Tedious Tendencies

02

Aurora

I found myself crying as I took another cab and was already on the way to Ryan's condo when my phone rang. It was from an unknown number kaya hindi ko alam kung sasagutin ko or hindi. I stared at it hanggang sa natapos na, but seconds later ay tumatawag nanaman kaya sinagot ko na.

"Hello?" I croaked as I wiped my tears.

"Rory..." It was barely audible but I knew that voice. I felt alert and conditioned myself to stay calm. I don't know the lengths of my father's arrest was and just in case I don't want to can driver picking up on the conversation that was going to happen.

Shit. If the allegations were indeed true ay kasangkot na rin ba ako dahil sa pagsagot ko ng tawag na ito?

"Ate?" I whispered in response, still checking on the unknowing driver who, thank heavens, was focused on the road.

"Are you safe, Rory?" Pinakiramdaman ko ang tono niya. It was impassive and my sister does not do impassive. Could it true then? Was she hiding something?

"Yes." I said instead of entertaining the gnawing urge to prod her.

"Good. Stay where you are safe and leave should you feel that you're being watched. This will be quick. I will explain everything that kapag nagkita na tayo, for now I need you to listen and trust everything that I will say and please do not tell anyone that I called or else things are going to get more messy. This is very important. Can I trust you on it?"

"Yes. What is it?" I clenched my fist to further stop myself from asking what I really wanted to ask. I wanted to see how this will play out.

Oo, clueless ako at hindi ko pa alam kung saan ako kakapit para makapunta sa katotohanan. And I do trust my sister with my life, I was just not sure about the current situation, for situations sometimes gets the best in people. Tao pa rin si ate and in trying times like this, I need make sure that I have all the information that I can get so that I can help her.

Kung may nakakakilala man kay ate ng lubos ay ako iyon. And something tells me that she was under some kind of duress, not just stress over what was happening and I cannot put a finger to it. If I am sright and she was not in her normal state of mind, then I should step up, at kung katulad kanina na umiiyak ako, hindi ibig sabihin ay hanggang doon lang ang gagawin ko. I knew she'd do the same for me, so I have to keep a strong head on this and listen to everything that she will say.

Suminghot ako at tuluyan ng pinigilan ang pag-iyak. But I was unable to brace myself with her next words.

"First, stop crying. You need to be strong while I am not there for you. Then, I need you to come up with at half a million pesos for me. My hands are tied and I am unable to do anything without alerting the police. The bracelet that I gave you, are you wearing it now?"

I immediately lifted my free hand and stared at the Dear John custom made charm bracelet that she gave me on my 18th birthday. Tumango ako sa kawalan habang inaabsorb pa ang sinasabi niyang half a million pesos na kailangan niya. For what exactly?

"Yes, I am wearing it."

"Good, then you're off to a good start. One of the charms is a real key to a storage unit under our mother's maiden name. Its contents are supposed to be a surprise gift for your graduation and I'm sorry that I have to spoil it early. Store and Secure ang pangalan ng Storage facility and you can get their Taguig location online. Please try to be discreet when you go there. There's rare art pieces, antiques, land titles that mommy passed on to you, at least five million pesos worth of jewelries and about three hundred thousand unmarked cash inside that unit. Again, my hands are tied. You have five days to come up with the remaining two hundred thousand pesos without alerting and tipping off the police. I'm thinking that you can sell the jewelries to your friends to come up with it. I'll send you the location where you can drop off the money so that I can get it."