Quest For Justice

CHAPTER 44: Rude

There is no better way to know the truth than ask.

Cassandra was glad that Jarred was done with his work. Makakauwi na rin silang dalawa. Malapit na siyang nakatulog sa couch kanina.

They were walking towards the exit of the building. Sa likod nila ay nakasunod ang limang securities ni Jarred.

Habang naglalakad ay dikit ng dikit si Jarred sa kanya and she kept distancing from him.

She paused and glared at him. Jarred paused too.

“Ang lapad-lapad ng daanan, Jarred. Ano ka ba? “ Nagpatuloy siya sa paglalakad.

Hinabol siya ni Jarred and they walked side by side.

Namulsa si Jarred habang diritso ang tingin. “Why? I wanted to be closed to you.” He moved closer to her.

Naoahinto na naman siya. She stomped her foot once. “You’re annoying. Stop hitting on me. You’ve got no chance.”

Jarred chuckled. “Then why are cheeks so red? “

Tiningnan niya ito ng masama at nagpatuloy na lamang sa paglalakad. She couldn’t look him in they eyes because she was afraid that Jarred might find out that she was into him either. Eyes are windows to the soul, aren’t they?

From now on, she wouldn’t look him in the eyes.

Maging sa sasakyan ay nakadikit si Jarred sa kanya. The car was spacious pero nagbabangga pa rin ang mga siko nilang dalawa.

She was uncomfortable because she actually liked it. If Jarred was not a son of her enemy, siya pa mismo ang manliligaw rito.

“Move.” Sa harap siya nakatingin.

“Why wouldn’t you look at me? “ Umangat ang gilid ng labi nito.

She didn’t respond. Pinanatili niya ang mga tingin sa harap.

Marahan siyang siniko ni Jarred.

She bit her lower lip. Pinipigilan niya ang sariling kiligin kahit ang totoo ay ngiting-ngiti na siya sa loob.

“Move,” she calmly said.

She saw through her peripheral vision that Jarred’s face saddened.

He moved himself a little away from her.

She turned to him. Oh no, she was sad that he actually moved.

Jarred crossed his arms and looked out the window.

She was staring at him.

Tahimik na sila hanggang sa makarating na sila ng mansion.

Sinalubong sila nina Verno at Jelo.

“Are you, guys, fine? Nothing happened, right? “ Lumapit si Jelo kay Jarred at inakbayan ito. They were almost the same height, Jelo was just an inch taller than Jarred.

“Olivia, hindi ka na muna lalabas ng bahay. It will be dangerous for you.” Verno sighed.

She smiled at Verno. She glanced at Jarred and his brows furrowed. He was obviously bitter about Verno being concerned about her.

She’s so problematic right now. Sa totoo lang ay gustong-gusto niya na lang umuwi at lumayo sa mga Guzman. Ang mapalapit sa mga magkakapatid ay parang karma sa mga gagawin pa lang niya.

Ang problema pa lang niya noon ay paano paniniwalain si Jarred na ang pakay lang niya ay si Verno. Ngayong nagtapat ito ng pagtingin sa kanya ay nadagdagan na naman ang problema niya. Isang malaking problema na may gusto si Jarred sa kanya dahil may gusto rin siya rito. Sa totoo lang, even though she used not to believe in love, she always had no trust in her own heart, hanggang ngayon.

Noon, whenever a man she didn’t like confess to her, she would immediately turn down that certain lover. Hinding-hindi niya ito bibigyan ng chance because she didn’t like that man and she was afraid that if she would give that man a chance, her heart would open. She had no trust with her heart. Her heart could like a man she hated.

Pero iba si Jarred. Because she never hated him. She just hated the fact na hindi sila pwede. Na pwede niya lang itong gustuhin pero hindi niya maaaring mahalin.

Ang isa pa niyang problema ay paano mawawala ang pagtingin sa kanya ni Jarred. Kapag ba mas pinakits niysng mas gusto niya si Verno ay mawawala na ang pagtingin nito sa kanya? It could be possible. Matalino siyang tao pero pagdating sa mga ganito ay hindi siya gaanong marunong.

“Sir Verno. Pwede po ba kitang makausap? “ She smiled.

Verno smiled back at her and nodded. “Hindi.” He laughed.

She laughed at nilapitan ito. Inakbayan niya si Verno at tinalikuran nila sina Jarred at Jelo.

“Were you, guys, always like that?” Jarred said.

Binaba niya ang kamay mula sa balikat ni Verno at nilingon si Jarred.

Napalunok siya when she saw him glaring at them. He's so rude.

Jarred smirked at nakabusangot na nagmartsa na paalis doon.

“Kuya. “ Jelo followed Jarred.

She proceeded to the pool area with Verno.

Nakatayo lang silang dalawa sa gilid ng pool and not facing each other.

“What do you want to tell me? “ Verno looked at her.

She turned to him. “Sir, bakit po ninyo ‘yon ginawa? Sir, future niyo po ‘yong nakasalalay.”

“Future ko o buhay ng isang tao? If I don’t do anything about your situation, dadalawin at dadalawin ako ng konsensya ko, Olivia.” Napa buntong hininga ito.

She looked down. Wasn’t it exactly what she had planned? To impose pain to Sebastian’s family, to bother his whole family. Now that it’s happening, she didn’t thought it could make her guilty.

Pero madadamay at madadamay ang mga anak sa kasalanan ng mga magulang. Hangga’t hindi niya napapabagsak ang CPM at napapakulong ang mga may sala ay hindi siya titigil.

“’Wag mo ng isipin ‘yon, Olivia. As long as you’re fine. “ Verno’s pupil dilated as he stared at her.

No way? Hindi kaya tama si Jelo? That both Verno and Jarred liked her? But, Verno said hindi totoong gusto siya nito, na nakipag pustahan lamang ito.

These brothers are making her confused and there is no better way to know the truth than ask.

Humugot siya ng malalim na hininga. “Sir Verno, gusto mo ba ako? “

Seryoso siya nitong tiningnan, pagkatapos ay bigla na lang itong tumawa.

“Nagbibiro ka ba, Olivia? Kung binibigyan mo ng meaning ‘yong ginawa ko, ‘wag kang mag-alala. Mabait lang talaga ako.” He shook his head, laughing.

She narrowed her eyes. His laugh was forced, he’s sweating even if it’s not heat, his face reddened, and he couldn’t lool her in the eyes. She’s a lawyer and there was no way he could deceive her. Verno was lying. He was indeed into her.

Napatango-tango siya. She had no feelings for Verno so it was a better option to use him to deceive Jarred.

“Sir, gusto mo ba ako? Kasi ako gusto kita.” She opened her eyes wide to examine Verno’s reaction.

Nalaglag ang panga nito sa sinabi niya.

“Olivia? “ Verno’s eyes widened.

Napapunas ito ng pawis sa leeg sabay iwas ng tingin.

Wala na siyang ibang option kung hindi paniwalain si Jarred na gusto niya si Verno baka sa ganitong paraan ay hindi na siya nito magustuhan pa. Para na rin maniwala na talaga ito sa alibi niya.

“Sir, alam kong wala akong pag-asa sa inyo kasi hindi naman ako maganda at hindi rin ako mayaman. Hindi ako kasing level ninyo. Tanggap ko naman po.” She bowed.

“No, Olivia. What I mean is—”

Nag-angat siya rito ng tingin. “Okay lang po, sir. Naiintindihan ko naman kung hindi niyo ako magagawang magustuhan pabalik.”

She would not give Verno a chance to confess his feelings to her.

Verno opened his mouth but it seemed like he could not say anything. He brushed his hair back. He was so frustrated that he could not say his feelings.

Katahimikan ang pumagitan sa kanilang dalawa.

Pareso silang nakatingin sa kawalan.

Maya-maya ay may kasambahay na dinaluhan sila. “Excuse me po, Sir Verno, pinapatawag po kaso sa opisina ni Don Sebastian. Kayong dalawa po ni Olivia.”

Napalunok siya. Oh no, this would going to be a trouble.

Nakita niya rin sa mukha ni Verno ang pangangamba.

Tinanguan lang nito ang kasambahay at umalis na rin ito agad.

“Sir Verno, kinakabahan po ba kayo? Kasi ako po sobra.” She took a deep breath.

Verno looked at her. “ I am not scared for myself, Olivia. I’m scared for you. But trust me Dad won’t hurt you.”

She was not actually scared of Sebastian. Ang ikinakatakot niya ay ang magiging hatol nito sa kanya. Baka kasi sabihin na naman nito sa kanyang tanggal na siya sa trabaho. Hindi pa siya pwedeng matanggal sa trabaho niya dahil wala pa siyang naiipong ebidensya against Sebastian Guzman.

Sabay silang naglakad ni Verno patungo sa opisina ni Sebastian. Habang palapit sila roon ay panay ang buntong hininga ni Verno.

Nang malapit na sila roon ay napahinto siya. Napahinto rin si Verno at nagharap silang dalawa.

“Kinakabahan ka, Oli?” He tapped her shoulder.

“Hindi, sir. Mukhang kayo po ang kinakabahan. “ She bit her upper lip.

Humalukipkip si Verno. “I am worried about Jarred, Olivia.”

She flashed a broad frown. “Si Sir Jarred na naman po ba ang sasalo ng lahat ng galit? “

Nag-iwas ng tingin si Verno at napayuko ito.

She placed her hand on his shoulder to give him a little relief.

That evil Sebastian had no idea that his sons could be experiencing anxiety because of his doings.

“Wow. Ang sweet niyo naman.” Jarred smirked.

They didn’t notice him approaching.

Bakit ang halatado nitong magselos?

Sige lang, magselos lang ito hanggang sa mawala na ang nararamdaman nito para sa kanya. Gustuhin niya mang ‘wag mawala ay alam na alam niya kung ano ang mas mahalaga.

“Jar, ‘wag mo na lang kaya munang harapin ang Daddy.” Verno flashed a broad frown.

Kahit pala hindi sila nagkakamabutihan ngayon ay nag-aalala pa rin ang Kuya sa nakababatang kapatid.

Jarred smirked. “Para ikaw na naman ang matapang? Sana sinabi na lang ni Daddy na matapang ang gusto niyang mag take over ng position niya. Sana hindi na lang ako nag-aral. Nag training na lang sana ako sa Army.” He shook his head.

Verno scoffed. Hindi na ito pumatol ng sagutan kay Jarred.

Kinapa ni Jarred ang bulsa at nang hindi nakapa ang hinahanap ay napamura ito. “Sh*t! What a hassle! ”

Hinarap siya ni Jarred. Seryoso ito. “Hoy, ikaw! Get my phone. Naiwan ko sa sala.” Masama ang tingin nito sa kanya.

Napanganga siya sa inasal nito sa kanya. “Hoy, ikaw? “ Her brows furrowed.

She couldn’t believe him. How rude!