Chapter 39 – Patch things up.

Dumiretso na sila sa bahay. Nate held a meeting with the whole security team of his house. Kung bakit, hindi niya alam.

After an hour, nagpaalam ito na makikipag-conference meeting sa mga staff nito via video call.

She told him okay at nagpasyang mag-bake na lang ng chocolate chip cookies para sa asawa niya't anak. They were like crazy with the cookie. Mag-ama nga ang mga ito.

Hannah smiled to herself. Hindi mapipigilan ng problemang dumating ang kasiyahan niya sa bagong estado niya sa buhay. Nate loves her at kahit hindi sila makapag-honeymoon ngayon, okay lang. She knew Nate, babawi ito. That's for sure.

She was preparing the ingredients when her phone rang. It was Olive.

"Hannah," bungad nito nang sagutin niya ang tawag.

"Hello Liv," alanganin niyang bati.

"Eli's with me. I'm wondering if you can come and get her? I have an appointment in two hours. I cannot drive her back. I need to fix myself pa."

"Sure. Uhmn wait, I'll just ask Paul to drive for me," sagot niya.

It was the first time na kinausap siya ni Olive and she was happy that she didn't sound mad at her. Hindi rin naman niya ito babarahin now that she was the one who reached out. Kahit para lang ba ipasundo si Elisha.

"Okay. Paul knows where my condo is."

"Alright. Be right there–"

"Hannah," she called bago niya ma-press ang end call button.

"Yes?"

"Ikaw lang ang umakyat, ha? I'm not allowed to accept more than two visitors. Eli is already here so, isa na lang ang pwede," bilin nito.

"Okay," sagot naman niya.

She decided to change first at magpaalam na rin muna kay Nate.

Kaso nakita niyang nasa kalagitnaan ito ng meeting kaya hindi na niya inistorbo. Wala rin si Paul kaya nagpa-drive na lang siya sa hindi busy at tinanong na lang si Olive sa address nito.

-----

"Where's Hannah?" Nate yelled at Paul, kanina pa niya hinahanap ang asawa niya pero hindi na naman niya ito makita.

Did she leave him again? For the nth time?

"I don't know, Nate" si Paul na agad namang nagradyo sa front gate kung nakita ng mga ito na lumabas si Hannah. "She left about thirty minutes ago with Soriano," tukoy nito sa isa sa mga security slash driver nila.

"Why don't I know about this?" frustrated niyang kinuha ang cellphone niya sa bulsa niya and there he found out that his wife sent him a message.

'Nate, went to fetch Eli. Olive said she couldn't drive her back. She's got an emergency. Be right back at once. I love you.'

"Sh*t!" He froze. As in he almost dropped his phone.

"Everything alright?" tanong ni Paul.

"D*mn it, Paul! Hannah went to Olive!"

"What?!"

Sobra-sobra ang kaba niya as he tried to call Hannah. Kailangang hindi ito tumuloy. Elisha will be alright with Olive, she was her daughter. Kahit papaano, naniniwala siyang magdadalawang isip itong saktan ang bata.

But Hannah? Why did she ask for Hannah? Kilala niya si Olive. Galit ito sa kaibigan nito and if she needed someone to get Eli, she should've called him and not Hannah.

His fear crept in as he recalled his conversation with an England police earlier.

A thirty-five year old British national conceded to the police after confessing to a crime he committed four months ago.

Tinawagan siya dahil may kinalaman umano iyon sa kaso ni Olive and to give him warning about his ex girlfriend's psychological state that she tried to cover up by appearing to be the victim of a frustrated murder that was supposedly committed by her husband, Josh.

It turned out, Josh was already dead at the time Olive was attacked.

The man, who admitted that he was an accomplice to Josh's murder related to the police how he and Olive killed Josh. Inilibing nila ang huli sa bakuran ng bahay ng lalaki na malayo sa mga ibang kabahayan.

After which, Olive staged her own death. At ang pinalabas nito, si Josh ang nagtangka sa buhay nito.

What was the motive?

Olive didn't want Josh and their baby dahil gusto nitong bumalik sa kanya. Nagsimula umanong magkalamat ang relasyon ng dalawa noong maglabasan ang balita tungkol sa kanila ni Hannah. Hindi matanggap ni Olive na nagkaroon ito agad ng kapalit sa puso niya.

Killing Josh, their baby and putting her own life in danger were desperate acts of Olive to get his attention back.

And she almost got away with it.

'Mr. Sarmiento, we also found out that she conspired with her doctors so she would have an excuse to be with you.'

According to her accomplice, Olive's been watching the case closely and the reason for the call was to warn him of possible changes in Olive's behavior. Having said that, they were already coordinating with the Philippine authorities.

"Come on, Hannah, pick up," hiling niya habang walang tigil na tinatawagan ang numero ng asawa niya. "Paul, let's go."

Habang nasa daan, nakikipag-coordinate na siya sa mga awtoridad. He wished na sana nag-OOA lang siya at wala naman sa peligro si Hannah. Sana hindi pa nababalitaan ni Olive na sumuko na ang kasabwat nito and that her call to ask Hannah to fetch Eli was just an honest request. But he wouldn't take a chance.

Gusto niyang magsisi na hindi niya sinabi kay Hannah ang problema. He just wanted to protect her from worrying. Ayaw niya itong mag-alala. Today was their wedding day. Kahit gaano pa kasimple ang kasal nila, they deserved to be happy. But the news ruined the day. Worst, Hannah's life was now in danger right at the very moment. He couldn't lose his wife or he would die.

Hindi talaga sumasagot si Hannah. So he decided to just send her a message. He hoped she would be able to read on time.

-----

"Hi!" Medyo awkward na bati ni Hannah nang pagbuksan siya ni Olive ng pinto.

"Hannah, you came!" Parang narelieved ang mukha nito bago ito ngumiti. "Come in," niluwagan nito ang pagkakabukas ng pinto and immediately locked the door after. "Eli's eating merienda. Join her for a while."

"Aren't you in a hurry, Liv?" Medyo nagtatakang tanong niya sa kaibigan na hindi naman nagmamadali ang itsura.

"I still have an hour and a half," Olive shrugged na naupo sa tabi ni Elisha habang pumwesto siya sa harapan nila after Eli ran to her and kissed her.

"Mommy, mama Olive baked a cake for me. Here look," excited na ipinakita ni Eli sa kanya ang cake na nasa harapan nito na pinapanood lang nito at 'di naman kinakain. "It's too cute to be eaten!"

"Eli, anak, you should start eating it before the icing melts," wika rito ni Olive.

"No, I like it so much, mama. Daddy should see it," tanggi ng bata.

Napapangiti na lang si Hannah. Although she's got this weird feeling that something was not right. Elisha didn't seem very happy even when she tried to appear like one.

"I insist. Mama's efforts will be put to waste if you don't eat it." Iniwan sila nito para kumuha ng bread knife.

"Eli, are you enjoying your stay here?" Hannah asked Eli.

"Yes mommy," maikling sagot ng bata at pinagmasdan na naman ang cake sa harapan nito.

"Liv, I think we should get going. Hindi kasi ako nakapagpaalam kay Nate," baling niya sa kaibigan.

"Why are you rushing, Hannah?" Bumalik si Olive na may dalang matalim na kutsilyo, at hindi bread knife.

"I just thought you should start preparing so you won't get late."

"We haven't talked for a long time, Hannah. We should take this opportunity, shall we?" Inilapag nito ang kutsilyo sa tabi ni Eli while fishing for her phone in her pants' back pocket. She dialed a number and waited for someone to pick up her call.

But all the while, nakatingin ito sa kanya. There was an air of mystery with the way Olive acted like they were really okay. Gayunpaman ay hindi na niya isinatinig ang obserbasyon.

"Hey Sammy, would you please cancel my appointment? May importante akong bisita and I like to patch things up with her. Yes. Thank you, Sammy. You're the best. I love you!" Ibinalik nito sa bulsa ang telepono nito pagkatapos. "Wala na akong appointment," deklara nito.

"Good," sambit ni Hannah, pwede naman palang i-cancel, dapat ginawa na nito iyon kanina.

Suddenly, her phone rang. She took her phone out of her bag.

"Nate? Yes. I'm here in Olive's condo. Yup. Elisha's here." Nakangiti siya habang kausap ang asawa niyang parang balot na balot ng kaba ang boses. "Sure, I'm gonna tell Olive," nilingon niya ang kaibigan to find her ugly stares on her. "Y-yeah," bigla siyang kinabahan with the way Olive held the knife just beside Elisha. Unti-unting nawala ang ngiti niya at napalitan iyon ng takot. "I-I'll call you later." Ang totoo wala na siyang naintindihan sa mga sinasabi ng asawa niya dahil nakuha na ni Olive ang buong atensyon niya.

Olive was acting weird.

"You have a ring," puna nito, she must have accidentally shown Olive her wedding ring nang sagutin niya ang tawag ni Nate.

"Yeah." Pilit siyang ngumiti while silently hoping na hanggang doon na lang ang tanong nito.

"Is that an engagement ring?"

"N-no," nagtatalo ang isip niya kung sasabihin niya ang totoo kay Olive. "Liv, could you draw the knife away from Eli please?" Pakiusap niyang natatakot baka aksidente nitong mahiwaan ang anak nito na for some reason ay hindi rin masyadong gumagalaw mula sa upuan nito.

"Why, Hannah?" She smiled dangerously habang lalo nitong inilapit kay Eli ang kutsilyo.

"You might accidentally hurt Eli," pilit kumakalmang sabi niya. "Elisha, come here."

Nilingon siya ng bata with scared eyes at akmang lalapit nga sa kanya pero maagap itong napigilan ni Olive by grabbing her arm. Nakita niya kung paano masaktan si Elisha but the little girl didn't say anything.

Bumalik lang ito sa pagkakaupo nito at hindi na kumibo.

"Stay here with mama, anak" parang baliw na bulong ni Olive kay Elisha.

Nahintakutan si Hannah when she saw the look in Olive's eyes. It was full of hatred. It was vengeful...