Episode 17

Mission

"R-really, Tita? I mean... How come? Bakit ni-re-open ang kaso?"

I almost got choked on my own food earlier when Tita Elly told me that my parent's death's investigation was opened again. After 5 years of no evidence and clues, how come they re-investigated it again?

"We are currently managing the Engineering company by your mom, Ate Cynthia, right?" I nodded and drank on my glass of water before they continued.

"The document of a project of the Villaflor's company years ago, that was lost, ay nahanap na kung naka nino. Ang project nila sa Ayala Malls ay biglang itinuloy na ngayon at naka-sign na sa isang kompanyang kalaban. I'm really sure that something is going on because that was a big project, to design a mall, after all. Hindi hahayaan ng parents mo na mapunta 'yun sa kalabang kompanya. Pero nakapagtataka na isa lang 'yun sa mga nasalbang documents sa nasunog niyong bahay."

I gulped hardly when I heard the explanation of my Tita Elly. Ayala... Isn't that Dhara's surname? How come their family is involved to this incident, then?

I also remembered a scene where I was locked on the cabinet wherein Mom and Dad signed papers to the man and woman in front of them. That must be it! Sino ba ang kalaban nilang kompanya?

"But nothing is sure as of now. Basta remember to not let your guard down because they might attack or hurt you when they find a chance to do so. Please stay safe, Hya."

I nodded repeatedly while I felt something like a lump on my throat. I was stopping my tears from falling in front of them because I don't want them to worry about me. It seems like my chest is burning with pain by the mention of my parent's death.

"Can I... Can I h-help on anything?" I stuttered while asking.

"Ayaw naming mapahamak ka pa sa pagpilit ng memories na nawala mo due to trauma, Hya. Mas mabuti siguro kung magpahinga ka muna, hija," Tito Randy advised before giving me a small smile.

I nodded and excused myself so I can go to my bedroom now. Mag-iimpake na sana ako ng gamit para sa paglipat ko sa condo ko pero masyadong magulo ang araw na ito.

While walking towards my room, my tears fell relentlessly that I think the water in my body was reduced to a half percent. They were like waterfalls that continuously dripped from my eyes.

Pagkasara ko palang ng pinto, sumandal ako sa likod nito at kusa nalang napaupo upang umiyak. I don't know what to do anymore... Bakit ba kasi kailangan pang mawala ng maaga ng magulang ko? Why is fate so cruel to me?

I only wanted to be happy but instead, life gave me pain, sadness and depression. Kung sino man ang mga taong nagpapatay sa mga magulang ko, alam kong mapagbabayaran din nila ang mga kasalanan nila.

Kinuha ko ang phone ko at hindi ko alam kung sinong mapagsasabihan ko ng problema ko ngayon. I'm sure that my friends clearly understand my situation but I don't want to disturb them. They have their own personal lives, too.

I suddenly remembered the boy named Cyrus na ilang gabi ko nang napapaniginipan. I don't know if my friends can help me identifying who that boy is but I think he had a huge role on my past.

I clicked the call in my contacts and sighed. My phone rang three times before the person on the other line answered it.

[Ano na naman kailangan mo, panget? User-friendly, tsk.]

Nilayo ko nang kaunti ang phone sa tenga ko dahil sa lakas ng salubong ni Sky. I rolled my eyes before putting it back to my ear. I laughed a little when I realized that it was a wrong choice na siya pa ang tawagan ko lalo na't namomroblema ako.

[Luh, tawang-tawa. Nag-d-droga ka ba?] Mas lalo akong natawa dahil sa sinabi niya. Baliw talaga siya. At least he can make me happy for the mean time.

"Are you free tonight? May i-k-kwento sana ako. Meet-up tayo sa 7/11," I told him but he didn't respond so I assumed that he already cut the line. When I looked at it, it was still on so I placed it back on my ear.

[Ano ba 'yan, putangina naman. Papapuntahin mo pa 'ko r'yan para sa chismis mo.]

"Bobo ka talaga. Pumunta ka na lang, wala ka namang jowa eh."

['Di ka sure sa part na 'yun haha.]

"Oo na, ang dami mong alam. 'Yung tambayan natin dati malapit sa mansyon na 7/11. Bilisan mo ah."

[K.] maikli niyang sagot bago ibaba ang linya. Mukhang kahit anong reklamo naman niya ay pupunta pa rin siya kaya napatawa na lang ako.

I changed my clothes into a black hoodie and black leggings. Sinuot ko na ang Airmax ko bago naglakad papunta sa convenience store. It took me about 20 minutes before finally deciding to go to our meeting place.

I embraced myself while walking on the dark streets of our village. It was cold. Good thing that I wore a hoodie. Secured naman ang lugar namin kaya hindi ako nangangambang mag-ikot sa gabi.

Nagulat pa 'ko nang makita ko si Skyler na nakaupo sa upuan sa labas habang nakadekwatro at may tinutunggang beer in can. Ang gwapo niya sana kaso ang lakas ng tama sa utak.

I waved my hands to his direction and gave him a big smile. I immediately caught his attention that's why I ran towards his position. He just smirked before drinking on his beer again.

"Saan lamay? May lugaw ba ro'n?" he asked before smirking and scanning me from head to foot. I sneered at him before sitting at the mono block chair beside him.

Inabutan niya ako ng isang Heineken can at binuksan na rin iyon. Kinuha ko 'yun at agad na tinungga. I just silently sat beside him that made the atmosphere too awkward. Will he understand me and my problems?

"May problema ka." That didn't sound like a question but more on a statement like he could read my mind.

The night breeze blew hardly towards our direction, the reason why I embraced myself in cold. Nakita ko si Sky na panay lang din naman ang inom sa alak niya.

"Anong meron? Spill na, inaantok na ako," he said while opening another can. Mukhang siya pa 'yung mas problemado sa'ming dalawa kasi kanina pa siya inom ng inom, e'.

I sighed heavily before glancing at the cars that passed by the roads. "May lead na sila Tita sa kung sino ang nagpapatay sa magulang ko. I don't know if I should be happy, sad or angry. It feels like a variety of emotions was about to explode... when my parent's d-deaths were mentioned again..."

Pinalis ko ang luha na nangingilid sa mga mata ko gamit ang sleeves ng hoodie ko. Ayo'kong harapin ang direksyon ni Sky dahil baka asarin niya lang ako.

"Iiyak mo lang. Tapos iinom na rin. Mas maayos 'yun kaysa naiipon lang 'yung sakit sa loob mo, panget. Mas papangit ka," he said with a mixture of laughter to light up the mood. "Ano nang balita? Bakit hindi nila sabihin sa'yo 'yung suspect?" I just shook my head at him because even I don't know the answer to his question.

"Hindi ko na talaga alam, Sky. Gusto kong tumulong sa imbestigasyon kasi ako 'yung mismong nandoon no'ng gabing 'yun. But... I can't fucking remember a thing..." Tuluyan nang bumuhos ang luha ko at sumakit ang ulo nang ipilit ko na namang ibalik ang memorya ko sa nakaraan.

He patted my back to stop me from crying. Alam kong hindi rin siya sanay na nakikita akong umiiyak because in front of my friends, I always compose myself to look strong. To look like I don't have problems in this cruel world.

"Easyhan mo lang kasi, tol. Sadista ka rin eh, 'no?. Mabibigyan din ng hustisya ang pagkamatay nila, Tita. 'Wag ka mag-alala." He gave me a small smile.

"Kaya 'yang utak mo, 'wag mo na lang muna gamitin... since bobo ka pa rin naman," sabi niya kaya hinampas ko ang braso niya dahil sa kalokohan niya. Hindi talaga siya makausap nang matino.

He just laughed and smiled at me, showing his dimples. "Buti naman tumatawa ka na. Kung alam mo lang kung ga'no ka kapangit umiyak, baka itakwil mo na sarili mo," he said before roaring with laughter again. Hindi ko na lang siya pinansin pero nangingiti na rin ako kahit papaano.

"By the way, wala ba akong kinekwento sa inyong lalaki no'ng bata pa tayo? May napapaniginipan kasi akong batang lalaki na lagi kong kasama dati eh. He seemed familiar," I said before gulping on my beer.

"Actually, marami kang kinekwento. Mahaharot naman kayo nila Shreya eh," he said that's why I just sneered at him.

"Pero legit na. Someone who's always beside me that has a bright aura. 'Yung kumportable akong kasama, maliban sa inyo. Wala ba talaga?" Umiling lang siya.

Minutes passed by and I'm still thinking of the boy named Cyrus that always appeared in my dreams. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ko siya napapaniginipan gayong hindi rin siya kilala ng mga kaibigan ko.

"Ayos ka na?" Skyler asked after long minutes of silence. I nodded before looking at him.

"Ba't ba kasi ako pa 'yung tinawagan mo? Mas maayos naman mag-advise si Luna o kaya 'yung kapatid ko. Hindi ko nga alam kung paano 'yang comfort-comfort na 'yan. Miss mo lang 'ata ako eh," he said before laughing with full of confidence and arrogance.

"'Pag kasama kita feeling ko nagiging bobo rin ako, Sky. Bakit kaya ang daming nagkakagusto sa'yo?"

"Ganito kasi 'yan, Hya. Simula no'ng pinanganak ako, 'di na uso 'yung mga bad boy na 'yan. Sa panahon ngayon, Skyler is the new sexy." He laughed again while I just shrugged my shoulders at what he said. He's so full of himself. "Tch, whatever."

After some small talks about our problems in life, he bid his goodbye as he was already sleepy, he said. I waved my hands while saying my farewell to him while he just rode his black Montero Sport.

Binaba niya ang bintana ng sasakyan niya at sinigaw ang mga katagang nagpaayos ng pakiramdam ko.

"Hyacinth Elara Villaflor! Kahit ga'no ka man ka-pangit, tandaan mong nandito lang kami, ha? Walang iwanan, kasi bukod sa pare-parehas naman tayong walang mga jowa, damay-damay na 'to. Matulog ka na, 'wag mo na isipin 'yun. Mahal ka nila Tita kaya hindi ka nila pababayaan. Sabihin mo nalang sa sarili mo na 'ang gwapo talaga ni Sky, sana akin nalang siya'. Bye! Una na 'ko!" He waved his hand before driving his car away.

I smiled while witnessing his vehicle driving away from my position. Sinasabi ko na nga ba, e'. Imagination niya lang 'yung girlfriend niya. But still... I was lucky to have them as my friends that even without saying encouraging or comforting words, can make me forget all my problems away.

Isa sila sa mga naging swerte sa buhay kong napakagulo. Some people just can't leave normal lives, 'no?

Days passed by and today is my last meet-up with Valentine as my thesis partner. Next-next week ay thesis defense na namin kaya ang aasikasuhin na namin ngayon ay sample ng tests and products ng ni-research namin.

"Val!" I called him when he was standing, all glorious and handsome, in front of his car.

He suggested to pick me up from the mansion since it's a Sunday. Unti-unti na rin naman akong naglilipat sa condo ko sa Darling Heights kaya last time na 'to.

"Hey, beautiful," he approached and opened the car door for me.

Pinagmulahan ako ng pisngi dahil sa salubong niya. Umiwas ako nang tingin habang pumapasok sa kotse. Nakalimutan kong sinabi niya nga pala sa 'kin no'ng nakaraan na gusto niya ako. Masyado nang magulo ang buhay ko para problemahin pa ang gano'ng mga bagay.

He looked at me from head to foot that's why I suddenly became conscious of my outfit. I am only wearing a white UP Diliman t-shirt and short maong shorts partnered with converse sneakers. My hair is in a messy bun to partner with my choice of clothes.

His eyes darkened when he scanned my clothes. "You shouldn't be wearing those... short shorts." I rolled my eyes at him before entering the car. Ano naman sa kanya? Kaya nga ako nagsuot ng ganito kasi siya 'yung kasama ko e'.

"Tss, siguro ganyan ka rin 'pag naging jowa. Olats agad 'yan sa nililigawan mo, Val." I fixed my seat belt while he was still staring at my direction. I glanced at him and saw how his jaw was tightly clenched.

"You shouldn't prohibit a woman of what she should wear. Hindi naman namin kasalanan kung hindi makapagpigil 'yung mga lalaki sa kung ga'no kami kaganda. I jokingly flipped my hair and he just shook his head before driving. I heard him sigh.

"Saan ang first laboratory na pupuntahan natin? I listed some chemical labs around Manila kagabi para hindi na tayo babyahe out of town. Also, the factories."

Nilabas ko ang listahan na sinulat ko sa white tote bag na dala ko para tingnan ang nakalista roon.

We went laboratory hopping for the whole day. Hindi nga namin namalayan na 3 PM na pala nang makarating kami sa last factory na kailangan naming puntahan. We will consult if it's all right if we'll test our chemicals to their products because they are one of the main variables of our experiment. We need to prove our hypothesis.

"This is our last stop for the day. Nangangalay na 'yung paa ko," I said while stretching my long slender legs a little. I'm really tired and my back hurts already. Matagal-tagal din kaming tumayo sa mga last laboratories na pinuntahan namin.

"Open the car and wait for me there. Ako na ang kakausap," Valentine suggested while giving me the keys but I insisted to go with him. Besides, we're partners in this aspect. I can't just leave him alone.

After we've talked with a worker in the factory that have guided us to the manager, at last, we're done for the day. Medyo nahirapan pa nga kami sa pagsabi ng isasagawa naming research sa product nila. But since Valentine was just a smooth talker and... a handsome charismatic man, we were immediately approved by the woman manager.

"Val, CR lang ako ah," I told him while I signaled the nearest restroom on our position. He was talking to someone on his phone with creased forehead before nodding at me.

Halos tumakbo na ako papuntang CR dahil ihing-ihi na talaga ako. Simula pa kaning 12 PM, no'ng kumain kami sa isang fast food, ang huling pag-ihi ko. Baka magka-UTI na ako!

After I peed on the girl's restroom, I arranged my hair and face to look proper and neat again. I applied a little blush-on and lip tint to look nice. I smiled in front of the mirror before bringing my tote bag to go to the parking lot where Val is waiting.

Malapit na ako sa kotse niya nang nakita kong may babae siyang kasama. They were talking about something while I sneaked on the back of the nearby car so I could hear their conversation.

"I told you not to come, Dhara. Ang tigas talaga ng ulo mo." Val looked disappointed when he saw Dhara in front of him.

Bakit nandito si Dhara? What the hell?

Halos nasa dulo na kami ng Maynila para sa factory na 'to at talagang binaybay niya pa para makipagkita kay Val? I just rolled my eyes while thinking that he was just using Bri to be his boyfriend to get near Valentine. I didn't know that the once quiet girl can be that desperate for his attention!

"I don't care, Valentine. Bakit kasi hindi ka na lang makipag-usap sa'kin every time I go to your condo? You're too..." Hindi na niya tinuloy ang sasabihin.

"Because I don't want to talk to you. Magagalit sa'kin si Bri kung lagi kang nakaaligid. And besides, I'm here with Elara so why the hell did you even come?" Val raised his voice a bit, starting to lose his patience by the presence of Dhara, but she only laughed.

"So? She's once my friend but she didn't know anything about me. Or you. Wala siyang alam sa pinapagawa sa'yo ng magulang mo. And the fact that she's the sole reason why our plan kept on failing, is maddening me more." She smiled bitterly while anger was etched on her eyes.

"I'm here to talk to you. Tita informed me about your mission last time. Akala ko ay susundin mo agad 'yun dahil matagal mo nang gustong maghiganti. But I guess..."

I creased my forehead about their conversation. I don't understand a thing! Ano bang ibig nilang sabihin?

"So what if I disagree with them? What will you do about it, huh?" Valentine provoked. Kulang nalang ay i-cheer ko siya sa pambabara kay Dhara pero baka mahuli nila akong nakikinig sa usapan nila.

"Please go now, Elara is coming bac—" He couldn't continue what he's about to say when Dhara cut him.

"If you're not going to do your mission, then I'm willing to continue it, cupid."

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#ACM17

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