The Exchange Deal (TBS: Book 1)

Chapter 39 - Stay With Me

Gavin

Halos nadurog ang puso ko nang makita ko siyang umiiyak. Niyakap ko siya ng mahigpit, sobrang higpit. Yung galit at hinanakit ko sa kanya dito sa loob ng puso ko ay kaya kong isantabi muna. She needed me.

"Shss... Tahan na," sabi ko habang hinaplos ng marahan ang kanyang likuran. Ramdam ko pa rin yung paghikbi niya. Whoever did it to her I will do my best to find that asshole.

Naramdaman kong bahagyang gumalaw si Sophie. She slowly pulled her body away from me. I cupped her face when I finally laid on her gloomy eyes. She looked so exhausted. I bent my head to kiss her on the forehead.

"You'll be fine," I murmured, giving her my assurance that I would never leave on her side.

We were sitting on a sofa. It was the first time na nakapasok ako sa farmhouse niya. It was beautiful and elegant as I had noticed, kasing ganda niya. Kailangan kong suriin ang parteng yun o kahit yung buong farm niya. Who knows, isa pala sa mga tauhan niya ang may kagagawan nito. She wasn't safe on her own house anymore.

Mahigpit kong hinawakan yung mga kamay niya. The only way I could show to her how much I love her. Nilingon ko yung dalawa niyang tauhan na babaeng kausap niya kanina.

"Please, leave us alone," marahan kong utos sa kanila. Pagkatapos kong sabihin yun tumango naman sila at saka lumisan.

"Salamat..." narinig kong sambit galing sa bibig ni Sophie. She spoke softly and sounded awful. It made my heart pounding heavily.

I wiped her tears. "Everything will be fine. Trust me, Sweetheart."

She shook her hear in exasperation. "How...? How on earth we could get those flowers back? We need it now," mangiyak-ngiyak niyang tugon.

"Baby, let's figure it out, okay? But for now... please, calm down. Ayokong makita kang nagkaganyan," I uttered, stroking her hair.

"Gavin, we don't have much time. Dapat ngayon pa lang naideliver na yun sa shop ko."

"I know, Sweetheart. Don't worry, gagawa ako ng paraan. Okay?" I insisted.

"I can't believe it's happening to me," matamlay niyang sabi.

"Everything happens for a reason, Sweetheart..." bigla ako napatigil sa pagsasalita. I had come to realize that my own line meant for me. Maybe, God was trying to settle things between me and Sophie. "Wait, anong sabi ng mga pulis?" I asked, trying to divert my mind.

"Baka... baka daw iba yung motibo ng may kagagawan nito. Hindi raw ito simpleng carnap case dahil wala naman talaga sila mahihita sa sasakyan na yun. The color was pink and lavender. Sino ba namang lalaki ang gugustuhing sumakay dun? The body was printed with my farm's name, Sophie's Garden..."

"But they could repaint it. At yung makina puwede pa nila magamit yun," putol ko sa kanya.

I felt her sighing deeply. "You're right. But the car doesn't matter to me, less matter... Ang gusto ko lang naman ay makuha uli yung mga bulaklak."

"Lahat ba ng mga tauhan mo dito ay mapapagkatiwalaan?" makahulugan kong tanong.

Her brows furrowed. "What do you mean?"

"Look, you're not safe here, Soph. Baka isa sa kanila ay kasabwat ng mga kriminal na yun..."

"Gavin, matagal ko ng kakilala ang mga tauhan ko dito. Yung iba ay anak pa ng mga tauhan nina Lolo't Lola Mathilda sa hacienda...No... No, you are suspecting with the wrong people," pailing-iling niyang saad.

"Sometimes money can drive a person to do the wrong thing," madiin kong sabi. "I don't want you to get hurt, Soph." Dinala ko yung mga kamay niya sa bibig ko para hagkan. She sighed contentedly. And I felt it.