unfortunately, he hadn't get any.

"I don't think she will, Charles." I glumly answered. "Sa rami ng kasalanang nagawa ko sa kanya, naiintindihan ko na kahit ano pang sabihin ko sa kanya, she would never believe it... Naaalala nya parin ang boses ko noon that's why she won't believe me." I continued with bared teeth while tightly fisting my hands on the table.

"Akala nya ako ang pumatay sa pamilya nya when I wasn't, Charles. Hindi ko pinatay sina Nickandro noon kaya----"

"Kung hindi ikaw, then care to tell us some lies now, Enriquez??"

That familiar voice made our head snapped to that direction and I groaned when a young replica of Ronaldo del Fuero leisurely walked his way in of that visiting area.

"Sino bang pwedeng gumawa nun kung hindi ikaw, Enriquez?" Pasaring saad nito pagkalapit sa gawi namin, towering over us like he was just looking at some dirt.

And that made me groaned more now.

"Anong ginagawa mo rito, Cameron?" My son growled out sabay tayo sa inuupuan nito habang patalim na nakatingin rito, irked with the sudden presence of this intruder.

He just gave my son a no nonsense look.

"Calm down, Charles. Hindi naman kayo ang ipinunta ko rito kundi si Samantha pero mukhang nahuli na'ko ng dating. I was just intrigued to hear some lies from your father so I decided to stop by. Malay natin, your father could tell us some fairytale bullshit here." The scum dryly replied sabay tingin sa gawi ko.

"Ba't hindi mo nalang kaya aminin ngayon kung sino ang tunay na gumawa nun, Enriquez and why the hell you have my father's ring that time?!!"

That had me taken aback on my seat at the sudden mention of that. Gaping at him in shock.

Singsing..

How---How did he know about that? Wala namang ibang nakakaalam sa singsing na'yon but just me and Enrico...

"That ring-----" I took a deep breath while still gaping at him. "H-How did you----"

"Matagal ng nawawala ang singsing na'yon." Matigas na putol nito sa'kin while glaring down at me. His glare this time became more cold.

"Matagal ng nawawala 'yon pero bakit suot-suot mo 'yon sa mismong araw na'yon, Enriquez?? You stole that ring from papa, don't you??"

"Careful with what you're spouting with, Cameron!" Charles snapped in a growl, mirroring the furious glare del Fuero had in him.  "Mabigat yang ipinaparatang mo kay papa kaya magdahan-dahan ka sa pananalita mo."

The other glanced at his way with his tight lips quirked up to the side while giving him a coy look.

"Don't compare me with you, Charles. I am not like you and I don't just accuse anyone for something that they hadn't done." Came his poisonous spat with his mocking tone. Causing Charles to growl at him more.

Alam kong napipikon narin ito but with how tight he was clenching his fists right now, alam kong nagpipigil lang ito at piniling itikom na lamang ang bibig. Gusto kong awatin ang mga ito but my mind wasn't in good condition to do so.

"Samantha can prove that na suot-suot nya ang singsing na'yon noon and this might be confusing her now. She could be thinking na may kinalaman si papa sa krimeng ginawa nya noon at yan ang hinding-hindi ko mapapayagang mangyari!" He ended with emphasis with the 'crime' part sabay tingin uli sa'kin with eyes aflame.

Hindi ako takot sa mga matang 'yon. Hindi ako takot sa batang 'to. Ang kinatatakutan ko ay baka kung ano na ang iniisip gawin ng anak ko ngayon. I'm certain she's experiencing an utter confusions now dahil sa singsing na'yon...

Me being his father itself was devastating enough kaya pa'no pa kaya kung isipin nitong pati ang tontong pinakamamahal nito ay madadamay rito?

Just thinking the worst possibilities kung anong gagawin nito, I couldn't help but be troubled about it.

I heard my son retorted back pero hindi ko na pinansin ang bangayan ng dalawa as I let my thoughts claimed me.

So even that ring, Samantha had remembered that as well. That ring I took from Ronaldo before. I didn't know she could be that sharp as to remembering things.

But I guess not as sharp as to putting things together to know na hindi naman talaga sinadya ang mga nangyari noon but just a mere accident.

An accident.. yes. Yan naman talaga ang tunay na nangyari.... At wala akong kasalanan dun..

At those thoughts, I heaved in a deep shaky breath while tightly clasping my hands together. Clasping my hand so hard dahil sa tindi ng panginginig nito ngayon.

Maybe now's the right time to reveal the truth and stop letting everyone accuse me for something na hindi ko naman talaga ginawa.

Yes. Masama nga'kong tao but not as cruel as to killing Rose' family...

And this is for my daughter anyway... Alam kong hindi nya parin ako mapapatawad kahit gawin ko'to but to at least stop her with her nonsense quest for the truth, at nang mapigilan ito sa kung anumang binabalak na gawin nito ngayon, now is indeed the right time.

"Marami ngang nagawang mali si papa but you can't just accuse him na ninakaw nya sa papa mo ang singsing na'yon-----"

"Ninakaw ko nga ang singsing na'yon mula sa papa mo, Del Fuero..."

When I admitted that, their heads were snapped to my way. Charles with a surprised look on his face while Cameron who just let out a satisfied scoff.

"Sinasabi ko na nga ba... Let me guess, ginawa mo'to para madawit si papa sa krimeng ginawa mo noon hindi ba? Ninakaw mo 'yon so that Samantha will-----"

"I didn't killed them." I growled out with emphasis when he called me as some killer again.

"Huh! The hell I'd believe that."

Napapatiim na lamang ako ng bagang when he snapped that. Naiirita na'ko sa taong ito pero kahit na gaano ko pa kagustong upakan ito, hindi muna. Not when I still have something to disclose with them. Especially when curiosity and disbelief irked on my son's face right now habang maigi rin itong nakatingin sa'kin.

"Papa.."

When he utterred that in almost a whisper, I just gave him a small smile and inhaled deeply.

"You heard it right, Son.. ninakaw ko nga ang singsing na'yon noon." I confirmed without denying it. Dahilan para mas matigalgal ito saka dahan-dahang napapaupo uli sa upuan nito.

I know he's disappointed about me. And maybe embarrassed for having me as his father. Just like Samantha did..

At the thought of that, mas lalo pa'kong napapatiim ng bagang while the clenching of my hands tightened as well. Isa akong kahiya-hiyang ama..  And I haven't even realized that until now. Til I saw how disappointed they were to me.

"Now that you've admitted it, why don't you start admitting the crime you have done ten years ago, Enriquez?. Nang malaman naman ng anak mo kung ga'no ka nga kasama sa tinuturing nyang kapatid ngayon..."

Mas lalo pa'kong nainis when I heard that sarcastic remark from the intruder himsel with his eyes glinting with satisfaction.

"I didn't killed them so I have nothing to admit----"

"Then tell us." I was cut-off when Charles suddenly growled that with low voice. Seryosong-seryoso ang mukha nito, lips were tightly pressed together as he looked at me without blinking an eye.

"Tell us kung bakit nandun ka nang mangyari ang insidenteng 'yon, Papa. Anong ginagawa mo sa lugar na'yon kung hindi mo nga talaga pakana ang lahat ng 'yon??"

He's furious. I know he was. Anger was visible on his eyes. But with how tight he was clenching his hands right now, alam kung pinipigilan lang nito ang sarili na sumabog sa harapan ko.

"Bakit nandun ka sa mismong araw na'yon at hindi mo man lang tinulungan ang kapatid ko when she was dying that time, papa. Tell us!" He added in a hiss habang nanlilisik ang mga mata nitong nakatingin sa'kin.

And with how he was looking at me now, hindi ko mapigilang mapayuko na lamang habang napapapikit ng mga mata dahil sa kahihiyan.

Ayokong aminin ang totoo sa harap ng tontong del Fuero na'to but for the sake of my son....., I guess I should now..

"Papa, tell---"

"Aksidente lang ang nangyari..." Putol ko na agad sa kanya when he was about to talk again.

When I said that, no reaction came out from him. He just stayed muted, just waiting for me to proceed. I know Del Fuero was just looking at me with impatience pero hindi ko na ito pinansin. I just continued as my clear memories from ten years ago came back.

"Just keep tailing them, Enrico. Alam kong binabalak itago sa'kin ng lintik na Nickandrong 'yan ang file na'yon. I'm sure they've already planned all these with Ronaldo."

When I instructed that, my trusted assistant quickly nodded his head saka minabuti ng binuntutan ang itim na sasakyan sa unahan with enough distance. Alam kong balak na naman nila akong pagkaisahan but not this time.. Kailangan ko ng makuha ang file na'yon mula sa kanila before Nickandro could ruin the organization dahil lang sa lintik na ebidensyang 'yon! At mas lalong kailangan ko ng makuha 'yon because the blueprint was on that file as well!

At the thought of that, my desperation to get that damn file hiked up. Making me unable to sit comfortably at the backseat.

Kung hindi lang sana 'yon binigay ng magaling kong asawa sa lintik na Ronaldong 'yon! Sa magaling nyang katipan noon! Then I wouldn't have been here now!

"Sir.. kailan nyo gustong banggain ko ang sasakyan nila?"

That question pulled me out from my frustrating thoughts. I glanced at his way and I found him looking at me at the rearview mirror, waiting for my response with a slight smirk on his mouth.

Seeing him, napapangiti narin ako as I was reminded with our plan.

Oh yes. Our plan. Pa'no ko ba makakalimutan 'yon?

"Just proceed to what was planned, Enrico. Hit their car kapag nasa hindi masyadong mataong daan na tayo. Siguraduhin mong tama lang ang gagawin mong pagbangga mamaya, just enough to leave them all unconscious para makuha natin agad ang file na'yon . Hindi natin pwedeng patayin ang mga 'yan because Rose won't like that."

"Pero pa'no 'pag may mamamatay sa kanila sa gagawin nating 'to, sir?"

"Then be it. Just proceed to the plan, Enrico..Walang mamamatay sa kanila sa gagawin mo." I answered with a shrug while waving him off.

Agad namang tumango-tumango ito before he focused his eyes back to the road with a slight frown on his face.

Calming myself down, I waited for a few moments on my seat with patience while playing the ring in my finger.. An heirloom ring which I had fortunately gotten from that bastard del Fuero. The del Fuero's lost family heirloom.

Just staring at it, I can't help but smirk about it.

Kung nagawa ko mang nakawin 'to kay Ronaldo, there's no doubt na magagawa ko ring nakawin ngayon sa kanila ang file na'yon...

At that thoughts, my smirk stretched into a wide smile as I gazed back at the car ahead us.. kung saan nakasakay ngayon ang buong pamilya Romero.

All we have to do now is to wait..

At ganun nga, nagpatuloy lang kami sa kakabuntot sa mga ito while waiting for the perfect timing..

At mga ilang sandali nga lang, napansin ko ng wala ng ibang sasakyan sa daan. It was just their car and ours habang masyado namang masukal sa paligid.

"Gagawin ko na sir."

Rinig ko ng saad nito, but before I could even reply a yes, bumilis na agad ang takbo ng sasakyan. Tightly clutching at my seat belt, I waited for the hard impact the car would receive. Their car was just about to pass through an intersection and Enrico was just about to speed up more para banggain ang sinasakyan ng mga ito pero bago paman mangyari ang binabalak nito, a sudden earsplitting screeching sound of tires came off and then followed by the loud and long honking blasted off the background.

"Enri------" Napapamura na lamang ako when our car suddenly made a complete halt before it could even make a damage on Nickandro's car.

"Enrico! What-----!" I was suddenly cut-off when a loud clashing of some metals exploded in the background, causing me to almost snap my neck into two dahil sa biglaang paglingon sa pinanggalingan ng malakas na tunog na'yon.

Something wrong is going on------

My eyes bulged out nang mahagip ng tingin ko ang isang rumaragasang Dump Truck na umararo sa sasakyan ng mga ito. Making their poor car spinned off to the side of the road.

Anong---!

I felt our car stopped sa may di kalayuan ng pinangyarihan. And all I could do was just gaped there in surprise with held breath habang pinapanood ang nagmamadaling tumakas na sasakyang bumangga sa pamilyang Romero.

"Tingin ko hindi na natin kailangang banggain ngayon ang sinasakyan nila, Sir. Someone did it for us."

When I heard him said that, saka ko lang naisipang huminga uli saka tumingin sa gawi nito. He was smiling at me with triumphant in his eyes. Na para bang hindi man lang ito nabigla sa mga pangyayari.

"Kailangan na nating puntahan ang pamilyang 'yon, sir. Remember that you have a file to get from Nickandro kaya lumabas na tayo." He calmly reminded me before he unbuckled his seatbelt and then pushed open the car door on his left.

Inhaling deeply, agad narin akong lumabas ng sasakyan ng pagbuksan na'ko nito though I was still in shock.

He's right. May kailangan pa nga akong gawin ngayon. There's no time for me to waste here dahil lang sa nangyari sa kanila dahil hindi ko naman kasalanan 'yon..

Wala akong kasalanan dito.. wala..

Hindi naman ganun ang balak namin.

Pulling down my suit jacket, I quickly followed Enrico to the incident zone--sa wasak na wasak na sasakyan ng mga Romero.

Pagkalapit namin, I couldn't help but take a look at the people inside the carwreck.

Two bloodied people were limply sitting at the front seats, smeared with blood and shards of glasses were stuck on their faces and all other upper body parts. Hindi gumagalaw ang mga ito and I don't think they were even breathing right now given with their critical state. Same condition as the young girl who were sitting at the backseat. Malala rin ang sitwasyon nito ngayon.

Napapailing-iling na lamang ako while looking at the family.

"Check them out." Utos ko na agad kay Enrico sabay lapit sa may likurang upuan ng sasakyan.

He quickly nodded and complied by opening the car door at the driver seat. Pagkabukas nito, he quickly check each of their pulse at the side of their neck. First it was Nickandro's and then his wife's.

"They're dead!"

Hindi na'ko nabigla pa sa balitang 'yon dahil malabo naman talagang mabuhay pa ang mga ito sa tindi ng mga natamo nitong sugat.

Ayoko mang patayin ang pamilyang 'to but I guess that's how it is, katapusan na talaga ng pamilyang 'to at-------

"Mmmomm.... " That low sobbing sound from the backseat pulled me out of my thoughts.

Just hearing that sound, I guess I was wrong to assume na tapos na ang pamilyang 'to. There's still this young girl trying to survive from this accident.

Agad namang napalingon sa'kin si Enrico pagkarinig sa boses nito habang halatang natataranta ito.

"Buhay pa ang bata sir. Should I just kill her now? Baka makita nya tayo rito.." tarantang saad nito ng pabulong.

I know he's worried na baka makita nya kami at baka isumbong kami nito sa pulis but I don't think she can do that dahil sa lala ng kondisyon nito, malabong mabuhay pa ito.

Shaking my head at him, binuksan ko na lamang ang pintuan sa tabi ng bata. Duguan ito but tears kept falling on her cheeks while silently sobbing with closed eyes.. I checked her pulse at mahinang mahina na ang pulso nito so killing her is pointless dahil parang hirap na hirap na rin naman itong makahinga ngayon.

"We don't need to kill her, she's dying after all.." I informed Enrico who sighed in relief after hearing that.

"Have you check his pockets? Baka dala-dala nya ang file na'yon ngayon , Enrico."

"I'll check it, sir." He answered before he check every pockets Nickandro had in him.

I just hope he had it with him now dahil ayokong matagalan pa'ko sa paghahanap nun with his death. Walang ibang nakakaalam nun kundi ito lang kaya----

"I don't think he had it with him sir. Walang laman ang mga bulsa nya kaya tingin ko hindi nya ito dala-dala sa ngayon."

That announcement made me cursed out under my breath, suddenly frustrated with it.

Oh hell no... Ito na nga bang sinasabi ko! Now I'm doomed!

"Natingnan mo na ba lahat ng gamit nya, Enrico? What about his luggage? Nacheck mo na rin ba?" I asked in aggravation before I closed the car door beside me.

"I'll try sir." Agad sa sagot nito saka tumalima. Opening the car trunk and the luggages inside. It only took them a few minutes before he had closed the cartrunk.

"Wala sir. Walang ibang nandito sa mga bagahe nila. Just their clothes and nothing else. Mukhang naisahan nya tayo sir."

Again, napapamura na'ko ng todo dahil sa balitang 'yon. Now there's only Ronaldo del Fuero na syang pwedeng makapagturo sa'kin kung nasaan ang pesteng file na'yon!

"Tingin ko kailangan na nating umalis sir before anyone could spot us here."

That cut off my frustrating thoughts. Kahit ito man ay mukhang dismayado rin ngayon.

Blowing out a breath, I massaged my temple out of frustrations while throwing a sharp glare at the unconscious Nickandro inside the car.

This would've been my great opportunity para mabawi ang file na'yon kung hindi lang sana ganito katinik ang gagong to! Kung hindi lang----

"We have to go now, Sir. Hindi pwedeng makita tayo rito ng ibang tao." Enrico suggested again with uneasiness glint in his eyes.

Halatang nag-aalala ito.

He's right. Hindi pwedeng may makakita samin dito.

Glancing at the unconscious people inside the car for the last time, bumuntong-hininga na lamang ako saka agad ng tumalima at naglakad palapit sa sasakyan namin with Enrico tailing behind me.

"Tingin mo ba maniniwala ako agad sa kwento mong 'to, Enriquez?" Ang tanong na'yon ang pumukaw sa'kin mula sa ala-alang 'yon. Desperation marred on his face.

"Maaaring gawa-gawa mo lang ang kwentong 'to to get you out of this mess." Cameron spat with sarcasm which made me glared at him in annoyance. Halatang hindi parin ito naniniwala sa mga sinabi ko.

I could really kill this bastard in no time.

"You can believe whatever you'd want to believe, Cameron pero yon ang totoo. Hindi ako ang pumatay kay Nickandro." I hissed in between with gritted teeth.

"Hindi ko kasalanan 'yon--"

"Then sino?"

That cut me off when he suddenly asked that.

"Kung hindi ikaw at hindi mo tauhan ang nagmamaneho ng truck na'yon then sino, Enriquez? Sino ang bumangga sa kanila??" He sounded sarcastic but with how dark his glare at me, alam kong naguguluhan ito.

"Hindi ko alam, Del Fuero. Hindi ko alam kung sino ang nagmamaneho ng sasakyan na'yon. Mabilis ang mga pangyayari kaya hindi namin namukhaan ang nagmamaneho nito."

"It could be someone's doing, Cameron." Our gazes instantly shifted to my son when he suddenly blurted that out.

"Maaaring sinadyang banggain ng sasakyan na'yon ang sinasakyan nila." He continued while looking at us with no nonsense in his face.

"And how certain you are na kagagawan nga 'yon ng ibang tao at hindi ng papa mo, Charles?"

My son just straightened up on his seat with unaffected look.

"Gaya ng sabi ni papa, nagmamadaling tumakas ang sasakyan na'yon so no doubt someone was after them other than papa."

"Huh! Are you saying na naniniwala ka sa mga sinasabi niya, Charles? Na ibang tao ang may kasalanan at hindi mga tauhan nya? How fascinating..."came his sarcastic remark which made me growled at him.

Wala na talaga itong ibang gustong sisihin kundi ako. This bastard!

"Believe it or not , wala na'kong pakialam, Del Fuero. Nasabi ko na sa'yo ang totoo. And if you're saying na mga bata ko ang may gawa nun, I can assure you that Enrico won't do such thing without my command."

"Oh yes. Enrico.. your trusted assistant.."

I frowned when he sarcastically answered while nodding his head, as if an idea suddenly came into his mind at the mention of Enrico.

"Gaano mo pala kakilala ang mga bata mo, Enriquez? Kilalang-kilala mo ba sila para pagkatiwalaan mo?"

"Anong ibig mong sabihin?" Nalilitong tanong ko rito.

"Simple lang naman, Enriquez. Your trusted assistant would do anything you'd tell him to do kaya ba't hindi kaya natin tanungin ang bata mong 'yon? Let's ask him kung ano talagang nangyari nung araw na'yon."

"Sinasabi mo bang may kinalaman rito si Enrico, Del Fuero?"

"No." He quickly answered with a shrug. "I'm just giving you a suggestion to evalute your trusted men, Enriquez. Malay mo, pwede mo palang isisi sa taong 'yon ang lahat."

That made me growled more at him. Halatang nang-aasar ito. Halata ring hindi parin ito naniniwala sa mga sinabi ko. Charles just keep silent on his seat habang nakikinig sa'ming dalawa.

"Enrico would never do that."

When I pointed that out, the bastard just gave me a nonchalant shrug and then got up from his seat.

"You can say that. I'm leaving now." Saad nito before he took his leave, leaving me irked with what he had said.

Talagang alam na alam ng taong 'yon kung pa'no painitin ang ulo ko. After throwing all those insults at me, he even have the gall to drag Enrico into this!