CHAPTER 32

Sammy's POV

"Tito, kamusta si Sam?" tanong ko kay Tito Francis pagkababa nito

"Ayos naman ang mga sugat nya, ilang linggo lang ay mawawala na rin iyon pero ang sugat sa puso nya hindi ko alam lalo na sa pagkawala ng anak nito" sabi nito at mapaklang ngumiti

Napagbuntong hininga naman ako dahil dito

"Malakas si Sam, kaya alam kong kakayanin nya ang mga pinagdadaanan nya ngayon" sabi ko habang tipid na nakangiti

"I know, we know her since then she has a strong mentality. We just need to give her some time to think. Masyadong maraming nangyayari sa buhay nya ngayon kapag she deserves to rest" nakangiting sabi ni Tito pero kita ko sa mata nya ang lungkot at pag-aalala

"I agree… Are you leaving na ba Tito? Dito ka na kumain ng lunch, nagluluto na si Manang"

"Thank you, pero I have meeting this afternoon. Maybe next time, bibisita na lang ako ulit"

"Hmm okay, hatid na kita palabas" sabi ko at nauna na akong maglakad sa kanya

Paglabas namin ng bahay ay nakaabang naman ang kotse nya kaya naman nagpaalam na ito

"Ingat Tito" sabi ko bago nito isara ang pinto ng kotse kaya naman tumingin ito sakin at nginitian ako

Pag alis nya ay dumeretso naman ako sa kwarto ni Sam para tingnan ang lagay nito dahil hindi na ito bumaba after nya makausap si Tito Francis

Pagtapat ko sa pinto nito at kumatok ako ngunit walang sumagot kaya naman binuksan ko ito at sumilip

Nakita ko namang nakahiga ito at natutulog kaya pumasok na ako

Naupo ako sa gilid ng kama nya at nakita ko ang luhang tumutulo sa pisnge nito kaya naman pinunasan ko ito

Sam is a cheerful person, a soft-hearted person. Nasasaktan ako makita yung bestfriend ko na ganito, sa likod ng mga ngiti na pinapakita nya samin ay alam kong malungkot ito at nasasaktan pa rin sa pagkawala ng magulang nya at ngayon naman ay ang anak nya. Ang dami nan yang nagawa para samin ni Candice, sa lahat ng pangyayari sa buhay namin, masaya o malungkot, lagi syang nandyan para samin. Nang mawala ang mga magulang namin, sya ang nandyan para samin, sya ang tumulong samin para hindi maghirap. Sya ang tumayong magulang namin. Pero kami, wala man lang kaming magawa para sa kanya, para mapawi yung mga sakit nararamdaman nya.

"I'm sorry, Sam. Wala man lang ako magawa para matulungan ka, hindi ko alam paano ko mababayaran yung mga ginawa mo para sa akin. Nandito ka lagi sa tabi ko kapag kailangan ko ng tulong o nang makakausap, pero ako wala man magawa para mapasaya at mabawasan yung mga dinadala mong sakit. Napakawala kong kwentang kaibigan"

Bigla itong gumalaw at nagulat ako ng dumilat ito at naupo

"Tsk, ang drama mo. Sapat na sakin yung nasa tabi ko kayo, hindi ko kailangan ng kung ano, masaya na akong makasama kayo. At hindi totoong wala kang kwentang kaibigan. I'm really thankful na nandyan kayo at hindi ako iniwan, yun lang ay malaking bagay na sakin" sabi nya habang pinupunasan ang luha ko

"Sam! Huhuhu" iyak ko sa pangalan nya at niyakap sya

"Shhh, ako dapat ang umiiyak ngayon haha, inagawan mo naman ako ng moment eh" natatawang sabi nito habang hinahagod ang likod ko

"Sam~~~ huhuhu. Promise, hinding hindi kita iiwan tulad ng pinangako ko sa mga magulang natin. Kayo na lang ni Candice ang meron ako, hindi ko hahayaang pati kayo mawala sakin! Huhu"

"Shhh shhh, it's alright. I'm always here for you and Candice. You are my family, we will not be separated, okay? Now stop crying. You disturbed my rest haha"

Umalis naman ako sa pagkakayap ko sa kanya at pinunasan ang luha ko

*hik

"hahaha, such a crybaby Sammy. Let's go eat lunch, hindi na rin naman ako makakatulog nyan" natatawang sabi nito at tumayo kaya tumayo na rin ako at kumapit sa braso nya at sumandal sa balikat nya habang naglalakad kami papunta dining area

Pagdating naman namin doon ay nakahanda na ang mga pagkain

Napatingin naman samin si Manang lalo sakin

"Oh anong nangyari kay Sammy?" tanong ni Manang

"Don't mind her, Manang. Nagdrama lang ang babaitang yan haha" natatawang sabi ni Sam kaya naman napa pout ako

"Ang bad mo, Sam" sabi ko habang nakanguso pa rin kaya naman natawa sila ni Manang

"Oh bakit? Totoo naman ah haha. Inistorbo mo pagtulog ko dahil sa pagdadrama mo haha"

"tama na yan at kumain na kayong dalawa haha" pag awat ni Manang

Naupo naman na kami at aalis na sana si Manang ng magsalita si Sam

"Manang, kaya mo pa ba bumyahe ng malayo?" tanong ni Sam habang kumukuha ng pagkain

"Anong klaseng byahe?" nagtatakang tanong ni Manang

"Like traveling abroad"

"Huh? Bakit mo naman natanong?"

"Nothing, I just want to take you abroad, para habang kaya mo pa, makapunta ka man lang sa ibang lugar"

"Saan mo naman ako dadalhin?"

"Hmmmm, anywhere you want Manang, you decide" nakangiting sagot ni Sam bago sumubo ng pagkain

"Waahh can I come, can I come?" excited na tanong ko

"Silly, of course you will come and Candice too"

"Wahhhh, I'm excited. Manang, may naisip ka na ba saang lugar?" tanong ko kay Manang

"Hmmm Amsterdam" simpleng sagot ni Manang after ng matagal na pag-iisip

"Waahhh, I love there too, Manang. Good choice hihi" masayang sabi ko

"Ok, Amsterdam. Pack some clothes, kahit ilang pairs lang, we'll just buy new clothes there, para hindi masyadong marami ang dala. We'll leave the day after tomorrow; we'll stay there for a week. I'll call Candice later." Sabi ni Sam

Yes! Makakapag travel din.

Anong pinaplano mo Sam? I know hindi lang ito basta travel for Manang. Hmm, whatever it is, I'll just support you. Ang mahalaga makapag unwind ka rin.

Elle or Sam's POV

'Tell the management that you will be out of the country for a week. If they ask, tell them that you will have a meeting with potential investors'

'Huh? Bakit?'

'We'll travel with Manang the day after tomorrow, she wants to go to Amsterdam'

'Really?! Waahhhhh makakapagpahinga rin ako sa wakas!'

'Tsk, If they ask for the location, tell them New Zealand. In case, Aiden will check your whereabouts too. He will be suspicious of your sudden out of the country for a week'

'Talagang ayaw mo ipaalam kung nasaan ka? Gurl, hindi ako tinitigilan ng secretary nya kakatanong tungkol sayo. Sobrang nahihirapan na yung boyfriend mo'

'I know, I know Candice. After this travel with Manang, I'll let him know my whereabouts, don't worry'

'Hayyysss, okay. By the way, Marcus wants to talk to you. Call him, okay?'

'Okay, thanks. Go now, do what I told you and pack some pair of clothes, no need to brings many, we'll do shopping there'

'Yown! You're really the best, Elle! Haha love you, mwah!' sabay baba ng call

Napailing na lang ako sa ugali ni Candice

Hinanap ko naman ang number ni Marcus at tinawagan ito. Ilang ring lang ay sinagot na nito ang tawag ko

'Hey, Princess!'

'Hey too, Kuya Marcus' bati ko habang nakangisi kahit na hindi nya ako nakikita

'Shanelle Akira!' galit na banggit nito sa pangalan ko kaya natawa naman ako

'Easy there, Marcus. So, what is it? Why do you want to talk to me?'

'Your boyfriend is so irritating! He keeps on bugging here in the company to fix the tracker! As if we can do anything on that, we can't pass the obstacles you put in the tracker system! And it's frustrating me too! I'm the future CEO of Ashford Tech but I'm nothing to your hacking skills! But anyway, he said he will make the SNL Technology to disappear in this industry haha, as if he can do that to your company'

'Don't mind him, I'll fix the tracker next week. You need more training to improve your skills, Tito Felix begged me to train you in my company so you will be ready when your time to inherit the Ashford Tech comes. Oh, I remember, you didn't report anything for 2 months, how's my company doing? Are your learning a lot for being the temporary CEO of a well-known Technology Company in the world?' tanong ko sa kanya at nakarinig naman ako ng malalim na paghinga

'The company is doing great, and I learn a lot, but Princess, your boyfriend is the one giving me a headache!'

'Hahaha please bare him for a week, okay? Don't worry, when I return, I'll give you an award'

'Why? Are you leaving? Where are you going?!'

'Don't worry, I'll be back after a week, you don't need to know, baka bigla mong sabihin kay Aiden ang location ko dahil hindi mo na kaya tiisin ang ugali haha'

'Fine, fine. But don't forget my award Princess!'

'Yeah yeah, don't worry, you'll love it. I'll hang up now, train harder Marcus, or else Tito Felix will be disappointed at me for not teaching you haha'

Hindi ko na hinintay pang sumagot ito at binaba ko na ang call

Nagdadalawang isip ako kung tatawagan ko ba si Mom at Dad dahil sigurado akong nag-aalala na ang mga ito sakin at pinapahanap na rin ako sa mga tauhan nila especially Mom and Kuya Lay. Pero hindi pa ako handing pag usapan ang mga nangyari sakin at sa anak ko. Hindi ko alam paano ko ipapaliwanag sa kanila

Napabuntong hininga na lang ako at naisipang mag text na lang sa kanila pero kailangan kong linisin muna ang IP Address ko dahil sigurado akong ipapatrack nila ito.

Pagkatapos kong linisin at itago ang IP Address ko ay tsaka ako nag message sa kanila

'Hi, Mom! How are you? Sorry Mom, I can't visit you for now. I know you already knew what happened to me but don't worry I'm fine. Please don't look for me, you don't have to worry about me. Give me a week or two, I promise to visit you and tell you everything. I just need to be alone for now. Please tell Kuya Lay not to worry about me too. I miss you Mom and Kuya Lay, I love both of you. See you soon…' ~ sent to Mom

'Hi, Dad! I know you already knew what happened to me but don't worry I'm fine. Please don't look for me, you don't have to worry about me. Give me a week or two, I just need to be alone for now. Don't make any rush decisions Dad, I'll deal with the matter after I return. Don't let your emotions control you to do something we will notlike in the end. When I return, I will fix where things supposed to be. I have a gift for you after I fix everything, you'll be happy Dad, I promise. Take care of yourself Dad, I love you' ~ sent to Dad

After ko isend sa kanila ang messages ko ay inopen ko naman ang voicemail na mula pagbukas ko ng phone ko pagkagising ko ay hindi ko binubuksan dahil baka magbago ang isip ko at bumalik sa kanya

Plinay ko na ito at pinakinggan

'Love, where are you? Can't you just come back? Whatever your problem is, we'll solve it, please, come back to me. I'll help you, remember what I told you? I'll do everything for you. Why can't you trust me? Please Elle, come back to me. I don't know what to do anymore… HAHAHA how stupid am I? You're the great Elle, kung anong sinabi mo yun ang nasusunod. Please kahit naman kausapin mo man lang ako, just let me know kung nasaan ka or kung kamusta ang kalagayan mo, kung okay ka lang. For pete's sake, love, you're injured and even had a miscarriage, how can you leave just like that?! Please tell me what I can do for you, just be safe, Elle. I love you'

I'm sorry, Aiden. I'm sorry because of me nasasaktan ka. I'm sorry if I can't trust you with my problems. I'm sorry for not telling the truth, I'm sorry for hiding my true identity.

Pinunasan ko ang luha ko bago ako nagrecord

'I'm sorry, Love. Please give me a week, I promise to let you know my whereabouts. I just need be alone for now. I'm sorry if I can't trust you about my problems. I promise, I'll tell you everything when I return. Also, you don't need to worry about my injuries, I'm perfectly fine now, take care of yourself for me please? I'll be back soon. I love you, always'