Of Love and Politics I: Juego Limpio - Completed

CHAPTER 33

"Kuya. Meron na bang progress ang investigators mo?" Alana chewed the salad she put in her mouth.

Kumain silang magkapatid sa isang restaurant dahil gusto daw siya nitong ilibre. It was Saturday evening. She agreed dahil ang tagal na din nung huling labas nila ng kuya niya. Besides she wanted to know what is happening on his side of the investigation.

"Hmm?" He stopped chewing and swallowed bago siya tinitigan. Kunot ang noo nito. "Wala pa ding makuhang progress ang aking investigator."

Alana sighed. Mabuti na lang talaga at nag employ siya ng sarili niyang investigation. She couldn't wait still with her brother. Ang tagal kasi siya nitong i-update. Nainip na siya. So with the money she had acquired from her mother and her savings these past few months. Nagsimula na din siyang mag imbestiga at mag bayad ng ibang detective.

She felt like her brother isn't taking it seriously dahil hindi naman ito involve talaga kay Helen. Her brother was just involved with her.

"Wala pa din, Kuya? He had been doing investigations for 4 months. Still nothing? Ano ba yang inuupahan mo? Mahinang klase ng investigator o sadyang tamad lang?"

Hindi niya na napigilan ang inis sa boses niya. Her brother put his fork down and wetted his lips. May inis na lumarawan sa mukha nito.

"I don't know why you are so determined to do this. Al kilala mo ang Mayor. What made you think that he could be easily knocked down from his pedestal with just evidences against him? He practically owns the police in San Aguinaldo."

"But he doesn't own the town of San Victores and San Lipanto."

Umiling ang Kuya niya. "You don't know what his powers are capable of. Hindi natin alam kung meron na siyang power sa ibang bayan dito sa Atega."

It was Alana's turn to frown. "Bakit alam mo yan, Kuya? Are you friends with him?"

Hindi niya na talaga pinigilan ang inis sa boses niya. Akala niya pa naman ay magiging ok ang araw na ito dahil unti unti na niyang nakukuha ang mga kailangan niya. Lily is slowly falling into her hands and the evidences they had gathered are now ready. But her brother is making her frustrated.

Hindi ito kumibo sa sinabi niya. He looked away. "Baja la voz. Tal vez alguien más escuchará." 'Babaan mo ang boses mo. Baka may makarinig na ibang tao.'

"Si no quieres ayudarme. ¡Sólo dime!" 'If you don't want to help me just tell me.'

Tumayo na siya at pabalang na inalis ang table napkin na nasa hita niya. Then she throws it to the side of the table. Tumaas baba ang dibdib niya sa sobrang inis. She curled her hands into a fist and greeted her teeth.

Bakit kasi hindi pa siya nito deristuhin na ayaw nitong tumulong sa pagkamit ng hustisya para kay Helen?

Tumingin doon ang kuya niya. But he didn't say anything. Alana bit her lip to stop herself from crying and lashing out at her brother. Akala niya pa naman ay nakahanap na siya ng kakampi sa kuya niya. But she was wrong. Out of all the people she wanted to help her the most. It was her Kuya Nathan. Pero binigo siya nito.

Nag init ang sulok ng mga mata niya. "I'll never talk to you ever again, Kuya. This is the last time we'll talk."

Pagkasabi nun ay tumalikod na siya ditto at nag lakad palabas ng restaurant. Her tears suddenly fell from her eyes.

Pigil pigil niya ang malakas na pag iyak hanggang sa makarating siya sa sasakyan niya. Ni hindi man lang siya nito hinabol. So totoo nga ang hinala niyang ayaw siya nitong tulungan. Why would her brother do that?

Akala ba nito ay hindi siya seryoso? Hindi nito alam kung gaano kahalaga si Helen sa kanya. Kahit sabihin pa ng Kuya niyang saglit niya lang namang nakilala si Helen. But Helen taught her how to be gentle to herself. Minahal niya ang aspeto ng sarili niya na nagagalit sa mundo dahil sa pinamumukha ng Dad niya sa kanya.

She thought that her brother feels the same way dahil parehas sila ng sitwasyon. Mas mahigpit nga lang ang Dad niya sa kanya dahil nalaman nito ang sexual preference niya.

Alana looked towards the restaurant one last time bago niya paandarin paalis ang kotse niya. But she couldn't believe her eyes nang tahakin niya ang isang pamilyar na lugar papunta sa San Aguinaldo.

She shuffled her feet and looked at the closed gate. Gising pa kaya ito? Tinitigan niya ang kwarto nito. The lights are off. Hindi niya tuloy maiwasang mapatingin sa relo niya. It was just past 9: 30 pm.

'Lily? Are you still awake?' She quickly made a text message and sent it.

Mayamaya pa ay nag vibrate na agad ang phone niya.

'Yes, Al. Why?'

Alana bit her lip. Should she tell Lily that she's here?

"O Ms. Alvidrez. Anong ginagawa niyo po diyan? Baka malamok po diyan."

The security guard of the Saavedra mansion shone a flashlight her way. Medyo napapikit si Alana sa ginawa nito.

"Ah..." She was about to say something pero tumalikod na ito at mabilis na nag lakad palayo.

"Sasabihan ko si Ms. Lily na andito kayo."

Alana couldn't help but chuckle with the security guard. Alam ba nito ang relasyon niya sa nag iisang unica hija ng mga Saavedra? Hindi pa nga siya pinapakilala ni Lily sa Dad nito. But according to Lily. Her father knows her preference and is still ok with it.

Doon lang siya humanga sa Mayor. But she quickly dispersed it. Siguro ay humahanga lang siyang kayang tanggapin nito ang preference ng nag iisang babaeng anak. But the rest of his personality is rotten to her. Siguro ay ganun lang ito mapagmahal sa anak.

Mayamaya pa ay nakita niya na ang pagliwanag ng kwarto ni Lily. After that ay tumunog ulit ang phone niya. This time. Lily was calling her.

Alana smiled before answering the phone.

"Hello----"

"Al! Why didn't you say na andito ka? Sana napapasok ka ng mas maaga. Kanina pa nga daw napapansin ni Kuya ang kotse na nakapark diyan sa gilid ng gate. Baka nilalamok ka na diyan."

"Alright. I'll come inside."

Alana followed the guard inside the house. Nanghingi naman siya ng pasensiya ditto dahil mukhang naabala ito dahil sa biglaang pag tambay niya. Then the door opened and Lily stood there with her white robe.

Medyo magulo ang buhok nito and those dark eyes are a little bit heavy. Siguro dahil kakagising lang nito.

She looked at the inside of the house and found that it was empty. Mukhang nahulaan ni Lily kung anong gusto niyang sabihin dahil agad itong napalingon sa likod nito. Then back to her.

"Wala si Dad. He was out of town again."

The wind blew a cold air her way. Alana shivered and bit her lips hard to stop her teeth from chattering. Manipis nga lang pala ang suot suot niyang t-shirt. She was dressed casually dahil di naman fancy restaurant ang pinuntahan nila ng kuya niya.

"Pasok ka Al."

Lily opened the door wider at hinila siya sa kamay. She suddenly liked the feeling of Lily's warm hands engulping her own.

"Bakit ka ba kasi pumunta ditto ng walang jacket? Baka magkasipon ka niyan.

Pinagsalikop nito ang palad niya at kiniskis ang sarili nitong kamay sa mga kamay niya. Alana's heart jumped out of her chest. Napatitig tuloy siya dito. Lily is serious habang pinapainit nito ang kamay niya.

Alana held her breath. Ang lakas ng tibok ng puso niya. Tila mabibingi siya habang nakatitig sa mukha nito.

Lily is warming not just her hands but also her heart. Sumikip ang dibdib niya at uminit iyon. Damn it. Ayaw niyang matalo sa larong siya ang nag simula. It could only end in one way anyway.