GAMBLE WITH FATE

Chapter 27: Acceptance

“Anong nangyayari, Cielo?” tanong ni Aphrodite habang nagmamaneho, patungo sa direksyon ng kanilang bahay.

She peered through the mirror to look at Cielo's reflection and her sister's unconscious body lying down.

“Some guys in black, tried to kidnapped Maki.” Tugon ni Cielo na nagpakunot sa noo ni Aphrodite.

“What?” Cielo nodded with a serious look on her face.

“Sino? Nakilala mo ba sila?” umiling naman si Cielo.

“Hindi, it was my first time seeing them.” sabi pa ng dalaga.

“How about Maki? Anong nangyari sakanya? Is she okay?” sunod sunod na tanong ni Aphrodite na may pag aalala sa kaniyang mukha.

“I checked her pulse, nawalan lang ata siya ng malay. Nadatnan kong ganyan na siya, I don't know what those guys did to her.” sagot naman ni Cielo dito. Aphrodite nodded but the worried look on her face is not disappearing.

Aphrodite had already entered the entrance of their compound and is just meters away from their abode, they can already see the figure of their house, but Aphrodite slowed down when her attention caught the sight of two men in black clothes.

“Sabi mo mga lalaking naka-itim? Could it be them?” tanong ni Aphrodite, tinahak ng mata ni Cielo ang linya ng tingin nito at tumambad sakanya ang mga lalaking nakaharap niya kanina.

“Yes. Paano nila nalaman ang address niyo?” takang tanong ni Cielo.

“Anong gagawin natin?” Aphrodite asked, her uneasiness worsening.

“Turn the car around, sa flat ko muna kayo tumuloy ngayong gabi.” saad ni Cielo.

Aphrodite veer the car around as she traverse the road to Cielo's condominium. Which the latter had told her where and how they can get there. In no time, they arrived on a huge building and Cielo instruct the older girl to go straight ahead to the underground garage, which Aphrodite complied.

Nang makapag-park na nang tuluyan si Aphrodite ay pinatay niya ang makina ng kotse, at lumabas sa loob ng sasakyan. Habang karga karga ni Cielo ang walang malay na si Maki sa kaniyang mga braso ay tinungo nila ang asensor at diniin ng dalaga ang hintuturo sa palapag kung nasaan ang kaniyang apartment.

When they arrived at the inside of Cielo's loft, the latter tucked Maki in on one of the guest room right away, leaving the two sisters for a moment as she take her leave to went into her office room.

Pagkapasok niya, she remove her cloak and hang it onto the rack. She opened one of the cabinet, took out a clear glass and the decanter filled with wine on top of her table as she pour herself a glass of drink, filling the glass halfway. Her lips was about to meet the rim of the glass, when the wired telephone on top of her office table started ringing all of a sudden.

With a creased forehead she set the glass down and answered the call.

“Hello?” agad niyang sabi pagkasagot niya.

“I will come to the Philippines next week and I expect you na meron ka nang mapapakilala sa'kin. Kung wala pa, alam mo na ang mangyayari.”

Cielo immediately recognized the voice and it was none other than her grandfather's. The stress she was feeling doubled as she stare at the floor, her hold on to the rim of her office table, tightening.

She muttered a, ‘yes, sir’ before ending the call.

She put down the telephone onto its shelf, she grab the decanter and started filling the halfway-filled glass all the way to the brim. Cielo lifted the glass and drank its content gradually, as she sip the last drop of wine, she sets the glass down and run her fingers through her hair, letting out a sigh afterwards.