HIDING HIS DAUGHTER (UNDER EDITING)

CHAPTER 43

ANGELA'S POV

Confirmed. I'm pregnant.

I'm holding the three PTs, all positive. Cath, Xianna, and Shean are here with me. We're not at home.

Nandito kami sa girl restroom sa isang mall. The sterile white tiles and fluorescent lights felt oddly detached from the joyous news I had just received.

"Congratulations," sabay-sabay na sabi nila, their voices filled with genuine excitement.

"Thank you," I said, a wide, unstoppable smile plastered on my face. My heart was overflowing with happiness.

"Ipapaalam mo na ba kay Jaiden?" Xianna asked, her eyes sparkling.

"Sa ngayon, hindi muna," I replied, a mischievous glint in my eye.

"Why?" Cath asked, curiosity getting the better of her.

"I'm planning to surprise him. Tutulungan niyo ba 'ko?" I asked, looking at their eager faces.

"Of course," Shean answered immediately, her enthusiasm contagious.

"Wait, I'll tell Alvin first," sabi ni Catherine, already pulling out her phone. I, too, took out my cellphone, followed closely by Shean and Xianna.

Napakunot ang noo ko nang may nakita akong message. It was a string of random characters.

\/\/ /\/ \//\ /\// //// /\ / \\/\ /\\ /\\\ \/\ \/// /\ / /\//

It looked like gibberish, but a shiver ran down my spine.

"That person must be crazy," Xianna said, dismissing it.

"Wag mo nalang pansinin," ani naman ni Shean. Tumango nalang ako, trying to shake off the unsettling feeling.

"Ano, tara na, labas na tayo?" I asked them, trying to lighten the mood. Tumango naman sila.

Hinanap ko si Catherine. Kala ko ba tatawagan lang niya si Kuya Alvin? Bakit ang tagal? She usually wasn't one to dawdle.

"Siguro lilibot muna 'ko. We'll just meet later outside," sabi ni Shean, ever the independent one.

"I'll buy food first, I'm hungry," Xianna said, already heading towards a food stall. And I just laughed. Normal lang naman 'yan sa kanya, especially now that she's pregnant.

"Sige," I said, saka ako naglakad-lakad, a pleasant hum on my lips, enjoying the bustling atmosphere of the mall.

"Nasaan naman kaya ang babaeng 'yon?" I muttered to myself, still looking for Cath.

Biglang napatay ang ilaw dito sa mall. What the f*ck? The sudden darkness enveloped everything, plunging the vibrant mall into an eerie silence.

May naramdaman akong malamig na bagay na nakadikit sa ulo ko. My heart leaped into my throat. The cold, metallic touch was unmistakable.

"Come with us if you don't want me to blow this gun in your head." A voice whispered behind me, sending chills down my spine.

Sh*t, sino ba 'to? Hindi pa naman ako makakalaban ng maayos dahil patay ang ilaw. Paano ko makikita? My training kicked in, assessing the situation, but the darkness was a major disadvantage.

I just sighed, accepting the grim reality. Maybe they have night vision glasses, so they can see.

Tinaas ko ang kamay ko, a sign of surrender.

"I won't fight," I said, my voice steady despite the fear gnawing at me.

Kinuha nila ang kamay ko saka nila ito tinali. The ropes bit into my skin. Ang sakit! Puwede bang dahan-dahanin lang nila? My wrists throbbed with a dull ache.

"Walk," they ordered me. F*ck these people.

Labag sa loob kong lumakad. I could hear gunshots in the distance. Wag mong sabihin, pinatay nila ang mga tao dito? A wave of panic washed over me.

Kapag si Shean may nangyari doon, hinding-hindi na talaga sila masisikatan ng araw. She was strong, but those gunshots were chilling.

I knew Xianna and Catherine's backgrounds. Catherine was ranked number 2 in the Mafia, a formidable force, while Xianna was an agent, trained to handle dangerous situations. But even they could be overwhelmed.

Nang makalabas kami, napatingin ako sa kanila. Napanganga ako. Bakit ang dami nila? Naka-pulang maskara silang lahat. A sea of masked figures surrounded us, their anonymity adding to their menacing aura.

"Sino kayo?" I asked, my voice surprisingly steady, despite the fear gripping me.

"Don't ask too many questions if you don't want to die early," they said, their voices hard, devoid of emotion. I closed my eyes tightly. I'm not afraid of dying, but I'm carrying a child in my womb.

I don't want to involve my child in this. This baby is innocent.

"Nasaan ang kotse?" Rinig kong tanong ng isa sa kanila.

"Nandoon sa parking lot," sagot naman no'ng isa. I didn't know any of their names, nor did I care to.

"Lakad," sabi sa akin, kaya sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. My defiance was momentary. Kalaunan ay lumakad na rin ako.

Nang makapasok ako sa kotse, nanlaki ang mata ko nang makita ko si Cath saka si Xianna na natutulog. Their heads were slumped against each other, completely unconscious. Anong ginawa nila kay Cath saka kay Xianna? A cold rage simmered within me.

Shean was already in the car, seated beside an empty spot, her face etched with a mixture of anger and concern.

Tinabi nila 'ko kay Shean, saka inumpisahang paandarin ang sasakyan.

"They put Catherine and Xianna to sleep because they knew they'd fight back," Shean explained, her voice tight with suppressed fury.

"Are you okay?" I asked her, my voice barely a whisper.

"I'm fine. You should take care of yourself. Don't do anything that will put you in danger," she said, her eyes briefly flicking down to my belly, a silent warning.

I nodded. I looked at Xianna, her usually vibrant face pale in the dim light.

Even Xianna... I clenched my fist, a promise forming in my mind. If anything bad happens to Xianna, they're dead to Kuya Anthony. He would tear the world apart.

Tahimik lang kami ni Shean buong biyahe hanggang sa makarating kami dito. The silence was heavy, broken only by the hum of the car engine and the distant sounds of the city fading away.

Hindi ko alam kung anong lugar ito, pero gubat na ang papasukan namin. The dense foliage and towering trees loomed around us, creating a sense of isolation and foreboding.

"Baba," utos sa amin. Sumunod nalang kami. As we stepped out, the air was heavy with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves. Pinalakad nila kami papasok dito sa gubat.

Habang naglalakad kami, may nakita akong ahas. My eyes widened in alarm, a primal fear seizing me. But before it could strike, an arrow whizzed past my ear and embedded itself in the snake's head, killing it instantly.

Nagpalingalinga ako para hanapin kung saan galing ang palaso, pero hindi ko mahanap.

Ang mga nasa unahan namin ay tahimik lang na naglalakad.

Habang patuloy kaming naglalakad, napansin ko ang isang malaking bahay na itim. It loomed in the distance, a dark silhouette against the twilight sky. Ang lakas naman maka-horror nito. Ito 'yung mga nakikita ko sa TV. It looked like something straight out of a gothic horror film.

Tinungo namin iyon. Upon entering, we were met with a musty smell and a thick layer of dust.

May apat na upuan na nakahilera. Shean and I were ushered into two of them. Pinaupo nila kami ni Shean, tinali ang kamay namin patalikod. The ropes chafed against my skin, adding to my discomfort.

Maya-maya lang ay nakita namin si Catherine saka si Xianna na buhat-buhat ng dalawang lalaki. They were then seated beside us, nakatali rin ang mga kamay nila

"What do you want from us?" I finally spoke, my voice echoing in the cavernous room.

"We only need you," answered the man with striking blue eyes. Five men had just entered, their presence filling the already tense atmosphere.

They were all wearing masks, but the one in the middle had eyes like the ocean, piercing and unnerving.

"Who are you?" I asked, demanding an answer.

They ignored my question. The one with blue eyes looked at Catherine and smirked. "The leader of rank 2," he said with a smirk, acknowledging Catherine's formidable reputation.

Nang mapatingin siya kay Xianna, ay nawala ang ngisi niya. A flicker of something unreadable crossed his face.

"Xianna Esquivel," he uttered her full name, a hint of recognition in his voice.

"Pakibuhusan sila ng tubig," he ordered, his voice cold and devoid of emotion.

"Shean," he said, turning his gaze to Shean.

"Stop acting like you know everything. You don't know me," Shean said seriously, her voice laced with anger. I furrowed my brow. Who are you, Shean? Her words hinted at a hidden depth I hadn't yet seen.

Binuhusan naman ng mga tauhan niya ng tubig si Catherine saka si Xianna. The cold water shocked them awake.

"Damn it," Cath cursed, sputtering.

Xianna, however, showed no reaction. She simply glared at the man with blue eyes, her expression icy.

"It's nice to see you again, Heiro," Xianna said sarcastically, her tone dripping with venom.

"F*ck you, Heiro. When I get out of here, I'll take you and your group down one by one, starting with you," Catherine raged, struggling against her bonds. Her fury was palpable.

"Heiro?" I asked.

"This monster, he's the leader of Blood Golden Venom," Catherine said.

"Chill, Catherine. Bakit hindi mo nalang gayahin si agent Xianna, chill lang," nakangising sabi ni Heiro, enjoying her outburst.

"Sa totoo lang, hindi ko naman kayo kailangan. Si Angela lang ang kailangan ko, at maniningil na 'ko," he said, turning his full attention to me, his blue eyes unsettling.

"Go ahead, and you'll see the gates of hell," Xianna said coldly to Heiro, her voice a dangerous whisper.

"Dadaan ka muna sa akin, Heiro," sabi ni Catherine, her eyes burning with defiance.

The other four men remained standing near the door, observing the scene. Heiro, however, walked directly towards me, his presence unnervingly close.

"You are the princess of the three Hernandez, and the weakness of both rank 1 and rank 2," he said, his eyes flicking to Catherine, who glared at him with unwavering hatred.

Hinawakan niya ang buhok ko at nilalaro niya ito. His touch made my skin crawl.

"Take your hand off her," Shean said angrily, her voice shaking with barely contained fury, but Heiro ignored him, reveling in his power.

"You're lucky three big groups are willing to protect you," he said to me, his gaze intense. I just looked at him coldly, refusing to show any fear.

"Paano kaya kung patayin na kita, 'diba?" he asked his group, a sadistic grin forming on his lips.

"Why not?" Sagot ng isa. Their nonchalance was chilling.

"Now give me a gun," Heiro said, extending his hand.

Pagkabigay sa kanya ng baril, kinasa niya ito saka itinutok sa ulo ko. My heart pounded against my ribs, but I forced myself to remain calm. Pinalobo ko ang bibig ko. Control your anger, Angela.

"Subukan mo, Heiro, sisirain ko talaga ang buhay mo. Hindi lang sa 'yo, pati buhay ng mga ka-grupo mo. Wala akong ititira. Kilala mo 'ko, at sisiguraduhin kong ako ang magiging karma niyo," Catherine snarled, her voice venomous, a chilling promise of retribution.

"Don't you dare mess with the wrong person," Xianna said, her voice like ice, her gaze fixed on Heiro. Alam ko kung sino ang tinutukoy niya, si Jaiden. A silent warning about the wrath he would face.

"Damn you, you're testing my patience. 'Pag ako ang gumalaw ng larong inumpisahan niyo, hindi niyo kakayanin," Shean said, his voice low and dangerous, a clear indication that his patience was wearing thin.

"Go on, pull that f*cking trigger," I said coldly, meeting his gaze with defiance. My heart was thumping, but I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing me afraid. I had a baby to protect.