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We tried tracing the number who texted. Pero ng subukan namin. Hindi na ito ma hanap o ma contact man lang.
"He probably change his phone number that quick," sabi ni Arkie.
Mas lalo akong naiyak dahil sa threat na nakuha ni Rad. Mas lalo akong natakot sa maaaring mangyari sa kanya.
"Fuck! This isn't happening." si Tito na halos suntukin na ang pader.
"Hindi dapat ito nangyayari sa kanya. Who the fuck is behind this! I swear I'm gonna kill him," si tito na halos manginig na sa galit.
My system were shaking too. Bakit ba kailangang mangyari ito sa amin ngayon? I didn't even know that there's this person who put so much hatred on him.
"Mom!"
Agad akong tumakbo sa kanya ng bumalik na ito sa hospital. She was holding a paper bag na mukhang laman nito ay mga pagkain.
"Oh my God. What happened?" Aniya ng makita akong umiiyak.
"Sweety. What happened?" She reiterated in a worried voice.
"We got a m-message from someone. H-he wanted to kill Rad, Mom. He wanted to kill my fiance!" nanginginig kong paliwanag.
"Fuck,"
Si tito. Everyone looks frustrated from the situation. Halos hindi na sila matahimik matapos naming mabasa ang mensahe. They gathered all the guards to protect him.
Never in my whole life did I expect this to happened. I was too dreamy about our future together that maybe I failed to see the darker side.
Pero bakit ganito?
Sa kabila ng saya may naghihintay palang panganib. All of it wasn't part of my expectations. But all of it fucking surprised me. Nakakaputang ina lang.
They even had the guts to entail him from their fucking thirst for greed.
Malakas ang kutob ko na may kinalaman dito ang nagtangkang magnakaw sa kompanya nila. I know it's not good to just accuse someone without concrete evidence. But I can merely feel it.
At hindi ko hahayaan na may mangyari pang masama kay Rad. Magbabayad ang may gawa nito. Buhay ang tinangka niyang kunin kaya buhay niya din ang kapalit!
I'll make sure of it.
Kinabukasan I felt tired from crying. Hindi ko man lang nagawang matulog dahil natatakot akong mawala si Rad sa aking paningin at baka kung ano pa ang mangyari. Kahit na alam ko naman na maraming nagbabantay. But my nerves won't let me relax.
"Hija. Ako na muna magbabantay dito. Alam kong pagod kana kaya magpahinga ka na muna," si Tita ng hawakan ako sa balikat.
I was reaching for Rad's hand while he's still on his deep sleep. Pinagmamasdan ko lang siya pero nabaling din ang atensyon kay Tita ng magsalita.
"Rad will be mad kung hinahayaan mong ganyan ang sarili mo. Kaya ako na muna dito Wendy. Just at least rest for a while." aniya. Assuring me that it's all okay.
Napabuntong hininga ako bago tuluyang binitawan ang kamay niya. Tumango na lang ako at ngumiti sa kanya. Inaantok na din naman kasi ako. Pero pinipigilan ko lang dahil gusto kong makita si Rad.
Sa huli pumayag na din ako na magpahinga muna. I use the other bed from his room and took a sleep. Hindi ko namalayan na agad pala akong nakakatulog dahil sa tindi ng pagod.
Nang sumapit ang hapon I woke up from the sudden noises I heard. Agad kong minulat ang mata at nakita na may Doctor palang nag check kay Rad. My eyes immediately went on him and saw that he was still sleeping peacefully.
Kinagat ko ang pang-ibabang labi ng mapagtanto na hindi pala panaginip lahat ng nangyari. It was real that he got shot. Na muntik na siyang mamatay dahil sa nangyari.
Agad na napasulyap si Tito sa akin ng makita na gising ako. Tita were still talking to the doctor kaya nilapitan niya ako.
"Are you alright hija? The Doctor said that he's slowly recovering. Magiging maayos din ang lahat." aniya at hinawakan ako sa balikat.
I timidly smiled before nodding on him. I wanted to stay here and look after Rad. Pero kailangan ko munang umuwi. Wala akong dala na mga damit. Hindi ko din maabala si Mom dahil binabantayan niya ang restaurant. I had nothing to do but to go home and bring some stuff with me.
"What about the case tito?" Tanong ko ng maalala ang mensahe.
"The suspect were still unknown. But you know what hija? I'm having this feeling na may kinalaman si Cloyd Rubio dito. The investigation was going when they decided to find him. To make sure kung totoong wala nga itong kinalaman. But what made everyone think is that he's now missing. Kaya malakas ang kutob ko na maaaring parte siya sa nangyaring krimen. He's hard to trust anymore since we know that he was aching to steal from our company. Kaya siguro. It can be a possibility since he's got the blood of his perilous sire."
Nanlaki ang mata ko sa sinabi ni tito. The hell is going on. Parang kailan lang nung nakasalubong namin siya na lumabas ng office nila Rad. Tapos ngayon posible na siya din ang may pakana sa nangyari!
"W-what? Anong kinalaman ni Rad s-sa kaso niya? I mean if it's really possible. Ano naman ang dahilan niya para barilin si Rad!"
Napalingon sina Tita sa akin. Natigilan din ang Doctor na kumakausap sa kanya. Pero agad ding nagpaalam at umalis ng silid. Now she's walking directly to me. With her worried eyes she held my shoulders too.
"What happened?" Si tita at binalingan ang kanyang asawa.
My tears started to roll down my cheeks. Hindi pa din makapaniwala na nabalitaan. Fuck. I'm hating the name Cloyd Rubio. Kung talagang mapatunayan na may kinalaman siya dito.
Ako mismo papatay sa pagkatao niya.
"Hindi rin ako sigurado. But I heard from his secretary that they had a talk before. Alam kong wala na siya sa trabaho nun pero nagawa niyang bumalik para kausapin si Rad. He was prohibited to come near the company pero mukhang napaabot ng sekretarya niya sa kanya. I believe it was all confidential dahil umalis daw sila na dalawa pagkatapos nun. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang pumasok sa kukote ni Rad para sumama gayung alam naman niya ang dahilan kung bakit tinanggal namin sa trabaho. He almost committed a crime just like his father! Kaya hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit niya hinayaang lapitan siya nito. If it wasn't about work and the attempted crime. There must be something else. Na maaring kuntektado sa nangyari. I couldn't just conclude since I wasn't sure about everything. Pero alam kong hindi gumagawa ng masama si Rad. He couldn't put himself on a fight. Kaya natatakot din ako na baka may kinalaman nga ang Rubio na 'yon."
Naalala ko. We were talking that day. Nung araw din ba sila nag-usap? His secretary interrupted us and said that fucking Rubio wants to have a word with him. Without even knowing that it was the start of the tragedy.
A fucking betrayal.
Hindi ko alam kung ilang oras pa akong natulala sa gilid ni Rad. I was stuck with what Tito told me. Joshua kept on calling to tell me things about the case too. Pero sa lahat ng mga natatanggap ko. Iisa lang din ang nagiging resulta.
That the person behind is still unknown.
I was whispering words and praying that he will finally wake up. Pinagmasdan ko din ang singsing na binigay ni Rad sa akin. We're suppose to be happily engaged now.
Pero anong nangyari? It's like our fairytale were cursed. Parang pinipigilan pa kami na maging masaya.
Pagod man ako sa pagbabantay ay nagawa kong lumabas at umuwi para kumuha ng ibang gamit. I will stay no matter what with him. Hindi ko kakayanin na mawala siya. I'll do anything just to save him.
Kaya mabilis akong kumilos para mag-impake ng damit. Babantayan ko si Rad hanggang sa magising siya. I couldn't even think about work. Kasi buong atensyon ko ay nasa kanya lang.
"Ano ng balita? Nahanap na ba ang bumaril?" Dad from the phone asked.
"Hindi pa po. They're still investigating pero balita meron na daw silang hinala sa likod nito," I said as I carry my bag downstairs.
"Really? Why don't they arrest that person already? Bakit pa nila pinapatagal." aniya sa frustrated na tono.
"That was the plan. But the suppose to be suspect were now missing. Kaya mas lalo lang na nagduda ang lahat na baka siya din ang may gawa nito," sabi ko bago bumuntong hininga.
"What? Missing? Paano nila nahayaang makatakas ito?"
"That's what they're trying to find out. Kung totoong nagtatago ba ito o hindi. Even me, I'm having this outlook about the person. Baka nga s-siya ang may pakana."
"You better be careful Wendy. Hindi natin alam ang takbo ng utak nila. Hindi lang dapat si Rad ang inaalala mo kundi ang sarili mo rin,"
"Yes Dad. I-I'll be fine don't worry," I said.
"Magpapadala ako ng mga tauhan para bantayan ka. This can be dangerous Wendy, too dangerous that we can't even surmise when it'll stop,"
Bumuntong hininga ako sa huling sinabi ni Dad. All I could say was to agree to whatever he was planning to do. Kailangan ko din naman ng proteksyon dahil alam kong delikado ang pangyayari ngayon.
Bullets and guns is our ultimate opponent here. Kaya hindi kami pwede na magpadalos-dalos lang.
"Hintayin niyo na lang po ako. I'll just buy some coffee," sabi ko sa driver.
I'm on my way back to the hospital. When I felt of needing some heat this time. Nakalimutan ko din kasing gumawa sa bahay kaya bibili na lang ako ng may madaanan kami sa daan.
"Delikado po Ma'am. Sasamahan na lang po kita-"
"I'll be quick don't worry," I said and sheepishly smiled.
Mukhang nakumbinsi naman ang driver namin ng tumango ito. Agad naman akong lumabas ng sasakyan at pumasok sa isang coffee shop.
The place were a bit shady. Puro dark colors lang din ang theme nito. Nagkibit balikat na lang ako at diretsong pumunta sa harap para mag order.
"Here's your number Ma'am. We'll serve you your order after a few minutes."
Great.
Akala ko makakaalis agad ako pero maghihintay pa pala ng ilang minuto. I had nothing to do since I already ordered them. Tatlong magkaibang kape kasi 'yung kinuha ko para na din sa kanila Tita mamaya. Kaya wala na akong nagawa kundi ang umupo sa isang bakanteng table near the counter. Para mas mabilis akong mahanap.
I just texted my driver na matatagalan ako ng kaonti dahil maghihintay pa ako. I was just informing at baka magtaka pa ito sa tagal ko.
"Wendy?"
Agad akong napaangat ng tingin ng may tumawag sa pangalan ko. I was taken a back when I realise who called. Agad siyang lumapit sa akin at ngumiti.
Wow.
It's been a year. At talagang ngayong pagkakataon pa talaga kami magkikita. I wasn't expecting since I lost most of my communication to my old friends from high school. 'Yung mga close ko lang talaga ang exempted kaya nagulat ako ng makita siya sa harap.
"Kelly," I said.
Agad naman siyang dumalo sa akin para magbeso. I stood up and smiled at her as well. She's been a friend to me way back on high school. Naalala ko dahil minsan ko na din siyang nakakasama noon. Kaklase ko din siya.
"It's been a while huh. Ang tagal na nating hindi nagkita." aniya at ngumisi sa akin.
She's now a grown woman. Ibang-iba na siya sa dati kong nakilala. Her features were now well define. Mas lalo lang na nadepina. She's tall. Mas matanggad pa ata sa akin.
"Yeah. It's been a while. How's life?" I casually asked na parang walang problema.
"G-good! Ikaw ba? I heard kayo pa din ni Rad hanggang ngayon!" Aniya.
She doesn't know. I never thought that this will be hard for me to tell anyone about Rad's situation. Sumasakit ang dibdib ko tuwing naaalala ang walang malay na katawan ni Rad.
"Yes we are. We're engaged actually. But things suddenly happened." malungkot kong sambit.
I offered her to sit first kaya agad naman siyang umupo sa harap. My order is still pending. I'm just having this small talk with Kelly for the meantime. Marami na din naman kasi akong nakaligtaan sa kanya.
"Oh? R-really? Congrats!"
"Thank you," I said before turning my head on the counter. Not really wanting to talk about his situation.
"Where is he now? When's the wedding by the way?" Aniya ng napupuno ng kuryusidad.
"I don't exactly... Know, for now. He's not in the good condition Kelly," malumanay kong sambit.
"W-what?"
"He was almost killed. Nabaril siya at hanggang ngayon hindi pa din siya nagigising." sabi ko.
There.
I already said it. I was hesitant but she won't stop asking. Kaya sinabi ko na lang. And besides. She's our friend too. Kaya malalaman at malalaman din naman ito ng iba.
"W-what? He's almost killed? I-I thought he's... H-he'll be fine right?" She stuttered.
Humugot ako ng malakas na buntong hininga bago lumingon sa counter. I was about to speak when my order came. Laking pasalamat ko dahil ayokong pag-usapan ang nangyari sa kanya.
I want the case to be over. Not to lament on it. Dahil wala na din naman ako magawa sa nangyari. I just want justice. I just want him to be awake. And be with me forever.
"I'm sorry Kelly. But I needed to go. Let's just talk the other time," I said as I stood from my seat.
Agad kong hinablot ang binili at hindi na siya muling nilingon. I was forcing myself not to cry. Not again. Malalaking hakbang ang ginawa ko ng lumabas sa coffee shop.
I was on my way to find our driver. Sabi ko hintayin niya na lang ako sa labas. Kunot noo kong sinuri ang parking ng mawala ang sasakyan namin. Even my driver. Kaonti lang naman ang mga sasakyan dito pero hirap na hirap akong hanapin ito.
I was about to get my phone to text our driver ng biglang may tumakip sa mukha ko. Agad akong nagpumiglas dahil sa lakas nito pero ni hindi man lang siya gumalaw dahil sa higpit ng hawak sa akin.
I was catching my breath when I realise that the person behind me was covering my mouth and nose with some handkerchief. Hindi ko na alam ang gagawin. I couldn't move an inch!
I then I found myself begging for help. I was screaming. But no one heard me. Para akong pinaparusahan at hindi ko man lang magawang lumaban.
I can hear noises from the people pero mukhang hindi nila ako maririnig dahil may nakaharang na sasakyan sa harapan ko. It blocked the street kaya wala akong ibang magawa kundi ang magdasal na sana panaginip lang to.
"Ang ingay mo. Gusto mo isunod din kita sa Sullivan na 'yon ha?"
Fear consumed me when I heard the man behind me. Para akong binuhusan ng malamig na tubig ng bigla niya akong hilain paalis sa lugar. We're just meters away from the shop pero mukhang hindi ako napapansin ng mga tao sa loob dahil abala ito sa mga sariling ginagawa.
Is this the end?
I wanted to run. But the lost of hope is pulling me. Sinasabi na wala na akong kawalan.
I can't even see the person behind me dahil may itim na mask din ito na suot.
Fuck.
That fucking mask.
Is he the one who pulled the trigger to kill Rad? Is he going to kill me too? I'm fucking over it! Ano bang kailangan niya at gusto niya itong patayin. Or maybe not.
Maybe he really wanted to kill us both?
Tangina. What made him want to kill us? May nagawa ba kaming masama? I couldn't even remember when we did something wrong to gain such opponent.
I'm merely losing all the hope. I was crying. Pinipilit na makawala pero para akong nakaposas at hindi man lang magawang tulungan. I couldn't escape.
I then suddenly saw Kelly in front of me. She was breathing heavily. May takot at pagpipigil sa kanyang mga mata. She didn't move. At pinagmasdan lang ako.
I was pleading for help. But she was just watching me. Para akong sinaksak dahil sa kanyang ginawa. She didn't do anything harmful but the sight of her triggering eyes pained me.
I was about to scream again for help but I suddenly felt my knees weakening. Ang talukap ng aking mga mata ay unti-unti ng nahuhulog dahil sa naramdamang pagkahilo.
"I-I'm sorry Wendy," si Kelly.
Her words kept on reiterating inside my head as I felt my body fell on the ground. It was the last statement I heard before I lost my vision as everything went black.