45: Those Laughs

SAM'S POV

I frowned when after an hour of just driving through the highway, his car had finally stopped before the gigantic steel gate. So high that you couldn't even see what was behind that gate.

Pero kahit hindi ko pa makita 'yon, I already have an idea kung anong nasa likod nito.

The other side of the world. Joke.

Malay natin lungga pala ito ng gago. Wala namang ibang bahay dito and just some trees and trees and this gate. Buti nalang maraming puno rito kaya kahit ang init ng panahon ngayon, malamig parin ang paligid.

And good thing I've got an extra Jacket from my car so it was all fine except my legs.

Shaking my head, I took another glance at my outfit.

It's fine, Sam. It's just fine. Atleast you still have something to wear today.

After a few seconds of just waiting outside, the gate had slowly opened on its own and then a wide heavenly landscape came into view.

Heck! Anong lugar to???!

A wide flower field was there. Sunflowers, roses, orchids, and many more. Just name it and can find it here. I couldn't even count it dahil sa dami nito. Pero ang mas pumukaw ng atensyon ko was the slightly zigzag road at the center of the field patungo sa malaking mansion sa dulong bahagi ng farm, approximately 30 meters away from us.

It was a Mediterranean style mansion pero nagmumukhang luma at walang kabuhay-buhay ito mula rito with its fading cream color.

No doubt, this must be Liam's manor at the center of a flower farm. Hindi naman mag-aaksaya ang gagong del Fuero na'to to even spend his fortune to built something like this

I bet he'd rather built a nipa hut kaysa gumastos ng kahit singko para lang sa bahay na'to.

Just so impossible.

Shaking those thoughts off my head, I just continued staring at the view with awe. Mouth hang agape and amazed eyes just glued to it.

Just bloody wow! I didn't know I could still see something like this that was just distance from the city.

"Welcome back, Sir Cameron!"

My eyes were snapped to the intercom na nasa gilid ng gate where that voice of a man came from.

Wooh.. so may nakatira pala rito and wait--- sir? Why would they address him like that if this was owned by----

Napatigil agad ako when I thought about it again.

Sir? If they're calling him like that, then this means---

"Move now, Ms. Javier! They're not going to wait for you to lock this gate now! So move! Faster!."

His voice pulled me out from my thoughts then looked at him na ahead, peeking through out his car window with angry look in his eyes and waving his hand at me as a command to follow his lead.

Shit! Focus, Sam! Wag ka namang ignorante! It was just some flowers and a house my goodness! It wasn't like you haven't seen something like this in your whole life.

Hindi naman talaga ah. And it's not just some house, Sam. It's a huge mansion surrounded with a field of flowers to you.

I rolled my eyes when my smartass mind corrected that.

Yeah yeah yeah. Tama. Mansion nga ito with a garden as wide as Mr. Del Fuero's earthsized-ego.

I quickly followed his car when his car started to move forward. Nang tuluyan ng makapasok sa lugar na'yon ang sasakyan ko, agad namang sumara ang malaking gate sa likuran ko.

Then his car started to move towards the mansion. I just followed him while trying not to gape at the view around me.

I don't know kung anong ginagawa namin rito but one thing is for sure, this place was no doubt owned by this bastard. That man from the intercom a while ago won't call him 'sir' if he's not.

So does this mean, dito nakatira ang gagong to?

Hmm. Mukha nga naman. At kung bahay niya nga ito, ilang babae na kaya ang dinala niya rito?

Nang maisipan yon, I was suddenly reminded with the issue of him not going home last night.

I think I would die anytime with my curiousities until I found out the truth.

Nang tuluyan na kaming makarating sa harap ng bahay, agad nakong lumabas ng sasakyan ko and then headed to his car before he could even get out from the driver's seat.

"Mr. Del Fuero." I greeted while holding the car door beside him, stopping him to get away from being confronted.

"What?" He snapped with a disapproval glare.

"Pwede ko na bang malaman ngayon kung saan ka pumunta kagabi? Talaga bang magkasama kayong dalawa ni Gloria kagabi?"

His brow instantly quirked up to the side while giving me a look that I have gone out of my sane mind.

"Lubayan mo'ko, Ms. Javier. I have no time for your nonsense so move away now." Matigas na saad nito saka agad ng itinulak pabukas ang pinto but heck, there's no way he'd get out from here without giving what I want.

The right answer...

Before he could even open the door, I quickly pushed it closed which caused him to make a disapproval groan habang matalim na nakatingin sa'kin.

"WHAT.ARE.YOU.DOING??!" Galit na tanong nito while emphasizing each word.

I just shrugged at him and then leaned down to his car door with no nonsense look on my face.

"Lulubayan lang kita if you'll answer my question. Just your answer. I'm just dying to know your answer."

His face darkened in an instant. Obviously annoyed with me taking him held.

"So ano na? Where were you last night? Are you really with that bitch?"

"It's none of your business kaya umalis kana diyan----"

"No. I don't care if it wasn't my business. I'm just curious to know about it. So give me an answer now." Pangungulit ko pa rin rito while still holding the car door.

"And why would you want to know that, Ms. Javier? Ano bang pakialam mo kung umuwi nga'ko kagabi o hindi? It's my life kaya pwede kong gawin ang lahat ng gusto kong gawin sa buhay ko. Alis na!" Pangtataboy pa nito saka bubuksan na naman sana nito ang pintuan but to his utter annoyance, I'm quick enough to stop it again.

"Ms. Javier!" He hissed out, now looking more annoyed than ever. Glaring up at me with a promising look in his eyes. Apromise to bury me below his mansion I won't leave him off.

Oh. As if takot ako dun. Tulungan ko pa itong maghukay para sa magiging libingan ko, hmp!

"I'll just leave you off once you'll give me an answer, Mr. Del Fuero. I'm just really curious kung saan ka nga pumunta kagabi."

"Bakit? Interesado kana ba sa'kin ngayon kaya gusto mong malaman kung nasaan ako kagabi? And if I was really with Gloria last night, eh ano naman ngayon? Nagseselos ka ba?"

My eyes almost popped out of my socket at that question with me unable to shield myself from that.

Nagseselos???!

"I AM NOT!" Mabilis pa sa kidlat na sagot ko ritoo, shocked with that.

This arrogant bastard!

"I am not interested to you at mas lalong hindi ako nagseselos! I am just curious to know kung nasaan ka kagabi and just that! Nothing else and nothing more!"

Hindi! Hindi! Hindiiiii!!! Curious lng talaga ako and just that!

Giit ko pa sa isip ko, not wanted to consider his words. Hindi naman talaga ako interesado sa gagong 'to. I was just curious para asarin ito if he was indeed with Gloria last night.

I glared at him when he just let out a mocking scoff while shaking his head, a small smirk peeking through the side of his mouth. Halatang iniinis talaga ako ng gago.

Grrrr!!

"Then good. It wasn't the answer anyway kaya alis na."

"Ohh.."

I don't know why I suddenly felt relieve when he said that.

And when pushed open the car door, hinayaan ko na lang ito and just stepped backward to make a way for him.

"Enough with this nonsense confrontation, Ms. Javier. You will never get an answer from me hangga't hindi mo inaamin sa'kin that 'you' and that same brat before."

At the mention of that issue again, I quickly straightened up on my feet then avoid his eyes.

Here we go again, back to that damn incident! Shit!

"I'm not that brat." Mabilis na sagot ko sa kanya pagkasabi nya dun. Saying it like I was reciting a tongue twister sa harap ng klase, causing his brow to shot up while giving me a probing look.

Talagang hindi parin nito binibili ang pagsisinungaling ko sa kanya.

"Hindi talaga ako ang batang yon. I'm sure I was way more beautiful than that brat. Mas mabuting pumasok na tayo sa bahay mo. I realized na hindi ko na pala gustong malaman kung saang lupalop ka man pumunta kagabi. Let's go now." Saad ko na lamang saka nauna ng naglakad patungo sa malaking pintuan ng mansion without even looking back at him.

Alam kong nakamasid lang ito sa'kin, throwing a probing glare at the back of my head. I just ignored it and just headed straight to the door with stiffed back.

Bago pa man ako nakarating sa harap ng pintuan, I felt him followed my lead.

"By the way, Ms. Javier..."

"What?" I asked without even glancing at him beside me.

"Give me back my phone now."

At the mention of his phone, I suddenly remembered it na hindi ko pa pala naibalik 'yon sa kanya.

With stiff body, I quickly took it out from my pocket sa jacket ko and then handed it to his way without turning to his way.

I can feel his stares at me pero hindi ko na pinansin 'yon and just kept my eyes at the door only before us.

After a few seconds, agad na naman nitong kinuha ang phone mula sa kamay ko which made me sigh in relief.

I was about to knock at the door pero bago ko paman magawa 'yon, the door had automatically opened and then a man in a casual attire came into view.

I thought I would be seeing a bunch of maids here in uniform na syang sasalubong sa'min pero wala naman akong nakikitang ganun ngayon. Just this old man who seems excited to see my company right now.

"Good morning, Sir Cameron. Mabuti naman at napadalaw kayo rito." Bungad pa nito with a wide smile in his face.

Napadalaw? I thought this was his house? Hindi ba naglalagi rito ang gago na'to?

The bastard just nodded at him in acknowledgement saka dirediretso ng pumasok with his no nonsense look in his face. Not even a 'hello' to the old man.

"Magtatagal po ba kayo rito, sir? Ipapahanda ko na----"

"I won't be long here, Austin. May kailangan lang akong tingnan dito sandali." The bastard coldly answered without even looking back at the man saka dirediretso na sa malaking hagdanan sa gitna patungo sa ikalawang palapag ng bahay.

Austin just nodded at him with a smile still pasted on his lips as his eyes followed him. Excitement was still visible in his eyes. As if he was used to this cold treatment.

When Austin looked at my way, I just gave him a tight smile and a curt nod before I followed Mr. Del Fuero.

Paakyat na sana ako sa unang baitang ng hagdan when he suddenly halted and surprising me when he suddenly turned around with his raised eyebrow.

"What?" Agad na usisa ko dito, confused with him.

"Stay here, Ms. Javier. I'll just call you once I need your assistance later."

"Stay here?" Kunot noong tanong ko rito, unable to understand him.

"At ano naman kayang gagawin ko rito while you're up there doing God knows what? Alam mo namang hindi ako pumunta rito to just sit idly at hayaan ka nalang na gawin ang gusto mo. We are into this, remember? Kaya kung ano man 'yang gagawin mo, kailangang isama mo'ko---."

"Just stay here or outside if you want, Ms. Javier. Gawin mo ang gusto mong gawin dito but just stay where I wanted you to be now. Saglit lang ako." Then with that, he turned on his heels saka dali dali ng umakyat ng hagdan with his back still in his usual ramrod posture.

This shit! Gusto pa talagang gawin akong guard niya rito.

"Mr. Del Fuero! Ano ba talaga ang gagawin mo diyan?? Alam mong hindi ako sumama---"

"Just shut up, Ms. Javier! I won't be long! Austin will guide you to the kitchen o sa kahit saan mo gusto."

Then with that, the bastard left to the second floor without even glancing back at me.

That shit! Ano pa't dinala niya'ko rito if he won't take me with him upstairs!

Wala na'kong ibang nagawa but to scowl and cursed him out in my mind.

I hope that bastard would trip on his feet pagbaba niya mamaya ng hagdan! Tignan natin kung anong mangyayari sa kanya. It would be a very interesting sight to see if his brain would splattered all over his grandeur stairs and-----

"Miss? Okay ka lang ba?"

That made me snapped from my evil thoughts. I turned to the smiling Austin beside me na hindi ko man lang napansing lumapit sakin.

I just nodded at him as an answer with a tight smile on my face na sinuklian naman nito ng isang totoong ngiti.

"Mas mabuti pang itour nalang kita sa palapag na'to, miss. I'm sure you will like what you'll see here. Let's head to the kitchen first nang makakain ka na muna."

At the mention of food, my stomach loudy rumbled inside me, now reminding me that I hadn't had anything this morning.

Oh God! Nakakahiya!

Austin just smiled in awe, obviously hearing my rumbling stomach.

Napapangiwing napapangiti na lamang ako rito.

"To the kitchen then." Saad pa nito saka iginiya na' nya'ko patungo sa kanang bahagi ng palapag na'yon while still smiling at me.

I just stiffly nodded and followed him.

Kapalan na ng mukha ito. This was that Bastard's fault anyway kaya tumutunog tong mga alaga ko ngayon. Good thing I am hungry right now so I'll just let him do what he want right now.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CAMERON's POV

I frowned when I rummaged the last drawer of my father's table in his office and found nothing but just some of his documents.

Kanina pa'ko naghahalungkat sa mga gamit niya rito. From his cabinets, wardrobes, drawers, shelves in his room and even in his office but I couldn't still find anything that could help me find that damn file.

Alam kong wala naman talaga 'tong kinalaman sa kasong ipinaparatang nila kay papa, pero dahil may kutob akong may mas malaking estorya pa behind that file, I guess I have to search for that now with her.

With Ms. Javier.

At the thought of her, I clenched my teeth as I was suddenly reminded with that brat.

Isa pa ang babaeng 'yon! How could she deny that to my face when I am certain that she was that brat!

Just looking at her reaction earlier, alam kong naaalala niya ang insidenteng 'yon.

The clenching of my teeth intensified.

Dumadagdag pa ang tarantadong Liam na'yon! How could he tell her na hindi nga ako umuwi kagabi!

That idiot!

"Are you perhaps with Gloria last night kaya hindi ka umuwi kagabi sa bahay mo and just stayed with that bitch..."

I frowned again when her words rang through my head.

And why would she think I'd go to that woman last night when I have more important thing to do than that woman?

Napailing-iling na lamang ako when I thought about that and just sat down at the swivel-chair behind my father's desk while blowing out a deep sigh.

Saan ko ba maaaring makita ang file na'yon? Maaari nga kayang wala rito ang bagay na 'yon at nasa kaibigan niya lang? Pero saan naman kaya 'yon itinago ng kaibigan nito? Her daughter hadn't even have any idea kung saan ito nakatago so how could I possibly find it now? I have even sneaked inside his house last night habang tulog na tulog na ito but still, wala pa rin akong nakita roon.

And even in his office, wala rin naman akong ibang makita roon that I think would be helpful for this case. Just that family photo ng mga Romero.

Again, I blew out an exhausted sigh as I leaned my back against my seat.

I just stayed like that for awhile habang patingin-tingin lang sa buong silid na'to.

Hindi pa rin ito nagbago even after a decade had passed. Austin had make sure to maintain this house as what it was before.

Large paintings and antique furnitures were still in there. And all shelves at the corner were still intact with books. Some of his photos with my mother were still there and some of it were on his table.

Matagal-tagal na rin nong huli akong pumunta rito. And it was a few days after his burial when I hide in here from the media.

And Just looking at his table now before me, I could still remember him sitting on this very chair na inuupuan ko ngayon habang kunut ang mga noo nitong nakaharap sa mga papel, quite busy with it.

My attention were caught when I noticed the 6x6 photo frame on the table. A familiar photo of a young man was in it na kinunan noong nasa labas pa'ko ng bansa. A picture of me in a maroon robe while receiving my masteral diploma in Business management in Canada.

With furrowed brows, dinampot ko na ang frame na 'yon and then stared at the photo.

I didn't know that he had kept this photo here. Hindi ito nakapunta nung araw na 'yon kaya akala ko wala itong pakialam sa kung anumang nangyayari sa buhay ko.

Ronaldo del Fuero was like that. He wasn't like any normal father na laging nasa tabi ng kanyang anak to support him.

He was strict and prefer to show his role being a father by diciplining me, by making me do what he wanted for me to be. To take over the business. And good thing I was into business as well so following his order wasn't that hard to do.

I guess dad was just like that. Kahit na hindi nito ipinapakita na proud ito sa'kin, alam kong ipinagmamalaki niya parin ako bilang anak niya.

A bitter smile curved up in my lips as I kept staring at that photo. And then after awhile of just staring at it, ibinaba ko na ang bagay na'yon. I was about to lean my back against the seat when something caught my eye.

Something na nasa pinakababang bahagi ng litrato.

What's this?

With my forehead creases in curiosities, dinampot ko na naman uli ito and then studied it closely.

Isang maliit na papel?

I took a close look at it again and yes, confirmed! Papel nga iyon.

At dahil sa liit nito, hindi mo agad mapapansin ito because it was purposely folded as many times as it could possibly be.

And why would this be here inside this photo frame?

Out of curiosities, I quickly disassembled the photo frame without giving it a thought.

Pagkatapos kung i-disassemble ito, my frown deepened when it wasn't just one photo in that frame but two. And the funny thing here now is that it wasn't my picture anymore but my father's and----some unfamiliar---no, I think I know this face just recently.

And I think that recently was just today. And I couldn't be mistaken with my suspicion.

And To confirm that, I quickly fished out the old family photo of the Romeros that I have found from their house. Alam kong hindi magandang kunin ko ang bagay na'to but as long as Ms. Javier won't admit it na sya nga ang batang sumipa sa'kin noon, I won't give this back to her.

I quickly compared the photos and no doubt, It was indeed Mr. Romero ang siyang kasama ni papa sa litrato.

They were in their casual outfits habang nakataas ang kamay niya as he turned his head to his side, probably to cover his face from the camera lense. Samantalang nakasandal naman rito ang kasama nito sa nakaparadang sasakyan sa likuran nila with folded arms while looking at my father with a small smirk at the side of his mouth and amusement visible in his eyes. Mukhang kinunan ang litratong yon sa harapan mismo ng isang establishment since I can see a blurry signboard displayed behind them.

"LA Ca---"

I can't help but cursed out dahil sa panghihinayang nang kalahati lang nito ang nakunan.

LA Ca-what?

At saan naman kaya kinunan ito? And who could have taken this photo?

Hindi ko maiwasang mapaisip na lamang but the more I think about it, the more I get frustrated with all of this.

Blowing out a sigh, I took the small paper na siyang pakay ko.

Binuklat ko na agad ang papel na'yon and I was right, it was indeed a one-eight sized paper that were being folded many times.

My brows creases more than ever when I was created with a handwritten cryptic code.

'MJ.Bpg-206'

This could be something useless or ano. And I think I could have a headache with this. Dahil kahit na anong titig ang gawin ko rito while trying to decode it, hindi ko parin maintindihan kung ano ito.

Ibinalik ko na lamang sa dati nitong ayos ang frame nito and studied it again closely.

But when still, there was nothing came in mind, tumayo na lamang ako sa kinauupuan ko. I picked up the family photo and slid it inside my suit jacket saka agad ng lumabas mula sa silid na'yon.

Pagkababa ko ng hagdan, agad na'kong dumiretso sa may kusina where I had instructed Austin to take Ms. Javier. That darn woman na walang alam gawin kundi painitin ang ulo ko.

"Ginawa niya talaga 'yon?"

"Ahuh.."

I frowned when I heard them talk nang papasok na'ko sa may kusina. As if they were already that close to have a comfortable talk like this.

I halted with my steps when suddenly, I heard her chuckled. Those soft chuckles which I had never heard from her before.

As if she was too amused with something. And it wasn't so her. Dahil hindi naman ito ngumingiti at mas lalong hindi ito tumatawa until now.

Hindi ko alam kung anong ginagawa ko but hearing her soft laugh for the first time just tempted me now to take a peek at them.. Wanted to know kung anong pinagkakaabalahan ng mga ito.

With folded arms, I leaned my side at the wall beside me and then took a peek through them and there she was, just laughing at everything Austin would say with a slice of sweet cakes at the table before them, oblivious with my presence.

Halatang enjoy na enjoy nga ang mga to. I don't know what was on this woman but I can't just help but stared at her. With her cheeks na namumulamula na dahil sa katatawa nito, she was obviously enjoying this. She just kept popping cakes on her mouth habang maluha-luha paring tumatawa.

I didn't know I could ever get to see her like this. It was very far from the woman na lagi kong nakikita. The sarcastic and hot-tempered woman.

So only Austin could make her laugh like this. Habang sa'kin, she couldn't even give me a real smile.

At the thought of that, napailing-iling na lamang ako while I just stayed there just staring at her.

I wonder kung anong pinag-uusapan ng dalawang 'to. This bullheaded woman won't just react this way kung wala naman magandang dahilan.

"Ohhh... So ganun pala.." saad pa nito when her laugh died down while nodding her head. Looking as if she had finally understand something.

I wonder what was that.

My brows now almost overlapping each other with how curious I was to know what they were talking about.

"So Mr. Del Fuero had almost drown himself before dahil sa kayabangan nito. Serves him well!"

At the mention of my name, I felt like I was being lit in my butt that made me straightened up on my feet as understanding instantly dawn on me.

These --- these people!

So all this time ako lang pala yong pinag-uusapan ng dalawang to!!!

The want to sack them now took over me as I glared at them who were now laughing at my expense.

~~~~~~~~~~