IPINARADA NI boss Hubert ang kanyang sasakyan sa labas ng kahoy na gate namin. Mabuti naman at dumating siya kaagad, akala ko talaga at hindi siya babalik. Tamang-tama rin kasi nakahain na ang kanin at ulam sa mesa.

"Ma, andiyan na si sir Trinidad!"

"Papasukin mo, anak. Saka kunin mo ang baskets ko," paalala niya.

Mas may pakealam pa siya sa basket kesa sa boss niya. Lumabas ako at pinapasok si sir. Kinuha ko ang baskets mula sa kanyang kamay at nagpasalamat dahil nag-abala pa siya sa paghatid. If it weren't for my mother's childish attitude, hindi maibabalik itong baskets.

"Sabay-sabay na po tayong kumain, boss. Naghanda ng adobo si mama," kahit si Jade naman talaga ang nagluto.

"That looks good, Ruby. But I'm pretty sure Amy didn't cook that," ngumiti siya at tumingin kay Jade. "Jade did."

Aack! How did he know that? Gusto ko sanang palakasin si mama kay sir. Mukhang may gusto siya dun, e. Kaso gaya ko, napakamanhid ng mama ko.

"P-Paano niyo po nalaman?" nahiya ako bigla.

"Because Amethyst never cooked for me," nagkamot siya ng ulo. "Anyway, let's eat. Tawagin ko muna mama at kapatid mo."

"Ako na po!"

Naupo siya. Tinawag ko sila mama at Jade upang sabay-sabay na kaming kumain. Tahimik lang sila ni mama habang dumadaldal kami ni Jade dahil sa ang ingay ng pusa. Kanina pa gutom. Bakit ba ito andito, e hindi naman ito sa amin?

"Boss Hubert, magkwento ka naman po tungkol sa business or buhay mo," sambit ko.

Ang boring kasi. Mapapanisan na siya ng laway dahil sa sobrang tahimik. Pinandilatan ako ni mama ng mata pero hindi ako magpatinag. Ayaw mong sabihin sa akin ang pangalan ni attorney ha! Bwes, gagantihan kita, ma.

"I would love to, but my life is boring. It's not really a rollercoaster ride."

"It's okay, boss. Gusto pa rin naming malaman at marinig ang bawat pangyayari," ngumiti si Jade.

"Where should I start? Let's see..." he puts down his utensils and think. "I came from one of the richest family here in La Vista del Barrio, puro businessmen ang lahi namin. When I was in high school, I got interested in politics so I decided to run during my college years."

"Wow, you mean, pinagsabay niyo po ang pag-aaral niyo at ang pulitika?" I asked.

"Yup, but eventually, I had to stop studying and decided to focus on politics because it's my dream since I was a kid..." uminom muna siya ng tubig. "Thankfully, with the help of my bestfriend, Rogue, I was able to win the election. Malakas din kasi siya sa madla noon."

I paused for a bit and glanced at him. Ang ibig niya bang sabihin ay si Rogue Meriales?

"Meriales?"

"Yeah, how did you know? Do you know Rogue, Ruby?" he asked.

"He's my sister's professor po, sir Hubert," si Jade na ang sumagot para sa akin nang mapansin niya na nakatulala pa rin ako.

"For real? What a small world it is!" tuwa niyang sambit. "I can't forget how Rogue helped me at that time. Ang galing-galing niya sa batas. Napakalma niya iyong mga magsasaka sa sakahan noon. But the election did not end well because some politicians died that day."

Napalunok ako. Hindi makahinga. Ang bilis nang tibok ng dibdib ko. Bumabalik sa akin iyong masasakit na alaala ko kay Janna.

"Sino po ang mga namatay?" inosenteng tanong ni Jade.

Bigla ko siyang hinawakan sa kanyang kamay. Mahigpit ang pagkakahawak ko roon at halatang nabigla siya sa ginawa ko.

"Bakit, ate?" he whispered.

"I-It's-"

"Euseph Marco Rivera," sagot ni mama.

Natahimik ang mesa. Walang nagsalita sa amin. I didn't know na mapupunta sa usapang ito ang kwento ni sir Hubert. And what's more interesting is that he is friends with my professor. Magkababata ba sila? If so, baka alam nila ang sikreto ng isa't-isa.

"He was such a good friend. Pero nawala siya nang dahil sa pulitika," umiling-iling si boss. "Kung sino man ang pumatay sa kanya, sana ay naparusahan na ng batas."

This is fucking awkward. Boss Hubert doesn't know who killed Euseph, his opposer! Tumayo bigla si mama at dinala ang pinggan sa lababo. Halos hindi niya nagalaw yung pagkain.

"Wait, are you done, Amethyst?"

"Nawalan na ako ng gana. Ruby, matutulog na muna ako," umakyat si mama sa kanyang kwarto.

Can someone explain to me why sir Hubert doesn't know who the killer was? Mabilis kong inubos ang pagkain sa mesa. Iiwanan ko si Jade kasama ni boss kasi pareho naman silang lalaki. Alam ko na may mapag-uusapan sila.

The topic has becoming more interesting. I want to find out the truth about what really happened here in La Vista on that day! Did my father really killed Euseph? Sir Hubert, professor Meriales, Janna, and my mom, Amethyst, are the only people alive after that day.

"Is she alright? I hope she's not sick," he seems so worried.

"Okay lang po si mama. Baka inaantok lang," sabi ko.

"I hope so... anyway, Jade. I actually have a proposal for you," he smiled. Huminto muna si Jade sa pagkain upang makinig. "I would love to take you under my wing. I will give you scholarships kapag nakatungtong ka na ng college. I will teach you the business that I have so that you could work with me after you graduate. How's that sound?"

Ilang segundo rin bago nakasagot ang kapatid ko. Tanggapin mo na! Philantropist pala itong si boss Hubert, e. Accept it, Jade! Huwag ka nang mahiya pa.

"That's a good offer, sir. But why me?"

"It's because I will look after you from now on. Wala naman akong ibang pamamanahan ng kumpanya at ari-arian ko. You are my closest family. And I would love to give everything to you, Jade and Ruby."

I can't believe this. Don't tell me he's dying?!

"Are you dying?"

"Ay putang-" gulat ko.

"Mama naman!" si Jade.

Bigla-bigla ba namang lumabas sa kwarto at sumigaw ng are you dying? Ano ba yan, ma!

"N-No, I'm not. I thought you're asleep, Amy."

"H-Hindi ako makatulog. Umuwi ka na, Hubert. Maaga ka pa bukas," tumingin siya sa akin. "Jade, pabaunan mo si boss ng adobo."

"Opo, ma."

Si mama talaga, napaka-mood killer kahit kailan.

●●●

Atty. Rogue Meriales has something to do with the necklace. I know his family is filthy rich because they all came down from a family of damn good lawyers, at kaya niyang bilhin ang kwintas. Pero may bumabagabag talaga sa isip ko kagabi.

Bakit niya binili ang kwintas? What does he know about that? And how did he know that my family lives here?

"Ruby, sasama ka ba sa akin ngayon sa sakahan?" si Mama.

"Hindi po muna. May pupuntahan ako sa bayan."

"Mag-ingat ka. Aalis na ako."

"Ingat, ma!"

I sighed when I realized that I can't do anything here. I was lying when I told her na pupunta ako sa bayan. I want to go somewhere else. I want to know where Rogue Meriales lives.

Tinapon ko ang sim card ko noong nakaraan kaya hindi ako makakonek sa Facebook. Nagbihis ako ng maayos na damit at umalis papuntang bayan. May mall doon kaya bibili ako ng bagong sim card. I need to contact Gelai and ask her a favor. Wala ring wifi sa bahay namin. Angela is the only one who knows where people are.

"Miss, how much is the sim card?"

"40 pesos po isa."

Bumili ako ng dalawa at binayaran iyon kaagad. Naupo sa bench at ipinasok ang sim sa slots. Now, I can contact Gelai with this. Magpapalit din ako ng numero kapag nalaman ko na hindi lang si Angela ang nakakaalam ng number na ito.

I had memorized her number during college years, especially when we were in the same boarding house. I need it so I can call her about the room key. The phone keeps ringing, I guess she's busy.

"Hello?" sagot sa kabilang linya. "Who's this?"

Bakit boses lalaki?

"Andiyan ba si Angela? I need to talk to her."

"And who the hell are you? Is this another scam call?"

Ha? Pinagsasasabi ng lalaking ito?

"Can you just give her phone back? I badly need to talk to her. This is urgent!" matigas kong sabi.

"She's not here. She-"

"Give me that! Bakit mo pinapakealaman ang cellphone ko, ha?!" narinig ko na ang boses ni Gelai.

I miss her so much!

"Hello? Sino ito?"

"G-Gelai..." my voice cracked, trying to smile. "Gelai!"

"Ruby?" pabulong niyang sambit. "Is this you?"

"Gelai, I'm sorry at hindi kita nakontak agad. Bumili ako ng bagong sim card."

"Wait, before that, paaalisin ko muna itong hayop na ito..." narinig ko na ibinaba niya ang phone sa mesa because of the small click.

"What are you looking at, Panget? Aray! What are you-"

"Get out! I need to talk to someone in private."

The last thing I heard was the bang of her door. Wait, the guy was in her room? If I'm not mistaken, si Mark iyon dahil siya lang naman ang tumatawag ng Panget sa kanya.

"So let's go back to the topic, Ruby. How gave you been? Kumusta ka? Maayos ka ba, ha? Kumakain ka ba ng maayos diyan? Don't worry about not being able to contact me. Naiintindihan ko naman iyon. Hello, Ruby? Are you still there?"

I bit my lower lip to stop the fluid from my eyes. She has so many questions that I couldn't answer immediately. Naiiyak ako, I miss her so much. Akala ko magagalit siya sa akin kasi hindi ako nagparamdam ng ilang buwan tapos bigla akong tatawag sa kanya dahil may kailangan ako.

"I-I'm doing great, Gelai. Kumakain ako ng maayos. Maayos kami nila mama at lumalaki na rin ang tiyan ko. Ninang ka, ha," biro ko.

"I miss you too, Ruby. Pati si mommy, namimiss na yung kakulitan mo sa café."

Napangiti ako.

"Why did you call? May kailangan ka ba?" sumeryoso bigla ang kanyang boses. She understands me so damn well.

"About that, I just found out that my mom sold the necklace to Khane's father. The necklace was one of my father's precious possession kaya hindi ko alam kung bakit ibinenta ito ng basta-basta ni mama."

I know for a fact that she doesn't do that for money. Kahit gaano pa kami kahirap noon, hinding-hindi niya kailan man ibinenta ang mga gamit sa bahay na nagpapaalala sa kanya kay papa. That's why her story does not fit with the situation. I don't believe her for that.

"Wait, you mean Atty. Meriales? Bakit daw?"

"She said for tuition fees, utang, at iba pang expenses. Common answer to sell an expensive item."

"You don't believe your mom, Ruby? Baka nga dahil sa utang kaya napilitan siyang ibenta iyong kwintas na pamana sa 'yo ni tito."

Not that.

"Gelai, I just need you to find out where Khanery's dad lives. Can you please ask Khane about it? Curious na curious talaga ako. Baka ma-stress ako, buntis pa naman ako, makonsensya ka naman, Gelai. Bawal sa buntis ang mag-overthink," pagmamakaawa ko sa isang nakakaawang boses.

"My goodness! Ruby naman, you know how hard it is to approach Khanery Meriales. Hindi madali iyang pinapagawa mo sa akin."

"I know. But, Gelai, I really want to know. After what Janna told me before, kailangan kong malaman ang buong katotohanan. Hindi ako naniniwala na dahil sa isang stupidong rason ay namatay ang mga ama namin," I clenched my fist.

I'm dying in curiosity right now. I want to find out everything. The answer, the truth, everything!

"Ruby, I think it's better for you to stop doing this. Hindi ka pa ba nagtanda nung nalaman mo ang katotohanan mula kay tita Janna? Truth hurts, Ruby, and if you're going to force your way to this..." I heard her sigh. "I badly want to say that."

My eyes sparkle when I heard that. Does that mean, she will do what I ask her?

"So you're going to do it?"

"Of course, for my friend," she said.

Nabunutan ako ng tinik sa dibdib. I feel relieved because of what she said. Mabuti na lang at maaasahan ko talaga ang kaibigan ko.

"Thank you so much, Gelai. You are doing me a great favor."

Nagpaalam ako bago ibinaba ang tawag. Huminga ako ng malalim. I rest my back against the bench at napatingin sa mga taong nagshoshopping. It feels like Davao.

——

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