Crystal Breeze

CB45

CB45

Mula sa malawak na ngiti na sumalubong saamin kanina, nasaksihan ko kung paano iyon unti-unting naglaho at napalitan ng iba't ibang emosyon kasunod ng mga binibitawang salita ng katabi ko.

I've been holding my breath for quite a few times now every time Rion speaks. I cannot help but be happy that he's on my side. Hindi ko yata alam ang gagawin ko kung nasa kabilang panig siya. He's just so strong and powerful. His words always felt like judgment－an unspoken rule no one can break.

"Teka, Mr. Legrand... pag-usapan muna natin 'to," saad ni Mr. Sarmiento habang natatawa ngunit bakas na bakas ang kaba sa tinig.

"Is it not what we're doing right now?" kalmado namang sagot ng isa.

I sipped on the juice that I ordered a while ago. Sumulyap saakin si Mr. Sarmiento na parang humihingi ng tulong. Maliit na ngiti lang ang binigay ko sa kanya.

I liked the way how Rion's words torture him.

Humihinga ito ng malalim at mariing pinikit ang mata noong napansin na wala akong balak na pigilan si Rion.

"I already told you that I don't know where Lloyd could possibly be. Wala na akong koneksyon pa sa batang iyon! It's hard enough to accept how he ended up to be!"

"Then, how could you prove to us that you don't know where is he?"

Natigilan si Mr. Sarmiento dahil sa muling tanong ni Rion. He looks shaken but he also looks like he's trying to keep himself together.

"I don't have any proof to give because as I've told you, I already cut all my connections to him."

Umayos ng upo si Rion habang tumatango. He crossed his arms and lean on his seat.

"You know, we've been talking for a while now. I told you, the very first minute that I want to know where your son is..." he retold what happened a while ago.

That's right. Rion offered a deal in exchange for the information of his son's whereabouts but he evaded it, denying the offer. Noon ay kompyansa pa itong tumanggi. But then, when Rion started threatening him that he'll withdraw their investment in their company, he's started sweating bullets and looking anxious, too.

Hindi ako masyadong maalam sa business ngunit base sa pakikinig ko, if Rion really decided to withdraw their investment on the Sarmiento's businesses, all the other investors may withdraw their investments, too. That's how it goes when the biggest investor pulled off, others will start to lose trust in the company.

Lalo pa kung mga Legrand ang magdesisyon nito. I mean, they are aces. Their influences in business are much bigger than one could imagine.

Now, this is Rion's trump card huh...

"You said you don't know where he is..."

"Because I really don't!"

"Oh you do... he's in the prison."

Mr. Sarmiento froze. I sneered silently. Bingo.

"If you really don't know anything, you should have told us that the first time you heard me speak about your son."

"I... I... am... becau... I..." sambit nito sa ilang mga salitang hindi niya matuloy na sabihin.

"You know that he escaped, right?"

"N-no... I..." natulala ito sa kawalan.

I even tried to snap my fingers in front of him but it has no effect. Hinuli agad ni Rion ang kamay ko para bawiin iyon mula sa ginagawa ko. Binaba niya iyon ngunit hindi na pinakawalan.