Heart By Heart (The Architects Series #2)

Chapter 29

L A U R E N

Mabilis kong pinaandar ang sasakyan ko papunta sa Residenza de Del Valle. I received a phone call from my Mom and she was asking me to come immediately.

I informed Caius about it and he approved it. Hindi na rin siya nagtanong pa.

I parked my car and lots of bodyguards were all around the mansion. Bigla naman akong kinabahan. This isn't a normal day.

Biglang sumalubong sa akin si Mommy. "My princess!" Niyakap niya ako bigla kaya nagulat ako.

I hugged her back. "What's wrong, Mom?" My mom's eyes were teary and based on her body expression, she seems like she is going to lose someone important.

Humarap siya sa akin at hinaplos-haplos ang mukha ko, hinalikan niya rin ako ng mariin sa noo. "Their were bombs implanted on your Dad's office..."

"What?!"

"Don't worry, your Dad's fine, anak. Ang pinoproblema namin ngayon ay kung sino at paano na-implanta ang mga bomba sa loob ng office ng Daddy mo," she said while sobbing.

"I thought all of our employees were background-checked? How come... this happened?" I was mentally shaking my head. This kind of death threats were not new to us. Pero, sa tanan ng buhay ko, it was this scary now.

"The security agency were now doing their very best to find out the culprit. Good thing your Dad found the bombs two minutes before it will explode." She sobbed and I let her sit for a while. "Anak, 'yung Daddy mo..."

I hugged my Mom again. She needs to be calm. Dapat hindi ma-paranoid ng husto-kung hindi, she might faint anytime.

I caressed her back and ask a maid for a water for my Mom. Kinuha ko na iyon at pilit na pinapakalma ang aking ina. Ito kasi ang iniiwasan namin-ang malaman ni Mommy na may masamang mangyayari sa pamilya namin.

As if she is going to die.

"Sila Kuya?" I asked my Mom anyway.

"Your Dad enforced another set of security guards for them, anak. Mas lalo na kila Xander," she informed. I was relieved and just concentrated on how should I calm my Mom.

After a while, my mom's phone rang.

Napatayo kaming dalawa at mabilis na sinagot ni Mommy ang tawag. "Philip? K-kamusta ka na? Hindi ka ba nasaktan? Ano na ang balita?"

I turned it into a loudspeaker mode. "I'm okay, Ruth. Nand'yan na ba si Lauren?" Tanong ni Dad.

I answered, "Yes, Dad. I'm here."

"Good. Make sure to calm your Mom, okay?" I nodded in silence. "Ruth, you don't need to panic. Ang kaso, mukhang malinis magtrabaho ang traydor. The CCTV's were hacked. Hindi namin ma-trace kung sino ang posibleng gumawa nito."

Napahagulhol si Mommy. "Philip, I can't let you risk your life. Please just go home and let them do their jobs, please?"

Napabuntong-hininga si Dad. "Ruth..."

"Mamamatay ako sa kaba dito, Philip. Please tell me our sons and Lily is safe too." Pinaupo ko ulit si Mommy. This is not good for her.

"They're okay, Ruth. Mas lalo ko lang pinahigpit ang security kila Xander. Ayokong may madamay na bata." Mom smiled sadly and held my hand.

"Tumawag ka nalang kung pauwi ka na, ha? Philip? Matagal pa ba 'yan?" Mom is like a child as of now.

"We'll try our best, Ruth. Just don't panic, okay? Lauren is there. I love you."

"Mas mahal kita..."

Ibinaba na ni Mommy ang tawag at mabilis na niyakap ako muli. "Lauren, anak. Magbabayad ang kung sino 'man ang may gawa nito sa atin..."

I BIT my nails as I tried to call Caius. Mukhang kailangan ko ng pangpakalma. Everything was adrenaline rush right now. What's happening to our family?

"Sagot..." I tapped my left foot and bit my lower lip.

"My queen?"

Napa-angat ako. "Bakit ang tagal mong sagutin tawag ko?!"

"I'm with your Dad. We're trying to figure out to retrieve the CCTV's here in DVG."

Nakahinga ako ng maluwag. "Kailangan ko kasi ng pangpakalma. Si Mommy kasi pinatulog ko muna para hindi na masyadong mag-alala para kay Dad at sa buong pamilya."

"So, what do my queen wants?"

Napayuko ako. "Can you come here?"

"You know I can't. Sorry about that." Apologetic was behind of the tone in his voice.

Napa-padyak ako. "'Yon ang gusto ng reyna mo!"

"But your king can't grant it right now."

Napaupo ako sa gilid ng kama ko. "Okay. Walang 'I love you' para sa 'yo."

He chuckled. "I love you the most, my queen." I was about to say something when I heard some background noises on his line. Maybe it was Dad's men.

The line went blank and I just lay down on my bed. I breathed heavily. Ibang klase na ang nararamdaman ko ngayon. Bakit parang pakiramdam ko...

...may mawawala?

Panigurado naman na mas lalong hihigpitan ang security sa DVG. Meron pa ring nakapasok-at sisiguraduhin kong magdudusa siya. Baka siya rin ang pasimuno ng mga death threats na tinatanggap namin simula pa noon.

"Lauren?"

Napalingon ako sa kaliwa ko at napaupo sa kama.

"Mom." Naglakad na siya papunta sa akin at umupo sa gilid ng kama.

"Anak, payakap naman..." I warmly smiled at her and immediately hugged her.

"Mom, kaya na nila Daddy ang gagawin nila doon. Trust him and his team, okay?" I comforted my mom. Masyado na siyang maraming inaalala.

She nodded a lot of times and faced me. "Dito muna ako anak?" I nodded and tried to think some topics that I could discuss with her. Lilibangin ko na rin si Mommy.

Sino nga ba ang traydor sa kumpanya?

Later that night, I am busy trying to connect things that can be related to any person in the company. I was scanning pictures, magazines and... so much more. I started to state theories-of my own. Kailangan niya matikman kung ano klaseng balik ang gagawin namin kapag nalaman namin kung sino siya.

I have a soft copy for the lists of employees in DVG. By the help of this, I might figured out who he or she is.

I started with the department I am heading of-the Landscape Architecture Department.

I startled when my phone rang. It was Dad. "Yes?"

"Lauren Denisse, where is Caius?" A drop of furious tone was painted in his voice. "We told him to go here. Kung magkasama kayo-"

"What? Wait, Dad..." I sat on the edge of my bed. "...I thought kasama niyo siya? He also called me. Nandyan daw siya."

"No, he's not here." Bigla akong kinabahan, bumigat na rin ang pakiramdam ko.

"I'll just call--"

But before I could finish, someone just hugged me from my back and forcefully injected something at the side of my neck.
I let out a long scream and tried to let go of him but I failed...

...my vision went blurry then, black.

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@ImEnigmatic This chapter is dedicated to you! :D