Chapter 24

Chapter 24




I sat in front of a three-faced vanity mirror after taking a bath and began to brush my air. There was a storm last night, and it worried me that during the times when the harsh rain poured into the earth, Blake is still on his way home, driving.


Text ako nang text sa kaniya. I was anxious while waiting for his reply. It would take some time before he arrives at their mansion. And it would take longer because of the storm. He didn't reply to my text, but he called.


"Blake!"


"Miss me already?" he chuckled from the other line.


I pouted. Alalang-alala ako sa kaniya tapos bibiruin lang ako. My worries slowly dissipated into thin air as I sat at the edge of my bed, watching the storm rattle my windows.


"Nag-aalala ako. Ang tagal mong mag-reply!"


"Baby, I was driving. You know I'd reply to you as soon as I can when I'm not doing anything."


Mas humaba pa ang nguso ko. Is this how you date a matured man? That all your childish logics will go to waste because he always offers a rational reason to everything?


"I'm just glad you're okay..." I sighed.


"I'm okay, baby. No need to worry. You should sleep now. It's late."


Gusto kong magsumbong sa kaniya tungkol sa nakitang kalapastanganan ni Valerie kanina pero pinigilan ko ang sarili. It wouldn't do me any good. Blake can be a ruthless man sometimes. I've seen how he destroyed his opponents and outgrown his childish friends before. Once he decides on something, he'll do anything to achieve it. And if he is mad, there is nothing you can do but to avoid his wrath.


"Okay. I'm going to sleep now." I said silently.


"Good. I'll call you tomorrow."


I ended the call, still staring at the raging storm outside. Lonely nights like this makes me miss my Mama so much. It's a good thing that Barin sleeps in my room. I don't feel that lonely at all.


My first few weeks as a college student was terrible. I couldn't fit in right because most of the students are avoiding me and I don't know why. Hindi ko na sana iyon papansinin pero nang mapansin kong nagsisimula na ding dumistansiya si Jessica mula sa akin, doon na ako kinabahan.


Their unwelcoming behavior towards me made me believe that I am really an unlikable person. They buried me deep into my insecurities and reminded me that I could never be like my mother. No matter how I try to fix myself, I'm always going to end up unappreciated.


I glanced at the vanity mirror again and the sun has risen. Napaigtad ako nang marinig ng katok mula sa pinto.


Circling around the cushioned chair, I went to answer the door and saw one of our housekeepers.


"Senyorita, agahan na po."


Sinabihan ko siyang susunod na ako at isinara muli ang pinto. Sighing to myself, I quickly changed into my usual jeans and shirt before heading downstairs. Nakasunod si Barin sa akin.


When I saw a small crowd gathering in the grand parlor, my brows furrowed. Hinanap ko kaagad si Valerie. Just as I was ready to lecture her again into letting strangers inside the house, I bumped into a middle-aged woman.


"Sorry po, Senyorita." She said apologetically, and I noticed she was wearing the old uniform of Manang Joji. Mas lalo akong naguluhan.


Kahit na nalilito ay nginitian ko siya at patuloy na hinanap si Valerie. I found her at the dining hall, and a few more strangers seated at the table. Trying to hide my displease, I headed straight to her with a stoic face.


"Who are these people?"


"Oh, give me a break." She rolled her eyes. "These are the party organizers and my stylists. I arranged everything ahead of time for the party tonight."


"Party?"


"It's my 43rd birthday, Anna. What kind of daughter forgets the birthdate of her mother?" she echoed out loud, earning some laughter and incredulous looks from the people at the table.


Humugot ako ng isang malalim na hininga. Base sa nakikita ko, magiging engrande ang party na ito. A group of men are already hauling a huge flower statue inside and I heard one of them mention a 24-tier gold cake to celebrate her "golden years".


"Where's Manang Joji?" I asked instead, trying to ignore the fact that she just wasted a lot of money. Again.


"Oh, she's gone." She answered nonchalantly. "Sit down, Anna. Masamang pinaghihintay ang grasya."


"What do you mean she's gone?"


"I fired her yesterday."


Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa narinig. "You did what?"


"I fired a thief." She said, squinting her eyes at me. "Nahuli ko siya sa akto na pinapakialaman ang mga alahas ko kaya kaagad ko siyang tinanggal sa serbisyo bago pa man niya manakaw ang lahat ng gamit dito sa bahay. Palibhasa kasi, kung anu-ano ang inaatupag mo! You don't know what's going on in this house and you keep claiming it yours!"


Hindi ako makapaniwala sa narinig. Manang Joji is like a second mother to me! She's been serving the De la Rua family for years and she had taken care of me since I was a little girl! Tears swelled in my eyes. Hindi ako naniniwalang magagawa niya iyon!


I choked up a sob when I realized the children of Manang Joji that my family supports. Anong mangyayari sa kanila ngayong wala na siya dito sa mansion? I made sure to finance their education even after my father's death. But now that she's gone...


"Oh, I also ordered a dress for you. It will arrive shortly. Make sure to come home early para masukat mo pa. I want you to be presentable in my party."


Masama ang loob kong umalis sa hapag-kainan. I quickly contacted Manang Joji but to my sheer despair, she doesn't answer any of my calls until I could no longer reach her.


Ang sunod kong sinubukan i-contact ay si Jessica. I know she can think of something if I confide to her. Papalabas na ako ng mansion nang sinagot niya ang tawag ko.


"Jessica!"


"Anna, napatawag ka?"


I quickly noticed the unhappiness in her voice and how she sounded so uninterested but I ignored it. Nanliit ang mga mata ko sa matinding tirik ng araw habang patuloy na naglalakad.


"Busy ka ba ngayon?"


"Ah..." she hesitated for a bit before going on. "Oo, eh. Nagtatrabaho ako."


"Ganun ba..."


"Sige na. Tawag nalang ulit ako mamaya."


I was left dumbfounded when she ended the call. Napakurap ako sa screen ng hawak na cellphone. This is the first time she did this to me and I am terribly worried! Inignora ko nalang ang panghahapdi ng dibdib dulot ng panlalamig niya sa akin at pumara ng taxi para ihatid ako sa burger shop na pinagtatrabahuan niya.


"Si Jessica? Wala, off niya ngayon. Bakit?" sagot ng lalaking trabahante na tinanong ko pagkapasok ko ng shop. Nilibot ko ng tingin ang paligid. There is really no sign of her.


"Ganun ba? Sige, Salamat..."


"Pwede mong puntahan sa bahay nila!" pahabol niya nang makitang paalis na ako. "O di kaya sa bilyaran. Palagi siyang nagpupunta sa bilyaran."


I nodded and followed his advice. Ni minsan ay hindi pa ako nakakapunta sa bahay nila Jessica and I tried to locate it. Dinala ako ng mga pinagtanungan sa isang makipot na eskinita. Dikit-dikit ang mga bahay na gawa sa mga materyales gaya ng maninipis na cardboard, piraso ng kahoy, at iilang bakal. The streets are noisy and damp and little children, butt naked, were playing in the streets. The road is heavy with smoke from the cigarettes of smokers nearby, watching me with hawk eyes as I continued to walk slowly, anxious to find their house right away.


Mahigpit ang kapit ko sa phone. Pakiramdam ko ay ano mang oras may dadakma sa akin. Nakailang iwas ako ng tingin sa mga tambay na hindi maganda ang titig sa akin.


"Uy, ganda! Sinong hinahanap mo?"


Halos mapatalon ako sa sobrang gulat nang biglang may humawak sa balikat ko. Marahas at walang kagalang-galang. I quickly backed away and almost squealed when I faced a scarred giant. Isang malaking lalaki na may piklat sa kanang pisngi at nakatitig sa akin nang masama.


"H-Hinahanap ko po ang bahay ni J-Jessica..."


"Anong sabi mo? Lakasan mo boses mo, ganda..."


"B-Bahay po ni Jessica!" nilakasan ko ang boses ko pati ang loob ko. "Hinahanap ko po."


"Ah, ni Jessica? Halika at ihahatid na kita. Maraming siraulo dito sa amin. Bakit naman naisipan mong magpunta dito nang mag-isa?"


Despite the nagging fear inside of my head, I followed him through the narrow roads that went steeper and muddier until we reach a tiny house. Tinitigan ko ang maliit na bahay at hindi makapaniwalang dito nakatira ang kaibigan ko.


"Yan. Yan yung bahay nila."


"Salamat po..." I said silently. Nang hindi siya gumalaw ay ako na ang lumayo at nilapitan ang bahay. I knocked against the wooden door. "Tao po!"


Silence.


We were both greeted with silence. Inulit ko ang pagkatok, nagbabakasakaling sasagutin na niya ako ngunit talagang katahimikan lang ang umalingawngaw sa paligid.


"Nasa bilyaran ata siya ngayon, ganda. Gusto mo ihatid din kita doon?"


I contemplated for a bit. Nasabi din kasi ng katrabaho niya na baka nasa bilyaran si Jessica ngayon. In the end, I nodded and went with him. Nasa kanto ng kalsadang iyon ang sinasabi niyang bilyaran. Maingay at mausok. A lot of people are crowding a long, rectangular table. Intensity hung thick in the air. Each time the hole swallows a ball accordingly, the whole crowd would cheer.


"Ayun! Si Jessica, yung hinahanap mo!" aniya sa akin, sabay turo sa kumpol ng mga tao.


Sinundan ko ng tingin ang malaki niyang daliri at dinala ako sa maliit na bulto ni Jessica. She looks so displaced, bent over the table with her eyes narrowed into slits. May iilang lalaki na nasa likuran niya, sinisigawan siya ng kung anu-ano at nagtatawanan. She sneered at some of them before she hit the balls using her pole. When it went inside, the crowd cheered again. Jessica smirked.


"Salamat..." halos napapaos kong wika.


"Sige, iwan na kita. Ingat ka sa mga lalaking yan, ah? Malakas silang mangtarantado..."


I thanked him again and slowly approached the crowd. May iilang napapatingin sa akin. Marahil ay naw-weird-uhan na may babaeng katulad ko dito. Some of them even whistled. I ignored them and went straight to my friend.


"Tangina niyo pala eh—"


"Jessica."


Naputol ang pagmumura niya nang marinig ako. She quickly spun around, and then saw me. Nanlaki ang mga mata niya. Kaagad niyang hinablot mula sa bibig ang nakaipit na sigarilyo at itinapon iyon.


"Anna?"


I bit my lower lip.


"Anong ginagawa mo dito?"


Sighing away, I gestured towards a quieter place outside. "Mag-usap tayo, Jess."


"Tsk. Teka, tapusin ko lang 'to." She said and ignored me. bumalik siya sa paglalaro. I sat behind her uncomfortably for a few minutes while the crowd cheered and booed her until the game was finished. I saw her collecting money from her opponents with a shrewd smile before going away and dragging me from the noisy crowd.


"Anong ginagawa mo dun, Jess? Akala ko ba nagtatrabaho ka ngayon?"


"Nagtatrabaho naman talaga ako. Nagkapera ako."


"Jess! Andaming lalaki d'yan! Tapos mag-isa ka lang. Paano kug may mangyari sa iyo?"


She looked at me, bored. "I literally live here, Anna. Alam ko na ang mga taong yan. Atsaka, wala silang gagawing masama sa akin. Palibhasa kasi, lumaki kang mayaman kaya ang tingin mo sa aming mga mahihirap, masasamang tao. Them not wearing designer shoes doesn't mean that they're bad people."


I gasped, trying to absorb the shock of her harsh words slapping at me. "Jessica, wala akong sinasabi na ganyan!"


"But your face tells me so..." she chewed a gum and then glanced back at the billiard hall, already indicating that she wants to go back. "May gusto ka bang sabihin? Kasi busy ako ngayon eh."


"Are you trying to avoid me?"


She cocked a brow at me. Kahit na dinudurog na ang puso ko ay nagpatuloy ako.


"Hindi kita naiintindihan, Jess... iniiwasan mo ako sa school, hindi mo rin sinasagot ang mga tawag ko. You've been so distant."


"Siguro iba-iba tayo ng prayoridad sa buhay. Hindi kasi ako mayaman katulad mo, kaya kailangan kong kumayod. Pasensiya ka na kung hindi ko magampanan ang pagiging mabuting kaibigan ko sa iyo. Ngayon ko lang nalamang pwede palang magkaroon ng expiration date ang pagkakaibigan."


"Expiration? Jess, what are you talking about?" my voice broke as it trailed off. Hindi na makatingin sa akin ngayon si Jessica. "Jess, may problema ba tayo?"


She weakly shook her head. "Walang problema, Anna."


"Then why... why are you acting like this?"


When she didn't answer, I tried to reach for her arm. Pero kaagad siyang umatras. Parang sinaksak ng ilang libong kutsilyo ang puso ko sa ginawa niya.


"Layuan mo nalang ako, Anna." She said silently.


"Layuan? Bakit kita lalayuan, Jess?" I chuckled with no humor at all. "Kaibigan kita! Hindi kita pwedeng layuan basta-basta... ayos lang sa akin na hindi mo ako pansinin, pero please! Huwag mo namang sabihin sa akin na layuan kita. You're my only friend, Jessica..."


"Mahal ko si Blake."


I stared at her, frozen into the ground. Namumuo pa rin ang mga luha sa mata ko. Mahahapdi ang bawat pagsubok ko ng paghinga na parang sinusunog ang baga ko sa sinabi niya.


"Jess..."


"Mahal ko siya, Anna." She chuckled bitterly, as tears sprung to her eyes. "Patawarin mo ako. Nung umalis ka nang hindi nagpapaalam, sobrang nasaktan ako. Nandun si Blake para sa akin. Hindi ko naman sinasadya, eh. Tsaka wala akong ginawa. Nasasaktan lang ako ngayon kaya... kaya ayaw ko muna kayong makita dalawa."


Hindi ako makapagsalita. I couldn't find the right words to say. Tigagal lang akong nakatingin sa kaniya, hindi pa rin makapaniwala sa nangyayari.


She looked at me and smiled bitterly. "Ayaw mo pa rin ba akong layuan, Anna?"


"Jess..."


"Huwag kang mag-alala. Wala naman akong balak na agawin si Blake sa iyo, eh. Gusto ko lang munang dumistansiya. I'll figure this out. Sorry, Anna. I'm really sorry..."


Hindi na niya ako pinagsalita pa at bumalik sa kumpulan ng mga tao na nanginginig ang mga balikat. I stared at her, helpless. A surge of emotions rippled through me, ripping me into pieces as I lost my best friend before my eyes.


Nang makarating sa mansion ay halos hindi ako makausap nang maayos. Too many bad things happened today. I lost two of the most important people in my life.


"Anna!" Valerie greeted me with a wide smile as soon as I stepped inside. Everyone is so busy. Pati si Steve at Samantha ay hindi ko mahagilap sa sobrang dami ng tao. "The dress is in your bed. Isukat mo. Let me know if it needs some adjustment and we'll work on it."


Hindi ko siya pinansin at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad. Barin greeted me by the stairs. I rubbed his head weakly and headed straight to my room.


As soon as the clock behind me clicked, I collapsed into the bed. I caught glimpse of the large red box that contains the dress Valerie had mentioned earlier. Sumasakit ang dibdib ko sa tuwing naaalala kung ano ang nangyari.


I must've fallen asleep, because when I wake up my eyes felt so groggy. Mabigat rin ang katawan ko. Madilim na sa labas nang magising ako. I could hear the noises from the crowd below. Stretching to myself, I weakly got up. Barin's head lifted the moment he sensed that I'm awake.


"Ayokong bumaba, Barin..." pagsusumbong ko sa kaniya. His sharp eyes stared at me, feeling my uneasiness. "I don't want to meet with other people."


He scooted closer, and I started petting his head. Nagtagal iyon ng ilang minuto hanggang sa nakumbinse ko ang sariling magbihis at bumaba. Blake would be here any minute. If he finds out that I'm still in my room, lurking, he'll get worried.


Tumayo ako at binuksan ang naghihintay na kahon. It's an elegant peach off-shoulder dress with rhinestones lining the waistline. I stared at it and the golden pair of sandals that came with it.


With barely any energy left, I slipped into the dress and started braiding my hair. The moon is high and full above, slanting soft glow through my window. I wished what happened today was just a dream, but I couldn't fool myself.


While clipping pear earrings to my ears, my phone started ringing. Tito Cristophe is calling me. Inipit ko ang phone sa pagitan ng tainga at kaliwang balikat habang ipinagpapatuloy ang ginagawa.


"Tito Cristophe!" I tried to sound joyful but the rough edge of my voice betrayed my sadness to him.


"Anna, where are you?" there is urgency in his voice that made me shudder. Umayos ako nang upo at hinawakan na ang cellphone.


"Nasa mansion po, Tito. Bakit?"


"Listen to me, Anna. You have to get away from there as soon as you can. I'm on my way, but you need to get out. Right now!"


Nangungunot na ang noo ko at bahagyang kinakabahan sa tono ng boses ni Tito Cristophe. My palms started sweating.


"Bakit po, Tito?"


"Anna, you are in danger right now. Damn it, I should've done the investigation sooner. I can't believe I let you live with that woman for months!"


"Tito Cristophe..."


"Valerie Cristine Sarriet..." he said in icy tone. "It's not her real name. She's a con. And a murderess."


The blood from my face drained as I tried to gripped the phone harder, even though my hands were shaking.


"She's a temptress. She's killed every man she's been with and had managed to run away from her crimes. I did a private investigation about her because I am so suspicious of her background. Her last victim is a 70-year old man from Cebu. She strangled him to death while he's sick in bed and ultimately grabbed half of the wealth he's supposed to give to his children."


I felt so sick while listening to Tito Cristophe. I know Valerie is not a good person, but I cannot imagine her as a killer. I cannot imagine her elegant hands bathing with the blood of her victim. And all for money.


"T-Tito Cristophe..." my voice was shaking.


"Get out of the mansion, Anna. Now. I'm coming for you."


I got up and almost yelped when someone grabbed the phone from my hands. When I turned, my eyes widened in fear when I saw Valerie's wicked smile.


"Sinong kausap mo sa phone, Anna?" she asked in a dangerous voice. 

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