Cutthroat

Chapter 34

It's Easier to Lie

"Huwag ka munang lalabas ng bahay." Bilin sa akin ni Miguel. "Kung may bibilhin ka man, sabihan mo lang ako."

"Pero kailangan kong makausap si Ma'am Areno," sabi ko. ".... at si... si Fajline Salvani..."

Napamulsa si Miguel at napaiwas ako ng tingin. "I'll talk to them instead. Ano ba ang sasabihin  mo?"

"Huwag na," sabi ko agad. I looked down on the floor. "Ako na lang. That could wait."

"I hope you get to be obedient," he said, sternly. "Kung lumabas ka man ng bahay na 'to, dalawang bagay lang ang mangyayari sa'yo."

I threw him a perplexed look. His expression remained stern and indifferent. Ano ang ibig niyang sabihin?

Nagtiim-baga siya at napakuyom ng panga. "Siguraduhin mo lang na kapag umalis ka rito, magtatago ka ng maigi dahil kung hindi ka mapapatay ng kapatid mo, patay ka sa'kin."

I shivered at the thought. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako kinilabutan. I wrapped my arms around my shoulders. Gosh, Sera!

Mariin akong napapikit habang ang iniihip ng hangin ang aking buhok. Surely, Miguel will kill me for this! Napatingin ako sa paligid. Dapat hindi ako makilala ni Miguel. Palihim akong lalabas ng bahay ng saglit upang pumunta sa law firm nila. I'll just get Fajline Salvani's contact number then leave. Pwede ko namang tanungin si Miguel but if he knows, he'll mess with my plans. Mahilig pa naman iyon makisawsaw. Napatingin ako sa paligid. 

Okay, Sera! You will only ask for Attorney Fajline Salvani's contact details!

I wonder if I could find it on the internet, though. Ngunit, wala nga akong phone o anong gadget na hawak. 

Mabuti na nga lang at nasa syudad lamang ang bahay ni Miguel. Atleast, I did not find any difficulty finding my way to their law firm. 

Ibinaling ko ang tingin ko sa puti at modernong establisyimento. It used to look like a provincial hall when I was little. Then, the next generation of Vernan's renovated it. It looked like it was rebuilt, though. Mukhang walang kahit ano mula sa lumang disensyo nito ang nanatili.

May makakakilala kaya sa aking empleyado rito? All I need is Fajline Salvani's contact details. I took a step closer. 

Kaya mo 'to, Sera! I thought to myself. You've been good with deceiving other people that you're innocent and pure all your life. You're good at pretending and faking. Ngayon, magagamit mo na ito sa mabuting paraan. 

Napalunok ako. Humugot ako ng lakas at pumasok sa Vernan Law Firm. I just hope I could not meet any of the Vernan's. I'm not dumb to go here without knowing nothing. What I just know is Phil and Fajline are not here. Napatingin na ako kanina sa parking lot. None of Phil's car was parked in there. Posibleng nakabili siya ng bagong sasakyan na hindi ko kilala ngunit malalaman ko pa rin.

I just know the Vernans' preferences on cars. They buy cars that have to be shipped from other places. They have Range Rover, Audi, McLaren, Ferrari... Something, you can see in car racing video games.

At si Miguel Vernan? Mas abala iyon sa pagpapatakbo ng mga unibersidad at ibang family business nila.

Ang hindi ko lang alam kung narito si Fajline. Pero kung magkrus man ang landas namin, sa tingin ko ay isang mabuti iyong pagkakataon. I only intend to meet her, anyway.

My heart skipped a beat as I walked in the establishment. All I see are clients dressed in either signature clothing or ordinary shirt and pants. Every lawyer were in their corporate attire. May ibang masyadong nagmamadali o 'di kaya'y busy sa phone kaya kahit matangkad na ako, nababangga pa rin ako. May iba namang busy sa binabasang makakapal na papeles. Ang iba naman ay abala sa pakikipag-usap sa kani-kanilang kliyente.