KEEPING UP WITH HER CHEERFULNESS

CHAPTER 16

F. O. R. W. A. R. D ~ ~

Nanditu na kami sa dagat ngayun.. kaming dalawa ni Clara.. as soon as we got here, I already wanted to ask her about what she said earlier..

but.. it seems like she's avoiding me every time I try to bring it up..

"Clara... I'm.."

"Ate Zhy!.. maligu tayu!.." Pag putol nito SA sasabihin ko..

Super obvious na..

"Clara I just want to ask you something.."

At sa wakas... lumingon ito sakin..

"What is it?.." Nakangiti nitong Tanong.

"About kanina.. Yung sinabi mo.."

Tumawa lang ito at lumapit sakin..

"Ate Zhy.. The things I said earlier.. It was nothing! Don't think about it for now, Ate Zhy!.." she said and laughed..

Hindi Ako nakaimik.. What if oo nga.. what if Ako lang talaga Ang nag iisip ng masama..

"Pero Yung sinabi ko about you and kuya..

I'm serious about it.. gusto kong.. sana pagdating ng panahon.. matututunan mo ring mahalin si kuya ate.."

"Clara.. madami namang babae sa mundo.. "

I said, at hinawakan Ang kamay nito..

"You're different Ate Zhy.. You're different from everyone else."

Mahina akong napatawa sa sinabi nito..

"Clara, bakit mo Ako nagustuhan?.."

I said, na ikina tingin Niya sakin..

" You're kind ate Zhy.. Ever since you came here?.. I can really see it in Kuya.. he's so much happier whenever he's facing you.. he's happy with you ate Zhy.. "

Nginitian ko ito at hinawakan Siya sa pisngi.

"Ever since I got to know you two.. my life has changed so much.." Saad ko Ritu at pinisil Ang pisngi Niya..

"I don't know what would happen to me if you two weren't here.." Dag dag kopa..

"Ate Zhy... I just want you to know - ever since I met you, I've really come to see you as my real ate. When I see you cry, my heart hurts too because you mean so much to me. And I know Kuya feels the same way - we both care about you so much."

Nakaramdam Ako ng kunting kurot sa puso ko.. at naramdaman korin Ang pag Agus ng tubig sa mga mata ko..

"T.. thank you..." Saad ko ritu at niyakap Siya..

I had no idea.. that even though we've only been together for such a 1 month. they really did accept me completely..

F. O. R. W. A. R. D ~ ~

Tatlong Oras na Ang lumipas..

Wala parin si Clayden.. gusto ko siyang tawagan Bigla.. kasi baka may problema..

Sinubukan ko itong tawagan.. pero Hindi Siya sumasagut..

"Ate Zhy.. don't worry.. baka kasi na traffic.." Clara said.

"Baka nga no.." I said, at binaba Ang cellphone..

Pero feeling ko parang mali ehh..

Bigla kasi akong kinabahan...

"Dadating Yun.. Maya-maya.." - Clara

Nginitian kolang ito bilang sagut.

"I'm here.. "

Agad kaming lumingon sa pinagmulan ng boses nayun..

And it was Clayden.. Marami tong Dala.. kaya Naman sinalubong namin Siya ni Clara..

"Kuya!.. you're so tagal!.. alam mobang pinag alala mo si ate Zhy.." Clara said na ikina pula ko..

WAIT?.. IKINA PULA?..

AKO?.. PUMUPULA?...

NO!.. HINDI PWEDI!...

"Sorry if I took so long.." - Clayden.

"It's fine.. btw.. Anong sinabi ng Private investigator sayu?..Tanong ko na ikina hinto Niya..

"A..ayus kalang ba?.."

"Let's talk about it later, first.. we should eat.. I know you guys are hungry.." - Clayden

BUT I WANT TO KNOW...

"S...sege.." Tanging sagut ko nalang.

Bakit parang kinakabahan parin Ako?..

"Pagkatapos nating Kumain.. umuwi na tayu.."

Agad nila Ako liningon ng Sabihin ko Yun..

F. O. R. W. A. R. D. ~ ~

STILL ZHYCARICH REIL POV

Nasa Kwarto na Ako ngayun..

nag mumuni muni..

Maya maya pa.. Nakita ko Yung cellphone ko sa kama.. naisipan kong Kunin to at mag FB..

Minsan lang talaga Ako nag e sss sa buong Buhay ko.. Yung Messenger ko?.. tinutubuan nayun ng d**o for sure..

"Hindi pa pala.." I said, ng ma open ko ito..

"Wait what's this?.."

Pinindut ko Yung link na sinent sakin ng Hindi ko kilala.. Wala rin itong profile..

• • • • •

OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

It is with heavy hearts that we inform all employees, clients, and the broader VELOX COMPANY community that our CEO, Mr. Zamour Chavez, is currently in critical condition.

Mr. Chavez experienced a medical emergency yesterday, and is now receiving intensive care at the hospital. He is being accompanied by his daughter, Ms. Bianca Chavez, during this time.

We kindly request everyone to keep Mr. Chavez in your thoughts and prayers as he undergoes treatment. Further updates will be provided as soon as more information becomes available.

• • • • •

I dropped my phone in shock..

"N..no!.. it can't be!... " Nakahawak sa bibig kong Sabi..

Hindi ko maiwasang mapahagulhul sa iyak..

subrang sikip ng puso ko..

"WHY!?..." Sigaw ko...

The door suddenly swung open.. and out came Clayden and Clara with worried looks on their faces.

"Ate Zhy!.." Clara said at tumakbo papalapit sakin..

Niyakap Ako nito agad..

"What's happening?.." - Clayden

Tanong nito habang papalapit sakin..

Nakita Niya Ang cell phone ko sa sahig..

and with that... parang alam na Niya agad Ang dahilan..

"Alam mo na?.. kanina pa diba?.. kaya Hindi mo sinabi sakin?..." I said, habang Humahagulhul parin..

"Tell me Clayd!.. Anong sinabi ng Private investigator?... " Tanong ko Ritu..

He didn't answer me.. kaya mas Lalo akong napaiyak..

"Si Bianca?.. Si Bianca Ang may kagagawan ng lahat?.." I said, at mapait na ipinikit Ang mga mata ko..

"I will ki*l that woman!... I swear!..." Naiyukom ko Ang mga kamay ko sa Galit.

"The private investigator told me earlier.. when he followed Bianca, he heard that she gave something to drink to your dad.." - Clayden.

Mas sumikip Yung puso ko..

I KNOW!.. IT WAS POISON!..

"it's a Methamphetamine.." - Clayden.

"What is it?.." My voice cracking with tears.

"Methamphetamine—also known as meth, crystal meth, or shabu—has serious short-term and long-term effects on the body, it causes a rush of energy and euphoria but also brings anxiety, paranoia, rapid heart rate, high blood pressure, overheating, loss of appetite, weight loss, trouble sleeping, and in severe cases, tremors, seizures, or stroke." - Clayden

Hindi Ako maka imik ng Sabihin Niya Yun..

para akong binagsakan ng semento..

"I’m so sorry... your father is in critical condition. Bianca has been making him drink methamphetamine."

Ipinikit ko nalang Ang mga mata ko..

Gusto kong sumigaw ng subrang lakas.. parang unti unti nanaman akong nawawasak.. Yung sakit na nararamdaman ko non!. bumalik. at mas nadagdagan pa..

"Ipapakulong ko Siya Clayd!... I will make her pay for these!... ipapakulong at ibubulok ko Siya sa kulungan!.. I swear!... " Sigaw ko, habang Humahagulhul parin..

"We can't just have her locked up... We don't have enough evidence. People might not even believe us... We need to find solid proof first."

Clayden said, at hinawakan Ang kamay ko..

"If you want to go see your dad... go ahead... We'll always be right here by your side."

Saad nito habang nakahawak sa balikat ko..

Medyu nakahinga Ako ng kunti.. ng bigyan nila Ako ng mainit na yakap..

"Ate Zhy.. for now.. magpahinga ka muna.."

Clara said, tumango-tango Naman Ako sa sinabi nito..

F. O. R. W. A. R. D. ~ ~

CLARA'S POV

• • • • •

"What a worthless child!.. Doesn't care about their father who's fighting for his life!"

"That's right!.. kaya pala siguro Hindi sa kanya ipinamana ni Mr. Zamour Ang VELOX."

"Buti pa si Ms. Bianca Chavez.. may awa..

pero Yung panganay Niyang anak?.. Wala man lang paki!.."

• • • • •

Those are just some of the comments I’ve been reading... The others are even worse – they’re cursing Ate Zhy too.

"Kuya?.. what should we do now?.." Tanong ko Kay kuya..

"Hide all the phones... Don’t turn on the TV either. Take her phone too... She can’t find out what people are saying on social media. If she reads those things, it’ll only make her feel worse."

I nod my head, sign na okay Ako sa gagawin namin..

kuya is right..

"Ate Zhy must not find out about this right now."

Mas ikakasakit lang Niya to..

That villain Bianca is making up stories again! She’s spreading it around that Ate Zhy is the reason Mr. Zamour had a stroke. That ugly witch is really something else!..

"I need to call someone.." Kuya said, at lumabas..

Hindi na Ako nagtaka pa..

naisipan konang puntahan si ate Zhy sa Taas..

para Kunin Ang cellphone Niya...

"She must have fallen asleep by now... That’s better. So she won’t find out I’m taking her phone." I Said.. at umakyat na papunta sa Kwarto Niya..

When I got to the door of her room... I put my ear up against it first, to make sure she was really asleep..

I don't hear anything..

"Baka tulog na talaga Siya.."

I slowly opened the door to her room... and peeked in to check on her.

But I was so shocked when I saw her holding her phone...

She looked up at me, and her eyes were already filled with tears. I was certain... she’d already read everything...

I WAS TOO LATE..

"Ate Zhy... you shouldn’t have read those things," I said as I approached her with a worried look on my face.

Pero.. huli na.. nabasa na Niya...