CHAPTER 4

“HOW’S MS. ESMERALDA DOING?” tanong ng may edad ng lalaki sa kausap nito sa telepono.

“She asked for the list of all successful bachelors na may potential na mapangasawa niya.” sagot ng tinig sa kabilang linya.

“Any result? Nakausap na ba niya or did she meet anyone? at may pumayag na bang pakasalan siya?” muling tanong ng lalaki sa kausap.

“No yet, sir. Mr. Esplana is the one who’s going to chose for the suitable groom for Ms. Esmeralda, since he’s her legal guardian.”

"Is it? Sino-sino ang mga napili ni Alanis?” Muling tanong nito sa kausap.

“Brice Adrien Martinez, Drake Miguel Freezer, Ryder Blake Muller, James Reiden Phillips and Stanci Matt Stafford. They’re the richest bachelors in town.” the voice answered.

“Are you sure na wala pa silang napili para kausapin? Or maybe we should start our plan. We can’t wait for their decision.” the old man stated.

“Yes, sir. And don't worry, I’ll make sure that there’s no wedding to happen.” muling turan nito bago nagpaalam sa matandang kausap.

"WHAT do you mean na hindi simpleng cardiac arrest ang nangyari kay Don Miguel?” tanong ni Rafe sa kausap sa telepono.

Pagkahatid niya sa dalaga at masiguradong ayos lang ito ay umalis na rin siya agad.

He’s now on his way sa hospital and he’s talking to Dr. Santillan over the phone. He's the personal doctor ofi Don Miguel.

When Don Miguel died last month, nasa singapore si Dr. Santillan for some conference with the other heart surgeons from different prestigious hospital all over asia. And he just come back two weeks ago.

“Exactly, what you hear. As I suspected when I examined his medical results. I thought there's something wrong,” pansamantalang huminto sa pagsasalita ang doctor.

Tahimik lang naman sa kabilang linya si Rafe at hinihintay pa ang kung anu mang sasabihin ng kausap.

“Are you on your way here?” Tanong ni doctor Santillan kay Rafe. “Okay I'll better talk to you in personal. Just go to my office once you reach the hospital.” Anito bago nagpaalam sa binata.

Kung tama ang hinala niya marahil ay ayaw ng doktor ipaalam sa iba or wala pang nakakaalam na iba sa totoong kinamatay ng Don.

Mabilis namang pinasibad ni Rafe ang sasakyan, ayaw niyang mag-aksaya ng oras. Dahil hindi niya alam kung ano nga ba ang pwede pang mangyari.

…….

“Rafe, sorry kung naabala pa kita. I know it's really late already.” Sabi ni doctor Santillan kay Rafe at saka sinabihan itong maupo sa upuang katapat nito.

“It's nothing doc. Mr. Esplana is like my second father.”

“Miguel used to tell stories about you and her daughter Alanis. By the way how is she?”

“She still in a stage of indenial that her father is already gone but she's strong and she'll live. I'll make sure of that she'll live happily.” Mahina pero may senseridad an sagot ni Rafe na ikinangiti ng kaharap na doctor.

“You liked her, don't you?”

“Well, she hated me!” Sagot ni Rafe na ikinatawa lang naman ng kaharap.

“I can understand her specially, if she sees u as her rival.” Nakangiti pa ring sabi ng doctor pero ilang segundo lang ay napalitan ng lungkot ang ngiti nito.

“If only Miguel was here, I know he'll want you and Alanis to be happy.”

Ilang segundong namayani ang katahimikan bago muling nagsalita ang doctor kasabay ng pag-abot ng medical record ni don Miguel.

Rafe took it and read it carefully. Makalipas ang ilang minuto any napatingin siya sa dereksyon ng kaharap na doktor.

“He didn't died just because of simple cardiac arrest. Someone murdered him!” Ani doctor Santillan kasabay ng isang malalim na buntong hininga.

Rafe seems to be shocked and can't find the right words to say. He just stared at the medical record as if waiting for something.

“There's a trace of potassium Cyanide on his blood result. But the doctor whose in-charge of him declared that he died of cardiac arrest.” Paliwanag muling doctor.

“Who knows about this?” Tanong ni Rafe.

“None. Sa ngayon ikaw pa lang ang sinabihan ko. I know that you're Alanis legal guardian now and you are the acting Ceo of ETC. Miguel, talk to you highly kaya alam kong mapagkakatiwalaan ka.”

“Good. What about the doctor na tumingin kay don Miguel how reliable he is?” Tanong muli ni Rafe.

“Not good, as far as the gossip goes here. He's well known for accepting bribes. He might not be the one who killed Miguel but he's been paid to shut off. Because before his cardiac arrest an attending nurse went to extract some blood for his blood test. So I guess that they didn't expect this kind of variable."

Malalim na napahugot ng hininga si Rafe. He didn't know that the kindest man he knows has been murdered.

“Is there any way that we can check the Cctv camera during that day?” I'll go and check the security camera's at ETC baka may mga makalap aking ebidensya.” Ani Rafe.

They talked longer than what they anticipated. Rafe decided to hire a detective who can investigate secretly. He even reprimand doctor Santillan na huwag magsasabi kay Alanis.

He doesn't want her to get involve. Though he knows that she has every right to know what's going on.

Still he choose to keep everything secret from her for the tine being. He'll tell her once everything is clear.

……..

“Any news? Ilang araw na ang nakakalipas, wala bang balita tungkol kay Alanis? Her birthday is coming up soon.” Tanong ng matanda sa kausap nito sa telepono.

“No sir, it seems that ms. Esmeralda isn't looking for any suitable bachelor or maybe she gives up the ETC?” Sagot ng tinig sa telepono.

“Mas maganda kung gayon. Para wala nang buhay na masayang pa. She should be contented on what she can get. She still can live like a princess even without ETC, anyway.” Nakangiting turan ng matanda na animoy nasa harap lang ang kausap at nakikita ito.

“And what about Rafe Esplana? Wala ba siyang planonh pakasalan ang dalaga? His ambition may be too high also.”

“I don't think so, sir. Coz for these past few days hindi man lang niya pinupuntahan o kinakausap ang dalaga. As if they are totally strangers.”

“Good. Good. Tomorrow make an appointment for Ms. Esmeralda and my son. It's better kung sila ang magpapakasal.” sabi ng matanda na sinabayan ng nakakalokong tawa.

“By hook or by crook Alanis will marry my son!”