THIRD PERSON'S POINT OF VIEW
Year 2013.
"Where's the place?!" mabilis na tanong ni Amiro sa detective na siyang tumulong din sa kanila noon na mahanap si Serise.
"Sir.... they're just at your office." nanlalaking mata sagot ng detective habang nakatingin sa cellphone nito.
"At my office?" tanong ni Amiro. "But we're at my office right now! Damn it!" Amiro said out of frustration. Napasabunot pa ito sa buhok niya.
Sobra-sobrang pag-aalala na ang nararamdaman niya para sa anak niua at para na rin kay Zamira.
"No sir, sa office na nasa bahay niyo..." usal ng detective.
Gumuhit ang takot sa mukha ni Amiro. "Oh god, please no..." usal nito bago agarang tumayo ay kinuha ang susi ng kotse niya.
He immediately called Caleb and Luigi na wala pang alam sa mga nangyayari noon. Kasalukuyan din silang nasa Tagaytay.
"Hello, yes?"
"Luigi, Caleb, I need the two of you." usal ni Amiro sa cellphone.
Hindi siya sinagot ni Luigi at kaagad nang namatay ang tawag. Napapikit si Amiro. Nanginginig ang mga kamay niya habang nagmamaneho.
"Fuck you, Ysmael...." he cursed.
"If something happens to my daughter again, I swear you bastard...." usal na naman ni Amiro.
Wait for me baby, wait for me my daughter.
****
Ng makarating sa parking lot ng bahay nila si Amiro ay kaagad niyang sinilip ang main house nila. Nakita niya na wala sila Serine at Yzamira doon at wala rin si Zanaya at Zaniya.
Lumabas ito ng main house at patakbong pinuntahan ang isang hindi kalakihang bahay sa tabi ng main house nila. Mararamdaman mo ang malamig na simoy ng hangin sa gabi.
He opened the door and saw nothing.
He punched the wall, full of frustration. Aalis na sana si Ysmael ng may marinig siyang sigaw.
"Stop!"
"No...please!"
"Don't!"
Amiro stopped.
"S-Serise..." mahinang bulong ni Amiro sa sarili. Kaagad niyang hinanap ang mga sigaw at napalunok ito ng malaman na nagmumula ito sa ilalim.
No one knows about his secret office.
Without any second thoughts, patakbo niyang tinungo ang elevator. He even punched it dahil sa mabagal na pagbubukas nun.
"Faster, damn it!" he cursed.
The moment the elevator doors slid open, Amiro was hit by a suffocating coldness that almost stole the breath from his lungs.
This place, his place—now reeked of corruption.
Originally, this underground office had been built by Amiro himself, hidden beneath the mansion, constructed in absolute secrecy during a massive renovation years ago.
It was supposed to be his sanctuary—a place where he could protect confidential files, delicate projects, and research too dangerous for the outside world.
Only three people knew it existed: Amiro, his trusted architect, and the architect's now-dead assistant.
But now... it was unrecognizable.
