Lost Love In Silence | College Series 1

Chapter 24

Kaya talagang nag-effort si Baldo para mahanap ang lugar na ito. Hindi man lang niya napagtanto na ang ganitong katangahang gawain ay maaaring magmukha siyang mas tanga. At saka, sinigurado namin na siya ay pinaghahanap sa buong bansa bago pa man namin siya maplanong hulihin.

We surrounded the entire K restaurant, from the front to the back, and made sure that Baldo had no escape if he planned to escape. We waited outside, while Detective Smith took out the microphone.

"Baldo, we have you surrounded! Release the hostage and surrender!" smith shouted.

But there is still no sign that Baldo is inside. But the light came on, and I was surprised to see dad, who was with Kai.

"Dad?! What are you doing here?" My eyes widened as I asked.

Nalilito ako, ito ang lugar kung saan namin natunton si Baldo, at kung saan kinulong si mama.

Pero bago pa man ako makakuha ng sagot. Isang ngiti ang ipinakita sa akin ni Tatay, isang nakakatakot na ngiti habang inihayag niya si nanay na may kakila-kilabot na kalagayan. Nanlaki ang mata ko at hindi ako makatayo ng tuwid. Ano bang nangyayari?!

"Ma! Dad, what are you doing?!" I asked angrily while clenching my fist.

Ano bang problema ng tatay ko? Bakit niya ito ginagawa? Akala ko ba nakakulong siya at maayos na ang relasyon nila ni mama? Pero— bigla kong narealize ang lahat. 

"I'm sorry, Maxine, but my conscience can't let my company go under!" My father answered with a shout. Or should I still call him father?

"But why do you have to hurt mom?! Why do you have to empathize with us?!" I cried and shouted back while slowly approaching, but Smith held me.

"Because your mom is a billionaire, and we have a child who is as rich as her!" He answered with a laugh.

I was stunned by his answer. Anong katangahang dahilan iyon? And what does Kai have to do with it? All I know is that he is Andre's friend. Or maybe I'm right in my suspicion that the day dad and I met here was also the day they talked? But what is Baldo's connection with Dad? Or maybe Baldo isn't really the mastermind behind everything?

Little by little, my suspicions were forming. And little by little all the answers to my question became clear. 

"I understand now, the day we met here was also the day you talked with your business partner, which is Kai, am I right?" Mariin kong tanong na may malamig na tono. Sinusubukan kong pakalmahin ang sarili ko kahit na nakikita ko ang aking ina sa kakila-kilabot na kalagayan sa harap ko. Wala man lang akong magawa.

"You're right." He answered.

I sighed. "And that was also the day you got into debt, and you sought help from mom, but because mom didn't want to help you, you kept telling her off until she trusted you again." dagdag ko habang nararamdaman kong kumalma ang sarili ko. Napatingin ako kay Smith. At alam na niya ang gagawin.

I just keep talking. "And since you've already changed mom's mind, she asked me for help, and what she knows is that you've been framed. That's why I believed because she convinced me." At nung nagsasalita ako, nagising si mama at nagsisigaw.

"Maxine! Help me!" Mama cried. My heart immediately broke, knowing that I couldn't get close to her.

"Just be patient, Ma! I will help you," I said with a reassuring way. And I continued to speak even though my mother was crying and begging my father to let her go. I can't focus on what I'm saying because of the state I see of mom now. Awang-awa na ako kay mama, na any seconds ay tatakbo ako papunta sa kan'ya at yakapin s'ya. Pero hindi p'wede dahil pareho naming ikakapahamak iyon.

"And because I let my guard down, you started doing your plan knowing that I was busy. That's when you took the chance to make Mama a hostage and use other people just for the crime you're doing!" Untag ko sa kan'ya. Nakangiti siya, at hindi halata ang guilt. 

"I don't need to explain because everything is right!" He laughed at the same time. I can't deny that I am disgusted by him. I can't even call him father anymore.

"You're a psycho!" Sigaw ni mama. At laking gulat ko nang sampalin s'ya ng lalaki.

"Mama! Tangina talaga!" Wala akong magawa kundi sumigaw na lang sa galit at tignan si mama. Gusto ko siyang lapitan. Pero kapag nilapitan ko s'ya ay masisira ang plano. Ngunit ang usapan ay humahaba lang! Napakatagal ni Smith para gumawa ng aksyon. Kaya bumaling ako ng tingin kay Kai, na may nakalulugod na mga mata. And what makes my eyes widen is something unexpected.

At doon ko naisip na magtanong kung paano nakuha ng tatay ko ang mga larawan kong kinunan ni Baldo.

"How did you get my pictures?" I asked firmly, looking at him intently.

He didn't answer right away, and I know why. He couldn't answer it right away, but I had to interrogate him because if we caught him, he would be sent straight to jail.

I was about to speak, but suddenly, he pulled out a gun and pointed it at Mama's head. Agad akong kinabahan at natakot. But we didn't make a noise, and the authorities just stood there calmly. Habang sinusubukan kong pakalmahin ang sarili ko, nagsimula akong magkaroon ng pagkabalisa, parang nakikita ko ang sarili ko kay mama. Biglang nabuhay ang takot na nasa isip ko sa mga nangyari pitong taon na ang nakakaraan.

"Dad, please! Don't do this!" I screamed begging while raising my hand to stop him. 

"Even if I stop this I'll still be in jail!" My eyes immediately widened when he was about to fire the gun.

Pero si Kai sa gilid niya ay inagaw ang baril at sinipa siya sa tagiliran kaya tumilapon siya. Nagulat ako pero agad akong tumakbo papunta kay mama na bumagsak sa ground. I cried so hard, so hard na napapasigaw na ako. Takot na takot ako sa buhay ng nanay ko. Niyakap ko si mama ng sobrang higpit at umiyak sa balikat niya, habang umiiyak kaming magkayakap. Nagsimulang kumilos ang mga awtoridad sa pamamagitan ng paghuli sa aking ama. Ipinasok nila siya sa loob ng sasakyan kahit wala siyang malay. Talagang tumilapon siya ng husto, at ang masasabi ko tungkol doon ay, deserve!