Deliverance (DS #1)

Chapter 20

Chapter 20: Stranger

PATRICIA stopped crying. Now, she's in front of Sandro's house. Waves of memories flooded instantly like everything sweet between her and Sandro just happened yesterday.

But yesterday was gone far away.

She pushed the doorbell. Nanginginig siya sa galit. That's when Sandro opened the door, she greeted him with a slap on the face.

Hinawakan nito ang pisnging nasaktan at nginisian siya. "Feisty, I see."

"Why are you doing this to me?" naghihinakit na tanong niya.

Mas naging mala-demonyo ang mga ngiti nito. "Because I can." Tumalikod ito. "Follow me."

Pinilit niya ang sariling pumasok sa bahay na minsan nang naghatid nang kasiyahan kay Patricia. Even when she's mad, she can still feel the nostalgia. Pasimple niyang nilibot ang tingin sa buong bahay ni Sandro.

And nothing changed. It is still the same from five years ago.

Natigilan si Patricia nang umakyat si Sandro sa hagdanan. She hesitated but she still followed him. They went inside his personal office.

"This is the original copy," anito sabay angat sa isang compact disk. "I have a lot of copies here though," sabi naman nito sabay hawak sa laptop nito.

Nanatili siyang naka-distansiya dito. His presence was overwhelming again. But this time, it's scarier.

"You said I can delete it," aniya at saka sinubukang kunin dito ang CD.

Iniwas nito iyon. "Oh, not so fast, mahal..." nanunuyang sabi nito. "You need to do something for me first."

Napalunok siya at tinitigan ito. But all she can see was a stranger. Isang estrangherong taglay ang mukhang hindi niya magawang makalimutan na kahit sa panaginip ay lagi niyang nakikita.

"The investments..." bigla niyang nasabi. "The investments... k-kapalit ba iyon nang nangyari sa opisina mo?"

Natawa ito. "Oh, so you think I helped you with the investments because of the sex?" Napailing ito at itinaas ang CD. "What you did here? It was good but not enough for the companies that I ordered to put investment in your falling business. That was millions! You are not even worth it."

Patricia can literally feel her heart being stabbed. But she managed to ignore the pain. "S-So, what was that for? You j-just helped us?"

"Do you really think I help for free?"

"What do you want, Alessandro?" she weakly asked.

That wicked smile teased. "See you suffer. Every day."

Hearing that from the love she kept for years made Patricia want to cry again. "Alessandro..." her voice broke.

Ngunit hindi ito natinag. Parang lalo pang nasiyahan ngayong nakikita na siyang pinipigilan ang pagluha.

"But then, why would I waste my time with just you? Let's add your dying father."

Doon na siya tuluyang nagimbal. "No!"

"An eye for an eye, Patricia."

Mabilis siyang umiling at lumapit dito. "Please, Sandro. Leave my father out of this. Alam kong galit ka sa'kin, sa buong pamilya namin. But please..." She was close to kneeling but she kept herself up. "Please, Alessandro, not Daddy."

Nawala ang ngiti nito at patuyang hinaplos ang luhang nakawala mula sa kanyang mata. "Nakinig ba kayo sa'kin nang nagmakaawa rin akong huwag si Uncle Herald? Did you?"