The Perfect Storm (Perfect Duology Season 2)

Chapter 30

DONNY

2 weeks flew by since the incident and everything seemed calm... At least for now. I asked Terrence to review all the CCTV footages from that night, but to no avail. Apparently, all the cameras were off that night. Whoever's behind this, planned everything perfectly. They left no traces... Not even the slightest hint.

"It's obviously Chelsea's doing, of course." Joao said. We stopped by She-brews to get coffee before going to work.

I brought Belle to work, while Joao on the other hand... Visited Criza at work. Na mukhang ayaw rin naman siyang makita dahil nang makitang pumasok siya sa cafe ay nagkulong na lang sa loob ng office.

"And she's unusually quiet these past few weeks... Hindi ka ba nagtataka?"

Hindi ako sumagot.

I cut all my connections with Chelsea the moment I found out the truth about Jasmine's identity. Noon ay hirap akong putulin ang ugnayan namin dahil ayokong maipit si Jas. Even when I thought we were the legal adoptive parents of Jas, I tried to be civil. I always thought it won't do Jas good kapag nakikita niyang hindi magkasundo ang mga magulang niya.

But there's no need for any of that anymore. She lied about everything. Noon pa man ay alam ko nang sakim siya, but I never thought she'd go this far. Talagang kaya niyang pumatay nang hindi nakakaramdam ng kung anong konsensya.

I went straight to work after that. I have my busy schedule to thank because it kept me from thinking about all my problems. It was a good distraction from all the chaos around me.

It didn't last long though. Dahil nang makabalik ako sa office mula sa huling meeting ko para sa araw na 'yon ay bumungad sa'kin si Tito Arthur. Nakaupo ito sa wheelchair, payat at namumutla na. Sa tabi niya ay ang personal nurse. Mikki was inside my office too, and it seemed as if they were talking to each other before I arrived.

Mikki stood up to acknowledge my presence while Tito Arthur just nodded and gave me a small smile.

"Tito." Lumapit ako para magmano bago umatras ng konti at nagpamulsa. "Napadaan ka po?" I asked because he never visits me here. Ngayon lang.

"Yes. Ikaw talaga ang sadya ko rito." Seryosong sabi niya.

Kumunot ang noo ko, iniisip kung anong pwedeng sadya niya sa'kin.

"Today is my birthday." He suddenly said at nagulat naman ako. I... didn't know that.

I don't usually pay attention to details like that unless it's for Belle or our kids. Wala rin namang nababanggit sa'kin si Belle tungkol rito.

"Chelsea organized a party for tonight... To celebrate my birthday. I wanted to invite the both of you as well as the kids." He paused, and sighed, "Jasmine and Leon... I just heard about the news, and I'm really sorry. Gusto ko sanang makilala si Leon. I haven't met him yet."

I bit my lip and loosened my tie as I listened to him.

"Sa'yo na ako lumapit dahil alam kong hindi papayag si Belle. Sana mapagbigyan mo ako." There was a hint of sadness in his eyes.

Pero bago pa man ako makasagot ay narinig na namin ang pagbukas ng double doors ng opisina. Sabay sabay kaming napalingon roon at nagulat nang makita kung sino ang papasok.

"Babe." I uttered as I watched Belle make her way to me.

Her smile quickly faded nang matanaw kung sino ang kausap ko.

"Anong ginagawa mo rito?"

Nagulat ako sa tono ng boses niya. Maging si Tito Arthur ay nagulat sa inasal ni Belle kaya saglit kaming natahimik na lahat.