Boulevard to Polaris (Virago Series #1)

later in their souls

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CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
later in their souls
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"It's not me, Astra."

Those were Gazer's words along with his serious expression when I punched and pinned him on the wall of the interrogation room before asking him if it's him who's toying with me all this time. 

Kahit nagkagulo ang lahat at kahit gulong-gulo ang itsura niya ay hindi ko siya binitawan dahil mas umibabaw ang kagustuhan kong makakuha ng sagot. Pero gaya ng inaasahan, he just denied it. 

In the end, they didn't bother filing a case because Alessa swore she'll take everyone to jail if they touch me. Napasunod niya rin 'yung kalabang abogado niya at kahit na nagpupuyos sa galit si Quince dahil sa desisyon na 'yun ay wala siyang nagawa dahil kay Gazer lamang sumusunod ang abogado nila. Ang inspektor at iilang pulis na nandoon ay wala na rin namang may nagawa dahil si Gazer na mismo nagsabing hindi sila magsasampa ng kaso gaya ng desisyon kong hayaan na lang ang nangyari.

Quince then broke up with him. I don't know if it was out of anger or if she still really believe what I said in the cafe. I don't care. Paniwalaan na nila lahat ng gusto nila. Sobrang pagod na ako.

"Aster, I left your clothes here, ah? Just rest after taking a bath. Kailangan mo nu'n." Rinig kong tawag ni Paris sa labas ng banyo na hindi ko naman sinagot dahil kahit pagbuka ng bibig ko ay hindi ko 'ata kayang gawin. 

Kasalukuyan kaming lahat nasa bahay ni Paris. Nasa ground floor sila sa may sala habang ako naman ay nagdesisyon na mag-steam bath muna sa isa sa mga bakanteng kwarto ni Paris. 

Habang ginagawa 'yun ay walang tigil ang isip ko sa pagpabalik-balik sa lahat ng nangyari. Mula noong nasa Cadiz ako at mula noong pumunta si Caliem sa karinderya ni Tiya Martha. 

I don't know why they seemed close and I didn't bother looking kasi akala ko sinusundan lang ako ni Caliem o 'di kaya ni Gazer but now that I realized it, Tiya Martha said that she knew Caliem for quite some time now. Posible kayang magkakilala na sila bago pa magkasakit si Caliem? 

Dumagdag ang iisipin at tanong ko lalo na't noong nagpasya si Tiya Martha na paalisin ako sa trabaho ay hindi naman matagal 'yung usapan nila ni Caliem habang wala ako. Hindi rin si Caliem ang uri ng tao na sasabihan si Tiya Martha na paalisin ako para lang mag-trabaho ako sa kuya niya.

Caliem gave me choices. He gave me a calling card so he can make me decide what to do. Why would he do that if he will just convince Tiya Martha to fire me so I can work under his brother, right?

Pero nangyari 'yung sa 7/11 kung saan inako ni Gazer na iniimbestigahan niya ako at si Caliem ay nagpasyang pagmukhain akong desperada sa harap ng kuya niya. 

Tapos nagkita kami sa Cadiz ni Gazer dahil may natanggap siyang mensahe na nasa panganib ako. 

Napapikit ako nang mariin.

What am I missing?  

The anonymous investor...

Who are you?

That anonymous is everywhere. They're somewhere where I'm present. They know my every move. They know me as much as they know Gazer. They know the two of us and they're using us a pawn in their fucking vengeance.

But why did they choose me? Why did they choose Gazer? And why does Gazer want to see his Father's downfall?

I sighed heavily before opening my eyes. I have so many unanswered questions, so many thoughts, yet, I answered none of them.