Comrades in Action: Chase Vonn Book 6

Chapter Thirty five

She tapped her fingers over the brown folder on her lap. Ng ibinigay sa kanya ni Detective Hart ang folder, hindi niya iyon agad binuksan. Naisip niya, saka na kapag natapos na ang huling pagtatanghal nila dito sa New York. But even after the concerto, she still couldn't get herself to open the damn thing.

Sa loob ng halos sampung taon, hindi siya kailanman nakibalita kung ano na ang nagyayari sa kanila sa Pilipinas. Through the years, she hardened her heart and taught herself not to care... to never look back.

The violin helped her with that. She threw herself into her music until there was nothing else to do; until it consumed all her time, all her attention and all her thoughts; until she couldn't think of anything else.

And she was succeeding. She was getting by actually. But when Brooke got married... When she attended her church wedding... it felt like she was instantly sent back to the night of her own 'wedding'- her no ceremonies... no promises... no vows wedding day that she had been trying to avoid all these years.

Noong araw ng kasal ni Brooke naisip niya... kahit gaano pala niya subukang kalimutan ang lahat... kahit gaano pa niya talikuran ang nakaraan niya... Babalikan at babalikan pa rin siya niyon.

Brooke's wedding proved that to her.

Pinatunayan niyon na kahit kailan pala, hindi niya natakasan ang iniwang problema sa Pilipinas. It just remained as a heavy package which has been on her back for almost ten years.

It was just waiting to be triggered.

Muli niyang tinitigan ang folder. It took her six days before she found the guts to finally open it. At ng makita niya kung ano ang nasa loob niyon, samut saring emosyon ang agad niyang naramdaman. Out of all those emotions, she wasn't expecting the hurt and betrayal that consumed her whole being the moment she saw what's inside.

It was a picture of him, kissing a woman.

And the irony was... two days after she had seen the pictures, that same woman just paid her a visit while she was helping Brooke in her restaurant in England.

Naalala niya ang naging paghaharap nila ng naturang babae. Lumabas siya mula sa back door ng restaurant upang magpahangin ng bigla siya nitong sinundan at hinarangan.

She recognized the woman as soon as she saw her face. At alam niyang napansin nito ang rekognisyon na iyon sa mukha niya.

Sinubukan niyang umalis at iwasan ito pero hindi ito nagpatinag. Nagpumiglas siya pero mahigpit ang naging paghawak nito sa braso niya.

She sensed the danger and seriousness in her voice when she started talking.

"Isang beses ko lang sasabihin sa iyo ito kaya makinig kang mabuti. Si Chase, ay isa sa pinaka-importanteng tao sa buhay ko. He's like a brother to me. A family. At sa oras... Sa oras na malaman kong sinaktan mo siya ulit... Wala akong paki-alam kung mahal ka pa niya. It wouldn't matter because I will never... spare you. You'd be good to remember that."

She started hating that woman even more after that.

She said he's like a brother to her? Ha! May magkapatid bang maghahalikan ng ganoon?

Is she trying to fool her too?!

That bitch!

Mariin niyang ipinikit ang mga mata saka sumandal sa upuan. She have come a long way teaching herself not to get affected with these things. Pero bakit sa isang iglap lang, tila naguumpisa na naman siyang muli?

Napamulat siya ng i-anunsyo ng stewardess na nakalapag na ang sinasakyan nilang eroplano at maaari ng lumabas ang mga pasahero. With a sigh, she got up and went out, ready for battle.