Our Family's Secrets

Chapter 16: Who?

-Steph-
It has been exactly three weeks since Jessica had gone missing. Until now, wala pa din kaming balita sa kaniya. She left her cellphone. We can't contact her. Kaya mahirap siyang i trace. Hindi pa namin pinapaalam sa public dahil baka mas lalong gumulo. Even our parents doesn't know.

"Sigurado ba kayong the CCTV's are all shut down nung nawala si Jessica?" Isa pang tanong ko sa mga staffs namin.

"Yes po Ma'am. That was 4 in the afternoon. Ang ipinagtataka lang po namin, nakatulog yung mga guards ng lahat ng gate. Tapos alam pa nung kumuha kay Ms. Jessica na magisa lang siya dito nung mga oras na yun." Pagpapaliwanag pa niya.

"Here. Bring this to the cyber team. I want you to trace all her transactions in the past few days. Tell me agad kapag may nahanap kayo." Then nag bow na sila.

I forgot to say something. Our family also owns an agency. We hire special agents, teach them, etc.

Ever since Jessica disappeared, hindi mo na maka usap si Krystal. Even Keon cant calm her.

"Boo. I think you should rest na. Don't stress yourself. Makaka sama yan sa baby." Khun reminded me then went to my back to massage me.

"I know. I just can't help but worry. Pinsan ko yun. And look. Naawa na ako kay Krystal. She's been like that for almost 3 weeks. Hindi ako sanay." Sabi ko at napa hilamos nalang ng mukha.

"Everything will be alright. Trust me." He said then hugged me from the back. Oh. Hiw sweet of him.

Maya maya pa nagulantang kami ng pumasok si Tyrone sa bahay. What is he doing here?

"Nasan si Jessica?" He worriedly asked.

"Nasa puso mo" Krystal sarcastically answered then slightly laughed.
"As you see, she's not here. Missing." She added.

"Since when?" Tyrone asked.

"3 weeks ago." I answered.

"Teka nga muna, Bro. Let me ask you. Why is it you're here?" Khun asked at napa upo nalang si Tyrone sa tabi ni Krystal.

"You really want to know?" We all nodded then put our attention to him. It seems like he has something to say.

"I'm her real boyfriend."

"What the freak!" Gulat at di makapaniwalang sabi ni Krystal. I just ordered her to calm down at natahimik naman siya.

"Wait. What do you mean, you?" Tanong sa kaniya ni Khun

"We started dating two years ago. And exactly two years ago din since Jess started to receive death threats. We believe that it's from a girl. A female. Binabantaan siya to stay away from me or else she'll touch our families. That's why we decided to keep our relationship a secret."

"Then about 3 months after we started dating, she met Tyler. Since rumors were spreading that those two are dating, we grabbed the opportunity. We asked Tyler for help. He knows what's happening at willing naman siya to help."

"3 weeks ago, Jessica received another threat. That's why we decided to lay low. We just text. Facetime, viber. We don't meet outside. Dahil alam namin na naka bantay siya. She's just around." Pag e explain niya. I cant help but cry upon hearing my cousin's story. For two years, she's been experiencing that pero wala siyang sinasabi sa amin. Nilapitan naman ni Khun si Krystal for a hug. Alam kong siya ang pinaka nasaktan.

"Then why don't you reveal this to public? Everything." Suggest ko.

"We've talked about that for several times pero hindi talaga pwede. We don't know what she can do or will do kapag ginawa namin yun." he added.

"Just tell me if you need my help. You all know that I'm willing to sacrifice for the person I love." He said goodbye at hinatid na siya ni Khun sa labas. Ako naman, pumunta sa kwarto ni Jessica sa taas to look for her stuffs. There might be something hidden here.

I looked for almost an hour pero wala. She's very secretive, indeed.

"Kung hindi lang gumagawa ng masama si Cherreen, i'd really think that she's the one behind this." Khun said then laughed to lighten up the mood.

"Why do you think so?" Tanong ko sa kaniya.

"Cherreen likes Tyrone. A lot. She's so obsessed with him."

"We all know your sister can't do that"

--
-Jessica-
I woke up again, dahil sa sakit ng katawan ko. Ugh. I'm still tied here. It has been three weeks. I'm worried about Tiffany. Baka nai stress siya over this.

"Hello, Jessica." Bati niya sa akin. She's here again.

"What is it that you want, Cherreen?" Yes. Tama. Cherreen Horvejkul. Why? How?

*Flashback 3 weeks ago^

I received a message from my secretary na may emergency sa office kaya naman umalis ako agad. But when I got to the office, my secretary said that he didn't send me a message. Kaya naman I quickly  checked my phone. And there. A message from an unknown number.

"Hahaha. Just driving off your attention. You may go home now."

I followed her at umuwi na ako. To my surprise, Tiffany and Krystal wasn't here.

"Tiffany and Krysler are on the mall. Anyway, it's me, Cherreen."

Kinilabutan ako nung mabasa ko yung Cherreen. It's her? Siya yung nagte threat sa akin?

So I quickly dialed Krystal's number to confirm if they're really on the mall.

"Where the hell are you two?"

"Unnie? Nasa mall kami. Kasama ko si Ate Steph."

"Umuwi na kayo. Right now. And if you see Cherreen there, iwasan niyo. Umuwi na kayo. Please lang. I'll send some bodyguards right away."

"Huh? Why avoid her? We're with 4 bodyguards." Sagot ni Krystal sa akin.

"Basta. I'll tell you when you get home. Sundin niyo lang ang mga bodyguards niyo--- ah! Andwe!" Was the last words that I was able to say and the next thing I knew, nasa isang warehouse na ako.

*present time*

"We both know what I want." She said then game me her evil smile.

"Fine. I'll give him to you. Just don't touch my family. Don't you dare!"