Quest For Justice

CHAPTER 4: STALKERS STALKING Part 3

Kindness can kill.

Cassandra swallowed hard. If it weren’t for the car’s air condition, she would’ve sweated a lot. Were they caught in the act? Were those people aware all the time that they were following them? Would they be killed?

Tony leaned to her to whisper, voice shaking in fear. “Atty.? A-allow me to start the c-car.”

She held Tony’s right shoulder to steady him while staring with wide unblinking eyes at the strong man behind the window waiting for her to open it.

She took a deep breath.

“Calm down, Ton. Don’t you dare show a trace of fear on your face. Or else I’m gonna blame you in our next life.” She whispered back to Tony without looking at him.

“Att---” Tony was supposed to stop her from opening the window but he was too late. He gawked at the man who looked like a professional killer to him. He immediately shifted his weight in the seat and tried to act calm despite his muscles tightening.

The man squatted to the car window’s level and tilted his head to see Cassandra properly.

“Hi! How may I help you?” Cassandra smiled at him, shoving away the negative thoughts. That way, this man couldn’t suspect them.

“Hello po, ma’am! Meron po ba kayong spare tire? Pasensya na po sa abala.” Isang malaking ngiti ang iginawad sa kanya ng taong akala niya ay tatapos ng buhay nila ni Tony. Napaka-judgemental talaga ng tao.

Tony and Cassandra blow air from their cheeks together. It felt like breathing again after staying for a while underwater without oxygen.

The man frowned at their action. he had no idea they were fearing him.

Tony went out of the car and got the spare tire for the man. When he slid back to the car, at eye contact with Cassandra, they both laughed.

“What the hell was that?” Cassandra kept laughing.

“Ang yaman yaman niyo mga wala kayong spare tire!” Tony also burst in laughter, napahampas pa ito ng kamay sa steering wheel sa kakatawa.

The two of them did not wait for those people to finish changing their tire. Tony drove a little away from the gasoline station and pulled over at a fruit stand stall. They waited for them to pass then followed them again as they drove on a 6-lane highway road.

During the drive, Tony and Cassandra kept bickering about Cassandra opening the damn window. Because Tony told her that what if the next time that happened to them ay baka hindi na tungkol sa spare tire ang pakay. He would really step on the engine right away if the same scenario would happen. But Cassandra was insisting that she did it because she thought paano pala kung may ibang pakay ang mga ito and she was right. Also, they might find it suspecting kapag pinaandar ni Tony ang sasakyan nang ganon-ganon nalang. But Tony this time just wouldn’t agree to her.

“Atty., alam mo ba na may ibang pakay sila? Ano ka manghuhula?” Tony increased the volume of his voice.

Cassandra realized that the fear he felt a while ago was the reason. She tried her best to make Tony feel that she understood kung saan man ito nanggagaling.

“OK, fine. I’m sorry. I know you were scared back there. But, Ton, I told you. Mas magiging katakot-takot pa ‘to. But you still agreed to do it,” she calmly said.

She talked to Tony and his wife that this journey would be full of suspense and tragedy. She gave Tony the benefit of the doubt. Now, he’s with her, and what happened there in the gasoline station was just the beginning. If he decided at this very moment that he wouldn’t do it anymore, she would drop him off the road and she would go on alone.

Tony did not say anything and just kept driving. Ang ibig sabihin lang nito is he’s still with her. Cassandra smiled, appreciated his assistant’s generosity for her.

They kept following their prey without talking anymore until they reached their destination. The place was just along the highway, there were no detours at all and that was an advantage for them because if ever they would have to take smaller roads taken by fewer vehicles ay baka mahalata na ang pag-sunod nila.

The three expensive cars were allowed to get inside after the guard checked the identity of the passengers habang sina Cassandra naman ay nagpahuli ng konti para hindi sila mahalata. Binasa ni Cassandra ang nakasulat sa isang 3D signage na nakatayo sa tabi ng mataas na pulang gate na may nakasulat na, “Welcome to Home of Love Orphan Care Center”.

Sandaling natigilan si Cassandra, processing in her mind that Jarred Guzman actually went to an Orphan Care Center. She shook her head when she realized that Jarred was actually a philanthropist.

She turned to Tony, confused. “Ton? Didn’t you look about Jarred? Like maybe he’s a---”

“A philanthropist?” Tony cut her off, looking at his iPod.

Inagaw niya sa kamay ni Tony ang Ipod nito, there she got to read an article about Jarred helping out and donating a lot for his charity.

One of her brows raised. “Isn’t this for the people to see? Bakit may mga media siyang dala kung bukal sa puso niya ang pagtulong?” nakasimangot na aniya.

“Ngayon lang kita narinig na nag condemn sa good deed ng isang tao. It’s very not you, ma’am. Doon naman sa mga kapa--”

“Shut the f*ck up!” she said in a low tone ngunit may panggigigil sa boses while still scrolling on the iPod.

“Yes, ma’am!” Tony gestured zipping his mouth.

Cassandra continued reading those articles about Jarred helping out especially orphans. Cassandra herself is a philanthropist. Ang bahay ampunan na ito ay hindi pa niya napuntahan but around 20 na na mga bahay ampunan na ang mga nabibisita niya. Her heart is very close to orphaned kids since she used to be one of them. She empathized with their lonely feelings of not having parents who would love them unconditionally.

“Huh,” She smirked while reading. “so even that 3D signage was donated by him? Maybe he wanted that all of his donations, every single one, would be word-by-word written in these crappy articles.” She angrily tossed Tony’s iPod on the dashboard and hardly slumped on her seat na parang teenager who was bickering with her dad and ended up not given permission to go to a friend’s party.

Tony immediately reached for his iPod and checked if it’s still fine.

“Anong pinuputok ng butsi mo, atty.? Hindi pa nga kayo nagkikita ni Mr. Jarred, hate mo na siya agad,” ani Tony while petting his Ipod.

“I don’t hate him, ok? I don’t have any single emotion for those people.” She rolled her eyes as she squinted over the window.

“Pasok na tayo.” Nakasimangot pa rin siya.

Nang nakapag-park na si Tony sa parking space ng bahay ampunan ay agad na silang naglakad upang hanapin kung saan may media na naka tipon. Pero hindi nila mahanap kung nasaan.

“Excuse me po.” magalang na aniya sa babae na nasa front desk ng information area.

“Magandang araw po, ma’am. Ano po ang maitutulong ko?” nakangiting ani ng babae na naka pony-tail ang mahabang buhok at nakasoot ng uniform polo shirt for staff ng bahay ampunan na iyon.

“Ah. Kasama kami ni Mr. Jarred Guzman. Nahuli lang kami ng dating. Saan sila tumungo?” She maintained eye contact with the front desk staff para hindi mapaghalataang kahinahinala sila.

Bigla namang namula ang pisngi ng babae. Nang-blush na lang ito bigla. Hindi niya naiwasang magsalubong ang kanyang mga kilay. 

“Ah, Si Mr. Guzman po? ‘Yong gwapong CEO?” Inipit nito ang takas na buhok sa likod ng kanyang tenga.

“Opo, Miss. ‘Yon nga,” sabat ni Tony.

“Tara po, hatid ko po kayo doon.” The girl looked excited.

“Ah, Miss, baka pwedeng ituro mo nalang kung saan,” ani Cassandra.

Hindi pwedeng samahan sila nito dahil baka mabuking sila na hindi sila kasama ni Mr. Guzman at ang totoo’y mga stalker sila nito. Pero mukhang gusto lang yata ng babae na masilayan si Jarred kaya gusto sila nitong ihatid.

“Ok, lang po, ma’am. Ihahatid ko po kayo doon sa convention hall. Nandoon po ang mga bata at si Mr. Guzman.” The girl insisted.

Cassandra turned around to Tony and the two of them communicated with their eyes. May ganon silang super powers. Kaya nilang magkaintindihan gamit lang ang mga mata.

“Ah, sige, miss. Salamat. You may lead the way,” ani Cassandra, faking a smile.

Naunang naglakad ang babae habang nakasunod naman silang dalawa ni Tony. Maya maya pa ay dumating na rin sila sa labas ng air-conditioned convention hall.

“Ang gara naman ng bahay ampunan na ito. Anong palagi niyong ulam dito?” kuryusong tanong ni Tony sa babaeng naghatid sa kanila. Siniko siya ni Cassandra. Kung ano-ano ba naman kasi ang pumupukaw sa curiosity nito.

“Ah, madalas po gulay tsaka prutas para malusog ang mga bata,” sagot nito.

“Ah, okay na kami dito, miss. Papasok na lang kami. Pwede ka ng bumalik doon. Salamat,” Cassandra grabbed Tony’s arm and pulled him closer to her.

“Ay, nako, ma’am. Samahan ko na kayo sa loob nang ma-inform ko si Sir Guzman na dumating na kayo.”

Cassandra’s face turned fierce from being smiley.

“You can go back. We can manage ourselves.” she seriously said that intimidated the girl. Nakita niya ang bigla na lang pamumutla ng mukha ng staff, nakaramdam siya ng konting konsensya.

“Ah. Sige po.” The girl nodded first bago sila nito nakayukong tinalikuran.

Cassandra blew air from her cheeks, fanning herself with her hand.

“Ang harsh mo do’n sa dalaga, atty.!” ani Tony.

Cassandra just eyed the door to signal his assistant to open it. She’s too lazy to do that herself.

Tony pushed the double door open to the inside of the convention hall. Almost nobody noticed them. Ang atensiyon ng mga tao ay nasa kay Mr. Jarred Guzman na nasa sentro ng convention hall nakatayo sa harap ng pumipilang mga bata na tinatanggap ang mga regalo nila mula rito. Sobrang laki ng mga ngiti ng mga bata habang tinatanggap ang mga regalo nila. Maging siya ay hindi maiwasan ang mapangiti sa makahabag damdaming tanawin.

Cassandra and Tony advanced a little to have a clear view of their target while still being observant. They were making sure that they positioned themselves behind some people in there while they pulled their necks upward to see Jarred. One of Jarred’s security saw them before in the gasoline station, they must be extra careful.

She thoroughly observed every movement of Jarred. If she spotted a flash of irritation in Jarred’s face as he handed every single gift to the kids, she would be glad. But she didn’t. He never got tired standing for minutes before the kids, smiling and lightly patting their heads.

Jarred told the kids a story from a fairy-tale book after. He was laughing with the kids. He was generous to the kids. She didn’t know why she hated to see that he was a good man.

“Talagang nag-iiba si sir Jarred kapag kasama niya ang mga bata, no?” said a short-haired woman in a corporate attire who’s standing beside her.

She just overheard the girl.

“Yes. Sa opisina ang cold niya. Sa isang taon ko ng nagtatrabaho sa CPM, never pa niya akong nangitian,” answered another girl who’s in front of Cassandra, she sounded down.

She intentionally listened to their conversation.

“Baka naman pakitang tao lang siya.” She idly joined the conversation.

Napalingon naman ang babae na nasa harap niya gayon din ang isa pang babae sa tabi niya.

“Ay, naku hindi po. Mabait po talaga ‘yan si sir Jarred,” The short-haired woman thoughtfully replied.

“Baka takot ka lang mawalan ng trabaho?” Cassandra raised a brow, folding her arms as she maintained eye contact with the girl who dared to defend Jarred.

Kinabahan bigla si Tony dahil dinadalaw na naman ng pagka sira-ulo ang boss niya. Mamaya mapa-away pa siya at makatawag pa sila ng atensiyon. He placed his arms on Cassandra’s shoulders and smiled at the girls.

“Ah, pag pasensyahan niyo na tong kapatid ko, mga binibini, ha. May pagka psychopath lang talaga ‘to,” Tony grinned.

“Halika na, Ate.” Iginiya ni Tony si Cassandra palayo.

“Ate ka dyan. Tatlong taon ang tanda mo sa akin.” Inalis ni Cassandra ang kamay ni Tony na naka akbay sa kanya habang naglalakad na sila palabas ng hall.

“Tsk. Tanggapin mo nalang kasi ‘yong katotohanan. Mabait talaga si Sir Jarred,” ani Tony nang makalabas na sila ng hall.

They stayed outside for a while.

“If that’s the truth, fine. But, Tony. If you’re a lawyer, you don’t easily believe or trust people. Even our clients lure us. Pero ‘wag ako. Give me time, I’m gonna prove to you that, that Jarred is an asshole like his father! Sa kanilang tatlo, sino ba ang may interest sa kompanya?” She put her hands on her hips.

“Alam mo, atty.?” Tony gave him a look from head to toe.

“What?” She scowled at him.

“Why are you beautiful today? I mean, maganda ka araw-araw naman. Pero bakit extra-beautiful ka today?” Puna ni Tony out of nowhere.

Cassandra is pretty tall for a woman’s average height. Sa taas na 5’8” with a curvy body, and a square face shape with a proud pointy nose. She’s alluring. Even Tony who’s used to her beauty would still be sometimes be surprised by her physique. Like right now.

“Ano ba ‘yang mga pinagsasabi mo? Of course I’m extra-beautiful every day. Napaka nonsense mo talaga.” She blushed at her own over confidence as she looked away.

A little girl caught Cassandra’s eyes as she looked around. The child was sitting alone on a bench located beside the opposite corridor. She was holding her teddy bear. She was lowering her head while swaying her feet that couldn’t reach the ground.

She led her way papunta sa batang babae na nag-iisa. She could see herself in her. She was once a loner, an introvert.

“Atty., where are you going?” Tony frowned as he followed her.

She did not answer him and when his eyes caught the little girl, his question was answered.

Nang makalapit sa bata ay agad niya itong kinausap. “Hi, beautiful girl!” She greeted the little girl with a full smile, she was trying hard to make her comfortable.

The little girl sadly looked up at her. Then, hung her head.

“Bakit ka nag-iisa dito?”

Cassandra sat beside the little girl who’s not talking back at her. She looked up at Tony.

“Ton, buy her any food. I’ll wait for you here.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Tony nodded.

Then, Tony left them alone. Cassandra lightly brushed the long silky hair of the little girl and she flinched.

“It’s ok.” Her hand paused in the air and when the little girl smiled back at her, that’s when she continued brushing her hair.

“‘Wag kang matakot. Ate Cassandra is a good girl. Maybe not that good.” She grinned.

The little girl giggled at her. Parang hinihimas ang puso niya sa bawat segundo na napapangiti niya ang bata. She felt really really great for quite some time.

“Bakit hindi ka naman sumali sa mga ibang bata doon sa loob? Binigyan sila ng mga regalo doon at pinakain ng masarap na pagkain.”

“Ganyan talaga si Stephanie, ma’am. Hindi siya masyadong nagsasalita.” A woman in her 50s na may hawak na walis tingting na may mahabang hawakang kahoy ay sumali sa usapan nila.

Cassandra smiled at the lady. “Pasensya ka na, manang. Hindi kita napansin.”

“Ako po si Lilia, ma’am. Isa po akong utility dito sa loob na ng dalawang taon. Ang batang iyan naman ay si Stephanie. Isang buwan pa lang nang natagpuan ko na pagala-gala sa daan. Ayon sa bata, pumanaw daw ang mga magulang niya dahil sa aksidente at pinalayas daw siya ng tiyahin niyang kumupkop sa kanya. Gusto ko nga pong iuwi si Stephanie, ma’am, eh. Sa akin lang kasi siya nakikipag-usap. Sa tuwing nandito ako nagtatrabaho, sumusunod siya sa akin. Kaso ganito lang po kasi ang trabaho ko. Hindi ko siya kayang buhayin. May mga anak din po kasi ako. Kaya dinala ko siya dito.” Lilia told her the story.

Cassandra didn’t notice her eyes tearing.

“Naku, ‘wag po kayong umiyak, ma’am. Kina-counseling naman po si Stephanie.”

“Ayos lang ako, manang. Salamat. Susubukan ko lang makipag usap kay Stephanie.” She wiped her tears with her beauty fingers.

“Sige po, ma’am. Magwawalis lang po ako sa banda roon.” Sabay turo ni Lilia sa may unahang maraming tuyong dahong nagkalat. Mapuno kasi roon.

Cassandra nodded at Lilia and jerked her gaze back at the little girl.

“Stephanie? Your name is beautiful.” She was trying her best to capture the child’s heart.

“Sino po nagbigay sa kanila?” The liitle girl’s voice sound so sweet.

Cassandra was happy to hear her voice. Ito ang pinakamalamig na boses na narinig niya and it soothed her feelings.

“Ibig mong sabihin ‘yong mga masasarap na pagkain at mga laruan?”

The child cutely nodded.

“A good man.” She smiled as she tucked the little girl’s hair behind her ears.

“Siya ba ‘yong good man?” Turo ng bata sa likod niya.

Nanlaki ang mga mata niya. She didn’t dare to turn around.

“Baby girl, may tao ba sa likod ni ate Cassandra? Malapit ba o malayo?” Her pulse quickened.

The little girl looked back at her.

“Tingnan niyo po.” An innocent little girl.

“Uhm. Hindi pwedeng tumalikod si ate Cassandra eh. Gusto ko sa ‘yo lang ako nakatingin.” If that was a pick-up line, that would be smooth.

“Pwede mo bang sabihin kay ate kung malapit ‘yong tao sa atin o malayo? Matangkad ba siya? Nakatayo lang ba siya o naglalakad papunta sa atin? Please, baby girl.” Now, she’s having an investigation with this innocent little girl as her witness.

The little girl shook her head. “Hindi po siya malapit. Doon po siya nakatayo.” Turo ng bata sa taong tinutukoy nito.

“No. ‘Wag mong ituro, baby girl.” Inagapan niya ang daliri ng bata na tumuturo sa kung sinong tao.

Cassandra thought for a while na baka hindi naman si Jarred ang tinutukoy ng bata. But she was having a deliberate thought in her mind if she would turn around to see herself or not.

“Umalis na siya. Tinawag siya ng malaking guy,” sabi ulit ng bata.

Cassandra’s shoulders shrugged, para siyang nabunutan ng tinik. She was worried na baka makita siya ni Jarred. Of course, he didn’t know her. Nobody knew her from the Guzman family. That’s why she must assure na hindi siya ma mumukhaan ng mga ito because she had that plan she needed to execute one day, and it was planned long ago. That plan required her real identity to remain hidden. Remain hidden until she succeeds.

Now, all she had to do was to confirm if that was really Jarred from the child.

“Gwapo ba ‘yong nakita mong lalaki kanina, baby girl.” She swallowed the lump on her throat. She had no other options but to ask that.

“Gwapo po. Naka ngiti siya kanina habang nakatingin sa atin.”

What the hell? So it was really Jarred? But she couldn’t trust a child’s statement. If this was in court, the evidence would not be enough.

Thank God, she remembered Lilia who was sweeping the lawn sa hindi kalayuan. Lilia might have seen the man.

“Baby girl, wait for ate Cassandra here, okay? I’ll just go to Aleng Lilia.”

The little girl obediently nodded.

She started toward Lilia na hindi naman kalayuan mula sa pwesto nila.

“Excuse me, Manang Lilia.”

The lady immediately stopped what she was doing and faced Cassandra.

“Po, ma’am?”

“Ah,” Napakamot siya sa kanyang batok and hesitated to ask for a while.

“May nakita po ba kayong tao na nakatayo banda roon?”

Tinuro niya kung saan banda nakatayo ‘yong tinutukoy ng bata kanina.

Aleng Lilia paused from sweeping. “Ay opo. Si sir. Naka sandal po siya sa barandilya ng corridor kanina, ma’am. Kinawayan niya pa nga po ako, eh. Umalis na po siya. Nag-yosi lang siya sandal.” 

“Sir? Hindi mo po kilala, manang?” kunot noo niyang tanong.

“Kilala po syempre. Matagal na pong tumutulong sa amin dito si Sir Jarred, ma’am.”

Para siyang binuhusan ng malamig na tubig sa pagbigkas ng ale ng pangalan ni Jarred.

“Manang, kasi sabi ni Stephanie, pinanood niya daw kami kanina?” She scratched the back of her head.

“Ay, opo. Kitang-kita ko po na pinanood niya kayo habang nakangiti.” Lilia’s face lightened up.

Cassandra could see in Lilia’s face how happy she was when she answered questions about Jarred. Maybe he was good to them.

“Manang, isang tanong nalang po, tingin niyo ba nakita niya ‘yong itsura ko kahit nakatalikod ako?”

“Ay, hindi yata, ma’am. Kasi nakatalikod kayo sa kanya tapos sa bata naman siya talaga kasi nakatingin.”

Cassandra didn’t know but why did she feel humiliated. She wasn’t assuming na siya ‘yong pinapanood kanina ni Jarred. Pero kasi, the way Lilia said it, parang sinabi na rin nito na assumera siya. But she was sure, Lilia didn’t mean anything that way.

“Ah, sa bata? Oo naman, of course. Stephanie has a pretty smile.” She tried to sound optimistic.

“Ma’am.” Tawag sa kanya ni Tony.

Tony nodded first to Lilia as a sign of greeting then looked at Cassandra.

“Shall we go?”

Nagpaalam na si Cassandra kay Lilia at kay Stephanie pagkatapos nilang ibigay ni Tony ang mga masasarap na pagkain sa bata, may laruan pang binili si Tony. Stephanie was so happy and thankful. Cassandra gave 10, 000 cash to Lilia. At least she had that much cash in her wallet. Lilia hesitated to accept the money but at the end, tinanggap din naman nito ang pera. She was thankful dahil malaking tulong daw ito para sa mga anak niyang nag-aaral.

Tony and Cassandra were driving back home. Cassandra told Tony what happened there when he went to buy food for Steph.

“Buti nalang talaga hindi ka lumingon, ma’am. Kasi ‘pag lumingon ka, kanya ka. Ayieeee!” Tony teased her.

“Talk to yourself, Ton!” She rolled her eyes.

“So, ayon sa imbestigasyon mo mabait talaga si Sir Jarred?” Nagpatuloy sa panunuya si Tony sa iritasyon niya.

“So?” She shrugged her shoulders.

“So? Mahirap tapakan ang taong mabait. Dahil bago mo pa magawa sa kanya ‘yon. He would kill you first with kindness.” Tony smirked.

Natigilan si Cassandra when she realized the truth behind Tony’s point.

Honestly talking, that kinda shaken her inner peace.