The Untouchables Series Book 2 Vengeance Liu

Happiness

Chapter Thirty-Four

"Ilang araw ba tayo rito?" tanong ni Meredith na pumukaw ng atensyon ni Vengeance habang nagbibihis.

"You can't wait to be away from me, huh?"

She rolled her eyes at his sarcastic reply.

"That's not what I meant, for fuck's sake," inis itong napabuga ng hangin sa bibig. Pagkuwa'y malumanay at malungkot nitong idinugtong: "I'm really invested with Baby Ilacad's case."

Hinarap ni Vengeance si Meredith. Isinandal niya ang puwetan sa gilid ng waist high storage cabinet na pinaglalagyan ng maliliit na personal items.

"That's the problem, M. You are too emotionally involved that you are losing the big picture."

"Which is?"

"The three families who were at the center of this case."

"Go on, I'm listening."

"They say people who have nothing to lose are the scariest. That saying also applies to people who have everything at stake. And that's their weakest link."

Tila malalim itong napaisip sa sinabi niya.

"Ilacad's case is just about to start, M. The criminal charges against her is already terminated prior to her death. But the people behind her death is still out there. Find them and give her the justice she deserves."

"It's like looking for a needle in a haystack."

"And that's our specialty."

"I'm not a big fan of extrajudicial killing, Vengeance. Kaya ginawa ang batas ay para umakto tayong mga sibilisadong tao at hindi barbaro."

"And what did those so-called civilized people do to Ms. Ilacad?"

"I'll make sure they pay in due time. It might take a while but they will pay."

He didn't comment further. Ayaw niyang pagtalunan nila ang bagay na iyon. Hinahangaan niya ito sa paninindigan nito at wala siyang balak na baguhin iyon o kumbinsihin ito na pumanig sa pinaniniwalaan niya.

"We'll stay here for a week. It will also give you time to relax a bit, loosen up at kalimutan sandali ang trabaho. You've been working nonstop ever since your husband died."

Hindi na sana niya gustong idugtong pa iyong huli but it already slipped out from his mouth. Naisip niyang iyon marahil ang coping mechanism nito para hindi masyadong malungkot sa biglaang pagpanaw ng asawa.

Nang magtama ang kanilang mata ay parang may gusto itong sabihin. Pero sa huli ay tila nagbago ng isip at hindi na lamang itinuloy saka ibinaling sa ibang bagay ang pansin.

"Can we go out? Gusto kong mamasyal."

"Sure. Saan mo gustong pumunta."

"Um, maghanap tayo ng tapsi at pares. O kaya goto."

"Ayaw mo sa Manila Hotel?" naalala niya iyong araw na niyaya niya itong kumain. 

Sinabi niya rito na dadalhin niya ito sa kahit saang hotel na gusto nito pagkalipas ng limang taon. He thought by then he already established himself at hindi na siya masyadong busy. But shit happens. She got married and he had to contend himself with what he can have--stolen moments and brief encounters with her in the past.

"We can go to Paris, or New York," pagpapatuloy niya pa.

Inirolyo nito ang mga mata sa offer niya.

"I'm offended," he said in a matter-of-fact tone.

"It's not because I hate going there with you or anything of that sort. It's just that I'm completely okay with anything simple. And besides, any activity can be made special if you are with the... r-right person. Nothing extravagant is needed."