Kiss Of Judas

Epilogue

Lazarus Adams Fortalejo

I immediately rushed to the hospital when I heard the news. I can feel small grains of sweat on my forehead as I unlocked my car. Samu't-saring tanong ang pumapalibot sa akin ngayon. Mabilis kong pinaandar ang kotse at nagdasal na sana ayos lang siya.

Dinig na dinig ko ang busina ng mga sasakyan sa bilis kong magpatakbo. I don't fucking care about them! Kung natatakot sila sa bilis ko ay mas natatakot ako sa lagay ng mag-ina ko! I'm blaming myself for this! Kung sana ay hinayaan lang ako ni Adira na samahan siya! Damn it!

Mabilis ang hininga ko habang tinatahak ang daan. Valdemar called me about what happened, ni hindi man lang ako nakapagsalita nang banggitin niya ang nangyari kay Adira. Ang tanging nasabi ko lang kay Coleen ay ang pangalan niya bago ako umalis ng mansyon.

Hindi ko na naayos ang pag park ng kotse ko. I jumped out of it and ran as fast as I could to get inside. When I opened the door I suddenly remembered the first time her name was mentioned by her father.

"Good evening, gentlemen!" Bukas ni Valdemar sa pinto. This old man just can't stop smiling from ear to ear. Marahil, may naagaw nanaman siyang kliyente.

"Ang saya mo ngayon, a? Maybe you brought a good news?" Nag taas ng kilay si Torrecampo dito.

Valdemar shrugged his shoulders then he poured some liquor on his glass. Nandito kami ngayon sa bahay ni Avida. We're holding a meeting for the upcoming event for our old friends in the same industry.

"Lahat ng pinaghirapan ko, nasusuklian na." Anito bago lumagok ng kanyang alak. "My mom is transferring the company's name to my daughter."

"Your only child, Valdemar?" Tanong ni Avida.

"Yes! Ang sabi lang ni mama kailangan magpakasal muna si Adira bago niya ibigay ang kompanya!"

Adira? That's his only child. His daughter, right? Kahit kailan hindi ko pa nakita ang anak ni Valdemar but I could clearly tell her attitude because of some headlines in the internet. Ano pa nga ang inaasahan ko? Isa nanamang spoiled brat at matapobreng Gotesco!

"Then she should meet my son!" Ani Villanueva, "Lalayo pa ba tayo?"

Pinakinggan ko lang silang nag-uusap habang abala ako sa pag-ubos ng alak sa aking tabi. Is arrange marriage still a thing in this kind of generation? Siguro sa negosyo, oo. We like to keep our names on the top. Hindi pwedeng may maka pasok na kung sino sa pangalan ng pamilya kundi dapat ang mga katulad lang namin na may masasabi sa sosyalidad.

"Hmm, I will arrange that for you but my mother wants Empleo's son for my daughter." Ani Valdemar, he looked down at his glass. Nang mapansin na wala na itong laman ay sinalinan niya ulit.

"Empleo? Empleo Marasigan? Why him? Your family won't get any benefits to their cheap business!" Torrecampo was disgusted.

Nung una pa lang alam kong may plano nang nakawin ni Valdemar ang natitirang yaman at kompanya ng mga Marasigan ngunit hindi ko pinansin 'yon. He didn't know that I'm starting to work out on my own business. Hindi niya mapapansin na nauungusan ko na pala siya.

That's why I attended that party. We were busy talking about our future plans when a lady interrupted.

"Hello misters!"

Natigil ako sa pakikipag-usap kay Sy. Now my attention is all on hers.

Pamilyar siya sa akin.

Nakita kong kilala siya ni Sy at bahagyang kinausap. I can't take my eyes off her! Anong ginagawa niya sa event na ito?

"Where's your father? Did he sent you here as his representative?" Tanong ni Sy.

The girl pointed his father and to my surprised, I saw Valdemar talking to some familiar faces. Lumipad muli ang tingin ko sa kanya pero bago 'yon ay nakatingin na pala siya sa akin. The lady looked away.