The Innocent Wife

M A L Z I A Hindi ako makagalaw mula sa aking pagkakaupo dahil sa dalang mensahe ng secretary ni Dad. My Dad was arrested earlier in his office due to Estafa case that was filed by the Zhang Empire group and they're even asking for a contract which indicates the transfer of shares and properties. Napahinga ako ng malalim habang nakatingin sa hinaing mga papel ni Faith. "Asaan si Dad?"I asked. bakas sa aking boses ang pag-aalala dahil matanda si Dad para ilagay pa sa ganoong lugar. Hindi ko kakayanin na makita siyang nahihirapan lalo na't marami na siyang komplikasyon. "Asa detention room sya sa Downtown district, pinakiusapan ni Madam na huwag muna ipasok sa selda ang Dad mo habang hindi nyo pa nakakausap nang maayos ang may-ari ng Zhang group."she explained. Napasapo na lang ako sa sintido ko na kanina pa kumikirot dahil sa stress na dala ng problemang kinakaharap namin ngayon. Si Mom.. Ayokong nakikita silang ganito, masyado na sila matanda ni Dad para masangkot pa sa mga ganitong gulo, baka mapaano pa ang kalagayan nila lalo na't sa edad nila marapat na nagpapahinga na sila. Tumayo ako at huminga ng malalim dahil sa labis na pag-iisip. I can't withstand this any longer, I have to do something. "Bring me to Downtown district." I commanded calmly. Pawang nagulat pa ito sa inasal ko ngunit hindi ko na ito pinansin at lumabas na ako sa opisina. My family needs my action, walang mangyayare kung iiyak lang ako sa isang tabi at didibdibin lahat ng problema. Nang makasakay ako sa elevator ay walang ni anong salita si Faith na narinig mula sakin ngunit isang malaking singhal. Hindi matitiis ng konsensya ko na wala akong gagawin at hahayaan na lang makulong si Dad at mawala ang kumpanya, he builded our company with his own blood, sweat and heart. Alam ko na nabulag lang at nasilaw siya sa kaligayahan mula sa sugal but I also need to hear his side. I know he's not the kind of man who'll take risk for something he wasn't sure, so there must be something going on. Nang bumukas ang elevator ay nagulat ako nang biglang sumalubong ang media at iba't ibang telegrama, mabuti na lang at agad na-agapan ng mga security at guards kung hindi ay dudumugin at dudurugin ako ng mga ito. "Ms. Kim totoo bang nalululong sa sugal si Mr. Kim?" "Si Mr. Zhang ba ang nasa likod ng pagkatalo ni Mr. Kim sa sugal?" "Handa na ba kayo Ms. Kim na mawala ang yaman at ari-arian na tinayo ni Mr. Kim?" Pilit akong kumawala mula sa reporters at dali dali lumabas ng gusali, it is very insensitive of them to be here in the middle of catastrophe but I still can't blame them for that, It's their job to remain the flame of the issue. if not, wala silang maisusulat. Mabuti na lang at mabilis ang pagdating ng kotse kung kaya't nakasakay agad ako at si Faith, napasandal na lamang ako at napahinga ng malalim sa ilang pagkakataon. "Downtown District tayo, Jan."mahinhin kong pasuyo at tumango naman ito at mabilis pina-harurot ang kotse. Habang nasa kotse kami ay namutawi ang katahimikan nang biglang magsalita si Faith. "Ms. Kim..alam ko na wala ako sa lugar para sabihin 'to but..."she said nervously and pause for a second. "You can release those frustrations to me and I'm here to listen."She added. Napatingin naman ako dito at naramdaman kong namuo ang luha sa aking mata. "Nag-aalala ako Faith kay Dad, he's too old to experience these kinds of things, ayoko nang dahil lang dito, lumala ang kondisyon niya."I said. Bakas sa boses ko ang pag-aalala at muling dumungaw sa bintana ng kotse. My dad became the best dad that he can ever be, nakita ko kung paano niya isina-ayos ang kumpanya at the same time bigyang pansin kaming mga anak niya, and seeing the condition of my dad? he is already weak and fragile. Naramdaman ko ang paghawak ni Faith sa aking kamay ng mahigpit. "Everything will be fine Ms. Kim, alam ko na gaya ni Mr. Kim, you can also handle and solve this problem. May tiwala ang Kumpanya sayo."batid niya at tumingin ako sa gawi niya at nginitian ko na lamang ito. ________________________________________ Nang makapasok ako sa District office ay agad kinausap ni Faith ang mga pulisya at hinatid ako sa kinalalagyan ni Dad ngayon. Pagkadating ko sa kinaroroonan ni Dad ay binuksan ng isang tauhan ng distrito ang pintuan at bumungad sakin ang nakaupo kong Ama. "Dad.."I stated and run towards him and hugged him. Tila nagulat siya sa ginawa ko pero niyakap nya rin ako nang pabalik at mahigpit na pawang matagal akong nawala. "My princess.."batid niya at mas hinigpit ko ang yakap sakanya. Ang kaninang namumuong luha ay tila nagsi-hulugan dahil sa pag-aalala na dala ng problema na kinakaharap namin ngayon. Narinig namin ang pagsara ng pinto at kasabay nito ang pagkalas namin mula sa pagkakayakap. "How are you Dad? Okay ka lang ba? Sinaktan ka ba nila? Ano ginawa nila sayo?"mahina kong tanong. Kahit na nag-aalala ko ay tila hindi ko parin magawang sumigaw at mag-hysterical. I remain calm and reserved person despite of everything, maybe that's really part of myself--to have grace. Napangiti naman si Dad at umiling. "I'm doing fine my princess, don't worry they didn't hurt me."he said. Napahinga ako ng maluwag sa sinabi niya, napaupo naman kami at agad akong humarap sakanya nang upo ng mabuti. "Dad, tell me what did really happened? How come that Zhang group will going to take our company? How come did you bite their dirty tactics, dad?"pag-alalang tanong ko. Napahinga naman ng malalim si Dad at nagkwento. "Actually I barely remember what happened, all I remember was that..I was closely winning the bet when a waiter offered me a coffee which gave me hallucination." He explained and look at me. "Believe me Zia, I'm not stupid to give up especially my company that easily. I was invited by one of our investors because he told me that there are a lot of respectable businessman who'll come in the annual opening, so I grabbed the chance in order for me to promote our company." He stated. "I was invited to play and then I don't know what actually happened next..."he said frustratingly while trying to remember things. "The next thing I knew um-oo na lang ako. I feel like the time when I look at her, feeling ko I'm experiencing unconsciousness but I ignore it and play along with them then I had this weird hallucination when I drink that coffee and made me lose."he added. My predictions are right, dad got tricked by them, our company is a big fish in business industry knowing that we gained a lot of achievements. That is why there are a lot of business man laying their eyes on our business. And Zhang grabbed the opportunity to steal our company away from us. "Zia, I'm sorry if I let you down, I am such a disappointment and I will fully understand if you get mad at me, don't worry once I got bailed, aayusin natin tong problema na 'to."he said while holding my hands. Napailing ako at tumingin sa mata ni Dad na ngayon ay malamlam dahil sa problema. "Dad, don't say that, I will never get mad to you because you're my Dad, You and Mom are the most important people to me and not the money or the title we have. Nag-aalala lang ako sainyo especially you Dad."I said. "Hindi ko makakaya na magdusa ka ng ganito Dad, we rather lose the company than seeing you suffer like this, don't worry dad I will talk to the big boss of Zhang Group and I will settle this issue with him."I added but worry flashed into my Dad's face which made me curious. "Zia let me warn you, Zhang is the most dangerous person that you could've ever meet in your life. He is known for being ruthless and merciless, he will do everything just to get what he wants. And I know he wouldn't take easy on you."he worriedly explained which caught my attention, how "powerful" is he to place my dad in this kind of situation? "He wouldn't reach the position where he is if he wasn't evil, every company and businessman were scared and threatened by him. I'm not saying you can't do it or be scared at him, just please be careful in dealing with that man. because he can't be tamed."he said and held my hands tightly. Mas lalo akong na curious dahil sa sinabi ni Dad, what kind of man is he? For me to be threatened by him? Does he kill? Or it's already his nature to be evil? But whoever he is, I will face him. I think good negotiations will fix this problem. "Don't worry dad, tomorrow morning I will talk to him, and I will bail you out as soon as possible, I will take care of everything so don't overthink okay?"I said calmly. Tumango naman si Dad at niyakap ako. "I don't know how did you do it nak, despite of having this kind of problems, nagagawa mo parin maging kalmado at mahinhin, hindi ko alam saan ka ba pinaglihi ng mama mo pero ni hindi kita nakitang magalit. And ngayon pa lang I just want to say that I am so proud of what woman you have become. Mawala man ang kumpanya o hindi, I will always choose and love you and your siblings."My dad stated which made my heart melt. Ilang saglit ay nagpaalam narin ako dito at binigyan ito ng yakap, this wouldn't be the last time that I will hug my dad, I will settle everything through my power. Nang makalabas ako ng Detention room ay napahinga ako ng malalim at naglakad. I'll never let anyone, neither Mr. Zhang ruin the hard-earned company of my dad, even if he's the most "dangerous" business man in the world, I will face him. Hindi siya o nino man ang magpapabagsak aa kumpanya na tinayo ng dad ko. ......TO BE CONTINUED.