Yula's Prequel

7. A deal with Yael

Yael's

"I'm sorry gentlemen, but I need to end this meeting." Mabilis akong tumayo mula sa swivel chair at tiningnan si Yohan na nasa harapan ng conference room na abala sa pag-present ng proposed budget for next year. Nagtataka siyang titig na titig sa akin. Sinenyasan ko ang anak kong sumunod sa akin pero hindi niya agad naintindihan iyon.

Achilles was looking at me too, with the same expression as Yohan. Si Vulcan naman ay kunot na kunot ang noo. Hindi ko alam kung kailangan ko bang sabihin sa kanila na katatapos lang ng tawag mula kay Renan – ang driver ni Yula, at kasalukuyang nawawala ang anak ko. I don't want to cause panic to everyone but how can I do that when I am panicking so hard right now.

Kung ano – ano na ang naiisip ko. Bakit kukunin si Yula? Wala naman siyang ginawa. My youngest child is as pure as the angels in heaven if they really exist. Yula is innocent. Kung may kasalanan man ako sa mundo noon, iniisip kong si Yula ang tagapagligtas ko, so now, I am thinking why someone would want to hurt my daughter.

"Yael, ikaw ang nagpatawag ng meeting." Nagsalita si Ate Amalthea. "Why would you want to end it so suddenly, kakasimula pa lang natin."

"I agree, Uncle. Are you just wasting our time?" Tanong naman ni Alba – anak ni Alejandros. I looked at Yohan again. I need to get out of here so I can go and look for my daughter! Hindi dapat masaktan si Yula. Isa pa, paano ko sasabihin kay Alyza Mae ang nangyari? She will cry, and I don't like to see Alyza Mae crying. Masyado na siyang maraminh iniyak noon para sa akin.

"Dy, is everything okay?" It was Yohan who asked and that was the last straw.

"No, it's not. Yula. Yula has been kidnapped."

"Po?!" Tumaas ang tinig ni Yohan.

"Alba, call our security team. Mia Cara, please cancel all our appointments today and make sure that there is  news block out. Hindi pwedeng makalabas ito. We need to make sure that Yula is safe. If the press finds out, magiging circus lang ito and that could trigger the kidnappers. Baka kung anong gawin nila kay Yula." Mabilis na utos ni Amalthea. She is the head of the family and right now I am so thankful to her because I wouldn't know what to do.

"Dy, I'll call the youngsters. I'll make sure that they're fine."

"Don't tell them." Nanginginig na wika ko. "They might tell your mom. Saka na natin sabihin kapag kasama na natin ang kapatid mo. Just disguise it as if you're just checking them. Don't call Yana and Yuna. Nasa ibang bansa sila. Hayaan mo sila. Just text them."

"Hey, do you need anything?" Tanong ni Achilles sa akin.

"I just need to know where she is. May tracking device ang sasakyan ni Yula. Madali siyang mahahanap unless malaman ng kidnapper na mayroon ganoon ang sasakyan ng anak ko."

"Then let us hope na hindi nila malaman iyon." Sabay kaming lumabas ni Achilles ng conference room. Paglabas na paglabas ay agad akong sinalubong ni Uriel kasama ang asawa niya. I looked at her. She's supposed to be the tech genius of this family.

"We were at Miguel's office and Mia Cara messaged me. Barang can help."

"Thank you." Sabay – sabay kaming sumakay ng elevator. Kabang – kaba ako. Iniisip ko kung napapano na ang anak ko. She doesn't deserve this. My daughter only deserves to see and hear good things. Hindi dapat nasasaktan ng ganito si Yula.

Kung kailangan ng kidnapper ng pera, ibibigay ko ang lahat ng mayroon ako basta ibalik nila sa akin ng buo ang anak ko. Dapat walang galos dahil kapag ginalaw nila kahit dulo ng ng buhok ng anak ko, magkakamatayan kaming lahat.