6 - Safe

REID SIERRA

I went back inside the bar, searching for Lily, but she was nowhere to be found. I checked our VIP room, but she wasn't there either. Feeling a mix of frustration and disappointment, I decided not to ask anyone else about her whereabouts.

"Oh? Nasaan si Lily?" George said as he entered the room; his hair was disheveled, as were his clothes. Sumunod naman sa kanya ang babaeng kalampungan nito at mukhang kakagaling lang sa s*x.

"Mukha ba kaming hanapan ng nawawalang tao?" Iritableng tanong ni Ivan. Napataas naman ang kilay ko sa biglaang pag-iba ng ugali nito. Parang kanina lang e nangunguna sa pangangantyaw, pero ngayon iritable na.

Pansin kong wala si Jasrel, kasama niya kaya si Lily? Hindi ko mapigilang mainis.

"Key," I asked Yuri about his car key, as I wanted to go home now. Nilagok niya muna ang kanyang iniinom na alak bago kinuha ang susi na nakasabit sa pantalon niya.

"Anong gagamitin ko?" Tanong nito, doon lang narealized na susi niya ang hinihingi ko.

"Nila." Tipid kong sagot. Kaagad namang binigay ni Yuri saakin ang susi ng sports car nito, kaya madali na akong umalis.

Habang palabas na sana ng bar ay nakita ko si Lily na may kausap na lalaki, mukhang seryoso silang dalawa. Kaya aalis na sana ako nang hawakan niya ang pulsuhan ni Lily. Kaagad na nanglaban si Lily, kaya walang alinglangan na lumapit ako doon.

"What's going on here?" I asked, firmly grabbing Lily's wrist. I tried to maintain my composure, determined to stay calm and avoid attracting any unwanted attention. Despite the tension rising within me, I kept my voice steady, not wanting to make a scene.

"Bakit? Syota mo ba siya?!" Galit nitong tanong, napatawa naman ako ng mahina at napatingin kay Lily, she's afraid. Nanginginig ito sa takot at galit habang nakatitig sa lalaki.

"Yes. She is. Anong kailangan mo sa kanya?" Malamig kong sabi dahilan para mapaatras siya sa takot.

As he stepped back, I stepped forward. Hanggang sa sumandal ito sa dingding.

"Anong kailangan mo sa kanya?" Ulit ko. Hindi ito nakasagot at biglang napatakbo sa takot. Duwag.

Nilingon ko si Lily, nakayuko ito at kagat ang labi. Ano bang ginagawa niya, kasi rito? Fuck.

Kaagad ko siyang hinila palabas ng bar at pinapasok sa loob ng sasakyan.

"Get in," wika ko, pero hindi ito gumalaw or sumagot. Namumuo na naman ang galit sa puso dahil sa ugali niya. Bakit ba napakatigas ng ulo niya?

"Lily!" Tawag ko sa kanya, mukha naman siyang natauhan, kaya nakakunot ang noo ko habang tinitignan siya.

Kaagad kong hinubad ang coat ko, when I realized that she's still wearing her revealing dress. It was long enough to cover all her revealing legs. She was too small, para magkasya ang coat ko sa kanya.

"Are you okay?" Tanong Ko asked. Pero muling hindi ito nakasagot at napatingin sa paligid. Aalis na sana ito nang muli ko siyang hagitin.

"Ano ba?!" Sigaw niya dahilan para mapatingin sa gawi namin ang ilang mga tao.

"I am asking you, Lily. If you're not, mas mabuti pang sumakay ka sa loob ng sasakyan than making me feel worried about you?!" Kalmado kong sabi, pinipigilang magalit. Bakit ba kasi napakatigas ng ulo niya?

"At sino ka para mag-alala saakin?" With her question, that hit me to the realization, oo nga naman sino ba ako para mag-alala sa kanya.

Napatawa ako ng mahina at dahan-dahan ko siyang binitawan. As soon as I lose my grip on her, she ran. To somewhere at hindi ko na siya nagawang pigilan pa.

Nagtitimpi ako nang galit nang makasakay ako sa loob ng sasakyan at kaagad na tinahak ang daan pauwi.

***

I keep staring at the papers on my desk and my monitor because I can't focus. The sight of Lily last night is making me worry and clouded with several questions. It's been two weeks since I've seen her again.

"Sir, you called me?" My secretary Daniel came in after knocking three times.

"I need you to background check on Lily." I paused, realizing that I don't even know her full name.

"Just someone named Lily. Go check on her at the dangwa market; Violet and Lily are the names of the shops. I bet she's the owner," I nonchalantly said to Daniel, who's listening to me profoundly.

Hindi ko alam, but everything about her, is making me suspicious and worried. Even when she keeps denying the fact that she's not the one who ruined my wedding, hindi ako nagkakamali na siya iyon.

Days had passed, but Daniel's information was not enough. still lacks, and I must know more about her.

Damn. Why? Why do I have to involve myself again with her?

As per the information, her full name is Chandria Lily Lopez. Twenty-five years old. She finished her college degree at Standford University as a Bachelor of Science in Business Management with a with a major in Financial Management as Suma Cumlaude.

She has a great background, though, Bakit nanatili siya sa dangwa market? She has so many opportunities to work for a big corporation, though.

"Sir, I also found out that she's selling their land at Malolos, it's been six weeks since it was posted on the market." I furrowed my eyebrows as I heard him say that.

"Why?" I asked. "Unfortunately, their farm was caught by fire four months ago, leading them to bankruptcy, and now that her father died three months ago, she can't afford to pay their farmers anymore." I lean my back to my swivel chair as soon as Daniel reports me everything about her.

"She's also adopted with her sister’s name, Violet, who is also not her real sister." Napataas ako ng kilay sa sinabi niya. Why? Where's her real parent?

"Find out why she needs to sell their land." Sabi ko at ibabalik na sana ang atensyon sa computer dahil nakatanggap ako ng email from the finance department.

"Unfortunately, sir, she needs money. especially now that her sister is in college." Muli akong napatingin kay Daniel ng sabihin iyon.

"How much?" Tanong ko, mas lalo akong napakunot ng noo sa sinabi niya.

"Probably a half million or a million, sir." I pursed my lips as he said that, making me more curious about her.

"Check with Yassir if he wanted a land—wait, ilang hectares ba?" I asked. Napatingin siya sa tablet na dala. "Only one sir." He answered, mas lalong kumunot ang noo ko, "Isang hectarya lang ang lupa nila?" Umiling ito, "Six hectares, but only one-hectare lang binebenta niya sir." Muling napasandal ako sa inuupuan ko. Bakit isang hektarya lang binebenta niya?

"How much?" I asked. "Only five million, sir." Hindi ko mapigilang magtaka.

For a land, it probably costs one thousand to five thousand per square meter. Why is she's selling her land at the very low price? Akala ko ba nagtapos siya bilang isang suma cum laude ng financial management. Bakit ganon ang bigayan niya sa lupa?

I raised my hand and asked him to leave. Kaagad naman itong umalis. Naitukod ko naman ang dalawa kong siko sa lamesa ko, and I clasped my hands together and rested my chin on it.

Kaya ba nagtatrabaho ito sa bar? Because she badly needs the money?

***

Kaagad akong napatayo mula sa pagkakaupo nang makita kong alas diyes na ng gabi. Kaagad kong hinablot ang coat ko at pumunta sa underground parking lot, sakay ang bugatti veyron, kaagad akong nagtungo sa bar na pinagtatrabahuan ni Lily.

But I can't see her anywhere. Did she quit? Or maybe in one of the VIP rooms? Thinking that she might be with some man boiled my blood. Bakit ba ganito ang epekto niya saakin? I can't stop worrying about her, na dapat pinagtutuunan ko ng pansin ay si Luxury. Why?

"Sir, are you looking for someone?" I startled as one of the waitresses came to me, I immediately composed myself and asked about Lily's whereabouts.

"Ah, ilang araw ng hindi pumapasok si Lily. Kahit na sa dangwa, sarado din ang tindahan nila." She answered and left.

Why? Hindi ko alam, pero nakaramdam ako ng kaba. Kaagad akong umalis sa bar at umuwi na lamang. I asked Daniel to find her home address. And as soon as I received the address,. Pinuntahan ko kaagad ang bahay nila.

But no one is answering. Kaya pumasok ako to check her, pero magulong bahay lang ang naabutan ko. Sobrang gulo na para bang dinaanan ng bagyo.

"Sino po sila?" I startled as soon as I heard a voice coming from the back.

Umayos ako at tinignan ko siya. Siya ang kapatid ni Lily if hindi ako nagkakamali. I saw her at the hospital.

"I'm looking for Lily. Is she's here?" I asked. She furrowed her eyebrows and scanned me from head to toe.

"Isa ka ba sa inutangan ni Ate?" Tanong niya na nagpakunot ng noo ko.

"What are you talking about?" I asked. She heaved a long sigh and went inside, then picked up the things on the floor one by one.

"May mga tao kasing pumunta dito, hinahanap si Ate. Ang sabi mga inutangan daw ni Ate. I don't know where she is. Hindi siya sumasagot sa tawag ko." As Violet said that, my heart was pounding so loudly, filled with frustration, madness, and worry. I can't explain why I am feeling that, basta iyon kaagad ang naramdaman ko nang sabihin iyon ni Violet.

"Can I have her number?" Violet immediately gave me her sister's number, even if her expression was doubtful.

Paglabas ko ay bumungad kaagad saakin ang farm nila, na walang katao-tao, sunog ang kabilang bahagi, at nalalanta na ang mga pananim.

"Here," inabot ko kay Violet ang business card ko. "Call me immediately as soon as Lily gets home. Immediately." Tumango naman ito habang nakatingin sa business card na inabot ko sa kanya.

I left her and went back to Manila.

"Where have you been?" Mommy asked as soon as I arrived at my mansion. She's worried and almost ready to cry.

"Mom," I chuckled and went towards her to hug her, pero kaagad niya lang ako pinalo sa braso.

"Damn you, Reid! Nakakatampo ka na talaga! Hindi ka man lang umuwi noong birthday ko, I understand dahil alam kong gusto mong mapag-isa, but it was your father's birthday yesterday! Hindi ka man lang umuwi!" Sigaw ni mommy habang umiiyak ito.

"I am sorry, mom. It must slip on my mind. Marami lang po ako iniiisip." I hugged my crying mom; she looks so cute when she's nagtatampo.

"Don't tell me pati birthday mo kinalimutan mo narin?" She asked, sanhi para mapakamot ako ng batok ko.

"Ganon na nga? Sorry, mom, my mind's been clouded with so many thoughts." Ngumuso lang si mommy, kaya nakurot ko ng mahina ang mukha niya.

"Reid, I want to meet that girl. The one who ruined your wedding. If she's really pregnant, I want to check on her. You can't ignore your child, Reid, regardless of who that woman is. Ilang beses ko ba kasi kayong sinabihan na gumamit ng condom! Ayan tuloy!" Natawa ako ng mahina sa sinabi ni mommy.

"Bakit ka tumatawa?" Galit nitong sabi, pero lalo lang siyang cute tignan kapag tumatawa.

"You'll meet her soon, mom. But don't get shocked when she tells you the truth. It's better na sa kanya mo marinig ang lahat." I said.

Mom left after our dinner. As soon as she left, I contacted the elite security team to locate Lily's location. Kaagad nilang naisend ang location saakin and asked them to update her real time location per hour.

Kinabukasan ay kaagad kong pinuntahan ang location with some of my bodyguards. I told them to standby as I went inside the mansion.

Pagpasok ko palang ay may iilang mga tao na naglalaro ng barahan, with some scent of cigarettes and beers. The place was filled with laughter and chattering noises.

"Where can I find Donya Gigi?" I asked. I asked for information about her as soon as the team located this location.

Kaagad akong hinatid ng lalaki sa pinakadulo ng mansion, at may binulong sa isang babae na tingin ki ay nasa mid-forties.

"What do you need, young man?" He scanned me from head to toe. Nakasuot lamang ako ng isang plain white tshirt na pinartneran ko ng rigged pants and a fliptop.

"Uutang ka ba? Magkano?" Tanong niya nang maibalik na ang tingin sa baraha niya.

"How much money did you lend to Lily?" I asked, which made her stop and glare at me, but she laughed afterwards.

"Almost a million, but if with interest, aabot iyon ng higit sa isang million." Sagot niya. Pinatong ko kaagad ang briefcase na dala ko sa tapat niya dahilan para mapatigil siya at mga kasama niyang naglalaro ng baraha.

"I know you held her captive." She smiled like crazy, as if she got amused by my act. She compasses her hand to her people.

"I want Lily in exchange for two million." Mas lalong lumawak ang ngisi nito. Napatingin ako sa harapan ko nang may tinulak ang isang lalaki.

And then I saw Lily, her face and arms marked with bruises, igniting a fiery rage within me. But she couldn't meet my gaze, quickly averting her eyes the moment they met mine.

"There, you can have her." Kukunin na niya sana ang briefcase na may lamang dalawang milyon when I pointed my gun at her.

Kaagad na nilabas naman ng mga tauhan niya ang baril nila at tinutok saakin. Tumawa naman si Donya Gigi sa ginawa.

"Nice, but do you think you can kill me, mister?" She asked with a playful smile.

If I could only trigger my gun at her, ginawa ko na. But I am more concerned of Lily, as one of her men pointed gun at her. Bakas na bakas ang takot sa mukha ni Lily nang makita ang mga baril sa kanyang paligid. Tumulo pa ang luha nito sa takot.

Damn.

"They're here, sir." Rinig kong sabi ni Andy, the Elite Security team leader, from my small earpiece.

"Dapa!" sigaw ng mga pulis as soon as they entered the mansyon.

"Mess with everyone, but not with the Sierras, Donya." Gigil kong sabi sa kanya. Bakas na ng takot at galit ang kanyang mukha ng sabihin ko iyon. Mukhang kilala niya kung sino ang mga Sierra.

Tatakbo na sana si Donya Gigi nang kaagad kong sinipa ang paa niya dahilan para mapatumba siya.

Tatakbo rin sana ang lalaking humawak kay Lily when I pointed my gun at him and shot him on his right left. Nabitawan niya si Lily at napadapa ito sa sahig.

As the gunfire erupted, she instinctively curled up, her hands covering her ears. Without a moment's pause, I rushed to her, enveloping her in my arms and guiding her to safety outside.

With the team securing our path, we reached the car, but the relief was short-lived as Lily collapsed unexpectedly. Swiftly, I lifted her into the vehicle and sped away from danger.

“To the hospital, now!” I commanded the driver to drive fast. My heart sank as I noticed the bullet wound on her side. How had she been hit? Anguish and frustration surged within me as I urged the driver to hasten our escape.

"You're safe now, Lily. We're going home." Yakap ko siya nang mahigpit at hinalikan ang ulo niya.

Today's events have made it crystal clear: keeping her safe is my top priority now.