I didn't expect much but yes, Eusebius isn't there anymore. I woke up with my phone banging up at six in the morning. Hinayaan ko lang iyon sa sobrang pagod. The battery died after a few missed calls.
I checked out of the Hotel and drove home.
Usually, it's peaceful the whole day. And I was hoping to come back and rest again. But there are a lot of SUVs and Vans parked outside the house.
I bet the general's here.
Once I entered the gate, sinalubong ako ng isang familiar na body guard. Huminto ako dahil napakaraming body guard na nakatayo sa garden.
"Celestino." Bati niya.
He was the General's private guard. The mushroom. Fori.
"What's up?"
Dahil naka itim na salamin, hindi ko mabasa ang ekspresyon niya. But he's stiff and calm. He's calm and masculine. Much older than me.
"Paki... dala lahat ng importanteng gamit mo. May naghihintay sa labas para ihatid ka."
Saglit akong natigilan.
"Why? What's happening?"
"Please follow the orders. He'll explain to you once you're in the car."
He then bowed a little bit and walk out to the gate. Almost half of the bodyguards followed him as I was too stunned.
Dramatic, as always.
So as he said, I pack all my necessities. Did I think that maybe we're going out of the country now? Could be an emergency or an early flight. Or I'm going to substitute Kuya Celestian? Though I don't even know where is the General now.
Naglakad na ako palabas dala ang dalawang itim na travel bag. Sa labas ng gate, may nakaabang na puting SUV. Sinalubong ako ng isang body guard at nilagay sa likod ang mga dala ko. Pagtapos ay binuksan ang passenger seat.
Pumasok agad ako dahil kumabog ang dibdib ko nang marinig ang boses ni Eusebius.
Fuck.
May kausap pa siya sa cellphone at seryosong nakatingin sa harap. Hinintay kong matapos siya bago niya ako binalingan!
"What are you doing here?"
Sinuot ko na ang seatbelt ko dahil pinatunog na niya ang sasakyan at nagsimula na magmaneho. Payapa ang tulog ko kagabi. Hindi ko namalayan na umalis siya pero nasa kama na ako paggising ko. Kaya ngayon ay hindi matanggal ang ngiti ko sa labi!
"We're heading to Marinduque. Turn off your phone..."
He sounds cool.
Hindi ako nagtanong at sinunod ko ang sinabi niya. My phone's dead anyway. Ewan ko. Nawala bigla lahat ng sama ng loob ko kagabi.
"Did you have your breakfast?"
Now that he asks, my stomach started to growl.
"Not yet."
Tumango siya. I don't intend to bother him driving so I let him drive in one fast food chain. Just a quick drive-thru satisfied me.
He's just wearing his white polo shirt and black trousers and sneakers. His side profile hits differently because of his undercut. Damn. He seems effortlessly handsome as always.
"You can sleep."
No. Parang 'di ko yata kaya.
"Aren't you gonna tell me the reason why you're driving me?"
Driving me insane.
Sumulyap siya sa akin. Ano ba?
"It's bad news. You might not want to hear it now."
"Spill it."
He sighs. "I'll tell you when we get on the plane. It's quiet... bad. I don't want you to overthink while I'm driving."
Damn. If I could just stare at your soulless eyes right now!
I chuckled.
Putangina. Ang layo ng Marinduque. Ano bang gagawin namin doon? Nagsawa na ba siya sa Aurora?
Umiling ako at hinayaan ko siya sa gusto niya. Ayos lang naman sa akin ang kahit na ano at kahit saan. Kasama naman siya.
We drove into the airport. Talagang kuminang ang paligid nang marealize kong private plane ang sasakyan namin. Nakahinga ako ng malalim nang makaupo sa seat ko.
What a fucking premium flight.
"I have no idea what are we doing so you better start explaining now."
I sip on my juice. He sat beside me after talking to the pilot. There is only three cabin crew. I'm sure that this flight is so sudden. Usually, VVIPs use this aircraft. I've been here with the same politicians and my father before. Now, I'm dying to know why!
Buntong hininga ang ibinungad niya sa akin.
His nose scrunches as he starts to dig something in his phone. A video.
Kinuha ko iyon.
News video.
"The whole City of Baler starts lockdown earlier today as they find the assailant of Lieutenant General Celestio Almar Delaño. Bandits have been wandering in the vast jungle of Baler..."
"What the fuck..."
Binitiwan ko agad ang phone niya!
"Calm down."
I tried to open my phone but it was so dead! Fuck!
"He's fine. Inoperahan siya kanina dahil tinamaan siya sa balikat. Something happened last night in Baler."
"And I don't know?"
I remember last night and earlier today that I ignored some calls. I thought it was just normal!
"Hindi lang si General. I'm not sure about your brother and Tito but they weren't in the Ancestral house last night. Some politicians are killed in an ambush..."
I can't process that information.
Some? So there's some killing in the province?
"Bullshit. Where's my father now?"
"Still in Baler."
Tumango ako.
What a shock because this has never happened before. I think this ambush is pure intention because of the election. I don't know about his loyalty to the current President but I have a bad hunch that he's going upside down. I've seen some of them send letters to our house. Even visited even though the General's resting.
Now I know that this is definitely for my safety. I wonder if death threats are finally happening. But I'm sure that everyone in the family is hiding. I just don't understand why it has to be with him. What's his relationship with my father? Or maybe, the governor? What happened in Baler?
I'll probably ask him when there's time.
When we reach the Island, a van is waiting for us outside the airport.
Natahimik lang ako hanggang sa makarating kami sa isang private property. The house is located near the beach. Half an hour from the airport. Ala una na kaya inaantok na ako dahil pagod sa biyahe.
This is my first time here.
"Where are you going?"
Kakatapos lang namin kumain at mukhang aalis pa siya.
"I'll just talk to someone outside. You should rest."
"Aren't you tired? Why don't you rest too?" I muttered.
He looks really tired. I wonder if he slept last night? We were talking on the flight and he started to take some calls on the way here. Now he's leaving again.
"I'll come back later." At mabilis nang tumalikod.
Okay then.
Pumasok ako sa kwarto para magpahinga. Hindi ako agad nakatulog kakaisip sa nangyari. Mas nag-aalala pa ako para sa sarili ko dahil kasama ko na naman siya. Baka may gawin na naman akong nakakahiya.
BINABASA MO ANG
Baler | 𝘓𝘶𝘸𝘰𝘰 (VVS #1)
Fiksi PenggemarVanguardia Valley Series #1 "This is the place where it all started in a sad ending..." √ Finished - May 31, 2022 √ Written in English and Tagalog • • • NOTE: The book is purely created in the author's mind. Some places in the book were real but mo...
