Quest For Justice

CHAPTER 3: STALKERS STALKING Part 2

First impression lasts. Cassandra just woke up after last night’s tiring stalking. Last night, she confirmed how the eldest of the Guzman’s treated girls like objects. Her first impression of him was, a bad boy/play boy and she was most disgusted with men who play girls.

She washed her face and brushed her teeth. She went back to bed para ayusin ang kanyang higaan when suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

“Come in.” Nilakasan niya ang kanyang boses for the person behind the door could hear.

Veronne, her guardian, entered the door with a bright smile on her face. “Good morning, Sweetie! Let’s have breakfast.” Cassandra couldn’t stop herself from smiling back at Veronne like her smile was contagious.

“Good morning, Mom! Ok, tapusin ko lang po ‘to.” She focused again to arranging her bed. Hindi kasi siya sanay na bumabangon at iniiwan lang ang higaan niyang makalat no matter how lazy she was, she’d always keep her bed arranged.

“Okay, Sweetie.” Veronne nodded her head and hurried out the door and closed it behind her.

Her mom was very thoughtful of her. Every morning, Veronne would knock on her door for breakfast. She always called her on the phone every hour to check on her whenever they were not together. Pinunan ni Veronne ang buong obligasyon ng isang tunay na ina. She had been blessed to have her. Without Veronne, hindi niya alam kung sinong pamilya ang nag-adopt na sa kanya. She had become a lawyer too. Her achievements were all because Veronne had raised her well and had given her everything she had needed. Veronne had also been blessed to have her because she was always a good daughter to her guardian.

After she finished arranging her bed, she descended the staircase in a graceful manner, and headed for the dining area.

“OMG, our little boy is here.” Cassandra’s whole face lit up when she saw Milo, Tony’s 3-year old son who has small curls hair that made him looked like a Santo Niño and at ang hugis ng mukha nito ay mabilog at mataba na parang siopao.

Milo left his chair and ran toward her.

She bent down to hug the little boy. “How are you, Buddy?” Cassandra tightened her arms around the little kid.

Nakakapanggigil kasi ang cuteness nito.

Milo placed his hands on her shoulders and looked at her adorably. Milo loved her so much. “Good,” Milo cutely said, his eyes kept blinking.

“Where’s daddy, Sweetie?”

Milo pointed out to his dad who’s focused on eating breakfast at the long dining table.

“Wow! Gutom na gutom?” Cassandra kidded as she stood up and held Milo’s little hand at iginiya niya ang bata pabalik sa upuan nito kanina.

“Good morning, ma’am! Kain ka, ‘wag kang mahiya.” Tony gestured at the foods on the table.

Veronne, who’s also having her breakfast at the same table couldn’t held her laugh.

“Ang kapal ng mukha mo!” Cassandra rolled her eyes as she found her seat beside Milo.

Tony put down his spoon and fork and wiped his mouth with a table napkin before he looked at Cassandra who’s now busy putting foods on her plate.

“Atty., I confirmed that Jelo Guzman will be playing in the soccer league. Start time will be 8:15 pm. Despite his injuries.” Tony informed her, his fingers were loosely curling into fists on the table.

“Wow! He has that much love for soccer, huh. Pero bakit sa gabi?” Cassandra said with a straight face.

“Late-night matches for professional soccer players, ma’am.” Tony explained, he gripped his utensils again.

Ano naman kasi ang alam niya about soccer. She had never been interested about that sport.

“Excuse me, guys.” Veronne interrupted. “Why do you guys stalk the brothers yourself? You can just simply hire private investigators. That’s what I do.” Veronne shrugged her shoulders.

Cassandra looked at Veronne. “Mom.”

“What?” A deep frown furrowed Veronne’s brows as she openly stared at her.

“It’s fun!” Cassandra grinned like a kid. Tony and Veronne were hoping for a lengthier explanation but that was it all.

She stalked because it’s fun. How reasonable! But really, Cassandra’s reason was she was more confident with her own opinion than the opinion of other people.

“Tinanong mo ba ako kung fun para sa akin? Grabe ‘yong kaba ko na mahuli kagabi.” Tony shook his head.

“Oh, last night? Wasn’t that fun too?” aniya sabay baling kay Milo at binigyan ang bata ng malaking ngiti which the kid returned in the same manner.

Cassandra enjoyed intense moments like what happened last night. Gustong-gusto niya ‘yong mga kaganapan na pinapakaba siya. Even in movies, she loved watching horror and thriller. But stalking the brothers herself was actually not just for fun. She wanted, no, she had to judge them and she couldn’t judge people base only on reports. She also believed people must not be judgmental, but make those brothers and their whole family an exception. She badly wanted to judge them. After all, she had every right to.

* * *

Loud cheers hurt her eardrums as they entered the soccer stadium. Pumwesto sila in the third lower bench. Jelo’s team wore a vibrant yellow uniforms. Tony also prepared soccer scarves for the two of them. Scarves with the players' faces on them. Their scarves showed that they were a part of Jelo’s team. Of course, Cassandra didn’t have any idea. She was neither on both sides team anyway. Wala siyang pake. Ang importante sa kanya ay she would see Jelo in personal and observe him. Katulad ng sa litrato sa profile nito that Tony presented her ay guwapo nga ito at attractive sa personal. He was tall, got fair white skin.

The way that Jelo guy flexed his athletic skill made him extra appealing to people that’s why even men amongst the crowd were shouting his name. They were comfortably sitting when the game started. Tony was focused on the game. He liked soccer anyway. So it was kinda fun to him to be there than what they had gone through the last night. Tony used to like track and field, now he tried to evade it the best that he could.

“I don’t really enjoy watching soccer.” Cassandra yawned, expressing boredom.

“How could you say that when you haven’t watched soccer before?” pilosopong sagot ni Tony sa kanya.

Cassandra just rolled her eyes and folded her arms.

Loud cheers continued to echo in the whole stadium and Cassandra didn’t care a bit about the game. She was not familiar with the rules of soccer. But her eyes were all focused on Jelo. She got that 20/20 vision when her eyes followed Jelo’s moves.

At the game, Jelo acted like he was about to pass but then stopped his leg and instead used it to turn the ball behind his body in one smooth motion.

Jelo’s Team fans did a standing ovation as they screamed proudly. That included Cassandra, standing, and screaming.

Napangawa ang bibig ni Tony habang pinapanood siyang tumatalon talon sa tuwa.

“Whoaaaaaa!! HOOOOOOOO!” She looked like the most excited and proudest among the crowd.

Tony laughed at her. Bumaling siya kay Tony. “Saw that, Ton? That was awesome!” She couldn’t contain her excitement. Then she sat back, shaking her head in awe with Jelo’s amazing soccer move.

“What was that?” Tony said, teasing her.

“I love this game!” She didn’t notice the spark in her eyes when she said that.

“Love the game or the player?” Tony mumbled to himself. Fortunately, she didn’t hear that or else ito ang pag-uugatan ng walang hanggan nilang pagtatalo. Because whenever they started bickering, there wouldn’t be a certain end to it.

Tony shook his head, smiling at his boss’s fast change of mind. From a bored viewer to an excited fan really quick.

The game ended after 90 minutes of intense play. When the team walked out, Cassandra, Tony and all the fans proudly held their scarves up. When lots of fans held them up in tandem, it was a lovely sight to see. Soccer scarves were display of support.

Cassandra and Tony waited for Jelo’s team to walk out of the stadium and carefully followed them along with the team’s fans. Nagmumukha tuloy silang mga desperadong fan na nagbabakasakaling makakuha ng autograph sign mula sa mga pinakamagagaling na soccer player ng bansa. Actually, Cassandra admitted that she had just become a fan. Regardless of the fact that it was Jelo’s team. So what? He was a good player and he was one of her targets. Those were completely different things for her.

A little boy whose age was probably around 8 years old, approached Jelo’s team. Specifically, Jelo.

“Can I have an autograph?” The little boy flashed puppy-dog eyes while raising his soccer scarf to hand it to Jelo.

The little boy’s mother was just standing on the side, taking a video of his cute child fanboying over Jelo.

Jelo took the scarf from the little boy and bent down to his level. “How old are you, Boy?” Ginulo ni Jelo ang buhok ng bata.

“I’m 8. I’m your fan.” The boy stared at him with wide unblinking eyes.

“How about us?” One of Jelo’s teammates interrupted, followed by his other teammate’s who acted jealously.

The little boy just giggled.

“Don’t pressure the kid, guys. He only like one player. That’s me.” Jelo proudly said to his teammates while pointing his index finger to his chest.

Cassandra narrowed her eyes as she intently observed Jelo interacting with the guys around him. Jelo used the pen that the little boy’s mother handed him to sign the kid’s soccer scarf. Then the kid took photos with the whole team.

“Yeah, sure. He’s adorable and seems to have a good sense of humor.” Cassandra said in an emotionless expression as she stood straight, folding her hands behind her back.

“First impression lasts,” Tony said.

He watched her glare at him through his peripheral vision.

“Who cares?” She rolled her eyes.

Tony mimicked what she said including the rolling of the eyes.

Cassandra actually didn’t care whatever her impressions of the boys were. She never faked those impressions anyway just because they were part of the plan. Those were her honest impressions and whatever those impressions were couldn’t affect a slight part of the plan. That, she wouldn’t let happen. Guzman is a Guzman. She wouldn’t give mercy to them like how their father didn’t give mercy to the innocent little Cassandra when he decided to slay her parents.

The stalking Jelo stopped there. How she wished she could get his sign too on her scarf.

Cassandra went home that night tired and she lost her voice of screaming and cheering. She told herself after that game that she would watch again. It was fun which was something she never expected. People would never know what could possibly interest them until they get caught off guard. Dala ng pagod, ay mabilis siyang nakatulog.

Earth rotates so fast nowadays, the sun has risen.

Tony knocked hard on Cassandra’s room door. She hated that consisted loud knocks, she put her head under the blanket. But the knocks on the door wouldn’t stop. Naiirita siyang napabangon sa kama kahit na hindi pa rin niya mabuksan ang mga gusto pang matulog na mga mata.

“That’s open. Get in!” She screamed, magkasalubong ang mga kilay.

Napaatras naman si Tony nang bumungad dito ang nakasimangot na mukha ni Cassandra at napahawak ito sa puso, as if her messy hair looked creepy that scared him. “Scary!” He kidded.

“What?” She glared at him.

Nanatili si Tony sa pintuan. “You have to get up now. CPM Company CEO, Jarred Guzman and his delegates will be leaving at 7 a.m..”

Her shoulder’s sagged as as she remembered. She completely forgot about it. Akala niya ay buong araw siyang makakapagpahinga ng bahay. “Give me 5 minutes.”

She walked out of the bed moving like a snail and in a lazy posture. Would 5 minutes be enough? She left her bed messy as it was. She’d just come back to fix it later. Kahit pa isang minuto na lang mamaya ay hindi na nila maabutan ang target nila ay she’ll still make time to fix her bed. Gano’n ‘yon ka-importante sa kanya.

Tony just shook his head as he glanced at the wall clock hanging on the wall, facing the door. Then, he closed the door and descended the staircase.

She said 5 minutes. He heard her very clear. But it’s passed 10 minutes already and she was not yet downstairs.

Tony kept checking his wristwatch. They only had 30 minutes left and the drive to CPM company would take them 20 minutes. ‘Pag hindi nila na abutan ay Tony had no idea where those guys were exactly heading to. He knew the exact town of their destination, but that town was big enough.

Lumapit si Tony sa paanan ng spiral na hagdanan and shouted her name. “Atty. Cassandra, hurry up!” Sa sobrang lakas ng pagkakasigaw ni Tony, ay sumakit ang lalamunan nito.

Then Cassandra came running down the staircase, wearing fashionable sunglasses and a fit maroon dress, 2 inches above the knee. Red lips and rosy cheeks, yes, this attorney is slaying. “Kaya pala ang tagal, nag make up pa,” Tony mumbled to himself in a lazy manner, but he bet she heard it.

“Let’s go!” She said nang makababa na ng hagdan, flipping her wet hair to Tony’s face. “Oops, sorry! I wasn’t able to dry my hair, nagmamadali ka kasi.” She raised a brow as she continued walking toward the main door in a graceful manner.

Tony just wiped his wet face and immediately followed his boss. Kahit sobrang nakakapagod na ang katarayan at pagiging pilosopa ng boss niya, Tony could still manage. Tony gestured kicking her behind her back. They used to do threatening gestures around each other a lot. Just being playful.

Tony started the car. “Ok, so where is this CEO going?” Cassandra asked as she comfortably sat at the front seat.

“Ay, hindi mo alam?” Tony said, eyes focusing on the road ahead.

Cassandra glared at him. Tony can see her irritated expression on his peripheral vision. He almost laughed at her irritation but stopped himself because ang boss niya ay napaka-pikon. Swear, it was fun to tease a pikon person, but sometimes it could pikon you too.

“He’s going to an out-of-town business. It takes 3 hr. And 27 min. drive, 169.6 km away,” Tony said, eyes on the road.

“What the hell? Are you f*kin’ serious?” She slapped a hand over her mouth while looking at the road.

“Ang layo no? Alam mo atty., minsan napapaisip na rin ako kung assistant ba ako ng abogado or am I an undercover agent.” Tony shook his head.

“You’re both. That’s why I’m going to increase your salary.” She slumped in her chair lazily.

She had many plans in mind, but the truth was that she was a lazy lawyer who enjoyed the finer things in life, such as getting up late every morning, cuddling up with a mug of coffee on the balcony sofa, swimming, and so on. She would not have been willing to put up with such discomfort if something extremely important had not been planned.

“Having a boss like you is a dream come true. Alam mo atty., hinding-hindi na talaga ako magrereklamo sa trabaho ko.” Tony’s whole face lit up.

Kapag talaga pera ang pinag-uusapan ay nakakalimutan ng tao na buwis buhay ang trabaho.

Cassandra laughed at him.

After a 10-minute drive ay dumating na rin sila sa building ng CPM company. Tony pulled over on the other side of the road habang sekretong pinanood ni Tony ang mga eksena sa labas from behind their SUV cars tinted window. Those three black vehicles formed a convoy. Jarred was in the first vehicle.They would tail them because they had no idea where the exact place those people were heading to.

Tony was focused on the road para hindi mawala sa paningin nito ang sinusundan habang si Cassandra naman ay tulo-laway pang natutulog. Kung titingnan mo si Cassandra sa personal ay aakalain mong walang kapintasan ang babaeng katulad niya ngunit ang hindi alam ng mga tao ay natutulog siyang nakanganga lalo na kung himbing na himbing. Again, she enjoyed luxury, especially, the luxury of sleeping.

“Ang ganda ng buhay, oh! Patulog-tulog lang,” Tony exhaled through his nose. Cassandra did not hear him, she was really asleep.

She only woke up after an hour's drive. “Where are we now, Ton?” she asked, blinking her eyes.

“2 and a half hours pa, madam.” She looked at the cars ahead. Naka buntot pa rin naman sila sa tamang sasakyan.

“Don’t you ever try to lose them.” May pagbabanta sa tono niya.

“Wow, ha! Ikaw nga natulog lang.” Tony shook his head. Cassandra just rolled her eyes.

She grabbed her phone from the dashboard of the vehicle.

Tony noticed the three cars in the convoy swerve into the fueling station and followed them.

“Where are they going?” Cassandra asked, her eyes squinted as she watched those vehicles.

Cassandra and Tony thought na mag papa-gas lang ang mga ito ng sasakyan, but it wasn’t the case. Nag-park lang ang tatlong sasakyan sa bandang gilid ng gasolinahan and Tony parked his car directly behind the third car in line. Ang mga sakay ng sasakyan ay isa-isang bumaba and headed toward the comfort room.

Tony turned to her. “Ikaw atty.? Hindi ka ba naiihi? Hindi na mag sa-stop over mga ‘yan mamaya. Hindi tayo pwedeng huminto sakaling maihi ka.”

“How could I leave this car, Ton? Huh?” She tilted her head as she waited for his answer. Tony just shrugged his shoulder, rested his head on the steering wheel, and closed his eyes.

Cassandra shook her head in amazement at his assistant’s IQ level. She took her phone and opened her Starzagram when suddenly, somebody knocked on her window.

Tony flinched at the sound of it. They screwed up their faces as they stared at the bulky man behind the window. Swear, that man has muscles that can easily choke them to death. Nakasoot ito ng fit na itim na t-shirt na mukhang mapupunit na anytime dahil sa malaki at maskulado nitong pangangatawan. The man was one of Jarred Guzman’s security. They saw him way back there outside the building assisting the CEO and rode in one of the three cars in convoy.

Parehas silang napaupo ng matuwid as they slammed their eyes shut together.