Collin/Colin, Nickname po ni Nicollin na anak ni Valentina.
Kabanata 7
Clue
--------------------------
------
"Arielle, Go to that room with the girl. Huwag kayong lalabas kapag hindi ako pumasok."
Sabay silang tumango at naglakad ng sabay papuntang kwarto na itinuro ko. Before i com out at the mansion i looked at the indonesian guy, siya lang ang kaisa isang hindi umalis na ipinagtatakha ko but i just shrugged, may silbi pa naman siya.
"Kelilingi ruangan dengan tiga pengawal." [Surround the room with three bodyguards.] He nodded, then started using the I don't know what they call that, walkie talkie? Limang secondo palang ang nabibilang ko may dumagdag na namang dalawa sakanila. Seriously? Saan sila nanggaling?
"Where did you came from? Haven't i ordered you guys to leave us here because my Mom sent me bodyguards?"
"Your Mom wanted to protect you from a situation like this. Those guys you sent back to their boss are Farraj's men, while we, we came from your Mom's Guards Company here on Indo. We speak four languages except your language on the Philippines."
Company?! What the-
"We were sent by your Mom to guard you from the shadows. She doesn't want us to be seen by you but-"
"Ma'am," The indo guy's word were cutted because of the other bodyguard. "Should i let him come in or you'll come outside to-"
"Let him in." Ilang buntong hininga pa ang pinakawalan ko, at ilang lingon din sa pinto ng kwartong pinasokan ng anak ko ang paglingon ko. Hindi ako mapakali. Knowing that Aera's father, the Mafia Boss is here to i think ask me some questions because their sources lead me from having their daughter. At isa sa resources nila ay ang pesteng si Averil na'yon!
"Hi." Calmly from the outside, Shaking from the inside. I can't believe i am meeting the mafia boss, face to face, but i heard hindi na siya parte ng organisasyon.
He look at me boredly. Hindi ko inaakalang magiging ganito ang reaksiyon ko ngayon. Pinaghandaan ko na ito sa nakalipas na mga buwan pero ganito padin ang nangyayari.
"I don't have time to give you a hello and to ask you if how are you. My wife's not feeling well since Aera was kidnapped. She's stressed and it's not good to her health."
Isang malakas na buntong hininga ang ibinigay ko sakaniya. Should, should i just give their daughter back? But-
"So, why are you here?" Kalmado man ang boses ko pero sobrang kaba na nag nararamdaman ko. Kaba na baka biglang lumabas ang dalawang sa pintong iyon. Mabubuking ako sa oras na...
"Averil told me that you can help me find my daughter. He told me that you have resources and based on my own investigation, you are hanlding an Illegal Businesses. Casino, kidnapping, Drugs, and such. So, tell me. Isa ba sa groupo ng kidnappers mo ang kumidnap sa anak ko o hindi? Since the day Averil told me that you are handling such a business, i started investigating you and be aware that i have an eye to look at your every move. Kaya't kung na sa'yo ang anak ko ilabas mo na siya ngayon din."
Peste! Hindi talaga mapagkakatiwalaan ang Demonyong Hayop na'yon! Makikita niya lahat ng gagawin ko at nasisiguro kong hindi lang isa, hindi lang dlaawa, hindi lang tatlo ang nagbabantay saakin sa paligid para manmanan ako. So, I don't have a choice but to give him a clue. I will wait for months before giving their child back pero syempre to make this more interesting at hindi ako mapahamak kailangan ko siyang iligaw muna.
While sitting i crossed my legs and my hands then heaved a heavy sigh.
"Since you are here. I'll give you clue. Yes, yes and no. Yes, i am handling Illegal businesses. Yes, one of my men Kidnapped your daughter and No, I don't have your daughter. If i were you I'll look every head quarters i have, every buildings i have, every Illegal Businesses i have. Doon mo siya hanapin dahil nasisiguro kong ando'n ang anak mo. Kung mangkikidnap lang naman ang mga tauhan ko bakit ko naman kukunin? Bakit ko naman papatirahin sa pamamahay-"
"Because you know, because you have this feeling that every fighters has. The feeling that you can feel the skill, the ability by just looking at that person. But, I'll take your advice, I'll follow your clue, pero sa oras na napatunayan kong nasa sa'yo ang anak ko at nililigaw mo lang ako, take note that you'll be dead. Hindi lang ikaw, your precious Mom and your Daughter." Nanghina ako sa sinabi niya but i managed to give a small smile. Nag alok pa akong i hatid siya kahit hanggang gate lang. From this day onwards i need to be very careful, i need to be EXTRA careful and i need someone to look at Astrion. I'll hide the last Building where i will put his daughter.
Nasa gate na siya at akmang sasakay na sa sasakyan niya ng bigla siyang huminto at nagsalita.
"Since you gave me a clue, I'll give you one, too. Different name, same color."
"Wait-what-" Hindi ko na natapos ang sasbaihin ko dahil pumasok na siya sa sasakyan at mabilis ang pag andar nito. What does his clue mean? Different name, same color? Anong ibig niyang sabihin?
Buong araw ko atang inaalala kung para saan ang Clue na ibinigay niya. Buong araw ata akong tulala na nakalimutan kong may mga trabaho pa pala akong gagawin at makikipagkita pa ako kay Farraj. And now i am fucked up! I forgot the dinner and earlier i forgot to loudspeak my phoneso that i can hear the rings.
Halos nakalimutan ko na ding magluto para sa makakain ng mga bata kaya naman instead of me the Indo guy bodyguard cook for my Daughter. Siguro'y mga professional ang mga taong ito. I can't see even one emotion from their eyes not like the other guards i hire na palaging may pagnanasa para sa bata kong anak. My daughter is beautiful, we have the same skin, the same calm hair that every time the winds blow it will blow as well, the red yet pinkish lip and those eyes that came from her father.
Isang malakas na namang buntong hininga ang pinakawalan ko na napansin na nang dalawa.
Aera's quite while my daughter keep on asking questions on Aera na tanging Nod at Iling lamang ang sinasagot. I can feel that Aera's holding something. May pinipigilan siyang sabihin saakin.
Kaya naman matapos nilang kumain i knocked on her door. She shouted 'Its Open' and i started pulling the door knob. Nang makapasok agad ko siyang tinanong kong ano ang gusto niyang sabihin saakin.
"I heard my Dad's voice earlier that is why i slightly opened the door and heard you talking to him. Why can't you just tell him that i am with you. Hindi ko po gusto na mapahamak ka, kayo ng dahil saakin. It was not your fault that i was Kidnapped and i heard the other guy said that you killed my kidnapper." Kalmado siya ng sinabi niya iyon na para bang sanay na siyang pumatay at makarinig na may pinapatay. Ngumiti ako ng kaunti sakaniya at nagsimulang hagurin ang buhok niya. Malungkot siya. I can feel that.
"You know that your dad is a Mafia Boss, right?" She nodded her head, still feeling sad.
"If you i revealed right away that you are with me there will be a world war three." She looked at sinimulang iiling iling ang ulo niya kaya napahinto ako sa pag hagod sa buhok niya.
"My Dad WAS. My Mom and Dad already quit being a Mafia Boss. Trust me. My Mom and Dad are mabait. They will forgive you if you tell them that i am with you safe, no wounds and healthy." Naging malapad ang ngiti ko dahil sa sinabi niya. Para siyang si Aerille.
"Ibibigay kita sakanila pero kailangang hindi nila ako makita. Maaring gamitin ng Mommy at Daddy mo ang kahinaan ko at iyon ay kapag nalaman nilang kinuha kita't inalagaan maari nila itong gamiting pang blackmail saakin. So, just sit there and wait okay? I won't harm--"
"But i miss my Mom and I haven't seen my Baby Sister!" There. She said it. Miss na niya ang Mommy niya at hindi pa niya nakikita ang Baby Sister niya. I wonder if Collin miss me, too? If this girl misses her Mom siguro naman pati si Colin miss din ako?
"Listen to me, Baby Girl. It will take your Dad months before he come to the last Building. In that building, i will leave you on the table and i will hide. Sa oras na makuha kana ng Papa mo ay agad na akong aalis. That way mas safe ako and can you promise me that you'll kept this a secret? Me, being the master of your kindappers?"
"Of course." Ngumiti ako at akamng tatayo na para umalis pero hinila niya ako at niyakap ng mahigpit.
"I heard my Dad's clue. It means, Have the same color but dont have the same name or he/she has a different name." Sanabi niya iyon habang nakayakap saakin. Shit! Tama! Parehong kulay pero may ibang pangalan. That means one thing!
Oh, god! Thank you, Astrion!