The Heiress' Revenge (SPG)

Kabanata 16

Naliwanagan ako sa sinabi niyang ‘yon. I thought he was furious at me. Madami akong nasabing masama sa kaniya kanina. Is this even real? Hahayaan lang niya akong umalis? Just like that?

“You’re letting me go?”

“Not until you get something to warm you.” Seryoso niyang sagot.

Halos mahulog ang panga ko sa sinabi niya. Hindi ako nananaginip, papayag nga siya. If that so, I can’t waste my time. Kung ‘yan lang naman ang kondisyon niya para makaalis ako ng payapa, gagawin ko ang lahat ng ipapagawa niya.

Hindi na ako nagpatumpik-tumpik pa, umaripas ako sa kwarto ko para kumuha ng hoodie. Dahil hindi pa rin talaga tuluyang nawawala ang C*VID, kailangan kong magsuot ng mask. Kumuha ako ng marami at nilagay sa bag kong maliit. Wala itong ibang laman kung hindi ID, just in-case. This will help me hide my identity. Bakit hindi ko ito naisip kanina?

Nang matapos ang pinagagawa sa akin, tumungo na ako sa labas. Iniisip kong nakaabang pa rin si Aga sa akin pero wala na siya doon ngunit bukas ang pinto. Hindi niya ba ako ihahatid man lang o silipin ako bago umalis? Manghihingi rin kasi ako ng pamasahe at pangkain para mas mabilis kong mahanap si Rissa, mas mabilis kaming makabalik dito.

Isasama ko siya. She will stay with me until she’s recovered. I just hope Aga won’t tell my parents. Hindi ko naman narinig na pumasok siya sa kwarto niya.

“Oh well, maglalakad ako pabalik ng Maynila.” I said to myself sarcastically.

Napansin kong may bumukas na ilaw sa labas at tunog na pinapaandar ang engine. Nang makarating sa pinto, sinilip ko agad kung totoo ba ang kutob kong nasa labas si Aga at siya ang nagpapaandar ng sasakyan.

Dahil madaling araw na rin, tumatagos ang lamig sa balat ko nang makalabas. Halos mapapikit ako nang tumutok sa mata ko ang ilaw ng sasakyan.

“You gotta be kidding me?”

The wispy smoke coming from the engine almost blind me from seeing the car.

Sinara ko ang pinto at siniguradong naka-lock ito. I immediately approached the car and open the passenger seat. Isang seryosong lalaki ang naghihintay sa akin. Aside from his outfit earlier, he wore a black cap which made him extra serious. Hindi na ako nagtanong kung ano ang gusto niyang gawin ko, I seated myself comfortably and wore the seatbelt.

When the belt clicked to the lock, I turned my head to Aga. Diretso ang tingin niya sa harap ng sasakyan. I cleared my throat just in case he didn’t know I’m ready to go. Hindi pa rin siya gumalaw.

He’s probably contemplating if this is the right thing to do. Paano kong bawiin niya? Paano kung hindi niya na ako payagan? Well, what can he do at this point? If he backs out, I will leave this car and will run until I am able to escape. Napalunok ako, magdadasal nalang na hindi siya mag back-out. Hindi na ako nagsalita at naghintay lang ako sa susunod niyang gagawin.

I don’t have any choice at all. It’s going to be either stay or run, Gab. That’s your two choices!

He manoeuvres the gear stick to D and heard his footstep on the gas. My heart jump joyfully. Oh gosh! Oh gosh! He made a choice…

“T-thank you…” I muttered.

I cleared my throat shamelessly. Nilingon ko ulit siya, nakatingin na siya sa akin na nagpatalon ng puso ko. Then he turned back to the dark foggy road. I turned back to my window, bit my lower lip, and closed my eyes. He’s trying to take my breath away.

Calm down, Gab! I swear, he looked so hot just now. Hindi magkandamayaw ang puso ko sa titig na ‘yon. Spare me a goddamn air!

Huminga ako ng malalim at humarap muli sa daan.

“Y-you’re helping me find my friend, right?” I’m stuttering so bad. Please calm down, Gab! Act like normal.

“I can’t just let you wander. Ano pa ba ang magagawa ko?” Sagot niya.

A bit cold but I’ll take anything.

“Thank you. You know I mean it…” I said genuinely.

“In one condition.” Sabi niya bigla.

“A-anything! Anything you say, I will do anything.” This time nagkatinginan kami at medyo nagtagal saglit. Mahina lang ang pagpapatakbo niya at malayo pa kami sa highway, wala pa kaming makakasalubong.

“You said, you know where to find her.”

Tumango ako bilang sagot. I am so sure about it!

Binalik niya ang tingin sa daan, “hahanapin natin siya sa lugar na tinutukoy mo sa loob ng dalawang oras, kapag hindi natin siya mahagilap, iuuwi kita. Wala na tayong pupuntahan pang iba.”

Natahimik ako sa sinabi niya. That’s cruel! He’s not concern about my best friend. Bigla akong nanlamig. Ang tough naman masyado ng kondisyon na ito. Tinignan ko ang pinto ng sasakyan, naisip kong bumaba nalang. Hindi tulong ‘tong ginagawa niya. I’m like a held hostage here.

“Naka-child lock ang mga pinto, you can’t go out.” He added.

Nahulog ang panga ko. I tried to unlock the door and open it. Totoo ngang nakalock ito. Hindi ako makakalabas. Naisip na niya ito bago kami umalis. For a moment, I was touched and thought he was hot for doing this for me.

“Ibaba mo ako.” I demanded.

“Kasasabi mo lang na gagawin mo ang lahat! Kahit ano…” he dared to mock me with my own words.

“You lure me! Ibaba mo ako!” Singhal ko.

“Gab, I knew from the moment you left, you’re planning something. I am risking your life right now. Responsibilidad kong protektahan ka sa kahit ano, hindi dahil sa tao-tao ako ng pamilya mo. Ginusto kong gawin ito at hindi ko hahayaang may mangyaring masama sa ‘yo.” Paliwanag niya.

“Your condition is not helping!” I argued.

“I’m willing to help you, but you can’t be seen by anyone. That’s my priority, which is you! Two hours to find her, if you’re that sure where she is. People are looking for her anyway. Besides, how will you go find her alone? Wala kang pera. Maglalakad ka? Makikisakay? Put yourself in danger? Before you’ll ever find her, you’re dead on the road.” Aniya.

I hate that he’s right. He’s doing me a favour to be honest! Gusto kong manapak sa inis. I don’t want to admit but everything he said are correct. I would put her more in danger if my captors knew I’m somewhere Manila.

In my heart, I knew Rissa will be where I think she is right now. Aga probably won’t let me get out of the car, sa loob ng dalawang oras lilibutin lang namin ang buong lugar hanggang sa mahanap siya. Paano kung wala siya doon? Kinakabahan ako. Isipin mo muna Gab bago mo sabihin ang kutob mo.

We’ll travel the whole dawn to Manila, I must think carefully.

“Fine! Let’s do that.” I said, conceding.

He seems pleased with my answer, but he didn’t respond. I need to tell him something too.

“I also have a request.” Agap ko.

Kumunot ang noo niya.

“Ano?”

“I’ll take her to Batangas. You can tell kuya everything after we find her, please.” Pakiusap ko.

“That’s impossible. Once we find her, I will call your family. They will pick her up, they won’t know you left Batangas. ‘Yan ang plano!” Sabi niya.

Nahulog ang panga ko. Why is he acting tough here? I’m asking nicely here! Why is he an *sshole? I grunt in protest. “Why can’t we take her? Natakasan na nga sila ‘di ba? What make you think na hindi na mauulit?”

“IF we find her,” I can hear his quote and quoting ‘IF’, “we will go back to Batangas and she will be picked by your family or hers. Gab, don’t make this hard for me. I am against your plans to begin with.”

“Oh god!” I screamed.

“You’re in my car, you follow my rules.”

I felt so hopeless, angry, and insane at the same time. Hindi niya naiintindihan kung saan ako nanggagaling. Look at us, we were all victims and one of us is suffering. Whilst we live every day, hiding, a friend of mine is suffering somewhere.

“Why are you so tough anyway? You’re so ruthless! She’s my friend, wala ka bang kaibigan? She needs to heal too! Just like us, she suffered too. Why do I feel like I’m in prison? Nasasakal na ako! Ibaba mo ako!” Pinipilit ko nang buksan ang pinto.

Aga was trying to pull me whilst driving. I’m honestly going nuts! Kailangan kong huminga. Maging ang window, hindi mabuksan. He’s got all the control. Mas lalong nanikip ang dibdib ko. Parang gusto kong maiyak nalang.

“Kumalma ka nga!” His grip tightened trying to pull me together.

“Ayoko! Palabasin mo ako!”

He stopped the car abruptly. Halos masubsob ako sa ginawa niya. He pressed some buttons on his side. Suddenly, my window slid down.

Mabilis kong tinanggal ang seatbelt ko. I’m jumping off…

Akala mo ha! Maglalakad na talaga ako. If I’m going to be stuck with him, we’re going nowhere. Huwag nalang din! Mababaliw ako kapag kasama ko siya. Akala ko talaga, makakasundo ko ang lalaking ito. I even asked him to stay, what am I even thinking? The heck!

Pinagsisihan ko na.

“You’ll jump off? Go ahead! Malayo pa tayo sa highway, maging sa sakayan. Gawin mo kung ano ang gusto mo.” He said.

He’s mocking me. Hah! Kainin mo ‘tong sasakyan mo! Gago!

“Aalis talaga ako. I can’t stay with a selfish bastard!” Singhal ko.

I attempted to get out. I just don’t know what to do first. Anong uunahin kong ilabas. I’m sure he’s making fun of me. Hindi ko na hihilingin na pagbuksan niya ako ng pinto, sasabog na ang galit ko sa kaniya.

“Think about it again, Gabrielle! The road is too dark for you to walk. Not many streetlights, as this road is a private road. Hindi ka pa nakakausad, napapaligiran ka na ng insekto, ahas, at mga palaka—”

I screamed at the top of my lungs. What? Insekto? Ahas? Palaka? It’s not impossible but how dare he scare me like that?

I froze when he said those.

“If you agree to my condition, we can find your friend secretly. She will be turned over to your family, apply more security. She will be safer than being out there. The other option is telling me where you think she is, and I will call your brother to search. It’s easy! Let’s not making things complicated just because of your selfish reason.”

Napabalik ang sa kinauupuan. He got me big time! Umaapoy ang galit ko at halos hindi ko marinig ang mga sinabi niya. Binalik ko ang seatbelt ko at nagpupuyos sa galit.

“Choose.” He added, annoyingly.

“Let’s go!” Utos ko.

I know I’m ridiculously irritating right now. Naguguluhan na rin ako kasi alam kong tama siya pero hindi ito ang gusto kong mangyari.

“Choose!” he demanded.

“Fine, I’m agreeing your terms. Happy?” I irritably answered.

I crossed my arms. Obviously, the condition is barely fair to me.

Nang mapansin kong hindi pa kami umuusad at hindi pa niya sinasara ang bintana, binalingan ko siya ng tingin. His stare is like a dagger. Sinuklian ko rin siya no’n at nagtagal ito ng ilang segundo.

He raised his red flag, and sigh. That’s what I thought! Gusto ko ring manalo sa argumento namin kahit isa lang. Lagi nalang siya ang tama at nananalo.

“Damn, I allowed you so much freedom when you’re supposedly hiding. Bakit mo ba ako pinahihirapan dito?” He paused, whilst closing my window. He manoeuvred his gear and stepped slowly on his gas. He sighed again after I didn’t respond. “I know your friend is suffering too. I’m doing this for her too. Pero sa oras na may mangyaring masama sa ‘yo, iiwan ko ang kahit sino. Bibitawan ko silang lahat para sa ‘yo!”

After he said that, I looked away. His tone changed to dark and cold. Bigla naman akong na-guilty sa sinabi niya. Although, I am not changing my mind, I don’t agree with his condition but he’s right. Sa huli, nanalo na naman siya.

“L-let’s go…” nasabi ko nalang.

Now, I must really focus on thinking. I can’t miss anything. Rence and my family are searching places Clarissa used to go. They failed and the time is ticking. Lahat ng pinupuntahan naming dalawa, alam ni Rence. If she was in one of it, then she should’ve been found.

No news at all. I’m having this feeling, she’s at this place or she went to that place.

There’s a place that Clarissa really likes to go. Before all of these happened, we discovered that hang-out recently. Walang nakakaalam na iba kung hindi kami lang dalawa. I might be wrong, I don’t know, I must think about it carefully or else I will fail my friend.

Habang nasa byahe kami, malalim kong inisip ang lahat. Aga didn’t dare to interrupt me at all. I was just silent and deeply thinking. Napapansin kong mabilis ang byahe namin dahil hindi naman traffic sa mga oras na ito. Thinking about it, Aga won’t want us to be seen by sunrise. Tamang tama lang ang timings niya.

Pinikit ko ang mga mata para mas makapag-isip ng taimtim.

We are approaching Manila when Aga cleared his throat. I took a deep breath for a moment. Whatever comes out from my mouth is Clarissa’s destiny.

“So, where are we going to?” Aga asked.

I opened my eyes. I remained silent for a moment and said, “nearby your hotel, there’s a dog’s café. I-I think she’s there.”

Silence stretched after I revealed that. I bit my lower lip and resorted to not look at him. Aga’s going to growl at me. I know! It’s near his place and I kept mum about it.

Namalayan ko nalang na tumutunog ang signal light niya at itinabi ang sasakyan. Gusto kong hawakan ang puso ko sa sobrang kaba. Para akong maiihi sa kinauupuan ngayon sa totoo lang. He’s going to kill me! Halos malasahan ko na ang dugo sa labi ko.

I’m terribly shaking. That’s when I got the courage to look at him.

He’s eyes are blazing fire!

“I-I’m sorry.” That’s the only brave words I can tell.

“What the f*ck!?”

“I-I know, we recently found that place out. I heard the building is yours. Clarissa loves going there. Lagi kami doon habang naghihintay ng shift ko,” I explained.

Aga’s jaw locked tightly. Kung hindi lang ako babae, siguro’y nasapak na niya ako.

Para na akong nahihilo dito. Naubos yata ang dugo ko sa kaba. I’m sure I’m pale as paper. I faint a smile to him. Still, I want to make sure that my friend is safe. Gusto kong ako ang makahanap sa kaniya. Kami lang nakakaalam sa lugar na ‘yon, well, technically Aga too but the thing is if she’s there right now, she left the rehab to look for me.

Wala siya sa katinuan ngayon. I think she needs me…

“We’re not 100% sure, okay? I’m just guessing here too. Pinag-isipan ko ito buong byahe dahil ito lang ang pagkakataong mahahanap ko ang kaibigan ko. Please don’t be mad at me.” Sabi ko.

Nagtitimpi siya. His eyes never changed. Hindi naputol ang titigan naming dalawa at hindi ko alam kung saan ko nakukuha ang tapang kong ito.

Alam kong nagtitimpi siya para wala siyang masabing hindi maganda.

Sa digital clock na nasa sasakyan, nasa alas kwatro na ng madaling araw. Mukhang aabutin kami ng sinag ng araw. If those drama didn’t happen, we could’ve arrived early. Kaya kung gusto niyang makabalik ng Batangas bago tumirik ang araw, kailangan na namin siyang mahanap.

Umiiling si Aga. Alam kong hindi niya nagustuhan ang sinabi ko. It is so near yet I kept mum about it. What if she sees them? Anong iisipin ni Rissa? Na pinagsasabi ko kung kani-kanino ang mga pinaggagawa namin? What if we lose her more if she thought I betrayed her?

Kung nandoon man siya, isa lang ang ibig nitong sabihin…

“She’s waiting for me there.” Sabi ko.

Hindi kumibo si Aga.

“If she’s there, she knew I will come to find her.” I looked at Aga genuinely, “I will take her. Please allow my friend to come with us. I promise I will convince my parents to keep her with us. Hindi mo na rin ako kailangan pang bantayan. I have Rissa and I will help her heal from all of this, just like how you helped me.”

Hindi pa rin siya sumagot sa akin. Instead, he starts driving.

Akala ko, makikipagtalo na naman siya sa akin. Alam kong hindi niya gusto ang ideya ko at napag-usapan na namin na susundin ko ang kondisyon niya. O, dahil ba sa alam niyang hindi rin ako makakalabas sa sasakyang ito. I definitely don’t want to shout to get people’s attention.

At this time? No one will come and hear me.

Nawalan ako bigla ng pag-asa na makumbinsi siya sa huling pagkakataon. Hindi niya ako pakikinggan. Rissa is not his priority. Masarap sana pakinggan na ang kapakanan ko ang iniisip niya pero hindi kami magkakasundo.

I need to find a way to escape. And what, Gabrielle? Ugh! I don’t know!

Nagpatuloy si Aga ng pagmamaneho ng tahimik. Hindi ko na tuloy alam kong ano ang mas maganda. Ang makipagsagutan sa kaniya o hayaan lang ang nakakabinging katahimikan. Kung ano man ang iniisip niya ngayon o opinion niya sa sinabi ko, nasa sa kaniya ang desisyon.

Bigla kaming nag-stop dahil sa red light. Aga is wearing an apple watch. Kanina pa naman ito tumutunog pero ngayon nakita kong may tumatawag. Mas mahaba na ang ring nito.

Daevan’s calling…

Why is he calling?

Pinindot ni Aga ang answer button bago mag green lights. He continued to drive. Feeling ko malapit na kami. Mas lalo akong kinabahan.

“Where is she?” Unang sabi ng nasa kabilang linya.

Aga glanced at me for a second. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko, ano ang ibig sabihin nito?

“Lariza!” Sigaw ni kuya.

“K-kuya?” Halos mamalat ang boses ko.

“What the hell are you doing?”

Sa pagkakataong ito, nanginginig na ako sa galit, kaba at pangamba. He knew all along whilst Aga pretending to keep this a secret. The nerve of him!

“I need to see Rissa. Please let me, sa akin lang siya lalapit. You knew she’s not sane right? Sa akin lang siya lalapit. If she’s there, she’s hoping for me to find her. Please let me.” Agad kong paliwanag at pagmamakaawa.

“You’re giving me headaches! F*ck!” Galit niyang bulyaw.

Mas lalo na rin akong galit ngayon. Masama na ang tingin ko kay Aga. Sa simula pa lang, planado na ang lahat.

“May papunta na sa location na nabanggit mo. I will let you know kung kailan ka bababa. We will locate her first, once we get the sight of her, I will allow you to see her. But…”

“Please let me take her back to Batangas. Magiging ligtas na siya doon… kasama ako.”

“No!” He instantaneously objected. “You will go back to the care when we have her, and you will go back to the rest house immediately.”

The call ended.

My jaw dropped when he said that. Kuya Daevan knew everything from the very beginning.