The Hottest Revenge

3

Chapter 3

Matapos niyang gamutin ang sugat ko, ay umalis na rin ito. Manang told him na maghapunan na lamang doon, but he refused because his grandmother is already looking for him.

Naalala ko na naman ang kahihiyan na nangyari kanina. Nakakainis! Nakakahiya talaga ako, wala na akong ginawang tama.

“Your girlfriend is calling you.” I said “Umuwi ka na, I can take care of myself.”

He looks confused on what I’ve said. He saw his phone ringing, then suddenly he burst out on laughter.

“Pardon?”

“I said your girlfriend is calling you. Maybe you should go home, kaya ko na ‘to.” I told him.

Nagtatago ang multo ng ngiti sa labi nito dahil sa pag ulit ko nang aking sinabi. May mali ba sa sinabi ko?

“Hmm, does anyone who has a nickname “Love” is a girlfriend nor a boyfriend?”

“I don’t know, why are you asking me that?”

He picked up his phone and answer the call. “Yes, Lola?”

My eyes widened on what I’ve heard. Lola? I heard it right, ‘di ba? Did he just said “Lola”?? as in grandma.

Nag iinit ang mukha ko sa hiya, kaya dagli kong kinuha ang mga gamit at agad na tumayo.

“Where are you going? Hindi pa ako tapos sa paggamot sa sugat mo.”

“Okay na ako! You can go home!”

Mukhang may sasabihin pa sana ito, nang biglang sumulpot si Manang. “Okay na ba, hija?”

“Opo, Manang.”

“Mabuti naman kung ganoon.” aniya. “Hijo, dito ka na maghapunan at marami akong nailuto.”

“Manang, hindi na siya kakain dito. Hinahanap na siya.” Nilakihan ko ito ng mata kaya marahan itong tumango.

“Una na ho ako.” aniya.

Manang looked for him hanggang sa makalabas ito ng gate. Nakahinga ako nang maluwag nang makaalis ito.

Manang asked so many questions sa akin while we were eating, hindi tuloy ako nakakain nang maayos dahil sa dami ng tanong niya tungkol kay Liam. Ano bang alam ko sa kaniya, hindi nga kami close, at isa pa, kakakilala ko lang sa kaniya ‘no, as one of handler ng plantation.

Halos isang buwan na rin ang lumipas simula nung dumating ako rito, and we already have some workers for the plantation and also for the farm.

“Cacie..”

That was Ceejay. “Yeah?”

“Nahanap mo na ba?”

“Hindi pa.” I told him. “Isang linggo ko pa lang naman dito, and I already have my lead.”

“Hindi na ba talaga magbabago ‘yang isip mo?”

As I remember what happened. Hindi ko magawang baguhin, sa sobrang sakit na dinulot ng mga nangyari sa akin noon.

Napanood ko kung paano mamatay ang magulang ko. Nakita mismo ng mga mata ko. Naulila ako sa murang edad, dahil sa ginawa nilang pagpatay sa mga magulang ko.

Halos isang taon akong hindi makapagsalita, dahil doon. I suffered a lot of pain because of the trauma that my past gave me.

Naikuyom ko ang kamao ko, as I remember what happened. Umiling ako kay Ceejay. “No, Jay. I can’t do that. I’ve been in this for almost 4 years. Ngayon pa ba ako titigil?”

“I know, but we can still find the justice by law. Not in this way, Cacie.”

I laughed on what he have said. Nonsense, law ain’t working if higher ups do the handle. Ilang beses ko nang sinabi sa pulis na hindi suicide ang nangyari sa magulang ko, pero hindi sila naniniwala sa akin.

They didn’t perform any autopsy, because their conclusion is suicide. I saw everything, pero wala man lang akong nagawa.

Ceejay was the one who helped me when I was drowning in trauma and pain. Pinagamot niya ako, he took care of me, and I am so thankful for him.

“Walang mangyayari kung iaasa ko sa batas, Jay. Ni hindi nga sila naniniwala sa akin. They don’t believe what I see and what I say, because I don’t have any proof, right? But I saw him. I saw the man, Jay,” I paused. “I saw the man who shot my parents.”

He nodded slightly. “I know, naiintindihan ko.” aniya. “If we really can’t change your mind, then we are here.. to support you.”

“Thank you..”

“You’re always welcome.” aniya.

After talking to Ceejay, I decided to go to down to see the farm. Kinuha ko ang susi ng sasakyan, at saka ko pinaandar iyon.

After a few minutes, I arrived safely. Some of workers are busy on feeding the animal, at ang iba naman ay pinaliliguan ang ilang baka at kalabaw.

Nanliliit ang mata ko nang matanaw ko ang pamilyar na pigura na may kausap na babae. Ano ‘yan, bagong babae niya na naman. At ano bang pakialam ko?

Hindi naman ako kuryoso sa pinag-uusapan nila, kaya naglakad ako palapit sa rancho kung saan sila malapit.

“E, punta ka mamaya sa bahay. Birthday ko ‘yon e.” E ano naman kung birthday mo?

Ang arte naman, bawal ba niya sabihin casually? Kailangan talaga pabebe? Bakit ba ako nakikialam? E kasi nga, nakakairita pagkakasabi niya!

“I’ll try, Joyce. Marami rin kasing tatapusin mamaya e.” Liam said.

“OKAY LANG PO BA ANG LAHAT DITO?” Sinadya kong lakasan ang pagkakatanong ko, para matahimik silang dalawa at naiirita ako sa kaartehan nitong Joyce!

“Why are you here?” he asked me using his baritone voice.

Nagkibit-balikat ako at taas noo siyang tinignan. Who the fuck wear heels in a farm, Cacie? Of course, me.

“I’m just visiting the area, Mr. Salvador.” I said confidently.

Tinignan niya ang katawan ko pataas-baba. “Yeah, with that kind of outfit?”

Rinig ko ang hagikgik ng babaeng kasama niya. Lalong umiinit ang dugo ko!

“Anong problema sa suot ko? I can’t wear this while visiting my farm?” I askeed sarcastically. “And, ain’t she a worker, bakit siya nakikipagkwentuhan sa’yo?”

Napayuko ang babae, at agarang nag sorry. “Sorry, Ma’am.” aniya. “Mamaya na lang, Liam. Punta ka ha?”

Liam just nodded on her. Hinila ako nito papunta sa sasakyan.

“Stop being rude! Wala ka sa Maynila para dalhin ang ugali mo rito!” Inis nitong ani. “Why are you so rude to anyone?! This is the reason why, people dislike you!”

That hurts me. I mean, yeah, I know. I am rude, but how can I change that? I am always mean, and I’m aware of that.

Natahimik ako at walang masabi, he is right, pero hindi ko matanggap. “I was born this way, Liam.”

“I bet this is why you’re alone, because of that kind of attitude.”