She's my Tough Girl

Thirty Four - The missing piece

Thirty Four - The missing piece

Gabby's POV

First sem is almost over and ilang months nalang, ga-graduate na kami ng college. Lahat ng 4th year ay sobrang abala sa kabi-kabilang requirements for graduation and OJT. Bihira nalang kami makagala nila Agatha and Jed is also busy dahil sa thesis niya. Ako? Busy rin. Kahit naman ako ang campus tough girl dito eh hindi ko pinapabayaan yung studies ko.

Everything went peaceful after those months na binabagabag ako ng takot. The police didn't find anything dahil kaunti ang ebidensya and nahihirapan silang i-trace dahil hindi konektado sa kahit ano. Malabo. Though inaasahan ko na to. Trick's ninong said nalang na pag may napansin o kahina-hinala ulit, wag mag-hesitate na kontakin siya.

Tumigil na kaya yung threat? Pero bakit?

Kahit na masyadong peaceful ang mga nakaraang araw, hindi pa rin ako nagpapakampante. There is something my instinct is telling me, I just can't figure out specifically.

I am deep in my thoughts when Jienna approched me. Minsan nagugulat ako sa babaeng to, biglang nasulpot.

"Gabby." tawag niya. Jienna is kinda intimidating and kung normal na estudyante lang ako dito, I might be intimidated by her. She's pretty with brains, halata nga lang na bratinella siya dahil pili lang rin ang mga kaibigan niya. I know one coz I can recognized one.

"Yes?" hindi siya sumagot agad at nagpalinga-linga sa paligid. She's quite nervous which is weird. Bakit nagkakaganto to?

"Can we talk privately? Meet me at the auditorium right now. Sumunod ka few minutes pagkalabas ko ng room. Okay?" mahina niyang sabi.

Nangunot ang noo ko. I have a feeling that this conversation is something trivial.

"Okay." Yun lang ang sinabi ko at parang nakahinga naman siya ng maluwag dahil hindi na ako nagtanong. Pagkalabas ni Jienna, I looked around sa classroom kung nasan si Jed. I saw him here kanina, saan siya pumunta?

Gaya ng napag-usapan, sumunod ako kay Jienna sa auditorium. Pagpasok ko ay hinanap ko agad siya pero hindi ko siya makita. Malaki ang auditorium at ang entrance ay nasa likod na part. I was about to go near the audio booth when someone grab my hand. I was about to counter the attack and flip the person who holds my wrist but it was Jienna, hiding near the pillar kung nasan ang audio booth.

"Ssshh" taka man ay hindi ako gumawa ng kahit anong ingay. I don't know what's going on but there is something about this situation that needs my focus.

Nagtatago kami dito sa pillar when we feel people coming out of the Audio booth. Sumilip ako ng bahagya and see two guys, the other one is wearing our college uniform and the other one is naka-formal suit. Sino ang mga to?

"What's your plan? Are you going to follow her?" sabi ng naka-uniform. They are both familiar to me pero hindi ko maaninag ang mukha dahil medyo madilim sa part na ito, dahil na rin pinatay nila ang ilaw sa booth.

"I need to." sabi nung naka suit.

"Are you sure? Ngayon mo nalang ulit siya nakita pagbalik mo dito from States. Matagal mong hinintay to diba? Then pagbalik mo, you'll need to end her peaceful life. I just can't understand kung bakit ka nagpapadala sa step sister mo, Kuya."

"I need to do this! My sisters suffered so much because of her!"

"And you feel responsible for them? You think Tito will be good at you once you follow your step sister's orders? Okay. But don't let me drag into this anymore. Once malaman ni Tito ang mga pinaggagagawa niyo, this can drag you all down. Pati ako!"

"I have warned you, Kuya. I am out. The Ramirez will not let this slide anymore."

I don't know who they are talking about and why we are here but they mentioned a name I surely recognized. Ramirez.

Thw guy wearing a uniform walked out first at dahil natamaan ng sinag ng araw yung kalahating mukha niya, I was shocked to see the same guy who painted the Mirror last exhibit.

Nicolo Nam.

Looking frustrated, the other guy brushed his hair up so I can clearly see his face.

It feels like another piece of the puzzle has been laid down.

Who are you people? Why does everything connects with this Dominic Arteza? Sino ka?

My mind is still in process at hindi ko namalayang nakaalis na sila. Now, I am alone with Jienna.

"Tell me. What's your connection with them? Why are you doing this?" firm kong tanong sa kanya.

Hindi siya makatingin sakin at bakas sa mukha niya ang frustration at takot.

"I'm not doing this for you." nangunot lalo ang noo ko.

"Nicolo approached me one day, weeks before the exhibit nung Foundation day. I don't know what he's playing but he instructed me to put a bug on Jed's bagpack. Ayokong gawin dahil iniisip ko na gusto niya isabotahe at manguna sa exhibit para talunin si Jed but he offered me a huge amount of money .. I needed that back then dahil may sakit ang mama ko. You know we're not rich like all of you."

"He also find out na may gusto ako kay Jed. He asked me to keep an eye on him and befriend him, even better if maaagaw ko siya sayo. I didn't know that the money he gave me includes spying on you. He once know na nasa Vigan kayo because I overheard you and Agatha. I really don't know what he's thinking and every time I asked, sinasabi niya sakin na just do what I have told."

Napapikit ako ng mariin. So, that's the reason they know we are at Vigan then sends me the mystery parcel.

"Totoong gusto ko si Jed pero masama ang kutob ko sa mga pinapagawa niya sakin. Then I saw Nicolo and that guy sa exhibit. They seemed to know each other. Nawirduhan ako na binili ng lalaking yung yung gawa ni Jed, kahit na yung kay Nicolo ang nanalo as Top exhibit."

Tumingin siya sakin at hinawakan ang kamay ko. "I'm sorry, Gabby. I really don't know what they are after and kung anong habol nila sa inyo ni Jed kaya sinasabi ko to sayo. I like Jed but I don't want him to take away from you nor ruin your relationship. I don't want him to be in danger."

"What do you mean in danger?"

Tumayo siya ng ayos na parang may inaalala.  "I don't know. My guts is telling me na may pina-plano sila. I overheard Nicolo talking to someone named M, and I think .. she is the step sister they are referring to."

Lumingon siya sakin. "HIndi mo ba kilala yung M?"

The only M I know na malaki ang galit sakin ay patay na.

Is it possible for someone else to imitate her anger to get back at me?

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