Of Love and Politics I: Juego Limpio - Completed

CHAPTER 13

"Saan ka galing kagabi?" Her Dad sliced the hotdog on his plate and put it in his mouth.

Kasalukuyan silang kumakain ng umagahan while the news is playing on the background nang itanong iyon ng Dad niya. Akala niya pa naman ay nakikinig lang ito sa news.

Alana closed her eyes for a moment and bit her lip. Kailangan niya bang sagutin ang Dad niya? Akala niya ay nasa social event ito na isinagawa ng mayor ng San Lorenzo. Umuwi ba ito kagabi? Who among the servant told her father what time she got home? Her father had a spy among the maids.

Naningkit ang mga mata niya na tumingin sa mga nakalinyang katulong sa gilid nila. But they all bowed their heads down. She was about to open her mouth to say something snarky to her father when her brother Nathan spoke.

Kunot noo tuloy na binalingan niya ito.

"I told him. Nag aalala ako eh. May nakakita daw sayo na nag punta ka sa San Aguinaldo kagabi. The road there is dangerous. Ilang beses na may nabiktima ng basag itlog gang. And your car had a stain of eggs splattered on the windshields. It seems you forgot how to clean the stains."

She rolled her eyes. Alam niya ang mga modus operandi na ganun but she was careful. Hindi niya ginamit ang windshield niya para pawiin ang itlog na tumama sa salamin ng kotse niya. She just sped up and didn't stop kahit pa madilim sa lugar at baka may masagasaan siya.

Yes, she was scared but she was already home safe. Ano pa ba ang pinag aalala ng mga ito?

"I'm home safe, that's what matters right?"

Kumunot ang noo ng kuya Nathan niya. Shit. Lagot na naman siya. Kailangan niya nga palang mangutang sa kapatid niya. Dapat hindi niya ito iniinis o ginagalit.

"S-Sorry kuya. I'll be careful next time and I won't go there anymore."

But she doesn't intend to honor her promise. As long as no one will know. Pero mukhang impossible iyon. Nalaman nga ng kuya niya kung saan siya nag punta. Who was that loud mouth who told her family where she is? Para siyang pinapasundan.

"Huwag ka nang pupunta doon." Her father said after wiping his mouth with the table napkin.

Alana didn't say anything. Ayaw niyang ang aga aga pa ay badtrip na naman siya.

Tatayo na sana siya when she felt a hand covered her own. Pag angat niya ng tingin ay ang Mom niya pala. Kita niya ang pag aalala sa mukha nito.

"Who are you seeing there, anak?" Her mother asked. "I don't want you getting hurt. Alam mo naman ang reputasyon ng San Aguinaldo. They have crimes there of all kinds! Rape, Police brutality, drugs, and coverups! Paano kung may mangyari sayo."

Alana bit her lip and sighed. If she had any soft spot for everyone around their home. It would be her mother.

Napabuntonghininga siya. "Alright, Mom. I won't. I'm going ma-l-late ako sa klase."

Tumayo na siya but the news playing on the tv's screen made her stop. A police was brutaly murdered.

"News flash! Isang biktima umano ng Police Cover up and nakita sa ilog ng San Aguinaldo. Itinapon ang biktima ng madaling araw ayon sa mga forensics. May tali ang kamay at paa nito. Puno din ng duct tape ang mukha. Napag alamang ang pagkakakilanlan ng biktima ay si Harry Nicolas. Isang PO1 sa San Aguinaldo police station. Kilalang isang matuwid na police sa pamilya niya si Harry ngunit ayon sa aming sources. Kaya daw napatay ang naturang police ay dahil sa involvement nito sa droga. Isang vigilante nga ba ang pumatay sa police o isa na naman itong cover-up? According to the family's victim. He was involved in investigating a drug related case, trying to uncover the drug lords involve in San Aguinaldo. Pero ngayong patay na ang biktima. Ano kaya ang magiging resulta ng imbestigasyon?"

The camera zoomed in on the blurred image of the victim pero kahit blurred ang imahe nito. They can see that his face was covered in duct tape and his hands and feet are bound together. Napapikit siya ng mariin. Damn it! Bulok talaga ang sistema sa San Aguinaldo!

"See that is what we are talking about. What if you'll be the next victim?" Her Dad stood up and towered over her.

Inangat niya ang mukha niya. Her chest puffing out. She smirked. "Maybe that's why no one will try to do something dahil anak mo ako Dad. Just the mention of Alvidrez made the criminals trembling. I bet they'll ran away as soon as they knew I am your daughter."

Umigkas ang kamay nito. Bumaling ang mukha niya kaliwa. She felt the sting of the slap but she gritted her teeth. Sanay na siya.

"Leandro!" Her mother went to her side and inspected her cheeks. Napamura ito nang makitang pulang pula ang pisngi niya.

Nathan also stood up. Pumikit ito saglit pero hindi ito nag salita pa. Maybe her brother doesn't want to get involve this time dahil katulad ng Mom niya siguradong nag aalala ito sa kaligtasan niya. And seeing that her father told her to stay away from the town where Helen grew up. She knew that her brother wouldn't be on her side this time.

"It's ok, Mom." Alana removed her mother's hands on her cheeks. Ngumisi siya sa Dad niya bago siya umalis sa harap ng mga ito.

Mabigat ang mga hakbang na tinungo niya ang sasakyan sa parking ng bahay nila. Pagkasakay niya sa kotse niya ay pinaharurot niya ito palabas ng gate nila. Nagkukkumahog na binuksan ng security guard ang gate. It opened and she sped away from their house.

Pagkadating niya sa school ay agad niyang kinuha ang cellphone niya. She typed a message.

'Helen. Wala ka bang available na oras ngayong araw? I need to see you.'

Then she hit the sent button.

Napangiti siya agad nang makita ang message nito. But it immediately dropped nang makita ang laman ng mensahe.

'I'm sorry, Al. I'm busy. Ngayon ang operasyon ni Rose. But thank you anyway for the grocery and toys you gave my mother and my sisters.'

'Wala yun Helen. Pero saang hospital yan? Pupuntahan kita?'

Kumunot na ang noo niya sa sumunod nitong message.

'Al. Wag ka nang pumunta. He'll be here later. Baka mag kita pa kayo. He was suspicious of our relationship. But I already told him that we are just friends. Kaya please. Wag ka na munang pumunta. Pagkatapos na lang ng operasyon.'

Frustrated na naisuklay niya ang kamay sa buhok niya. Isang malaking hadlang talaga sa kanya ang Mayor. Pero hindi niya basta basta isusuko si Helen.

She looked around and found a pair of darkest eyes she had ever seen. Napangisi siya. Lily Saavedra's mouth was opened and she just stood there like she was bitten by a snake, petrified.

Tamang tama ang pag kikita nila dahil kailangan niyang ilabas ang galit niya sa ama nito dito. Alejandro Saavedra took something from here. She'll took something away from him too.

Deri-deritso siyang nag tungo sa pwesto ni Lily Saavedra. Humigpit ang hawak nito sa librong Theory of Evolution.