Reasons to Loathe [COMPLETE]

Kabanata 37

TALES OF RIVAMONTE

Austin

As soon as we saw the picture sent by the kidnappers, mom and lola lost it. They cried so loud. I can't say that they are over reacting dahil maski ako ay nanginginig sa galit sa nakita kong litrato.

"This isn't something a simple student could do." sambit ko.

"My poor son," hagulgol ni mom habang tinitignan ang litrato. "Who would do this Arturo?"

"We had a lot of conpetitors in this industry, especially now that we are making a name in the global market." si dad.

"The issue of Saavinum now is probably linked into this." dagdag ko. "Either they made this as a trap to freely sabotage our business or pimagsamantalahan nilang walang magtatanggol sa kumpanya."

"But who?" tanong ni lola. "And why Ardent?" dagdag niya. "Bakit yung nandito pa sa Rivamonte ang dinakip?"

With lola's question, my mind suddenly thought of a possible answer.

"Because maybe, they're quite knowledgeable about Rivamonte. Because they're from here." maski ako ay nagulat sa iniisip ko. "Yes, it must be them."

"What are you talking about Austin?" tanong ni lolo. "We didn't have any competitors here in Rivamonte."

"No, they aren't our competiors. Because they aren't competing anymore. We overthrown them a long time ago."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni lola nang marealize ang ginutukoy ko.

"You mean," si lola. "oh my god." napatakip siya sa kanyang bibig.

"I have been investigating about the Erlandojas since papa told me about the story of how Saavinum became famous. I didn't have any concrete informations about their whereabouts and their identities kaya hindi ko na masyadong binigyang pansin." kwento ko. "But then during Ardent's backyard camping, one of our men who was tasked to follow Ardent, captured a man who's been following Ardent. That's when I thought the Erlandojas are at it, plotting their revenge. Papa actually knows about it."

"Nabalewala lang ang imbestigasyon ni Austin nang mawala ang mga sumusunod kay Ardent." tuloy ni dad. "Besides, that man was suspected working for the Alejandros who we don't know much about at that time."

"Are you saying that the Alejandro's have something to do with this?" si lola. "Are they working with the Erlandojas?"

"No, that man was stalking Ardent because he's with Lorenzo. The young Alejandro just can't move on." I cleared out.

"How sure are you that these are the Erlandojas?" tanong ni lolo. "We don't have enough evidence."

"Don't act dumb, lolo." matapang kong sambit. "You know very well, why. You're just guilty to admit that you've put your apo's life in danger."

"Are you blaming me?" napatayo na si lolo sa galit.

"Hindi ba totoo?" I smirked. "What you did to the Erlandojas before is backfiring at us!" sigaw ko.

"Don't you raise your voice at me!" sigaw niya pabalik. "Everything I did in the past was for the future of this family!"

"Oh yeah?" sarkastikong tanong ko. "See, this is the main reason why kuya Arvin doesn't want to take over the family business. This is the reason why I want to take a different path too. It's not because we have a big shoe to fill in, it's not because we are afraid we'd destroy the family business. It's because we are disgusted by you!" hindi ko na napigilang ilabas ang galit ko. "Ayaw namin sa business dahil nahihiya kami sa pinanggalingan ng yaman natin—"