The pain he never knew (Book 1)

11

Chapter 11

"Pupunta mamaya dito si kage diba?" Dad asked while he was having breakfast in the dining area.

I grabbed an apple at hinalikan siya sa pisngi, bidding my goodbye.

"Paano mo naman nalaman yun dad? Sinabi niya sayo?" I said wiping the juices of the apple away from my lips.

"Tumawag siya kagabi. Paalam niya na lalabas daw kayo ulit mamaya."

I grabbed my bag.

"I can't. May class ako remember?" Balewala ko.

"Oo nga, but it's not like doon ka sa school ninyo matutulog. You'll be home by five. By then, pwede na kayong umalis."

Kunot noong bumaling ako sa kaniya.

"Ano bang pinakain nun sayo at ganon na lang ang pagpayag mo? Baka nakakalimutan mo na may kasalanan siya sakin dad? I'm your daughter! ako dapat kampihan mo." Simangot ko.

Mahinang tumawa siya.

"Princess, it's not like he did it intentionally, na alam niya na pupunta ang babae do'n. And he's proving himself to you by taking you out again. What more do you want?"

"But still!" Umirap ako. "Kung pupunta man siya mamaya dito. Pakisabi na lang na late na ako uuwi"

"Why? Saan ka na naman pupunta? Kung hindi si kage ang kasama mo, i would set up a curfew for you. It's dangerous!"

I grunted in annoyance.

"It's not dangerous dad! It's tas' and yassy's birthday and we're going out, like the usual, bar hopping"

Dad looked at me warningly.

"Akala ko ba hindi ka na magbabar? And have you forgotten? You swore to follow the things i would ask you to do? What happened to that?"

I made a face at pinagdikit ang palad ko.

"Dad, just once more. Promise, pagkatapos nito..hindi na. Promise yan! I just..i just don't want to miss this one. Please?"

Pinagkatitigan niya ako ng ilang minuto bago maharas na bumuntong hininga.

"Okay, but still.. magse set ako ng time ng pag-uwi mo. Let's say 11?"

I looked at him horrified.

"Eleven!? Dad! Five matatapos ang class ko! By then, we'll be spending one more hour to get ourselves ready! And if my calculations are correct..." i counted using my fingers. "Five! Five hours na lang ang matitira for partying. Minus ang biyahe pa!" I exaggerated.

He sighed in defeat.

"Okay! Twelve. I repeat, twelve. Kapag umuwi ka past that, i tell you princess, i will ask the maids na pagsarhan ka ng gate. Copy?"

I pouted. He is so harsh to me. Can you believe it? Kaisa-isahan niyang anak, patutulogin niya sa labas ng bahay? Hindi naman siya ganyan dati ah? Can you believe this my?!

"Twelve? Talaga? Final answer?" Biro ko pa.

His lips thinned like he was serious.

"One" i offered.

"Twelve"

"Twelve-thirty?"

"Twelve" pinal niyang sabi.

"Twelve o' one?"

"Eleven then"

"Sabi ko nga twelve" i laughed at tumalikod na bago pa magbago ang isip niya. Papasok na ako sa kotse nang marinig ko siyang sumigaw mula sa loob.

"Nagpaalam ka ba sa fiancé mo?! Alam na ba niyang magbabar kayo? Na hindi kayo tutuloy sa dinner niyo?!"

I smirked in disbelief. Bakit naman ako magpapaalam? It's not as if may pake siya kung saan man ako pupunta.

Wala sa sariling napatingin ako sa phone ko. Should i text him or not? Ipapaalam ko ba?

At the end of it, i decided na huwag na lang. Baka mamis interpret niya pa ako. Na baka nagpapaalam pa ko sa kaniya. Na kailangan ko ng permiso niya. Besides, magkaaway kami!

Ang bilis lang ng oras. I just found myself seating on the cafeteria, eating our lunch and we're a few hours away before dismissal.

"What's up with you zeph? You're being weird" asked tas while sipping her soda.

"Oo nga! Kanina ka pa patingin-tingin diyan sa phone mo. Are you expecting someone?" It was yassy.

For the countless times, wala sa sariling napatingin ulit ako sa phone ko. Again, my lips thinned.

"Baka hindi sadyang naibura niya yung number ko?"

"Ano 'yon?"

Umiling ako.

"Wala"

"May problema ba? May nangyari ba sa bahay niyo? You look bothered" yassy.

"Ano..wala naman"

"Hindi ka ba pinayagan ng dad mo?"

"Pinayagan niya ako. Kaya lang..may curfew daw"

Nagkatinginan silang dalawa.

"Kung sabagay, okay na din 'yon. He's just worried. We're also worried. Pero okay lang 'yon. You have us. Hindi namin hahayaang mapahamak ka"

I smiled minimally.

"Thank you"

"Yan ba ang inaalala mo?"

Tumango lang ako at hindi na nagsalita. I lied, syempre hindi yun ang dahilan ko. I'm bothered by something. No! Not something—it was someone!

Someone na hindi ako tinetext. Baka nga na delete niya yung phone number ko? Yes, it might be possible. O di kaya, hindi pa napapaalam ni dad dahil hindi pa sila nagkita. Tama, mamaya pa pupunta yun sa bahay dahil susunduin niya ako. By then, doon pa sasabihin ni dad. Yes—that's right.

Wait! Why am i even bothered? The hell?! I shouldn't! Wala dapat akong pakialam kung hindi man siya magtext! Ano bang pakialam ko dun!

Napatigil ako sa pagsesermon sa sarili nang pasikreto akong tinapik ni tas sa hita. Pasimple siyang umusog palapit sa akin at bumulong.

"wag ka agad lumingon pero may mga lalaking kanina pa nagmamasid sayo...and I don't like the looks of them."

I funnily looked at her.

"You're messing with me. Wala ka namang magawa ano?"

Napareklamo ako nang hampasin niya ako sa braso. Pinanliitan ko siya ng mata.

"Ano bang problema mo! Bakit ka ba nanghahampas?!"

"Seryoso nga kasi! Kanina pa eh, they seem suspicious. Naalala mo ang nangyari sayo noong nakaraan? Baka sila din yung nagtangka sayo. Tingnan mo nga, pero dahan-dahan lang ah? Wag kang magpahalata"

I glared at her bago nilingon yung nginunguso niya, dahan-dahan, just like she said.

"Maybe they came back para kunin ka ulit. Hala ka!" Pananakot niya.

Sa may bandang puno, below the shade, there stood two men wearing black suits. Those are just no ordinary suits tho, from where we are, i dully see na may logo pin na naka attach sa kanilang lapel.

Pinaliit ko ang aking mga mata para klarong makita iyon. At dahil medyo malayo-layo nga kami, hindi ko makita masyado. All i see is the combination of white,red and purple color. I tried remembering kung saan ko iyon nakita because i think i oddly seen it before. Hindi ko lang maalala.

Napaigik at napabalik ang tingin ko kay tas nang pisilin niya ang tagiliran ko. Bahagya pa akong napatalon.

"Ano ba!"

"Stop looking! I think napansin ka ng isa sa kanila"

Kumunot ang noo ko.

"Hindi naman sila nakatingin ah? I was being cautious"

"No, not them! Them.." turo niya sa may bandang court. Nagtatakang sinundan ko iyon ng tingin at napaawang ang labi ko ng may dalawa pa pala silang kasamahan. So All in all, they're four?

Bahagyang napalaki ang mga mata ko nang lumingon ang isa sa akin.

"s**t!"

Kinakabahang binawi ko ang tingin ko at hinila si yas na tahimik lamang sa aking tabi, i used her body to hide mine.

"Nakatingin pa ba?" I asked yas habang hinihila pa din siya sa mga braso.

"Wala na"

"Ano bang ginagawa?"

She stopped for a bit, observing.

"Lumapit siya doon sa iba niya pang kasamahan"

"s**t! Tapos?"

"Oh my god! The two are looking at our side! I think they will walk straight to us! Anong gagawin natin!?" Tas exaggerated.

"Chill! Wag kayong magpahalata na kinakabahan kayo. Malay natin, hindi si zeph ang sadya"

"Edi sino!? May iba pa ba satin na nakaranas ng attempted kidnapping? Si zeph lang diba?"

"Ang O.A mo! Kumalma ka ng—"

Kinalas niya ang kamay ko na nakawahak sa braso ni tas at inilahad iyon paharap sa mga lalaki kahit ang layo nila sa amin.

"Tas! Ano bang ginagagawa mo! Bitawan mo nga si zeph!"

"Sis! Ayoko pang makidnap! Ayokong madamay! May party pa tayo mamaya diba? Mga kuya! Eto na si zeph! Siya yung hinahanap niyo diba? Sige na! Kunin niyo na siya!"

Napaawang ang mga labi ko.

"Akala ko ba sabi mo poprotektahan mo ko?!"

"Binabawi ko na. Sige na mga kuy—aray!"

Nakangusong hinimas-himas niya ang kaniyang ulo na kung saan ay binatukan ko.

"Eh gaga ka pala eh! Tumigil ka nga!"

Her sister muffled a laugh.

"Fake friend" bulong niya.

Inirapan naman siya ng kapatid niya.

"Tumahimik ka nga! hindi ako fake!" Bumaling siya sa akin at ngumiti ng matamis sabay hawak sa magkabila kong kamay. "You know that you jump, i jump right?"

"Ano bang pinagsasabi mo? Saan galing yan?" Tawa ko.

"ano 'to? Jack and rose?"

"You know that you jump, i jump right?" Hindi gets, pero tumango pa din ako. "You get sad, i get sad...When things get worse, i cry with you"

Napatawa ako, wala talagang sense ang mga pinagsasabi niya.

"But if you're gonna get kidnapped..." masuyo siyang tumingin sa akin. "I'm sorry, but I'm gonna miss you sissy."

My smile turned into a frown.

"I hate you"

"Kidding! Syempre hindi kita ibibigay no! Love kaya kita!" Baliw siyang tumawa.

Hindi ko na siya pinansin at binalik ang tingin sa mga lalaki. They were still there, on the same spot. Pero yung isa ay may hawak ng radio thingy, the one i see in movies..like a walkie talkie thingies?

The guy holding the radio looked at my side at tsaka nagsalita doon. Like he was reporting something. The others were just professional na nakatayo, hands on their backs.

And that's when it hit me! I remembered! Their uniforms were similar to the ones sa mga guards sa bahay nila kage! And the logo on their lapels, nakita ko iyon sa laptop ng daddy! I think iyon yung logo ng company nila kage!

Shit! Is it...is it possible?

Wala sa sariling dinampot ko ang phone ko habang nakatuon pa din ang tingin sa mga lalaki. I dialed dad's number. After three rings, he answered.

"Hello? Who's this?"

I rolled my eyes. Dad has always this bad habit of not looking at the caller ID when busy.

"It's your daughter. Zephyrine"

"Oh! Hi, princess. Bakit ka napatawag? you don't have any class?"

"It's lunch time dad."

Tumawa siya sa kabilang linya.

"Oh right! I forgot, oo nga pala. You're the one who ordered mr. sanchez to get me lunch right?" He was reffering to his secretary.

"Yes, kinain mo na ba? 'Wag kang magsinungaling dad, malalaman at malalaman ko din thru your secretary. You know he doesn't keep secrets from me"

"Oh yeah. Mainly because he likes you" tawa niya. "Kaya okay lang sa kaniya na utos-utosan mo kahit ako ang boss niya"

I rolled my eyes. Here we go again!

I wasn't naive on that thought na may gusto sakin ang secretary niya. Hinayaan ko na lang, he was in his mid 20's kaya i don't feel bothered by it.

Dad knew about it tho, i mean who wouldn't? He likes teasing me about it dahil mas kino consider pa daw akong amo niya kesa kay dad. Like for instance, nung isang beses na pumunta ako sa office while dad was in an important meeting, instead of making me wait, tinawag at pinapasok niya pa talaga ako sa conference room kahit higpit na ipinagbabawal ni dad ang kahit ano at sino mang distractions kapag may imoprtanteng kliyente. I wasn't mad about it tho, instead, i considered it as an advantage. At least someone could take care of my dad while i'm not around.

"Is that your reason why you called? To check up on me?"

"No dad. May gusto lang akong malaman"

"Okay, ask away!"

I paused for a couple of seconds, hindi pa din inaalis ang tingin sa mga lalaking misteryoso kung gumalaw.

"Is there any chance na pinababantayan mo ko?"

"You mean like did i hired men to secure you?"

Ano ako? vault?

"Why? Nandiyan sa sila?"

Nagulat ako sa tugon niya. So that means..

"So you did hired them?! They're under your command?"

Napatahimik siya ng ilang sandali.

"Zeph, don't get me wrong. This wasn't my idea. Pumayag lang ako dahil gusto ko ding mapanatag. Na habang wala ako sa tabi mo, safe ka."

"So kanino pala 'to?"

"They're under your fiancé's command, kage."

Dahan-dahan kong tinaas ang tingin pabalik sa isang lalaking nakahawak sa radyo, from the way i see, under his dark-rimmed aviators, he was looking straight at me as he spoke, no! Like he was reporting, like he was observing and reporting my every move!

"So you're meaning to say...na si kage ang pinagre reportan ng mga damuho na 'to!? Na lahat ng ginagawa ko dito ultimo paghinga, nirereport sa kaniya!?"

Tumawa si dad sa kabilang linya.

"Are they watching your every move? That's good! Indeed, they're effective. Maybe I should send feedbacks to alfonso."

"Dad! That is not good! Tanggalin mo sila! I don't want them! Gosh! They're so creepy!"

Nagulat ako nang pagtalikod ko ay ang dalawang chismosa ay nakalapit na sa akin tila kanina pa nakikinig sa usapan naming mag-ama.

"Ano daw?" They both mouthed. Inirapan ko lang.

"I can't. And as much as you wanted them removed. 'Yan lang ang request mo na hindi ko matutupad. Besides, you'll be going out partying later, right? Why do you think kaya ako pumayag? Hmm?"

I gritted my teeth.

"Dad! You're meaning to say sasamahan nila ako mamaya?! na habang nagpaparty kami ay nasa tabi ko sila nagmamasid? How am i supposed to have fun!?" Hindi ko mapigilan ang pagtaas ng boses.

"Zephyrine linett! Lower down your voice. I'm your father." He said in an authoritative voice na sa empleyado niya lang ginagamit, at minsan ko lang din maririnig. Napanguso ako.

"Sorry"

"Okay" balik siya sa masuyong boses. "Sana maintindihan mo anak na para din sayo 'to. Sabi mo hindi mo na gustong maulit ang nangyari nung nakaraan diba?"

Tumango ako like he could see me.

"Then let them be with you. I assure you, hindi mo sila makikita. They wouldn't be on your way either. Parang hindi mo lang iisipin na may nagbabantay sayo."

"Okay fine" i sighed.

"Okay, mabuti. You take care there sweetie. Mag-ingat din kayo mamaya. I have to go, may meeting pa 'ko. Love you"

"Love you too dad. Bye" ani ko at binaba na ang tawag.

Nakasimangot, bumaling ako sa mga kaibigan.

"Ano daw sabi?" Yassy.

"Hindi ka din chismosa ano?"

She chuckled cutely. "Hindi naman"

Nagpakawala ako ng marahas na hininga.

"Mabuti naman at hindi pala sila mga kidnappers" tasneem laughed unbelievably. "Akala ko kukunin ka na eh"

"Are thay gonna be with you 24/7? That's cool! Maybe i should ask dad na mag hire din ng bodyguard para sa kin" it was her sister.

I looked at her weirdly. "Bakit naman? As a 22 year old, who would want that?"

"I do"

"Bakit? May gusto bang kumidnap sayo? Wala naman diba!"

"Eh sa gusto ko eh! Bakit ba! At gusto ko din ang maranasan ma kidnap para may mag save din sa akin tulad sa nangyari kay zeph, diba?"

Her sistered scoffed.

"Alam mo sis, you're reading too much novels. Nagiging ambisyosa ka na" epal ng kakambal niya.

Hindi ko na pinansin ang pagbabangayan nila. Since wala pa namang prof, i leaned on my seat at nagsuot ng earphones. But before i could even play a song, my phone beeped, Notifying a message.

It's from an unknown sender again. Napaayos ako ng upo. Bahagya ko pang tinanggal ang kabilang earphone mula sa tenga.

From: unknown sender

:where are you?

Kumalabog ang dibdib ko nang makitang parehos iyon ng number na ginamit ni kage kahapon, it's confirmed, it is him.

Hindi na ako makahinga sa kaba but is still managed to reply.

To: unknown sender

:in a place far far away from you

Nilapag ko ang phone at bahagyang kinalma ang sarili. Self, why are are you acting this way? You're being strange! It's just your ass of a fiancé! At teka nga! Bakit ba ako tumugon sa text niya! Stupid!

As i already calmed myself, bumalik ulit ang mumunting saya nang tumunog ulit ang aking phone.

From: unknown sender

:well what do you know? i thought you don't know how to type a reply.

I replied.

:why? Are you worth the response?

From: unknown sender

:yeah, i think.

Then another message came in which left me wondering.

:but one thing's certain. Mamaya may itatanong ako sayo, and i assure you that you won't be able to respond.

I replied.

:anong ibig mong sabihin? What question?

Dali-dali kong tiningnan nang mag reply siya.

From: unknown sender

:baby, you'll see.

:tonight.