CHAPTER 23
1614 Words
PINAGLALARUAN ni Joseph ang suot na signet ring sa kamay habang tahimik na nakatitig sa kawalan. He has been like this since Iris left his house this morning. He was leaning on the chair lazily and sighing.
‘Did I upset her?’ Joseph asked himself. ‘But I didn’t do anything wrong.’
Since last night, Iris has become quiet. Hanggang kaninang umaga. He tried to ask, but Iris didn’t say anything. Napansin niya na parang may malalim itong iniisip.
May problema ba silang dalawa?
Ngunit kung may problema man sila dapat sinabi nito para mapag-usapan nila.
Talagang hindi mapakali si Joseph. Dapat kinausap niya si Iris bago ito umalis kanina.
“Is Don, okay?” Monti asked Andrew.
They were both watching Joseph while Joseph was immersed in his own world.
Umiling si Andrew. “I don’t know. He has been like this since Miss Iris left this morning.”
Monti looked at Andrew. “Woman problem?”
Nagkibit ng balikat si Andrew. “I don’t know. I can’t guess Don’s mind, and he's always unpredictable.”
Monti sighed. “This is my first time seeing Don like this.”
“Me too.” Wika ni Andrew.
Parehong napatayo ng tuwid si Monti at Andrew nang makita nilang tumayo si Joseph mula sa kinauupuan nito at naglakad palapit sa kanila.
“Milord.”
“Don.”
Andrew and Monti bowed their heads as they greeted the Mafia Don.
“Monti, ikaw na muna ang bahala rito. May pupuntahan lang ako.”
“Where are you going, Milord?” tanong naman ni Andrew. “I should accompany you.”
“No need. I can go on my own. Just tell the secret bodyguard to follow me but keep their distance.” Seryosong saad ni Joseph.
“Yes, Milord.”
Joseph looked at Monti. “I heard the Carranza family have something to do with the missing of some teenage girls. Rescue those teenagers and pay a visit to Antonio Carranza. Tell him to reduce his habit of kidnapping teenage girls or else I’ll put him in the dungeon and torture him to death.”
Pasimpleng napalunok si Monti. “Yes, Don.” Kalmado niyang tugon ngunit hindi siya kalmado sa kaniyang kalooban. Hindi man para sa kaniya ang banta ngunit para siyang binuhusan ng malamig na tubig. The torture that Don mentioned is not simple. He had already witnessed how Don Joseph tortured someone. Don Joseph has a different kind of torture that he could give. It depends on what the person has done. Last time, Don Joseph tortured someone. That man is a rapist and Don Joseph put him in the dungeon. The man was tortured by making him drink an aphrodisiac and playing with himself while he was being videoed.
Joseph left and went to Iris’ apartment. Pero pagdating niya doon wala si Iris. Nagtaka siya. Alam niyang hindi pumasok si Iris dahil holiday ngayon.
Tinawagan niya ang dalaga ngunit hindi ito sumasagot sa tawag niya.
Napatingin naman siya sa kabilang unit nang marinig niyang bumukas ang pinto. A woman came out.
“Excuse me. Did the owner of this unit come back this morning?” he asked the lady.
Umiling ang babae. “Hindi ko siya nakita. Actually, mula pa kagabi na wala siya diyan sa unit niya. Wait, are you her boyfriend?”
Tumango si Joseph.
“Try to ask her friend,” the lady said before she went back inside her unit.
Joseph sighed and dialed Iris’s number. Hindi pa rin sinasagot ng dalaga ang tawag niya.
Frustrated na napabuga ng hangin si Joseph. “Iris, answer my call, will you?”
He tried calling her, but Iris kept on ignoring her calls.
Joseph sighed heavily. He doesn’t have any choice but to use his last resort. Pinangako niya na hindi niya ito gagamitin para i-monitor si Iris pero wala na siyang pagpipilian. Kailangan niyang malaman kung nasaan ang dalaga. Hindi siya mapakali hangga’t hindi niya nalalaman na nasa maayos itong kalagayan.
Using the tracker placed in the bracelet that Iris was wearing, he tracked her location using his phone. Natigilan siya nang makitang nasa ibang bayan si Iris.
“What is she doing in that place?” Joseph asked himself.
Mabilis siyang bumalik sa kotse saka ito pinaharurot patungo sa direksiyon ng bayan kung saan pumunta si Iris. Tinawagan niya rin si Andrew upang sumunod ito. Pagkatapos niyang tawagan si Andrew, sunod niyang tinawagan ang kakambal nitong si Austin.
“Milord?”
“Is Iris safe?” Joseph asked.
“Yes, Milord.”
Nakahinga ng maluwang si Joseph. “I’m coming. Don’t let Iris notice you.”
“Yes, Milord.”
Joseph ended the call. Napabuga na lamang siya ng hangin saka binilisan ang pagpapatakbo ng kotse. He was driving like a mad man. Gusto na niyang makarating sa kabilang bayan at makita ang kasintahan. Kahit pa nasa maayos itong kalagayan ayon kay Austin, iba talaga ang pakiramdam niya. Pakiramdam niya ay may masamang mangyayari. He knew that his grandfather wouldn’t stop until he succeeded in his plan and that included killing Iris.
His phone rang. Sinulyapan niya kung sino ang tumatawag. He immediately knew that it was his grandfather. Ayaw niya sanang sagutin ang tawag ng kaniyang lolo pero sinagot niya pa rin ito. Baka mas lalo pa itong magalit at si Iris ang pagbuntunan nito ng galit.
“Grandfather.”
“I thought you weren’t going to answer my call, Joseph.” Ramdam ni Joseph ang pagngisi ng kaniyang lolo.
“What do you need?” Joseph asked in a flat tone.
“Let’s play a game, my grandson.”
Joseph slowed down his speed. “Game? What game?”
“I heard about it. You don’t want to marry the heiress of the Esposito family because you had a girlfriend. How about this? Let’s see who will arrive first. You’re going to her right now, right?”
“Don’t you dare touch her!”
Tumawa lang naman ang lolo ni Jospeh saka pinatay nito ang tawag.
Madiing inapakan ni Joseph ang gas pedal. He doesn’t care if he is too fast. Ang mahalaga ay makarating siya sa kinaroroonan ni Iris.
MEANWHILE, Iris had just got off the minibus. Naglakad siya patungo sa isang direksyon. Habang naglakakad siya sa kalsada, napansin niyang marami ng nagbago sa lugar. Matagal ng hindi siya pumupunta rito. Tuwing pumupunta siya sa bayan na ‘to, sa sementeryo lamang siya pumupunta.
Tinignan ni Iris ang bawat gilid ng kalsada. Mabuti na lamang at may mga palatandaan pa siya. Ngunit kung hindi siya tagarito noon baka naligaw na siya.
Nagpatuloy siya sa paglakakad hanggang sa makarating siya sa lumang gate na kinakalawang na dahil sa tagal ng panahon. Itinulak ni Iris ang gate pabukas at saka siya pumasok sa loob. Tinignan niya ang lumang bahay na nasa kaniyang harapan.
At the moment, Iris feels nostalgic. Seeing the house in front of her brings back the sad and happy memories she had with her family before. Huminga siya ng malalim saka naglakad palapit sa bahay. Sa tagal ng panahon na walang tumira sa bahay na ‘to, nagkabitak-bitak na ang mga salamin at inaanay na rin ang mga kahoy.
Binuksan ni Iris ang pinto at dahan-dahan siyang pumasok sa loob. Nang makapasok siya sa loob ng bahay, nakita niyang magulo at sobrang alikabok sa loob. Ilan na rin sa mga gamit ang nawala. Marahil ay pinasok ito ng magnanakaw at kinuha na ang ilang gamit.
Napatigil si Iris at napatingin sa sahig nang maramdaman niyang may naapakan siya. Pagtingin niya ay isang frame ito. She crouched down and picked up the frame. Natigilan siya nang makitang larawan nila ito ng kaniyang pamilya.
Dahan-dahang hinaplos ni Iris ang mukha ng kaniyang magulang. “Ma…Pa…Kuya…”
She smiled at seeing her family even if it was only in the picture. “Ma, Pa, I met someone and I liked him. I don’t know if it was serious, but he asked me to marry him.” Iris sighed. “I can’t marry, Joseph. May mga plano pa ako na kailangan kong gawin. I have to find my brother. Alam kong buhay pa siya. I told myself before that I didn’t want disturbances, but I was the one who accepted him willingly in my life.” Was I wrong? I am happy whenever I am with him. I felt comfortable too. He was like the light in my dark path. But… I can’t marry him until I find my brother.”
Tumulo ang kaniyang luha at niyakap ang larawan nilang mag-anak. “Miss ko na po kayo.” Mahinang sambit ni Iris na may halong pangungulila ang kaniyang boses.
“Iris!”
Mabilis na napaangat ng tingin si Iris nang marinig niya ang boses ni Joseph. Nagtaka siya kung bakit narinig niya ang boses ng binata.
“Iris!”
Mabilis na kinuha ni Iris ang larawan mula sa frame saka inilagay sa kaniyang bag. Then she quickly walked towards the door. Natigilan siya nang makita si Joseph.
“Joseph?”
Joseph let out a sigh of relief when he saw Iris.
“Anong…paano…” hindi alam ni Iris kung ano ba dapat ang sasabihin niya sa kasintahan.
“Iris—” naputol ang sasabihin niya nang makita niya ang pulang tuldok sa dibdib ni Iris. Before he could move to save her, Iris was shot in her chest and her head was hit on the wall. “Iris!”
Bumagsak si Iris sa sahig habang naliligo ito sa sariling dugo.
Joseph felt his world collapse seeing Iris being shot in front of him.
“Iris!”
Iris was brought to the hospital, and her life was in danger.
- Writer
