Enmeshed Kinship

08

I'm now getting ready so I can take a bath after I cooked breakfast early this morning para tuloy-tuloy na lang ako pagpasok mamaya. Michael did not stay here yesterday after he brought me to rest kaya ako lang mag isa ngayon.

I opened the heater so I can feel the lukewarm water dripping down through my body, and then my phone rang so I immediately get my towel to dry my hands para hindi mabasa yung phone.

Ms. Karen Calling...

[ Sara?]

"Yes uh, tita, why?" I thankfully didn't stutter so she won't notice how nervous I am right now.

[I've excused you to your job already, can we talk?]

"Sure, sure"

[I'll just meet you in the rendezvous]

then she ended the call.

I broke a leg just so I can meet her at exactly the time we agreed to.I slightly run para makapunta na ako sa tapat ng office niya at inayos yung sarili ko ng kaunti para hindi ako masyadong halatang nagmabilis bago ako kumatok at binuksan yung pinto after she gave me sign na pwede na.

"Tita, how are things? is it notable?the thing we'll talk about right now, I mean,."I sat at the couch kasi ansakit na din ng paa ko, nangalay na.

"I'm having kittens. I was against with Mr. and Mrs. Concepcion when they've started having that idea on cheating all your credentials. So please, if you don't want to experience what lurking could brought you, leave"

"Y-you want me to resign?"

"You'll risk your job if you continue this.Not just your job here but as in all subsequently."

She keep on explaining so I'll understand what she meant to say when she was clueless how and what I feel over the moon right now. I kept my face emotionless. I thought she wanted to talk because of what she could possibly found out, about me. Bollocks. I felt a relief but I know it'll be just temporarily.

"Okay, I'll go now if we're done po"

"Don't" I looked back at her na nakaupo sa swivel chair niya ngayon. "We still have more things to talk about. You still have to clarify things to me, Ms. Cortez"

I suddenly felt the contrary with the aggregate relief I felt earlier.

Umupo na ulit ako sa couch which is placed beside her table.

"What brought you yesterday in our house?"

It was a dime a dozen that I come there because of Allison so I'm curious why would she suddenly ask about it.

"With Michael"She added.

"Oh yeah, uhm, we were friends and I just knew yesterday that you're his adoptive parents"

"Why past tense?"

"I suddenly just haven't seen him, again after ten years so I guess it's really because homeless guy no more."

We weren't friends but my alibi is the truth. Or I just don't really know kung bakit hindi siya bumalik, is it really because someone decided to take care of him or anything deeper than that.

"He haven't told to anyone else not so close to him his true relationship to us until now"She started typing to her laptop she probably just did go back to work since personal naman na yung pinaguusapan namin.

"Yes, he's my private investigator actually"

"What? Is that his part time job? I didn't know his ability being a ghost huh" She chuckled like Michael's job is pulling someone's leg. What is she saying?

"He told me that's his job from the very start. He's actually affiliated with the authorities as he agreed with the terms to check for everyone who tries to invade my privacy since I'm under an immunity deal"

"Why would you be under immunity deal?"

Omg, did my words just got slipped? Obviously yes, What do I do now?

"Mrs. Guzman thank you for the time I have to go now, I'm in a quandary and I can't tell you anything right now"

"You can't but you should. I know what you did, I know who are those you're working with"

Of course! I'm such an imbecile! how couldn't she know that, when her adoptive son knows everything!

"I know how Michael and Blake related"

"They have the same angle"

"They trust me. You should too. I know what Michael wants. Deeper than what you know, should I trust you?"

I don't want to take advantage with her itchy mouth or if ever she told me about that another secret, will I considered that I heard it on a grapevine?.

"I'll go now, see you po" I added the word so I won't sound disrespectful. What I did is really kahiya-hiya, at ngayong alam na niya, mas lalo akong nawalan ng lakas ng loob na ipakita mukha ko sakanila.

Kakabukas na kakabukas ko palang ng pinto agad ng bumungad sakin si Michael.

"Please, you two, take a seat. Sara, I won't tell anything to anyone else"

Michael and I sat in two chairs in front of her table. Magkaharap kami ni Michael ngayon dahil sa pwesto nung upuan.

" You should trust her not just as my mother"

"Why won't I?"

"Because you're not 'gullible'?"

"Oh that's why she looks not so comfortable talking to me, because she don't trust me?" Pag-singit ng nanay niya.

"No, of course not, I 'm sorry, I swear to you I really have no idea, and I think that's how coward I am not to refuse, I'm really really sorry"

"I said none of it was your fault" he calmly said.

" Your hospital is prestigious and I let them, I helped them put blemish in it. I'm a miscreant with false accusations how can't it be my fault?"

"They manipulated you"

"What no! I was agile when I did their favor without thinking for what could be the consequences, they didn't force me except from the fact that I want them to stop already offering gaudy money in my face, I wanted a peaceful life, little did I know it'll be just extravagant as I know it seems"

I've shown an expression to Michael. He got mercurial, from looking 'feeling nothing' to an infuriating one.

"Ok let's call it a truce, stop you two. Michael, start"

"You have to investigate your father, all personal files in his office, you'll have to steal it"

"What?Why?"

"It's only you who can do that"

"No, I'm sorry I can't help you"

I was about to stand up but Michael held my wrist

"Aight, you're too nosy, you've built many thoughts in your mind, but you'll suppress just because of your father?"

"I said no, I can't if you think it's their system then I'm no longer involve here."

"We need the informations from those people whom let you involve here"

"And why dad?"

"Blackmail"

I scoffed, is he serious?

"I know what I've done wrong and you both don't know how trully sorry I am.You know you can have surveillance, and I'll try to help you with that. Let Allison be your way into it as you daughter"

"We can't"

"What?Why?" We both asked. So he also have no idea huh?

"All were fraud. She's not our daughter. Allison is not our daughter"