The Four People Who Read Minds

Chapter 19

XIX – Her Mind

Isabelle Cruz,

CEO, 26

I started the fire. I finally remember how everything turned into ashes because I was greedy for love and care especially from my mother. Nu'ng unang beses na dinalaw niya 'ko, sobrang saya ko. Akala ko nga nagbago na ang isip niya. Akala ko kaya siya bumisita, para kunin na ulit ako. But I now regret, in every single day of my life, that I ever agreed to her cruel scheme back then.

"Mommy, will you promise to come back for me if I do what you told me?"

"Yes baby, I will be very very happy." I remember her saying.

"Pero sinabi mo sa'kin before that I should never play with fire."

"You're not going to play, Isa. You just have to find the treasure box in the garden and burn it for me. You love treasure hunting 'di ba?"

I nodded. I was so excited because she looked so happy and pleased that I was following her instructions. After that, I ran to find the 'treasure' she was telling me.

Amoy gasolina na ang paligid, pero bilang inosenteng bata, I only thought of the box.

"Ate Isa? Ate Isa may nakita akong lalaki kanina," A child younger than me said. I hated her; I hated that child.

"Shh, 'wag ka maingay. Naghahanap ako ng treasure." At nang nakita ko na, lumawak ang ngiti ko. Dali-dali kong nilabas ang lighter na hawak.

"Ate, anong gagawin mo?!"

"Du'n ka na nga! Wag mo 'kong pakialaman."

"Susunugin mo 'yan? Pero sabi nila sister hindi tayo dapat naglalaro ng apoy."

"But mommy asked me to do this."

"Pumunta si mommy dito?"

I hated when she calls my mom her mom. She was only my step-sister, and the main reason kung bakit pinaalis din ako sa sarili kong bahay. I ignored her and then did as I was told, hanggang sa napasigaw na lang kami pareho nang bigla itong kumalat.

***

The ever elegant Olivia Zablan will grace us with her presence in just a few hours, and I'm just so excited to see her again.

"Isa," As usual, si Carlos nanaman ang bumungad sa'kin pagbukas ng elevator.

"Good morning, Carlos." Bati ko. As soon as we both entered my office, he grabbed me by wrist and pinned me on the wall. "What is wrong with you?!" Kita ko ang inis sa kanyang mga mata. And at once, I read that he's been thinking about me and Eric.

"You are mine, Isabelle."

"Ano ba'ng nangyayari sa'yo?" I asked though I already have an idea of what he's about to say.

"Anong meron sa inyo ni Eric? Why did you spend overnight with him?"

"Are you stalking me?" Yes, obviously he is. "You're obsessed..."

"I love you, Isa." Hinigpitan niya ang pagkakayap sa'kin, and before I could even refuse, cupped my face and kissed me. My heart never skipped a bit with this guy. I just know that I can't love him back.

"Carlos, please," I pushed him, he let go, and I just froze when I saw Eric. Kanina pa ba siya nakatayo du'n? Well, his face tells me so.

"What?" Tanong ni Carlos habang nakatingin kay Eric. "Hindi ka pa ba nasanay sa'min ni Isa?"

Eric looks pained. Hindi na siya nakakibo pa at lumabas na lang. I didn't let Carlos block my way. I followed him at once.

"Eric," Pagtawag ko at hinarap siya. "What you saw was,"

"Daily routine mo." He said, coldly.

"No! I'm so sorry, I swear I tried avoiding him," Napahinto ako sa pagsasalita nang papalapit sa elevator si Airra. Nagtataka itong nakatingin sa'min, but otherwise pressed the elevator button.

"Excuse me, Ms. Cruz, hinahanap na ho ako ni boss Ronald sa baba." He said without looking at me.

He is to be with Airra alone. Ayun pa nga lang ang sakit na sa'kin knowing na gusto siya ng babaeng 'yon. Ano pa kaya 'yung sakit na nararamdaman niya after seeing me and Carlos kissing?

***

Mag-aalas kwatro na nang paalis na sana kami ni Carlos at kuya Ronald para sunduin si Ms. Olivia sa airport. But surprisingly, she's already entering the building.

"Ms. Cruz! Si madam ba 'yon?" Gulat na sabi ni kuya Ronald. Sa buong sanitary department, siya ang pinaka-malapit sa aming board of directors. "A-akala ko po ba..."

"Well, I also thought we're going to pick her up!" Gulat at natutuwa kong sabi.

"Madam, ako na ho magdadala nito." Isang maleta lamang ang kinuha ni kuya Ronald dahil iyon at isang handbag lang naman ang dala ni Ms. Olivia.

"Welcome back, Ma'am," Bati ni Carlos at nakipag-shake hands.

"Thank you Carlos, looking good as always huh."

"Ma'am, akala ko po sasalubungin namin kayo?"

"Isabelle, my daughter!" She ignored my question and hugged me instead. "You know I love surprises..."

I didn't get everything that she said after that, because I suddenly had a glimpse of my future with her. May bago siyang i-aappoint na CEO ng kompangyang 'to.

I would no longer be the CEO but... Eric?

"Isa, are you listening?"

"Huh?" Tumango lamang ako and forced a smile.

"Anyway, before we discuss my welcome party, I want to see what all the departments are up to." Buti na lang ready na naman ako sa mga kailangan kong i-update sa kanya. Sa sobrang gamay ko na din ang lahat ng pinagkakaabalahan ng mga empleyado namin, hindi na siguro halata na may iba akong iniisip. Hindi kaya nagkamali ang vision ko? Paano nangyaring andu'n si Eric?

"Isa, checking on our company is not my only agenda. My informant told me that my son is actually working here." Nasa loob na kami ng office ko with no ears around. Just the two of us.

Matagal nang nabanggit sa'kin ni Ms. Olivia ang tungkol sa nawawala niyang anak. Hindi niya lang alam kung paano at saan ito hahanapin lalo na't sanggol pa lang nu'ng iniwan niya ang bata.

"You know, life is such an interconnected game. Those who are in the web are bound to find their ways sooner or later, as long as they both have the desire to meet."

Ms. Olivia is the queen of wise quotes. Kaya sobrang hands down ako sa kanya. Pero kung totoong si Eric ang papalit sa'kin, maniniwala na din akong mapaglaro nga ang tadhana.

"Do you recognize him?" Inilapag niya ang litrato ng isang binata na kahawig na kahawig ng lalaking mahal ko. "Years ago, I was desperate to abort that child—my child. Nilapitan ko ang isang babaeng manghihilot. Kilala siya noon sa barrio naming bilang pinakamagaling. She failed to abort the child. She almost went crazy. But you know what's strange? 'Yung babaeng 'yun pa pala ang nag-ampon at nag-alaga sa anak ko. And then I received a mail from her a month ago about it. She said she's close to dying."

Naalala ko si lola sa Maragandon. Siya lang ang pamilyang kinikilala ni Eric. But who would have thought na siya ang anak ng founder ng Zablan Jewelry Inc. Who would have thought, really?

"I know him, Ma'am. I know him very well." I said.

"Talaga? Pwede ko ba siyang makita ngayon?" May namumuo nang luha sa kanyang mga mata, at hindi ko na kailangan pang basahin ang isip niya para malaman kung gaano siya kasabik makita ang kanyang anak.