Miss Danger Finder

28: The Real Heir

"DO YOU regret it, Eun?"

Natigilan si Eun sa pagtutuyo ng buhok niya gamit ang hawak niyang towel dahil sa tanong ni Kiha. Napatingin siya sa projector sa dingding ng kuwarto niya kung saan makikita ang magandang mukha ng babae. Kausap niya ito gamit ang videocall na means of communication nila simula nang nagpunta itong London. "Regret what?"

Kiha rolled her eyes at him. Pagkatapos, nangalumbaba ito sa mesa at binigyan siya ng istriktong tingin. "Easton Euan Rivera," pagbuo pa nito sa pangalan niya. "Abandoning Rara."

Magulo ang isipan niya kaya tinawagan niya si Kiha para kausapin. Ikinuwento niya rito ang lahat ng nalaman niya ngayong araw. And now, it was time to hear her thoughts.

Umupo siya sa lazyboy chair sa tabi ng king size bed niya, saka niya kinuha ang canned beer sa night table para buksan at inumin 'yon. Hindi na siya nag-abalang magbihis dahil sanay naman si Kiha na makita siyang nakasuot lang ng white bathroom robe. "I can't help her, Kiha," sabi niya pagkatapos uminom ng beer. "Kuya Weston will hurt my friends if he finds out I'm helping Rara get her revenge on him for her cousin's sake."

"Do you still hate Vika Sandoval?"

"There's no reason for me not to," katwiran niya. "She stole Kuya Weston from you in the most horrible way. You ended up alone in a foreign country with painful memories and poor mental health. Sydney and Spence almost got in danger because of her. Not to mention the awful things she did with the young girls in Beta Sigma." Napailing-iling siya dahil sa tuwing naririnig niya ang pangalan ni Vika, naaalala niya lang ang mga ginawa nito noon sa mga taong malalapit sa kanya. "She's a horrible person."

"You hate her but not Weston?"

Napapiksi siya sa sinabi nito. "Kiha..."

"Weston is the most horrible person here, Eun," nakangiting paalala nito sa kanya. "If you have to hate on someone, it's supposed to be your big brother."

Hindi siya nakasagot dahil napahiya siya.

"I know that you still blame yourself for what happened between Weston and your parents," maingat na pagpapatuloy ng babae. "Dahil sa guilt mo, sinusunod mo ang lahat ng gustong mangyari ng kuya mo at hinahayaan mo lang siyang gawin ang mga ginagawa niya."

"That's not it, Kiha," katwiran niya. "I just really can't do anythi–"

"You have the power to stop Weston," mariing giit naman ni Kiha. "You know that, Eun. Takot ka lang sa kuya mo kasi na-gi-guilty ka pa rin sa nangyari noon. But if you really want to stop your brother, you can. Weston knows that so he's cruel to you and your friends."

"Do you want me to stop Kuya Weston and the Clique, Kiha?"

"That's for you to decide, Eun," sagot nito. "What do you want to do?"

His façade crumbled because of that question. Kiha was one of his closest friends and he didn't really want to lie to her. "I want to be with Rara."

Napangiti si Kiha na parang inaasahan na ang sagot niya. "Why don't you?"

"I don't want to betray you," pag-amin niya. "Sydney and Spence, too."

"Eun, I'm doing better now," gentle na sabi ng babae. "I've had a horrible experience before I left but thinking back, I can't really blame anyone but myself. Tama ka no'ng sinabi mo noon na dapat eh may ginawa ako para ipagtanggol ang sarili ko. But I can't really remember why I decided to stay idle then. I felt like I was in a trance for a long time. My memory must have been hazy because of my breakdown. And when I "woke up", I was confused so I chose to run away."

"Kiha..."

"Running away turns out to be the best choice for me, Eun," pag-a-assure nito sa kanya. "Okay naman ang buhay ko dito, eh. I found new friends and I met a guy who's good to me."

Tumaas ang kilay niya sa narinig. "You're dating him?"

Ngumiti lang ito bilang sagot sa tanong niya. "Anyway, my counselor has been a huge help to me. Thanks to her, my mental health is improving." Tinuro nito ang mukha nito. "Do you see how clear my skin is now?"

Natawa siya sa biro nito. "I'm genuinely happy that you're doing well, Kiha."

"Thank you," nakangiting sabi ng babae. "Eun, I don't hate Vika. At least, not anymore. She did hurt me but it's partly because I let her. Kahit na siya ang cause ng misery ko noon, hindi pa rin mababago 'yong fact na mapipigilan ko naman ang paglaki ng problema kung hindi ako nagpatalo sa fear at shock ko no'ng iniwanan ako ni Weston." Inangat nito ang tasa ng green tea nito at sumimsim muna ito ng tsa bago nagpatuloy. Ah, that green tea reminded him of Rara. "Now that my head is clear, I realize that Vika might have been manipulated by Weston then. She's just a freshman like me, Eun. Tingin mo ba, maiisip niya ang lahat ng 'yon on her own?"

"Do you think she's been manipulated by Weston?"

Tumango ito. "Pero naisip ko lang 'yon no'ng ibalita mo sa'kin ang ginawa niya sa sarili niya. Maybe she thought that taking her own life was the only way she could run away. But of course, my guess is as good as yours. Hindi natin alam ang reason niya para gawin 'yon." Tumaas ang kilay nito at alam niyang may naiisip na naman itong ipagawa sa kanya. "Rara is looking for the reason why Vika tried to commit suicide, isn't she?"

"You want me to help Rara with her plan?"

"Do you want to?"

Ah, she got him good with that question again.

"I haven't forgiven Vika nor do I want to help her," pag-amin niya. "But I can't leave Rara alone. Hindi ko siya puwedeng pabayaan na sumugod mag-isa kay Kuya Weston. Aside from Alpha Kappa, my brother is protected by the Clique. She'll be a target if she threatens him." Napalunok muna siya bago nagpatuloy. "Kiha, will it be okay to you if I help Rara? Kapag ginawa ko 'yon, para ko na ring tinulungan si Vika."

"I already told you that I don't hate Vika," natatawang sabi nito. "And don't worry about Sydney and Spence. I'm sure they will trust your decision. They are your friends."

That was a relief to hear.

"Thank you, Kiha," sincere na sabi niya. "Talking to you cleared my head."

"Eun?"

"Hmm?"

"Are you in love with Rara Sandoval?"

Napangiti siya dahil sa tanong na 'yon. "At first, I was just amused by her. Saka ang cute-cute kasi niya. Ang liit niyang babae pero kapag nagagalit siya, nakakatakot siya. I wanted her to be my girlfriend because I thought it would be fun to be with a person who doesn't care about my background. But now that I know the truth about her..." Ipinatong niya ang kamay niya sa dibdib niya. It may sound cheesy but his heart was really beating like crazy. "I admire her even more. I was kind of disappointed that she's related to Vika but the fact that she's willing to fight anyone head-on for the sake of her cousin amazes me. I like that she's protective of the people she cares about even if it makes her a bad person. In that aspect, we're the same and that makes me feel so connected to her."

Natawa ang babae habang iiling-iling. "You're in love with her, Eun."

"I guess I am," nakangiti pero seryosong sagot ni Eun. "Kiha, I can't let Kuya Weston hurt Rara in any way. But I'm still scared of my brother."

"It's my turn to help you, Eun. And don't be scared of Weston," seryosong sabi ni Kiha. "There's a reason why you were chosen by your father as the Rivera heir and not your brother."