Ace The Wager (TO BE PUBLISHED)

Chapter 25

"ANAK NG DATING GOBERNADOR NG QUEZON at tinaguriang drug lord na si Hajiro Klijster Romero, nahuli na ng PDEA kaninang umaga."

Mariin ako na napapikit bago binuksan ulit ang mga mata ko. The headline stayed the same. I couldn't believe it. It's like I've just woken up from a fever dream. He managed to stay hidden for six long years, why show up now?

Parang binuhusan ako ng malamig na tubig nang marinig ang balita. They say he showed up at the airport and even after his arrest, he still hasn't said a word. Hindi nage-expire ang arrest warrants kaya hindi ko alam kung bakit bumalik pa siya ng Pilipinas. He knows well he'll be arrested but he came back. It doesn't make sense if he turned himself in. Anong gamit ang ilang taon na pagtatago kung siya lang naman ang kusang susuko?

I scoffed before taking a step away from the counter. I couldn't help but chuckle at this absurd situation. Maybe because it's true. Halos isang taon ko siyang nakilala... isang taon lang. Maybe I don't know him at all. Maybe he has some evil plan of taking over the entire world? Maybe he indeed used me.

Paano ako nakakasigurado na hindi nga siya ang nasa likod ng drug operations? There are so many things pointing to him but before... I overlooked all of them because I was so blinded by love.

Lintek na love na 'yan.

It's been six years since I last heard from him. Haji managed to erase all traces of himself so that the police couldn't track his whereabouts. Kahit 'yong unit niya, ni fingerprint wala silang makuha. It's like he didn't live in that condo for years. The police even tried interviewing Loki, Charles, and Zy but they all had the same answer.

They weren't close.

They haven't been in touch for years.

They refuse to give a statement.

It's like Haji didn't even exist. Bigla siyang naglaho na parang bula.

When it was my turn to be interviewed, I defended him like the fool I was back then. Kung pwede lang ulitin ang panahon, hinding-hindi ko 'yon gagawin. That son of an ass didn't deserve any good thing that came out of my mouth.

"Sabi ng isang kakilala mo sa dating university na pinupuntahan ninyo, close daw kayo ni Romero." Inangat ng pulis ang tingin niya sa'kin.

I wetted my dry lower lip before sighing. With tired eyes, I gave him a deadpan look. "We weren't."

"Sinasabi mo lang ba 'yan dahil ayaw mong-"

"We aren't close, okay?" I snapped. "I don't even know him."

"Sabi ng-"

"So are you going to rely on other people's statements instead of mine? Ba't mo pa ako pinatawag kung may sagot ka na pala?"

"Hindi-"

"I said I don't know him! I know him by name... but that's it. He was well-known back then." And that was really it because I'm not sure if I really knew him at all. I took a deep breath to regain my composure. "Pwede na ba 'ko umalis?"

When I opened my eyes, the news was already done. I sighed. Tinipon ko na lang lahat ng ingredients bago 'yon binalik sa ref. Hindi na 'ko gutom. I'd rather sleep before I think of something... impulsive.

I turned off my phone and laptop before placing them underneath my desk. I don't want to be tempted. I may loathe Haji but I still didn't trust myself. I don't want to randomly take my phone then search the details of his case—and precedent cases—just because I couldn't sleep.

Ilang taon akong hindi makatulog nang mahimbing sa gabi dahil sa kaiisip kung nasaan na ba siya, kung okay lang ba siya, o kung kailangan ko na ba gawin ang tama.