Hold Me Close (DeMarcus 1)

Chapter Nine

EVELYN DeMARCUS

"Kuya Rus is in Ilocos to check out our hospital there. Si kuya Ruel naman, busy para sa proposal niya mamayang gabi. So there's really no one who can accompany me, ate," Eva said with a pout. Napailing ako habang siya ay mas pinagbutihan ang pagpapaawa sa'kin. "Hindi ka man lang ba naaawa sa'kin, ate? I can't go to the event alone! Ako lang ang mag-isa doon, if ever!"

I raised a brow. Hindi ako naniniwala diyan. "Why don't you take mom and dad? I'm sure gusto ka nilang samahan. After all, it is a parent meeting."

She waved off my comment. "Mom and dad are in Palawan for the week, 'di mo ba naaalala, ate?"

Crap. I totally forgot. Kaya pala cancelled ang Sunday brunch namin dahil wala nga pala sila dito. It totally flew my mind na itong weekend na 'to ang alis nila. And now Eva was bugging me dahil wala siyang kasama. It's in a time like this na pinagpapasalamat ko ang pagka-clingy ni Russell dahil 'di siya magaatubiling samahan ang bunso namin. But because of his business trip, I'm her only option now.

"Ano'ng oras ba daw kasi ang dinner ni Ruel at Kyla?"

Ruel, the second youngest, was preparing to propose to his high school sweetheart and long-term girlfriend, Kyla. Hindi na kami nagulat nang sabihin niya 'yon dahil alam na naming lahat na doon rin naman pupunta. Out of all of us, Ruel was the most emotional and the most in tuned to his feelings. Siya ang pinaka-seryoso pagdating sa lahat ng bagay, especially sa love.

"Six, but I really don't want to disturb him, ate. Abala siya sa pag-aayos sa venue for later," sabi ng kapatid ko.

I glanced at the pile of paperworks I needed to do then towards my sister. Nang makita ko ulit ang pagsimangot niya ay nawala na ang lakas kong humindi sakanya. None of us could ever deny our baby what she wants, anyway.

"Okay, I'll go with you. But I have to attend a meeting before lunch."

Lumiwanag ang mukha niya at masigla siyang napapalakpak. "Of course, ate! Thank you, thank you!"

"Don't worry about it. Magkita nalang tayo doon..."

She nodded eagerly again. Tumayo siya at humalik na muna sa pisngi ko bago nagpaalam. I only shook my head as she left my office. I'm really glad she didn't become a brat from all of us spoiling her. Baka tuluyan nang sumakit ang ulo ko kapag nangyari 'yon...

I distracted myself for the new few hours with work. It's been three days since I last saw Third. Pinagbawalan ko na siyang makapasok sa building at tinanggal ko na siya sa visitor's list ng condominium ko. I know I'm basically torturing myself, pero kailangan ko lang talaga ng panahon na patawarin ang sarili. I hope to love him when I'm whole, not when I'm shattered in pieces.

At ten in the morning, umalis na ako ng opisina kasama ang secretary ko para sa isang meeting. There have been some slight alimonies with our company at naghire ako ng isang investigator upang tignan kung ano ba ang nangyayari. We've been having so many delays and missing funds kaya gusto kong malaman kung paano 'yon napapalampas. We have some of the best corporate lawyers in our general counsel, but my gut has been telling me to be wary of them lately. Hindi ko alam kung bakit.

"Mr. Russell is in Ilocos for your hospital there, yes?" tanong ni Rocco, my hired private investigator.

I nodded. "His secretary noticed some unbalanced numbers on the books. Inutusan ko siyang pumunta roon para tignan ng mas masinsinan."

"And I assume you two are the only ones that know this?"

"Yes. I made sure he was under the pretense of a check-up for renovations."