The Gamble (COMPLETED)

Chapter 36

Nang makita niya ako ay ni wala akong nakitang reaksyon sa kaniyang mukha. His face still the same at parang hindi siya sa kulungan nakatira, makinis pa rin ang balat. I sighed and straightened my back, I placed my hands on the table and clasp together.

Umupo siya sa'king harapan at ang kamay niyang nakaposas ay ipinatong sa mesa. May dalawang pulis din ang nagbabantay kaya senenyasan kong medyo lumayo sila.

"What brings you here?" tanong nito habang deretso ang tingin sa'kin.

"It's about my father." And shookt, I saw him taken aback. "Please, tell me about him... is he's still alive?" umaasa kong tanong.

His jaw tightened. "I'm doing good here and now you can leave," he said but it's not the answer I want. Iniiba niya ang usapan.

"I'm glad you're doing good, pero bakit ayaw mong sabahin sa'kin?"

"You really want to know why I don't want to tell you, huh?" sarkastiko nitong saad at mabagal akong tumango. "Well, kapag nagsalita ako I'm surely dead right now." At natawa siya.

"Paano niya 'yon magagawa? Patay na siya!" pabulong kong saad.

Napakagat ako sa'king labi nang tumayo siya. "Paano niya ako papatayin kung patay na siya, hmm? He can still kill me." makahulugan nitong saad at tinalikuran na ako.

I reamined silent habang nagpapaulit-ulit sa'king tainga ang kaniyang sinabi, until realization hits me. Napatakip ako sa'king bibig, oh god... he is still alive!

Mabilis akong tumayo at umalis na roon. While driving my hands starts to tremble. Naghalo-halo ang aking emosyon at malapit nang sumabog hanggang sa nanlabo ang aking mata. Tinapakan ko ang preno at tumigil muna ako sa gilid ng kalsada.

And there. Having a breakdown, 1st because my father is not dead and 2nd where the hell is he? And bakit sinabi ni Uncle Dether na patay na ang ama ko? I think I need to ask him too.

After that crying moment I get myself up and drive straight to his house. I went to his office but unfortunately he's not there.

Napatigil ako nang makasalubong ko si Joaquin. Mabilis na gumuhit ang aking ngiti pero ang kaniyang mukha ay may galit at pag-aalala but it fade away when he saw me.

"Oh, God. Where have you been?!" And he pulls me closed to him.

I almost heard his heart beating widely.

"We're finding you..."

Napakagat ako sa'king labi at humiwalay sa kaniya. "I'm fine okay? Bumili lang ako ng ice cream, you know craving," natatawa kong sabi at isa na namang palusot.

Pero hindi nagbago ang kaniyang ekspresyon. "Tell me."

I sighed and pulled him until we reach the garden area. I sat on the bench and he follows.

"Do you know something about my father?" deretsong tanong ko at dahan-dahan namang kumunot ang kaniyang mata.

"He's dead," sagot nito at naniniwalang patay na rin ang aking ama. 

"I don't thinks so. Pero may nabanggit ba si Uncle about sa papa ko?" nagbabakasakali kong tanong but he shook his head.

"He didn't tell me something about it. I'm sorry," he apologize.

"You don't need to apologize. But... I have this feeling, telling me that he's alive," I said.

Tinitigan niya akong mabuti at bumuntonghininga. "But Uncle Dether said namatay siya no'ng sumabog ang building."

"But I don't recieve any parts of his body or what. Kahit abo wala at paano siya nakakasigurado na patay na nga siya?" Pala-isipan talaga sa'kin iyon at bakit kilala niya ang ama ko kung gano'n?