The Chef's Secret Romance

Chapter 3

Chapter 3: His Demise

Around twelve o'clock in the morning, I got up with a sharp ache in my heart. Uminom ako ng tubig sa aqua flask na nasa bedside table ko. I tried again to sleep but couldn't, so I got up to check on my daughter. I've always made it a habit of checking in on her.

Ngunit hindi ko inaasahang wala siya sa kanyang kuwarto nang buksan ko iyon. I checked my phone, and it's already 12:30 am!

Tatawagan ko pa lang sana ang numero ni Hendrix ngunit napaigtad ako sa sunud-sunod na ring ng bell sa gate namin. I tried calling his number while I was on my way down, but it was out of coverage.. Maging ang phone ng anak ko ay hindi ko matawagan!

Nagsimulang bundulin ng kaba ang dibdib ko nang makita ko ang mga police sa labas ng bahay.

"Huwag ka sanang mabibigla, hija ngunit kailangan ka ng anak mo sa ospital."

That instant, I was shocked! My heart began to race uncontrollably. "What happened to my daughter?"

"Nasa mabuti na siyang kalagayan, hija. Halika at sumama ka sa amin."

Tulala akong nagpatianod sa kanila. PO1 Marquez and I were seated in the back of the police patrol car.

Tahimik lamang kami habang binabagtas namin ang kahabaan ng Santander patungo sa hospital at tanging ang radyo lang ang naririnig namin.

"Walong katao ang patay kasama ang driver ng jeep at anim na sugatang pasahero ang naaksidente sa banggaan ng pampasaherong jeep at isang kotse nitong Biyernes ng hatinggabi sa Santander.

Ayon sa isa sa mga nakaligtas na pasahero, mag-u-U-turn na sana ang jeepney nang mabangga ang isang kulay itim na Mercedes-Benz na may plakang SGH 123 na minamaneho ni Hendrix Torres."

For a while, my mind was stocked. Hindi kayang iproseso ng utak ko ang mga naririnig ko. Eight people died?

"Dead on arrival rin ang nasabing driver ng naturang kotse na kinilalang anak ng magiting na si Regional Director Maximo Torres ng Santander, Cebu."

"No," mahinang sabi ko habang paulit-ulit na umiiling. "That can't be Hendrix!"

I tried to open the car's handbar, but PO1 stopped me. "Kailangan ka ng anak mo sa ospital, hija!

Nagsimula na akong panginigan ng takot at kaba. Bumibilis na ang t***k ng puso ko at tila hindi ako makahinga sa naririnig ko mula sa radyo at kay PO1. Hindi na nag-si-sink-in sa utak ko ang mga sinasabi nila dahil tila nabingi na ako.

When we showed up at the hospital, I was shaking. Lakad-takbo kong hinanap ang anak ko, habang punung-puno na ng luha ang mga mata ko.

"Where is my daughter?" Lumilinga-linga ako sa paligid.

Then a nurse took my hand in hers and led me to my daughter's room. She was lying in bed with a cast on her right leg. "Skye!" I run straight alongside her.

"Kakaturok lang ng pangpakalma, Ma'am. She is doing well now. Her chest and stomach are covered in bruises. Your daughter had to have a scan on her head; fortunately, no damage was done."

Nakahinga ako ng maluwag at hinawakan ang kamay ng anak ko. "How about my husband?" Naniniwala pa rin akong walang nangyaring masama sa kanya. Naniniwala akong mali ang naibalita sa radyo na narinig ko kanina.

"When he arrived at the ER, he was dead from the accident, but we tried and failed to revive him. Please accept my apologies, Mrs. Torres. We tried everything, but he did not survive, the guy in a white uniform said.

Doon ko nabitiwan ang pagkakahawak ko sa kamay ng anak ko. Nabuwal ako sa pagkakaupo at sumadsad ang puwetan ko sa sahig ngunit hindi ko ininda ang sakit dahil tila manhid na ako. Kaagad akong inalalayan ng nurse at pinaupo akong muli. My breathing has become ragged, and I am unable to accept what he has just said.

"Where is my husband now?" I asked, stuttering. This can't be! Magkausap pa kami kanina! How can this be happening?

Oh my God!

"Regional Director Torres has been looking after his son's body. Kailangan pong i-awtopsiya para sa imbestigasyon."

No! Tumayo ako ngunit muli akong nabuwal. Hindi siya sasantuhin ni, Daddy! Hinawakan ko ang dibdib ko dahil nagsimula iyong manikip. Hendrix's father is a dedicated public servant. I recall him shooting a gun at a rapist in front of a large crowd in Santander. Kaya tahimik at walang krimen dito dahil sa maalab niyang pagganap sa kaniyang tungkulin. He was never convicted, dahil kaibigan din niya ang mga abogado at husgado dito sa Cebu.

When I went looking for Hendrix, he had already been cremated, as I had suspected.

"How can you do such a thing to your son?" Nanginginig ang mga kamay kong tumingin sa daddy niya. "Hindi pa nagigising ang anak namin, Dad!

I couldn't help but punch his chest, kahit na kinatatakutan siya ng buong Santander. I don't care anymore! Hindi ako natatakot sa kanya. "How could you, daddy? He must have had a comfortable place to rest. Why did you have to burn him?"

"He'll burn in hell anyway. I can't bear looking at his face. He disgusts me." Walang puso niyang sabi.

"Mas lalong magagalit sa inyo si Skye, dad!"

"That daughter of yours never likes me, Gabrielle. She doesn't like me because she is always on Hendrix's side. Kinalimutan na niyang may Lolo siya."

"Because you never showed that you cared for your son. Ipinahiya ninyo pa siya noon sa restobar. My daughter heard how you belittled her daddy. Natural lang po na kamuhian niya kayo."

Napaluhod na ako sa harap niya habang sapo ko ang mukha ko sa kaiiyak.

"Why do you have to cry for that failure, son of mine? Kahihiyan lang lagi ang natatamo natin sa kanya? Don't you think it's his karma?"

Umiling ako. "He deserves to be happy, Dad."

"That disgusting bastard can't have his happiness because he's evil! And now he's created his own demise! Nandamay pa siya ng walong katao! Wala talagang ginawang tama ang batang iyon kahit sa kamatayan niya!"

Now I understand how Hendrix felt whenever he returned home when he was younger. I now know what his father is like.

He is heartless!

Tiningala ko siya habang nanlalabo pa rin ang mga mata ko. "He's happy after we talk, dad! He's finally free, but why? Bakit ganito? Hindi ko ginusto 'to? I should have stopped them from sending --"

Pinigilan ko ang sarili kong sabihin ang pangalan ni Arnaiz dahil baka siya naman ang balingan ni Dad ng galit niya.

"I will talk to that son-of-a-b***h!" Nakita ko ang nag-aapoy na galit sa mga mata niya.

I quickly grabbed his hand and begged him.

"Huwag na, dad! Hendrix will be mad at you kapag ginawan mo ng masama ang taong mahal niya."

Daddy helped me up and hugged me tightly. "Why did Teresa raise a kind-hearted woman like you? Tinatapakan ka na nga, ayaw mo pa rin lumaban."

Hindi ako nakasagot. Bakit nga ba? Lumaban naman ako, 'di ba? Ngunit hindi ako nanalo. At the end, talo kaming lahat dahil nawala sa amin si Hendrix.