All that Matters (Absinthe Series 3)

Kabanata 32

Kabanata 32

All That Matters

Although I was tired that night, I stayed wide awake. Ilang gulong ang ginawa ko sa kama hanggang  sa napaupo na lamang ako.

I opened my lamp. Nagbigay ito ng ilaw sa aking kwarto. I stood up and went to the balcony. Tanaw mula dito ang tanawin ng kabuuang syudad.

Mayroong bumabagabag sa akin. I couldn't pinpoint what it was, but it was bothering me.

My phone beeped from my side table. Kumunot ang aking noo at nagpasyang kunin iyon. It was a text message from my hired PI. Nang maalalang may ipinagawa ako ay agad kong binasa ang text nito.

He said he found two positive results but one location. Pero paanong, dalawa? Hindi ba dapat isa lang?

I called the PIs number. Dalawang ring ay nasagot agad iyon.

"Hello, good evening."

"Miss Balmori, napatawag kayo? I'm going to deliver the results tomorrow."

"I was about to ask why there were two results."

"Iyan nga rin ang palaisipan sa akin, Miss. But yes, the machine showed two faces on two locations. Posibleng iisa lang din ang mga taong ito, Miss."

"Okay. Salamat. You can come here tomorrow by 8 am."

"Of course, Miss Balmori."

Gaya ng napag-usapan, Mr. Ruiz, the private investigator came at our place by 8 am. Dala-dala nito ang mga papeles ng resulta.

My heart pundered as he lend me the brown envelope. Tinitigan ko lamang iyon hanggang sa nagkatinginan kami ni Muriel. She is here because I called her. Kaming dalawa naman ang may pakana nito.

Kinuha ko ang dalawang resulta. It showed a face of the man whom I knew before. Nanginig ang aking kamay habang nakikipagtitigan roon.

He looks just like an aged Raoul Alvarez but it was registered to a different name, Gonzalo del Pilar. He lived in Costa de Marina for almost 65 years. Maliban sa kaniyang lokasyon, nakatalaga rin na nagtatrabaho ito bilang tagapamahala ng mga barkong bumabiyahe galing sa Marina. He retired ten years ago, with a wife and only son.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Muriel. Hinawakan niya ang aking kamay nang magpasya akong buksan ang ikalawang resulta.

It was a picture of my grandfather. His sharp features were similar to that of Raoul Alvarez. Ikinumpara ko ang dalawang larawan at may ilang pagkakaiba. Siguro ay parehong hindi naman magkasing anggulo ang litratong nakuha.

The photo of my grandfather was taken from his inauguration as a governor of Marina. It was a long time ago. Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwalang baka nga siya si Raoul Alvarez, pero paano? I've known my family for so long at kailanman, wala akong narinig na galing ang pamilya ng aking Abuelo sa Pangasinan.

I read the information again. There it was, his name, Emmanuel Felisarta with his current address in Marina de Arroyo. Doon lang ang nag-iisang mansyon ng aming pamilya.

"Adi...that's your grandfather. Paanong?" tanong ni Muriel.

"Hindi ko din alam." I honestly said. Tumingin ako kay Mr. Ruiz.

"Is it possible to detect two persons? Hindi ba nagkakamali ang inyong pagproseso?"

"The machines are automatic, Miss. We encode what was given by the machine at iyon talaga ang  binibigay namin sa mga kliyente." aniya.

"Maraming salamat, kung ganoon. Maybe, I'll just take it from here. Ako ang pupunta sa Marina at maghahanap kay Gonzalo."

Nang umalis ang private investigator ay nakatitig pa din ako roon. Kinakabahan at hindi pa rin makapaniwala. Muriel urged me to keep the results and think of what will I do next.