Rule #3: Changing The Rules

[40]

Chapter 40

My whole body froze, eyes closed tight. I hoped that all of this is just a nightmare.

I couldn't move from there, tears kept on falling while I'm seated on the floor. Pagbukas ko ng mga mata'y hindi pa rin ako nananaginip. Talagang nawawala si Ardie. He ran away from home.

Alam kong walang magagawa ang pag-iyak ko pero di ko mapigilan iyon. Pinagtitinginan na ako ng iba't ibang doctor at mga nurses. Maski mga pasyente, napapatingin na rin.

Hindi ko alam ang gagawin pag nawala talaga si Ardie sa akin. He's the one dearest to me.

"Emma..."

Umangat ako ng tingin kay Lia. She crouched down and hugged me tight.

"I heard from Theo, nawawala raw si Ardie?" hinahagod niya ang likod ko habang marahang hinahaplos ang buhok ko.

Kasunod niya si Kale na nakapagpalit na rin. Humagulgol nalang ako sa balikat ni Lia at hindi mapigilan ang bawat iyak.

"We'll find him, Emma. Ginagawa naman na raw ni Elijah ang lahat para makita na ang anak mo..." ani Kale.

"But what if they get to him?" I sobbed. "Paano kung makuha siya ng mga Marchelli? Paano kung gawin nila kay Ardie ang ginawa nila kay Aunt Anthea? What if Troy uses him to get me?"

"Hindi mangyayari yun. Troy will protect Ardie from them. Ikaw na rin nagsabi, gusto ka niyang makuha..." Kale said.

"Pero they know that Ardie is not Troy's real son! Alam nilang naging girlfriend niya lang ako. I'm still a Gallego, Kale. I'm blood related to the murderer who killed Tito Lazarus!" Napahilamos ako sa mukha at hindi na magkaintindihan sa pag-iyak.

Kale sighed.

"Emma, we can help. Tatanungin ko si Tito Remy. I'm sure he can do something about that, he's a politician..." Pinunasan niya ang luha ko.

"But they're not like the Marchelli!" giit ko. "Lia, iba ang mga Marchelli. They're not just powerful here, they're powerful even in other countries especially Italy. We have the same amount of power but ever since that fucking murder happened!"

Umiling ako.

"We became weak against them, and honestly I don't know what to do anymore! Kung wala lang sana si Daddy sa kulungan ay may magagawa siya para sa akin!"

Kale sighed. "Then, you have no choice. Use the Montereal card."

Nanlaki ang mata ko.

Umiling ako. "No!" pag nalaman nila ito, they might take Ardie away from me. He's their blood, and I'm insignificant to them since me and Prince weren't married when we conceived him. 

Kumunot ang noo ni Kale. "Emma, pride mo ba ang paiiralin mo dito? Ardie is gone. Gusto mo bang makuha ang anak mo o hindi?"

Umawang ang labi ko. I want to... pero paano naman?

"I'll call Prince. For sure, he'll help." I wiped my tears and whipped out my phone. Bahala na kung malaman niya pag nakita niya ang anak namin. Ardie's life is on the line here. Maraming delikado sa labas at natatakot na ako para sa anak namin.

Kale sighed.

"He can't use his connections well if you won't tell him that Ardie has Montereal blood..."

I threw him a sharp glare. Sinubukan kong tawagan si Prince pero hindi siya sumasagot. He must be busy with some cases.

"Fuck!" It's my fifth call and he hasn't answered yet.