The Exchange Deal (TBS: Book 1)

Chapter 65 - Open Your Eyes

Sophia

"Bakit mo to nagawa sa amin, Monna?" I asked with disappointment on my voice.

"I'm sorry, Miss Sophie. Nagmahal lang naman ako. Mahal ko si Clint..."

I cut her off. "Mahal? No! He was just using you. Hindi mo ba yun nakita? He's doing this to us dahil hindi pa rin nito matanggap na nawala na sa buhay niya yung babaeng mahal niya."

She shook her head. "You don't understand. Alam kong darating ang araw na kaya niya rin akong mahalin."

Hindi talaga ako makapaniwala na kaya akong traydurin ni Monna. I treated her as a true friend. I was there when the time she needed my help, financial man o emotional. Kaya pala nalaman ni Clint yung plano namin ni Gavin na pumuntang Italy dahil kay Monna. I called her before we left from the hotel.

"Monna, pinaikot ka lang ng gagong yun! I know you're smart kaya alam mo na agad yun sa simula pa lang," ani Gavin na halatang nadismaya rin kay Monna.

Umiling na naman to. "Gaya ng sabi ko, mahal ko siya at kahit ano pang pangungumbinsi niyo sa akin hindi pa rin magbabago yung desisyon ko," mariin nitong sabi.

"At kaya mong ipahamak si Sophie? Itinuring ka niyang bilang tunay na kaibigan." Gavin never stopped convincing her. But I knew already what's on her mind. Kilala ko si Monna at alam kong hindi namin kayang baguhin yung laman ng utak nito.

"I'm sorry, Soph. I just did what I think is best for him," pagmamatigas nito.

"You're crazy as well!" Tumaas na yung tono ng boses ni Gavin.

"Oo, husgahan niyo pa ako ng kahit ano hindi pa rin ako aalis sa tabi niya." Pagkatapos nitong sabihin ang mga katagang yun umalis to sa harapin namin.

"Monna... Monna..." I called her but she preferred to build a wall between us. Wala na akong ibang magawa kundi ang umiyak. Gavin hugged me tightly.

"Shss... tahan na, Sweetheart... Pangako, gagawa ako ng paraan na makakatakas tayo dito," he whispered.

Lumipas ang ilang minuto bigla na namang bumukas yung pinto at pumasok yung dalawang lalaki na may dalang baril. Natakot ako but Gavin held my hand.

May isa pang lalaki na pumasok din at may dalang food-tray. Inilapag nito sa sahig yung bitbit na tray.

"Kainin niyo yan kung ayaw niyong mamatay sa gutom," sabi nung isang lalaki na may dalang baril.

Lumingon ako kay Gavin at napansin kong tahimik lang tong nakamasid sa tatlong lalaki. Maya-maya pa'y tuluyan ng lumabas yung tatlo at isinara ulit yung pinto.

"Sweetie, I know you're hungry but that food is not safe to eat. Baka may lason yan," sabi ni Gavin habang nakatingin sa pagkain. He was right. Hinding-hindi kasi mapagkatiwalaan si Clint.

Pero nakaramdam ako ng awa para kay Clint. I didn't know that something bad happened to him, to his girlfriend before. Kaya pala ganun na lang kalaki yung galit nito sa pamilya namin. Ano ba tong nagawa nina Dad at Zach?

"Kaya ko namang tiisin yung gutom ko, Hon. Don't worry about me, okay?" sagot ko kay Gavin. But suddenly I remembered what happened to him. "Wait, are you really okay? Yung ulo mo?" nag-alala kong tanong sa kanya. Sobra yung takot kong naramdaman kanina nang makitang unti-unting bumagsak sa harapan ko si Gavin. It killed me slowly.

He tried to smile. "I'm fine, Sweetie."

Alam kong tiniis lang niya yung sakit na naramdaman sa buong katawan. He wasn't really fully recovered after what those men did to him on the parking area of his own place.