DETECTIVE FILES. File 3 (COMPLETED)

CHAPTER 26: GET TOGETHER

Chapter 26: Get Together

It's been few weeks and my leg has already healed. For the past days ay pinagpahinga ko muna ang sarili ko. I want some peaceful time for myself. Mabilis na dumaan ang mga araw. The holidays passed and it just made me sadder. Holidays like Christmas and New Year are supposed to be reunions too. In my case, it isn't. Inimbitahan ako ng mga kamag-anak namin but I refused. Mas pinili ko pang manatili sa bahay. No Christmas trees, no colorful lights, no delicious foods for the Noche Buena and Media Noche and just all by myself. I am not depressed but that's what my relatives think. Dahil tinanggihan ko ang mga paanyaya nila, they concluded that I am depressed even if I am not. They sent me emails about being strong and others so I decided not to open messages since then.

I am not depressed, I mean I am but not to the point na ano mang oras ay magpapatiwakal na ako. No, that's just too lousy. I think the best way to get over all the pain is to lay my hands on the organization. Alam kong kasali din sa Genesis ang ibang kamag-anak namin that's why I loathe them. Wala lang ba sa kanila ang nangyari kay Daddy? Mas mahalaga ba ang organisasyon kaysa kamag-anak nila? I thought blood is thicker than water but in our case, why does it feel that it is the otherwise? Ah, that's maybe because blood can be bought by money. Nabulag sila ng organisasyon. That is the most logical reason why I don't see them worried about Dad's death.

I saw them shed tears during his funeral but I just cannot say that those tears were real. Nasaktan ba talaga sila dahil sa pagkawala niya o iniisip din nila na karapat-dapat lang na mamatay si Daddy dahil sa pagtataksil niya sa organisasyon?! Now that I think about it, it makes me resent them more. Argh! Curse them! Curse them to the darkest pits of hell!

Few days before classes resume, I decided to go out of my shell. Balak kong magpunta sa mall at bumili ng mga panibagong gamit na maaring magamit ko sa dorm. Nakatanggap din ako ng tawag mula sa abogado ni Daddy and he arranged me an appointment kung anong araw ako pwede. Mom also called me and invited me to the Vander mansion. Of all the lineup of the things that I want to do, I chose the last one. I gave her a call to announced that I am coming over.

Paglabas ko ng bahay ay bahagya akong nagulat nang makita ang taong nakatayo sa labas at nakasandal sa kanyang kotse. He was staring at his wristwatch and when I opened the gate ay napatingin siya sa akin. He was wearing dark glasses at agad niyang tinanggal iyon nang makita ako. He smiled widely at me and met me with open arms.

"Amber!", he shouted like a kid and was about to hug me but my palm landed on his face first before he can hug me. I felt his face crumpled at agad kong inalis ang kamay ko sa mukha niya. "Is that how you say you missed me?"

"I guess", I said and smiled pero ginaya niya ang ginawa ko. He put his palm on my face at bahagya pang ipinasok ang daliri sa butas ng ilong ko. The hell?!

"I missed you too Amber!", tumatawang wika niya. Naiinis na tinabig ko ang kamay niya at sinamaan siya ng tingin. He reached for my shoulders at inakbayan ako habang papunta kami sa kotse niya.

Matagal ko din siyang hindi nakita. I have to admit na namiss ko din ang kakulitan niya. Cooler Vander is really a cool guy with his cool personality. Childish at times but beneath the childishness is a mature and responsible man. Truly a trustworthy friend who you can always have his back. Hindi ko namalayan na napatigil na pala ako sa pagkakakad habang nakatingin sa kanya. I only noticed that I stopped when he snapped his fingers in front of me.

"You know you can kiss me if you want. Walang mangyayari kong tititigan mo lamang ako", he said and winked at me bago muling sinuot ang shades. I gave him a frown and a good punch in the gut but luckily he was able to avoid it.

"I thought your jerkiness disappeared when you're gone too Cooler", wika ko sa kanya at akmang bubuksan ang pinto ng kotse ngunit naunahan na niya ako.