That One Mistake

Chapter 33: Saved

"Sir, tama po ang kutob nyo. Si ma'am Rectine nga po ang tao sa likod ng mga panggugulo sa bar ni Ma'am Wine." I clenched my fist as I recall Vari's report to me. Kalalapag lang ng private jet ko sa kompanya ni lola at pakiramdam ko'y nang-iinit na ako.

"Sa ngayon po, nasa trunk lang po ng kotse nya si ma'am Wine. Nakabantay po kaming pareho ni Pytha."

When I said I'll give Winey the freedom she deserves, what I meant are her happiness and safety. For some reasons, having Evory jailed didn't make me feel comfortable. Pakiramdam ko'y parang may mali sa bilis ng mga pangyayari. As much as I want Wine to live her life to the full extent without any worry, I know she just couldn't do that. When Evory got jailed, for the first two weeks everything were good not until someone broke into Winey's bar.

Nakasubaybay lang ako sa malayo dahil ipinangako ko kay Wine na hindi ako magpapakita. However, as promised also, I will protect her. Sa sunod-sunod na kaguluhan sa bar nya, nakaamoy na ako ng di maganda. My suspicion eventually evolved to Rectine's unstoppable contact with me.

For the past three months, she has been talking about the company of Evory— if she can work under the company or if there could be a possibility of giving the company back to the Monfasco. I always tell her that I will never give the company back to the Monfasco. Hindi dahil sa kasakiman kundi dahil ito'y parusa para sa ginawa ni Evory kay Winey. I offered Rectine help if she really wanted to work in an office, but she declined my proposal. She kept insisting about taking the company lalo na't tanggap na sya ng mga Monfasco.

Because of her suspicious actions, I started investigating her. It wasn't a serious one at first, not until I found out what she was really doing the day my wife got abducted by Evory on that grocery store.

"Hindi ko na ipinaalam saiyo noon kasi biglang umayos ang lahat, brad. It was wrong of me to decide for it. I'm sorry."

"Ano bang nakita mo sa CCTV, Quad?"

"Rectine wasn't tied that day. Looking at the video, I believed she planned that abduction with Evory."

"Ano?"

"Ang sabi ni Rectine, nang lumabas sya para bilhin ang nakalimutan, may biglang humila sa kanya at nagtali, hindi ba?"

"Oo."

"Pwes hindi iyon totoo, brad. Walang nangyaring paghila o pagtali. Rectine didn't go inside the store but she made it look like she did. Pumasok sya pero ilang minuto lang ay agad din syang lumabas at pumasok sa isang kotse sa di kalayuan. The car's plate number belongs to Evory."

"Magkasabwat sila?"

"Oo, Jeserr. It turned out that way."

Nang una ayokong paniwalaan ang sinasabi ni Quad but when he showed me the CCTV footage, I realized he's telling the truth. Kinausap ko si Glaz tungkol kay Rectine and shockingly, he knew. He knew about Rectine being involved in that abduction. Pero sabi nya, nalaman na lang nya ito nang hindi man lang nya nakitaan ng pag-aalala si Rectine nang araw na mawala ito.

I told him I'd pressed charges but he knelt and asked me not to. Nagmatigas ako subalit kalauna'y nagbigay ako ng pagkakataon. It was new for me to give chances but yes, I give him and her a chance lalo na't may anak sila. Since Winey's living her own life now away from me, isa lang naman ang gusto ko eh. Rectine's not going to do things for Evory again 'cos if she does, magsasama sila ng kapatid nya sa kulungan at di na ako magpapatawad pa.

Glaz promised me he'll talk to her, that he'll make sure it will never happen again, but what now? This fucking happened and there is no way in hell I'm giving another fucking chance.