Thorns in Roses | ✔ #TOA2018 #ProjectBadassGirls

Chapter 40 - Back Track

Balikan natin ang mga panahong walang paramdam si Yvonne...

Saan nga ba siya nagpunta?

Ano ang nangyari sa ating bida at matagal-tagal rin siyang nawala?

Paano niya natuklasan na si Dexan pala talaga ang nagtatago sa katauhan ni Vince?

Well, let’s see.

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Documents, test results, newspaper articles, print-outs, photos, mug shots... kalat-kalat ang mga ito sa ibabaw ng lamesa ni Yvonne, kasama ang kanyang laptop. Kaharap nito ang isang malawak na glass board, kung saan nakasulat ang iba’t ibang pangalan, lugar at pangyayaring hinuhukay niya ng matindi.

“Dad” she called over the phone, as a strong wind passed by her while she looks above the starry night.

Her dad, on the other line, got the seriousness and sadness on her tone, and chose to stay silent for her to continue what she was about to say.

“Vince is dead”

“Huh?” her dad’s immediate reply.

Yvonne deeply sighed, as she closed her eyes... trying to hold her emotions but still, a single tear fell from her eyes, “Dad... Vince Tiu has been dead since last year, and none of us knew about it” she said.

“W-what? But how? I thought he’s with you back there in the Philippines... how come—?”

“Dad”, a single word coated with full of pain made her dad stop speaking on the line. She can’t help it. She can’t fully absorb what she discovered just a few moments ago. She can’t accept the fact that one of her closest friend is already dead, and someone is using his identity up until now.

How could they...

How could he do such thing?

How could—

“Baby”, pag-aalo ng kanyang ama sa kabilang linya. Alam nito ang nararamdaman ng kanyang unica hija... ang sakit na nadarama nito sa bawat panahong may taong nababawian ng buhay para sa kaligtasan niya.

“Dad he killed him. Dexan is Denry’s younger brother... and he killed him. He killed him while he’s with his family in Korea, got the chance to replace him as he took plastic surgeries and pretend that he is Vince”, Yvonne voiced out.

Geoffrey, her dad, was silent for a while before he replied, “Are you sure with your accusations, Von? I know you won’t tell me something like this without proofs and—”

“I went there, dad!” Yvonne exclaimed as a sob escaped from her lips. Her eyes begun to water and her chest tighten from her emotional pain, “I... I just went there and confirm his remains, dad...”

“... I’ve already done three DNA tests that all came positive as his match... and found his prized belonging on his remains, which confirms all my doubts...”

“... he’s dead, dad. He is really dead...”

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Simula nang magkasuspetsa siyang may traydor na nakapaligid sa kanya, she started her deep digging investigation. Mula Royale Prince Gang, Bloodlust Gang at kahit sa sarili niyang grupong Flaming Five... isa-isa niyang hinalukay ang lahat ng impormasyon ng bawat isa.

Noong una ay walang lumabas na kahina-hinala sa kanilang lahat... nabago na lang noong sinimulan na niyang halungkatin ang lahat ng video files mula CCTV at hidden camera na nakapaligid sa kanya at sa mga taong malalapit sa kanya.

“Ay, may naiwang pintura sa pendant ng dog tag mo” –Jane

Ito yung video file ng CCTV sa kusina ng condo ni Kyle. Ito yung mga panahong bagong dating lang nila Kyle, Jane, Daph at Vince, at sinubukan nilang pinturahan ang mga ding-ding at kisame ng condo ng binata, pero nauwi lang ito sa isang malaking paint fight at napagkasunduang ipaayos na lang ang interior sa isang propesyunal.

“Uh-no!” biglang iwas ni Vince, “Uhm... don’t worry I got it”, dagdag nito bago palayong pinupunasan ang nasabing kwitas nito.

Nagduda na si Yvonne sa ikinikilos ni Vince... kaya simula nuon ay pinanuod niya ang lahat ng nakalap niyang video feeds sa binata.

Mula sa kakaibang mga tawag na natatanggap mga panaka-nakang alis nito sa tinutuluyang condo, hanggang sa mariing pag-iwas nito sa tuwing mayroon tatakas ng hawak sa suot nitong military dogtag... kinabahan ng todo ang dalaga. Agad na patagong kinuhanan nito ng DNA samples para i-run ng test.

His fingerprints were 100% match, but his saliva and hair samples were totally unmatched... doon pa lang, samu’t saring possibilities na ang tumakbo sa utak ni Yvonne... isa na roon na may nagpapanggap na Vince at walang kadu-dudang ito ang magta-traydor sa kanya ngayon.

As she keeps digging information... a sudden international news bombarded her.

A decomposing corpse was accidentally found at a dense part of Jeju Island, Korea by a group of tourist while they were exploring some unpopular places at the said famous island.

It is said to be a six-foot-one male, with an Asian-Western built. But due to its decomposing stage, the corpse were still unidentified—left with no identification, aside from its single personal belonging, which is a blank silver military dog tag with a kid-like carving on its back.

Who could this person be? We’ll definitely follow the proceeding of this mysterious murder case. This Amanda Wage, NNN News, Asia

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“Baby... you need to calm down”, Yvonne’s dad said.

“B-but it’s my entire fault, Dad! They’ve all died because of me and I can’t do anything about it! Why can’t I just die instead, for Christ sake?!” Yvonne exclaimed, that immediately rebuked by her dad,  “Stop saying nonsense words, Maira Yvonne!” a silent sob were only heard on his daughter’s line before he calmly added, “You do know that we can’t change the past, and you’ll achieve nothing with all those bickers you make...”

“... I know you’re a strong woman who can think of a better judgment on what’s happening now. This is a serious matter, and this currently, literally costing lives! It is you, who can only end this fight... that’s why I need my strong and fearless daughter who aimed to give her late husband, my son-in-law, the justice he needs for his death...” Geoffrey continued.

Mabilis na natauhan si Yvonne at dali-dali nitong pinunasan ang mga luhang gumapang sa kanyang mga pisngi. Nakatingin ito ng mariin sa malayo at sinabing, “Yeah, thanks for the wake-up call dad. This needs to stop, no—he needs to stop...”

“And you’ll quickly do your move before he gets the chance to escape. If you can hold him for a couple of days, we can fetch the bastard and have him tortured in front of all the members of gangster society...”

“... or if something happens and well, you can’t hold yourself up—which is a bigger possibility—the Alto Palacio will help you to clean up your mess after”

Yvonne immediately made her evil smirk as soon as she heard her dad’s words, “Thanks again, dad... you’re really the best! And for the record, I don’t need some help with this one, dad...”

“...because I’m finishing this shit on my own, nice and clean...”