Monster Hearts

CHAPTER 12

So there he stands still.
Nakakabinging katahimikan ang bumalot sa atmosphere naming tatlo. Pinapasok na ni nanay Rosi si Aki sa loob matapos niyang yapusin si kuya Alex.

" Chey, sya ba yung bago mong ka-partner? " pagbasag sa katahimikan ni kuya. I saw that smirk plastered on his face. O'cmon!! Ano nanaman balak niya?

"Yes."

Unti-unti namang lumalapit sa amin si Ron.

"Officer Ron Vincent Salvador." Inalok ni Ron ang kamay niya para makipag-shakehands kay kuya.

"Alexander" sabay kamay nilang dalawa. Nagkatitigan lang silang dalawa at mukhang ayaw bumitaw. Bromance?

*ehem. Saka lamang sila bumitaw sa pagkakahawak sa kamay ng isa't isa.

"Nice meeting you. Mauuna na muna ako sa loob Chey. " tumango nalang ako sa sinabi ni kuya.

*silence

*kroo kroo

"So.. sya ang papa ni Aki?" Pagbasag niya sa katahimikan.

" Uhmm. Yeah."

"Ahh. Buti naman at civil kayo sa isa't isa para narin sa kabutihan ni Aki." Napatawa ako bigla sa sinabi ni Ron. Mukhang alam ko na kung ano ang iningingisi ni Kuya kanina.

"Oh? Bakit?" Nakatingin kasi siya sa akin.

"Hm? Wala naman. Good to see you smile. By the way. I'm really sorry."

"Oh cut the crap Ron. You're already forgiven. I've realized that you've got nothing to do with the situation. We are both victims. Pasensya ka na kung nasisi kita, I know there are things that are still not clear to you and now I'm more willing to tell you everything. " ramdam kong napatingin siya sakin.

"You mean.." I want to laugh at his reaction but I chose to remain composed.

"Yes, I've decided to finally give you my trust. We are partners after all." Ngayon ako naman ang tumingin sa kanya. He's eyes were full of emotions. Weird but it is sparkling with... joy? He mouthed 'thank you'. I nodded and shows him my fist. From the moment our fists bumped, there I claimed and believe that this person beside me is my friend.

"Lex, what happened to your arm?" nag-aalalang tanong niya. I shrugged.

" Just a scratch. C'mon ! Pasok na tayo sa loob. There are lots of foods there."

We just enjoyed the night. I've never seen Kuya Alex from then, maybe he is busy with his guests. Then it hit me, Ron really thinks that Kuya Alex is Aki's father. Oh well, why bother let him be, I'll just tell him when he asks me.

Before he left, he came to see Aki to bid goodby. Pagpasok namin, nagbabasa si Aki at tanging bedside lamp lang ang nakabukas na ilaw.

" Manlalabo agad ang mata mo niyan kiddo." Umupo si Ron sa tabi ng kama ni Lex. Ako naman ay nanatiling nakatayo. Guess they are close already.

" Bati na po ba kayo? " tumingin sakin si Aki saka tumingin ulit kay Ron. Napatawa naman ako dun, itong batang ito talaga.

"Huh? Nag-away ba kami ng mama mo? Hindi naman eh, diba Lex?"

"Tsk." Napa-iling nalang ako.

"Anyway kiddo, I gotta go. You should sleep na at sana na-enjoy mo yung bonding nating dalawa. Next time ulit!" At nagfist bump silang dalawa.

"Opo! Salamat po ulit tito! Goodnight po, ingat ka sa pagda-drive!." Ginulo naman bahagya ni Ron ang buhok ni Aki.

"Okey, that's enough. Aki, drink your milk and then your meds. I'll be back, ok?" Tumango naman sya at sinimulan na naming lumabas ni Ron.

Nasa may main gate na kami. He is now in his car.

"Umalis ka na Ron, gabi na maaga pa tayo bukas."

"Hm. Ok. Bukas nalang natin pag-usapan yung bagong kaso na ibinigay ni Chief. " tumango nalang ako.

He then started the engine. I raise my hand. And he did the same as we waved goodbye.

-----------

"Be good to your classmates. Ok?" As I leveled our faces and he kissed me on my cheeks and forehead.

"Opo mama, you should take care of yourself more mama. I'm not strong enough to protect my queen. I love you po." He kissed me again on my cheeks. Then he ran towards his classroom

" I love you too my angel."

I rode my bike and head to the headquarters.

Pagdating ko sa opisina, naka-upo silang lahat sa may round table at mukhang mga seryosong seryoso sila.

"So what's up?" Bati ko sa kanila. Tumingin lang naman sila sa akin at sabay sabay tumingin sa oras. Owkey. I know I'm late. It's already passed 9.

"Hinatid ko lang si Aki sa school."

"Lex, upo ka muna." Umupo naman ako sa upuan ko. Ysabelle stood up at iniabot sa akin ang 3 folder.

"Ms. Lex eto na po yung bagong kaso na ibinigay ni chief. I haven't informed you about this kasi busy ka kahapon." I just nodded and scanned the folders.

"Wait, this is a cold case." As i raised the 3rd folder. They all looked at it.

"What do you mean?" Tanong naman ni Kyle.

"This case was already opened by the passed officers of this department kaso hindi nila natapos ang case at isinarado na nila yon. At ngayon, ang pinagtataka ko ay kung bakit ibinigay ulit ni chief." Napahalumbaba ako. I keep on thinking what happened?

"Miss, I already run some random check sa mga bagong news ngayon na may kinalaman sa case na ibinigay ni chief. May nagbabanta nanaman daw sa pamilya ni Senator Blanco. He is known to be a pro when it comes to anti-smuggling propagand ng gobyerno. At ngayon mukhang malaki laki ang nakabangga ng senador." Nakikinig lang ako kay Ysabelle habang binabasa ulit ang laman ng ibang folder.

"Si Senator Eric Blanco din yung lumapit dati kay chief for security reasons? According to this, it was 10 years ago, when his oldest son was threatened by gunshots when he was in school." Hmm.. I remember that news.

"Actually I have alredy encountered Sen. Blanco back when I was still in my previous department. Kaso hindi ako ang humawak ng kaso niya. It was handed sa mga higher ranks. That's 3 years ago." Pagpapaalam naman ni Ron sa amin. So, Sen. Blanco hadn't really have a break with those threats.

"So what is this case all about now?" Balik na tingin ko kay Ysabelle. It is her duty anyway.

"Last week ay nakatanggap ng package si Mr. Arvin Blanco, the eldest son of Sen. Blanco, and what suprised him ay yung laman ng package it was a bomb with his picture in it. Fortunately, decoy lang iyon at hindi sumabog."

"Bakit sa lahat naman ng anak ni Sen. Blanco ay si Mr. Arvin lang ang laging pinupuntirya? Wala na bang ibang anak ang senator?" Pag pansin naman ni Kyle. May point sya dun.

" Iyon ay dahil sa isang business tycoon si Mr. Arvin. Mainit ang pangalan niya sa media. May isa pang anak ang senator, isa ring lalaki at nag-aaral ngayon sa ibang bansa. Sa pagkakaalam ko ay low profile ang pangalawang anak ng senator at illegitimate child ito. So..." pinutol ko ang sasabihin ni Ysabelle.

"They are using the strategy of putting the life of the only successor ng pamilya Blanco at risk. This situation will tear the senator apart. " sabay sabay silang nagtinginan sa akin.

"What does Sen. Blanco and Chief Marco wants us to do?" Tanong ko kay Ron.

"He wants our team to lead the personal security of Mr. Arvin Blanco."