Against the Waves (THE PRESTIGE 1)

34

Truth

Tirik ang araw nang makarating ako sa Ilo-Ilo. During the whole drive, I felt nothing. May last encounter with Hayes dominated my system. The way his voice and eyes looks so helpless, it was the same pair of emotions I saw in Hugo's eyes. That made me think, that maybe, they are both innocent. Maybe, I was pushing my belief that they had a connection to my family's hiatus before since I don't have anyone to blame.

What if, Hayes and Don Nicholas are just framed up? I never thought of that before. Napangunahan ako ng galit. After all, Don Nicholas is one of the most known business tycoon. Nawaglit sa isipan ko na maraming nagsisiraan sa negosyo.

But who is behind all of these? Isa sa kaaway ni Papa sa negosyo? pero malinis ang naging pamamalakad ng pamilya ko. Kung isa nga sa mga katunggali sa negosyo ang nasa likod nito, kay Papa man o sa pamilya Espinoza, dapat siyang makulong.

Sinundo ako ng driver ni Nathan nang mamataan ako nito sa airport. Agad niyang kinuha sa akin ang isang maliit na maleta na bitbit ko.

"Kuya, nasaan po si Nathan?" Tanong ko habang nag-da-drive ito.

He glanced at me in the mirror. "Nasa Hotel po, Ma'am."

My burrows furrowed. "Bakit hindi siya ang sumundo sa'kin?"

"May sakit po ata si Sir, Ma'am. Hindi rin po kasi siya lumabas sa kwarto niya simula kahapon. Ang sabi niya po ay sunduin raw po kita ngayong araw."

Nagtaka naman ako roon. Akala ko ay siya ang susundo sa akin. I even called Nathan during our ride a while ago but no one's answering.

Is he sleeping? May sakit nga ba talaga siya?

Matapos makapagpark ay pumasok na ako sa isang hotel na pinagtutuluyan ni Nathan. I am quite amused when I found out that he was in exclusive suite. Wala na ba siyang mapaggastusan ng kinikita niya sa pagpapalipad ng eroplano at talagang exclusive suit pa ang kinuha niya? He was already staying here for days.

"Nathan!" I called him outside his hotel room. "Nathan, open the door."

I tried calling his number but no one's answering. Seriously?

I remained standing there and been calling him for minutes but no one's showed up. Ang sabi naman ng driver niya ay narito siya a? Lumabas ba?

When the call ended, I decided to walk away to booked myself a room but then the door immediately opened. Sumilay doon ang mukha ni Nathan na parang hirap na hirap.

"Layana."

I put my phone inside my pocket and ready to nag him when he widened the opening of the door. "Are you okay?"

Kunot noo kong pinasadahan ang kaniyang mukha pababa sa kaniyang katawan. Nanlaki ang mata ko at bahagyang umawang ang labi nang makita ang kaniyang kalagayan. Bago pa ako makaalma ay bumagsak na ang katawan ni Nathan sa'kin.

"Omygod!" I screamed hysterically.

Mabibigat ang paghinga ni Nathan, nahihirapan. Inalalayan ko siyang makaupo sa sofa. Natataranta ako, hindi alam ang gagawin. His white shirt is now covered by his own blood. My hands started to tremble. Hindi ko alam kung hahawakan ko ba siya o ano!

"We need to go to the Hospital! You're bleeding!"

He held my wrist and looked up to me painfully. "I-I am okay."

He pulled up his shirt. Ngumiwi ito at ininda ang sakit habang ako ay napako ang paningin sa nagdudugo nitong tagiliran.

"What happened to you!"

"I got shot," nahihirapan nitong sabi at muling ibinaba ang hem ng t-shirt para maitago ang natamong sugat.

Umiling iling ako at sinimulang tumawag ng ambulansiya. "No, we will go to the hospital. You got shot!"