Bits of Chemistry | ✓

Kabanata 39

"Hello?"

"A-ate?" It was Mareena and she was crying. "Ate Solstice. . ."

Sandali akong natigilan bago unti-unting bumilis ang tibok ng puso. I didn't ask how she got my number. Mas naging balisa pa nga ako dahil sa tinig n'yang dehado. Tumikhim ako upang mas maging kalmado ang dating. Hindi naman nila siguro alam ang tungkol kay Leven. My hand felt cold all of the sudden and my stomach churned at the thought that they were the ones who find out about my son.

"Mareena, may nangyari ba? Bakit ka umiiyak?"

"Ate, sorry. . ." Humihikbing saad n'ya. "Hindi ko kasi talaga alam 'yong g-gagawin. W-wala akong alam. Bobo ako tulad ng sabi ni Daddy. Wala akong kwenta sabi ni Mommy. Ate Sol, sorry talaga. . ."

Devastation reverberated through her voice. Ngayon ko lang narinig na halos manginig ang boses ni Mareena. She has always been cheerful and nice. Pero ang boses n'ya ngayon ay taimtim na nanghihingi ng saklolo.

"Hey," I blew out a breath. "Paano ba ako makakatulong?"

I knew that Mareena wouldn't call me if she didn't need any help. My heart was tearing apart that I wasn't there for her. Hindi rin naman p'wedeng samahan siya ni Kuya Adren dahil nasa dulo sila ng tagpuan. They can't help each other because they were the enemies of each side.

"Ate Solstice, pinipilit po kasi nila akong l-labanan si Kuya para sa kompanya. . ." She sobbed like a child. "If I don't do that, ipapakasal nila ako sa ibang bansa. And the man is twenty years older than me! I begged mommy not to do it! Pero tinatakot n'ya ako na gagawin n'ya 'yon kung di ako papayag sa gusto n'ya."

Napasinghap ako. That wasn't impossible, gagawin ni Dayanara ang lahat para lang kay Alfos. She probably only conceived Mareena because Alfos wanted children. Kaya naman parang laruan lang ang anak n'ya sa paraan kung paano n'ya ito ipamigay.

"May plano ba kayo? Where do I step in?"

"A-ate, okay lang ba talaga? P-p'wede ka naman humindi. Nahihiya ako sa 'yo dahil alam ko namang iniiwasan mo kami. Pinilit ko pa si Kuya Caer na ibigay ang numero mo. A-ate, hindi ko talaga kaya. A-ayoko sa mga pinapakilala sa akin ni M-mama. A-ate. . ."

I sighed, it was exhilarating to even think about it. How could I possibly say no? Galit ako kay Alfos at Dayanara pero labas si Mareena sa mga pinaggagawa nila. Sa paraan din ng pagkwento ni Mareena, alam ko na agad na puno siya ng takot sa katawan. Her situation is disturbing, why would a teenager talk to someone who's twenty years older than her? Nanggagalaiti na talaga ako kay Dayanara. She would do anything for Alfos! Even following his orders blindly.

"Ano ba ang pinapagawa sa 'yo para di na kayo mag-usap ng mga investors ng nanay mo?" I asked, direct to the point. I was sure that those who Mareena talked to are possible investors. Baka gusto nilang bilhin ang shares na available pa sa kompanya ng Reverio para makuha nila ang control dito. Adren currently has the CEO's favor, of course he's currently on the upper hand because of it.

She spilled the plan of having a business plan that will lure investors to take their side. Napahilot naman ako ng sintido ko dahil magaling din talaga sila pero tanga rin at the same time. They will offer a lot of perks and benefits than Adren's initial offer. Pero halos wala na silang makukuha kung itutuloy nila ito. It isn't even breakeven, lugi talaga sina Mareena pero pakiramdam ko ay pinapairal lang ni Alfos ang pride n'ya kaya nila ito papanindigan. He really doesn't want Adren to inherit the assets that the Reverios are currently handling.

"I'll try to intervene, okay?" I assured her. "Maghahanap din ako ng mga marunong talaga pagdating sa business. . . I will try to prolong the discussion further so your safety is still intact."