Kabanata 33
Letter
"Dad?" agad na bungad ko pagdating sa mansion. Nakita ko naman agad si Daddy sa may garden, may kausap na lalaking nasa mid-thirties ata.
"Come here, hija... Race," tawag ni Daddy kaya agad akong lumapit.
"This is Austin Madrigal, may private investigator," nakunot ang noo ko dahil sa narinig mula kay Daddy. "And this is my one and only daughter, Architect Wren Luinne Montaños, and this is Architect Horace Kale Merande." My Dad introduced us. Nanatili ang kunot ng noo ko.
"Pleased to meet you, Architect Montaños and Architect Merande," sabay lahad nito ng kamay na agad naman naming tinanggap.
"So, shall we continue talking to my office? Let's go upstairs."
Nagpatiuna sa paglalakad si Daddy habang kausap parin nito si Austin. Tahimik lang kaming nakasunod sa kanila. Hanggang sa nakarating kami sa office ni Daddy ay magulo parin ang isipan ko. Why would he hired a private investigator?
"Here's the envelope that contains all the evidences that I invistigated, Sir. Nandiyan na rin ang pruweba na tama ang taong iniimbistigahan ko," saad ni Austin na nagpakuha nang atensiyon ko.
Dad open the envelope and read it. He clenched his fist and jaw after checking those papers in front of him. I was alarmed by his health. Ilang sandali pa ay nagsalita na si Daddy.
"Your mom's death isn't a mistaken identity. She was really the target."
My dad's voice shiver and it almost broke. Mas lalo lang kumunot ang noo ko, nalilito sa narinig.
"What... do you mean, Dad?" I feared, di na maintidihan ang nararamdaman.
"She is the target of your late boyfriend's father... Cleo's father," Daddy's voice croaked.
Gusto kong pabulaanan ang sinabi ni Dad, pero hindi ko magawa. There is a lump in my throat and it's preventing me from talking. I can't accept it.
"Are you... sure?" I objected. Austin nodded at me and handed me the copies he had as the proofs.
"Planado ang pagpatay kay Mrs. Merande. She is the target of Mr. Clavio Percival dahil alam niyang mahihirapan ang daddy mo sa pagpapatakbo ng kompanya niyo oras na mawala ang mommy mo, kaya iyon ang ginawa niya."
"Ang Percival's Trading Industries ay bumabagsak na dahil sa kakompetensiya nitong kompanya na shareholder rin ng kompanya niyo, just like them. And Mr. Cleo Percival... knew it," dagdag nito na nagpaawang ng labi ko.
"No! Walang alam si Cleo dito!" I pointed out.
"I have evidences, Architect..."
"I said walang alam si Cleo dito!" I screamed and walked out from the office. Hindi ko matanggap ang binibintang nila sa pumanaw ko ng kasintahan. I can't accept it. Cleo is a good man, he never treated me badly.
I slammed my door pagkapasok ko palang sa kwarto. Agad akong dumapa sa kama at doon umiiyak hanggang sa mapagod. Pagkatapos ng ilang oras na pag-iyak ay nag-ayos ako sa sarili at binuksan ang closet para pumili ng damit. But what captures my attention was the blood-stained paper na binigay ng pulis sa akin noong araw mismo nang pagkamatay ni Cleo. It was Cleo's letter for me before he committed suicide.
Even if my hand is shivering, I still manage to get the paper and read it. Sa unang salita pa lang na nabasa ko ay parang kinukurot na ang puso ko. I badly miss him.
'Dear Hon,
I know, mababasa mo itong sulat kapag wala na ako. I am so sorry if I left you. I don't want to do this though, but I can't help it anymore. I'm so sorry. I'd done an unforgivable mistake. Sobrang laki nang kasalanan ng pamilya ko sa pamilya mo. No, it's only Dad and me. No words can ever forgive us, I know.
My father was the mastermind in your mother's death. I know it hurts for you to forgive me, and for me, it's a sin to ask you for my forgiveness.
My father wants me to marry you. And he force me to pursue you. But please, don't get me wrong, I courted you not because I follow his order, but because I really love you. I want to comfort you not because that's what should I do, but because that's what my heart wants me too.
When I told you we have a big misunderstanding, that is because he force me to propose to you and get married as soon as possible, na hindi ko nagustuhan. I want to propose to you because I want to, not because it was my father's order. I loathed my father, and so as myself. I was so coward for not telling you the truth. I was damn afraid that you'll leave me. And thinking that only this thing can solve my problem.
I'm sorry, Hon, you suffered too much because of my father... because of me.'
I didn't continue reading Cleo's letter. Dahil habang tumatagal mas lalong namumuo ang galit sa puso ko. I love him so much and I don't want to hate him. Sobrang sakit nang ginawa ng ama nito sa amin and I can't promise to myself that I won't hate him too. Nasa kabilang buhay na ito at nagsisisi sa nagawa, pero ayaw ko rin namang balewalain lang iyon. My mother's death was a big loss for us. Hindi biro ang mamatayan ng ina, it was never been easy. I was too young back then when she was killed. And thinking about those difficult days we faced with my father without her makes me curse Cleo's father... and so as him.
My tears trickling down as I look up the starless night. Hindi ko na namalayang gabi na pala dahil sa kaka-iyak ko. Nagkulong ako sa kwarto at ngayon lang lumabas sa terrace. The cold wind envelop me and my tears streaming down more.
I don't want to cry more kaya nagpasya akong umalis. I don't know where my dad is, I just want to get wasted just this once.
Bakit parang ang malas ko naman yata sa buhay. I was fooled and I hate it.
Sa Montaños Gran Europe Club ako dinala ng mga paa ko. The familiar neon lights, trans music, smokes and even the smell of alcoholic drinks welcomed me. Ang club na ito ang una kong naging project. This is the fruit of my sleepless nights. And this could be the place gave comforts to me.
"G-Good evening... Architect," natatarantang bati ng bartender sa akin.
"Four shots of tequila sunrise," agad na senyas ko.
"Right away, Architect."
Ilang sandali lang ang hinintay ko at nilapag na agad ang in-order ko sa harapan. I decided to sat down on a stool in a bar counter, avoiding the crowded sofas near me. Dati hindi ko na-iimagine ang sarili sa ganitong lugar, but pain changed me... a lot.
I don't have a high alcohol tolerance, kaya kahit mag-iisang oras pa lang akong naka-upo dito at ilang shots palang ang nainum ko ay ramdam ko na ang pagtama ng alak sa akin. Ito ang kina-iinggitan ko kadalasan sa mga babaeng party-goer at mahilig uminum. They had a high alcohol tolerance and can enjoy the whole night. Pero ngayon, ipinagpasalamat ko iyon.
Dahil na rin siguro sa alak at kalasingan, nagawa ko nang makihalo sa mga tao sa dance floor at nakisayaw sa lalaking hindi ko kilala. Ang tanging gusto ko lang ay hayaan ang sariling magsaya.
Ramdam ko ang biglaang pag-init ng katawan ko dahil sa isang pamilyar na haplos. Napapikit pa ako nang manuot sa ilong ko ang pamilyar na amoy ng lalaking nasa likuran ko. Even in my drunk state, I can clearly remember who was it.
"Let's go home."
A husky voice whispered to my ears, sending too much voltage in my body, and tingling my hidden desires..
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GorgeousYooo 🍀