Galleria

Chapter 32

CHAYA

It's been days matapos mawalan ng malay si Roya.

Manang called me and informed me of what happened. Of course nag panic ako at halos liparin ko na papunta sa Condo ni Roya.

Naiinis ako sa sarili ko dahil nahayaan kong magka ganito si Roya. I am supposed to protect her and keep her away from harm. But I must admit, Rain played it well. He knows how to manipulate things and ended up succeeding on his plans.

I never suspected him to do such things, although I don't really know him but he looks so harmless kaya naman napanatag ako.

Hindi ako umalis sa tabi ni Roya ng araw na iyon.

She look so fragile. There is a trace of sadness on her innocent face. Tatlong beses kong nakita ang pagtulo ng luha niya habang natutulog siya.

Even in her dreams, he is haunting her.

She looks so broken; inside and out.

I can't help but to clench my fist.

Rain shattered Roya's broken heart.

I grabbed my phone and dialed a number.

"Hello, Chaya."

"Ilabas mo yang pamangkin mo!" asik ko sa kanya.

"I told you, I don't know his whereabouts."

"Sinungaling ka! Alam kong alam mo kung nasaan siya." I don't believe na wala siyang alam kung nasaan ang pamangkin niya. He is covering for him. I can sense it.

"I told you Chaya, I don't know where he is."

"Then why not give me his real address at ako ang maghahanap sa kanya."

"I c—an't do that." His voice mellowed.

"See, you are hiding him."

"I'm not hiding anyone Chaya." His voice is full of authority.

"I know Rain will clean up whatever mess he did. Siya mismo ang pupunta sa inyo." Punung puno siya ng tiwala sa pamangkin niya and it irritates me a lot.

"Fuck you Greg! Pareho kayo ng pamangkin mong walang Bay*g!"

Then I ended up the call.

I've been trying to get Rain's home or work address but his fucking Uncle don't give me.

I just can't take this!

I can't look at Roya.

She tried so hard to smile for all of us. She always say that she is Okay.

Roya lost her parents at a very young age.

It was her parent's wedding anniversary when they had a car accident. She forgot some of the details regarding that traumatic event. And later on developed some signs of Anxiety and depression.

Then she had the very first man who broke her heart. Roya never told me about him. Little did she know that I stalk that guy. His name is John Baste Honolario. He was Roya's humanity instructor back in college. He resigned after one semester and no one knows why, even Roya. Yet they still got in touch for quite some time. Until I noticed how Roya changed. Her smile is so different. She would always deny na hindi niya ginawang inspirasyon si Baste pero kitang kita sa halos kalahati ng paintings niya.

Weeks ago, Rain abandoned Roya. And I can say, it is her biggest tragedy. Rain took everything from Roya. Pinagkatiwala niya kay Rain ang Galleria dahil akala niya'y aalagaan nya ito but Rain did the opposite. Simula ng malaman ni Roya ang lahat ng pinaggagagawa ni Rain ay palagi na tong umiiyak at nagkukulong sa kwarto. Kapag kakausapin siya ni Manang ay puro 'Okay lang po ako' ang sagot niya.

Rain turned the Galleria into a restaurant and sold Roya's painting in an Auction. Roya was so devastated when she learned about it. Rain don't have any idea kung gaano kaimportante kay Roya lahat ng paintings na iyon. It is her life stories. Roya never wanted to sell her arts because it reminds her of herself. Without the Galleria, Roya can also lose Bahay Kalinga which she treasured a lot. All the children she love so dearly and protected bravely.

She suffered a lot.

Roya is a very nice and soft hearted person. Paano nila naatim na saktan siya?

.............................."How can they be so heartless."