MY DREAMS AND GOALS (Goal Series #01)

28

Chapter 28

TERRENCE'S POV

"She taught that I'm married," I said and drank my glass of beer.

"Of course. You're wearing a ring and Stella is wearing her ring too," Tristoff said and pour me a beer on my glass. "How is Stella anyway?"

"She's still recovering," I looked at my phone and I smiled. "The Doctor's coat looks good at her," I whispered.

"Is that her?" Adrian sat beside me and took my phone. "She is. Buksan mo." Utos niya at binuksan ko naman ang phone ko. "Ito ba lahat ng kinuha mong pictures mula no'ng sinundan mo siya sa America?" Tanong niya.

"Oo, pero hindi ko na itinuloy dahil pinigilan mo 'ko," tugon ko at tumango naman ito.

Napatingin ako sa phone ko at nanlaki ang mata ko nang makita kong binura niya ang mga pictures.

"Bakit mo binura?!"

"Republic Act 10173, or the Data Privacy Act, protects individuals from unauthorized processing of personal information that is (1) private, not publicly available; and (2) identifiable, where the identity of the individual is apparent either through direct attribution or when put together with other available information." Seryosong sabi niya't inabot sa akin ang phone ko.

"Ayan na nga lang ang mayroon ako," bulong ko. "I would rather be an inmate then," balin ko kay Adrian. "Recover those pictures now!" I yelled and he smirked.

"Iinom mo na lang 'yan," sabi ni Tristoff pero hindi ko ito pinansin. "Hard drink, please!"

"One moment, Sir."

"Look at your email." Ani Adrian at tinignan ko naman ang email ko.

"What's with the subject?" Kunot noong tanong ko at natawa naman ito.

"You said you would rather be an inmate," sagot niya. "So, you are under arrest, Terrence Ricohermoso for taking pictures of my sister without permission. Article-"

"Adrian, iinom mo na lang 'yan. Damayan mo naman ako!" Sabat ni Tristoff. "Terrence!" Tawag nito sa akin.

'You are under arrest', ayan ang subject.

Ganiyan na pala mag-subject sa email. Tsk.

"KAILANGAN AKO SA EMERGENCY ROOM." Sabi ni Hera.

Isang linggo na ang nakalipas mula no'ng manganak si Stella at naka-recover na rin ito. Napatingin ako sa kaniya pero nasa phone lang ang paningin niya.

"Sana Emergency Room na lang ako," sambit ng Doctor na nasa tabi niya.

"What?" Kunot noong tanong ni Hera.

"Para nandirito ka kasi kailangan kita." Kumindat ito at nakita kong natawa si Hera.

Namukhaan ni Stella si Hera at maya-maya lumabas na ito't sumunod naman ang Doctor na madalas niyang kasama.

"Bakit hindi mo kausapin?" Tanong ni Stella. "It's been 15 years since the day she left, siya naman ang pagtuunan mo ng pansin."

"How about you?" Tanong ko at ngumiti naman ito.

"I can manage, Terrence," aniya. "Besides he would take care of me and baby Steven as well."

Lumabas na kami ni Stella ng Hospital at sumakay sa kotse. Inihatid ko ito sa bahay niya at nakita kong naroon si Adrian at saka si Tristoff. Nilapag ko ang gamit ni Stella sa sofa at tinulungan kong mag-ayos si Adrian ng ilang gamit na kakailangangin ni Steven.

"Do you need something?" Dinig kong tanong ni Tristoff kay Stella.

"Wala naman," tugon ni Stella.