RIVAS 3

RED POV

"ANO NA'NG balita sa pinapahanap ko sayo?"

Dahan dahan kong ibinaba ang shot glass na hawak hawak ko nang marinig ko ang boses na iyon.

I slowly turned my gaze at her and smiled anxiously. Unti unti rin akong naglakad palapit rito.

"Still no update, I can't find her-"

"Do everything to find her! My God, Red! You have everything to find that leech then you are saying to me now that you can't find her? You're ridiculous-"

"Mom…" I tried to calm her. "I promise you that I am making and doing everything just to find that woman. Hindi ako titigil hangga't hindi ko nakikita ang taong sumira sa pamilya natin."

"Dapat lang! That woman took your father's attention away from me! Even his love! Ni hanggang ngayon ay hindi sa atin umuuwi ang ama mo!"

"That's because he has a lot of business trips. He's busy, mom."

"What do you think of me, son? Stupid? Kilala ko at alam ko kung bakit nagkakaganoon ang ama mo! Hindi naman magbabago ang pakikitungo niya sa akin kung wala siyang kinababaliwang babae. So please, Red, do me a favor. Do everything to find that woman and make her life miserable! Huwag kang titigil sa paghahanap sa kanya!"

"Yes Mom, I promise you." Pag aalo ko sa aking ina at mahigpit itong niyakap. "Now, go back to your room and rest. It's already past midnight yet you're still awake."

Naramdaman ko ang dahan dahan na pagtango ng aking ina.

"I will anak. But always remember that I cannot have my rest well if that leech is still roaming outside and clinging on to your dad. So do your best, Red. Do your best, anak."

Mabilis kong sinalo ang ina ko nang maramdaman kong bigla nalang itong bumagsak sa balikat ko.

It's her sleeping pills kicking in again. Simula noong malaman ng mommy ko na may kinahuhumalingang iba ang daddy ko, she just suddenly got a nervous breakdown. Na everytime mapag uusapan naming dalawa ang tungkol doon ay awtomatikong nag iinit ang ulo nito at maghi hysterical.

Maigi pa nga ngayong gabi dahil hindi nagwala si mommy. She's even worse before. Na kahit maliit palang ako ay parang hindi nito iniisip ang kapakanan ko sa tuwing aawayin niya si dad and confront him about his mistress.

My dad just let out a heavy sigh and shrugged his shoulders. And after that, he will just leave us. Me and my mom.

Agad agad ko na ngang binuhat ang ina ko at dinala ito sa kanyang kwarto. Good thing that her room is just a few meters away from mine.

Nang maingat ko nang nailapag ang ina ko sa kanyang kama ay tahimik na rin akong lumabas sa kwarto niya.

Now that she's already asleep and quiet. It is my time now to deal with my shits.

I was about to close my eyes while taking a deep breath when my phone suddenly rang. I immediately picked it up and answered the call without looking at who the caller was.

"It's already midnight, whoever the fucker you are. Let me have my rest and go to hell-"

"Hey, Red… it's Cole… I think I found the person you were looking for."

Animo'y may kung anong bumbilya sa katawan ko ang biglang umilaw dahil mabilis pa sa alas kwatrong napadilat ako ng mga mata. My heart suddenly beat so fast that I feel it will just come out right from my chest.

"W-what do you mean? Where are you? Fuck Cole! Answer me where the hell are you!"

"I'll text you the exact location. Be here as fast as you can, dude. I can't believe that I am now staring at the mistress of the great Ricardo Rivas."

Fuck!

Dali dali kong kinuha ang coat ko at nagmamadaling sinuot iyon. Halos matisod pa nga ako sa hagdan sa sobrang pagmamadali ko pero wala na akong pakielam! I have to go to Cole right now. I have to see the mistress of my dad. I have to see the face of the leech who is making my mother's heart break into pieces!

Saglit akong napahinto nang tumunog ang cellphone ko. A text message from Cole. Just like he said, he sent me the exact location address of the place where he is now.

Kumunot ang noo ko nang mabasa ang address. It's a club! A club and casino place!

So what is my father's mistress? A club entertainer? A prostitute? Oh fuck! Kaya naman pala patay na patay ang ama ko sa kung sinumang babaeng iyon dahil nagtatrabaho naman pala sa isang club. Hindi kataka taka na pinatulan nito ang ama ko, isang matandang mayaman na madaling mauto.

Pinaharurot ko ang sasakyan ko palabas ng malaking garden ng mansyon. Hindi na ako makapaghintay na makita ang mukha ng babaeng dahilan kung bakit hanggang ngayon ay hirap pa rin matulog sa gabi si mommy.

Na kung minsan ay makikita ko nalang itong umiiyak habang hawak hawak ang family picture namin sa kwarto niya.

It almost took me a half of an hour to get there. Bumaba agad ako ng sasakyan at pinagmasdan ang lugar. Kumunot ang noo ko nang makita ang kabuuan nito.

Hindi ganitong club ang inaasahan ko. Pakiramdam ko ay nasa ibang bansa ako sa laki at ganda ng club na nakikita ko ngayon.

Papaanong hindi ko alam na may ganitong club pala na nag eexist malapit lang sa bahay namin? No wonder why my father is always nowhere to be seen in our house, dito marahil naglalagi.

Mabilis akong naglakad at nagtungo sa entrance. But a security immediately stop me and put me aside.

"What the fuck?"

"Kailangan ko pong makita ang membership ID niyo Sir. Naghihigpit na po kami para maiwasan ang anumang gulo kung sakali-"

"Why the fuck you need an ID, what is this, a fucking organization?"

"Pasensya na po Sir pero kailangan lang po talaga-"

"No! Let me in! I have to do something there. I have to see someone-"

"Anong nangyayari dito, Bart?"

"Sir Ashton… pasensya na po. Ito po kasing si Sir eh, hinihingian ko ng ID. Pinaghihigpit po kasi ni Ma'am Tasha ang security ngayon."

"Let me talk to him instead. Bumalik kana doon sa pwesto mo."

"Yes Sir."

"So, answer me, what the fuck do you need inside of my club?"

Animo'y may kung anong nakabara sa lalamunan ko nang biglang tumingin sa akin ang lalaking kanina ay kausap ng gwardya.

It seems that he's just the same age as me but he still look a lot more intimidating.

Ngunit pinilit kong huwag magpakita ng anumang kaba o takot kahit na sa totoo lang ay halos trumiple ang kabog ng dibdib ko.

"Answer me, you faggot. What the fuck do you need inside of my club? Are you here to just create a mess-"

"No. I want to invest…" Kapansin pansin ang biglang pagtataka nito sa sinabi ko. "I am interested in your club-"

"Really?" The man asked with his sarcastic tone. "Tell me, how much can you afford to invest in my club and casino-"

"I can give a hundred million-"

"Oh geez, my place is not cheap. Kayang kayang kitain ng club ko na 'to ang isangdaang milyon na sinasabi mo sa isang gabi lang. So no, you can't invest in my casino with that small amount of money-"

"One billion." Fuck! Hindi ko alam kung bakit ko sinabi iyon.

The man smiled as if something good happened. Nagbago ang kaninang walang emosyong mukha nito at napalitan ng malapad na ngiti.

"Make it a five billion-"

"What the fuck? Are you fucking serious?"

I know that money is not a problem to me and to my family. But what the fuck? Hindi ko pinangarap ang sarili kong mag invest sa ganitong klase ng negosyo! A club and casino? Tangina sinong mag uubos dyan ng oras at pera?

"Of course I'm just kidding. Your one billion is enough, come on. Let's go to my office and settle everything."

Mabilis akong tumango at nagpakawala ng isang malalim na buntong hininga. I just can't believe that I spent a billion just for one night! Nang dahil sa kabit ng ama ko, nakagastos ako ng isang bilyon! Tangina anong kabaliwan 'to?

"By the way, I'm Ashton Santocildez, the owner of the club and casino. And you are?"

Saglit akong tumigil sa paglalakad at humarap kay Ashton.

"I'm Red Rivas-"

"Oh, so you're probably the owner of Rivas Cars Incorporation?" Mabilis akong tumango. Ashton smiled again as if he's really happy with what is happening right now. "What a really nice surprise!"

Halos lumuwa ang mga mata ko nang tuluyan nang makapasok sa loob ng club. Ibang iba sa inaasahan ko ang lugar.

I really feel like I'm in another county taking a vacation trip for what I am seeing right now! Hindi sasapat ang salitang engrande at maganda sa club na nakikita ko ngayon!

Ang mga inaasahan kong mga babae na halos makita na ang mga kaluluwa ay wala sa nakikita ko ngayon. What I am seeing right now is a lot of man in a tuxedo and a lot of woman who are beyond gorgeous!

Halos dumoble pa ang panlalaki ng mga mata ko nang makakita ng mga kilalang pulitiko at negosyanteng masayang nagsusugal sa kung saan saang parte ng lugar.

What the fuck! I didn't know that this kind of place existed just a few kilometers away from my house!

"Hey, Ashton." Tawag ko sa atensyon ng binata. Agad naman itong lumingon sa akin.

"Yeah?"

"I have to go to my friend for a minute, can you just give me the direction where your office is? Pupunta nalang ako doon pagkakita ko sa kaibigan ko."

Agad naman itong tumango at sinabi sa akin kung nasaan ang kanyang opisina. Ashton just tapped my shoulder before walk away to go upstairs.

I was about to dial Cole's number when I heard something commotion.

"No! I don't want your apology! I want you to come with me to my condo unit now and warm my bed!"

Halos magdikit ang mga kilay ko sa narinig. I know that old man, he is a politician somewhere I don't know where exactly. Basta nakita ko lang ang mukha n'yan isang beses sa balita dahil may kinakaharap itong kaso ngayon. If my memory is correct, it's about a rape case, I guess.

"Hey Red! What's up? What took you so long?"

Agad na nawala ang atensyon ko sa mga taong nagkakagulo sa isang banda at nalipat sa kaibigan kong si Cole. He's holding a beer in his hand while smiling like an idiot.

"A lot of things just happened! So tell me, where is the mistress of my dad? I want to see how fucking ugly her face looks like!"

"Oh come on, dude. You will never believe me on this one. Tito Ricardo has a nice taste huh. Teka, nasaan na ba 'yon?"

Agad na sumimangot ang mukha ko.

"Don't tell me you're not sure about this woman, Cole. I might rip your neck off right now-"

"Sssh, just shut up Red. You're looking for Queenie Rose Sandoval, right? So just zip your mouth and let me look for her in the crowd. Oh wait! There she is!"

"Where-"

"That fine young woman with long hair and a short skirt, she's pretty right?"

Agad kong sinundan ang direksyong tinuturo ni Cole. At halos matumba ako sa kinatatayuan ko nang makita ang babaeng tinutukoy nito.

What the fuck? My dad's mistress is a FUCKING MINOR?!