FRIEND OF MINE (2nd Generation HUGS)

Chapter 19 -Luck Is On My Side

Chapter 19 -Luck Is On My Side

This is my shot. This is the time that I have been waiting for. Ang bigyan ako ng one chance to prove to everybody what I am fighting for is right. Dad told me before even si Mama not to meddle with my brother’s affairs pero hindi kasi ako pwedeng hindi makialam. Especially if it’s my brother’s happiness that is at stake and his future. This is not a temporary thing kasi, this is my brother’s life we are talking about here. Mahal na mahal ko ang kuya ko ang gagawin ko ang lahat para sa kanya. At para na rin ito kay Third. He is so little para sa complicated na mundong ito. He deserves all the best and part of that best is knowing the truth. I love my nephew. Who wouldn’t when he is so adorable and lovable, but if ever that things got rough, kailangan namin harapin ang katotohanan. Sana lang talaga ay may mahanap akong butas sa Phoebe na yun. Sana lang talaga ay may ma-discover ako na flaw sa babaeng yun. Honestly, I really didn't like her the very first time I set my eye on her. Ewan ko ba kung bakit. This is a risk I have to prove, not just to everyone, but to myself as well. Kinuha ko ang law because I believe my personality suits that course. Now I have to act as one kahit pa hindi pa ako fully degreed. I have to dig deep to win this for my beloved brother and for the woman I knew so well he loved the most. Para rin ito kay Ate Bella because I know for a fact na sila ang destined para sa isa’t-isa.

‘Mama.’ I am now calling my mother who is still outside the country with my dad. 

‘Zinnie. Why anak? Do you have any concerns? Have you run out of money already?’ natawa ako sa sarili ko sa huling sinabi ni Mama. Sa laki ba naman ng laman ng debit card ko, plus my credits cards and cash na pinabaon nila sa akin, why would she think na kulang pa ang dala ko? 

‘No Ma. I just called to advise you and also Daddy that I will stay here na muna kay Ate Bella.’

‘I already knew that, Zinnie. Nasabi na sa akin ng Kuya Ziggy mo that Bella is kind enough to shelter you at her place.’ 

‘No, I mean. I will be here until Kuya’s wedding na perhaps.’ 

‘Huh? Why? I thought a month lang ang vacation mo from class?’

‘Yeah, a month nga lang.’

‘Then why stay longer? Paano ang school mo?’ 

‘I can do it online Ma. Ako na bahala dun. Actually I have told my professors already and it’s fine with them.’ 

‘Ganun ba? Eh why the sudden change of plan? Did your Ate Bella request it? You know, to help her with her wedding preparations as well?’ 

‘Hindi po. Ako lang may gusto Ma. I’m enjoying my stay here and since pumayag na naman ang mga professors ko, so dito na muna ako. I just called up to let you and Daddy know lang.’ 

‘Okay sige.’ 

‘Thanks Ma.’

‘But Zinnie, please behave there alright. Don’t give your Ate Bella reasons to regret letting you stay with her, okay?’ I shake my head with amusement sa sinabi ni Mama. 

‘I am behaving here Ma. I won’t do anything that will disgrace myself nor our family po.’ 

‘That’s good to hear, anak. I’ll just tell it to your Daddy, he is out for a meeting right now. Pagbalik niya sasabihin ko sa kanya.’

‘Alright. I have to go, Ma. I miss you already but I still want to be here.’ 

‘I miss you too, baby. Enjoy ka lang jan ha. Tell me if you're lacking cash okay?’

‘Yes Ma, I will.’ 

‘Say hi to your Kuya and Ate Phoebe for me. And kiss me to Third please.’ 

‘Yes Ma.’ 

I can’t tell Mama what I really planned to do here, why I want to prolong my stay here. I can’t tell her na iimbestigahan ko ang mamanugangin niya. She will probably arch an eyebrow at me if she knows. So less talk, less mistakes sabi nga nila. 

I have to be here if I want to discover something and find evidence. Paano ko naman magagawa yun kung nasa Pilipinas ako right? I just hope that luck will be on my side dahil kung hindi, makakasal ang kuya ko sa babaeng ayaw na ayaw ko at mawawalan ng chance na maging sila ng babaeng gusto ko para sa kanya. 

I didn’t waste my time. Maaga pa lang ay lumipad ako from San Francisco to Boston. I made an alibi kay Ate Bella that I missed my nephew kaya mag-stay muna ako dun for a week or so. She even remind me to behave kagaya ng reminder sa akin ni Mama. Pagdating ko sa bahay nila kuya, inabutan ko pa siya and his pretentious girlfriend watching something at the living room. Today is Sunday kaya alam kong nasa bahay si Kuya. 

‘Oh Zinnie! You’re here! Bakit hindi ka man lang tumawag? You should have called so I can fetch you.’ bungad ni Kuya Ziggy sa akin the moment they saw me enter. They even look at my luggage. ‘Babalik ka na dito? May problema ba kayo ni Bella?’ 

‘I miss Third so I’ll stay here muna for a week or so. Where is he by the way?’ 

‘Nasa nursery room.’ it was Phoebe who answered pero hindi ko pinansin ang sinabi niya. Umupo ako sa single seater and glance at the television. 

‘Labas tayo Kuya! Let’s take Third at the mall. Bond naman tayo.’ halatang nagulat siya sa sinabi ko, even Phoebe look startled but pretended not to be listening and just looking straight at whatever it is they are watching. 

‘Right now?’ 

‘Oo! I am here now so yeah! Ngayon!’ tumayo na ako. ‘I’ll go get Third.’

‘Tell his nanny na bihisan.’  

‘Alright.’ 

Ang plano ko talaga ay manmanan ang mga kilos ni Phoebe, and I can only do that if I am with them everyday. Tutal naman ay wala na siyang work so most probably ay nandito lang rin siya sa bahay most of the time. Hindi magagawa ng kuya ko ang bagay na yun because he is working so I will do it for him. Isa pa sa plans ko is to hire a good detective para if ever na lumabas si Phoebe ay may nakabantay sa kanya. Ayoko naman na para akong aso na sunod ng sunod sa kung saan siya pupunta. I wouldn’t waste my precious time tailing her everywhere, kung dito sa bahay ay ayos lang. Hindi naman kalakihan ang house nila so carry lang. What’s the use of my money if I won’t use it for good cause right? Kaya nga kahapon pa lang ay nag-hanap na ako ng top investigators sa lugar na ito and luckily I’ve found one and already talk to him. Nag-advance payment narin ako sa kanya para naman i-prioritize niya ako even on a short notice. I even send to his email a picture of Phoebe at ang address dito sa bahay nila. 

I need to sacrifice being with her at sikmurain ang pagmumukha niya kahit ayaw na ayaw ko for the sake of my dear brother. Malaman ko lang talaga na may baho ang isang ito at niloloko niya kami, she will pay for it dearly. I will make sure na hindi lang siya sa akin mananagot. I am positive na kung talagang fake siya ay patay siya kay Mama. I just pray and wish talaga na maging kakampi ko ang swerte. 

Maghapon kami sa mall. Third was exhausted when we reached home. Agad siyang kinuha ng nanny niya while sila kuya and Phoebe naman went straight to their room. Gabi na rin so I decided to head to the room allotted for me and freshen up. Then I turned on the television but lowered the volume. Nasa kasagsagan ako ng pinapanood kong movie when I heard a voice outside talking to someone. Mabuti na lang ay nakapatay na ang ilaw dito sa room so no one will assume na gising pa ako. I check on the clock first to see what time is it. It is almost midnight. Silently ay tumayo ako and walk papunta sa pinto atsaka dinikit ang ear ko to listen. Papalayo ang boses kaya dahan-dahan kong binuksan ang pinto. I saw Phoebe walking down the hallway, still talking to someone before halting.

‘Let’s meet tomorrow Nicolas. Same place around 10. But I am telling you that this will be the last time I will see you and you will stop pestering me.’ She pause for a minute. ‘Alright. Stop calling me during this time I said. I’ve already told you not to call me anymore. I will be the one to call you, not the other way around. ZG might answer your call again. You’ll screw up everything for me.’ tumaas ang kilay ko sa narinig ko. Nang pinatay na niya ang tawag ay mabilis ngunit maingat kong sinara ang pinto. My heart is beating triple fast sa mga narinig ko. I can feel the excitement surging up inside of me but at the same time ay nakaramdam rin ako ng mas matinding galit para sa babaeng yun. Dahil kung tama ang hinala ko and I am right na fake siya, she is fooling my brother and my family as well. Judging on the way her answers was to that Nicolas she was talking to, there is something fishy going on. And the good thing about it ay magkikita sila tomorrow. Mukhang kakampi ko nga ang swerte. I think luck is on my side.

Mabilis kong kinuha ang laptop ko and type an email to my private investigator. Telling him to be here tomorrow morning para masundan niya si Phoebe kung saan man ito pupunta. It’s almost dawn but my mind is still restless. Hindi ko alam kung saan pupunta ang lahat ng ito or if it will be beneficial to us, but I really hope it will. Mapapatay ko ang babaeng yun kapag nalaman kong niloloko nga niya ang kuya ko. 

Even if wala pang isang oras ang tulog ko ay maaga akong lumabas ng room para magmanman. We are having a quiet breakfast nila kuya and Phoebe when the b***h speaks up and break the silence.

‘I will be going out for a while later to see a friend of mine, ZG. But I won’t be long.’ tumingin ang kuya ko sa kanya sandali but my stare remains focused on her. Eyeing her like a hawk.

‘Will you bring along si Third?’ 

‘Ah no. Sandali lang naman rin ako so iwan ko na lang siya to his nanny.’ 

‘Alright.’ Kuya sips his coffee before glancing at me. ‘Ikaw Zinnie? Do you have any plans for going out today?’ 

‘Wala Kuya. I’ll just stay here and play with Third since aalis pala ang Mama niya.’ tumingin sa akin si Phoebe but I didn’t put an effort to look at her. 

‘I might be going home late, may early dinner meeting ako outside with a client so mauna na kayong kumain. Don’t wait for me.’ 

‘Alright.’ sabay pa namin sagot ni Phoebe.

‘Zinnie behave please.’ my eyebrow raises as I smirk and shake my head. 

‘I won’t promise but I will try, Kuya.’ He eyed me first seriously before taking a bite of his toast.

After breakfast ay umalis na si kuya, I am at the living room while Phoebe went to see Third at his room. I quickly open my laptop only to find the answer I have been waiting for kanina pa. Nasa labas na ang private investigator ko. I’ve instructed him to take evidences once Phoebe and that Nicolas are together. I need proof to defend my case dahil for sure ay hahanap ng proof sila kuya once na may matuklasan ako. Sinabihan ko rin siya na kung pwede niyang marinig ang mga pag-uusapan ng dalawa. He just answered me with a single word, NOTED. 

I just pray for the best. At sana tama ako with my hunches. Because if Zerene Genvely Reiz is right, all hell will break loose.

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