CHAPTER 28

VALENTINA IMARA MEADOWS

We arrived in the Philippines after a 16- to 18-hour flight. Nakakapagod ang byahe kahit na nakaupo, tulog, at kain lang ang ginawa namin. Oceanus booked a hotel near Austria City; isang executive suite na may dalawang kuwarto ang kinuha niya para kahit papaano ay may privacy pa rin kaming dalawa.

"Can you just agree to it?!"

Ilang beses siyang umiling bago sumimsim sa iniinom niyang alak. He raised his hand and smiled at me, a smile that reached almost to his ears. Pulang-pula na ang mukha niya dahil sa iniinom niyang alak. Lalo na rin ang buhok niya ngayon na sobrang gulo.

"Nope, Huzzah!"

Napabuntong hininga na lang ako at iritang napasuklay sa buhok. Humalukipkip ako sa kan'yang harapan at tinaasan ng isang kilay.

"Don't treat me like a baby, Oceanus. I'm independent. Para kang siraulo."

Namayani ang katahimikan sa pagitan naming dalawa. May naririnig pa akong parang may binubulong siya bago magsalita.

"Fine. Umalis ka na. Just call me immediately if something bad happens to you," ani Oceanus.

I chuckled softly and nodded. Mas madali siyang kausap kapag nakainom, kaya bago pa magbago ang isip niya ay mabilis na akong lumabas ng kuwarto at iniwan siya.

The hotel that Oceanus and I are staying at is close to the beach. Kaya aalis ako ngayon dahil ang isa sa mga kaibigan ko ay ininvite ako sa isang beach party nang malaman nila na nandito ako ngayon sa Pilipinas.

Partying isn't the reason why I came here, but I'll just go to relieve stress for a while, atsaka inimbitahan ako kaya sino ba naman ako para tumanggi?

Dumiretso muna ako sa ladies' room para tingnan ang sarili sa huling pagkakataon.

I gathered my long, straight chocolate-brown hair behind me. My light brown eyes appeared even more vivid as they caught the sunlight streaming through the bathroom window. I was wearing a fitted, sleeveless brown dress that accentuated my hourglass figure.

Sumilay ang matamis na ngiti sa aking labi nang makita ang repleksyon sa harap ng salamin.

"You're so pretty, Val," I whispered to myself.

▄︻デ══━一

"Omg! Hexia, nice to meet you again!"

Mahina akong natawa at niyakap siya. Napatalon pa siya sa tuwa ng mayakap ako. Well, it's really been a year since our last party. Nakilala ko siya dahil kay  Atlas; dinala niya ako sa birthday party ng pamangkin ni Ismael.

"Nice to meet you too!"

Nakapag-usap pa kami tungkol sa ibang bago bago napagpasyahan na umakyat na sa yacht. One of her friends owns it. Malaki ang yacht, at kita ko na rin na may mangilan-ngilang tao na roon.

"Do you want to swim later?" she asked me while I watched her rummage through her bag as we entered a cabin. "I have a new two-piece and a one-piece swimsuit in my bag. Just tell me if you're going to swim in the sea so I can choose a swimsuit for you."

"Sure. I'll let you know," nakangiti kong sagot.

Nagpaalam muna ako sa kan'ya na aakyat na muna ako sa top deck ng yacht para makalanghap man lang ng hangin. The yacht is already moving and I can feel the wind brushing through my face and dancing in my long hair.

Mukhang kailangan ko na ngang enjoy-yin 'tong ganap ngayong araw dahil hindi ko alam kung kailan pa 'to mauulit pa. My friend works in real estate; as usual, I already expected there are other business owners and people like that here.

"Hi, I saw you were alone, so I came over. Do you want me to accompany you?"

Mabilis kong dinilat ang aking mga mata nang marinig ang isang boses. I didn't even know him; ngayon ko lang siya nakita. I gazed at him emotionlessly.

I shook my head. "No. If you don't mind, please leave me alone."

He froze at the moment and understood what I said; pagkatapos no'n ay walang pasabi na umalis na siya agad. From the tone of my voice alone, he could tell I wasn't pleased with him.

Isang buntong hininga na lang ang aking pinakawalan bago binalik ang paningin sa magandang kulay asul na karagatan. While I was staring at the sea, my view was interrupted when something caught my eye.

I recognized him even though it was just his back that was facing me. Familiar na familiar siya sa akin kahit na isang beses lang kaming nagkita noon. His broad frame was so expansive that you could almost hide behind his wide chest, and also his body that he can tower over you.

It was Amadeus Alejandro Zevallos, also known for his codename 'Helios,' The person Atlas ordered me to kill before.

I didn't expect to see him scanning the crowd, na para bang may hinahanap siya hanggang sa tumigil 'yon sa aking direksyon. Nanatiling normal at walang emosyon ang aking mukha kahit na sa kaloob-looban ko ay parang nagwawala na ang puso ko at laman-loob.

Why am I feeling this way?

None of us broke our gaze. Even from a distance, I knew it was him. His beautiful gray eyes, handsome face, and dominant aura—who could forget those beautiful features of him? That night, we almost did it if I hadn't passed out.

I know him, but he doesn't remember me anymore.

Ako na agad ang unang umiwas sa aming dalawa. I started to head down and was about to enter the hallway of the cabins when someone grabbed me.

Hinila ako no'n hanggang sa makarating kami sa pinaka madilim na parte nitong hallway ng mga cabin. Mabilis na gumalaw ang kamay ko. Kukunin ko na sana ang pocket knife sa leg holster ko nang pigilan ako ng taong 'yon.

I felt a chill run through my body when I heard his voice.

I knew him well, and I could never forget that.

"I didn't know that you're here. You supposed to be in Mexico, Valentina, or should I say Sarah Dayanghirang?"

It was Atlas.

Kinuyom ko ang aking kamay na hindi niya hawak para dapuan ng suntok ang kan'yang mukha. Hindi ko 'yon nagawa dahil mabilis din ang kilos niya. Malakas kong tinapakan ang kan'yang paa at kukunin na sana ang pocket knife na nakalagay sa leg holster ko at tinutok 'yon sa leeg niya.

"Don't bring Sarah into this, Atlas. Matagal na siyang patay," I spat. "Kung saan-saan ka namin hinahanap, Atlas. How could you just abandon us? Ismael has been frantic, and your office is a mess."

Nanginginig ang kamay ko habang nakahawak pa rin sa kutsilyo. Hindi ko alam kung alin sa mga emosyon ko ang dapat kong unahin. Pero ang galit sa dibdib ko ang nangaunguna ngayon. I remembered everything he'd done, and a cold fury washed over me.

"We need to talk now," I hissed, the knife digging into his skin.

Nanatilig lang siyang nakatingin sa akin; his expression was unreadable. Alam kong ramdam niya ang galit na nararamdaman ko. Alam kong ramdam niya kung paano manginginig ang patalim na nakatutok sa kan'yang leeg.

"I have a question..." nanginginig ang boses ko habang mariin na nakatingin sa kan'ya. "You're going to answer them."

I noticed a flicker in his eyes. May kutob ako na parang naiintindihan niya ang ibig kong sabihin kaya nasabi ko 'yon.

"So you found out about your father," he said softly, taking my hand. Pero muli ko lang diniinan ang hawak kong kutsilyo sa kan'ya. "That means you went through my office."

Halos lumubog ang patalim na nakatutok sa balat ng kan'yang leeg. I noticed a drop of blood trailing down his neck, but I didn't loosen my grip. I want to make him feel that I wasn't playing around.

"That's not a problem anymore! You fucking killed my father!" sigaw ko. "W-why? Why did you do t-that?" nanghihina kong tanong sa kan'ya.

Mabilis kong naibaba ang hawak kong pocket knife nang maramdaman na parang may nanood sa amin. I glanced around, searching for the intruder. At 'yon na nga, I saw someone. Hindi ako nagkakamali na si Helios 'yon. He was standing at the end of the hallway, watching us.

I wasn't sure if he was just passing by or if he had been there the whole time. Hindi agad ako nakakilos nang hinablot ni Atlas ang pocket knife sa kamay ko at basta na lang tinapon sa basurahan. His arm wrapped around my waist, at nanlaki ang mata ko dahil doon, lalo na at hinapit ang baywang ko papalapit sa kan'ya.

I looked up at him, my brow furrowed, trying to pry him away.

"Ano ba, Atlas? Bitawan mo nga ako!"

Nang binalik ko ang paningin kung saan nakatayo si Helios ay nanatili pa rin siyang nakatingin sa amin. Nakahalukipkip na siya, at alam kong sa amin lang siya nakamasid dahil kaming dalawa lang naman ni Helios ang nandito.

"We will continue this in my warehouse," seryosong sambit ni Atlas at nakatingin na rin pala siya kay Helios.

Hindi nakatakas sa paningin ko ang pagtaas ng gilid ng kan'yang labi nang matapos siya sa sinabi niya. Atlas began to walk away down the hallway of the cabin, his hand still resting on my waist.

▄︻デ══━一

Hindi man lang kami nakapag-relax ni Oceanus sa executive suite dahil kailangan na naming dumiretso sa warehouse ni Atlas. As usual, we are already in Atlas' office now, tinutuloy ang naudlot ng usapan kanina sa yacht.

"I'm just following our organization's rules, Hexia. And your father already signed the letter. Wala siyang magagawa kung 'yon ang nakatadhana sa kan'ya."

Nababaliw na ba siya!?

Malakas kong hinampas ang palad ko sa lamesa niya at matalim na tiningnan.

"Baliw ka na ba?! You killed him! You killed my f-father!" nabasag ang boses ko ng sumigaw sa kan'yang harapan.

Hindi ko na magawang punasan ang mga luha ko dahil kahit anong gawin ko naman na tanggalin 'yon ay may panibagong luha na naman ang tutulo.

"You've become your father's replacement, Hexia. How many times do I have to tell you that I'm just following the rules of our organization? If I hadn't done it, who would have taken responsibility? Of course it would be me. He signed the letter that you would be his replacement."

"After a couple of weeks your father suddenly changed his mind. Hindi na niya balak na gawin kang replacement at magbabackout na, but it was too late because he had already signed it."

My shoulders shook as tears continued to stream down my face. Walang ka emosyon-emosyon ang ekspresyon ng kan'yang mukha ng tingnan ako habang nakaupo sa swivel chair.

He answered all the things I wanted to know while we were arguing here in his office.

"So this was all planned?" nanghihina kong tanong sa kan'ya. "You didn't just accept me here because I was looking for a job. You accepted me because I was really my father's replacement here?"

"Yes and yes," he replied quickly.

Napasinghap na lang ako at napahawak sa aking dibdib nang maramdamang sumikip 'yon. I wiped my tears and calmed myself down. Pilit kong pinoproseso sa isipan ko ang lahat ng sinabi niya. Nakakabaliw. Nakakatuliro ng utak ang lahat ng gma 'yon.

"And your mother knows it; she's also working here, and when she wants to retire, your father takes her position while working in our organization, and then you. I also planned the part where I would be the one to support your education until you finish your studies and get a job here. And if you plan to leave our organization again, you already know what the consequences will be."

Napaawang ang aking labi dahil doon. I blink several times when I hear what he says. Pakiramdam ko para akong mabubuwal sa kinatatayuan ko dahil doon. Nanghihina ang tuhod ko.

"Si mama?" mahina kong sambit. "Nagtatrabaho rin siya rito?" nanghihina kong wika sa sarili.

"You've been working here for five years, and you're still not used to what's happening here?" he asked seriously.

Napalunok na lang ako at hindi siya nasagot. I had nothing to say; parang nawawalan ako ng lakas dahil sa mga nangyayari ngayon. I still couldn't even believe what I was hearing now.

Dahil sa lahat ng mga nangyayari sa akin ngayon, simula sa nalaman ko na namatay si papa na ang totoo dahilan kung bakit siya namatay ay dahil kay Atlas, hanggang sa nag-aral ako sa kolehiyo hanggang ngayon nagtatrabaho sa kan'ya, lahat ay planado.

I turned my back on him, mabigat ang kamay ko na binuksan ang pintuan. Muntikan pa kaming magkabanggaan ni Oceanus kung hindi pa siya umatras. Kumunot ang kan'yang noo ng makita ang mukha ko. I know my eyes were red from crying and almost swollen. Hindi ko na rin 'yon naisipan na punasan pa.

Before I could leave Atlas' office completely, he said something in a serious tone.

"We're all victims here, Hexia. There's nothing else we can do, even if we want to leave this organization. We're all trapped here."

SHANGPU