Quest For Justice

CHAPTER 29: In denial

Stop investigating me. I'll tell you who I am myself.

She got bored while waiting for Jarred to come back. It was almost lunchtime, thirty minutes before 12 in the afternoon, and Jarred had not come back yet. The thought that he was taking care of Jasmine was annoying her, and she did know why, she just couldn't say it.

She leaned against the soft backrest of the couch at itinaas ang mga paa sa center round table. That was the life she wanted that she couldn't enjoy again for the meantime. Mabuti na lang pala at napag-desisyunan ni Jarred na isama siya roon sa opisina. Nakakapagod kasi ang mga trabaho sa mansiyon at palaging sumasakit ang likod niya. Kahit na palaging pag-va-vacuum, pag-mo-mop, at paghuhugas ng mga pinagkainan lang naman ang madalas niyang ginagawa. Pasalamat siya at sina Myka at Rima ang mga naglalaba at namamalantsa dahil kapag sa kanya itinoka ang mga gawaing iyon ay matagal na siyang napalayas marahil.

She slowly closed her eyes, malapit na sana siyang maka-idlip nang biglang nag-ring ang telepono sa opisina.

Nagmadali siyang sagutin ang tumatawag. She was looking forward to the person who would call.

"Oli, is this you?" Nang marinig niya ang boses ni Jarred sa kabilang linya ay biglang bumilis ang t***k ng puso niya.

She shook her head at iwinaksi ang nararamdamang excitement. "Yes. Nasa'n ka? Hindi ka man lang nagsabi na--"

"Oli, nasa hospital ako ngayon. Binabantayan ko si Jasmine. Please pumunta ka rito. Wala akong mautusan dito. Jasmine's parents are out of town pero pauwi na sila." He cut her off.

Wow! So, kailangan siya doon para may mautusan? Napairap na lang siya. Syempre, ano ba naman ang trabaho niya ngayon, 'di ba? In the end, he was concern about Jasmine.

"Yes, sir. Pupunta na." She sounded grating.

"Wait, bakit parang galit ka?"

"Hindi ako galit. Bye!" She hung up the telephone at naka-ngusong sinabit ang shoulder bag sa kanyang balikat.

***

"Myk, can you order a winter melon milk tea for me?" Jelo entered the kitchen kung saan si Myka ay abalang nag-o-organize ng mga laman ng refrigerator,

Sandali muna nitong tinigilang ang ginagawa at hinarap siya. "Sige po, sir. Ilan po?" Nilabas niya ang cellphone para mag-order online.

"Mag-order ka na rin ng para sa'yo. I'll pay." Jelo winked at her. Hilig talaga nito ang kumindat. Hindi nito alam na nakaka-distract ang pag-kindat kindat nito. Nakakahuli ng inosenteng damdamin ng isang babae.

"Naku, sir. Hindi na po." She shook her head.

"Sure ka?" He smiled.

"Opo, sir. Ah, sir. Magpapaalam na rin sana ako sa inyo. Uuwi po sana ako bukas sa probinsiya. Birthday po kasi ni Tatay." She looked down.

"Yeah, sure. Nakabili ka na ng ticket? May kasama ka? Gusto mo samahan kita?"

Nanlaki ang mga mata niya at napaangat siya rito ng tingin. He was delivering a beaming smile.

"Naku, sir. Masikip po ang bahay namin tsaka malayo ho ang probinsiya namin. Wala po kaming aircon doon tsaka wala rin po kaming shower." The corners of her mouth drawn downwards.

Jelo chuckled. "Ano ka ba. Okay lang. Ibili mo rin ako ng ticket, I'll pay. Sasamahan kita."

Tumalikod na ito habang nagtitipa sa iphone nitong hawak at dumiritso na sa bulwagan.

Naiwan siyang tulala at hindi pa ma-proseso ng utak niya na sasama sa kanya si Jelo pauwi ng probinsiya. Hindi nga? Totoo? Gising ba siya ngayon o nananaginip?

She slapped her face at nakaramdam siya ng sakit. Totoo nga.

***

"Oli, what took you so long?" Jarred was walking toward her, sinasalubong siya sa hallway ng 3rd floor ng hospital.

" Traffic, Jar, ano ka ba?" Inirapan niya ito.

Hindi na lang nito pinansin ang pagiging maldita niya. Medyo nasasanay na kasi ito na gano'n siya makipag-usap dito.

"Jasmine wants fruits. Can you go to the grocery? Please." Pumungay ang mga mata nito.

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, sure." Tinalikuran niya ito.

"Oli." He called her.

She paused and looked at him over her shoulders. "Yes?"

"Ano'ng sinagot mo kay Kuya?" He gulped.

Hinarap niya ito. "I am not going to bother your Kuya, Jarred. 'Wag kang mag-alala." Her lips narrowed.

"How can I not worry? I still haven't figured out what you are up to." He folded his arms.

"That is not my problem, Jarred. Why don't you just expose me to everyone?" She shrugged.

Jarred glared at her. "Because I am not sure."

Humakbang pa ito palapit sa kanya. " It's so hard to track you. You are a very private person."

She leaned towards him. "Stop investigating me. I'll tell you who I am myself." She smirked.