THE MISTRESS'S SWEET REVENGE ||SPG-R18

THE MISTRESS- REVELATION

CASSANDRA'S POV:

I called Yaya Ceding's number, but it was unavailable. I was filled with fear and worry. I want to kill my mother, knowing that they had an intensive conversation last night I saw them. I blame myself. I neglected her. I was busy with my pain and grieving. I was clueless about what had happened. I was walking back and forth. Worried sick because Yaya had just left, the only person I had left.

“Cassandra please don’t do this to me,” my mom was begging for the first time in her life. After all these years? She molded me with pain, rage and abandonment. Ngumisi ako sa harapan niya. I felt nothing from her. “Pinalayas mo ang nag-iisang taong mahalaga sa akin tapos ngayon nagmamakaawa ka!? What a pathetic move on that part! Find her, and I will consider my decision!" Tinalikuran ko siya. Naririnig ko ang kanyang pag-iyak pero binalewala ko ‘yon. She’s talented at it. “Cassandra please!”

I took my phone and dialled my cousin's Clint number. It took me some time for him to answer my call. "Cassandra, baby girl, how are you?" Itinirik ko na lang ang aking mga mata sa endearment niya sa akin.

"Cut it, and I hate you every time you call me that!" Singhal kong sagot sa kanya. "All right, Cassandra, what's up?" How may I be at service with my adorable cousin?" He kept teasing me, but it wasn't funny anymore!

“Clint!” banta ko sa kanya. “Fine! Masyado kang seryoso sa buhay hindi kana mabiro, loosen up cuz you need it." Saad niya. "Yaya Ceding is gone, pinalayas siya ni Mommy, I want your most trusted detective to find her, I'll send the money into your account!!” Hindi ko na hinintay ang sagot niya. I really dislike talking to him. Wala itong ginawa kundi asarin ako.

Umupo ako, sa terrace, kung saan madalas kong tambayan. A beep from my phone grabbed my attention. Sinilip ko ‘yon it was Drake. Pero hindi ako nag-abala na buksan ang mensahe niya. His handsome face popped into my mind. I could see the ash-gray eyes of his smiling at me. To get him out of my mind, I shook my head.

Tumayo ako, lumabas ng aking silid. Our house was quiet. I felt like I was living in deserted castle. I entered my dad’s office. Suddenly, I was greeted by darkness and deafening silence. I opened the light. Iginala ko ang aking mga mata, naalala ko pa kung paano ako magkalat sa opisina ni dad. Hinawi ko ang kurtina para pumasok ang liwanag at binuksan ko ang bintana. I'm standing here because it's his favorite spot. A large pool bean shape view was beautiful. Bahagya akong ngumiti ng may pait. Pakiramdam ko naririnig ko ang malutong na tawa ni dad. I traced his table with my fingertips. I can’t hold my tears anymore. “Dad I miss you so much. Yaya Ceding is gone. "Don't worry, I will find her.” I don't care if someone hears me talking to myself. Malakas ang ihip ng hangin galing sa naka bukas na bintana at biglang nalaglag ang kung ano sa shelves ni dad. Pinuntahan ko ‘yon. Pagdampot ko ng litrato, it was Dad, Yaya and Me. They're both happy. I was so little. I was smiling, all of us. A picture of a perfect family. Niyakap ko ‘yon sa aking dibdib at humagulgol ng malakas. Paulit-ulit kong binibigkas ang pangalan ng dalawang taong mahal na mahal ko. Napabaluktot ako sa sahig na parang bata. Dad hindi ko kaya. I can’t do this anymore, please take me with you!”

Hindi ko alam kung gaano ako katagal namaluktot sa parang sanggol. My phone rings, and I wipe my tears. It was Drake calling. Hindi ko pa natitingnan ang mensahe niya kanina. Kaya siguro tumawag niya dahil hindi ako nag reply. “Hello?” My heartbeat palpitated. “Cassie I’m outside,” malambing na saad ni Drake sa kabilang linya. “What are you doing there?” Nagtataka kong tanong. “I told you, we're going to the lake,” paalala niya sa akin. Napangiti ako kahit wala siya sa harapan ko. Drake made me smile, despite the sorrow and heaviness I felt right now. “Give me sec, I’ll be right there.” Pinatay ko ang tawag. Umakyat ako sa aking silid at kumuha ng hoodies at nagpalit ng sapin sa paa.

Agad akong bumaba, lakad-takbo ang ginawa ko para makarating agad sa labas ng aming gate. There he was patiently waiting for me. “Drake!” tawag ko sa kanya. Pagtama ng aming mga mata hindi ko mapigilan ang hindi humanga sa kanyang Armenian ash-gray eyes. It’s very expressive.

“Cassie, glad to hear you're feeling better. Come, I’ll show you something!” Saad niya ng makalapit ako sa kanya. Pinagbuksan niya ako ng pintuan at umusad na ang kanyang sasakyan. Ilang minuto pa, nakarating kami sa lake. Agad siyang bumaba at pinagbuksan ako ng pintuan.

Pero agad niyang tinakpan ang aking mga mata. “Why you keep covering my eyes every time we're going here?” Tila nayayamot kong saad. Tinawanan lang niya ang reklamo ko. “It was night when we came here, now it is about time for sunset. So, I need to cover your eyes!” Natatawang paliwanag niya. Kahit paano gumaan ang pakiramdam ko.

“Slowly Cassie hindi ka naman masyadong excited niyan?” Birong pang-aasar niya sa akin. “Whatever Drake,” ‘yon na lang lumabas sa bibig ko dahil sa lakas ng t***k ng aking puso. Ilang hakbang pa nagsalita si Drake, “we’re here! Tada!” Drake removed his hands. After I slowly opened my eyes, I saw an electric candle lined up on both sides of the pathway, there were white rose petals. Naka napadako ang aking mga mata sa mesang nasa gitna ng red carpet with wine, electric candle, and two stainless lids covering the food. A violin started playing as I walked slowly to the table. This is perfect. “Drake?” Napatingin ako sa kanya. His genuine smile is contagious. Ang kislap ng kanyang mga mata sa saya, it made me smile and happy too. Despite what just happened Drake made his own way to make me smile. This is one of them. Magkahawak kamay kaming lumapit sa mesa, pinaghila niya ako ng upuan. Umupo siya sa katapat ko. Sabay naming sinalubong ang paglubog ng araw. Ipinatong niya ang kamay nito sa akin. Napadako ang tingin ko doon at sinalubong ang kanyang mga mata. “I know you felt like being alone, but I am here Cassie,” malambing na saad ni Drake. “Thank you, Drake for this. It means a lot. I really appreciate all of this,” naluluhang saad ko. And there, he smiles back at me with so much emotion in his eyes.

After the romantic sunset bonding with Drake, he brought me home. “Thank you again Drake it means a lot,” papasalamat kong saad. He pressed my chin, sending shivers down my spine. “Any time Cassie,” malambing na sagot nito at kumindat sa akin. Natawa na lang ako sa kapilyohan niya.

Pagpasok ko ng bahay, bukas lahat ng ilaw, pero napakatahimik. Tumunog ang aking telepono, agad kong sinagot ‘yon “Hello?”

"Be careful with every move you make; you will never know how long you will last!" A threat from voice changer threatened me. "Oh, come on, a threat? Seriously, do something that will scare me, not this one!" Agad kong pinatay ang tawag at tiningnan ang numero, it was private number. Isang tao lang ang gustong may magpapatay sa akin. Elizabeth.

Lumabas ako ng bahay, I called Clint. “Hello cousin!” sagot ni Clint makalipas ang ilang ring. I received a threat over the phone, and it was private.” Seryosong imporma ko sa kanya. “f**k!” Dinig kong mura niya. “Find out who is responsible Clint, put your surveillance team on my mother. I have a feeling she’s behind all of it!” I turned off the call right away. “Mang Damian!” malakas kong sigaw. “Bakit Maam Cassie may problema ba?” Tanong nito sa akin. “Wala po, we go to Clint’s office, and tell the two guards to convoy with us,” bilin ko sa kanya. Bumalik ako sa loob ng bahay at pumasok sa opisina ni Daddy. Binuksan ko ang mga drawers, pero wala doon ang hinahanap ko. Tumayo ako sa harapan ng shelves ng mga libro, kinapa ko ang gilid noon. Nang makapa ko ang button. Pinindot ko agad ‘yon. Bumukas ang safety cabinet ni Daddy. I swipe my hand and the screen appears in front of me. I place my eyes on the eye scanner and place my palm on it. Lumabas ang mga files ni dad, guns and other documents.

"I took the 9mm pistol on display and the extra magazine. I hooked it to the back of my jeans and put the extra mags in my back pocket. I zipped up my hoodie and locked the shelves again, but before I did that, I saw a journal that belonged to my dad. I want to take it, but there's no time.

Paglabas ko ng bahay naghihintay na ang dalawang tauhan ko at si Mang Damian. Agad akong pumasok. “Mang Damian bilisan niyo po, nagmamadali ako.” Tumango lang si Mang Damian. Ilang beses nagtama ang mga mata namin sa rearview mirror, hindi lang siya nagsasalita. Hindi na ako makatiis, “sabihin niyo na po ang gusto niyong sabihin mang Damian.” Magalang kong tanong. I respect him. He dedicated his entire life to serving our family and for the past twenty years before I was born, he was our driver. Tinuturing ko rin siyang pangalawang ama. His loyalty was priceless. I have proven that countless times.

“Nag-aalala lang ako sa kalagayan nyo Ma’am Cassie, parang anak na rin ang turing ko sa inyo.” Undoubtedly, I believe him. I know I am too young for this but I’m Soesanto threat will never scare me. “Salamat ho, gano’n din po ako Mang Damian,” Bahagya akong ngumiti. Humimpil ang sasakyan sa harapan ng matayog na gusali ni Clint. Agad akong bumababa at pumasok sa lobby. “Mang Damian punta muna kayo sa pantry para magkape, isama niyo na ho ang dalawa,” imporma ko sa kanya.

Agad akong pumasok sa kakabukas lang na elevator. Pinindot ko ang pinakamataas na floor. Ilang sandali pa bumukas iyon. Wala doon ang secretary ni Clint. Agad akong pumasok sa opisina niya ng hindi kumakatok. Tumambad sa akin ang makalat at magulong opisina ng aking pinsan. Mga hikbi ang naririnig ko.

“Clint?” tawag ko sa kanya. “Cassandra.” Tumayo ito mula sa ilalim ng mesa, duguan ang kamao niya. “Oh, God Clint what the hell happened to you?" nag-aalang tanong ko. “My dad and mom Cassie, they're gone!” napatakip ako ng aking bibig. No! No! “Oh Clint! Why is this happening to us?" Niyakap ko siya ng mahigpit. Hinila ko siya palabas ng opisina niya. Bago kami umalis Clint took a folder and handed it to me. Hindi ko pa binasa ‘yon. I want to bring him to the hospital.

Hinila ko na si Clint, naghihintay ang mga tauhan niya at ang mga tauhan ko. Tinawag ko na rin si Mang Damian. “I am sorry Clint, but hey, you're Buenavista. We are a fighter and survivor. Don't we?” Hindi siya lumingon sa akin. Pero tumango siya. Pagdating namin ng Buenavista hospital sinamahan ko siya sa Emergency room. Agad siyang inasikaso. Binuklat ko ang file na ibinigay ni Clint kanina.

Para akong binuhusan ng malamig na tubig sa aking nabasa. DARIUS TOLEDO, ELIZABETH BUENAVISTA and a few more names that I am unfamiliar with. Is he Drake’s dad? Agad kong kinuha ang phone ko. Nagtext ako sa kay Drake.

[Hi, is Darius Toledo related to you?] I pressed the send button. Hindi ako mapakali, takot ang lumukob sa akin. Please this is not happening. Oh, God! Piping dasal ko. Nang tumunog ang phone ko. Agad kong binasa ang mensahe ni Drake. [Hey, Cassie, Uhm he is my dad? Why? Is there something wrong?] agad kong nabitawan ang aking telepono pagkabasa ko ng reply ni Drake! Is his Dad being the mastermind of my dad’s accident? Umiling-iling ako. Hindi ako makapaniwala sa report na ito. Tumayo ako at lumapit kay Clint. Inihagis ko sa paanan niya ang files na binigay niya sa akin. "How certain are you of the suspects?" Malakas kong tanong!

“Hundred percent!” seryosong sagot nito. I couldn't believe it no! Tumakbo ako palabas ng emergency room!

“Ma’am Cassandra go back!” sigaw ng guard ko. Tumigil ako at napakunot ang aking noo. Patakbong niyakap niya ako, kasabay ng malakas na pagsabog…

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To Be Continued...