A Curse of Heels (HIDING SERIES 02)

Chapter 1

"I want to go home with you, ate..." Binalingan ko ng tingin ang kapatid kong nasa tabi ko. We're now on our way to the airport and mom is the one driving the car.

"Mom needs you here. Don't worry, Mrytle. I can take care of myself."

Ayaw ko mang aminin sa sarili ko pero sobrang nahihiya na ako sa sarili kong kapatid. I'm the oldest but seems like she's the one who take over for the things that needed to be done by me. She sacrificed a lot for me and mom.

"Ikaw ang inaalala ko. Please, don't depend yourself to us. You have also your own needs and mom will understand it too. Seek for you own happiness." Ngumiti ako sa kanya at hinawakan nang mahigpit ang kanyang kamay.

I saw mom looked at us in my peripheral vision.

"Mom, no matter how busy you are, please take care of yourself too. Masyado mo nang binibigay lahat ng lakas mo sa mga pasyente. Payagan mo na rin sana sina Myrtle at-

Before I could finish my statement, she cuts me off.

"I know what I'm doing. Just call us if something happens there," she coldly said.

Mommy is very intimidating. I can't even look at her straight in the eyes  sometimes. However, I can still feel her love for us. Hindi naman kase siya ganito noon. She's the bubbly type before but when my dad cheated on her, everything went black. Her old bubbly self became a cold person all of a sudden.

Isinandal ko ang ulo ko sa bintana at pinagmasdan ang mga nadadaanan namin. I feel so bad for myself that I didn't even enjoyed here. Kung maayos sana ang lahat ay baka mas pipiliin kong manirahan dito. Kung sana ay kasama ko lang ang anak ko...

Hindi ko na namalayang nakarating na pala kami sa Incheon Airport. Nauna na akong bumaba at tinulungan si mommy na ilabas ang maleta ko sa compartment.

"I already talked to our private investigator and attorney to help you in finding your daughter."

"Thanks, mom." 

Mas mabuti na ring may kasama pa rin ako sa paghahanap dahil alam kong hindi ko kakayanin kapag mag-isa lang ako. Naramdaman ko ang hawak ng aking kapatid sa palapulsuhan ko kaya napunta sa kanya ang atensyon ko.

She's crying...

I immediately embraced her. "You're now 25 yet, you're still a cry baby. Tsk." 

Humiwalay ako sa yakap namin at pinunasan ang kanyang luha.

"Ate...susunod agad ako do'n kapag naayos ko na 'yong trabaho ko rito."

I shook my head, a sign of disagreement. "No, Myrtle. I know you have your happiness here. I can manage myself now. It's time to focus on your life. And I promised that once I have my daughter, I'll come back here as soon as possible."

Wala na itong nagawa kundi ang tumango sa 'kin. Muli kong niyakap ang kapatid at mommy ko bago dumiretso sa loob ng airpot.

This is it...

___

It's been an hour since I landed here in Manila. I'm currently putting my clothes inside the cabinet in my room and I can't help but to feel excited for my plans. 

Pinili kong mag-stay dito sa dating condo ko dahil mas prefer ko rito kesa sa bahay namin. Hindi ko na rin pinaalam kila mommy dahil malalaman din nilang nandito ako kapag tumawag sila sa bahay. Nandoon pa rin kase ang dati naming mga kasambahay para magbantay. And I refused to stay there for some reasons.

I feel suffocated when I'm with someone so better yet, I'll stay here alone. 

Pagkatapos kong iligpit ang mga gamit ko ay agad kong kinuha ang phone ko para tawagan ang mga taong tutulong sa 'kin.

I decided to call our private investigator to ask an update but he isn't responding at all. Sinunod ko ang attorney. And fortunately, he answered.

"Yes?" The voice from the other line said in a husky voice.

Damn! Para ba akong nanlamig do'n.

"Are you Mr. Upton Redrow?" Mahina kong saad. Ewan ko ba...para bang may kakaibang epekto sa 'kin nang banggitin ko ang pangalan niya. Even his name sounds so hot!

"Uhuh. And I guess you're Ms. Corrine Zelda?" I never expected my name to sound so good when he mentioned it.

What's happening to me?

"Yeah, uhm...are you available tomorrow? Can we meet?"

"I have some errands tomorrow. Why not today?" Napabalikwas pa ako nang sabihin niya 'yon. Ngayon na talaga as in? But why do I feel excited suddenly?

Is it possible that I just had a crush on a guy over a phone call? Damn! Blame it to his voice.

"Oh okay. Maybe on the nearest café?"

"We'll be talking some private matters, Ms. so I guess it's better if we talk it in your house. Hmm?" Tapos kaming dalawa lang? Ano ba naman 'to. Hindi na nga ako maka-get over sa boses niya ay ngayon pa kami magkikita.

Pero why not 'di ba?

"Sure, I understand. Just meet me here in my condo." And I already ended the call. There's really something with him. Ang bilis-bilis na rin ng tibok ng puso ko sa hindi ko malamang dahilan. Ano bang nangyayari sa 'kin? Hell! What did that attorney did to me?

Dahil sa sobrang pagmamadali ko kanina ay nakalimutan ko nang sabihin ang adress ko kaya tinext ko nalang ito sa kanya. And he just replied, "K." How cold of him.

I examined all my clothes inside the wardrobe and when my eyes landed at my white off shoulder top, I smiled and picked it together with my pencil skirt. I know it's too professional but I don't know, I just want to wear something good. Maybe...I just want to look nice for myself? Argghh.

Nang matapos akong maligo at magbihis ay nag-apply pa ako ng minimal make-up which I have never done for so long. How I missed my old self. I dressed a lot before but when that incident happened, I changed a lot. The moment I woke up from coma, I can't even recognize myself.

But now, I'm gonna put all the missing things back. I'll start first to myself. Gusto kong maging sobrang handa na ako kapag kakaharapin ko na ang anak ko at ang walanghiya niyang tatay.

Minutes later...I heard the bell rang. I did a few inhales and exhales before opening the door.

But my jaw literally dropped when the man behind that phone call appeared in front of me.

This explains why I felt that damn unexplainable effects a while ago. But when I remembered his name that he told me earlier, had confused me more.

"Nice to see you again, Corrine." He said and showed me a smirk. I flinched as he walked near me.

And he's no other than the evil man who stole my baby...