Pursuing My Nemesis

Forty Seven

Chapter 47

MY MIND SHUT down, and my heart dropped to my stomach, the moment Aniel mentioned about my mother's case and how her biological mother was connected with it.

It felt like a dream... more so a nightmare to me. All these things that I learned today, less than twenty-four hours and I am already giving up.

Aniel, Architect Cordova's words, my mom's case, and now, Aniel's real mom's involvement in it.

Sasabog na yata ang utak ko.

Aniel seemed to notice my current confusion. Bahagya siyang lumapit sa akin at maingat na iginaya ang kanyang kamay sa likuran ko. I looked at him, my breathing was heavy. I felt his hand became tensed, but when I didn't react violently, he loosen up and gently held the small of my back.

"I understand that this is too much for you to take, but I want you to know that it's already settled. All is well between my mother and yours," he said using his reassuring tone.

Hindi ako umimik, o tumango man lang sa sinabi niya. Masyado pa ring maraming katanungan ang umiikot sa utak ko ngayon. What happened with the case? Why did his mother suddenly dropped it? Or did she? Dahil base sa message ni mama sa akin, inaakala niyang ako ang dahilan kung bakit hindi natuloy ang pagsampa ng kaso sa kanya ng biktima. But I did not do anything. Not even try to look for the victim and talk to her.

Saglit akong natigilan nang may maisip. Nilingon ko ulit si Aniel na nag-aalalang nakatingin sa akin.

He said that he went to the site when the accident happened. Why did he go there in the first place? Alam na ba niya noon na nagtatrabaho roon ang ina niya kaya siya nagpunta sa lugar? O sinadya niyang puntahan iyon para kausapin ang taong nagpapahirap sa nanay ko?

Did he do that for me again?

I tried to recall all the information that I have learned just a few moments ago. Aniel mentioned that the building my mother was working on was owned by his siblings.

His siblings...

A small gasped escaped from my lips when realization hit me.

"You said that your mother works in the poultry farm." I said, wanting to confirm something.

"Yes," maikling sagot niya.

"Where did she get the lawyer and assistance she needed to sue my mom?" I asked him.

Aniel stared at me, his lips pressed together. Then he sighed and dropped his hand from my back.

"The poultry farm was owned by my family. My brothers gave her the assistance in filing the case against Engineer Salvacion. They also owned the farm." He looked at me, his face hard. "Initially, my mother did not have any plan on filing a case towards your mother and her previous company. She only had a mild injury, after all. But my brothers convinced her to file a case. Gregor told her that a huge compensation will be given if she push the case further."

Beat. I couldn't make any reply. Aniel just confirmed my suspicion, but it was still a hard pill to swallow.

"You mean to say..." I swallowed hard. "Your brothers pinned everything to my mom, and even used your own real mother para lang matanggalan ng trabaho ang mama ko?"

Aniel slid his hand back to my spine. He sighed and shook his head. "I'm so sorry, Nemesis. I should've known sooner."

Umiling din ako. "Why are you apologizing? Wala ka namang kasalanan kay Mama. Baka nga ikaw pa ang may gawa kung bakit natigil ang kaso." I stared at his face when I noticed him suddenly avoiding my gaze. "Tell me honestly, Nathaniel. What did you do?"