Overrated

Chapter 39 – No Way In Hell

Pinagmasdan ko si Jiro na natutulog sa tabi ko.

May tumulo nanamang luha sa pisngi niya na agad kong pinunasan.

Umalis si Keito papuntang airport para sunduin si Mamoru na agad nagplanong bumalik ng Pinas matapos malaman ang ginawa ng nanay ni Jiro.

Tanging kaming dalawa lang ni Sam ang naiwan kasama ni Jiro.

Nagpaliwanag siya kanina habang umiiyak.

“Nang sabihin ni Ronald na sa Blue Ridges Garments International siya nagta-trabaho, naisip ko na p’wede ko siyang gamitin para makabalik kina mama,” sabi niya. “Ang business nila mama sa Davao... ang Lucero Garments na pinangalan sa apelyido ng step-father ko, ay branch ng Blue Ridges Garments. Sila ang namamahala sa destribution ng Blue Ridges sa Davao.”

“Nang lumapit ako kay Ronald,” napa tingin siya sa akin, “Isa sa mga kondisyon na hiningi ko kay Ronald, ay ang pagkasira ng Lucero Garments. Kahit kay Mr. David Lao... hiniling ko rin ito... and in exchange...” muli siyang napatingin sa akin.

“Don’t tell me, you...”

“No, sumayaw lang ako sa harap niya, I promise, sayaw lang talaga. `Di ba nga ikaw pa nagsabi, masyado na siyang matanda for anything else!” pilit niya sa akin habang kapit ang mga kamay ko.

“Pinangako niya na puputulin niya ang lahat ng ties niya with Lucero Garments. And last week, nakataggap ako ng message kay Ronald na okay na ang lahat.” patuloy ni Jiro. “Pinaimbestigahan nila ang Lucero Garments at nalaman na may anumalya ito sa pag file nila ng BIR. So aside from loosing their partnership with Blue Ridges Garments, ay milyon pa ang binayaran nila na penalty sa BIR.”

Napatawa si Keito nang nalaman niya ang ginawa ng pinsan niya, at pati ako man ay natuwa rin.

“You really are, a true Akari. The blood of our samurai ancestors run in your veins!” pagmamalaki nito.

“But I never thought she would come to me...” sabi ni Jiro. “And if she did, I thought that I could face her... I thought that I could look her in the eyes and tell her that she was never a mother to me.”

“You will have your chance, cousin,” sabi ni Keito. “She seems to be ready to fight us in court, and that is exactly what we will give her.”

Napatingin ako sa pinto ng may kumatok dito.

“Pasok,” sagot ko.

Pumasok nga sa loob ng kuwarto ni Jiro si Mamoru na sinundan ni Keito at ni Sam.

“How is he doing?” bulong ni Mamoru.

“He’s sobered up and finally fell asleep,” sagot ko.

“Can we talk outside?” muli niyang tanong.

Dahan-dahan kong ibinaba si Jiro sa mga unan at unti-unting tumayo mula sa kama. Pagkalabas namin ay dumiretso kami sa den at naupo doon ng ilang sandali bago sila nagsalit.

“I have just received the formal complaint from Mrs. Lucero,” sabi ni Mamoru. “She claims that we abducted her son and brainwashed him.”

Natawa ako. “Sorry... is that even possible?” tanong ko. “Jiro isn’t a minor, and neither was he forced!”

“She’s implying that we threatened him to leave her.”

Muli nanaman akong natawa. “She was the one who broke ties with Jiro... the hell... She practically left him to starve! Jiro had to... He had to do desperate things just to survive!”

“We know, and we have enough evidence to prove this, but can’t you see?” patuloy ni Mamoru. “She’s aming for the settlement! She’s demanding for 75 million pesos for punitive damages.”

“What damages?!” I asked incredulously. “Jiro is the one who should be suing her for neglect, but if this is what she wants, then so be it!”

“That’s the problem,” sabi ni Keito. “You know very well that we are trying to keep things low. Have you got any idea what she might tell people if this lawsuit goes through?!”

Natahimik akong bigla. Marami na nga akong napanood na court room drama at alam kong pamamahiya at pangungutya ang inaabot ng mga biktima kapag ginigiling na sila ng abogado. Iniisip ko pa lang iyon, nakikita ko na ang kaawa-awang imahe ni Jiro sa harap ng mga tao na siguradong gigisahin sila.

Siguradong babaliktarin ng sarili niyang ina ang mga pangyayari.

“But... you can’t just give her what she’s asking for!” galit kong sinabi na may halong kawalang pag-asa.

“Seventy-five million is small compared to the future of Akari Group of Companies,” sagot ni Mamoru.

“But...” pilit ko.

“It’s for the best,” sabi naman ni Keito na mukhang katulad kong gigil na gigil din.

Napakuyom na lang ang bibig ko. “Well... what ever... Jiro will still have the final say on this.

“No!” matigas na sabi ni Jiro nang kausapi siya ng mga pinsan niya kinabukasan. “There’s no way in hell that I’m giving her anything! I’m ready to fight her in court!”

“Kenjiro.” nagmatigas din si Mamoru. “Do you have any idea what she can do if you face her?” sabi nito. “She can turn everything around, she can say that you seduced your stepfather, she can even prove this by showing that you are currently in a relationship with another man.”

Napatingin ako kay Mamoru, nagulat sa kaniyang sinabi. May posibilidad nga na gamitin ako ng nanay ni Jiro para saktan siya. Biglang nanlamig ang aking paligod.

“I don’t care! I could easily prove her wrong, anyway! I don’t understand why you want to just... let her get away with everything!”

“We’re only thinking about you, Jiro,” sabi ni Keito. “We don’t want you to go up on that stand and get mentally assaulted with their malicious lies!”

“What? You think I won’t be able to take it?!” natawa si Jiro. “I’ve practically been living with mental and physical assault everydayrday since I got here!”

“And you think it’s not enough?” tanong ni Keito na nakikipag balyawan nanaman sa pinsan niya.

“I know it’s enough!” balik ni Jiro. “That’s why this time, I’m ready to fight back!”