That Woman

Chapter 21

Chapter 21

KEJI'S  POV

Inuwi ko na muna si Althea sa kanila. Her mom is there, together with her family. Dumiretso ako sa prisinto kung saan ipinunta si Gary.

Nakita ko si Noah at si Chief na kinakausap si Keji na nasa kulungan. Mukhang seryoso ang usapan nila. Nakita ko rin ang ibang tauhan ni Tita Suzanne at iba pang bantay na hindi pamilyar sa'kin. I saw the two policemen na nagbabantay sa'kin. Nilapitan ko sila. Sumaludo ang mga ito nang napansin ako, tinanguan ko sila.

"What happened? I told Chief that there must no policemen there." I asked.

"Sir, sumunod lang po kami sa utos ni Chief." Napakunot ang noo ko.

"Yes,Keji.I asked them to go there." Bungad ni Chief.

"But why?"

"In my office." Sinundan ko siya. Nagawi ng mata ko si Gary na kasalukuyang kinakausap pa rin ni Noah. Hindi ako nito tinapunan ng tingin. I sighed. What the hell is happening?

"Have a seat, Councilor."

"What happened? Bakit may mga pulis don? Bakit nandoon si Gary?"

"Gary is innocent. Maya-maya ay makakalabas na siya." Napakunot ang noo ko. "Gary is innocent? I saw him there pointing a gun on Altheas face." Chief sighed. "He's there because he's protecting you." Napahinto ako. Gulong-gulo.

"Noong una pa lang nagtaka na ako kung bakit pinahinto mo ang pagbabantay sa'yo. Hindi sapat na dahilan ang pagkapanalo mo. My policemen asked Elsa then she heard you talking to someone about Althea being kidnapped."

"Umamin na si Althea, she planned it. It's a set-up! She's planning to propose to me kasi hindi ko daw magawa." And I know in myself that I have no plans. I would rather to be single and to be with Gary---what?! He's a man for Pete's sake and I am not a gay!

"We followed your car using helicopters. My policemen pretended to be businessmen. Nahalata sila ng mga tauhan ni Althea, ang mga ito ang unang lumaban sa mga pulis. Gary and my men told me about that kanina. Pero hindi ka ba nagtataka? Halimbawang totoo ang  sinasabi ni Althea. Ano naman sana kung may mga pulis? Bakit nanlaban ang mga tauhan ni Althea na kung saan niya nakuha? And the investigation found out that these men are part of a Chinese-Russian syndicate. Walang galos si Althea. Gary told me na yung dalawang nakahandusay sa loob ng room na iyon ay mga kasama ni Althea, bakit wala man lang pasa si Althea na sign na pinilit siyang hilain o ano man?"

"So you're telling me that Althea is trying to hurt me?" but why?

"Iyon ang lumalabas sa imbestigasyon, Keji. We're also investigating her about Maam Suzanne's case kasi may anonymous person na nagsabi sa'min na may kinalaman ito. And this person have evidences."

"What? Hindi kaya sinisiraan lang si Althea?"

"We considered about that angle. Iniimbestigahan din namin ang anonymous person na ito at ang mga ebidensiyang binigay niya. And one thing is for sure, all evidences are accurate and real. Hindi ito fake or gawa-gawa lang."

"But why would she do that? Tita Suzanne is her mom!" gulong-gulo na ako. Ano ba talaga ang nangyayari?

"Althea is not the real Ariela." Napahinto ako. The DNA. But, yes, I never felt that she's the real Ariela. The connection, the feelings. Lahat wala. Kaya pala. Napahilamos ako ng mukha. I looked at Chief. "But how?"

"We're wondering why Althea do that thing, we talked to Maam Suzanne and told her about this case. First, hindi siya naniniwala. Althea has been a good daughter to her since the day she found her. Pero siyempre hindi namin pwedeng baliwalain ang imbestigasyon na ito. We asked her if she's the real Ariela at umamin siya. Althea is not her real daughter. Nalaman niya iyon after half a year na natagpuan siya, as usual may nagpeke nanaman. She did not mind it kasi nga naging mabait naman na ito kay Maam Suzanne. Maaaring pera ang motibo nito sabi niya pero hinayaan niya na rin. Now, we're considering different possible angles. Maaaring gusto niyang patayin si Maam Suzanne para makuha ang kayamanan nito, maaaring saktan ka niya para magawa ang plano niya o di kaya ay miyembro ito ng Phi or this new syndicate group." Everything is too much. Who the hell is Althea? She's also good to me. Fuck!

"But... pero.. ano... bakit nandoon si Gary? Paano niya nalaman?"

"Like what I have told you, Gary is protecting you. Hindi mo man siya bodyguard, pinoprotektahan ka niya sa malayo. He's been following you since the day you fired him. I don't know,maybe he made his promise or what." Then I remembered.

I just want to tell you something. I dont break my promises. Unfortunately, I promised to myself that no matter what happens, Ill keep you safe. And you cant stop me....

All this time, walang ginawang mali si Gary. Ang tigas ng ulo mo Gary! Paano kung napahamak ka. Oo, kailangan kita! Pero hindi para protektahan mo ako. I can't let you die because of me. I want you safe.

Lumabas na ako ng opisina ni Chief matapos ang ilang habilin. I planned to talk to Gary pero wala na ito. Wala na rin si Noah. Lumapit ako sa pulis na nasa desk.

"Have you seen Gary Martinez? Iyong nakakulong doon kanina?"

"Ah, yes po Councilor. Kanina pa po sila nakaalis. Wala naman po kasing kasalanan ito sa nangyari."

"Oh,okay. Thank you."

Pumunta na ako sa sasakyan ko. I don't know what's happening to me. But since the day I met Gary, and live with him for how many months, I am not myself anymore.

My phone ringed. It's Marco. "Hello, Marco."

"Keji, pare. I have all the details na about this Gary Martinez. I can't tell you everything over the phone. Are you free today?"

"Yes, pare. I'm in car my now." Sinabi nito ang lokasyon kung saan kami magkikita at binaba ko na ang tawag.

Napahinto ako nang makita ang harap ng restaurant. Dito kami unang kumain sa labas ni Gary. Shit, Gary again!

Pumasok na ako sa loob, the waitress greet me. "Councilor, any reservation po?"

"I'm with Marco Caballero."

"Oh, this way sir." She lead me the way. I saw a famillar back.

Napahinto ako nang makita ang malalamig na mata na pagmamay-ari nang taong hindi na naalis sa isip ko.

"Gary..."

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