Chapter 29

"Alas!"

Mabilis kong ihinarang ang maliit kong katawan bago pa man niya masuntok ulit si Attorney. I held his arms in an attempt to stop him.

"Is this your man?" he spat. "You run away from me because of him?" umigting ang panga nito at galit na galit akong tiningnan.

"What?" nalaglag ang panga ko sa sinabi niya. My reaction caused more anger to show on his face because his brooded eyes got darker. Masama ang tingin nito sa Attorney na umuungol sa sakit sa aking likuran.

"Tell me, Isabelle!" tumaas ang boses niya.

"He's not my man!" ganti ko kaagad sa kaniya. I don't know if I should find this situation hilarious or distressing. Marahas akong binalingan ni Alas. Halos pumutok na ang ugat nito sa sentido dahil sa sobrang galit.

"Then..." he growled. "What the fuck is this man doing inside my wife's hotel room?"

"Oh..." natulala ako nang marealize kung anong nangyayari. He connected the dots by his own and now all he sees is a cheating wife trying to run away from him with another man. I feel like cracking up right now but the dangerous look on his face told me that I should shut the hell up.

Umungol ulit si Attorney, dahilan upang mapatingin kami sa kaniya. Kaagad ko siyang tinulungang makatayo at nagulat nang husto nang makitang dumudugo na pala ang ilong nito! The punch must be so hard!

"Alas!" I hissed. "Tulungan mo ako dito."

"Why would I help that bastard? I would be glad to kill him right now."

"Punyeta naman! Lawyer ko ito!" I fired at him.

Bahagyang umawang ang kaniyang bibig at kumunot ang noo, hindi kaagad nakuha ang ibig kong sabihin.

"He's my attorney! For Christ's sake! And you just broke his nose!"

"What the fuck..."

"Help me out here!"

Alinlangang lumapit si Alas sa aming dalawa. masama pa rin ang tingin niya sa kasama kong lalaki at parang labag sa loob itong nag-alok ng kamay upang alalayan siyang makaupo.

Attorney Sophrimiano Alvarez, despite his bleeding nose, managed to let out a strangled chuckle.

"I... I really know this would happen..." natatawa nitong tugon habang inuupo namin siyang dalawa ni Alas sa kama.

"May first-aid kit ba dito?" taranta kong tanong. I grabbed my hanky and pressed it against his bleeding nose to stop the blood from escaping. Tahimik lang at madilim na nakatingin sa akin si Alas. A muscle in his jaw clenched once again. I could hear his protest despite the silence of his voice but I chose to ignore it first.

"Teka lang, tatawag ako sa baba baka may first-aid kit sila..."

Nanghihinang tumango si Attorney. I approached the side table and grabbed the telephone. Habang naghihintay ako ng sasagot sa tawag ay para namang papatayin ni Alas sa tingin si Atty. Alvarez.

"Hi, yes. May first-aid kit ba kayo?" tanong ko kaagad pagkasagot sa tawag, hindi inaalis ang tingin sa dalawa dahil baka magpatayan na naman ito.

"Meron po dito, Ma'am."

"Kailangan ko kasi, eh. Sa room 506 sana, paki-deliver ako asap. Thanks!" I said and ended the call.

Pagkatapos nang ilang minuto ay dumating na ang first aid kit na ipinatawag ko. Alas huffed and crossed his arms over his massive chest while one of the hotel staff mended the bleeding nose of Attorney. Masama kong tiningnan ang asawa. He doesn't even look guilty of what he did. In fact, I could sense that he is proud he made the nose of another man bleed! Gusto kong umirap sa ere...

"Ayos na po ito, Sir. Wag niyo lang masyadong galawin," wika ng babaeng staff atsaka inayos na ang mga gamit. Nagpasalamat ako sa kaniya at lumabas na siya.

When she was out of the door, nagkatitigan na naman kaming tatlo.

"Care to tell me now what the hell is going on and what is this bastard doing here inside of your room?" he growled once again.

Napatingin ang dalawang lalaki sa akin. I sighed heavily.

"Shall I go to my room first?" satinig ni Atty. Alvarez sa mahinang boses.

"You better go before I decide to punch your gut again." Supladong wika ni Alas.

Nagkibit-balikat ang attorney at tumayo na, hawak pa rin ang nakabandage na niyang ilong. Naupo ako sa dulo ng kama at pinanuod siyang lumabas. I crossed my legs when the door clicked shut and the attorney was gone.

"You really have to break his nose, aren't you?" I deadpanned.

"Well, the bastard deserves it." Galit niyang sagot sa akin. "You still haven't answered my question! What the hell is he doing here?"

"Naghatid lang siya sa akin ng pagkain at nito..." bahagya kong itinaas ang folder na ibinigay sa akin ni Atty. Alvarez kanina.

Kumunot ang noo ni Alas.

"What the hell is going on, Belle?"

Huminga ako nang malalim. It's going to be a long story. Tumayo ako at nilapitan siya. I tried to touch his shadowed jaw pero suplado nitong iniwas ang kaniyang mukha mula sa akin. I pouted.

"Wag mo akong daanin diyan sa pagpapa-cute mo," he said in a controlled voice. "Tell me what's going on. Damn! Why do you keep on running away from me, Belle?"

"I did not run away from you..." kalmado kong wika. I dropped my hands to his arms and traced the protruded veins lightly. "I'm just settling things."

"Like what?" he growled again, pero ang kamay nito'y gumapang na sa aking beywang at hinila ako palapit sa kaniya. I smirked. Eh di bumigay ka rin?

"Well, I'm kind of trying to put the governor behind the bars for the rest of his life."

"The governor?" kumunot ulit ang kaniyang noo.

"He... He's the suspect, Alas. Raul Armendanez killed my mother." Nawala na ang pilya sa boses ko at napalitan ito ng matinding hinagpis, having to remind myself about the death of my mother again.

Alas cursed and held me tighter. Seryoso niya akong tinitigan sa mga mata. "How did you know that?"

I bit my lower lips. "I talked to him myself."

"You did what?!"

"Alas... I know that he is rotten. Noon pa mang nakatira ako sa pamamahay niya. But recently I've discovered that he's evil to the bones. Kaya ako umalis upang i-frame up siya. I made him believe that I will follow his orders but I had the Chinese traders captured for smuggling illegal drugs. And now, I am hunting the six women who filed sexual harassment against him. I have to convince them to help me fight against him in the court. That's why I am with Atty. Alvarez. He is my defense lawyer and he will help me."

Ilang minutong nakatitig sa akin is Alas, pinoproseso ang lahat ng mga sinabi ko.

"All these crazy things... and you did not bother to tell me?"

Ibinaba ko ang tingin sa sahig. I'm guilty as charged. "I'm sorry." I whispered.

"Paano kung may masamang nangyari sa iyo, huh? I nearly went insane looking for you, Belle." Galit nitong turan sa akin. "You keep on running away from me and I keep on chasing you like crazy!"

"I'm sorry..." ulit ko. Ihinilig ko ang aking ulo sa kaniyang dibdib at ipinikit ang mga mata. "I'm really sorry, Alas..."

Mabilis ang paghinga niya. I understand his anger and concern for me. But to have him involved in this when my very own father raped his sister and killed his father, I don't think I can do that. Kaya ko ito inilihim sa kaniya at hanggang ngayon ay natatakot pa rin akong sabihin ang totoo. I still couldn't find the courage to tell him about it.

Naramdaman ko nalang ang kaniyang magaspang na palad sa likod ng aking ulo. He hugged me tightly, as if I'm going to vanish any second. My heart melted. Niyakap ko din siya pabalik.

"You're going to make me crazy and worried sick, Belle..." he whispered.

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry..." ulit ko.

"Don't ever do this to me again. I am serious when I said the next time you're going to run away from me, I'm chaining you to our bed so you don't go around dealing with serial killers like a mad woman."

Natawa ako sa kaniyang sinabi.

"Shut it, Belle! I'm serious!" he growled again.

I bit my lower lips to prevent another chuckle from escaping my mouth. Nawala din iyon at napalitan ng matinding kaba nang bigla akong may maalala.

"Where's Zeus?!" I shrieked.

"He's outside, with Julius." Kalmadong wika ni Alas. "He insisted on coming with me and so I made him tag along."

Napahinga ako nang maluwag sa kaniyang sinabi.

"Alas, there are still things that I need to do before I could go back to Governor Generoso. If I'm plotting the downfall of the governor right now, he may be plotting his revenge against me, too. I supposed by now, the news of my betrayal have reached him already."

Tumango si Alas sa aking sinabi.

"I understand. Tutulong ako."

"To convince the girls to work and help me with the case?" nagtaas ako ng kilay sa kaniya.

"Whatever it is that you're going to do. I'll be with you."

I smiled at him.

"And can we please talk about your attorney? Why is he so young? He doesn't even dress like a lawyer at all!" he ranted again.

Inirapan ko siya. "He's not all suit and ties, Alas. At isa pa, magpapahinga na yung tao. Ano ba namang ini-expect mo sa kaniya?"

"Tss. Kahit na! Ilang taon na ba yun, huh? Baka hinahanap na yun sa kanila? Send him home already!"

I chuckled at his jealousy. Hinaplos ko ang panga niya at sa pagkakataong ito ay hindi na siya umiwas.

"He is here to help me. He's a brilliant lawyer, Alas. Don't fret about him."

Suplado niya lang akong tiningnan.

"Atsaka, may asawa na ako at buntis pa. Sa tingin mo magkakagusto pa sa akin ang lalaking iyon?"

"Any man would be interested at you, Belle." Mapanganib ulit na tono ang kaniyang ginamit.

Tumawa ako. "Really? Then that means I haven't lost my appeal at all..." I said meaningfully.

Ako naman ang tinitigan niya ngayon nang masama. "Belle!" he barked.

"Oo na, oo na..." natatawa kong wika. "Anyway, you still have to ask for an apology to him. You just hit him all of a sudden! I was so shocked earlier!"

"Sino ba namang hindi sasapian ng demonyo kapag nakita nila ang asawang may ibang lalaking kasama sa hotel room?"

"But I've already explained. And you know the truth. So man up and ask for an apology, yeah? Baka mamaya ay iwan pa ako nun sa ere dahil sa panununtok mo."

"Then let him leave. I don't care."

"Alas!"

"Fine! Fine!" he sighed heavily.

I raised my pointing finger. "Be a good boy, okay?"

Irap lang ang natanggap ko mula sa kaniya.

"Puntahan natin si Zeus sa baba. Sobrang namiss ko na siya..." wika ko. Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya at hinila siya palabas ng kwarto.

Napasulyap ako sa siradong kwarto ni Attorney. Malamang ay nagpapahinga na iyon ngayon o di kaya'y dumadaing na naman sa sakit na nararamdaman. We'll have to talk to him and ask for a sincere apology tomorrow.

Nakasunod si Alas sa akin nang pumasok kaming dalawa sa elevator. He instantly snaked a protective arm around my waist when a man entered on the third floor. Tahimik lang kaming tatlo hanggang sa makalabas.

When we got out, I spotted the tinted SUV outside. I asked Alas if it was his and so he nodded his head. Mabilis akong naglakad patungo sa SUV, sabik na upang makita ang anak ko. I threw the door open of the car and found him sleeping next to Julius na mukhang wala ring tulog.

"Zeus..." I said softly, stroking his hair. Beads of sweat had formed on his forehead.

Naalimpungatan si Julius sa presensiya naming dalawa. Nanlaki ang mga mata nito nang makita ako.

"Belle!"

"Ssh..." pinandilatan ko siya. "Magigising ang bata."

He grinned widely at me at sa mas mahinang boses ay nagsalita ulit. "Mabuti naman at nakita ka na din namin sa wakas..."

I nodded gratefully at him and then scooped Zeus ever so gently in my arms. Ingat na ingat akong hindi siya magising.

"Ang mabuti pa'y ipasok ko nalang siya sa kwarto."

Alas nodded his head and stared darkly at me. Tapos ay suplado nitong binalingan si Julius.

"Magcheck-in ka nalang din sa hotel na ito." utos niya.

"Like I have a choice, Ferrer." Julius fired back and a wide grin split across his face when he saw Alas' pissed face.

Pinandilatan ko siya ng mata. He is really hot-headed! Kanina ay si Attorney Alvarez, ngayon ay si Julius naman ang pinag-iinitan niya.

Bumaba si Julius mula sa sasakyan at pagkatapos itong maisarado ay sabay-sabay na kaming bumalik sa hotel. Julius checked in for a room that's located a floor before us. Nauna siyang lumabas sa elevator at nagpaalam na sa amin.

"So... how long are we gonna stay here?" tanong sa akin ni Alas. Bahagya niyang inayos ang ulo ni Zeus na nakadantay sa balikat ko.

"I don't know. Until we convinced Allyssa, that is."

The elevator dinged open. Nang bumukas ito ay sumama ulit ang ekspresiyon sa mukha ni Alas. Gulat na napatingin sa aming tatlo si Atty. Alvarez.

"Oh! Kayo pala..." he chuckled awkwardly. Pulang-pula pa rin ang kaniyang ilong pero kumpara kanina ay mukhang hindi na nito masyadong dinadaing ang sakit.

"Saan ka pupunta, Attorney?" kaswal kong tanong sa kaniya at pinindot ang hold sa elevator.

"Ah, sa baba lang. I guess a single can of beer could somehow lessen the pain..." makahulugan nitong wika.

"Alas has something to say to you." I announced. Mula sa galit nitong mukha ay nagulat si Alas at napabaling sa akin. I eyed him warily. "Diba, Alas?" untag ko sa kaniya.

He scowled at me. I could see the silent protest in his eyes. Tumikhim si Atty. Alvarez na mas lalong nagpa-awkward sa sitwasyon.

"I have something to say to him?" he echoed.

Pinaningkitan ko na ng mga mata ang asawa. "Yes. Attorney is waiting. Go ahead and said it already..."

Inis na binalingan ni Alas ang kaharap at kaagad ding nag-iwas ng tingin. Kulang nalang ay irapan niya si Attorney nang harap-harapan!

"Sorry..." labas sa ilong niyang wika.

"Ha? Hindi ko masyadong narinig?" pangungutya ko sa kaniya. "Ano nga ulit yun, Alas?"

He groaned and silently murmured a curse. His gaze is now shooting daggers at me.

"I said I'm sorry." He said in a louder and rougher voice.

Bahagyang tumawa si Attorney. Napatuwid nang tayo si Alas nang bigla nalang niyang tapikin ang balikat nito.

"I understand where you're coming from, Mr. Ferrer. I probably deserved the punch, though... being inside of your wife's room and all."

Umigting ang panga ni Alas. I could sense he's about to fire a sarcastic remark towards the Attorney kaya kaagad kong hinawakan ang kaniyang braso. Tinitigan ko siya nang mabuti. He dropped whatever it is that he's about to say at pilit na tumango kay attorney.

"Sige, mauuna na kami sa kwarto ng asawa ko..." he said, putting emphasis on the last words before his hands snaked on my waist.

Tango lang ang tanging naisagot ni Attorney. He stepped aside, making room for us and entered the elevator. Tipid na ngiti ang iginawad niya sa akin bago magsirado ang pintuan.

"Tss. I really hate that bastard." Alas muttered again.

I rolled my eyes. "Tigilan mo na yan, Ferrer ha..." banta ko sa kaniya.

"He's openly flirting at you! The audacity!"

He continued to rant in murmur as we entered our room. Inilapag ko si Zeus sa kama at dali itong kinumutan dahil mukhang giniginaw na ang bata. Nilingon ko si Alas. Hindi pa rin nawawala ang simangot nito sa mukha.

Napairap nalang ako sa ere. Alas can be sometimes childish, but I find it funny when he's mad so I continue to tease him about the attorney as we both went to bed.

Habang nasa gitna naming dalawa si Zeus ay gumapang ang kamay nito sa aking beywang, dahilan upang mapatingin ako sa kainya. Seryoso na siyang nakatitig sa akin.

"From now on, you will tell me everything that you're about to do, Mrs. Ferrer..." he said it. Before I could open my mouth to protest, he held up a finger and continued. "You don't know how much it worries me, knowing that my pregnant wife is out there dealing with a gang of hoodlums. Ayokong mapahamak ka, lalo na ang magiging anak natin..."

I processed his words for a few seconds before I nodded my head. I get his point. Kung ako ang nasa sitwasyon niya ay baka nabaliw na din ako sa pag-aalala.

"Nababaliw ako sa iyo, Belle..." he groaned. "You are so fucking unpredictable. One moment, you're lying pregnant next to me in my bed and the next, you're hunting the Chinese illegal drug traders. I don't know what to do with you."

I chuckled softly at his words.

"I hope that you don't forget you still have a husband. I will help you and protect you with all my might. Hindi yung kung sinu-sinong attorney lang ang pinupulot mo sa daan," patuloy niyang pambubuska, dahilan upang mapahagikhik ako.

"There is no end to your jealousy towards Attorney Alvarez, Alas..."

Inirapan niya lang ako. Itinukod nito ang isang siko sa kama at bahagyang bumangon upang abutin ng mga labi niya ang noo ko. I closed my eyes as the warmth of his lips gently touched my skin.

"Sleep now, Belle. You're not going out of my sight from now on..."

Sa pagkakataong iyon ay hindi na pilyang ngiti ang sumilay sa mga labi ko. It was a soft, gentle smile that touched my lips before dozing off to sleep, knowing that I am under the security of my strong husband.

"Hindi siya sasakay sa sasakyan mo," supladong wika ni Alas, kinabukasan pagkatapos naming mag-agahan.

Zeus is very noisy when we ate our breakfast earlier. Nagulat itong nasa tabi ko na siya pagkaggising niya kanina. I hugged and kissed and cuddled with him. If not for Alas, hindi na yata kami babangong dalawa sa kama.

"I'm just asking Belle kung saang sasakyan siya sasakay ngayong umaga," kalmadong paliwanag ni Attorney.

Nasa labas na kami ngayon ng hotel at plano naming balikan ulit si Allyssa Fortuno. The two brutes used this opportunity to fight with each other again.

"Malamang sa akin! Ako nga ang asawa, diba?"

Napailing nalang ako. He's acting like a little boy again. Binalingan ko si Attorney at ginawaran ng mapagpaumanhing ngiti.

"Pasensiya na, Attorney... I guess I'll be riding with my husband today."

"It's alright. I understand."

"Hell yeah, you should." Sabat ulit ni Alas.

Mabuti nalang at hindi na pinatulan ni Attorney ang pambubuska ng asawa ko, umaganng-umaga. Julius was the one to drive the SUV. Nasa backseat kaming dalawa ni Zeus habang inookupa naman ni Alas ang front seat.

"Sundan mo lang si Attorney, Julius. Alam na niya kung saan ang bahay nila Allyssa Fortuno."

Tumango naman si Julius sa sinabi ko. I pulled out the folder Attorney gave me yesterday. Inisa-isa ko ang background ng mga babaeng na-harass ng governor noon.

I felt bad for them. Some of them are as young as 19 years old! Imagine the trauma they have to go through because they met the evil and rotten Raul Armendanez.

"We've confirmed that it was the governor who killed your mother, Belle, because we've found fibers that matches the blazer he has inside his prison." Biglang sabi ni Alas, dahilan upang mapatingin ako sa kaniya. Seryoso na itong nagsasalita ngayon. "We still couldn't find the shoes that he wore and he won't say anything about how he managed to escape the prison, kill your mother, and go back to the prison again."

My heart ached momentarily. I glanced at Zeus who's busy watching me in silence. Isang tipid na ngiti ang ipinataw ko sa anak bago ko sinagot si Alas.

"How about any fingerprints?"

"Well, he was smart enough to use gloves when he did the crime. The police are scrutinizing each and every officer for any possible connection towards the ex-governor. He wouldn't be able to do it without the help of anyone from the authority, that I am sure."

Tumango ako. I want to think clearly about my next move. I don't want my judgement to be clouded by my overwhelming emotions. It is too risky to make any mistakes here.

Nang sa wakas ay marating ulit namin ang bahay ni Allyssa Fortuno, napag-alaman namin mula sa kaniyang ina na nagtungo pa siya ng palengke upang mamili ng kanilang pangtanghalian.

I felt a little guilty, having to force her to cooperate with me. This is a very simple life. Away from the city and away from the dirty governor. Naiintindihan ko kung bakit gusto na niyang magbagong buhay at ibaon nalang sa limot ang lahat.

I sighed. I wished I could do that, too. But he killed my parents. My father, despite feeling empty towards him, he's still my father. Even if he did evil things in the past and worked for the governor, siya pa rin ang ama ko at hindi ko na iyon mababago. The least thing I could do for him is to give his death justice.

Pinapasok kami ng ina ni Allyssa sa loob ng kanilang maliit na bahay. Pictures of the mother and daughter are displayed proudly on the walls. Her graduation picture is resting elegantly on top of the table, too.

Kahit na sinabi naming kakakain lang namin ay nagpumilit pa rin ang kaniyang ina na ipaghanda kami ng miryenda. Julius volunteered to help her and disappeared in the kitchen with the old lady. Kami nalang ulit apat ang naiwan.

My phone rang. When I saw that it was Mallory who's calling, I excused myself and got up from my seat. Lumabas ako ng bahay at sinagot ang tawag ng kaibigan.

"Mallory?"

"He must be furious by now, Belle..." nag-aalalang sagot ni Mallory sa akin. "The news have spread and now, the media is feasting on this newfound information about him."

"You mean, the smuggling of illegal drugs?"

"Yes." She replied breathily.

"It's okay. Let him know and let him be mad. I'm still executing my plan right now. hindi ko alam kung kailan ako makakabalik ng Governor Generoso, pero pangakong pagbalik ko, pababagsakin ko na talaga ang governor..."

"Even without the testaments of those he sexually harassed, three murder convictions against him are strong enough..." she said. "And my husband did his own investigation, too. Unti-unti nang nauungkat ang baho ng governor."

Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya.

"What do you mean?"

"There is a big possibility that he is responsible for the death of Sebastian Monterio's sister, Sefrah Monterio..."

"He has a sister?" gulat kong tanong. I never knew about that!

"Two sisters, actually. Sefrah and Erica Monterio..." wika ni Mallory sa akin. "Do you understand your situation right now, Belle? You're dealing with a serial killer..."

My heart pounded inside of my chest.

"I-I know..."

"Do not worry, we will help you. Malaki din ang galit ko sa kaniya at ayaw ko mang manghamak ng ibang tao, kailangan niyang pagbayaran ang naging kasalanan niya sa pamilya ko at sa pamilya."

"Thank you, Mallory..."

"We will have your back. This time around, our family is to support yours. The tables have turned, Belle. I hope you use this opportunity to hit him hard and made him pay for all the evil things he's done in the past."

Bahagya na akong nahihilo nang matapos ang tawag ko kay Mallory. I spotted Allyssa from a distance, with a woven basket in hand. Hindi pa niya ako nakikita sa labas ng kanilang bahay.

I stared at her. I'm running short on time. I have to convince this girl and the other women as well to help me. Humahapdi ang dibdib ko sa sobrang kaba na hindi ko man lang maipaliwanag.

I haven't realized how dangerous of a man he is until now.