Inside Your Chest Is My Treasure

Ikaanim na Kabanata

*At Palm Island.

Someone was on its phone, texting someone.

*Text message.*
"Dear, we've arrange everything as per your request."

"Thank you. I've sent the money to your account."

"No need for that, besides... I did that for my future sister-in-law. *Insert smiley face with a wink."

"Oh please.

Anyways, I've got to now. The helicopter's here. Bye."

"Ciao, baby. Have a safe flight."
*End of text message.*

*At Abun's Resort. Yacht 500. In the VIP Suite located at the upper main deck.

"Gosh Ve! It means, she just bought half of all of the companies in the world. She now has 50% shares of every company in this country and 34% of all companies in Asia are owned by her."

"What?"

Hindi pa nakakamove-on ang dalawa sa pagkabigla nang mas tumaas pa lalo ang blood pressure nito ng tumawa ng bahagya si Lindsey.

"Oh gosh! Shut up! No one's happy, Lindsey! Not me, not them, not our ancestors, and not you of all people should be!" Sigaw na bulyaw nito. "You knew how much I've worked for my company at ngayon basta-basta mo nalang aangkinin? Have you actually become crazy?" She grinned bitterly. "I know now, when was it? A year after your father had that accident?"

Hindi na sana papatol si Lindsey, but Alice made a bad move with that line.

"Don't you dare talk crap about my father!"

"Oh wow. You're protecting him? He made you this. You became selfish, entitled, and arrogant because of him!"

"Shut up! You don't know anything about my father, who is your uncle!"

"His a disgrace to the family. And so are you."

"Haha! He was never a disgrace. And for me? I made Leiova. It is because of me, that your little, pathetic company grows to be Asia's most wealthy and beloved corporation. Dare belittle me again, and I'll make sure you get a taste of how 'disgraceful' I am... with spending... your company's money." She smirked at her before leaving.

Papaalis na sana ito ng itulak siya ni Alice sa pader ng kwarto. Alice slapped Lindsey multiple times as Veronica panic to the events unfolding in front of her. She wanted to call for someone but Alice worked her up by reiterating what Lindsey did to her and to her boyfriend that put flame to an already extinguished fire inside of her. Pinagtulungan nila si Lindsey, and in an attempt to flee, Lindsey kicked Alice on the groin pero nahawakan naman ni Veronica ang buhok niya at pinaghihila niya ito. Though it was in a bun, still Lindsey struggled to get Veronica let go of her hair, Alice stood up again and saw the wine bottle, she wanted to break it into Lindsey's head pero dahil may kaunting bait pa ito, she took the bag which she didn't know has an even more painful impact than the bottle, and smashed it into Lindsey's head.

After being struck, Lindsey contemplated if it was the alcohol, the slaps, the hair pulling or that her head just got smashed by something because in a blink of an eye, she collapsed.

"Al... What have you done?"

"Did I- but it was just a bag."

A suede navy blue clutch bag, na mabigat na kahit walang lamang, that unknowingly has a wooden treasure chest inside it, that is.

Nanginginig man pero nilapitan nito ang nakadapang-walang malay na pinsan nila. Pinakiramdaman ito ni Alice and when she put her hand facing backwards on Lindsey's nose, she felt no breathing at all.

Shocked, imbis na tumawag ng sinuman ay agad kinuha ni Alice ang kamay ni Veronica at hinatak ito papalayo sa walang malay na Lindsey.

"Ayayay... Sabi ng may sa walang hiya 'yang mga apo mo eh."

"Siyang tunay, inang! Iniwan ba naman ang anak ng anak ko. Mga bastos!"

"Siya, siya! Tumahimik na nga kayo. Tingnan niyo."

"Lumiliwanag na naman ang kaban."

"Sa tingin ko, panahon na. Maging leksyon sana ang paglalakbay niyang ito, upang mapabuti ang pagkatao ng batang ere." Sabay lagay ng something sa likod ni Lindsey.

*Before the day started. At midnight, while Lindsey was sleeping like a baby.

"Ano ang tingin niyo sa bagong tagapangalaga ng ating yaman?"

"Mukhang matino naman ere." Ani ng isang matandang babae na nasa limampung-taon gulang na.

"Nako! Matino ba kamo? Hindi ba at kay rami niya ng napabagsak na negosyo dahil sa kahangalan niya!" Bulyaw naman ng isa pang matandang babae.

"Ako man ay hindi siya gusto. Sakit sa ulo lamang ang dala ng batang ito." Saad naman ng matandang lalaki.

"Bakit mo naman nasabi iyan, Apo Ian? Mabait naman at masunuring bata itong ating munting Lindsey, ah." Sambit na malumanay ng isang mga nasa tatlumpo ang gulang na babae.

"Ay nako! Narinig niyo ba ang sabi niya kanina? Itinigil niya ang kasunduang nagtataglay ng kaniyang pagkikipag-asawa sa batang- sino nga uli iyon? Yaong magandang lalaking parating pumupunta rito?"

"Si Diego?" Saad ng matandang babae.

"La, sekretarya lamang ni Lindsey si Diego. Si Gustavo po yung ibig sabihin ni Apo Ian, la." Saad naman ng babaeng nasa tatlumpo ang gulang.

"Ah, Gustavo ba ngalan nun?"

"Opo, Gustavo Imperial."

"Aba yun nga yata yun."

"Ano namang meron kung kaniyang itigil ang kasunduan? Kung totoo mang hindi niya tunay na iniibig ang binata. Ano pa ang saysay ng kaniyang pagpapakasal rito?" Tanong naman ng isa pang batang babae na nasa mga dalawampu't-pito o walo ang gulang.

Habang nagbabangayan ang mga matatanda ay bigla namang umilaw ang loob ng vault ni Lindsey.

"Nako! Tila may hindi magandang mangyayari." Ani ng matandang lalaki.

"Anong ibig niyo pong sabihin?"

"Mahirap talagang suliranin ang batang ito pagkat siya'y tinatawag ng Ninunong Alili."

"Teka... Napakalayo naman noon."

"Wala na tayong magagawa. Malas niya lang pagkat may pagmamay-ari siyang susi ng mahiwagang kaban." Ani ng matandang babae ng lumabas na ang kaban sa loob ng vault.

"Okay, ba-bye!" Sabi ng isang matandang babae at naglaho na.

"Aba teka! Oi, oi! Ako naghatid noon, huwag kayong ganiyan."

"Apo Ian, ako na-"

"Hindi!" Sabay namang pambabara ng dalawang matandang babae at ni Apo Ian.

"Ah neng, kami na bahala rito. Makakaalis ka na." Mahinahong ani naman ng babaeng nasa tatlumpo ang edad.

Nang makaalis na ang batang babae, ay nagpabuntong hiningan na lamang ang tatlo.

"Halos mahimatay ako roon ah."

"Loko! Matagal ka ng binawian ng hininga." Ani naman ng matandang babae.

"Siya, siya. Tumahimik na nga kayo. Sino maghahatid at gagabay nito."

"Bato bato pick na."

"Ay nako." Singhal ng matandang lalaki.