Ilang minutong natahimik sina Sam at Carlo sa loob ng Range Rover. Honestly, kinakabahan siya sa kung saan siya nito dadalhin. But she trusts him. If her brother trusts Carlo, she knows she can trust him too.
“Yes. Have it ready for us. We’ll probably be there in a few minutes,” she heard him talk to someone using his smart watch. “Yes. Dax will be coming. No, we’ll fly back from San Gabriel probably before lunch.”
San Gabriel?
Agad na dumiretso ang upo niya sa backseat ng Range Rover. Tama ba ang dinig niya, dadalhin siya nito sa San Gabriel?
“You’re taking me to San Gabriel?” mabilis na tanong niya nang tapusin nito ang tawag sa kausap nito. Sumulyap ito sa kanya mula sa rearview mirror bago tumango. “But you can’t, Carlo! You can’t!” tarantang protesta niya.
“You are safer there, Sam,” sagot nito, kalmado.
“You don’
Agad na napabangon si Kristine sa kanyang kama nang marinig niya ang malakas na pagkatok sa pinto ng kanyang kuwarto. Singkit ang mga matang bumaling siya sa bedside table at tinignan ang oras.She instantly cursed under her breath when she realized it’s just 7 o’clock in the morning! She angrily raked her fingers through her hair and went out of her bed and marched to her door with a hateful look on her face.Pagbukas na pagbukas niya ng pinto, nagmamadaling pumasok ng kuwarto niya ang Daddy niya. Imbes na singhal ang isalubong niya rito dahil inistorbo nito ang tulog niya, napatanong siya.“Bakit pawis na pawis ka,Dad? S-Sa’n ka galing?” naguguluhang tanong niya, kunot ang noo habang pinapasada ang tingin sa ama na basang-basang sa pawis ang gusot nitong polo. He looked like he just got home.Imbes na sumagot, nagmamadaling humakbang ang Daddy niya patungo sa bintana ng kanyang kuwarto at tarantang sumil
It’s just a few minutes past 10 in the morning but he’s already pouring himself a glass of brandy. He was never one to admit fear or worry, subalit sa mga nangyayari ngayon, hindi maikakaila sa kanya ang makaramandan ng kaunting panic patungkol sa mga plano niya.He sat on the bar stool and looked at the glass he was holding.Bumalik sa isip niya ang lahat ng mga pinagdaanan niya. All the rejection and shame he had to put up with while growing up without a father. Not that he doesn’t know his father. He knew his father. His mother had repeatedly told him who his father was. But…Kumuyom ang kamay niya nang maalala kung paano siya tinaboy ng mismong ama niya nang maglakas-loob siyang puntahan ito sa opisina nito noong high school siya. He was desperate then. He wanted to have a parent. But he dismissed him like he’s some lost dog! Sinabihan pa siya nito na h’wag na h’wag nang babalik doon o magpapakita man lang dahil ipa
Aaron was standing in front of the glass wall panel of the conference room in SSL. He was looking at the skyline of the city as if by looking at it, he’d find the answers to his questions.“Aaron, we should tell, Mom,” pukaw ni Joshua sa kanya maya-maya.He heaved a sigh. Hind pa man, he can almost hear their mother’s protest.Nasabi na niya sa mga kapatid niya ang tungkol sa plano niyang pagkalas sa compromise agreement nila ni Arturo—ang pakasalan ang inaanak nitong si Kristine.His brothers understood him. And he got his brothers support with his decision. Ang mommy na lang nila ang kulang. Kristine had charmed their mother way too much for the past years. Alam niya, mahihirapan siyang ipaintindi sa Mommy nila ang sitwasyon.Also, he has yet to talk to Arturo. He and his brothers had decided, should Arturo wants to be compensated with him backing out with their compromise, they are all willing to
“But why are you there? Kung may nagbabanta sa buhay mo, the safest place you can be at is here, in our home?” nag-aalalang sabi ng Daddy ni Samantha sa kanya sa cellhphone.They arrived in San Gabriel almost an hour ago. Subalit imbes na sa bahay nila or rest house siya nito ihatid, Carlo took her and Charlie at Trevor’s mango farm. Tago kasi ang mango farm, mas malayo sa bayan kung saan naroon ang bahay nila. The place was conducive for hiding.“Carlo said this is better Dad hanggang wala pa ang imbestigasyon tungkol sa nagpapadala ng death threats sa akin,” kalmadong sagot niya sa ama.“How is this better, Sam? Malayo ka sa amin, ikaw at si Charlie. How can we protect you?”Nagbuga siya ng hininga. Pilit niyang pinakalma ang sarili. The hurt and worry in her father’s voice is wounding her heart. She must admit, the first time Carlo brought up the idea of her hiding, she was at od
Aaron was staring at the glass of brandy he poured for himself. Iniisip niya ang mga nangyari nang nagdaang mga araw— ang pagtatago ni Sam, ang pakikipagkalas niya kay Kristine, at ang pagkamatay ni Arturo.Arturo De Gracia’s inurnment was held this morning—just three days after his burned body along with his car was found in an abandoned lot. Arturo’s widow, Melinda, came home from Spain alone. She barely talked to anybody and grieved in private. Ang huling balita niya, bumalik na ito sa Spain pagkatapos na pagkatapos ng libing.Ni hindi man lang niya ito nakausap. He was hoping Melinda would stay for a while , that he’d still have time to talk to her about his compromise agreement with Arturo. Subalit tila nagmamadali itong makabalik sa mga anak nito sa Spain.And now with just days before the engagement party, he had ran out of any possible solution to fix the dilemma he’s in. All he can think of is to t
Masayang pinagmamasdan ni Samantha si Charlie habang naglalaro ito sa lawn ng farmhouse. Her daughter was playing in the playhouse Lucas had sent over para daw hindi mainip ang anak niya habang nagtatago sila.And she must admit, after a full week of hiding there at Trevor’s mango farm, Charlie had adapted well to the new environment. Subalit paminsan-minsan, nagtatanong pa rin ito tungkol sa swimming pool o kaya sa beach. Panay na rin ang tanong nito kung kailan daw sila uuwi sa San Gabriel. Not knowing that they are already in San Gabriel, just on the other side of it.She looked up the sky, hapon na. Malapit nang lumubog ang araw. Ilang oras na lang, engagement party na nina Aaron at Kristine.With Aaron not coming to see her there, she was sure, Carlo had kept his promise. Wasn’t that what she wants, ang tuluyan siyang layuan ni Aaron, ang gawin din nito ang tama at pakasalan nito si Kristine gaya nang nararapat. She should be happy
Agad na kumabog ang dibdib ni Samantha sa nakita. Nanginig na rin siya.“H-how…” bulong niya, halos hindi maituloy ang gusto niyang sabihin. Her mind cannot process any coherent thought.Gasps filled the air. Kasunod niyon ang mga bulong-bulongan habang nakatuon ang mga mata sa kanya. Her mind reeled in an instant panic.She wanted to run and hide but her feet seemed to be cemented on the spot she’s standing on. Taranta siyang nagpalinga-linga. She was looking for her brother. However in her confusion, she cannot seem to find Lucas in that sea of strangers.Maya-maya pa, lumapit sa kanya mula sa kung saan ang pamilyar na bulto ni Kristine. She didn’t see her in the guests who came in earlier. She was wearing a red seductive dress that accentuated all the curves of her body. Her beauty was shining—like a dazzling goddess that has fallen from the sky.She gave her a stern look and the blood on
Mangiyak-ngiyak si Samantha habang pinagmamasdan si Mandy na nasa hospital bed. The doctors said her friend was heavily drugged thus, unconscious. They assured her that once the effects of the drug wears off, Mandy will wake up on his own. Kaya lang hindi pa rin siya makampante. Patuloy siyang mag-aalala para sa kaibigan hanggang hindi ito gumising.Gumalaw si Bettina sa tabi niya. Magkatabi silang nakaupo sa sofa. Tulog ito habang siya ay gising na gising. Gaya niya, hindi na rin umuwi si Bettina kagabi at mas piniling bantayan si Mandy matapos nilang mabalitaan ang kalagayan nito. Hindi pa kasi nila nasasabihan ang pamilya ni Mandy sa sinapit nito. Ang gusto niya, kapag ibinalita niya ang nangyari sa pamilya nito, gising na ito at nakakausap.Lalo pa at doble-doble ang dagok sa kunsensiya niya ang isiping baka siya ang dahilan kung bakit nagkagano’n si Mandy.She released a slow breath, leaned on the couch and stared blankly at the ce