Zaldivar Series #1: Weaving Lies and Chaos

Kabanata 25

His words linger in my mind, that it was the only thing that occupied me the whole time that I'm beside him while he's driving towards I don't know where. I didn't bother asking. 

I can't understand his words. Like it was too much for me that my mind doesn't want to process it.

My mind went back to reverie when I saw some media from the window, flocking at Chaos's car. Noon ko lang napansin na bumagal na ang takbo ng kotse ni Chaos. It's nearly stopping. 

I roamed my eyes around the place but I couldn't clearly see where exactly we were because of the reporters surrounding the car. I stared at the outside and realized we're probably in Manila as some of the buildings were familiar.

Tuluyan nang huminto ang sasakyan ni Chaos dahil ang ibang media ay nasa harap na ng sasakyan.

I saw some guards pulling them away from the car. Ngunit sa dami nila, hindi sila tuluyang mailayo ng dalawa gwardya na mula sa mga gusali.

"Fuck." I glanced at Chaos when I heard him cursed and caught him turning the engine off. 

He held the handle of the door. Akmang bubuksan niya iyon kasabay ng paglingon niya sa aking direksyon. 

"We can't go further," he announced while glancing in front through the windshield.

"Stay here. I'll ask the valet to park the car. Do you still remember the condo we used to share?" His eyes landed at me again.

I felt my lips parted. I was caught off guard at his sudden question. The one we used to share? Mabilis akong napasulyap sa labas at doon tuluyang natanto kung nasaan kami.

I didn't got a chance to answer but he took my silence as yes. "Wait for me there. I'll divert their attention," may pinalidad na sambit niya bago itinulak ang pinto ng kanyang sasakyan upang tuluyang makalabas. 

And questions from the media outside reached my ears.

"Is it true that you're supposed to marry a stranger five years ago? That someone copied the face of your fiancee and the Zaldivars and even the Serranos were fooled?"

"An article says, Ms. Serrano was kidnapped years ago. Can you confirm if it was true, Sir?"

What... the fuck?

Sabay-sabay ang salita ng mga media sa labas nang binuksan ni Chaos ang pinto ng kanyang kotse at ilan lang ang mga tanong na iyon sa narinig ko. Sa bilis ng salita nila ay hindi ko na nasundan ang iba. Like every seconds were important for them because of the rumor they heard.

What is this? My lips parted as I tilted my head. Baffled at everything. 

Paanong ngayon lang lumabas ang tungkol sa bagay na iyon? I mean, that was five years ago. I expected it to reach the public a few days after Chaos's men got Rieselle.

I watched the media flocked on Chaos as he went out of the car. Hindi ko alam kung sumasagot ba siya sa mga tanong ng mga ito ngunit sa reaksyon niya kanina, mukhang wala siyang balak na magsalita. 

The guards are now near Chaos. Bahagya na siyang nakalayo sa sasakyan ngunit kasunod pa rin niya ang media.

I removed the lock of the door as I pushed the door to open it. 

Sa pagbukas pa lang ay nahuli ko na ang pagbaling ng ilang media sa aking direksyon.

I went out of the car as I hastily closed the door. They instantly ran towards my direction as they started bombarding me with questions. Mga tanong na hindi naman para sa akin. 

"When is the wedding, Ms. Serrano?"

"Matutuloy pa ba ang kasal?"

"Ms. Serrano, is it true that you're kidnapped?"