Chapter 66

Aviena’s POV

“Shut up!” malakas kong sigaw bago ko sinipa ang pinto ng kotse. Humalakhak siya sa akin doon.

“Alright… I’ll let you do whatever you want to save your daughter but don’t forget that I’m just around… to the point that you’ll wish that you never really came back…” sambit niya na nakangisi sa akin.

“I can easily do it if I want to. I’ll make your daughter live as you live your life. You live your life in fucking trauma, right? I’ll fucking make your daughter life miserable,” aniya pa sa akin habang nakangisi.

I was mad that I want to fucking hurt her. How can she say that when she knows how I live my life in fear? I can’t believe that she became my sister.

“Try it then,” aniya nang makitang sasampalin ko siya.

“Try it!” malakas niya pang sigaw bago humalakhak. Isang malutong na sampal ang natamasa ko sa kaniya nang isampal niya sa akin ang kaniyang hawak-hawak ma baril. I don’t know how did I get it but I tried to get it from her. She’s going to keep on pointing it to me.

“Go while I’m still being nice to you,” aniya pa sa akin na malapad ang ngisi. She tried to point the gun to me habang binubuksan ko ang pinto.

She was just smirking as if she likes it that way. She likes to see that I was suffering too. Hindi ko mapigilan ang mapatili nang magpaputok siya ng baril. Nadaplisan ako sa braso but I didn’t care about it at all. I was so scared. For my daughter. I only know one thing. Sa dami kong naiisip, isa lang ang gusto kong gawin. Ang umalis dito. Ang ilayo ang anak ko sa kaniya. She’s just laughing while she’s playing with the gun. Nagpapaputok habang pinahaharurot na ang cab na kinuha niya.

“See you again, Aviena. I hope I can meet my beautiful niece,” aniya na malapad pang ngumisi sa akin.

I can’t just believe it at all. Napatakbo na lang ako palayo roon.

Saka ko lang tinignan ang cellphone ko. I recorded our conversation through Ocean’s call. I put my phone on silent.

“Did you record it too?” I was shaking not just with the voice but I feel like I was shaking inside and out. I’m so mad right now.

“What the fucking heck, Aviena? You’re fucking killing me! Damn. I already told Kuya about your situation. My security will already go to your place. They already track your phone!” aniya sa akin.

“Don’t! Just let them be there for my Camillia! Don’t! I’m fine!” malakas kong sigaw subalit hindi pa rin maiwasan ang panginginig mo.

“Can you book us a flight? We’ll go back to Amsterdam—No—I’ll just find a new place to live in. Anywhere not just here…” ani ko.

“Aviena, calm down. You’re rushing things. You’re not yourself.” She tried to calm me down but how could I?

“No! How can I fucking calm down when my daughter is at risk? If you can’t fucking book me a ticket anywhere I’ll just find another one. I’ll fucking go in your house now.” I know she’s trying her best not to shout at me too but she just can’t.

“Damn it, Aviena! Why don’t you just wait for security to go there? They’ll get you and we’ll talk. All of us—” Before she could say anything. I just put my cell phone away and ride a cab. Nanghihina na rin ako dahil sa daplis na natamasa sa barilan kanina.

I just said Ocean’s house. I was almost there when a fucking bunch of cars suddenly stop and circled the taxi I was in. I don’t know anymore. Maybe I’m so ready to die. But I still want to see my baby just one last time. I just can’t stop crying anymore.

“Ma’am, Sir River is already outside,” the taxi driver said the reason why I suddenly look at him. Nahinto ano nang mapagtanto na pamilyar ang mukha nito. He’s actually one of River’s bodyguard.

I saw River going down in his car bago malalaki ang hakbang na nagtungo sa sinasakyan ko. Isang katok ang ginawa niya roon. The reason why the car suddenly open.

“You’re fucking fine, huh?” he sarcastically said while looking at me. Kita ko rin ang galit mula sa kaniyang mga mata.

“Let’s go to the hospital now,” malamig niyang saad sa akin habang pinagmamasdan ang itsura ko. Mukha pa siyang galit habang nasa akin ang mga mata.

“Tangina!” He was so mad na para bang kaya niyang sirain ang lahat ngayon.

“What are you doing? You’re causing traffic here. I’ll fucking go to Ocean’s house. We’re going to go to Amsterdam or anywhere…” sambit ko.

“You think I’ll fucking let you? Let’s go to fucking hospital now before I’ll fucking kill someone right now. And no ones fucking going anywhere.” Kita ko ang galit sa kaniyang mukha bago walang pag-aalinlangan na binuhat ako patungo sa kaniyang sasakyan dahil ayaw kong bumaba.

“Ano ba? Ayos nga lang ako! I want to see my daughter! Tangina! If Ocean already told you what happened, edi sana alam mo nang nasa panganib din ang anak mo! Ate knows Camillia location! If something happened to her, I swear I’ll fucking never forgive anyone!” We’re both mad right now kaya pareho kaming hindi makalma but when River saw me looking so mad unti-unting kumalma ang tinig niya. He also tried to calm his self down. Tila ba hindi lang niya nagawa kanina.

“The security is tighter in Ocean’s house. I send my team there. I’ll also talk to Papa and Lolo to send a bunch of their best securities. We already found the device that your fucking sister’s talking about. It was a small device that she tried to put on a bottle keychain we bought on the island,” he was so calm when he tried to explain it to me. Para bang pinapigilan din ang galit na nararamdaman.

“Your anxiety pills—Here.” He seem like it was so hard for him to talk.

“Let me see Camillia. I want to see my daughter!” I still can’t help but shout. River suddenly holds my hand.

“Wife… You wouldn’t like to let our daughter see you in that state, right?” tanong niya sa akin. I slowly calm down when I realize that he was right. Ngayon ko lang din nararamdaman ang hapdi ng aking braso. Hindi ko na rin namamalayan pa ang luha mula sa aking mga mata. Unti-unti nang namuo ang luha mula sa aking mga mata bago ako tuluyang humagulgol ng iyak.

I was just crying the whole ride to go in the hospital. I can't even look at River now. He just carry me when we got there. Daplis lang naman ‘yon subalit sa pagod at kaiiyak ko na lang din siguro’y nawalan na ako nang malay.

I just woke up and see that I was already in a hospital room. It seems like a VIP one. I saw River in front of the door talking with one of his bodyguard.

“Can you call them, Cijan?” Narinig kong tanong ni River sa body guard na siyang nasa taxi kanina.

“She’s awake now,” anang body guard na sinenyas ako kay River. The reason why River dismiss their talk now. Lumapit siya sa akin with a concern on his face now. Mababakasan pa rin ng galit ang kaniyang mukha but I know that he’s trying his best to compose himself.

“Where’s Camillia?” tanong ko sa kaniya.

“She’s still in Ocean’s house. The security is already tight now,” aniya sa akin.

“Can I see her?” tanong ko muli. I was calmer now.

“We will.”

“No. I just want to see if she’s doing fine in Ocean’s house. Can you call Ocean? I want to see my daughter…” ani ko kaya napatango siya sa akin. Nahimasmasan na ako at alam ko kung gaano ako kagaga sa mga desisyong ginawa. Napakagat na lang ako sa aking labi dahil hindi ko rin magagawang harapin ang anak sa ganitong lagay.

“Is she awake now, Kuya?” Ocean's concerned voice is the one I heard when River called her.

“She is. She wants to see Camillia. Can you let her say hi to her mom?” tanong ni River. Mayamaya lang ay iniabot ni River ang cellphone sa akin.

I didn’t open my cam. I immediately saw my daughter smiling in front of the phone.

“Hello, Mama? Why aren't you opening your camera?” tanong niya sa akin. Bakas din sa kaniyang mukha ang pagtataka bago nagtatakang tinignan ang cellphone. I tried my best to compose myself. I didn’t open my camera because I know that I won’t be able to hold my tears. Hindi ko na namalayan na umiiyak na ako. Walang kahit anong tunog. River was just looking at me but he just suddenly averted his gaze. I tried to clear my throat before talking to my daughter.

“Hmm, I can’t right now. I was going to shower now. Are you enjoying your stay there?” tanong ko sa kaniya. Trying my best to hold myself back. I feel like anytime I’m going to make a sound.

“Yes, Mama! Tita said that you and Papa will be having a trip together?” tanong niya pa sa akin.

“Enjoy your trip, Mama. Can you tell Papa that I want a baby bro? Can he give me that after your trip?” she asked. The reason why I can’t help but shake my head and smile. But I still can’t help my tears.

“I’m sorry…” mahina kong saad. I want to tell her how sorry I am.

“It’s completely fine, Mama. I understand. You also need a trip together with Papa. You deserve it! I’m also enjoying my stay here in Tita Ocean house so don’t worry…” nakangiti niya pang saad sa akin.

How can this innocent child in stake right now? I don’t like how her life is in danger dahil lang sa akin. I don’t want her life to be messy. I still want to see that bright smile of hers.

“I love you…” mahina kong saad.

“I love you too, Mama…” aniya na malapad pa rin ang ngiti habang nakatingin sa camera. She wave her hands to me until the call just ended. Hindi ko mapigilan ang luha mula sa aking mga mata nang matapos ang usapan namin. Hindi ko na rin napigilan pa ang sariling mapahagulgol ng iyak. I was just crying when River give me a hug. He just let me cry in his shoulder and I let him. Marahan ko siyang tinulak kaya agad kong nakasalubong ang kulay asul niyang mga mata. He look so worried while looking at me right now.

“I just want to see Camillia safe… I don’t want our daughter to live in pain, River…” ani ko na umiiling pa sa kaniya.

“We will keep her safe… I promise you…” bulong niya na hinalikan ako sa noo.

“Please, help us…”