Reckless

Chapter 44

RECKLESS
Chapter 44

Dash went back to the Philippines without meeting anyone from my family except to that unexpected encounter with my uncle in the CEO’s office. Si Lolo kasi ay naging abala na nang malaman ang mga naging kaganapan sa opisina mula noong mawala siya roon. Ang hindi na lamang niya nalalaman ay ang tungkol sa totoong dahilan ng pagkaka-ospital niya.

My secretary, Rui, was nowhere to be found for a week now. Bukod sa hindi ma-contact ay wala rin sa tinutuluyang condo unit na provided ng company namin. He suddenly disappeared without giving me all the necessary information that I will need for the following days. Ibinitin niya ako sa ere!

“You should have spared an hour or two to meet the guy, Cara. We’ve lost the heir of the Kho Empire already and we couldn’t to lose this one, too.” Ani Lolo habang may binabasang papeles. Hindi talaga pwedeng wala siyang gagawin.

“You want him even though he’s not Chinese? That’s favoritism, Lolo.” I teased na umani ng isang matalim na tingin mula sa kaniya. Binalewala ko iyon at nagpatuloy. “What? So, anyone with a good asset and standing in the market would do?”

“I’m choosing the best for you. You are my only heir. Aurea is so hard-headed that she’d choose to live with that man than doing her job as my daughter.”

Gusto kong tumawa dahil kahit na galit ang Lolo kay Auntie Aurea ay hindi naman ito maitakwil. Puro lamang pananakot na kailanman ay hindi ginawa.

“But Lolo, Niel’s father and I already reconcile.” I told him as I put down the apple I was peeling.

“What nonsense is that?”

I sighed. “He’s a good man, too. He’s no different to Sean when it comes to their wealth. And Niel loves his father so much. You can ask him about his father if you don’t want to believe in me.” Though I doubt that. Sana ay huwag tanungin ni Lolo si Niel.

Niel got mad for some reason when he saw me and his father kissing that day in the office. Ang akala yata ay inaway ako ng ama niya. He doesn’t even want us to get close to each other. Kaya kahit nang ihatid namin si Dash sa airport ay kahit halik sa pisngi ko ay hindi nagawa ni Dash dahil nagagalit ang anak niya.

I couldn’t forget the frown on Dashiel’s face that time.

“When will you let me return? You and Aurea are manipulating the doctors here. I’m good as new and yet,” umiling-iling siya na tila dismayado.

Totoo naman kasi ang sinabi ni Lolo. As much as possible ay ayaw pa naming siyang pabalikin sa opisna. Not until I am sure enough that of Lolo’s safety. Nasaan ba kasi si Rui?

“In two weeks time, they said that you can go back to your beloved position but not now, please? You need to rest. The company is doing fine so you have nothing to worry.”

“Two weeks?” paninigurado pa niyang tila isang bata.

I smiled at him, assuring him. “Two weeks.”

“Then, two weeks from now, you’ll meet the man I’m talking about. Now go out because I want to rest properly.” He said, dismissing me again. I almost rolled my eyes at him. Mas stress pa ako kay Lolo kaysa kay Niel!

Tumayo ako and started gathering my things while mumbling something loud enough to reach his ears.

“I won’t meet that guy. Niel’s father is more than enough.”

“Enough of your talk, Caramel! Get out!” he even shooed at me.

Sa labas ng ospital ay naabutan ko si Sean. He’s leaning on his car while wearing his sulky face. From his expression, parang alam ko na kung bakit bad trip siya.

Hindi pa ako tuluyang nakakalapit ay bumukas na ang passenger seat lumabas doon ang dahilan ng pagkabusangot ni Sean.

“Hi, Cara! You’re glowing. Sana all!” tawa pa niya at sumiksik sa gilid ni Sean.

“Ikaw rin naman. Bagong dilig ba?” nagkatawanan kami lalo na ng pukulin ako ng masamang tingin ni Sean.

“You look beaten.” Asar ko pa kay Sean. His hair’s a little bit longer than the last time I saw him. Sayad na iyon ngayon sa balikat niya at medyo nakasabog sa magkabilang gilid ng mukha. He also has a day or two stubbles.

“We’re going somewhere today. Pwedeng iwan ko muna sa’yo ang anak ko?”

Tinignan ko si Sean na noo’y tahimik lang bago ngumit at tumango.

“My little bun would be happy to see your little rice cake.”

Saglit lang kaming nag-usap at tumulak na sila Sean sa pupuntahan nila. It seems like they’re in a hurry.

Nang makarating ako sa bahay, agad na hinanap ng mga mata ko si Niel. Usually, kapag dumarating ako’y sinasalubong na ako ng anak kong iyon. But today is different. Walang Niel na sumalubong sa akin at tanging katahimikan lamang ang mayroon sa bahay.

“Stay here for awhile. I’ll just look for Little Bun so you two could play.” Ani k okay Little Rice Cake.

“Niel?”

Umakyat ako sa second floor dahil baka naroon siya ngunit bakante ang silid at maayos lahat ng gamit sa bahay maging ang mga laruan.

“Niel!?” muli kong tawag pero wala pa ring sumasagot kaya hinanap ko na rin maging ang nanny niya. “Lin Qian?!”

Pababa na akong muli nang marinig ko ang matinis na tili ng batang iniwan ko sa sala. Dali-dali akong nanaog at hinanap ang bata para lamang bulagain ng duguang si Lin Qian na nakahandusay sa tapat ng pinto ng comfort room malapit sa kitchen.

“Shit!” I cursed loudly as I carried little rice cake out of my house.

Where is my son?!

Thinking about it almost drain all the blood in my body. Nanlamig akong bigla at kung hindi ko lamang naiisip na may buhat akong bata ay baka natumba na ako sa sahig.

Sa nanginginig na kamay ay tumawag ako ng security at ambulance at ilang saglit lamang ay nagkakagulo na aking bahay. Maging si Sean ay tinawagan ko kaya ngayo’y pabalik na sila rito.

“What was that? Is she dead, Tita?”

I caress the little girl’s hair. She’s younger than Niel but she’s experienced things like this already. Pinagmasdan ko ang batang nasa mga bisig ko. She looks so innocent at tila hindi man lamang na-trauma sa nakita. Sana nga ay hindi.

Lin Qian was dead. Mula pa kanina ay hindi ako nagsasalita dahil sa panginginig ng buong katawan ko. Hinayaan ko na lamang muna ang mga police na gawin ang mga dapat nilang gawin. Nang may magtangkang kumausap sa akin ay sinenyasan ko lamang din na mamaya na lang dahil pakiramdam ko ay iiyak lang ako.

But where is my son? And who did this?

“Excuse me, Madaam,” napatingala ako sa nagsalita na noo’y may iniaabot sa aking isang maliit na papel.  “We got this on the woman’s hand.”

Sa nanginginig kong kamay ay inabot ko ang papel na iyon na may bahid pa ng dugo at halos panawan ako ng ulirat pagkabasa sa nakasulat roon.

“I got your son, bitch!”