WITH EYES TO THINK (Completed)

CHAPTER 51: SCAM EXPOSÉ

CHAPTER 51

-3-

"FOR THE sake of everyone, I'll quit my job and bet on this town!"

Everyone was very happy after Marco's announcement.

Seeing him sacrificing his profession convinced everyone, including Kage, about his legitimacy. Kaya bago pa man matapos ang pagtitipon, napagdesisyunan ng lahat na sumang-ayon sa unang hakbang kaugnay sa operasyon ng pagmimina.
And that is to submit the payment for land sample testing in Dubai.

At first, Kage was looking for loopholes that might support his hunch that the two geologists were just lying to the town. He tried to trap them by asking a couple of questions but ended up incorrect.

"Don't tell me, you will join that operation?" asked Kage.

Kage and Puferto are now driving home as soon as the gathering ends. Puferto haven't told Kage yet about his plan with regards with that mining operation.

"Nag-usap na kami ng mama mo bago pa man tayo pumunta sa pagtitipon na hindi natin sasayangin ang oportunidad na ito," Puferto said while his eyes are on the road as he drives.

"One hundred fifty thousand---ang laking perang iyan, papa. Sa tingin mo ipagpapatuloy pa ni Mama ang sumali dito sa operasyon? Lalo na at bago lang tayo nasunugan, hirap pa tayong magpalabas ng pera."

"Kag, it's not either for you or me to decide kung magpapatuloy ba tayo regarding with this matter. Mamaya na tayo mag-usap tungkol dito pagdating sa bahay. Kailangan natin ang mama mo sa pag-uusap na ito. She knows what to do."

Although still baffled with the matter, Kage did not speak after that. He just let himself relax as they went home.

For the whole time since his son and husband left the farm, Teresa did nothing else except cleaning the entire house including the boarders' room. She took the chance of being alone, hence the effort.

It was already five when she finished cleaning the house and so she started working at the kitchen to prepare for dinner. She's done putting plates on the dining table before hearing a revving vehicle outside that soon stopped when it got to the front porch.

It was Puferto and Kage rushing to get inside the house.

Upon seeing them with those weary faces, agad na iniwan ni Teresa ang kusina at nagtungo sa sala.

"So... how's the gathering?" she asked immediately.

The two were just looking down while Teresa looked at Kage, then Puferto, and to Kage again.

Puferto took a deep breath before heaving a long sigh. Then he looks at his wife with a worried face. "Kinakailangan na munang masuri ang lupa bago pa magpatuloy sa operasyon ng pagmimina. Iyan ang sabi nila Marco at Augustus."

Looking at Puferto looking so worried while saying those words. Even though Teresa cannot find any problem in what he said that would cause him to act like that.

"And what seems the problem? Bakit kayo nakasimangot? Para kayong mga sugarol na natalo sa sabong."

"Isang daan at limang pung libo---iyan ang halaga na kinakailangan natin para masuri ang ating lupa."

When that amount of money went inside her ear, Teresa was too stunned to speak. That is a lot of money. To think deeply, that is almost half of what most farmers earned in a year. With that thought, it cost her a saliva to gulp as she slowly takes a seat just opposite from where Kage is sitting.

Nalulong sa malalim na pag-iisip si Teresa. Naisip niya ang napag-usapan nila ni Puferto bago pa man sila lumisan sa bahay para pumunta sa center hall.

"Puferto, napag-usapan na natin ito kanina ang operasyon na ito bilang nag-iisang pag-asang maaaring makatulong sa atin upang makabangong muli. Ito ang tutulong sa atin upang makuha ang lahat ng nawala sa atin; ang mga baboy, manok, ang sakahan. Sa pamamagitan nito, mababawi rin natin ang ating nakasanglang dalawang hektaryang lupain. Oportunidad na ito upang magpatuloy pa sa sakahan. Hindi ba sapat ang mga iyan upang magpatuloy dito sa operasyon sa likod ng malaking halaga na iyan?"