Withered Hues (COMPLETE)

CHAPTER FIVE - TURF TAN

"The principles of true art is not to portray, but to evoke." - Jerzy Kozinski

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Xavi' POV

Wala akong imik habang tinitingnan ang mga files na nasa harap. Binabasa ko maige ang mga reports na nakuha ko mula sa private investigator na ini-refer ni Hunter Acosta. He is good. Halos lahat ng mga kailangang malaman tungkol sa buhay ni Kaydence Montecillo at sa asawa nitong si Jeremy ay naroon lahat.

They got married at the age of twenty-one. Both newly grad. Kay was pregnant then that's why they had to get married. Her parents disowned her and never had the chance to meet them again when she decided to marry her husband. Maayos na tao naman ang asawa ni Kaydence. Masipag, matalino. He was a graduate of BS Accountancy. Reviewed and took the board exam while working in a well known telecommunications company while Kaydence was left in the house because of a complicated pregnancy. Sad to say, she lost the baby.

Maayos naman ang naging trabaho ni Jeremy. Naipo-provide niya ang pangangailangan ni Kaydence pati na ang kailangan ng nanay at kapatid nito. 'Yung nga lang, medyo mukhang sobra sa kinikita ni Jeremy ang mga hinihingi ng nanay nito. Kahit na nga tumaas ang posisyon at gumanda ang sweldo, kulang pa rin para sa dalawang pamilya na binubuhay.

And then, tragedy struck. Jeremy got into an accident three years ago that amputated his leg.

"What happened after this? After the accident?" Iniisa-isa ko pang tiningnan ang mga accident photos. Nakakapanlumo ang itsura. Suwerte pa nga ang lalaking iyon at nabuhay pa. Durog na durog ang kotse nito.

"They didn't get any compensation from the company where he used to work. Nagbayad pa ng nasirang sasakyan dahil provided iyon ng kumpanya. Naubos ang lahat ng ipon dahil sa pagpapagamot at pantustos sa pamilya. What happened to that couple was a struck of bad luck." Sagot ng lalaking kaharap ko.

Tiningnan ko ang lalaki. First time ko lang siyang na-meet pero parang ang dami-dami niyang alam. Cool na cool siyang umiinom ng kape at nagtitingin sa telepono niya.

"How did you get these files? I mean, are these legit?"

Tumingin ng parang hindi makapaniwala sa akin ang lalaki.

"Wala kang tiwala sa akin?"

"That's not what I meant, Jake. Can I call you Jake?" I cleared my throat. "My apologies if you got offended. Naniniwala naman ako sa iyo dahil ini-refer ka nga ni Hunter sa akin. What I want to do right now," saglit akong napahinto at huminga ng malalim. Ilang gabi ko ring pinag-isipan 'to kung tama ba itong gagawin ko. "I want to give a job for Jeremy Montecillo."

Tumaas ang kilay ng kaharap kong lalaki. "A job? For the amputee?" Paniniguro nito.

Napalunok ako at napabuga ng hangin tapos ay tumango.

"Give him a job then frame him for the money that got lost." Determinadong sabi ko.

Napakamot ang ulo ng lalaki.

"Hold it. Bibigyan mo ng trabaho tapos ipi-frame up? Medyo naguguluhan ako."

"Look, I want his wife to pose nude for me. This is important for my upcoming exhibit. I don't want any other models but her. But, she's so feisty. Masyadong ma-pride. I was trying to pay her a huge amount of money, but she won't accept. She loves her husband. We can see it. I know her weakness. It's her husband."

Napailing ang lalaking kaharap ko at parang hindi kumporme sa sinabi ko.

"You're digging your own grave don't you know that? This will backfire on you," inubos niya ang iniinom na kape. "Saka bakit ipinipilit mong makuha ang isang bagay na imposibleng maging sa iyo? Find someone else. I am sure you will get prettier and sexier than her. I've seen the woman, she is so plain. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang nakita mo doon."