"Shein? You okay?" Ice suddenly asked kaya tumingin ako sa kaniya and saw how he was worriedly looking at me. I just smiled at him and mahinang umiling.
"Kanina ka pa tulala. You sure, you're okay?" Sabi niya ulit. I just chuckled at mahinang umiling lang for the second time.
"Oo nga. I was just thinking kung kelan ba natin gagawin yung business plan! Kanina pa tayo dito sa mall!" Sabi ko sa kaniya habang nakaturo sa mga taong nakatingin sa amin sa labas ng restaurant kung saan kami ngayon kumakain.
Plus madami talaga akong iniisip ngayon! Finals na namin sa Monday tapos may mga project at activities pa ako na kaylangan taposin then the sudden task, finding and retrieving the national treasure. Buti na ngalang, ibinigay ni paps kay Mr David ang trabaho sa pag paghanap kung sino ang kumuha ng national treasure at kung nasaan na ito ngayon. It's been a day and a half pero wala paring update mula kay Mr David.
Tsk. Just who did stole the national treasure. I'm sure it's not just a one person who would do the work, alam ko na hindi lang iisang tao ang involved dito. They are not just a rookie, and for sure they did a lot of preparation to succeed. Just who the hell it could be, at ang tinatagalan e-trace ni Mr David ang mga responsable.
I wanted to help, Clayd wanted to help, we all wanted to help to make this over. But paps forbid us since Final's near na, and we can't lose the chance na e-maintain or mas e angat pa ang grade at rank namin. That's why, all the task regarding the mission was all given to Mr David, he's a pro anyway so it be alright.
Pero tanging naman! Nag iinit ang dugo ko! Isang araw at kalahati na ang lumipas wala paring balita! I will definitely burn those motherfuckers to death, mag hinatay lang sila!
"Shein."
"Ha?" Tanging lumabas sa bibig ko ng marinig ko siyang binigkas na naman ang pangalan ko.
Kunot noo siyang tumingin sa akin kaya napa-iwas nalang ako ng tingin. Hehe, masyado na talaga akong tulala?
"Tsss... Let's go home." Sabi niya at agad na tumayo mula sa pagkakaupo while I was just confusedly looking at him ng bigla niya akong hinawakan sa kamay at hilain patayo.
"Aren't we gonna do our project?" Kunot-noong tanong niya.
"Ah... Yeah." Napakamot nalang ako ng batok at napailing naman siya then nagsimula nang maglakad paalis.
Yeah right, this guy's also my problem. Simula nong malaman ko ang about sa parents niya being friends with paps. I feel awkward sometimes. I always observe his actions and trying to read his thoughts but his always hard to read.
I don't know kung may alam ba siya o wala. I wanted to ask, but I'm not sure maraming pumapasok ngayon sa isip ko! Nalilito ako kung ano ba ang uunahin.
"I told you not to use you not to use your —"
"Hep!" Pagpigil ko sa sasabihin niya.
"I told you too that I don't want you to fetch me at home nor drive me home... So, let's go!" Sabi ko sa kaniya at agad na binuksan ang pintoan ng sasakyan ko.
"Tss..." Nakita kong napakunot noo siya kaya napailing nalang ako.
"Sa bahay mo diba?" Nakangising tanong ko sa kaniya habang nakadungaw sa bintana ng sasakyan ko.
Tumango lang naman siya habang nasa labas parin at seryosong nakatingin lang sa akin.
"Sige na! Sumakay ka na sa kotse mo. Then let's race!" Nakangisi na sabi ko sa kaniya. Napailing lang naman siya at naglakad patungo sa sasakyan niya.
Psh! Napailing nalang ako at sinimulang paandarin ang sasakyan.
Things might change once he finds out, if he still doesn't know. But if he does, I don't know, I will be very upset, but at the same time I will be glad. Hindi ko alam, pero yun ang pumapasok sa isip ko.
Hanggang makarating kami sa village kung saan siya nakatira ay nakasunod lang siya sa akin.
Tsk. Sabi ko race, pero ayaw niya mauna kahit bilisan ko, nakabuntot lang talaga siya.
"Ang boring nito, kainis!" Inis na sabi ko ng makababa ako ng kotse at hinintay siyang makababa sa sasakyan niya.
Lumapit ako sa kaniya at sabay kaming pumasok sa loob ng bahay niya.
"Should we do our planning at the board room?" He suddenly asked.
Tumaas naman agad ang kaliwang kilay ko dahil sa sinabi niya. Wait... Just the two of us? Nah, I don't want to.
"Nah, let's just do it at the living room." Bored na sagot ko sa kaniya.
Tumango-tango lang naman siya at nagpatuloy kami hanggang sa living room ng bahay niya.
We suddenly stopped when we saw a familiar figure sitting at the couch. She was just sitting while watching the tv.
"Mom?" She suddenly looked at our way when she heard Ice called her. Agad naman siyang ngumiti ng tumingin siya sa amin. Then naglakad naman si Ice palapit sa kaniya.
"Aizer! Elshein! Hi." Nakangiting sabi niya at agad na tumayo at lumapit kay Ice at sa akin.
"What are you doing here mom?" Tanong ni Ice sa mom niya.
"Well, napa-daan lang... Anyway, why are two together?" Sagot at tanong ni Tita Rose naman sa amin habang nakadikit sa akin at pinaupo ako sa tabi niya.
"We're going to do a project." Simpleng sagot naman ni Ice at naupo sa isang single couch.
"Really?... Nag-lunch na ba kayo, Elshein?" Nakangiting tanong naman ni Tita Rose sakin.
"Ahm yes, we just had our lunch outside." I simply answered then sumulyap kay Ice na napabuntong hininga lang.
"Excuse me. I'll just change my clothes then I'll prepare the materials." Ice suddenly said at tumayo. Tumango lang naman ako at agad naman siyang nag lakad paalis.
Oh shit, dapat sumama nalang ako, I don't know what to do infront of Tita Rose... Ay wait, mag papalit nga pala siya. Tsk!
Napatingin naman ako kay Tita Rose na nakatingin at nakangiti sa akin. I just also smiled at her. Shit awkward.
"How's your day with Aizer? Is he treating you well?" Nakangiti niyang tanong sa akin.
"Ahm, yeah, we meet up at the mall para pag usapan ang tungkol sa project namin." Sagot ko naman sa kaniya.
Pag usapan ang tungkol sa project? Really Elshein. Hays! Syempre hindi lang dahil don, puro nga kami gala kanina kahit na ang usapan gagawa ng project, kaya nakipagkita siya sa mall. Tsss...
"What's your project all about?" She asked again.
"Business planning for our entrepreneurship class." I simply answered then she just also simply nodded.
Hays! I can't believe why I suddenly here talking with Tita Rose. Kakaisip ko palang kanina tungkol sa mga nalaman ko, tungkol sa mga sinabi ni paps, at tungkol sa kanila na may alam about sa mga trabaho namin. Gosh. It's really awkward lalo na't nong isang araw palang nalaman nina Tita Rose ang tungkol sa akin bilang 'anak' ni Sanderson Mc Blaire!
"I'm sorry about what happened last time, I was just surprised." She suddenly said.
Oh shit. Sabi ko na ngaba! Kakapasok lang sa isip ko na wag niya nalang e brought up ang tungkol don. Pero ito na nga. Ito na. Hay~
"Ah it's okay Tita." Malumanay na sabi ko sa kaniya.
Ngayon, Ayan na, bat naging soft ka bigla Elshein? Nakakainis! Gusto kong mag teleport papunta sa ibang bansa!
"I can't believe you're Chairman Mc Blaire's daughter, I mea..." She smoothly and shortly said while looking infront. Tumango nalang naman ako.
"Mc Blaire Corporation. It's main company is in Japan, it is a well-known Corporation of electronics and technologies around the world..." Biglang kwento niya at tumingin sa akin.
"... Chairman Sanderson Mc Blaire has gain his title after the late Chairman Mc Blaire died because of an illness. And he did a huge success of making the corporation known worldwide in just five years... But Sanderson Mc Blaire has a deepest secret only his family and close friends knew." She suddenly stopped ng umiwas ako ng tingin sa kaniya.
"Why are you telling me about this?" Mahinang sabi ko habang nakatingin sa harapan.
Where in fact, I already know about all of this. I already know about what she's saying. Is she really that close to paps, kaya alam niya ang lahat ng to.
"I know you're aware." Dinig kong sabi niya at mahinang napabuntong hininga.
"I've known Chairman Sanderson when we were just in high school. Daryl, Alejandro, and I was a friend of his late brother, Salvin Mc Blaire. Sanderson was a graduating students while the four of us was two years behind." Napatingin naman ako sa kaniya dahil sa kwenento niya sakin.
I saw a different expression on her eyes but she's hidding it with a thin smile.
"Daryl, Alejandro, Salvin and I, meet his brother Sanderson after two years. He was a lot different than the last time I saw him. We became friends, closer than everyone excepted... And a year later, we found out about his works. And found out, he was already doing such things even before we met him." Mapait siyang ngumiti at tumingin sa kaniya.
"We accept him since he's our friend... He became more powerful when he ascended the throne after his graduation, months after the late Chairman Mc Blaire passed away... And that was the time Salvin run away from their home, nalaman nalang namin a year later na may pamilya na siya sa Spain. But we didn't had a chance to even meet him again, his wife and daughter." Napabuntong hininga siya at napailing nalang.
"Sanderson has a control over the authorities. That's why he never fail in everything he does... You're the same as him, right?"
My eyes widened a bit after she said those words kaya napa-iwas nalang ako ng tingin. I don't know what to say...
"Aizer know nothing." Mahinang sabi niya ulit dahilan para mapatingin ako sa kaniya. She smiled at me at hinawakan ang hibla ng buhok ko na nasa muka ko.
"He knows nothing about your family... You haven't told him and you don't have plans to tell me, do you?" Sabi niya ulit at napabuntong hininga nalang ng hindi ako sumagot.
"I was surprised, I feel fear when I found out... But Elshein, don't make late decisions that will hurt you at the end..... Ngayon ko lang nakitang ganyan ang anak ko. He never bring anyone here except his bestfriends. He never stick to one person a whole day long, mas gugustohin niya pang mapag isa buong araw." She said those words with a genuine smile on her face habang nakatingin siya sa hagdan.
I can see and I can feel that she really love her son. Mother's love are the best. Sadly, I haven't feel that love.
Napangiti nalang ako ng mapait at marahang tumango.
Her phone suddenly rung kaya napatingin kaming dalawa dito. She immediately picked up her phone at tiningnan kung sino ang tumatawag.
"Excuse me. I'll just answer this." Nakangiti niyang sabi. Tumango lang naman ako at tiningnan siyang naglalakad paalis.
"Where she going?" Napatingin naman ako sa taong biglang sumulpot.
"She have a call." Simpleng sagot ko lang. Ice just nodded at inilagay sa center table ang laptop na dala niya.
Don't make late decisions that will hurt you at the end. Parang dvd na nag play ang mga sinabi ni Tita Rose sa utak ko.
I didn't expect this things to happened. Tita Rose looks like she accept me from who I am. I know for sure that she already know the life that I have.
But I don't think confessing will be easy. I don't know what Ice would react. And I am scared. Scared that he might throw me away once he find out.
But the thing that I'm sure of... The feelings that I've been concealing has grown.
"Shein, pinapapunta ka sa office ni paps." Zel suddenly said ng dumating siya sa living room kung saan kasama ko si Clayd at Blake na nag babasa ng libro.
Hays... Ano naman kaya kaylangan ni paps. May exam pa kami bukas! Stress na ko, super! Isa pa tong trabaho namin na ilang araw ng walang balita mula kay Mr David. Tangina! Naiinis talaga ako ngayon!
Ay teka! Maybe it's about the national treasure, baka may nalaman na si Mr David!
Dali Dali akong tumayo kaya nagulat yung mga kasama ko pero hindi ko sila pinansin at mabilis na naglakad papunta sa office ni paps sa second floor ng bahay.
Damn! I feel so excited...
Wait Shein, hindi tayo pwede ma excited ng sobra dahil may exam ka pa bukas. Remember, we're at the middle of our final exams. Hindi natin pwede pabayaan ang studies natin just for the mission.
But wait... The mission is also important! I never failed any missions before so kaylangan successful din ang mission natin ngayon!
Ah!! Maluluka na ko!
"Paps! Pinatawag niyo daw ako?" Agad na sabi ko ng buksan ko ang pintoan ng office niya.
"Elsh naman." Sabi niya habang nakahawak pa sa dibdib niya.
Mahinang natawa lang ako at naglakad patungo sa couch na nasa gitna. Mukang na gulat siya sa biglang pagbukas ko ng pintoan.
Dali dali niyang isinara ang librong hawak niya at inilagay sa ilalim ng table niya. Ngumiti naman siya ng makitang nakatingin pala ako sa ginagawa niya.
"Let's wait for Arthur." Pagtukoy niya kay Mr David. Tumango lang ako at binuksan ang dala kong libro at nagbasa nalang muna.
Mukang napa aga yata ako. Sorry naman, na excite lang. Si Zel kasi walang sinabi kung ngayon na or mamaya pa. Tsk.
"How's your finals?" Paps suddenly asked.
"Nothing new." Simpleng sagot ko habang nakatuon parin ang atensiyon sa librong hawak ko.
"So it's easy?" Sabi niya naman kaya mahinang tumango lang ako.
I heard him chuckled and mumbled something, kaya napa-sulyap ako sa kaniya.
Then someone suddenly knocked at the door kaya napatingin ako don at agad na pumasok si Mr David na may dalang laptop and envelope.
"Sorry I'm late." He shortly said then walked towards my way.
He immediately went to paps then ibinigay ang dala niyang envelope.
"Sorry, it took so long for me to find out. It seems that the culprit had done a lot of preparation to block my actions." Sabi ni Mr David at naupo sa couch na nasa harapan ko.
"It's okay... So who's the culprit?" Seryosong sabi ko sa kaniya.
Seryosong tumingin din siya sa akin at sinulyapan si paps na busy sa ginagawang pag babasa sa mga papels na binigay niya.
Hindi siya sumagot, instead he opened the laptop infront of him. Napakunot noo naman ako at tiningnan siyang mabilis na nag t-type sa keyboard ng laptop.
"Look for it, Ms Shein." Mr David plainly said at iniharap ang laptop sa akin.
I confusedly looked at him bago kinuha ang laptop sa kaniya at tiningnan ang pinapakita niya sa akin.
My eyes widened when I saw a familiar guy sa video footage na ipinakita ni Mr David sa akin.
"That's why it took me days to find out." Dinig kong sabi ni Mr David.
"It's because of him... Felix Jake Agustin." He added.
What the f? Felix? That damn jerk?
"Is he behind those hacks?" Paps suddenly asked kaya napalingon kami sa kaniya.
"Yes. He was behind all the hacks and misinformations." Mr David answered.
"But isn't his mother Fella Agustin...." Hindi ko tinapos ang sasabihin at nagtatakang tumingin kay Mr David.
"It seems like his family don't know anything about what he's doing... He was working behind Teodoro Coroza." Sabi niya at may ipinakitang profile sa screen ng laptop niya.
Teodoro Coroza. That damn old-motherfucker! Sinasabi ko na nga ba, na may kinalaman siya dito!
"Wait... If Felix was behind the hacks and misinformations.... Then who did the work?" I confusedly asked.
Kinuha ulit ni Mr David ang laptop niya at may hinanap bago muling ibalik sa akin.
"It's Emil Gomez." Aniya.
Napatingin naman ako sa profile ng taong tinutukoy niya.
Then again. I gasped when I remember the face of the culprit. What the f? Emil? The staff at Luca's bar? What a f*cking small world!