Isinara ko ang pintuan ng kwarto at napatingin sa kama kung saan ipinatong ni Terrence lahat ng pinamili namin. Unti-unti akong lumapit doon para isa-isang tignan lahat ng 'yon. Inilibot ko ang tingin sa buong kwarto hanggang sa mapansin ko ang isang malaking cabinet.
It's true that I've been staying here for almost a month pero ni minsan, hindi pumasok sa isip ko na kalkalin ang kung anuman ang nandito sa kwarto. Sa dami ng iniisip ko, I never had the time to observe every thing around me. Right now, things keep on messing with my mind. I'm in this mansion all day, but I never had time to think properly and clearly. Ni hindi ko nga alam kung may makakaintindi sa sitwasyon ko ngayon. I guess, no one really loved me that much.
Binuksan ko ang cabinet at nakitang wala itong laman. Bahagya na lang akong napangiti. I think this is where they should be. Panigurado namang magtatagal pa ako dito. Where should I go after all of this? Hindi ko rin alam. Bahala na. What's important is, I still have time to enjoy my life kahit hindi ko talaga alam kung ano ang kahihinatnan ko pagkatapos ng lahat ng 'to. It's either I'd be killed or dragged out of this mansion like I've not been useful.
Well, who knows?
I went towards the bed and took all of my new clothes out of the paperbags. There were also coat hangers inside so I took them out of the cabinet to make my clothes organized. Pagkatapos kong mailagay ang lahat ng damit sa cabinet, maayos ko itong tinignan at napangiti bago ko isinara. I fixed the room again even the price tags na nagkalat sa sahig pati na rin ang mga paperbag.
Napabuntong-hininga ako nang makita kong muli ng maayos ang kwarto. Hindi pa rin talaga mawala sa isip ko kung hanggang kailan ako dito... and now I don't know what to do. I don't have gadjet or even television inside this isolation room. Well, ano pa nga ba ang tawag sa kwarto na 'to? This family's making sure na wala talagang makakaalam na buhay pa ako.
Habang nakatayo ako sa tapat ng kama, napatingin ako sa tiyan ko nang marinig ang pagrereklamo nito. First of all, hindi pa ako nakapag-almusal. Tanghali na ngayon kaya natural lang na magutom ako. I was about to go out para hanapin si Blue nang bigla naman akong matigilan habang nakasilip sa labas.
"This is enough, Erin! I'm going to work!"
Nakita ko naman na tila nag-aaway ang mag-asawa kaya napaatras ako. Their Master was supposed to go downstairs nang harapan naman niya si Erin na nakasunod sa likuran nito kaya nagtama ang mata ng dalawa, "Trabaho nanaman?! 'Yan na lang ba palagi ang idadahilan mo sa akin, Ali?!" sigaw ni Erin. Tila maiiyak na rin ito.
Napatingin naman ang lahat sa direksyon nila nang magsigawan ang dalawa. Napansin ko ang mga tauhan at kasambahay sa baba na napayuko at pasimpleng umalis dahil sa nangyayari.
"Isn't it better if my reason for leaving is just because of work? Not because of going out with some stranger, huh?!"
"Should I be thankful then, Ali? Pwede bang kahit minsan, ituon mo sa amin ni Melody ang buong oras mo? Mas mahalaga pa ba talaga 'yang trabaho mo kesa sa amin?" kahit medyo malayo, kitang-kita ko ang pag-iyak ni Erin.
"Both of you and my job are important to me," sagot ng asawa nito sa kanya. I don't know pero napansin ko na tila nagpipigil na din ito sa galit lalo na't kumuyom ang kamay nito habang matalim ang tingin kay Erin.
What exactly happened between the two of them para magalit sila ng ganyan sa isa't isa? I think there's more reason than prioritizing work? Third party? Is that even possible?
Their Master looks like a workaholic person just like detective kaya imposibleng mambababae siya... but what if it's really true kaya ganito si Erin ngayon?
"Pero bakit wala kang oras para sa amin if we're both important to you?" mas naiyak na lang siya habang hinahampas ang dibdib ng asawa kaya hinawakan nito ang mga kamay ni Erin para pigilan. Erin must be in so much pain for bursting out like this.
"I did everything for the both of you, Erin. And you know that. Despite of my busiest schedule, I cancelled my plans, even the most important ones for many fucking times! It was you who never had time for us," natigilan naman siya sa itinuran ng asawa.
I don't know his name yet pero madalas nila siyang tawaging Ali. Maybe his name is really Ali or just a nickname.
I could even see how his eyes became darker in anger and... pain? Am I seeing his pain?
"I didn't know!" sigaw ni Erin.
"Now you know. I don't want to believe my family for saying bad things about you even though I have so much trust in them. Instead of proving them wrong, you're proving me wrong for choosing to believe you but still... I would believe you because that's how much I love you, Erin," by his words and the way he looks at her. Erin's husband must really be devoted to her but why did they end up like this?
Minsan nang nabanggit sa akin ni Blue na hindi sila ganito date, but what happened for them to be like this? Alam kong hindi dapat nakikielam pero nacucurious lang talaga ako.
"Then choose, Ali. Kami ng anak mo o ang pamilya at trabaho mo?" matapang na tanong nito. Diretso pa rin ang tinginan ng dalawa habang basang-basa ang mukha ni Erin.
"Don't make me choose, Erin. I already let you go the moment you forgot me but I still want to keep you because you are my wife and I have a daughter even if you don't see me as your husband anymore."
"Hindi ako nakalimot, Ali! For me, you are still my husband and you will always be!"
"That's easy to say for you. Words are better left hanging out than speaking them out, especially when you don't really mean it. But when I say that I still believe you, I really mean it. Prove me right, wife," tumalikod na ito at nakakailang hakbang pa lang pababa ng hagdanan bago muling natigilan.
"Then sorry. Please, forgive me. Paano ba ako makakabawi sa'yo?" pakiusap ni Erin.
"I don't know because you were not the person I used to love anymore. And mistakes can be forgiven but not forgotten even if I want to," itinuloy naman niya ang pagbaba sa hagdanan.
"Kung nahihirapan ka, mas nahihirapan ako!" for the third time, natigilan ulit siya sa sinabi ni Erin.
"Your family used to treat me just like a real member of this family. They had let me feel that I am more valuable than you, dba? But now, you're even letting them do what they want to do with me. Alam mo bang pinagbantaan ako ni Allison?" hinarapan naman siya ng asawa niya.
"My sister won't do something that you don't deserve, Erin," there was guilt in his eyes and it clearly opposed his words pero alam kong hindi niya ipinahalata.
"Simula umpisa, alam mong suportado kita sa lahat ng bagay. I never had doubts even when I found out the truth about your family and your organization. I still accepted everything about you and you know that, Ali. You know what, it was also your fault. I didn't know that you would really take time dahil simula nang napunta sa'yo ang kompanya, nawalan ka na ng oras sa akin. I was just asking for a little time pero ipinagkait mo sa akin 'yon."
"I had enough reason, wife. It was urgent. What you did was an act of selfishness and desire and it should not be a reason to waste our efforts."
"I could feel na unti-unti ng nawawala ang pagmamahal mo sa akin just like how I feel right now in front of you, Ali. Parang wala na akong halaga sa'yo. You used to look at me with those sparkling eyes and a smile that every girl could ever wish for but what happened now?" hindi naman nagsalita ang asawa nito.
"But you know what?" mapait na napangiti si Erin, "You can't file an annulment against me hanggat kasama natin si Melody. I will still protect my daughter, at hindi ko hahayaang lumaki siya ng walang ama," diretso ang tinginan ng dalawa ngunit pagkalipas ng ilang segundo...
I didn't expect what he did next na tuluyang nakapagpatigil sa akin sa mismong kinatatayuan ko. Unti-unting humarap ang asawa ni Erin sa direksyon ko kaya nagtama ang mata naming dalawa. Tila nanlamig ang buong katawan ko dahil sa matatalim nitong tingin sa akin. Sa hindi kalayuan ay napansin ko rin si Allison mula sa kwarto niya na nakasilip sa dalawa na halatang kanina pa nakikinig.
Because of what he did, Erin and Allison followed the direction where he was looking at. Bago pa man nila ako makita ay mabilis kong isinara ang pintuan at napasandal dito. Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko nang bumilis ang paghinga ko dahil sa nangyari. Tila huhugutan ako ng hininga anumang oras. I wasn't supposed to see that kaya ganoon na lang siya kung makatingin sa akin. I didn't mean to witness what really happened kaya siguro galit na galit siya.
Please, don't come here.
Baka puntahan niya ako at pagalitan dahil sa nakita niyang nakikinig ako sa away nilang mag-asawa. Pagkalipas ng halos isang minuto, may kumatok sa pintuan na mas lalo pang nagpakaba sa akin. Dahan-dahan kong hinarapan 'yon habang may kumakatok pa rin. Would I be punished because of what happened? Kaya ba kumakatok siya ngayon sa kwarto ko?
Walang nagsasalita ngunit patuloy pa rin ito sa pagkatok. Ibinaba ko ang kamay ko at malalim na huminga para kumuha ng lakas ng loob. I just need to say na hindi ko sinasadya, hahanapin ko naman talaga dapat si Blue. It wasn't even my fault kung nakita at narinig ko sila dahil hindi ko naman alam. They could do that privately pero bakit doon pa sila nag-away?
It's not my fault.
Dahan-dahan kong hinawakan ang door knob at pinihit ito para buksan. Pumikit ako habang binubuksan 'yon at pinapakalma ang sarili ko. I opened my eyes slowly but unexpectedly, iba ang sumalubong sa akin. Instead of shaking in fear, I felt confused.
"Hello! Xenia!" inilahad nito ang kamay niya sa akin na lubusan kong ipinagtaka. Isang babae ang sumalubong sa akin, "Uhmmm, what?" malapad ang ngiti nito habang nakatingin sa akin. She has porcelain skin, dark brown medium hair and I could even see the dark brown orbs of her eyes. Napakasimple niyang tignan. She also has smiling eyes kaya mapapatitig ka dito.
"I'm Xenia Vitale, nice to meet you, Serenity Gale," napatingin ako sa labas ngunit wala sila kaya napabuntong-hininga ako. Kinuha ko naman ang kamay niya at bahagyang ngumiti kahit naguguluhan ako, "N-nice to meet you too, Xenia. Pero bakit ka nandito? Ipinapatawag ba ako?"
Napasimangot naman siya na tila dismayado sa sinabi ko, "Ano ka ba? Mukha ba akong katulong? Of course not. I'm here for my job," diretso siyang pumasok sa kwarto ko at minasdan ang paligid kaya sinundan ko siya ng tingin.
"You know, cause I'm the family's accountant," hinarapan niya ako at ngumiti kaya isinara ko naman ang pintuan. Umupo siya sa kama ko kaya lumapit na rin ako doon, "Accountant?" umupo na rin ako sa tabi niya.
"Yep. Family's accountant, NR company's accountant and the Alzini's accountant of course."
"How do you do it? How does it work?" tila bigla naman akong naging interesado sa sinabi niya.
"We do audits and financial statement analysis as well as recording transactions, providing financial information and analyzing accounting datas. When Master started his company, I used to prepare those but when it became one of the top companies after few years of hard work, I do annual financial reports now. You know, annual reports are made for large companies and organizations." She seemed so proud habang binabanggit 'yon. Kahit sino naman, kapag nagbunga ang lahat ng pinaghirapan ay makakaramdam ng tuwa.
"Then it only means that you are good in math?" tanong ko hanggang sa napangiti na rin ako nang matawa naman siya.
"No, of course not. I failed math every year. But I still became an accountant even if I had the lowest grade in mathematics above all of my classmates. You don't have to be a math genius, you just have to be clever in analyzing and evaluating. Once you know how to clearly comprehend, you won't have any problem fixing financial issues. Naturally, of course you have to know the basics."
Even though I just met her, I felt proud dahil sa layo ng narating niya. I could see it by the way she dressed, kaya pala pormal ang suot niya na bumagay naman sa kanya.
"How about you?"
"What?" tanong niya na ikinagulat ko naman. Halos mapatitig na rin kasi ako sa kanya.
"What's your profession?" natahimik naman ako at sandaling napaisip. Umiling na lang ako sa kanya at bahagyang napangiti kahit nakaramdam ako ng lungkot.
"Supposed to be a doctor," sagot ko.
Mas lumapad naman ang ngiti nito, "Really? What specialization?"
"Cardiologists."
"What made you love being a cardiologist?"
"My mother. That was her profession."
"Oh yeah, I still remember your mother. It was Dr. Kirsten Verdejo de la Roche, right?" nagulat naman ako sa sinabi niya, "Kilala mo siya?"
"Yes. Hindi ba sikat ang nanay mo date when she was still alive? She was a famous cardiologist. Bata pa ako noon at madalas kong marinig ang pangalan niya, especially when she married your father when he was still the second general, right side of the former Army General Rufus Madriaga, right?" mas natawa na lang ako dahil marami din pala siyang alam.
No doubt na baka kasa-kasama niya sina detective dahil lahat naman sila, mas marami pang alam sa akin tungkol sa buhay ko.
Siguradong halos lahat ng kasama sa samahan nila, alam ang tungkol sa akin kaya hindi na ako magtataka, "That's right."
If I could just say that the General is not really my biological father... but this is not yet the right time to speak out the truth.
"You want to be like her dahil gusto ng mom mo na maging katulad mo siya someday?" tanong nito kaya umiling ako, "No, I really want to be like her. Gusto kong sumunod sa yapak niya. She was one of the top cardiologist. She saved many lives but the thing is... hindi niya nagawang iligtas ang sarili niya. And that's the sad truth," napawi naman ang ngiti ni Xenia.
"It might be too late but I'm sorry for what happened to your mother, Gale. She died because of a heart attack, right?"
Tumango ako at hindi maiwasang makaramdam ng lungkot. Kahit labag sa loob ko, hindi ko na lang pinansin ang sinabi niya tungkol sa sanhi ng pagkamatay ng mom ko.
It's either she really died or she was killed. Her death has always been a mystery to me. She was still young at hindi siya mamamatay nang walang malalim na dahilan. She wouldn't just die like that. There's something more.
"So you belong to Alizini's third generation?" tanong ko kay Xenia para iwasan na ang usapan tungkol sa nakaraan ko.
"No, I serve the second and third generation. Kasi alam mo na, I don't work fixed only in one place. I could be needed by the family, Mister Radcliffe's company or even the org anytime."
"Being an accountant must really be a stressful work for you, right?" sa pagkakaalam ko, maraming nahihirapan sa usapang 'to. I wasn't able to try it because I never dreamed to be one.
"Yup, but I get used to it," tumayo siya at nilibot ang kwarto, "I'll be staying here for the mean time until they let me leave," nagsalubong naman ang kilay ko, "What do you mean?" binuksan niya ang cabinet ko at tinignan ang mga damit na kakaayos ko lang.
"You should enjoy your stay here, Gale," tinignan niya ako at ngumiti habang nakahawak ang dalawang kamay niya sa dalawang pintuan ng cabinet.
"Ha?"
Humarap naman siya ulit doon, "You'll get more than this. I assure you," mas lalo na lang akong nagtaka sa mga pinagsasasabi niya.
Sakto namang may kumatok sa pintuan. Bumukas 'yon at sumalubong sa amin si Blue, "Miss Xenia, kakain na daw po sabi ni Godfather."
"We'll be there, Blue. Thank you!" sagot niya.
Nginitian ako ni Blue bago umalis. Isinara ni Xenia ang cabinet at lumapit sa gawi ko na siyang ipinanlaki ng mata ko dahil sa sumunod niyang ginawa. Hinawakan niya ang aking kamay at hinila papalabas ng kwarto, "Uhm, where are we going?" tanong ko kaya hinarapan niya ako.
"Didn't you hear girl? Godfather is calling us. We're going to have our lunch together with them," muli niya naman akong hinila. She looks so excited habang pababa kami ng hagdanan.
"Uhmmm Xenia... ikaw na lang. I'm not part of the family, therefore I should not eat with them," baka naman nagkakamali lang siya.
"You speak too much. Kaya nga pumunta ako sa kwarto mo kasi pinapasundo ka nila sa akin. Come on, I'm already hungry," tuluyan naman niya akong hinila pababa. Hindi ko naman alam kung ano ang ibig niyang sabihin, sa kwarto ako kumakain ng umagahan, tanghalian at hapunan. Imposibleng isasama nila ako dahil hindi naman ako miyembro ng pamilya nila.
We went straighly to the dining area right after having our way downstairs. Nadatnan naman namin ang buong pamilya na masayang naguusap-usap. Natigilan sila at napatingin sa direksyon namin. Ngumiti si Senyora at tumayo para lapitan ako, "Good to know you're both here. Kanina pa namin kayo hinihintay," hinawakan niya ang kamay ko at hinila papalapit sa lamesa.
Halatang naghihintay nga sila dahil hindi pa nagagalaw ang nakahapag na pagkain. Godfather was seated at the end of the table which only means that he really has the authority for everything. Nasa kanan naman niya ang isang taong hindi ko inaasahan. Their Master. I thought umalis na siya kanina pagkatapos nilang mag-away ni Erin? Katabi rin nito si Allison. I was just thinking kung bakit wala si Erin? Did she leave after their quarrel? Sabagay, ano bang pakielam ko doon? Nevermind.
Umupo si Xenia sa tabi ni Allison. Hinila pa ni Senyora ang isang upuan sa tabi nito bago umupo sa pwesto niya. Nang mapansin nilang nakatayo pa rin ako habang aligaga sa nangyayari ay natuon sa akin ang kanilang atensyon, "Come on, Gale. Sit down. Hindi magandang pinaghihintay ang pagkain," saad pa ni Senyora.
Her son was just looking at me with of course wearing that seriousness on his face. Galit pa rin ba siya dahil sa nakita ko kanina? Sabagay, mula pa naman noon ay galit na siya sa akin.
One thing, bakit kasama ako ngayon sa tanghalian nila when I was supposed to be having my lunch inside that room?
"Let's eat," pahayag ni Godfather kaya nag-umpisa na silang kumain. Nilagyan ni Senyora ng pagkain ang plato ng asawa nito habang kumukuha naman ng white pasta si Xenia na halatang gutom na gutom na. Hinihintay rin siya ni Allison na matapos sa pagkuha. Their Master took some of the vegetable salad and started digging in.
Patago akong napangiti dahil sa kung paano tratuhin ng pamilyang ito ang isa't isa. They may look violent and intimidating pero unti-unti ko ng nakikita na hindi sila masamang tao. My family is worse than them. Suddenly, I felt something wrong within my chest. Tila naninikip ito kaya lumalalim ang paghinga ko. There are also times na nahihirapan akong huminga. I could even feel my heartbeat irregularly beating. I used to this kind of feeling dahil date ko pa 'to nararamdaman.
Ever since that day...
"Bakit hindi ka pa kumakain? Are you okay?" napatingin naman ako kay Senyora kaya ngumiti ako at tumango, "You should eat already lalo na't hindi ka nakapag-almusal kanina. Baka gutom ka lang? Gusto mo bang ipahatid ko na lang sa kwarto ang pagkain mo?" hindi ko alam pero tila nag-aalala ito sa akin. Just like a mother who cares for her child.
Umiling naman ako dahil sa pagkahiya, "H-hindi na po," alam kong napansin rin nila na pinagpapawisan ako.
This feeling was just all of a sudden.
"Baka napagod ka lang kanina dahil sa paglabas niyo ni Terrence?" tanong ni Allison habang ngumunguya pero halatang hindi siya interesado sa akin.
"No, gutom lang siguro 'to," mahina kong sabi.
"That's why you should eat," nilagyan naman ni Senyora ng pagkain ang plato ko hanggang sa gumaan ang pakiramdam ko pagkalipas ng ilang segundo kaya nagawa kong makakain ng maayos. Nag-umpisa muna ako sa pakonti-konti hanggang sa nagawa kong maubos ang nasa plato.
"Right, nasaan nga pala si Terrence?" natigilan ako sa pagkain nang tanungin ako ni Senyora, "Pagkahatid niya po sa akin, umalis din siya agad dahil pinapatawag sa trabaho," pahayag ko.
"Oh I see. Bakit hindi muna siya nagpaalam at nananghalian?" dismayadong sambit nito.
"Mom, kilala mo naman si Terrence. Mas uunahin niya pa ang trabaho kesa sa sarili niya," saad ni Allison na abala sa pagkain.
"Xenia, how's Al?" napatingin kami sa asawa ni Senyora nang magsalita ito.
"We haven't yet talked, tito. He must have been so busy with his work," sagot nito.
"May balita ka ba kung kailan siya uuwi?" tanong naman ni Senyora na ikinailing niya, "Actually, wala pa po tita."
"It's almost one year at wala pa ring paramdam ang lalaking 'yon. Kahit man lang sana tumawag ay hindi niya magawa." -Senyora
"Mom, walang signal sa gitna ng dagat. For sure, palutang-lutang pa si kuya doon ngayon." -Allison
"Nag-aalala lang kami kagaya ng kung paano kami nag-aalala sa'yo noong nagbakasyon ka ng walang paalam." -Senyora
"Uuwi din 'yon mom, ako nga umuwi eh." -Allison
"Allison." - Godfather
"Yes dad?" natigilan siya sa pagkain at diretsong napatingin sa ama, "Please do contact your brother as soon as possible. We need to assure that he's all fine," nagbuntong-hininga naman ito at tumango, "Yes dad," parang pagdating sa tatay nila, hindi sila pwedeng humindi.
"How about Van, Ali?" tanong naman niya sa anak na nasa tabi nito. Suot pa rin ng anak nito ang pormal nitong damit na tila papasok sa trabaho kahit oras na.
"The Elders already got him a ticket, dad. They are just making sure that he's all well before having his way back here."
"That's good to know. And how about the company?" uminom naman ito ng tubig at muling ibinaba 'yon sa lamesa. Napansin ko rin na nakapatong ang isang kamay nito sa kamay ni Senyora na nakapatong din sa lamesa.
"As planned, I got rid of the whole corporation as I stand as a sole proprietor."
"What?! Bakit?" tila nagulat naman si Allison sa narinig niya kaya tinignan siya ng mag-ama.
"We don't want them to be involved in our mafia disputes. Our investor's life might be in danger now for having connection with us and we can't let that happen. That's why as early as possible, I got rid of them," sagot ng kuya nito.
"How did that happen?"
"We made it look like the chief financial officer had take possession of the corporation's money illegally. They trust him a lot that's why I knew that they wouldn't believe me. I had to make them think that I was accusing him for me to have a reason of dragging them all out of my company."
"But the chief financial officer never did it, right?"
"Absolutely, Allison. We told him the plan and he acted well. But we're gonna help all our former investor's company secretly," saad ng ama nito.
"Now I get it."
"How about you, young lady?" natigilan naman ako nang mapunta sa akin ang atensyon nilang lahat nang magsalita ang Godfather nila.
"Do you know that your husband will be having a grand party the day after tomorrow?" dagdag pa nito habang bahagyang nakangiti. Who wouldn't forget about that? Sa kabila ng lahat ng ginawa niya, alam ko ang lahat ng tungkol sa kanya.
Tumango naman ako, "B-But even though I want to show myself to them and ruin the party, I can't... " mapait akong napangiti, "I am not yet ready to face them."
"Well, you should be," nanlaki naman ang mata ko sa sinabi nito, "You must attend his party— since we already had your dress made," at mas ikinabigla ko na lang ang narinig ko.
"P-po?! Pero— "
"We'll explain you the plan later," natahimik ako nang ngumiti naman ito ng malapad. By the way he did that, I didn't like it. There was something in his smile. Something wicked.
"It's your time to shine, Serenity Gale. Always remember that you have all of us— every single one of us behind your back. You have my whole organization from this time on that's why there's nothing to be afraid of. If your family dragged you out of their life, we'll make sure that this time, they will be the one to run after you. Sounds interesting, right?"
-Godfather
"Yes dear, instead you have our son to guide you, right Ali?" nginitian naman ni Senyora ang anak niya na seryoso ang tingin sa akin.
"A-Ano po bang ibig niyong sabihin?" naguguluhan kong tanong.
"You will accompany my son at your husband's party." -Godfather
'Yon naman ang kusang nakapagpatigil sa akin.
"You are the missing chess piece in our plan, Gale. The army already had their first move, it's time for us to move our chess piece too," dagdag pa nito.
Continua...
...Flashback...
Text conversation:
Terrence: Master, we're here.
Master: Good. What is she doing right now?
Terrence: She's putting on a lace gold long gown. The ladies here referred that, siguradong bagay daw sa kanya.
Master: Just make sure that she'll look presentable and feel comfortable.
Terrence: You should be the one here with her then, Master. Baka hindi mo magustuhan kapag ako ang pumili.
Master: As long as she likes it, I'm fine with that.
Terrence: Wait, I'll send a picture.
"But why do I need to try this on?" naguguluhang tanong ni Gale. Well, Terrence was busy with his phone dahil ito ang ibinilin ng Master niya sa kanya. As soon as they get to the shop, he should inform his Master na ginawa naman nito.
Pagkaharap naman ni Gale kay Terrence ay biglaang nasilaw ito nang kuhanan siya ng litrato ng Detective, "Detective, what are you doing? Are you somehow teasing me?" inis na tanong nito dahilan para mapatingin sa kanya si Terrence.
As soon as he took a picture of her wearing the gown, he sent it to his Master and without a minute, he replied...
Master: Gorgeous. Ask her if she still wants to try more but that's already fine with me.
Napangiti ang detective bago ibinalik sa bulsa ang cellphone nito at maiging minasdan si Gale mula ulo hanggang paa, "You look gorgeous, young lady. Are you uncomfortable with what you're wearing? Or you want to try some more?"
"K-komportable naman ako pero para saan ba 'to? May party ba?"
"If it's comfortable that's fine then, since he agreed too," sagot nito na ikinasalubong ng kilay ni Gale.
...End of Flashback...