Heartbeat of the Sunrise

62

I spent the few days doing schoolworks and activities for the exams. Sa gitna ng busy schedule, mabuti na lang at naisisingit ko pa ang sarili kong imbestigasyon laban sa mga Montecarlos.

If they think I'm alone in this fight, then they are mistaken.

Wearing my Blahnik red pumps, I marched towards the hall with my head held high. I smirked when I heard a man inside, announcing my arrival. Nakahilera na ang mga paparazzi at mga reporters sa ibaba ng entablado. Eto namang mga makakapal ang mukha, mukhang na-e-enjoy pa ang spotlight na pilit nilang inaangkin.

"What is that woman doing here?!" The old wench, with his wrinkled fingers, pointed at me.

"Uh, gatecrashing your press conference?"

"Mama, we are supposed to talk about the case today," baling sa kanya ni Kristina.

"Oh, right."

Inalalayan niya ang matanda pababa ng stage. They ended the press conference immediately as if they don't want me to spill their poison.

"Bakit mo tinapos agad? Are you afraid I might embarrass you?" tanong ko kay Kristina nang simulan namin ang pagpupulong.

"Shut up!" the old hag yelled at me.

Muntik ko nang maibuga ang tsaang iniinom ko. I chuckled and looked intently at Ailee's mom, who is sitting beside me.

"Madame, hindi ko maintindan kung bakit kailangan ko pang pumunta rito. May bago ba tayong kasunduan? I think I'll just make this old wench's blood boil."

"Of course. Mas maganda na marinig mo rin ang magandang balita kasama nila."

"What good news?' tanong ni Kristina.

"Mr. and Mrs. Gomez' case recently just downgraded so they'll in Subic right now. They're officially became detainees-"

"What? No!"

Lalo akong natawang makitang nanggagalaiti ang dalawa. Kristina was on the verge of throwing a vase when gave her a warning stare.

"And Ximena wants you to be investigated too, dahil nagsumite siya ng ilang reklamo laban sa pagkamatay ni Maria Aurora at sa pagsalakay sa private property niya. May koneksyon din ito sa kinasangkutan niyong gulo sa isang kilalang hotel."

"As if naman papayag kami!" giit ng matandang bruha.

"Walang basis ang accusations ng babaeng 'yan! Why would we kill our own family member!"

"Oo nga, Kristina. Why would you?"

"Bullshit!" Her voice boomed across the walls of the office. But It didn't made me flinch.

"Nakahanap siya ng ilang ebidensya. Iimbestigahan namin iyon at titiyakin ko na maayos na lalabas ang resulta ng imbestigasyon."

Pulang-pula na sa galit ang dalawang bruha. They looked like a bull ready to charge at me. Nagpapaliwanag pa ang mommy ni Ailee pero panay pa rin ang sumbat nila sa aming dalawa. Kung ganito ang pakikitungo nila sa harap ng isang professional na alagad ng batas, paano pa kaya sila pakikinggan ng judge?

"You bitch..." dinuro ako ni Kristina. "Ikaw ang nag-utos na buksan ang kasong ito! How come it is moving and heading towards you, huh? What sorcery did you use to make this happen!"

"Matapang ka nang babae ka! Ang kapal ng mukha mong baliktarin kami!" sabat ni Amelia. "Magdasal ka na lang na mahahanap namin ang apo ko!"

I smiled and swung my head. "Tama ka nga. We better pray you'll find him soon. But it will be much better if you pray he'll never find the truth about his own family."