The Mastermind: Miranda Sisters #2

18

I woke up in a dark room, nagising ako because I have the urge to vomit and my head is spinning like crazy.

Shit, nasaan ba ako?

All I remember is that I ordered a bottle of tequila sa Sanctuary at tinungga ko iyon then black. Did I pass out dahil lang doon? Shit! Sino namang nag-uwi sa akin? Nagpapanic ako na napahawak sa katawan ko ang nothing feels wrong.

Sobrang dilim ng lahat kaya kinakapa ko lang ang paligid ko, tatayo sana ako but hindi ko maibaba ang right foot ko. Oh my god, it's chained to the bed!

I started to panic, nakapa ko na parang may table sa tabi ng bed and may lamp! Shit nasaan ang switch?! Pinindot ko lahat ng sides and sa wakas bumukas din. I adjusted my vision to the light.

It's a small room with this bed I am on, I'm assuming that this is a hotel room.

"Oh my god, where the hell am I?!" Napasigaw na ako sa panic dahil hindi ko makalag ang chain sa paa ko, it's a chain and yung nakaikot sa ankle ko ay pink leather.

I feel like crying already when the door suddenly opened, there stood a guy na nakasandal sa hamba ng pintuan."What the fuck is this, Dalton?! Anong kagaguhan ito at bakit ako nakachain?!" sinigaw ko na lahat ng kaya ko, siya na naman?!

Tinaas niya ang parehong kamay na para bang nag surrender sa kalaban, "Chill, this isn't my doing okay? Napadaan lang ako actually, now go ahead and talk to Kuya if you want to be unchained." ngumisi pa ito at kumaway bago umalis.

Parang umuusok ang ulo ko sa sobrang inis kay Kio, "KIO! KIO DELVIN, NASAAN KA?!! KIO!" Buong lakas na sigaw ko at nakarinig naman ako ng sunod-sunod na yapak ng paa mula sa labas ng kwarto. Hinihingal na ako sa sobrang galit at inis na nararamdaman ko ngayon sa lalaki na ito.

Tinignan ko siya ng masama nang pumasok ito sa kwarto na naka-boxers na itim lang at gulo pa ang buhok, "Do you need anything?" he asked na para bang wala lang at parang hindi ako nakachain sa kama na ito!

"KALAGAN MO AKO NGAYON DIN! HINDI AKO NATUTUWA SA KUNG ANO MAN ITO, KIO! Sinasabi ko sa'yo mabubugbog ko kayong dalawa ni Dalton." para pa siyang na-amuse sa pagsigaw ko at naupo sa tapat na couch ng kama at tinignan ako.

"I will let you go, if you agree that we talk about us." I scoffed, us? "FYI ah, there was never an us. Kaya tigilan mo ako at nananahimik na ang buhay ko." mataray na sagot ko sakanya, "I wish I could say the same." he said before sighing.

He stood up, akala ko ay kakalagan niya na ako pero naglakad ito papunta sa pinto, "I'll prepare you food since you don't want to talk yet." paglabas niya ay kinuha ko ang unan at gigil na gigil kong binato sa may pintuan.

Masakit na nga ang ulo ko ay sumabay pa silang magkapatid, sa sobrang inis ay hindi ko napansing nakatulog na naman ako. Nagising ako nang gumalaw ang kama, nakita ko si Kio na nakaupo sa tabi ko at nakasandal ang ulo sa head rest ng kama.

"Ano ba ang gusto mo mangyari, ha, Kio?" he was startled by my sudden talking, dumilat siya at nilingon ako. There was a silence after I asked him that, I can't help but notice how he looks now. He looks more matured but I noticed a scar on his jaw, it's a long one.

"Will you let me explain now?" he asked in a low voice, I sighed, "Wala naman akong choice." sagot ko lang at iniwas ang tingin ko sakanya.

"First of all I want to apologize, for making you feel unimportant, unworthy, and making you feel like I don't care about you the way you care for me." he started off, I just kept a straight face.

"About Emilia, I only tolerated her out of pity. She didn't want anyone else to know but that time, she actually has a blood cancer. I know that is never a reason for me to be a douche bag to you or to anyone but she was a good friend of mine too. Unfortunately, that sickness was incurable and she went back to the US for her last weeks, until she passed away." napalingon ako kay Kio, Emilia is dead? Napalunok ako. Still, not a reason to treat me like that back then.

"I've always had a hard time opening up to people since I was young, I was trying so bad to seem cool to you before. I didn't want to show any weakness nor any thing that would make me less masculine in your eyes. I was scared to give her more pain when she told me about it, she just wanted me, her greatest friend for her, to be just there and I couldn't say no nor say anything to you. She died 3 months after I left your school. I was devastated but I accepted it, she was peaceful when she passed." I heard him sniff but I tried my best not to look at him.

"I actually tried reaching out to you after her cremation when I went back here to the Philippines but I saw how serious and busy you were in your last year of college. I didn't want to intervene so like I did back then, it was enough for me to see you every now and then. I just focused on the firm. I also heard from Dalton that you cut him off so I stopped myself even more. That actually made me think that If I had enough courage and I opened up myself more, what could our future be? " He chuckled for a bit before sniffing again.

Tumikhim siya bago nagsalita ulit,"Then another unfortunate thing went on our way, Dad had a heart attack. The first one was mild, but last year, he actually had a stroke. Dalton had no choice but to take over because I already have a lot on my plate. The doctors here can't confidently perform the surgery needed for Dad and they went to the US. They're preparing for his surgery that'll be done next week."

He stopped for a bit kaya akala ko tapos na siya pero hindibpa pala,"Sorry if I suddenly barged into your life like that. I do not mean to hurt you. The Buenqano's are actually my business partners, I wouldn't be able to handle the firm on my own especially when I acquired yours. I just wanted your firm to grow as quickly as possible. I just wanted to see you and talk to you for the last time." doon ako napalingon sa kanya, he moved at pinanood ko siya na kalagan ang chain sa paa ko. He even massaged the part na nahila ko kanina.

He looked up at me and he smiled a bit, I can see pain on his teary eyes."I will be leaving the day after tomorrow, probably for good. I will stay with Dad and whatever happens to his surgery. I have business to focus on there and I know it would be impossible for us not to see each other if I stay here. I don't want to cause you any more pain, Yasmin. You don't have to forgive me, I just want to apologize and explain for the last time." I bit my lip when I saw a tear escape his eyes. I suddenly can't breathe.

"Don't worry, you can work in peace starting tomorrow, you won't be seeing me around anymore. I'm sorry again, for everything. And thank you, for making me feel that you care a lot about me before, that was my happiest. " he smiled at me for the last time before standing up, "You can leave anytime, I will ask the driver to drop you off." he said in a low voice before exiting the room and closing the door behind him.

Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko, why do I feel like I'm being suffocated? Para akong wala sa sarili na napahawak sa ankle ko na hinawakan niya kanina. I feel kind of relieved? From what? Sigurob kasi aalis na siya, and from what he said, parang hindi naman na siya babalik pa rito.

I should be happy... right? I should be ecstatic right now. No more Kio, no more hurtful memories, and definitely wala nang magsisinungaling ulit.

Tumayo ako at lumabas, hindi ko na siya nakita pa sa labas o kahit saan. Nakita ko ang dala ko na bag sa couch at kinuha iyon bago ako lumabas ng hotel room.

"Ma'am Yasmin po? Driver po ako ni Sir. Hatid ko na po kayo." wala sa sarili akong tumango at sumakay. The travel from the hotel to our apartment was quick. Wala ako sa sariling nahiga sa kama ko at tumitig lang sa kisame.

Napapikit ako ng mariin, I should feel happy. I am happy, right? I am.

~~~~

Ending soon.

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