CHASE (Drama-Mystery)

CHAPTER 7

I stayed in my room for a couple of hours. Feeling very agitated kaya tinawagan ko si Rocky.

"Hey, nakita mo na ba 'yong mga pictures?" pambungad niya kaya naalala ko ang in-email niya na nakalimutan ko. Nagpaalam agad ako matapos sabihin sa kanya ang pasasalamat na pinaalala niya. In-open ko ang e-mail account ko at binuksan ang pictures. Isa-isa. I suddenly missed my father when I saw him smiling widely habang nasa construction site kasama ang isa ring lalaki, his boss.

Some pictures were on a social gathering, maraming tao but I did not see that familiar face of Megan. After hours of scrolling and examining the faces in the pictures, something finally caught my eye. It was in a construction site. Five big men were wearing a hardhat. My father was at the right side at may katabi siyang isang babae. Wearing a formal executive attire and holding a black book. I know she's a girl but I can't see her face kasi hawak ni Daddy ang hard hat niya na nakapatong sa ulo niya at bahagyang natabunan ang ulo niyang napayuko. My heart felt hopeful for some reason. Hindi mapakaling in-examine ko pa ang mga katulad na pictures pero wala na akong nakita. It was a single photo and I am not even sure who that is. But I need to confirm it! Paano kung si Megan iyon? What if Dad knows Megan all along? I need to take a risk! Kailangan kong malaman ang babae sa picture na ito.

I tried to recall the names of the other four men in the picture. Isa lang ang na-recognize ko at ang boss lang nila iyon na si Engineer James Jimenez. I think, he lives in Manila before but I don't know his phone number kaya ang tanging magagawa ko lang ay hanapin siya sa isang social media platform at mabuti na lang meron siyang account kaya nakapag-chat ako sa kanya. Sana lang ay mabasa niya iyon.

Ellah Marie Cecilia:

Hi, Engr. Jimenez. I am the daughter of Ramesen Art Cecilia, I hope that you remember me. I just have to ask about something urgent, I hope you made time to respond

I sent it twice then I spent another hour searching in my father's accounts and articles in Internet. Mga taong associated sa kanyang tabraho. There were lots of them. I stopped when I saw a different picture. Dad was presenting a statue in the picture. The statue looks like a girl, hugging her naked body. The same with our statue in the mansion. It was actually an art gallery in Mindoro. The art exhibition was hosted by Elmo Delmo, a famous local sculptor. There's little info about the picture. It just says that he did the sculptor as a favor for a family friend, the Cecilia. Kung family friend siya, bakit hindi ko siya naaalala man lang sa mga gatherings noon? Still, I typed in his name in the search engine at meron akong page na nakita. Iyon nga lang ay nanlumo ako dahil halos tatlong taon na pala siyang patay.

James Jimenez:

What can I do for you, Ms. Ellah?

Ellah Marie Cecilia:

I want to know, Sir, if you remember this girl in the picture?

Ipinasa ko sa kanya ang picture na pinagdududahan ko. Mga two minutes bago siya nakapag-reply kaya medyo kinabahan ako.

James Jimenez:

I'm not sure, Ms. Ellah. I kind of forget this picture. But I can ask for help from my friends in the same picture. I'll update you as soon as I know, okay?

Ellah Marie Cecilia:

Thank you very much, Sir.

James Jimenez:

Anything for Ramesen's daughter.

Kinagabihan, habang nasa terasa ako at nakatanaw sa mabituing kalangitan, habang sinasamyo ang panandaliang kapayapaan, dumako ang paningin ko sa bumukas na gate ng mansyon. Bitbit ang isang malaking bag ay palinga-lingang pumasok si Manang Tes. Mukhang iniinspeksyon niya ang mga halamam at mga posibleng dumi. Tumindig ang mga balahibo ko sa katawan ng maalala ang mga sinabi ni Tita Lalyn. Namatay na si Manang Tes noon nakaraang taon. Kung ganoon, sinong Manang Tes ang kasama ko sa bahay na ito? Ano ang hindi ko alam na nangyayari na pala sa mismong harapan ko?