Kris Aiden's POV
It's been 25 hours since our departure from New Zealand, and now we arrived in Amsterdam. It's already 9 in the evening here and if I'm not mistaken it's already 3am in the Philippines.
Dumeretso kami sa hotel para magpahinga dahil wala kaming maayos na tulog habang nasa byahe. Ipagpapabukas na namin ang paghahanap kay Elle, she's in the same location when I checked the tracker right after we landed.
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Kinabukasan…
Paggising ko ay cellphone ko agad ang kinuha ko at tinignan ang tracker. Napakunot ang noo ko dahil nasa parehas na posisyon pa rin ito. Tama pa ba ito o talagang hindi lang umaalis si Elle sa lugar na iyon? Doon ba sya nakatira ngayon?
Hindi ko na lang ito pinandin at tumayo na para gumayak. Pagkatapos kong maligo at magbihis ay lumabas na ako ng hotel room ko at nagpunta sa restaurant nito. Naabutan ko namang kumakain na si Spencer kaya naman umupo ako sa tapat nitong upuan at tinawag waiter para umorder.
Ilang minuto lang ay dumating na ang pagkain ko at nagsimulang kumain na rin. Walang umiimik sa aming dalawa hanggang sa basagin ni Spencer ang katahimikan ng matapos itong kumain.
"Sigurado ka bang nandito si Elle? We've travel 2 different countries with long flight time. Halos dalawang araw tayong nasa eroplano lang pero walang kasiguraduhan ang hinahanap natin. Hindi kaya't pinaglalaruan ka ni Elle?"
"Then I'm ready to play her games. I told her that I will everything for her, if she wants to play, so be it. I will never get tired of finding her" sabi ko at sinubo na ang huling pagkain ko. Uminom muna ako bago ako tumayo
"Be ready, we'll leave in 10 minutes" sabi ko at tuluyang lumabas na ng restaurant at bumalik sa kwarto ko.
Nagtoothbrush lang ako at muli kong tinignan ang tracker, she's still there. We need to hurry before she decides to leave that place. Lumabas na ako ng kwarto ko at paglabas ko ng hotel building ay nandun na si Spencer naghihintay sakin habang nakatayo sa tabi ng kotse. Sumakay na ako agad at sumunod naman sya. Binigay ko ang address sa driver at nagsimula ng patakbuhin ang kotse.
Kalahating oras lang ang naging byahe namin at nakarating kami sa isang exclusive village. Mabuti na lang ay pinapasok kami ng guard after nito malaman ang pagkatao ko. Nang marating namin ang location ng red dot sa tracker ay nakita namin ang isang magarang bahay or mansion. Malaki ito at halatang mayaman ang may-ari dahil ito ang nag-iisang bahay sa buong village na naiiba ang laki. Combination of white and gray ang kulay ng exterior ng bahay at may malawak na hardin.
Lumabas kami ng kotse at nakita namin ang guard na nagbabantay sa gate ng mansion
"Good morning, is this the house of owned by Mirabelles?" tanong ni Spencer sa guard
"Good morning, sir. May I know your name? and what do you need from the Mirabelles?" magalang nitong tanong
So, tama nga ang duda ko. Ms. Mirabelles is really helping Elle to hide. At pansin ko ring lahat ng mga employee ng Mirabelles ay magagalang, kakaiba talaga ang pamilyang Mirabelles.
"I'm Spencer, and this is my boss, Mr. Kris Aiden Lee. Is Ms. Elle Santos and Ms. Mirabelles inside the mansion?"
"Oh, he's Mr. Lee. Please come in" sabi ng guard at binuksan ang gate
Sumakay naman kami ulit sa kotse at pumasok sa loob ng yard ng mansion. May onting kalayuan ang gate sa front door ng mansion kaya kailangan pang magkotse para mabilis na makarating dito.
Pagdating namin sa harap ng pinto ay bumaba na kami at nauna na akong lumapit sa pinto. Pinindot ko ang doorbell at ilang minuto lang ay ma lumabas na isang babae na satingin ko ay katulong dahil sa suot nito.
"May I know your name, sir?" tanong nito
"I'm Kris Aiden Lee, is Elle Santos or Ms. Mirabelles inside?" seryosong tanong ko
"Please come in, Mr. Lee. Young lady was expecting you. She told me to bring you in her room" sabi nito at pinapasok kami
Pinaupo nya muna si Spencer at tsaka ako ginuide papunta sa kwarto ni Ms. Mirabelles or maybe Elle. I don't know who's she's talking about, I'll just follow her.
"I'll leave you here, Mr. Lee. Just call me if you need anything, I'll be downstair. It's the room of young lady" sabi nito ng dumating kami sa pulang pinto
Binuksan ko ang pinto pagkaalis nya
Bumungad sakin ang malawak na kwarto at malaking kama, ngunit walang Ms. Mirabelles or kahit Elle na bumungad sakin. Pumasok ako sa loob ng kwarto at nilibot ang paningin ko dito. The designs are somewhat familiar.
Right! It's almost the same with Elle's room design. Maybe it's her room but where is she?
Naglakad ako palapit sa kama nang mapansin ko ang papel sa lamesa na katabi ng kama. Pinapatungan ito ng lampshade. Kinuha ko ito at binuksan. Bumungad naman sakin ang pangalan ko.
'To: Kris Aiden Lee, my love.
If you are reading this, you finally found my hideout. But I'm sorry to disappoint you, by the time you are reading this, I'm sure nasa Pilipinas na ako ulit. Anyway, I have a question. How's your trip to New Zealand? Did you find Candice? And how's your trip from New Zealand to here, Amsterdam? Did you enjoy traveling, love? I hope you enjoy our little hide-and-seek game. But don't worry, I'll end this now, let me give you clue where you can find me. Go to the place where it all started. It should be enough hint, right? I know my boyfriend is genius, so see you there. I love you, love. Mwahhh
From: Your one and only, Elle *with heart and flower drawing*'
Why did I love you, Elle Santos? Sumasakit ulo ko sayo.
Where did it all started? What is she talking about? Is she talking about that abandoned house where my mom hid her? Or the hospital?
Tinignan ko ulit ang letter, I'm sure meron pang clue dito sa mga sinulat nya. Inulit kong basahin ulit ito hanggang sa mapatitig ako sa pinakahuling parte, beside her name are heart and flower.
Heart…
Flower…
Heart means love… Where did I start to love her?
Flower… what does it mean?
Right! Flower! Grandma's sunflower farm!
It all started there! Our feelings for each other started there!
Dali dali akong lumabas ng kwarto at bumaba. Naabutan kong umiinom ng juice si Spencer.
"Did you find her?" tanong nito pagkakita sakin
"No, but I already where she really is. Book flight tickets now to Manila. We're going back!" sabi ko at mabilis naman nyang kinuha ang phone nya.
Ilang minuto lang ay tinago na nito ang phone
"Our flight is 11am. We should go back now to the hotel to get our things" sabi nito
Tinignan ko naman ang orasan ko at 9am na
"We're leaving now, thank you for the juice" nakangiting sabi ni Spencer sa babae
Napailing na lang ako, kahit kailan talaga
Lumabas na kami ng mansion at sumakay ng kotse. Pagbalik namin sa hotel ay mabilis kong inayos ang gamit ko at lumabas na ng kwarto ko. Naabutan ko naman si Spencer na nasa lobby at inaayos ang pag check-out namin. Nang maayos na nya ito ay sumakay na kami ulit ng kotse para pumuntang airport.
Halos ilang oras lang ang naging pahinga ng katawan namin, we've travelled for 10 hours from Manila to New Zealand, and we just got 4 hours of sleep then we travelled next for 25 hours from New Zealand to Amsterdam. Then now we only have 8 hours of rest, we're going to travel again for 19 hours!
I will really punish Elle after this!
"I'm really tired now, man. My body sore so much. Please don't make come with you anymore when we arrive in Manila. I want to rest man" pagrereklamo ni Spencer ng makaupo na kami sa upuan ng eroplano
"Don't worry, you can have 2 days off" plain kong sabi
"Hayyysss, thanks god makakapagpahinga rin ako. Argh ang sakit nan ang likod at pwet ko. 35 hours na akong nakaupo lang sa loob ng eroplano tas ngayon another 19 hours! Elle was really something, I don't understand you why you don't just wait to show herself to you, argh" sabi nito at ginulo ang buhok nya
Hindi ko na lang sya pinansin at binuksan ang laptop ko.
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Sam or Elle's POV
After namin makabalik ng Manila ay hinatid lang namin si Manang at Sammy sa La Residencia de Sta. Rosa. At after nun ay hinatid ko naman si Candice sa bahay nya.
Pagkahatid ko sa kanila ay dumeretso naman ako sa bahay ni Mom.
Pagpasok ko ng mansion ay nagmamadaling bumababa si Mom mula sa hagdan
"My daughter" sabi nito ng makarating sa pwesto ko at niyakap ako
"Mom" tawag ko dito at ginantihan sya ng yakap
"I was so scared when I heard what happened to you, and then you disappeared again" umiiyak na sabi nito
"Shhh don't cry now, Mom. I'm already here. I came back perfectly fine" sabi ko habang hinahagod ang likod nito
"What really happened to you, Louvelle? Gustong gusto kong sugudin si Kristel pero hindi ko magawa dahil natatakot akong masira ang plano natin. What did she do to you?" tanong nito habang nakahawak sa magkabilang balikat ko
"Calm down, Mom. Tita Kristel is in prison. Aiden was the one who imprison her, kahit ina pa nya ito ay hindi nya mapapalagpas ang ginawa nya sakin" sabi ko at huminto ng saglit "especially to our unborn child's death" bulong ko pero sakto lang para marinig ni Mom at para itong naging estatwa dahil sa sinabi ko
"W-what did you say?" di makapaniwalang tanong nito
"I had miscarriage, Mom" nakayuko kong sabi
"What?!" biglang may sumigaw sa likod ko and I know it's Kuya Lay na galing sa trabaho
"Kuya" tawag ko sa kanya at lumapit sa kanya. Niyakap ko ito pero hinawakan nito ang balikat ko at nilayo sa kanya
"Tell me, Elle. Did I misheard what you just said?!" galit na tanong nito, napabuntong hininga naman ako dahil dito
"No, you heard it right, Kuya. I was 4 weeks pregnant that time, we don't have idea that I was pregnant. Then when the kidnapping happened, because of my injuries and the surrounding, I was infected. I had miscarriage" nakayuko kong pagpapaliwanag
Niyakap naman ako nito
"That woman! Dapat talaga ay tinuluyan ko ang kompanya nila! Ni hindi ka man lang naprotektahan ng Kris na yun!" galit na sabi nito
Napatingin naman ako sa kanya dahil sa sinabi nya
"What do you mean kuya?" nakakunot noo kong tanong
"Don't blame me for what I will tell you, Elle. I was blackmailing Kris for more than a year now. I know you already know what happened to his company a year ago when someone from the board members steal money from the company. I was the one behind of him doing that, I bribed him to do that." Pag amin nya
"You mean… you are also the one behind of that man's death?" hindi ko makapaniwalang tanong
"I'm sorry, Elle. I was just… I think you need to know something" sabi nito at nagsimulang maglakad kaya sumunod ako dito, sumunod din naman samin si Mom
Pagdating namin sa office nya ay umupo kami sa sofa at nagsimula na syang magkwento
"Kristel Austin-Lee, she's the one behind my parents' death. When I started to manage the Hart Group, I also started to find the mastermind of the ambush of my parents when I was a teen. The police did not find her as they cannot find any traces. Ilang taon kong ginugol ang sarili ko sa paghahanap sa mga taong nang ambush sa magulang ko, until 2 years ago, we found them, and they told the truth, you know my organization, right? I built it to find the mastermind. I started to target their company; I have people spying inside but a year ago when I found out that you were the woman he's been pursuing, I bribed Mr. Alzona to steal those money. I want him to suffer but after that I found out that you already loved him and became his girlfriend. I don't want to hurt you, I stopped targeting his company but when Mikka kidnapped you, I warned him. And when his mother once again hurt one of my families again and that's you, I wanted to get revenge on him, but I found out he made his own mother imprisoned just for you, with that I did not continue my plan to make his company suffer as he already suffered a lot when you left. He was devastated and so we are. Just like him, we don't know where to find you, and now malalaman kong you had miscarriage?! Tell me, Elle paanong hindi ako magagalit? Will you blame me if pabagsakin ko ang kumpanya nila?!" galit na sabi ni Kuya Lay
Niyakap ko ito at umiyak sa balikat nya
"I'm sorry, Kuya. I'm sorry. Because of Tita Kristel you lost your parents. But… but can you not make my boyfriend's life hard? I promise, Tita Kristel will get what she deserves. Please, Kuya I'm begging you, I really love Aiden, I can't lose him, I can't afford to see him suffering. I'm giving him a hard time now. And there's something that was bothering me for the past few days" sabi ko habang umiiyak
"What is it, baby?" curious na tanong nito
"We already found who's behind my foster parents' death and Sammy's parents" sabi ko at tumigil ako sa pagsasalita at humingang malalim
"Who is it? Don't tell me…" sabi nito at lumaki ang mata
"Yes, Kuya. Tama ang iniisip mo. Tita Kristel was also the one behind it and she's not alone, Annika was her partner in crime. They were the one behind their death! I want to get revenge! I told myself before that I will make the family of that person if I find who is it but now… I don't know Kuya. I don't know what I should feel that time ng sabihin sakin ni Mr. Diaz ang pangalan ng taong pumatay sa magulang ko at ni Sammy. That's why I left; I went abroad. In fact, kababalik ko this afternoon. But, while I was away from this country, I felt like I betrayed Mama and Papa because I can't continue my revenge on Kristel's family. I love her son, I love Aiden, so much and I can't afford to lose him. And also, I love Lola Flora, she's like my grandmother. I can't hurt her if I take revenge on the whole family. But I can't just let it pass, I'll make sure that Tita Kristel will get what she deserves! It was hard for me to decide because it will affect my happiness. But I realized what Aiden told me, he will do everything for me. He even let his own mother imprisoned. I know it was also hard for him to decide like that, but I trust him. He will do the right thing. So, please Kuya, I'm begging you, don't take revenge on Aiden. Just take revenge on Tita Kristel, we're on the same boat Kuya, she took our parents, but please don't take away the person I really love right now" umiiyak kong pagmamakaawa