Swan Island

Seventeen

Agaran akong umalis sa bar. Baka kasi kwestyunin nila ako kung bakit ako tumanggi. Pero bakit nga ba?

Yes. I miss Reid. So much.

Yes. I want to see him. Badly.

But, I don't think I'm ready yet.

Nasa taxi ako on the way home ng mag-ring ang cellphone ko. Alvin Senares is calling. Should I answer? Maybe yes.

"Hello?" sobrang cold ng pagkakasagot ko na kahit ako nagulat. Pero I shouldn't be this cold to the man.

"Hi, Yzzriel. Do you have time tonight?"

"Sure. Tell me the place."

We met at Starbucks at some mall. Nandoon na siya ng dumating ako. He's reading a pile of papers and facing his laptop.

"Can I have sit?" tiningnan niya ako but didn't smiled.

"Yes. Please."

Pagkaupong-pagkaupo ko ay iniabot niya agad ang isang frappe at isang pile ng papers. Maybe about fifteen pages, I guess.

"Actually, I've investigated what you told me." That was fast.

"I never thought you'd be interested about the matter. So, what did you find?" sumandal ako as I started my frappe.

"Nakakagulat at sa totoo lang ay hindi talaga ako makapaniwala na aabot sila sa ganun. Pero noong nagparesearch na ako..." he sighed before continuing.

"It's true. Mr Senares is indeed corrupting your company."

I clenched my jaw and my blood started to boil. But I still maintain my composure. It's no time to show weakness.

"Please continue."

"They started 3 years ago. Nagbebenta sila ng mga classified information sa ibang mga kumpanya. And a family background is a very mainstream deal in the business. Specially you're the only heiress of your grandfather's company. Yan din siguro ang dahilan kung bakit may serial killer ka. Another one of their schemes is literal theft. Kumukuha sila ng mga mamahaling bagay sa hotel and sell them in the black market with so much higher price. Wala pa akong idea kung bakit walang nakakapansin o kung paano nila ito ginagawa. But still, for your family and wealth, nothing is safe as of now."

Edi lumabas din ang mga itinatago nila. Ang tagal na rin pala nila kaming niloloko. And to think na mataas pala ang posisyon ng mga Senares sa kumpanya namin.

"What are you planning now?" he asked me.

"I still don't know. Wala pa akong naiisip. Ayaw ko man idamay ang mga kaibigan ko but I need them now. I can't ask help from my family, they'll freak out." I said as I shrugged.

"Nga pala, Paano mo nga ba nalaman yung mga bagay-bagay na yan? Sabi mo hindi alam ng parents mo na may alam ka tungkol sa bancruptcy. So tell me Yzzriel, what really happened in korea?"

I smiled at his question. Yeah, maybe it's time to tell my story 5 months ago...

Flashback...

I woke up in the hospital already. Nang magising ako ay agad naman akong kinumusta nila Mama. Tumawag sila ng nurse to check up on me. Sabi nila 2 days daw akong natulog and by that time, have truly recovered na daw. Masaya naman ako dun. Atleast okay nako! Mabilis akong makakabalik ng Pinas to see my friends and my hubby! Yiiiiieeee! He likes me daw! Achecheche! Kilig naman si ako?

Whoo! Kalma lang Yzzy. Kagagaling mo pa lang. Ayaw mo naman mabinat di ba?

Sabi ng doctor, atleast magstay pa daw ako ng one week for observation. Kaya ayun, nandito pa rin ako. Pero hindi ako yung tipong nakadextrose pa. Nasa ordinary room na nga lang ako eh. Pero syempre yung private naman. Wala, paikot-ikot lang ako dun. Nood tv, makinig ng music, kain, higa, palakad-lakad. Hala boring!

At dahil nga doon at naisipan kong libutin yung ospital. Kila Taesha kaya tong ospital na to? Feeling ko hindi. LOL. Puro Koreano't koreana mga nakikita ko. Madaming pogi!!!! Pero syempre Loyal to! Ha!

Habang naglalakad ay napahinto ako sa isang mapa ata ng ospital. Tiningnan ko ito at nakita ko na meron silang buttterfly observatory. Ang taray! Hinanap ko yung way at malapit lang pala ako doon. Kaya naman tinungo ko na ang hagdan sa likod ko at nagsimulang maglakad pababa.

Pero nakaka-apat na hakbang pa lang ako ng may narinig akong tumawag sa akin.

"Yzzriel."

At dahil sa instinct natin na lumingon pag tinatawag, nilingon ko kung sino siya.

Pero paglingon ko ay tinulak niya ako ng malakas making me lose my balance.

Naramdaman ko pa ang ilang ulit kong pagbagsak at ang paulit-ulit na pag-hampas ng ulo at katawan ko sa steps ng hagdan. Until I passed out.

Third Person's P.O.V

Isang nurse ang dumaan sa hagdan at nakita ang duguang si Yzzy sa sahig. She panicked na nakapukaw ng pansin sa ibang mga tao at nurses.

Isinugod siya sa Emergency Room at agad sumailalim sa operasyon. Malala ang lagay niya. Bali ang ribs, putok ang ulo, bali din yung braso. Mabubuhay pa ba siya?

After a month, Yzzy opened her eyes and heard the familiar beeping of the machine beside her. She can't move. Is it because of the dextrose that was injected in her? It hurts.

Then she heard the opening of the door. She absentmindedly closed her eyes and pretended she was still asleep.

She heard her mother and grandfather whispering. They're currently talking about her.

"How is he?" -Lolo

"Sabi ng doctor she will be waking up anytime soon. We just have to wait."

"Well, that's good to hear."-Lolo

"Bakit ba to nangyayari sa kanya? Mabuting bata naman si Yzzy. She don't deserve this."

There was a long silence before she heard her grandfather speak.

"I'm really sorry, Olive."

"For what, Abeoji?"

"I declared Odette as my Heiress." her mother gasped strongly and she has to stop herself from opening her eyes.

"Bakit niyo ginawa yun? Alam niyo ba kung gaano kadelikado yung ginawa niyo? Masyadong pang maaga para doon. Hindi niya pa kaya yung responsibilidad!" galit ang Mama niya.

"I'm really sorry. Yun lang naisip kong paraan to at least delay the bankruptcy." again her mother gasped.

"Bankruptcy? Nalulugi ang kumpanya? Pero imposibe yun?!"

"I found out that the Senares' are doing something behind my back, Olive. I don't know what to do."

"Senares? Vice president Senares? As in Richard Senares?

Senares? Richard Senares? Vice president? What the hell are they talking about?

"Yes. That Reid Senares' Father is stealing my company. But I can't do anything. I don't want to hurt Odette once she knew."

But I already knew. And yeah, it hurts.

She heard the opening and closing of the door before she opened her eyes again. This time, she sat up.

What would she do?

End of Flashback...