Lost N Found

File IX: Wait a Second!

"Paano mo nalaman ang mukha niya? Kilala mo ba siya?" gulat na tanong ng lalaki sa akin. Kumuha pa siya ng chips mula sa itinagong sitsirya at isinubo ito.

"I may not know him personally but I can say that he is a dangerous person. He abducted the children here in Cenozoic and he is the sender of this card," I explained sabay pakita ng card na nakita namin sa kama ni Azalea kanina lang. 

"Are you sure he is the same person?" Mrs. Clarin joined the conversation. Her voice sounds incredulous.

"I'm sure of it," I assured. "Thank you for your help. I better go, Mrs. Clarin," I said while glancing at the window. The sun began to hide in the horizon.

Inihatid ako ni Mrs. Clarin palabas ng mansion. Pagkalabas ko sa gate ay para bang may nakita akong shadow figure sa aking likuran. Hindi ko na lamang ito pinansin sa halip ay nagpidal ako palayo roon.

The streetlights were on, illuminating the dark road. I was pedalling insouciant, suddenly a car running in fast pace came out in the middle of the road, I almost got hit by it if I didn't pedaled opposite its direction. I squeezed the breaks and hopped out of my bike once the car came in an abrupt halt.

A man in a tuxido came out from the car, "I'm sorry Miss, I didn't noticed you," he said in a foreign accent. He looked at me with an impassive expression.

"Didn't noticed me? What kind of eyes do you have? I almost got killed because of your reckless driving! You blind irresponsible man!" I yelled, indignantly. It scared the wits out of me.

"I see no problem, no damage, no one got hit, let's forget what happened and depart," the man in a tuxedo said nonchalantly. I hate his emotionless face.

"Is this how you deal with problems? By running away?" I protested, frowning. My life was put in danger and here they are remaining as tranquil as an abandoned house as if nothing serious happened.

"I familiar with scheme! Give her money and she go away!" an angry, chinese accent voice spoke from the car. I presume that's his boss.

The man in a tuxedo took out a blue bill from his leather wallet and handed it to me which I didn't accept. "How much do you want?" he then asked, with an exasperated tone. 

"I don't accept money from a gream ripper like you!" I insisted, scowled.

"Leave the girl! I dont want late!" the c
Chinese accent man yelled again impatiently, commanding his chauffeur to start driving again.

The man bowed slightly in front of me before it hopped inside the car and start its engine. Binusinahan niya ako kaya lumayo ako sa gitna ng daan. The back window of the car slightly opened, may lumusot na kamay dito at may hawak itong blue bills. Binitawan nito ang hawak na pera kaya nilipad ito ng hangin at nagkalat sa daan. Sinigurado kong nakalayo na ang kotse bago ko pulutin ang mga nahulog na pera.

Bawal tumanggi sa grasya! Hindi ko yata kayang tanggihan ang malutong na perang papel, well, of course, what I said earlier is part of an act. Ang yaman nila tapos one thousand lang ang ibibigay sa akin, ang kuripot, kaya hindi ko tinanggap. I want something more like these five blue bills in my hand. I hid the money on my pocket and rode over my bike until I reached the house.

I throw myself on the bed. Kinuha ko ang perang papel at itinapat ito sa ilaw na nanggagaling sa light bulb. My eyes opened wide and my mouth dropped open. Mula sa pagkakahiga ay naupo ako at sinipat sipat ang kulay asul na perang papel. It is fake money!

When I reached for the clue card in my pocket, I was astounded. There's no card in my pocket! The card is gone! I think it slid out when I tried to avoid the car. A realization struck me, that car was just a show to distract me! They did it intently! Ibig sabihin ang pakay talaga nila mula sa akin ay ang card, and now it's in their hands! I have all the cards and now they were gone! What progress can I make if I didn't have those cards?