96: The Face-off

SAM'S POV

I heaved up a deep breath when I stopped at the side of that familiar road where my nightmare had begun. The exact place where everything had started and should end. At balak kong tapusin ito ngayon mismo.

Unbuckling my seatbelt, agad ko ng inayos ang pagkakatali ng buhok ko before I got out of the car. Cold air greeted me pagkalabas ko palang ng sasakyan.

Scanning the place around, I can't see any car around other than mine. Glancing down at my wristwatch, it says quarter before four in the afternoon. Madalang lang ang mga sasakyan na dumadaan rito lalo na sa mga oras na ito. Only my even breathings and the chirping of birds and trees being swayed by the wind can be heard around. 

Ignoring the time, agad na'kong naglakad papasok sa medyo masukal na bahagi sa gilid ng daang 'yon. Sa lugar malapit sa pinangyarihan ng insidente noon, cautious with my footsteps. Maraming taon na ang nakakalipas mula ng mangyari ang insidenteng 'yon but the scar and the painful memories of it are still fresh.

When memories of that tried to haunt me again, I quickly blocked those thoughts off of my head and continued with my steps until I reached  a clearing kung saan tumilapon ang sasakyan namin noon... a few good meters away from the highway. 

Kailangan kong tatagan ang sarili ko. Kailangan kong labanan ----

I halted with my steps nang may munting kaluskos ng dahon akong narinig sa paligid. It wasn't mine for sure. Dahil ramdam ko narin namang hindi na'ko nag-iisa ngayon rito.

Straightening up myself, I prepared myself for the worst, for the truth, without moving one bit.

When I heard some footsteps behind me, I was about to turn around to find out kung sino nga ba talaga ito but before I could even do that, I heard the clicking sound of a gun again behind me.

"Just stay where you are."

My breath faltered when I heard that voice again. That same voice last night.

He's here. At mukhang nauna pa nga talaga itong dumating rito given that I haven't even heard any car arrived just now.

"Dala-dala mo ba ang hinihingi ko sa'yo?" Tanong agad nito which I know for sure nakatutok parin sa'kin ang baril nito.

He sure knows how to get what he came here for.

"I have it." I answered saka akmang kapa sana ng bulsa ng jacket ko to fish out the SD card inside.

"Stop."

My hands froze when he suddenly barked that out.

"D'You think you can fool me, Ms. Javier? I know you have brought some gun with you. Throw that away first and then give me the file." Matigas pang utos nito which made me sigh.

Now I'm starting to like him.

Agad ko ng hinugot ang baril na nakasuksok sa tagiliran ko and then throw it a few feet away from my right, which to my utter disappointment, agad naman nitong pinulot and probably keep it with him.

Damn it!

"Happy now?" Asar na tanong ko nalang rito while blowing out an exasperated breath. Kahit na nakatalikod ako rito and I can't see his face right now, I can still feel him bobbing his head now in satisfaction.

"Hand me the file."

When I heard that, agad ko ng kinapa ang bulsa ko and then held up the SD card in my hand.

"Nandito sa loob ang file na kailangan mo."

"At pa'no ko malalamang nagsasabi ka nga ng totoo?"came his suspicious question. Talagang alam na alam nito ang ginagawa nito.

"Alam kong alam na alam mo kung anong nangyayari ngayon sa buhay ko. I bet you even know now na kahit si Cameron hindi ko na pwedeng pagkatiwalaan. Wala na'kong ibang pwedeng lapitan ngayon but just you.. Am I wrong?" I answered while tightly holding the file, stopping the pain and my anger to consume my right mind. Especially when I can even feel him smiled in satisfaction now.

"No. You've got a point, Ms. Javier. You only have me to know the truth. Your father and even Cameron del Fuero had deceived you kaya ako nalang ang pwede mong tanungin ngayon."

"Yes." I agreed with a nod as if I was facing him now. "Tama ka. Kaya naman bago ko ibigay sa'yo ang file na'to, gusto kong sabihin mo muna sa'kin ang lahat ng nalalaman mo." I tried to negotiate dahil sa kagustuhang malaman kung anong sasabihin nito but I guess I can't hear it for now when I heard him let out a scoff behind me.

A response which made me grit my teeth as annoyance started to build up in me.

"Wala ka sa tamang posisyon to demand that from me, Ms. Javier." He answered in a mocking tone sabay hablot ng SD card sa kamay ko. A chance that I took para tuluyan ng humarap rito while he was still preoccupied with the file.

"Don't move, Ms. Javier!" Pasigaw na utos pa nito but it was too late to do that now dahil nakaharap ko na ito ngayon.

A sudden gasp escape from me as my eyes bulged out in surprise pagkaharap ko rito. Hindi ko man agad nakilala ang boses nito, hinding-hindi ko naman makakalimutan ang pagmumukha nito.

Ang mukhang 'yon..

"Y-You??!!" I uttered in almost a whisper. Still Unable to recover from shock.

I hadn't even expected I'd be facing this man here. To meet him again after that one meeting at the restaurant before where I had turned down his offer was the last thing on my mind.

Mr. Vista. The impostor.

So this fraud had something to do with all of this. Sinasabi ko na nga ba!!

A groan of disapproval instantly escaped from him habang nakatutok parin ang baril nito sa'kin. I noticed him slid the SD card down in his pocket with him glaring at me.

"I don't think I still need to introduce myself, Ms. Javier. From the look of you, alam kong naaalala mo parin ako. But I guess not my real name anyway---but whatever.. Hindi mo na kailangan pang makilala ako dahil matatapos narin naman ngayon dito ang paghihirap mo.. ."Nakangising saad which made me clenched my hands now.

Dahil sa tono ng pananalita nito, I can tell he was implying to end my life now. And that made me even more furious now. Pero kahit gusto ko ng sabugan ng magma ang pagmumukha nito, I have to stop myself. Not now... Not when I haven't even heard what I came here for.

Inhaling a deep breath, I calmed myself down bago sumagot rito.

"Sabihin mo muna sa'kin ang lahat ng nalalaman mo. Sabihin mo sa'kin kung ano ang totoo and then I'll let you do the pleasure to kill me after that. I just wanted the truth before I'd even die, Mr. Vista... Just the truth.." I begged at him. Not that I'm afraid to die here. I just wanted to at least hear everything before I'd let him kill me.

"Just tell me the truth.. please...You have the file now and I only need the truth..." I begged again as my tears started to sting my eyes.

And I think it was a bit effective because a look of satisfaction and a small smirk appeared on his face. Probably satisfied seeing me beg before him.

"I guess you're right." He agreed with a small nod sabay baba ng baril nito.

"I have to atleast tell you that dahil matagal-tagal mo rin namang hinintay ang pagkakataong ito. Matagal-tagal mo ring hinanap ang taong pumatay sa mga magulang mo when in fact, aksidente lang naman talaga ang nangyari---"

"It wasn't just an accident!"

When I growled that, his smirk widened into a sadist smile while a knowing look glinted in his eyes. As if I had hit the right note.

So I was right.....I was right na hindi aksidente lang ang lahat!

At that discovery, I felt like a sudden lump formed inside my throat. The grinding of my teeth intensified as I tried hard to get a hold of myself kahit na ang hirap nitong gawin lalo na't ngayon alam ko ng tama nga ang hinala ko..

"Well, I have to give you my commendation with that, Ms. Javier. Pinanganak ka ngang imbestigador para malamang hindi nga aksidente lang ang lahat."

"Kung ganun...Sino?? Sino ang may pakana ng lahat ng 'yon, Mr. Vista? Was it Mr. Enriquez? Or was it Cameron's father?? Sino?? Sino sa kanila?" This time, hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili kong mapasigaw rito.. Desperation just overwhelmed me.

It wasn't an accident! At alam ng taong 'to kung sino talaga ang may pakana ng lahat ng ito! Malalaman ko narin sa wakas!

For a while, I hadn't heard him answered right away pero napapakunot nalang ako ng noo dahil imbes na sagot ang maririnig ko mula rito, he suddenly chuckled..As if I had asked him the most stupid question which amused him so much.

"Anong nakakatawa, Mr. Vista? May nakakatawa ba sa tanong ko?" Litong tanong ko rito while gawking at him

He quickly shook his head kahit na nakatawa parin ito. A response which started to annoy and aggravate me more.

"Your father? Cameron's father?" He asked and then again, tumawa na naman ito. An answer which stretches my impatience to end.

"And what made you think na sila ang may pakana ng lahat ng 'yon, Ms. Javier? What made you think that Ronaldo del Fuero would even think about harming his dear friend Nickandro? And on top of that, what made you think your father would even want to kill your aunt Rose---no, I mean your mother's family, Ms. Javier??"

"Kung ganun, sino??" I asked impatiently without cutting off my stare at him. "Sino ang may pakana ng lahat ng 'yon? Was it John Enriquez himself or Cameron's father?? Tell me..." I firmly asked with bated breath dahil sa kaba..

Kinakabahan sa magiging sagot nito..

Even my hands started to get clammy now kaya naman minaigi ko agad na ikuyom ito ng mahigpit.

"I came here and gave you what you want, Mr. Vista kaya naman sana, sabihin mo sa'kin ngayon kung anong nalalaman mo...."

Again, he just smirked at me with his gun still in his hand. I can tell he was enjoying this show.... Seeing me dying with my curiosity and desperation... Pero kahit nang-aasar ang tingin nito sa'kin ngayon, I was able to sigh in relief when after a few moment, he slowly nodded his head.

"You're right.. You atleast deserve to know that. Kahit sa tingin ko naman, It would be all useless after I tell you about it dahil sa araw narin namang ito, tatapusin ko na ang bagay na hindi ko natapos noon, Ms. Javier."

"Sino sa kanilang dalawa ang may kasalanan? It was John Enriquez right? Siya ang may pakana ng lahat ng 'yon that's why you are here dahil inutusan ka nyang pumunta rito at kunin ang file na'yan. Tama ako hindi ba??" Tanong ko na uli rito dahil sa kagustuhang maging tama ang hinala ko, ignoring his desires to kill me.

Alam kong hindi ito nagbibiro and he was even dying now to end me pero hindi pa pwede, not when I haven't heard the truth from him.

"Rinig na rinig ko ang boses nya noon kaya alam kong siya 'yon and Cameron's father has nothing to do with all of this. Tama ba----"

"I killed them.."

That made me shut my mouth in an instant and my eyes widened in shock at that sudden admission. No. I think shock was just an understatement for that. My blood had actually ran cold at the hear of that. I just stayed rooted on my feet like someone had gotten my tongue. Lalo na't parang wala man lang itong pagdadalawang-isip na inamin 'yon sa mukha ko. As if he had just admitted that he had killed my pet. Not even a tinge of regrets and guilt can be detected in his face. The evidence which convinced me that it was the truth.

"Y-You...." Was the only word that I could form after his words finally sank into my head without cutting my stare at him.

"Y-You killed them..."wala sa sariling saad ko rito.

"You heard it right, Ms. Javier. Ako nga ang may gawa nun. Not your own father nor Cameron's father. It was all my plan. I killed them. Are you satisfied now?"

When he repeated that, na para bang gusto niya talagang siguruhin na narinig ko ang lahat ng 'yon, I choked out a breath and then I felt my knees began to shake terribly.

S-So it was him??? It was his doing???

Memories of those unfortunate events occured these last few weeks flashes through me.

Lalo na ang plate number na binigay sa'kin ni Al.

MNJ6305

That's why it seems so familiar dahil ito rin ang plate number na nakita kong gamit ng matandang 'to noon.

As those truth came into realization, tuluyan ng tumulo ang luha sa mga mata ko kasabay ng paglabas ng hagulgol sa bibig ko habang tuluyan namang sumuko ang mga tuhod ko at napapaupo na'ko sa malamig na damuhan.

It was him! It was him and I was wrong!!

"Yes. Tama yan, Ms. Javier. Ilabas mo lahat ng galit mo.. Afterall this was what you had seek for over a decade at dahil ito na rin ang magiging huli mong pag-iyak.." I heard him sarcastically cheered that up sabay lakad palapit sa kinauupuan ko.

I felt him towering over me, just a few feet away from me pero hindi ko na pinansin ito. I just continued crying my heart out while still keeping my ears at him.

"Gusto mo bang malaman kung paano ko kayo dapat pinatay noon, Ms. Javier?" saad pa nito na kahit hindi ko man kita ang mukha nito, alam kong nakangisi ito ngayon... probably feeling so proud about it. A behaviour that I hadn't even expected I could witness from him.. From him na akala ko isang matanda lang na walang ibang alam gawin kundi maging sunud-sunuran sa amo.

"It was supposed to be a perfect hit-and-run incident, Ms. Javier. And it was supposed to kill all of you pero kung siniswerte ka nga naman ano, you had survived from that at nagawa mo pa talagang umabot ngayon rito and you have even got to know your own father.... How fortunate..." Pagpapatuloy nito, now sounding frustrated while I still layed on the ground.

"Mr. Enriquez wanted to keep you all alive pero hindi.. Hindi pwedeng mabuhay kayo dahil sa huli, alam ko rin namang mas mahihirapan akong kunin sa Nickandrong 'yon ang file na'to so that was that. I hired someone to perfectly do that for him, for us.. but fool Enriquez, kung hinayaan nya lang sanang patayin kita noon, then he wouldn't have failed and even know you, Ms. Javier!"

I swallowed up my cry when he suddenly shouted that in anger over me sabay tutok ng baril nito sa ulo ko. An action which made me bite my lip to shut it up from retaliating. He's about to blow my head off.. But I must not do something to prevent it...Dahil ito ang gusto kong mangyari.....

To allow him to reveal everything without forcing it out from him...

"Kung hindi sana dahil sa'yo, none of this would've happen to Mr. Enriquez and to you, Ms. Javier! Kung hindi lang sana ako pumalpak na patayin kita noon, then I wouldn't have need to be here and kill you! Naririnig mo ba 'yon, Ms. Javier???!!" nanggigigil sa galit na bulyaw nito sabay hablot ng buhok ko and brutally forced me to look up and meet his eyes ablaze with fire. A sudden action which took me aback and almost ripped my head out of my neck.

His jaw kept twitching habang nakatutok naman ang baril nito sa noo ko. His wrinkles on his face became more visible now.

Eventhough my scalp began to hurt now dahil sa matinding pagkakahablot nya sa buhok ko, I tried to lessen the pain by clenching my teeth so hard habang pilit na tinatanggal ang kamay nito sa ulo ko.

"Everything had failed dahil sa mga pangingialam mo at ngayong alam na ng lahat kung sino ka, Mr. Enriquez wanted to stop everything... He wanted to stop everything and make it right for you at yon ang hindi ko mapapayagang mangyari.. Now that I know what was inside that file, wala na'kong pakialam sa kanya!! "

"So all this time, binabalak mo palang traydurin ang amo mo sa huli! All this time, balak mo palang angkinin kung ano ang nasa file na'yon kaya ginagawa mo 'to, tama ba'ko??!" I spat in between with gritted teeth while mirroring his stare at me. hindi ko alam kung bakit parang galit ako sa ideya nyang 'yon, abandoning his master for his selfish desires.

Pagkarinig sa'kin, imbes na magalit ito, mas lalo pang lumaki ang pagkakangisi nito.. looking so satisfied with it.

"Exactly. I've served your father more than long enough, Ms. Javier.. more than what he deserved from me and I've even killed people for him para maging madali sa kanya ang lahat.. kahit na kinailangan ko pang patahimikin ang magaling nyang asawa, ginawa ko just to give him what he want! At anong mapapala ko sa huli? Gusto nyang ihinto ang lahat dahil lang sa'yo!"

A sudden gasp escaped from me pagkarinig sa balitang 'yon.

Asawa...?? Then does that mean----

"S-Sinasabi mo bang pinatay mo si Mrs. Laila Enriquez? Charles Enriquez's mother??" Gimbal na tanong ko rito kahit hirap na hirap pa'ko sa higpit ng pagkakahawak nito sa'kin.

"Well, tama ka. Pinatay ko nga ang baliw na babaeng 'yon! Ibinigay nya kay Ronaldo ang file na'to and she even dared to secretly meet him up behind his husband's back.. to probably tip him off again to that foolish Ronaldo! Kaya naman---"

"Kaya naman bago paman sila magkita nang mga panahong 'yon sa mismong hotel na pinag-usapan nila, you've killed her inside that hotel room to shut her up and set up Mr. Ronaldo for it, ganun ba??"

Pagkasaad ko dun, bigla nalang itong humalakhak.. and then slowly shook his head while wickedly grinning at me.

"Yes and no. Yes, you're right that I killed her inside that hotel room but no, hindi ko sinasadyang mapagbintangan ang magaling na lalaking 'yon. Sinwerte lang talaga ako ng mga panahong 'yon, Ms. Javier..I was like that. Kahit ang hambog na Ronaldo del Fuero na'yon, nawala sa landas namin kahit wala man lang along ginagawa. Luck always sided me before." he proudly answered sabay tango-tango nito sakin.

"I always fulfill everything before.. Every plan I and Mr. Enriquez made succeed without failures before pero nang dahil sa'yo!---" I cried out in pain when his hold in my hair suddenly tightened more. With its suddenness, I wasn't able to hold back a single tear to escape and fall on my cheeks.

Nanlilisik ng sobra ang mga mata nito ngayong nakatingin sa'kin. His thirst to kill was even glinting in his eyes now.

"You've ruined everything! He wanted you dead before but now that he knows that you're his daughter, balak na nyang itigil ang lahat but no, Ms. Javier... Nasa akin na ang file ngayon kaya sisiguraduhin kong yayaman ako dahil dito and I don't need anyone to stop me now kaya magpaalam kana, Ms. Javier. Matatapos narin sa wakas ang lahat ng mga paghihirap mo." saad nito sabay bitaw sa'kin and then pointed down his gun at me habang nakaluhod ako sa harapan nito.

All I could do was stay frozen on the ground habang maiging nakatitig sa baril nito while waiting for him to pull its trigger.

Ngayon alam ko na ang lahat...

"Say hi to Nickandro's soul for me, Ms. Javier." He bid and then before I could even think of an answer, a gunshot blasted off the background,taking my dear breath away from me...