Chapter 14
1271 Words
Chapter 14
It became a national interest on what happened to Abby. Media has taken interest on her and finding holes about Alejandro.
Alejandro is gripping his hair so tight as a habit everytime he is battling with himself.
Nang biglang may humawak sa kamay niya mula sa pagkakahawak sa buhok niya. Pag angat niya ng tingin ay nakita niya si Peter na may blue bag pa ang balikat para alalay sa braso niya.
The another casualty he had.
Hindi niya mapigilang mapatawa ng mapakla dahil siya ang rason ng lahat.
He’s at fault here.
“Stop doing that.” Saway ni Alejandro sa kanya at doon niya lang napansin ang hapdi at sakit sa anit niya dahil sa malakas na pagsabunot sa buhok niya.
It barely a week since that happened, and he never sleep a wink. His body is already tired, and he should take a rest, but he can’t just find himself closing his eyes because everytime he does that; he always sees Roxxan.
That poor little child.
There are article says that Roxxan was his daughter from Abby.
His secretary was his secret lover.
But there are worst people makes an articles that saying; Abby was a pimp and she is pimping her 6 year old daughter to the pedophile governor.
Nuts.
“Stop thinking, Alejandro. Get a grip.” There are consecutive push on his shoulders but he just blankly stare at the clock tower of Mirasol. Kahit nasa hacienda siya ay makikita pa rin iyon. The clock hits 22:44. One, two, three…
“Alejandro!” Peter shouted and he finally gain the governor attention.
He look so awful.
“Stop mentally torturing yourself.” Peter pleaded pero hindi niya lang eto pinansin sa halip ay kinuha niya lang ang baso na may laman na whiskey. Halos paubos niya na rin ang whiskey at hindi pa iyon naoorasan simula noong magsimula siyang umupo sa tuktok ng burol na makikita ang citylights ng Mirasol.
“You are always silent everytime something happened and at angle—it is so wrong Alejandro. You should release statement so that the community knows what happens too.”
Napailing lang si Alejandro at hindi tinatanggal ang pangingin sa clock tower.
“I really wonder my capacity here, Peter. Kung nahalal nga ba ako bilang gobernador dahil sa kakayahan ko? O dahil sa simpatya ng mga tao sa pagkamatay ng mga magulang ko?”
“Alejandro!” Peter shouted and his voice sounds ridiculed to hear such thing. “Don’t you ever question your capacity as a governor because I know that you know how capable you are even at the young age.”
“Roxxan.” Napahilamos siya ng mukha at hindi niya maalis sa isip ang bata. “The child. Just lost her mother. On her own home, sa mismong birthday niya. Because of me. Nakakasuklam ako. She is just six, Peter. Six years old!”
Naramdaman ni Alejandro na may taong humawak ng mahigpit sa balikat niya dahilan na makaramdam siya ng sakit at mapataas ang tingin niya. Peter is clenching his jaw at pinanlakihan niya ng mata ang kaibigan.
“Alejandro. Get grip of yourself. The more na hindi ka magsasalita, the more na hindi ka magrereport sa trabaho mo, the more na maniniwala ang mga tao sa usap-usapan. The national media has taken interest from this issue. You should speak about it.”
“B-But…”
“No, Alejandro. No Buts! We have this gala for a cause tomorrow night and you are one of the speaker. You should go and clarify things just like what you should be.” Peter said without leaving Alejandro option to protest.
“I’ll invite media. Expect that you’ll be some prey to hunt.”
--
Samantha’s phone ping up habang ginuguhit niya ang senaryo sa labas ng bahay. It never fails her to be amazed how that was too good to be true location. It is such a perfect place na karapat-dapat paglaanan ng panahon para makapagpahinga.
Unluckily, she has a queuing schedule the moment she’ll be back to Manila. More on her business matters. There is this specific gala she really wants to go, everyone will be there. Even the brightest star in national and in Csilla City.
She knows that she doesn’t need to go in this gala because her business is already big in New York but the want to have a Filipino and local customer is overwhelming.
The phone vibrated once again at napilitan lang siya na bitawan ang brushes at abutin sa sahig ang cellphone niya na kanina pa vibrate ng vibrate. Ever since na tumapak siya sa isla bato ay hindi niya ginagalaw ang cellphone niya maliban noong tumawag ang editor niya at sa pag open ng Spotify niya kaya maliban doon ay wala na siyang may ginagawa.
Pag bukas niya ay isang email iyon sa hindi pamilyar na tao pero tumaas ang kilay niya sa nilalaman ng email.
From: Hope Angel Orphange Good Day! We would like to inform you that the gala scheduled for tomorrow will be moved TODAY at 20:00 due to unforeseen events of guest speakers and lead organizers. We are sorry for short notice, but we will still anticipate for your attendance!
Nanlaki ang mata ni Samantha sa email at napatingin sa orasan ng cellphone niya. Hapon na at pasado na alas-singko. Kung aalis na siya ngayon ay malamang malalate lang siya ng konti sa gala pero makakarating pa rin siya.
Agad niyang pinahid sa apron niya ang kamay niya at tuluyan na ngang tumayo at nagtungo sa bags niya. May pinindot siya sa cellphone niya at nagdial doon at nilagay sa loudspeaker ang cellphone habang kinuha niya ang tirintas ng buhok niya at tinali ang buhok niya.
“Hello, Sam?”
“Hi, Clara. I hope hindi ako nakaka-abala but there’s something urgent th—”
“The gala was moved today? I know, Sam. Kanina ko pa actually hinihintay ang tawag mo. Halos lahat din ng kleyente ko ay kumokontak sa akin.”
Napahinga ng maluwag si Samantha at nagsuot na siya ng flipflops at tuluyang hinubad ang apron na suot niya.
“Mabuti na lang ay natapos naming lahat ang mga damit ng clients.”
“I owe you this one, Cla.”
“No worries, Sam. Kunin mo lang dito sa shop.” And few more formalities asking regarding sa gown na susuotin ni Samantha the call was ended. Clara Kim was her classmate sa New York but she chooses to stay in the Philippines when she got married. At dahil nga biglaan ang announce ng gala ay sa kanya na lumapit si Samantha to let her design and made the gown she’ll wear on tonights party.
Palabas na siya ng pinto nang saktong pagbukas niya ay kakatok din sana si Toni na kung saan ay dalawa silang nagulat sa presensya ng isa’t isa.
“Palaka!” sigaw ni Samantha habang si Toni naman ay nanlaki ang mata at napaatras sa gulat.
“Ma’am! Nang gugulat ka naman po!”
“Aba at parang kasalanan ko pa talaga na humaharang ka diyan sa pinto!”
Magsasalita na sana si Toni ng dumapo ang tingin niya sa bag na bitbit ni Samantha. “Aalis ka po, Ma’am?”
Walang ano ano ay sumilip ang ngiti sa labi ni Samantha at napasilip siya sa ilalim at tinignan kung dala dala ng lalake ang kanyang motor. Nang makita niya ay mas lumapad ang ngiti niya at lumapit at hinawakan ang kamay ni Toni.
“Ihatid mo ko sa airport, Toni. Kailangan ko lang magmadali.”
“PO???!”
- Writer
