Chapter 14: Samantha Denise Richards, Who are you?

Pagod na humiga ang dalaga dahil sa maghapong pag-aasikaso sa construction ng bagong branch ng hospital sa Nueva Vista.

It's been 2 weeks since the last time she had a good talk to her fiance. This past few days, masyado 'rin namang busy ang binata kaya halos minsan na rin naman sila makapag-usap.

Kakabalik lang ulit ni Haxon kahapon sa Manila. May inaasikaso nanaman itong new deal kaya kahit ayaw niya hindi niya naman 'to maaaring pigilan. It's a work, and when it comes to work hindi siya maaaring makialam.

She heard her phone vibrated. Nilingon niya ito na nasa ibabaw ng lamesa. She answered the call with a tired and soft voice.

"Hello?" She heard him sighed. 'He's tired too' she thought.

"Baby, I missed you..." Masuyo siyang napangiti.

"2 days ka pa lang riyan miss mo na agad ako? Malala ka na Mr. Villarreal" she laughed pero deep inside she's happy.

"Hmm it's okay, as long as it's you. Im willing to be addicted if it's you baby." She giggled.

"Stop being sweet Mr. Villarreal, hindi bagay." She heard his sulking voice.

"Baby, stop teasing me. You know when I missed you I'm becoming more sweet." She bit her lower lip.

"So dapat pala palagi tayong malayo para mas maging sweet ka? Ganon?" She heard him tsked.

"And who said that I'll let that? No baby, I'll be with you starting next week." Kumunot ang noo niya.

"Next week?" Akala niya ba apat na araw lang ang itatagal nito sa Manila at uuwi rin naman kaagad ng Nueva Vista? What's with delayed?

"Uhm yes baby, I'm sorry. It's just that I really have so many things to do here." Suddenly, she felt irritated.

"Sa friday na tayo pupunta sa wedding coordinator diba? So, ako lang pupunta ganon?" Hindi niya maitago ang inis sa boses. Can't he make a time for her? Kahit maisingit man lang sa schedule nito?

"I'm sorry baby, I'm just busy. But I'll make it up to you. Sasamahan ka naman ni Xandro." Mas nalukot ang mukha niya.

"As far as I know hindi siya ang groom eh, so he'll be you're subtitute? My subtitute fiance ganon ba?" Note the sarcasm. Haxon cursed on the other line.

"Don't say that again baby, no one would be my subtitute dahil ako lang fiance mo." Muli siyang napairap.

"Uuwi ka o i-cancel ko nalang ang wedding natin? Choose Haxon." She heard him sighed defeatedly.

"Okay then, I'll be home." She smiled. Good boy baby!

"You should." She had a proud smile plastered on her face.

"Yeah right, Demi first before anyone else." Mas lumawak ang ngiti niya.

"Thank you baby."

"You don't need to say that, I have to go Demi. I love you always." Abot-tenga na ang ngiti niya dahil sa gaan ng pakiramdam.

"I love you more baby." Pagkatapos ng paulit-ulit na 'i love you' sa isat-isa, she cut the line.

Another call came.

"Tine? How's he?" Kinakabahan man, she still composed her voice.

"He will have a meeting to Mr. Alvarez tomorrow." Maikling report ng kaibigan.

"Tell me what they're going to talk to okay?"

"Yeah sure! By the way just wanna say something."

"What is it?" She's starting to get nervous. Pakiramdam niya kasi ay kakapusin na siya ng hininga sa klase ng pagsasalita ng kaibigan. Celestine's voice is so serious and dangerous.

"Are you sure your twin sister is dead?" Napakunot-noo siya sa biglaang tanong ng kaibigan tungkol sa namatay niya ng kakambal.

"Yes Tine, I saw it with my own eyes. Selena is dead. Why'd you ask?" Tumatambol ang puso niya sa sobrang kaba. What's happening?

"I just saw someone looks like you. She entered Haxon's company this morning and I guess she had an appointment to your fiance." Hindi dapat ngunit pakiramdam niya nagsisinungaling sakaniya ang binata. Ngunit anong rason? At paano nangyaring may kamukha siya gayong matagal ng patay ang kakambal?

"How did it happen? Selena is dead and it's impossible that she's alive dahil anong maaaring maging rason niya para magtago?" Celestine had a hunch in the other line but she haven't said it to her friend Selene. Ayaw niyang sobrang mag-isip nanaman ito.

"I don't know Lene, but I'll investigate about that. Just don't over think okay? I have to go now."

"Okay thank you Tine, take care." Napangiti si Celestine at nangako sa sariling gagawin niya ang lahat para malaman ang mga bagay na nasa likod ng mga pangyayari. Para sa kaibigan niya, she'll dig everything kahit nasa pinakailalim pa man 'to.

The next day came, napabalikwas ng bangon si Selene at tumakbo papasok ng banyo. Hinahalukay ang tyan niya. Hinihingal na sumandal siya sa pader at napatukod sa sink. Pakiramdam niya ay naubos ang lakas niya sa simpleng pagsusuka lang.

Masakit ang ulo'ng bumalik siya sa pagkakahiga. She's staring at the wall, 'why did I vomited?'

It's not like naka kain siya ng panis or what? Something came in her mind pero iwinaksi niya ang iniisip. Huminga siya ng malalim at chineck ang cellphone. She received an email. It's from Celestine.

She opened the file and she was shock to what she saw. It's a girl who look so much like her. Below the pictures, she read a name.

Name: Samantha Denise Richards

Age: 28

Birthday: January 28

Mother's name: none

Father's name: none

"That's it? Wala ng iba?" She called Celestine.

"'Yon lang nakuha mong impormasyon Tine?" Celestine on the other line keeps on looking at those two men who has a both facial expression. Dark and intense.

"Yes Lene, I can't find anything about that girl. Her life is so private. You see, even her parents name I can't find it. There's something fishy about her." Mas humigpit ang hawak niya sa aparato.

"What is it?" Hindi na siya makapag hintay na malaman ang lahat. Mas gumugulo ito sa isip niya.

"It seems like it's her 2 times to entered your fiance's company. She don't look like she has a meeting. She even dressed like she's in a bar. I feel something fishy about it Lene." Ayaw man sabihin ni Celestine ngunit ayaw niya namang magsinungaling sa kaibigan.

"No! Haxon won't cheat on me." There, 'yan nga ang ayaw niyang mangyari kay Selene. She'll be hysterical and paranoid again.

"I'm not saying he's cheating Lene, what I mean here is maybe that's your fiance's deal? He's dealing something to Ms. Richards and I just hope it's a good deal not other way around."

"And what kind of deal are you talking about?" Magkasalubong ang kilay na tanong ni Selene sa kaibigan.

"Maybe it's something from the past?" She can't remember something in the past na may kinalaman kay Selena.

"May hindi ka ba sinasabi sakin Tine?" Pansin niya ang pananahimik ng kaibigan sa kabilang linya.

"Yes but I'm not sure about it yet. Someone can tell you those answers you want to know Lene." Sobrang gulo! Hindi niya na alam kung alin uunahing isipin.

"Go to your parents house. Maybe it's the right time to talk to them about the past. Ask them Lene, and I'm sure they have something in their pocket. I'm sure they know everything behind all of this." She became emotionless after hearing that. To her parents house? May kinalaman nanaman ba dito ang mga magulang niya?

"Just take care Lene, this time there's a possibilities that your life is in danger." Bigla siyang kinabahan. Naguguluhan man nagawa niya pang magpaalam ng maayos sa kaibigan. This time, hindi pwedeng maging mahina nanaman siya. She needs to be strong and never let anyone manipulate her new life again.

No one can destroy this new self she build. She'll know everything and if ever she doesn't like what she'll find out, she's gonna make everythings right.

Samantha Denise Richards, who are you?