Embracing the Troublemaker

Chapter Fourthy Seven

Jael's Point of View

Dahil sa nangyari kahapon pinakansela ang exam at pasok ngayong linggo para imbestigahan ang nangyari. Talamak na raw ang ganoong pangyayari pero hindi nakaka labas sa publiko dahil pinapanatiling tikom ng eskwelahan na iyon ang bawat estudyante na naka ranas at naka kita nang pangyayari.

Pero hindi na ngayon.

Pinag hahanap na si Apollo dahil nag tatago na raw ito. Napag alaman din namin na isang linggo na rin na nag mamatyag iyon saamin dahil nakita sa cctv ng school. Ilang beses na rin n'ya ako muntik pag tangkaan lalo na't nung unang beses beses akong lumabas ng classroom para mag hatid ng activity namin sa faculty, may hawak s'yang hand knife nung araw na 'yon. Mabuti na lamang ay naka salubong ko si Elmore 'non at sinamahan ako papuntang faculty at pabalik ng classroom.

Sa dumaang linggo kasi lagi nang naka buntod saakin silang dalawa ni Bishop maliban kahapon kaya 'yon siguro ang kinuha nyang pag kakataon para atakihin ako dahil wala sila Elmore at Bishop. Napag alaman din namin na pinag drop out na pala si Apollo dahil hindi na s'ya naka bayad ng tuition fee simula pa pala nung junior high school ito. Totoong share holder ang Daddy n'ya ng ASC pero matagal na palang pinull-out 'yon dahil sa nalulugi nilang kumpanya.

"Wala ka naman palang kasalanan, bakit ikaw yung sinisisi n'ya?"

Ross stole a quick glance at me as he gently cleaned the wound on my neck. His hands trembled slightly.

"I stopped helping their company," my brows furrowed. "Huh?"

He took a deep breath. "Zeus Zhang, her father, is my godfather." he explained. " Their company was failing and Ninong Zeus begged for my help if I could help him to recover their company, so I did, despite Apollo's arrogance."

"Tapos?"

"I invest 70% in their company. It went well though." 

Bumuka nang bahagya ang bibig ko sa narinig, 70%? Sobrang laki 'non! Magkano 'yon? Million? Billion? Trillion? Wow!

"The company slowly recovered," Ross continued, "but Ninang became seriously ill. Her medical bills drained their resources."

"Why?" I asked, my voice barely audible. "Dahil ba doon kaya hindi mo na sila tinulungan?"

"No, silly." He messes up my hair. "I could handle being Apollo's rival because I could fight back, but..." He pauses, his face becomes serious. Naningkit na naman yung mga mata n'yang kanina lang napaka amo. "Apollo Zhang slapped you right in front of me."

I cover my mouth in shock. "K-kaya ba..."

"Yes."

"Ha... bakit... ginagawa mo 'yon kasi..." hindi ako makapag salita nang deretso dahil hindi ako makapaniwala. "Hindi mo na sila tinulungan dahil lang—"

"It's not just 'just', baby," he interrupts. "Seeing you hurt is too painful for me. I almost killed him because of what he did that day."

As he finished cleaning my wound, Ross grabbed a hairclip and neatly fixed my messy hair. Sitting cross-legged in front of me, he met my eyes. "My decision wasn't solely because of Apollo," he said. "But yes, his actions influenced me."

The memory of that humiliating moment flooded back, I gasped.

"Yes, I stopped helping their company because of what he did to you, but it doesn't mean I also stopped helping their family." he said. "I paid for Ninang's hospital bill, but sadly, she didn't make it. Ninong also retired, but Apollo couldn't accept what happened. He only knows that I withdrew from their company, so he blames me for their bankruptcy. Apollo also attempted to ask my father for help, but my father refused," he chuckled. "Just as I thought. He's too selfish."