She Was There

[Calithea Sophronia]

In the days that followed after the chairman's burial, everyone in the company started to continue their lives. As the chairman’s position was vacant, the board of directors has been contemplating ‘who will fill in the seat he once occupied’. Later on, they decided to let the president be the acting chairman while the discussion for a permanent replacement continued.

Meanwhile, I and Voughn have been planning how to investigate his mother's death. Kinausap na rin namin si Detective Ronald tungkol sa kaso. No'ng una ay medyo nag-aalangan pa siya dahil nga sa patay na nga ang driver na naging dahilan no'ng chain-reaction accident at isinara na ito ng kanilang chief na dati ay siyang nag-i-imbestiga.

But we successfully persuaded him to cooperate. Sinabihan na lang niya kami na hayaan silang gawin nila ang kanilang trabaho at huwag na raw kaming makisali. Maghintay na lamang daw kami ng updates. However, Voughn couldn't sit still.

“What about Steven? Sasabihin ba natin sa kaniya ang plano natin?” tanong ko sa kaniya nang sabihin niya sa aking kailangan niya pa ring mag-imbestiga. Of course, I offered to help. Even if he didn't ask me at that time, I would still lend my hand to him.

“Should we? What do you think?”

“I think we should. He’s been worrying about you a lot.”

“Right. He’s actually competent and loyal. He would do everything to keep his promise to my mom.”

“Alam mo ang tungkol do’n?”

“I knew everything.”

“Talaga? Like what?”

“Hmmmm. Aside from the promise, I also knew about him knowing the truth about Sol’s death.” Voughn paused for a while, still gazing out at the serene sea. We're here by the seashore, enjoying the beautiful scenery. Pagkaalis kasi namin sa presinto ay dito kami napadpad.

“Kailan mo lang nalaman na wala na siya?”

“After he drove you home,” he answered. “Remember the date we had that time?”

Napatango naman ako sa tanong niya at inaalala ang panahong iyon. We had a date that morning, pero bigla na lamang siyang nanlamig no’ng nakasalubong namin siya ni Steven sa may exit ng company.

“That dish you ate contains an allergen to which Soledad was allergic. That’s how I knew you weren’t her.”

“WHAT?!”

Paano na lang kung allergic din ako no’n? E’ ’di namatay pa ako?

“How could you do that? I could have died if I was indeed allergic to that!” Mahina kong tinampal ang braso niya. Hindi magandang paraan iyon para i-check ang identity ng isang tao, ‘no.

“I’m sorry. I just want to check. Of course, I prepared everything up to the medical staff in case you were allergic,” aniya.

Nang mapansing nakabusangot pa rin ako ay nag-iba ang ekspresyon niya. He looked at me with guilt evident in his eyes. He tried to hold my hand, as if asking for forgiveness.

Kainis! Hindi ko siya matiis!

“Oo na. Mabuti na lang at hindi talaga ako si Sol,” sabi ko at hinawakan pabalik ang kamay niya. The cold breeze didn't even bother me now because I had my hand warmer. “Anyway, was that why you acted that way?”

“No. After I confirmed everything about Soledad, I admit I was confused and baffled. But it wasn’t the reason why I acted that way.”

Hindi ko na rin siya inusisa pa. Alam kong ayaw niyang pag-usapan ang tungkol do’n, considering that he didn’t mention it himself. I want to give him the privacy he needs.

“Teven must have thought I hated you or something, so he confronted me. He ended up telling me everything. From asking you a favor to the pretending part. It actually caused me to feel mixed emotions. The woman I thought I loved was dead without my knowledge. I blamed myself and regretted a lot for not being there with her. But I do understand her. And I respect her decision about not telling me of her condition.”

Napatitig na lamang ako kay Voughn. Habang sinasabi niya ang mga iyon ay wala akong nakikitang lungkot o pagkadismaya sa mukha niya. It was as if he had already gotten over them, and he moved on.

"Did you ever hate me, like for once?” I asked him, wanting to check if he did. He shifted his eyes toward me. Napaiwas naman ako ng tingin. Nakakahiya. Para akong bata na tinatanong ang crush ko kung ayaw ba nito sa akin.

“Of course.”

Mabilis pa sa kidlat akong napatingin ulit sa kaniya. What? He hated me. Sabi ko na nga ba e’. Who wouldn't hate me? I pretended to be his ex-girlfriend. Of course, he would hate me, as he was betrayed by me. Hindi ba? He exerted effort, not knowing that I was a fake.

“Of course, not.”

“Huh?”

“Why would I hate someone I love?” he said, smiling. I wander my eyes, trying to avoid his. Pilit kong itinatago mula sa kaniya ang namumula kong mukha. Bakit ba siya gan’to? Bigla-bigla na lamang babanat. Hindi ako nakapaghanda!

“Why are you hiding your beautiful face?” he then asked, clearly teasing me. Ano ba? Ang seryoso naman ng usapan namin kanina, pero biglang naging ganito. Ang init na ng mukha ko.

“Voughn, stop!” pigil ko sa kaniya. Baka magmukha akong baliw kangingiti kapag nagpatuloy siya sa mga banat niya e’.

“What’s wrong? I just want to see the face of my future wife,” natatawa niyang sambit. He really is teasing me. Hmmmm. Should I let him taste his own medicine?

“Voughn,” banggit ko sa pangalan niya. I uncover my face, letting him see my overwhelmed expression. We both stared into each other's eyes as the sound of the waves echoed through our ears. I then flashed a smile and said, “I love you!”

I said it in the sweetest way; it was almost like a whisper. But I'm sure he heard it, seeing as to how stunned he is to speak right now.

I made him speechless! Ang cute niya magulat. Sinisinok.

_

I was so happy, to the point that I couldn’t stop myself from smiling wide. Kahit nakauwi na ako ng bahay ay patuloy pa rin ako sa paghahagikhik kapag naaalala ko ang mukha ni Voughn. He was like a guy getting a sudden confession from his crush.

With him in mind, I felt so lucky to have someone like him in my life. A guy who understands me, who loves me wholeheartedly, and who is willing to protect me against all odds; a guy who would never get tired of complimenting me; a guy who makes me special and valued, forgives me when I do wrong, and is even willing to get drenched in the rain just to bring me comfort.

I will never let go of him 'til forever. If he hadn't mistaken me for someone else before, I wouldn't have found him. I wouldn't have found out everything about my family.

He was like a bridge to the truth that would set us free from our past and lead us to our future.

‘Good night, Voughn.’

_

“Good morning, Mi Amore!” pagbati niya sa akin nang makapasok ako sa office niya. After everything that happened, natupad din ang kagustuhan ni Steven na magtrabaho ako rito sa EcoPower. Voughn then assigned me as his personal assistant.

“Good morning,” I said back, giving him a peck on the lips. He smiled, which made his dimples appear like the morning sun. Mas lalo tuloy siyang nagiging attractive sa paningin ko.

“Nasaan si Steven?”

“He gave my brother a visit.”

My brother. Napatawad na kaya niya si Wave?

“Have you eaten?” tanong niya. Umupo muna ako sa couch bago ko siya sinagot.

“Hindi pa. Let’s just wait for him, para sabay na tayong tatlo.”

“But what if he already had his breakfast?”

Oo nga ’no?

“Should we call him? Tanungin na lang kaya natin siya?” sambit ko. Napatango-tango naman siya sa suggestion ko at kaagad pumunta sa mesa niya upang kunin ang kaniyang cellphone.

Pero bago pa niya ito madampot ay tumunog ito hudyat na may tumatawag.

“Oh, it’s him!” bulalas niya. Napatawa na lamang ako ng mahina nang mapansing medyo nagulat siya. Masyado naman kasing sakto sa timing itong si Steven.

“What took you so long, Teven? We have something to discuss with you,” bungad niya sa tumawag. Naka-loud speaker na rin ito habang papalapit sa kinauupuan ko si Voughn.

"Sorry, bro, something came up.”

“Anong nangyari, Steven?”

“I need you here, Voughn. Come and pick up your stepmom. The detectives were having a hard time convincing her to go home, but she won’t even budge.”

Si Mrs. Choi? Anong ginagawa niya ro’n? Binisita rin ba niya ang anak niya?

Napatingin ako kay Voughn na ngayo’y tahimik lang na nakahawak sa cellphone niya. Mukhang hindi pa nga niya tuluyang napapatawad ang stepmom niya. I think he still hates her.

“Let her be,” he said in a cold tone. “She’ll find her way back home once she feels tired of being there.”

“Pero pre, she was here for like 3 days already!”

WHAT?!

“Bakit daw ba ayaw niyang umuwi, Steven? Did you ask her?” Kinuha ko na ang cellphone ni Voughn at ako na ang nagtanong dahil mukhang wala namang pakialam itong kasama ko.

“She didn’t say a word. But she seems scared, though.” Napakunot ako ng noo sa tinuran niya. She was scared? Of whom? Why? Did she feel remorseful toward her son? Was that why she’s scared to leave him there?

“We’ll be there, Steven.” Kaagad kong pinatay ang tawag. Paglingon ko kay Voughn ay nakatingin lang siya sa akin na para bang ayaw niya sa sinabi ko. Pero hindi na rin siya umalma pa nang ayain ko siyang umalis na para puntahan ang stepmom niya.

Hindi nagtagal ay nakarating na rin kami sa presinto. Naabutan nga namin doon ang hindi maipintang mukha ni Steven na kanina pa yata naghihintay sa amin. Nang makita kami ay para naman siyang nabuhayan ng loob.

“You’re here! Nasa loob siya. You should convince her to go home. She’s not allowed to stay here much longer, okay?”

When we entered through the entrance, we were then greeted by the detective in charge. It was Detective Pascual, a member of Detective Ronald’s team.

“Nasa kabila siya kung saan naroon din ang CSO ng EcoPower. Kanina pa namin siya pinapaalis, pero ayaw niya. We couldn’t drag her away out of fear that she would retaliate. Please talk to her,” he said while leading the way towards where Mrs. Choi was.

“Noted, Detective.”

When we arrived, we saw her in the corner, sobbing.

“You think I will forgive you just because you cried your eyes out? I told you to go away. I don’t need you here.” Wave on the other side was spitting words to her, as if he was pent up with anger that he had kept for a long time.

Naiintindihan ko ang hinanakit ni Wave. Hindi talaga madaling magpatawad lalo na at sobrang lalim na ng sugat sa puso niya. He was betrayed and fooled. He must have been ridiculed by others just because he was adopted when, in fact, he was a biological son too.

“I’m not here to ask for forgiveness. Alam kong hindi mo ako mapapatawad sa ginawa ko,” Mrs. Choi said in between her sobs. “Just let me stay here, okay? I will be killed kapag lumayo ako rito o kung mag-iisa ako.”

WHAT?! SHE WILL BE WHAT?

“What is that supposed to mean?” Voughn asked in confusion.  Kahit ako ay naguguluhan din sa narinig. Why will she be killed? By whom?

“Axle! Help me. I don’t want to die. Now that your father is gone, I will be the next target. Help me, please?” pagmamakaawa niya kay Voughn. She even crawled her way to reach him, pleading to help her with something. My heart beats like a drum roll of mixed emotions: curiousity, confusion, and fear.

“Why would you be killed? You’re just a wife.”

“No, Axle. Your father didn’t marry me because he loved me. He married me because I was a witness! And your mother had died because she was a witness too,” she cried out. What she said left us in bewilderment.

Ibig sabihin...

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN? SO, IT WAS TRUE THAT MY MOM WAS KILLED?”

“She was a witness, 23 years ago.”

“23 years ago?” I asked, wanting to check if I heard it right. Parang may kung anong kumakalikot sa puso ko habang nakikinig sa mga sinasabi niya. Especially when she mentioned ‘23 years ago’.

“Ang totoo, kaibigan niya si Mrs. Amore. When her friend gave birth, she wanted to be with her. When she arrived at the hospital, it was when a man went out of the baby’s room—”

“Sandali!” I cut her off. My ears rang, as if her story were so familiar to me. Wait—was she talking about the case my family is facing?

“How did you know about her witnessing that?” Voughn continued to ask. My knees were wobbling as I trembled with all these revelations coming from her. It was as if everything was connected, and there’s someone out there playing with us.

“Nurse din ako ng hospital na ’yon. She asked me if I knew who that man was, and I told her I didn’t. Pero nasabi ko sa kaniya noon na nakita ko na ang lalakeng iyon sa may alley kasama ang isa pang lalake habang papasok ako sa trabaho,” she continued telling us everything. “The man he was with was the driver who crashed into the detective’s car. I only realized it when I saw the news of their death.”

My tears started to roll down my cheeks when I realized that everything she had said was indeed connected to my family’s past. It was our story! That detective she was talking about was my uncle, Chelsy’s father.

My heart tightened as I couldn’t contain the pain that I'd felt at this moment. Despite that, I felt relieved to know that there was a witness who could help us solve our cases—both our families’ cases.

I will surely catch the person behind all this!

I will never forgive them.