97: As it ends

ENRICO'S POV

"Say hi to Nickandro's soul for me, Ms. Javier.." Nakangiting paalam ko sa kawawang babae sa harapan ko before pulling the trigger of my gun.

A loud gunshot rang through the background and then I felt something struck into my back. I frowned when it started to feel numb and that burning sensation behind me. So painful which caused my nerves began to tremble.

And then I felt that hot liquids gashed through my back. 

I choked out a cough kasabay ng pagluwag ng pagkakahawak ko sa baril hanggang sa tuluyan na itong mahulog sa damuhan

"A-Anong...."

I weakly gazed down at the woman before me, a woman who hadn't even blinked an eye or showing any fear in her eyes. 

Nanatili parin itong nakatitig sa'kin without even moving a bit on her knees.

"A-Anong g-ginawa----" Before I could even complete my sentence, I coughed out again. But this time it came out with some sticky liquid from my mouth. My knees trembled and not long, tuluyan na'kong napaluhod sa damuhan. Cold sweats trickled down on my forehead. My breathing became erratic and my body became immobile.

"Y-You---"

"Ms. Javier!!"

"Samantha!!"

When I heard that familiar shouts, pinilit ko ng lumingon sa pinanggalingan ng mga boses na'yon and when three people appeared on the view, I let out a weak chuckle at them but it just came out a cough. Lalo na ng marinig ko na ang mga nagsisidatingang sirena ng mga pulis sa di kalayuan.

Cameron del Fuero... William Montero.. W-What the ---

I wasn't able to finish my thoughts when the burning sensation behind me became unbearable. Kasabay nito ay ang paglabo ng paningin ko. Hanggang sa tuluyan na nga itong dumilim until my consciousness completely left me.

~~~~~~

SAM'S POV

Nang tuluyan ng natumba sa damuhan ang katawan nito, a sigh escaped from me habang nanghihina na'kong napapaupo sa damuhan. Hindi ko man lang alam na kanina ko pa pala pinipigilan ang hininga ko. My hands were still trembling habang nakatingin parin ako ng maigi sa nakahandusay at duguang katawan ng matanda sa harapan ko. Blood gushing from his back and staining his dress shirt.

Akala ko katapusan ko na kanina---

"Samantha!!"

I was surprised when I was suddenly pulled in a tight hug. Hugging me like his dear life defended on me...

Oh yeah.. oo nga pala.

"My goodness, Samantha!! How many times do I have to tell you na 'wag kang kikilos ng mag-isa and put yourself in danger again, woman???! Hanggang kailan ka ba makikinig sa'kin??!" galit na bungad nito pagkayakap sa'kin, scolding me like a child while imprisoning me with his arms. Hinihingal ito ng todo na para bang tumakbo ito ng isang kilometro para lang makapunta rito.

Just the thought of that, hindi ko na mapigilang mapangiti ng mahina and just hugged him back with my eyes began to burn with tears again.

Oh yes. How can I blame him for that… I could've lost his baby---our baby dahil sa ginawa ko.

I felt some of the police came next to the dead body malapit sa'min, to probably check his pulse. A police siren blaring off at the background.

"Hindi mo lang alam kung gaano mo'ko pinag-alala ng todo! I almost lost my mind just thinking na nag-iisa ka rito, helpless and no one could rescue you. Please don't ever pull this act again, Samantha! Never do this again to me! Please" he continued the scolding and this time, his chest began to shake against my face and then followed by a sniffles against my hair while his hug tightened even more.

He was crying.. This giant was crying right now because of me.

Kahit na naiiyak narin ako, I couldn't help but smile at that.

Good thing I haven't had enough energy right now to make fun of him kaya wala akong ibang magawa but pat his back for comfort.

"I'm sorry.." I started. "I'm sorry for making you worry pero hindi ko maipapangako sa'yo na hindi ko uli gagawin 'to."

"What??!"

Kahit na hinang-hina pa'ko, I couldn't help but laugh at him when he suddenly yelled that sabay kawala sa yakap ko. Mindless with the people around us na ngayong napapalingon na sa gawi namin dahil sa biglang pagsigaw nito. He was glaring at me while fresh tears glinting at the side of his eyes.

"Muntikan ka ng mawala sa'kin and what?? Hindi mo parin maipapangakong hindi mo na gagawin ito??! Gusto mo ba talagang mamatay ako ng maaga dahil sa pag-aalala sa'yo, Samantha???!" walang pakundangang bulyaw nito sa'kin with his brows almost snapping each other. Causing the other people around to throw us a pry look.

Alright.. galit nga ito..

"No. I'm quite certain you won't die young, Mr. del Fuero because even Saint Peter himself can't handle your temper kaya tyak hindi ka nya tatanggapin dun." Nakangiting biro ko rito which made his glare at me intensified.

"You have no idea how much trouble you've caused me, woman! At nagagawa mo pa talaga akong pagtawanan ngayon as if you just came from a damn shopping when it was far from that!" he complained, still wearing his usual dark look.

He was still in his suit he had this morning with his dishevelled hair. All in all, he was a total mess. So unusual for a neat freak like him. Mukhang malala nga ang pinagdaanang calamity nito papunta rito.

And that somehow calmed my nerves now. Napapabuntung-hininga na lamang ako habang nakatitig rito. Now that everything has been cleared off, matatahimik narin ako. Magagawa ko naring mabuhay ng walang inaalala..

At that thought, happiness swarmed through me. And unable to contain it, agad na'kong yumakap uli rito and nuzzled into his warm chest.

"I'm sorry for making you worry pero kinailangan ko lang marinig mula sa taong 'to ang totoo." I began to apologize again. This time without a joke. "Everything was a mess lalo na ng malaman kong sa papa mo ang singsing na'yon…"

"Matagal ng nawawala ang singsing na'yon---"

"Alam ko." Agad na putol ko rito before I pulled out from him. Kunot ang noo nito with a slight confusion in his eyes.

"Alam kong walang kasalanan ang papa mo… Everything just don't add up kaya kinailangan kong makipagkita sa kanya and hear everything from him. The truth.."

"The truth! Eh di sana sinabihan mo man lang ako bago ka man lang pumunta ng mag-isa rito and stupidly faced this bastard na muntikan ka ng patayin!" he scolded again which made scowled and glared at him.

"Yes, it was stupid of me to face him kahit na alam ko namang papatayin nya 'ko pero sino namang may sabi na mag-iisa lang ako rito, aber? Alam kong may tauhan kang nakabuntot sa'kin or atleast sa naaalala ko lang. And I was all aware na may nakamasid sa'ming dalawa rito the whole time and my intuition was never wrong. Tama ba'ko, Radley?" I queried sabay lingon sa pamilyar na lalaki na may kausap na pulis na agad namang tumingin sa gawi ko. Agad itong napakamot ng batok nito and just gave me a guilty smile on his face.

With him still firmly holding his gun with him, alam kong ito nga ang bumaril kay Mr. Vista before he could even pull his own trigger to blow my head off.

"And besides, I have Liam to call for help and you so I really have nothing to worry for my safety. Right, Liam??"

"Yeah? Want me to give you some hug, Sam?" Liam quickly answered with a grin pagkatawag ko rito, making his friend to growl at him na agad namang itinawa nito ang reaksyon ng kaibigan. With him just wearing his dress shirt without the tie and other buttons, no doubt na galing pa ito sa pambababae. From his usual hobby.

The notorious playboy that this idiot was.

I couldn't help but shook my head at that while smiling at him.

AN HOUR BEFORE THE FACE-OFF….

Ilang minuto na'kong nakakaalis mula sa kulungan but my mind couldn't just take in everything. Ang gulu-gulo ng isipan ko and if I won't do something about this, baka mabaliw na'ko sa kakaisip nito before I could even get to my destination and hear the truth.

Heaving out an exasperated breath, I decided to pull my car to the side of the road.

If I let my emotions now to rule over me, tyak hindi maganda ang mangyayari mamaya. Atleast I have to outwit that idiot bago paman ito magtagumpay sa balak nito. Whoever he is, alam kung kaya nitong pumatay ng tao. And I could be his next prey this time.

Making up my mind, I quickly fished out my phone from my pocket and then dialled a certain number.

In the first dial, my call goes srtaight to the voicemail. Patiently, I dialed for that number again and this time, after a few rings, someone had finally answered my call.

"Whoever you are, you better make sure this is about life-and-death call because if it's not, then you're dead." Came an annoyed grumble from the other line. I guess I had disturb him from something so important.

Well, whatever it was, I don't care.

"Liam. I need your help." Agad na sagot ko rito without wasting a breath for any greetings.

I can tell na natigilan ito sa kabilang linya since silence came next. But after a while of his silence, I heard something rustled from the other line. Probably he was on his bed right now. At this hour, for goodness' sake! I already have a dirty idea what he was up to now.

WHORING... He was at it now.

"Spit it out now, Sam. I'm listening." Rinig kong sagot nito maya-maya.

Shaking those dirty thoughts off my system, agad na'kong nagsalita.

"I'm going to text a certain address in your number now, Liam. Please send some police to that address----"

"Wait, wait. What?? Police? And why would you need the police, Sam? Are you in trouble or----" Bigla nalang itong napatigil and then I heard him groaned from the other line before he continued.

"Sam, please don't tell me na may gagawin ka na namang kalokohan that's why you need the police right now? You're pregnant you darn woman! And Cameron will---"

"I would really be in trouble kapag hindi mo gagawin ang pinapagawa ko sa'yo, Liam." Agad na putol ko na sa iba pa nitong sasabihin dahil alam ko na kung anong sasabihin nito.

"I'm asking you this dahil ayokong mapahamak sa gagawin ko ngayon. I know this is irrational and stupid but I know what I'm doing, Liam. Yes. I'm doing this for myself but I want to make sure my baby's safety as well so I'm asking you this favor now."

"But this is too dangerous, Sam! Hindi ko man alam kung ano talaga ang gagawin mo ngayon but given your how reckless thing you are, there's no doubt it was something dangerous! Sam----"

"Liam. Please go find Cameron for me and take him there with you."

An exasperated sigh came off from the other line. I know he was frustrated with me now. I can even imagine him now tightly pressing the bridge of his nose out of frustration.

"Just do it, Liam."I begged when he still hadn't talked from the other line.

"And Liam--?"

"What now, Samantha?? Ano pang kalokohan ang gusto mong hingin kong gawin ngayon?" Asar ng putol nito sa sasabihin ko. Well, it was understandable for him to get mad dahil sa hinihingi ko sa kanya ngayon. But I just ignored it and asked him anyway.

"May alam ka ba tungkol sa singsing ng ama ni Cameron? I believe it was a family heirloom ring. Alam mo ba kung nasaan na ang singsing na'yon ngayon?"

"A ring? Yong matagal ng nawawalang singsing ng papa niya? Oh yes. How could I ever forget about that? Matagal ng nawawala 'yon. Even before his father's death. Bakit? Ano namang tungkol sa singsing na'yon? May nakita ka bang kamukha ng singsing na'yon----"

"It was nothing. Just please do me that favor, Liam. Please.. I'm hanging up now. Bye." And then before he could even react, agad ko ng pinutol ang linya and then powered off my phone.

Taking a deep breath, agad ko ng binuhay uli ang makina and then pulled the car back to the road.

I hope Liam would do that and send there the police on time. His confirmation about that ring was enough para malamang wala ngang kinalaman rito ang ama ni Cameron.

It just happened na suut-suot 'yon ng magnanakaw kong ama. Kinakabahan man ako sa maaaring mangyayari mamaya, alam ko namang hindi ako mag-iisa doon.

After all, I have Cameron's bodyguard tailing either me or that someone wanted to meet with me right now. Sana nga lang talaga hindi ako nagkakamali.

BACK TO THE PRESENT…

Cameron's sermon takes almost forever kahit na papauwi na kami sa bahay nito. Kahit wala na naman itong dapat ipag-alala ngayon dahil tapos na and nothing happened to his baby. He just kept giving me those dark glare and even threating me to lock me up in his house again if he had to. I just stayed silent beside him at the front seats. He atleast deserve to do this dahil pinag-alala ko naman talaga ito ng todo.

Hindi ako umiimik sa tabi nito but I couldn't help my eyes to keep rolling.

After the police had taken care of the dead body at makunan ako ng pahayag about the incident, halos kargahin na'ko ng gago papasok ng sasakyan nito and then leave Liam and Radley behind.

He could really be that selfish if he want.

"Manang, take Samantha with you to her room. May gagawin lang ako." Malamig na saad pa nito pagkapasok namin sa bahay nito and then without a word, agad na itong umalis. Stiffly walking towards the elevator without even glancing at his back.

Hindi ko na kailangang alamin kung saan 'to papunta ngayon. Wala naman itong pwedeng puntahan doon but the basement, his safety room.

I couldn't help but let out a sigh at that habang sinundan ito ng tingin.

Now I'm doomed. Mukhang malala nga ang tampo nito sa'kin.

"Umakyat na'po tayo, ma'am Samantha." When manang Rita told me that, wala na'kong ibang nagawa kundi tumango at tumalima rito.

Later. I'll just go talk to him later. Just later when he had calm down. Dahil sa rami ng nangyari sa araw na'to, I've felt like I need a long sleep dahil sa pagod.

Pagkapasok ko palang sa kwarto ko, I quickly hit the shower saka nagbihis ng damit.

Manang Rita had prepared something for me to eat kaya agad ko ng kinain ito and then laid myself in bed.

I have nothing to worry now. Everything has been taken care of.... I could finally have a comfortable sleep from now on.

It didn't take me long before I fell asleep. I hadn't even realized how tired my body was until now...

~~~~~~~~