Of Love and Politics I: Juego Limpio - Completed

CHAPTER 50

Lily immediately went towards the gate of the mansion pagkababa niya ng sasakyan. Pero natigilan siya nang makitang may mga police sa buong paligid. Madami ding tao na nakikiusyoso.

She frantically tried to make her way pero pinigilan siya ng isa sa mga ito.

The policeman put his hands out and blocked her way. "This is the police line. Don't cross it miss."

Lily bit her lip hard. Should she really say that she was his daughter? Alam niyang hindi magagawa ng Dad niya ang binibintang ng mga ito. But something in her gut tells her that it was all true. Automatikong nag init ang sulok ng mga mata niya.

Naalala niya na naman si Alana. Those eyes held coldness habang nakatingin sa kanya. Al accused her father of killing Helen Alegre. Pero hindi siya naniniwala hangga't walang ebidensiya. That's why she need to ask her father directly. Gusto niyang malaman ang totoo mula mismo sa bibig nito. But something in her guts told her na baka nga totoo ang binibintang ni Alana sa Dad niya. Pero kailangan niya pa ring malaman kung ano ang totoo.

"I-I am his daughter."

Mukhang nagulat ang police at tinitigan siya. He took in her appearance and there's a brief moment of pity in those eyes. Lily looked away. She doesn't want anyone to pity her. Kung totoo ngang kasalanan ng Dad niya ang lahat. She should have----could have prevented him from taking this dark path.

"P-Please let me thru. I want to talk to him." Tinitigan niya ang name tag nito. "PO1 Sarmiento."

PO1 Sarmiento paused for a minute before he nodded his head and made way for her. Pero bago pa siya makalampas dito. Another car swerved in. Bumaba doon si Alana na may kasamang isang lalake at isang babae.

Lily's heart started to beat abnormally pero kasabay nun ang kirot. She can't look at Alana right now. Sobrang sakit nang ginawa nito sa kanya. Hindi pa ba sapat na makukulong ang Dad niya? Bakit kailangan pa siya nitong saktan? Ganun ba ito kagalit? Why?

Nag init ang sulok ng mga mata niya. Her heart started collapsing inside her rib cage. Ano ba ang totoo? Nagustuhan ba siya nito? O talagang paghihigante lang ang nasa isip nito? She steadied her breathing trying to calm herself down. Nakailang buga din siya ng hangin.

She was about to look away but when she took in Alana's appearance. Bumangon ang pag aalala sa dibdib niya. There was blood on Alana's front t-shirt. Anong nangyari dito? May tama ba ito ng baril?

Hahakbang na sana siya palapit dito but she stopped herself. Alam nyang tatanggihan lang nito ang paglapit niya. If Alana even permitted her to get that close too. Galit ito at ginawa lang siyang sangkalan para masaktan lalo ang Dad niya. But she won't give Alana the satisfaction of seeing her crumble in front of her Dad. Yun naman ang gusto nito. Ang umiyak siya sa harap ng Dad niya.

She tampered her heart down. Pinilit niya ang sarili na huwag na itong lingunin. Besides, there are police and ambulance there. Kung may kailangan man ito ay siguradong may tutulong dito.

Deri-deritso siyang nag tungo sa loob ng bahay nila. Her heart and steps is heavy habang palapit siya ng palapit sa madaming pulis na nakaabang sa labas.

Her father was dragged outside of their home. May posas ito sa likod ng kamay at nang makita siya nito ay agad na lumarawan ang guilt sa mukha nito. He was teary eyes as she shook his head.

Lily stood still. Nag init ang sulok ng mga mata niya. She wanted to tell everything to her father pero sa ngayon alam niyang hindi niya na kailangang sabihin dito iyon.

"Dad......"

"Lily.... I-I'm sorry anak. It's my fault...I couldn't stop myself...I---I'm so sorry."

Yun agad ang sinabi nito sa kanya nang huminto ito sa harap niya. Tears started to stream down his face. Napayuko siya. So totoo nga ang lahat.

Alana couldn't hurt her father pero siya ang pwede nitong saktan. Kaya ba siya ang naging target? Why should she pay for the crimes her father commited? Gusto niyang umiyak at mag wala but she stopped herself.

"Dad. D-Did you kill Helen Alegre?"

"Tara na!" One of the policeman dragged her father away.

Tumingin sa kanya ang Dad niya. He had his eyes wide and his mouth hanging open. Tila hindi nito alam ang sasabihin sa kanya. But he closed his eyes and nodded his head.

"I was asked to. I don't want to but I was told to do it..."

His words are a whisper dahil hinila na ito ng mga pulis.

Lily held back the sobs in her throat. Sumakit lang ang lalamunan niya. Her eyes are also stinging in the corners. Gustuhin man niyang pigilan ang sarili na huwag umiyak ay tuluyan nang nalaglag ang luha sa mga mata niya. Her lungs started to take in more air as she sobbed.

He really killed Helen. He killed the woman that Alana loved the most. Kagaya siguro kung minsan na tinititigan siya ni Al. There was a brief hatred that crossed those brown eyes. But there were also moments na tila nag aalala ito. And there are moments too that she felt like Alana is falling for her. Kaya pala. Alana couldn't be fully present with her.

Alam niyang kamukhang kamukha niya ang Dad niya at tanging ang mga itim at bilugan niyang mata lang ang namana niya sa Mom niya. Maybe that's why Alana targeted her. Thru her ay maipapadama ni Alana ang sakit nang pagkawala ni Helen.

But she doesn't deserve all of it. Hindi siya ang Dad niya.

Her Dad had been a good father too. Hindi niya iyon maitatanggi. Maybe they are all just victims of their own desires. But how could he take another life because of those desires?

Nilingon niya ang Dad niya. Tumalim ang mga mata niya. Hindi niya mapapatawad ang Dad niya and Alana too. Hindi niya na hahayaan ang sarili na magpaloko pa.

Uminit ang dibdib niya.

Her father saw Alana and he was clearly rooted. Alana's eyebrows are scrunched togethere habang nakatingin sa Dad niya. Kita niya ang pag tiim ng bagang nito at ang satisfaction sa mukha ni Alana.

Then those eyes shifted towards her direction. Umawang ang labi nito at humakbang ito papalapit but the two people she's with stopped her. Napatingin pa nga ang mga ito sa kanya.

Naikuyom niya ang kamay niya. She curled her hands into a fist until it started hurting. Pero hindi niya maitatanggi na ganun pa din ang epekto nito sa kanya. She looked away and went inside.

This is the last time that Alana Alvidrez will hurt her.