Heart 1: Teared Heart

CHAPTER 40

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ZIDIOUS TOPAZ'S POV

"Dre, una na ako, ah? May aasikasuhin pa akong meeting, e," saad ko sa dalawa kong lasing na kaibigan na patuloy pa rin sa pag-inom sa kani-kanilang shotglass.

"Mamaya na 'yang business business na 'yan, pre! Intayin muna natin si Theress, may dala 'yong pulutan! Mamaya ka na umalis! Hindi ka pa nga nalalasing, oh!" Lasing na tugon ni Mark while he's holding his shotglass.

"I have to go, pre. Bukas na lang," I faked a smile.

"Sige na, go na! Ganiyan ka naman lagi! D'yan ka naman magaling! Ang mang-iwan!" As usual, that's Jomar with his alcohol tolerance.

Dali-dali akong lumabas ng bar at dumiretso sa lamborghini ko.

Nag-iisip ako ng malalim habang nagda-drive kasi hindi naman tungkol sa business ang aasikasuhin ko. It's about Dad and also about Zaria. I'll meet Theressa at the mall, mukha lang tanga silang dalawa do'n na nag-iintay kay Theressa, e siya nga ang ime-meet ko!

Theressa is Zaria's family best butler. She became a detective because of her Dad's death, she investigated about it and she found that her Dad's death was connected to its political connection. After she solved that case, she applied as Zaria's guard here in the Philippines--secret guard I mean. She was paid by Mr. Zen Lorenzo--Zaria's Dad-- and until now, Zaria isn't aware of it.

Theressa and Mr. and Mrs. Lorenzo keep that as a secret for Zaria 'cause they don't wanna make Zaria feel what she felt into their arms when she's in Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Lorenzo cares for her. They're still became a parent to her kahit na sobrang higpit nila.

Pero sa ngayon, I can say that Theressa was not just doing her job 'cause she made a relationship with Zaria with all of her. Theressa became true to her. And now, here she is, helping me to make everything settled. Theressa wants me for her bestfriend. Uunti-untiin lang namin si Dad and we'll make him understand the truth.

Napatigil ako sa pagmumuni-muni when I heard my phone rang.

"Hello, Theress?" I picked it up.

"Zidious? Where are you? Nandito na ako," she said on the line.

"I'm on my way. Wait for a moment, I'm near." She ended the call and I drove my car faster than usual.

Kaagad kong ipinark ang kotse ko at pumasok sa mall. Sa harap daw kami ng fast-food restaurant magtatagpo. Hindi naman ako nahirapang hanapin siya at nakangiti ko s'yang nilapitan habang nakaupo siya sa pandalawahang table at bakante ang isang upuan.

"Hey, Theressa! Kanina ka pa?" I asked while sitting in front of her.

"Hindi naman," nakangiti niyang saad. "Pasensya ka na, Topaz, ngayon ko lang nakita 'tong CCTV footage ng aksidente." Saad niya habang binubuksan ang laptop niya.

"That's okay, Theressa. Labis-labis pa nga 'tong tulong mo sa'kin, e."

"Naku, kaibigan ko si Zaria at kaibigan ka ni Mark kaya maliit na bagay lang 'to." She said while she's focusing on her laptop.

"Tss.. hindi lang si Zaria ang tinulungan mo, Theressa. Pati si Mom and Dad," I said. "Magiging payapa ang kaluluwa ni Mom dahil alam na niyang alam na namin ang totoo then you're helping Dad to know the truth. This is too much, Theress," I give her a grateful tone.

"For you and Zaria's sake. I'll do this. For your love story." She looked at me and gave me a wink.

"Love story ka d'yan!"

"Pabebe amp!" Natatawa niyang saad sa laptop niya. "Watch this video, Topaz. This is the footage," she said seriously at iniharap niya sa'kin ang laptop.

Nasa baba ng camera ang kalsada. Medyo madilim ang paligid saka nahagip ng camera ang Montero na kulay itim.

I remember this. This is the car that Mom and I riding. Mom is my driver and I am sitting in passenger's seat with my seat belt.

Napatulo na lang ang luha ko nang may makitang sumalpok na isang kulay puting sports car sa sinasakyan namin.

That was Mr. Zen's car.

"It looks like that it wasn't an accident, right?" Napatango na lang ako habang pinapahid ang luha ko. "But it was, Topaz. You just need to believe me." Hindi ko kayang maniwala kasi parang gusto ng sistema ko na may sisisihin sa nangyari. Kitang-kita naman na binangga ng kotse ni Mr. Lorenzo ang kotse namin, e. "Wait," iniharap niya sa kaniya ang laptop niya at may pinindot-pindot.

Hindi ko mapigilang maging emosyonal kasi saksi ako sa nangyari. My Mom just died because of me. My Mom just died in front of me.

Napatitig na lang ako sa laptop niya habang dahan-dahan niya itong inihaharap sa'kin. And I went stunned when I saw the zoomed in picture of Mr. Zen's car.

"Don't just look at your point of view, Topaz. look at Mr. Zen's part. Mr. Lorenzo's car is already damaged before it bumps in your car. Ibig sabihin, nabangga na ito or may bumangga na dito before," laglag ang panga ko habang nakatitig sa nakapause na video. Tama nga, may damage na ang sasakyan. "Maybe Mr. Lorenzo loosed his control and bumped to your car. Play the video," kaagad kong pinlay ang video at nangunot ang noo ko sa takbo ng sasakyan ni Mr. Lorenzo. "Walang sasakyan ang tumatakbo pa-diagonal kapag nakaharap ito sa unahan, right?" Tama nga. Pa-slant ang pagtama ng sasakyan niya sa sasakyan namin. "Ibig sabihin, may tumulak sa kotse niya para banggain kayo. In Mr. Lorenzo and your Mom's part, that was an accident but someone bumped Mr. Lorenzo's car kaya dapat tayong may sisihin dito."

"W-Who?" I asked out of the blue while wiping my tears. "Tell me, Theressa! Who?!"

"I don't know, Topaz." She said blankly that makes me loose my energy.

"Sabihin na natin kay Mr. Lorenzo 'to, Theressa. We need his help," I begged.

"I already told him. Pero hindi niya pa rin alam na kayo 'yong lulan ng sasakyan na nabangga niya. Magme-meet kami bukas tapos i-interviewhin ko siya."

"Why don't you tell him, Theress?" I went frustrated but she remain calm.

"We need to gather the complete information before. We need to be wise, Topaz. Kailangan nating mag-ingat. Baka harapin niya ang ama mo gayong hindi alam ni Mr. Lorenzo ang kalagayan ni Mr. Velasquez," napatungo na lang ako.

"Please, Theressa, do everything. Hindi ko na kaya. Gusto ko nang mapasakin si Zaria," I begged to her.

"She's yours, Topaz. Even from the beginning... and until the end. She's yours."

I smiled bitterly of what I heard. How I wish.

How I wish that she love me too. Hanggang ngayon hindi ko pa rin alam kung mahal niya ako kahit halos limang taon na ang nakakalipas.

I'm still into her even I'm not sure that she loved me even a little. I'm still inlove with her even I'm not sure if she did loved me.

And I'm not moving on even I don't have a basis that she have a feeling for me.

After I tell those words to her? Pagkatapos kong bitawan 'yong masasakit na salitang 'yon mamahalin niya ako?

Tanga na lang ang gagawa no'n.

But, Zaria, please be an idiot for me. Even it sounds selfish, I want you to be an idiot for me.

Please, love me after all.
  
 
   
  
 
 

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