The Kontrabida Series #2: LUMIERRE HELENA YURIKO (COMPLETED)

TWENTY-NINE -- THE END

Miah

"Attorney, one last client call po." Anas ng secretary na mukhang nag-alangan pang sabihin ang pakay noong makita ang bagyo sa aking mukha. Napatikhim siya ng lihim bago yumuko para hintayin ang sagot ko.

Bago siya kaya ganyan ang kilos. The old secretary got inconvenienced for some reason kaya mabilisan ang pag-hire ko ng bagong staff. Within a day, I got a new secretary who claims to have a 5-year experience yet acts like a fresh freaking graduate!

"Go on." Mahina kong anas habang ang kalahati ng atensyon ay nakalaan sa screen ng cellphone.

Muli kong binalikan ang text message na kadarating lang saka ulit binasa iyon.

Unknown Number:

Miah, don't pick me up at the company. I'll have Jace bring me home nalang. Maaga kaming uuwi ngayon, as his gift for me. I'll be with Macky. Xoxo

This does not sound right. This does not sound right at all! It doesn't sit well with me that she's with that guy and now, magpapahatid pa siya? Sa bahay ko?

Just what kind of hell did I put myself into?

A niggling feeling started to creep in my mind but I can't seem to have a good grasp at it. Sa huli, ipinokus ko na lamang ang atensyon ko sa bagay na kayang ipaliwanag ng aking utak.

I don't like that I'm not with them earlier as liked. I have a bunch of clients today and what a damn coincidence, lahat sila "badly needed" ang  expert legal advises. Isa pa, why the heck should she let that Jace bring her home? Are they that close to actually ask for favors?

"And Sir. Actually, there's another---"

"Last one Janella." Malamig kong turan, pagdaka ay pinako sa kanya ang nagyeyelo kong tingin. "I wanna go home early tonight." Iritado kong saad habang muling kinikilatis ang mensahe.

Tumango ang babae saka mabilisang lumabas. I heard I'm intimadating to look at, but this girl seems terrified of me. Ibang klase.

The message caught my eye again.

Nessi might have given her my number. Highness has always been one step ahead of me so of course nauna na niyang naisip na baka kailanganin niya ang contact ko, lalo kung si Macky ang punto ng topic.

Still, the feeling that something is not right when I dialed her number and it's already out of service really makes me edgy. Isa pa, that XOXO at the end of her message is so out of place.

I frowned.

Shit's making me nervous and yet, wala akong ideya kung bakit or sa anong dahilan ko iyon nararamdaman. There's of course the matter of calling Nessi but when I was about to dial her number, the new client barged in and went straight to my desk.

"I can't--" she started. "I can't take this anymore." Tinanggal niya ang salamin na nakatakip sa kanyang dalawang mata at bumungad sa akin ang isang putok na kilay, nangingitim na kaliwang mata at halos hindi na maibukang kanan.

Nalakumos ko ang aking kamao. Another case of a physically abused person. How many times have I had this exact case? Too many to count. And yet, I still can't wrap my mind around the fact that there are people who can hurt a woman. Just like that.

Tumayo ako para kamayan siya at pormal na buksan ang aming usapan. No matter what I feel about the case, I always have to be professional in my dealings, especially with my emotions.

She raggedly stood back up and shooked my hands before flopping back to the chair. Kita ko ang mga pasa na agad ding naitago sa likod ng mahabang manggas at manipis na jacket.