37: It's now or never!

CAMERON's POV

Pagkasabi ko dun, Max's brows almost overlapped at each other while looking at me in confusion. But after a while na hindi ako umimik, tumango na lamang ito though he was still confused with my sudden behavior.

Atty. Maximillian Castro, the only person I've trusted to handle my father's cold case. At sa edad na 41, hindi na mabilang ang mga kasong naipanalo nito. And my father had known himso I know I can trust him.

Pagkalapag ng eroplano kanina, I just drove off straight to my home and then set an appointment with him para makipagkita rito.

At eto nga, he said the information na nakalap nito tungkol sa kaso ni papa.

Kahit na gusto kong tingnan na ngayon din ang mga video footages na'yon, but no. I still have something to handle right now.

Something that was related to that something hidden inside that huge box na nasa tabi ng pintuan ngayon.

Kung hindi ako nagkakamali sa nahagip ng mga mata ko kanina, someone had sneak in

here.

I glared at that box again, suspecting that thing na hindi lang ako namamalikmata kanina sa nakita ko.

Then my eyes shifted to the CD rack. There were some missing CD tapes in it, so I'm certain someone had took it. At wala namang ibang pwedeng pagtaguan sa silid na'to kundi ang bagay na yan lang.

"Just call me when you already have a name and address of that man in the video, Max. For now, may---"

I was suddenly interrupted with a knock on the door and then the door opened, revealing The white haired man and four young men behind him.

"Good morning sir. Nandito na po sila para kunin ang mga kahon, Sir." He greeted sabay turo sa malaking box na nasa gilid ng pintuan.

Interesting. Now, whoever pest was in there, talagang malikintikan sa'kin.

"You can take that out now, Henry. Dalhin mo yan sa tambakan ng basura sa likod."

The men just nodded saka nagsimula ng buhatin ang nasabing box with great effort. Halatang nabibigatan ang mga ito.

Then my suspicion was right. There's something in that box!

Probably some pest na nagmamatyag sa mga kilos ko. Sa progress ng case na'to.

Napakuyom na lang ako ng mga kamay when our conversation with Max in his office replayed in my head.

"Nasa papa mo ang mga nawawalang video footages nang mangyari ang krimen na'yon, Cameron. He was able to get that from someone na siyang kumuha nun."

That made me jolted up from my seat as my eyes widened in shock.

"What nonsense are you spouting now, Max? Bakit mapupunta sa kanya ang mga yon when he had no reason to keep it from the police?"

"Just calm down, boy. Hindi pa'ko tapos sa sasabihin ko sa'yo so calm your horses down there." Kalmadong saad nito as he motioned me with his hand to sit again which I complied.

"Continue. "

He nodded saka nagpatuloy.

"Base sa source ko, your dad had hired someone para makuha yon sa kung sino man ang nagnakaw nun."

"Someone?"kunot-noo kong tanong sa kanya, now totally piqued with it.

"Yes. Someone na pinagkakatiwalaan niya and you know what's very interesting to it, Cameron?"

I didn't opened my mouth when he paused at nanatili lang tahimik to let him continue his tale na tingin ko nakuha naman nito.

"Dahil sa mismong cafè naming ito sila parating nagkikita ng taong 'yon when they need to meet up and talk."

That made my brows furrowed more, slightly confused and shocked with it.

"At san mo naman nakuha ang mga impormasyong 'to, Max? Is it legit? Baka naman----

"Of course it's legit, Cameron. It was after all came from my father. The person who were here and fortunately witnessed your father talking with that man." He pointed out.

I just nodded my head at that. His father was the former owner of this cafè, at nang magretiro ito, siya na ang naatasang magpatakbo nito though he was almost out of town at halos hindi na makapunta rito dahil narin sa trabaho nito.

"So it was possible na makilala nya ang mukha ng taong yon if he ever see him again, ganun ba?"

"Yes. It's possible." he replied with a nod then straightened his body and clasped his hand on his table. " pero pwede na ring hindi."

"And how do you propose to find that man then?"

My brow quirked up when a smirk appeared in his mouth. Like he already had an idea in his mind.

"Natrace ko na kung kailan nangyari ang pag-uusap nilang yon at nareview ko na rin ang mga video footages na nakuha namin dito sa cafe, and fortunately! We were able to see his face. Hinihintay ko nalang ang tawag mula sa tauhan ko to give me the name and address ng taong yon."

When Max's words echoed in my head again, excitement surged through me. Excited and satisfied with the progress of this case. But at the same time, disturbed with that pest inside that box na kasalukuyang binubuhat ng mga empleyado ni Max palabas dito.

He better be ready if I ever caught him now.

Then with gritted teeth, agad nakong nagtungo sa may pintuan and then opened it, but before I shut it, I turned to Max.

"I'll go now, Max. Just update me when you have a new info with you." Then without waiting for his reply, agad nakong umalis dun saka sinundan ang mga empleyado nito carrying the damn box with difficulties.

-------------

SAM's POV

I was able to let out a sigh of relief nang huminto ang pagkakayugyog ng box. Meaning, tapos na'kong buhatin ng mga taong yon and possibly, nailapag na nila ako sa basurahan.

That Cameron shit! Kung hindi lang sana ito excited to dump this box, my hide out, edi sana mas marami pa'kong narinig sa mga pinag-uusapan nila!

It seems confidential the way they had talked about it.

Hindi na muna ako agad lumabas sa kahon na'yon, not until I'm 100% sure na wala ng tao sa labas and I'm free to sneak out of here without being seen.

And when I feel na wala na ngang tao at tuluyan ng nakaalis ang mga ito, I slowly peek my head outside and when I confirmed no one was around, I quickly got up on my feet saka mabilis pa sa alas kwatro na lumabas sa kahong yon sabay pagpag sa suot ko.

"Thank God! Nakalabas din sa -----"

"So it was you."

When I heard that from behind, I whirled around on my feet and I froze. I froze as my eyes turned wide when I spotted him just a few meters from here at halatang kalalabas lang mula sa pintong nasa tabi nito. Probably the back door?

Oh-oh.

"H-How did you---?"

"Anong ginagawa mo rito? Minamatyagan mo na naman ba'ko, Ms. Javier like what you have done before??!"

With how his dark eyes was glaring at me right now, I think patay lahat ng insektong nandito.

I swallowed hard when he started to walk toward me. Walking like a steel fencing post wearing his usual immaculate navy blue suit.

This isn't good. Kailangan ko ng makaalis dito before this bastard could even interrogate me kung anong ginagawa ko rito and why I was hiding in that box.

With that instinct, I quickly slip and secured the CD tapes inside my waistband before I quickly stepped back and then turned on my heels for an escape.

There's no way I'd tell him what I was doing in here!

I was about to sprint a run to my car na nasa harapan ng building na 'yon, but before I could even make a single step, a strong hand was unfortunately grope my arm, stopping me to make my escape.take a flight

Shit!!

"Where do you think you're going? You think na pababayaan lang kita na makatakas mula rito without telling me what the hell you were doing up there???!" He hissed in a firm loud voice.

"I wasn't spying on you okay? Ang swerte mo naman ano kung gagawin ko yon sa'yo. Ano bang mapapala ko kung pagmamatyagan kita aber?? I was there for something else!"inis na sagot ko sa kanya while trying to take my arm off his iron grip.

Pero imbes na matanggal ko 'yon, mas lalo pa itong humigpit. Bweset

"At tingin mo ba maloloko mo'ko diyan? Malay natin. Isa ka narin pala sa mga taong gustong magpatumba sa'kin."

My blood instantly boiled up at that ridiculous assumption.

How could he!

"And why do you think na gagawin ko yon sa'yo, Mr. Del Fuero? Tingin mo ba may plano akong agawin mula sa'yo ang pesteng yaman mo? Well, flash news! Sa'yo na lahat ng yaman mo dahil wala akong balak na agawin 'yon sa'yo! Isaksak mo pa yan sa baga't maitim na atay mo!"

His dark gaze at me intensified the moment I'd uttered that with great passion. I can clearly see his nostrils flaring out now, halatang handa ng sumabog sa inis.

"Kung hindi 'yon ang dahilan,..." I glared back at him when he trailed that off.

"Then why are you here hiding in that box, Ms. Javier? Ano pa bang dahilan mo why you were illegally sneaking like some stray cat inside someone's property?"

I growled when I heard how he had called me. Pero kahit gusto kong batukan ang gago for comparing me from a stray cat, I opted to just answer him nang makaalis na'ko rito.

"Hindi mo na kailangang malaman yon, Mr. Del Fuero. Tiyak hindi mo rin naman ako maiintindihan why I've done this dahil alam kong sarado na yang utak mo and for sure, you will still insist that I was 'spying on you' when I wasn't! "

"Yes. Sarado na nga ang utak ko and your excuses doesn't make sense!"

"Then why don't you let me go now then? Wala na tayong pag-uusapan ngayon because of course, your granite head was unfortunately closed for any of my excuse." Panunuya kong saad ko rito, wanted to bit his head off now.

I frowned when a mocking smirk suddenly peek through the side of his mouth before he held out his hand to me.

My dirty glare shifted to his hands and then back to him.

"At para saan naman kaya ang kamay mong yan, Mr. Del Fuero? Are you expecting me to cut it as a remembrance? I'd be very glad to do it kung di mo pa alam."

A disapproval groan instantly came out from him sabay bitaw sa'kin in a rather harsh way.

"Alam kong may bagay kang kinuha kanina na hindi mo pagmamay-ari, Ms. Javier. Hand it to me now before I'd call Max's security."

Bigla akong napatigil nang bigla niyang sabihin 'yon.

He knows??

Well, ano pa bang inaasahan mo, Sam? He's Cameron del Fuero and not just some idiot. Sarkastikong komento ng utak ko, causing me to groan. Suddenly frustrated with it.

Damn with him and his instinct!

"Ano? You think hindi ko alam ang tungkol dun? I know how you work, Ms. Javier at kabisado ko na lahat ng mga kilos mo. So hand me the CD tapes now!". He firmly demanded while holding out his hand more to me.

Ah, kabisado mo pala lahat ng kilos ko huh.

I quickly secure the tapes by slipping it more in my waistband of my jeans. Kung kailangan ko pa'tong isuksok sa loob ng panty ko just to secure it, gagawin ko!

Nang gawin ko yon, his gaze followed my movement at saka agad na dumilim ang mukha nito when he understand what I was doing.

That I wasn't planning to surrender it to him.

Huh! Magkamatayan na muna kami before he could even take this from me! Alam kong hindi nya 'ko hahayaang makaalis dito without giving it to him.

"Hand it to me now while I'm still nice, Ms. Javier. I'm warning you." he warned out.

I just smirked at him and then gave him a challenging look.

"No."

His eyes instantly narrowed in a thin slits at that.

"Kung gusto mong kunin ito mula sa'kin, then try to get it from me, Mr. del Fuero." Hamon ko sa kanya with defensive stunt, ready to take a fight.

"Are you sure about this, Ms. Javier? Alam mong hindi na gagana sa'kin ang mga kalokohan mo. You'd be a sorry ass after this." Pang-aasar pa nito sa'kin with voice obviously annoyed.

"Just try me." I firmly replied with no nonsense look in my face.

For a few moment, hindi ito umimik and just stared at me as if he was sizing me up kung seryoso nga ba talaga ako sa hamon ko sa kanya. And when he probably detected nothing, he slowly nodded his head in agreement.

"Then I guess I have to take up your challenge then."

"You better be." Sang-ayon ko rito without taking my defense down. Malay natin, he'd take that as his opportunity para sunggaban ako.

"And then I guess... I have to do this now." Then in a sudden, bigla na lamang nya kong sinunggaban by grabbing my right arm but nope. That won't work.

I quickly smacked his hand away from me and then I raised my other arm to hit him on his face but to my utter disappointment, he was quick enough to deflect it sabay pigil sa braso ko and I grunted when he twisted it to my back. But that wasn't enough to stop me now.

With clenched teeth, I swung my other arm to elbow him on his side but unfortunately, the bastard just groaned at that but never let me go. He just twisted my other arm and then tightly gripped it behind me. Now tightly holding both of my hands behind me like I was some thief being arrested by a cop.

Shit!

"Now I've got you tied and unable to move, Ms. Javier. Tingin mo makakatakas ka pa sa lagay na'to?"pang-aasar na saad nito from behind me and closed to my ear.

I gritted my teeth and tried hard to be let out from his tight grasp.

"Don't be so sure, bastard!" and then with that, I bent down and banged his head with the back of my head. The action surprised him given that his hold suddenly loosened the moment he'd received my headbutt.

Agad na umungol ito and then hissed out with the impact.

Huh! Akala nya siguro hindi ko kayang makipagbasagan ng ulo sa kanya!

Agad na sana akong lalayo sa kanya and sprinted again to my car's location pero bago ko pa man magawa 'yon, his arm suddenly snaked around my waist sabay hila sa'kin paharap sa kanya, prisoning my hands against his chest and stopping me to give him a good strike on his face.

"Not so fast, Ms. Javier."

I growled when I heard him said that with sarcastic tone.

With heavy breathing and clenched teeth, I quickly gave him a kick to his family jewel, pero siyang pagkadismaya ko na lamang when he was able to deflect it with his leg as his arms tightened around my waist, making me unable to make any defensive move.

Triple shit!!!

"I told you na hindi na 'yan gagana sa'kin, Ms. Javier so never attempt that again." He'd sarcastically commented though his face was stillgrimacing.

"Let me go, you shit!"tiim ang mga bagang na sigaw ko rito while trying to get out from his tight hold.

"Wala ka ng magagawa ngayon so now, pwede ko ng kunin ang bagay na hindi dapat nasa sa'yo." Then his hand started to wander around my hips kung saan ko itinago ang mga CD tapes.

No way!

I quickly tried to push him off pero kahit anong pilit ko, the bastard won't even budge.

Make a way out, Sam! Pinaghirapan mong kunin ang bagay na'to kaya wag na wag mong hahayaang kunin to ng gago! This is for your dad!

At the thought of that, the want to secure this tape heightened, now more desperate to solve the long overdued puzzle about his life, his death with my mom.

Nagpatuloy lang ang gago na kapkapan ako and when he felt the tapes in his hands, the devil mockingly smirked down at me sabay taas sa pink jacket na suot ko.

Kailangan kong gumawa ng paraan to escape here no matter what.

Kahit na ang tanging naiisip kong paraan was so stupid and---dangerous for me, I. DON'T. CARE! It's now or never!

Swallowing hard, I stared at him straight to his eyes.

"Don't give me that look now, Ms. Javier. Hindi mo'ko madadala diyan sa drama mo. Hindi bagay sa'yo ang magpaawa." Saad nya with raised brow and a shook of his head

Mas lalo pang umarko ang kilay nito when I just smirked at me.

"You better be ready, Mr. Del Fuero."

"Ready for what? Don't you think na ako ang dapat na magsabi niyan sa'yo because you have nothing----"

Before he could even finish that, hinawakan ko na ang kwelyo ng suot nito and then grabbed him down towards me.

"What are you planning to do, Ms. Javier?" He asked with his eyes wide, obviously surprised with my sudden action.

I just smiled at him and then without giving him a heads up, I quickly took his lips for a kiss.

It's now or never.