Without Her (Book 2 of Chimera Trilogy)

38

Kabanata 38: Baby

"Ano? Nagpakasal kayo nung linggo? Nababaliw ka na talaga. How are you gonna fix that now?"

Dahil sa nalaman ko ay wala ng tamang rason pa para ilihim kay Parker ang kasal na naisagawa nung Linggo. Nagkibit balikat ako bilang tugon.

Ilang tao ang tinawagan ko para ipakalat ang engagement party na nangyari nung nakaraang Sabado. Walang kahit anong litratong nakunan dahil simpleng hapunan lang ang naganap. Sa kasal naman na nangyari noong linggo ay tanging mayor at ilang tauhan ko ang naroon.

Hindi ko alam kung ilang araw o ilang linggo ang aabutin bago makarating kay Lucas ang balita tungkol sa engagement. Parehong pakikitungo ang pinakita ko kay Clio. However, I worked my ass off and worked overtime for the past week.

Ang tamang reaksyon sa ganitong sitwasyon ay ang magalit kay Clio dahil niloko niya ako at pinaniwala na siya nga si Vian. But thinking the possibility that Vian put her on my path stopped me from doing that. I don't want her to know that I know because until now I don't have the slightest idea as to what she's planning. Let me through your mind, Vian.

I have a hunch though. It is a gamble that I have to take. I'm not the type of person who likes to follow my guts or hunches. I planned things out. Gather every information I could get, plan every attack that I have to do, and exploit what I need to exploit. I plan things for a long time. It might take a long time of preparation but I'm assured lower chances of failing. This is my first time taking a gamble and planning in a short span of time because I don't have a choice. Seven years have passed. Clio resurfaced three years after Vian's death. I assumed when Clio Sullivan resurfaced in our security firm, Vian's plan already started. It's been four years since then. I don't have much time to plan when she perhaps reaches the final phase of her plan. And I do hope this plan of hers is somehow related to Lucas. That's my gamble. I rarely ask favors or pray to God but please grant me this one.

Sa condo ako ni Parker nagpasyang magpalipas ng gabi ngayon pagkatapos niya akong balitaan dahil iniiwasan ko si Clio. Dalawang buwan na ang nakalipas simula nang malaman ko ang teorya ni Parker ngunit wala pa ring paramdam si Lucas Valentin.

Nasa veranda kami at nakaupo sa sofa na namamalagi roon. Hawak ang baso na naglalaman ng bourbon. Nakatanaw sa mga nagtatayugang gusali sa kalawakan ng Taguig.

"We can confront Clio. It's better than waiting. I heard that Kiah Ramos left the De La Rosa's mansion."

"Were you able to follow her?"

He shrugged. "I've tried. Earl Rodriguez's men stopped us though. It's making me think that she's really stopping me from reaching Vian and that Kiah is really her. Is he somewhat related to her?"

"Not that I know of. Pareho iisang anak ang mga magulang ni Vian. Kung magkamag-anak sila, maybe second or third degree cousins?"

"Sigurado ka bang hinahanap din ni Vian ang step-father niya?"

"I'm not certain. I only deducted it to the information you provided. And a little bit of common sense. Why would she put Clio in our path? To protect me? I doubt. She wants information about Lucas since we're finding him."

"Did you know that Jack Rodriguez is Earl Rodriguez's uncle? Naisip mo ba ang naiisip ko?"

Iniisip niya na si Vian ang nagbigay ng impormasyon tungkol kay Jack Rodriguez para mahanap ko. It doesn't make sense. Bakit? Bakit niya gagawin iyon? Wala akong maisip na dahilan kung iyon ang totoong balak niya.

"May putukan sa loob ng warehouse bago pa kami makarating ng mga tao ko. Posibleng naroon si Vian."

Habang nag-iinuman kami ay ilang text ang natanggap ko kay Clio.