Imee's Point of View

"Stop blocking the view." I hissed at Kuya Denver.

Nanonood ako and yet he's here, blocking the view on the screen. I don't know if I'm really the youngest here or it's him. He's so childish. Tumawa ito tsaka umupo sa tabi ko at umakbay sa akin.

"Go away." Inis kong sambit sa kanya pero hinila niya lang ako at niyakap. He even kissed my temple.

"I love you Princess." Parang nandidiri ko itong itinulak palayo sa akin. "Wala man lang I love you too?" I rolled my eyes but he just laughed at me.

"Not funny." Kuya Denver just got home yesterday because of their business gathering somewhere far and yeah, he's back only to tease me. Tsk.

Lumabas na lang ako ng bahay. I saw Yaya Melds from the pool removing those leaves on it so I went near her.

"Anak, kumusta ka na pala?" Tanong bigla ni Yaya. My forehead creased because of her sudden question.

"I'm doing good." Natahimik ito saglit. She removes the dirt on the pool before she looked at me.

"Kumusta naman kayo ng magulang mo?"

"We're good, I guess." I let out a sigh.

"Sana nga maging okay lang ang lahat kapag nalaman mo na ang totoo." I wasn't able to hear her clearly because my phone suddenly rings so I asked her what did she say.

"Wala anak. Yung cellphone mo kanina pang tumutunog." Aniya.

Hindi na lang ako nagtanong ulit at itinuon ko na lang ang pansin ko roon. I took out my phone at bahagyang lumayo sa kanya as I answered the call. It was the private investigator that I hired.

[I already got the information about the Blevins.]

"Good. I want to talk to you personally about that. I will text you the place." As I ended the call, I started composing message for him to know kung saan kami magkikita ngayong gabi.

Yes, I want tonight. Gusto kong malaman yung mga nakalap niyang information as soon as possible.

I did waste my time outside. Madilim na nung pumasok ako sa bahay at naroon na ang parents ko. Their busy talking about business.

My parents are the owner of Earl Holdings Company. They are also managing other companies related to furniture and restaurants. For Kuya Denver, aside from having his own mall, he's also into running hotels. That's all I know. I haven't been to our family's company ever since. I'm not interested anyway.

That night came. I immediately went inside my room and wore black pants and black jacket. I just let my hair fall, not minding how I look. Exactly 9:00 PM, mabilis akong lumabas ng bahay. I started the engine and went to the restaurant to meet the private investigator I hired, Mr. Jake Tan.

"Good evening Miss Earl. Have a sit." Pinanghila ako nito ng upuan. "Want me to order some foods for you?" He asked.

"Don't bother. I'm full." I placed my phone on the right side of the table and asked about my real agendum here.

"Just like what I've told you, hindi basta-bastang tao ang bumangga sa mga Blevins." May kinuha itong papers sa bag niya including his laptop.

"They are one of the well-known business tycoons here. I'm not sure if the reason of their death is in connection to their business, or maybe, it's a personal issues. No one knows. But having this file video with me, malalaman natin kung sino ang nasa likod ng pagpatay sa kanila." Mahabang sagot nito.

"File video? What do you mean?" I asked curiously.

"I have a file video here. Wait." Kung anu-anong pinindot niya sa laptop niya and then iniharap niya ito sa akin. "Here. Watch this."

I watched the video clip. It's inside the big mansion of the Blevins. The clip ended with the killer looking at the CCTV camera and destroy it using his gun. I don't know how Mr. Tan got this clip but I guess he really dug deep on it.

Tumungo ako sa bahay na tinutuluyan ni Nanay Agnes kinabukasan. I keep calling her name kahit na sarado yung bahay at mukhang walang tao sa loob.

"Ineng, wala si Aling Agnes dyan." Anang isang babae na nagwawalis sa harapan ng kanilang bahay.

"Alam niyo po ba kung saan siya nagpunta?" Tanong ko.

"Siguro nasa sementeryo yun ineng o di kaya'y nasa mansion ng Blevins. Tuwing Linggo kasi siya pumupunta sa mansion ng mga amo niya." Sagot nito. I asked her where to find the Blevin's mansion so I could just go there.

"Ay naku ineng. Malayo yun e. Limang oras yata ang byahe papunta roon. Mabuti siguro kung hintayin mo na lang si Aling Agnes." Tumango na lang ako roon sa Ale.

Naghintay ako roon sa harap ng bahay ni Nanay Agnes. Isang oras na ako sa labas pero wala pa rin siya. Maybe I could just go back here next time but as soon as I got inside the car, I saw her.

"Nanay Agnes." Tawag ko sa kanya na kaagad niya namang ikinalingon.

Ngumiti ito sa akin at inaya niya ako papasok. Maliit yung bahay pero maaliwalas ang loob at maayos din ang pagkakaayos ng mga kagamitan.

"Don't you have any relatives here or any family members?" Parang siya lang kasing mag-isa ang nandito.

"Wala anak. Simula nung pumasok ako sa mga Blevins, itinuon ko na ang oras at buong buhay ko sa kanila. Parang anak na rin kasi ang turing ko sa mag-asawang iyon." Kaya siguro ang gaan-gaan ng loob ko sa kanya because she's like Yaya Melds the way she cares.

"You really love the Blevins."

"Oo, sobra anak." Just by saying those words, ramdam na ramdam kong mahal nga talaga ni Nanay Agnes ang mga Blevins.

Minutes passed, I informed her about the video I got. After letting her watched it, I heard Nanay Agnes sobs beside me. Damn. I shouldn't let her watched it. That's sensitive for her. Niyakap ko na lang siya ng mahigpit at hinagod-hagod ang kanyang likod.

"Hindi ko kasi maiwasan ang maging emosyonal anak lalo na sa tuwing naaalala ko ang araw na iyon. Mahirap kasing kalimutan yun anak. Masakit. Sobrang sakit." I embraced Nanay Agnes tightly.

Yeah, I know how it feels and how it hurts. Pareho kaming nawalan and that's really hard on our part. The hardest part is we can't do otherwise but to accept it.

Soon after, Nanay Agnes calmed down. I asked her if she can bring me to the mansion and I'm glad that she agreed, besides papunta naman daw siya roon.

Sumakay kami sa kotse at tinahak ang daan papunta sa mansion. Malayo nga talaga siya. Malayo sa syudad. After a long travel, huminto kami sa isang napakalaking mansion. The mansion was big. Definitely big. It was a three-storey mansion.

"Pasok tayo sa loob 'nak." Pumunta kami sa harap ng malaking trangkahan.

Nanay Agnes placed her palm on the screen and the gate automatically opened. It was a palm key lock.

She pulled me towards it and told me to register mine so the screen could recognize me. This is unbelievably insane. Nanay Agnes pressed different buttons. After few minutes, the screen showed that access has already granted.

"Subukan mo ulit 'nak." She once locked the gate for me to try it.

As I placed my palm on the screen, the gate automatically opened.

We then both entered the mansion. Fountain was there on the center that served as an eye-catcher. Sa harap 'non ay may napakalawak na garden at punung-puno iyon ng makukulay na bulaklak. May ibat-ibang sizes ng pool sa gilid at sa tabi 'non ay may pinasadyang gazebo.

Hindi ko na natapos ang pagmamasid sa buong paligid dahil tuluyan na kaming pumasok sa loob but I was stopped as the strong wind blows inside. Malinaw kong nakikita kung paanong sumabay ang mga kurtina sa ihip ng hangin. Napapikit na lang ako dahil doon.

"Anak, okay ka lang?" Nabalik lang ako sa huwisyo nang magsalita si Nanay Agnes. Tumango lang ako sa kanya, still feeling the winds touching my skin.

Dumiretso kami sa living room. If I am not mistaken, this was the exact place that was shown on the file video.

"Ito ang mansion ng Blevins anak." Nilibot ako ni Nanay Agnes sa buong mansion.

Sobrang laki nito. They have the wide living room and there's also a separate receiving area. The mansion was too big to describe everything in details.

"Kahit wala na ang mga amo ko, gusto kong manatiling maayos at malinis pa rin ang mansion. At hanggang wala pa akong balita sa anak ng mga amo ko, naniniwala pa rin akong buhay iyon." She said, still holding to that hope. Napatango ako.

Umakyat ako sa pangalawang palapag. Maraming kwarto roon. May mini sala rin sa taas. Pictures of them were prominently displayed on the big walls as if they were still alive. Well-organized din ang mga furnitures na halatang mamahalin.

I went to the balcony and I felt the air embracing me again. Muling nagsiliparan ang mga mahahabang kurtina at napayakap na lang ako sa sarili ko dahil sa malakas na pag-ihip ng hangin.

I suddenly closed my eyes. What's the meaning of this?