Hues and Lies

🎨30: Untold

“Hello po tita Helena, napatawag po kayo?” I got shocked when I heard who's speaking in the other line. She's using Shay’s cellphone.

“Sydney iha... I'm on my way to pick you up,” she said in a very convincing voice. “Let’s bond with Shay if it's okay with you.”

Nagtaka ako kung bakit naging biglaan ang pagyaya ni Tita sa’kin. She's a great planner and she didn't usually go out on the spot.

“Alright tita... but I have to wait for my bodyguards to come first, papunta na raw po sila,” I responded.

“No need iha... kasabay ko na sila, I'll see you in a bit, bye,” she ended the call.

I fixed myself faster than before because I didn't need to put my make-up and disguise. However, while I picked up my wallet in my drawer, I saw the pendant necklace with the name of  Kathleya. I shrugged my shoulders because it felt really heavy for a reason I didn't know.

Nagpa-alam ako kay Yaya at ilang minuto lang ang lumipas dumating na sina tita Helena.

She opened the car’s window giving her best smile to me. Nasa backseat siya at pagpasok ko sa kotse, nagtaka ako kung bakit wala naman si Shay sa loob.

“Tita? Si Shay po?” I asked looking around inside the car.

“He’s in the other car iha, they'll follow us, so manong let's leave na,” she said in an authoritative voice.

Silence ruled over us. I noticed the shift of tita Helena’s mood. Earlier she was in her usual jolly aura and all of the sudden she's this serious. What's wrong with her?

“T-Tita? Where are we going po ba?” I stuttered.

She looked at me and smiled, “you’ll find out later, we have a surprise for you.”

Looking at her face up closed I realized something. My body got cold and my hands trembled a bit.

I recoiled in my seat when she held me in my shoulder. She was shocked on how I responded to it so, I just managed to smile.

Narating namin ang isang lumang bahay. Gawa ito sa kahoy at parang sa panahon pa ng Español ang disenyo nito.

I creased my forehead looking at the surrounding. What's in here and she brought me in this kind of abandoned house.  As I looked closely, the place was really creepy.

“Tita? What are we doing here?” I gulped. “Nasaan po si Shay?”

“Shay is inside, shall we get in?” she smiled.

“I thought tita tayo ang nauna sa kanila, tsaka nasaan po ang mga bodyguards ko?” my voice was a bit shaky already.

“No more questions Sydney, if you want to see Shay, get inside,” she said.

I didn't know why it felt heavy as I stepped inside the house. I roamed my eyes around and the place was really dirty.

“Sydney? Help me!” I heard a familiar voice.

I crammed when Tita Helena opened her sling bag and pointed a gun on me.

I raised my hands looking at her with my mouth wide opened. Anong nangyayari? Was this a playful pranked?

“T-Tita... why are you pointing your gun to me?” I trembled.

“Mom stop that! What's wrong with you?” I saw Shay on the floor sitting. His hands and feet were being tied. He's crying and I could sense his fear.

Laughter, that's the only response of tita Helena. She was laughing as if she lost her mind already.

“Ikaw igapos mo si Sydney!” utos nito sa driver niya.