She's My Angel with a Shotgun

CHAPTER 35

SILVER'S POV

AFTER TWO days ay inilibing na rin si Lolo Reu. Only a few close family and friends were there. Wala naman sa plano namin na patagalin ang lamay niya and the media has been bugging us for an interview. Besides that, Dad is going to be very busy talking to our investors and partners.

As for Ry, I haven't seen her since that confrontation. I feel empty. Hindi ko alam kung galit o pangungulila ba dapat ang maramdaman ko. Lalo na at may posibilidad na kabilang siya sa pagkamatay ng Lolo ko.

"That explains kung bakit halos minor lang ang injuries niya habang 'yung mga kasama ni Vanessa ay basag at bali ang buto." Tumango tango si Chase.

He's right. I was curious about that pero hindi ko nalang iyon gainwang big deal. I was only worried about Ry's condition at that time. It's all getting connected.

I'm currently at Chase's room, kapag sa amin ay baka aksidenteng marinig pa ng tao sa amin ang tungkol kay Ry. Siya lang ang nakakaalam tungkol kay Ry at sa mga kaibigan niya.

Isa siya sa pinagkakatiwalaan ko sa mga ganitong bagay. At isa pa ay hindi ko kayang ipaalam sa pamilya ko ang totoong pagkatao niya. I know it'll hurt them.

"Pero, why did she say something about protecting your family?" Chase asked.

"I don't know. I don't even wanna know."

"What do you feel?"

Nagkibit balikat ako. "I'm... disappointed."

He sighed. "Sabagay... but did you ask for an explanation?"

"To kill me?" Natawa ako. "I don't think it needs an explanation, Chase. I can't believe I fell for their trick."

Inabot niya ang laptop na hawak niya sa akin.

"That's all my cousin can find." aniya.

His cousin works for the intelligence services in the Philippines. They can access almost everything under their jurisdiction. I asked Chase if his cousins could do a favour for me. I have to know what that HQ do.

"It says that they provide security services. They partnered with a lot of private companies. Look," turo ni Chase. "... that's Ry's grandpa."

Siya ang chairman ng HQ. Kahit sa picture ay nakakatakot pa rin siya.

"You know what's cool?" ngising saad ni Chase. Nilipat niya ang slide. "Her grandpa was a former yakuza! Isn't that cool?"

"What's cool with that? They kill people, Chase."

"Then how are you still alive? Hindi ba't sinabi mo na simula palang ay iyon na ang pakay nila sa inyo? What's the reason for the delay huh? What if they really plan to protect you?"

Napaisip ako. Ry confirmed that they plan to kill me and my family. Chase's conclusion kind of makes sense. But the question is why? Why does it have to be my family? Lolo and Dad have good relationships with their business partners. Who the hell would want us dead?

I suddenly remembered the time she asked me something about this. When we were watching a movie where the girl was betrayed by the guy she likes.

'... but I wanted to hear her side, kahit masakit. Hindi niya naman gagawin 'yon kung wala siyang dahilan 'di ba?'

That's why I told her, but instead of asking for an explanation... I told her to go away. That I can't trust her anymore.

I decided to leave and call Ry but I couldn't reach her phone. Pumunta ako sa condo pero wala rin siya doon. It's still the same noong huling naroon kami which only means she never went back here.

Nagmaneho ako papunta kila Saab. Paulit ulit kong pinindot ang doorbell. Eksakto naman na lumabas si Saab kasama ang iba pa. They look like they are in a hurry. Hindi nila inaasahan ang pagdating ko.

"You don't have business here, Villanueva." si Saab.

"Let me talk to her."

"Saab! Come on!" tawag ni Seive.

Mapakla siyang ngumiti. "Really? I thought she means nothing to you now."

"Saab, please. Just let me---"

"Saab! Let's go. We'll lose her." sigaw ni Maru.

Her? "Is it Ry? What happened to her?" pigil ko.

She shoved my hands away. "Just go back to your family, Silver. Don't be such a nuisance," she warned.

I just stood there while looking at their car leave. Natauhan ako nang maalala si Ry. She's probably in danger. Bumalik ako sa sasakyan ko at pinaandar iyon. I have to follow them.

*****

RY'S POV

I let my guard down. Who would have thought that they'd target me? I was peacefully walking around our villa when a suspicious car stopped in front of me. Lulan noon ang mga tao ni Marcio. I did not fight, I can't, or I'll risk the safety of others.

Dinala nila ako sa abandonadong lugar. Sa una ay iisipin mong ito ang taguan nila but knowing Apollo, he's prepared for everything.

Kasalukuyan akong nakakulong sa isang kwarto nitong gusali. Sa sobrang bait nila ay itinali pa nila ako sa upuan. Base sa katahimikan ng paligid ay malayong malayo kami sa kalsada o anumang mataong lugar.

I know they've been trying to track me but it's no use. Marcio made sure to use a signal jammer nang makuha nila ako.

The door slowly opened and Marcio entered. Sa tabi nito ay isang babae. That must be his side chick. Sumenyas si Marcio sa babae kaya lumapit ito sa akin.

Dumampi ang palad niya sa pisngi ko. Nagpasalit salit siya sa pagsampal at sapak sa sikmura ko. Natumba ang upuan kasama ako nang sipain niya ang tiyan ko. Maging ang paa at hita ko ay hindi niya pinalampas. Katawa niya lang ang gamit niya pero parang bakal iyon na pinapali sa akin.

Hindi parin siya tumigil. Ang ilang minuto niyang pananakit ay parang naging oras na.

Napansin kong nagtutubig na ang mata ko... dahil sa mga sampal at sapak niya. Dinura ko ang naipong dugo sa bibig ko. Napangiwi ako nang maramdaman kong may sugat rin ang labi ko.

"That's unfair," ngisi ko. "Afraid that I might kill her?"

"You want it fair?" His eyes twitched. Nahuli ko ata ang pika niya.

Pinatabi niya ang babae at nilapitan ako. Kinalas niya ang tali sa katawan ko.

Bago pa ako makatayo ay sinipa niya na ako. Hipokrito ako kung sasabihin kong hindi ako nasaktan. Nilipat niya ata ang lakas niya sa talampakan niya.

"There's no fairness in this world," hinila niya ang buhok ko. He studied my face. "I would've asked you to be my girl if you're just not an enemy."

Dumura ako sa mukha niya. Imbes na laway ay dugo pa rin ang lumabas.

"You're not my type," saad ko.

Hawak pa rin ang buhok ko ay hinila niya ako patayo.

Umawang ang bibig ko nang maramdaman ko ang matulis na bagay na tumusok sa tagiliran ko. Hinila niya ang kutsilyo at tsaka ako binagsak sa sahig. Sunod ay sinaksak niya ang hita ko.

Pinigilan kong mapasigaw.

"I've been wanting to do that," tumawa siya. "You're lucky I did not kill you... yet." muli ay tumawa siya. Pagkatapos ay inaya nang umalis ang kasama niya.

Hinawakan ko ang sugat ko. The bleeding doesn't stop. Gaano ba kahaba ang kutsilyo na 'yon? Tsk. Hinila ko ang sarili hanggang sa maabot ko ang pader. Sinandal ko ang likod ko roon.

Kung hindi lang napuruhan ang hita ko ay aalis na ako dito. I just wish Saab and the rest finds me bago pa maubos ang dugo ko.

Nakaramdam ako ng pagka-hilo. Marahil ay sa nawalang dugong nawawala sa akin. I was fighting to stay awake pero hindi na kaya ng katawan ko at nawalan nalang ako ng malay.

*****