Escaping My Mafia Boss Fiance

Chapter 5

CHASE eagerly gritted his teeth and held his phone tight as he saw the engagement ring on his mother’s palm. He just arrived from Manila after two weeks of residential duty in the hospital. He got it. Camilla runs away from their wedding.

Kung kailan dalawang linggo na lang bago ang kasal ay saka naman umurong ang dalaga. Ang malala pa nito, naglayas umano si Camilla sa bahay ng mga ito.

“I’m sorry, hindi ko siya napigil. Kinausap ko naman si Camilla at sinubukang hinukin kaso hindi na nabago ang desisyon niya,” wika ng kaniyang ina.

Kapapasok lang niya ng bahay nang gabing iyon ng Linggo at may masamang balita na naibungad ang kaniyang ina. He took the ring and stared at it emotionless.

“What made her quit then?” he asked coldly.

“She learned about mafia, and I don’t know who told her about you and your father. She forced me to reveal the truth. Sa palagay ko ay karapatan din niya ‘yong malaman.”

Naikuyom niya ang kaniyang kanang palad habang nasa loob nito ang singsing. He doesn’t have an idea who the hell hinted to Camilla about his real identity. And he thought about Nico, but he was unaware of it, too, unless his mother told Nico about him.

“Do you tell Nico about me and my dad, Mom?” he asked his mother.

“N-No! Wala akong pinagsasabihan,” mariing turan naman ng ginang.

He took a sigh and sat on the couch. It’s hard for him to digest the fact that he lost the woman he wants and his future child. He has been rejected, and it’s tearing his ego. No one can refuse him easily.

“Do you know that Camilla was pregnant, Mom?” muli’y tanong niya sa kaniyang ina.

Rochelle was stunned. Her reactions proved that she hid the truth about Camilla’s pregnancy.

“Uh… ano kasi….”

“Don’t dare lie to me, Mom!” he cut her off. He stared at his mother’s face sharply, showing how upset he was. “You know how I analyze people’s movement wisely. Even if you didn’t tell me about Camilla’s pregnancy, I already knew it. I studied medicine and learned more things from my specialty and the courses taken. I even studied psychology, don’t you realize it? Once you lie to me, you will lose the tiny trust I had given to you.” He stood up.

“S-Sorry if I kept Camilla’s pregnancy. Nakiusap kasi siya na huwag munang sabihin ang tungkol dito kahit kanino at gusto niya pagkatapos na ng kasal.”

“She’s terrible. Anyway, this is the last time I will visit here. If you want to see me, hire the best spy on earth to find me. I’m done with this toxic family!”

Pumanhik siya sa second floor at pumasok sa kaniyang silid. Nag-impake siya ng kakarampot na gamit. Nagkasya naman ito sa iisang maleta na malaki.

“Chase, if you want Camilla to accept you, change your lifestyle. She will love you the way you want if you show your good side. I know you’re not stupid,” sabi ng kaniyang ina. Sinalubong siya nito sa lobby.

“I know what to do, Mom. You don’t need to give me some pieces of advice. I grew up without your guidance, and I don’t want childish treatment. It’s boring,” he said.

Tuluyan na siyang lumabas at tinungo ang kaniyang kotse. Isinakay niya sa compartment ang maleta.

“Are you leaving for good, bastard?”

He stunned. He didn’t expect to see Nico for the last time. Isinara niya ang compartment ng kotse at pumihit paharap kay Nico. Nakatayo lang ito may isang dipa ang pagitan sa kaniya, and he just wore blue shirt and black shorts, meaning matagal na ito naroon sa bahay.

“Yes, for your peace of mind,” he said.

“I heard your marriage with Camilla has been canceled. What have you done?” usig nito.

“It’s none of your business. You should be happy. You still have a chance to win back your girl if you can.”

“Why should I? I don’t want to chase a woman who already broke me.”

He chuckled. “Is that easy for you to forget the ten years with Camilla? I didn’t see any regrets in your eyes, Nico.”

“I won’t waste time to start fixing the broken pieces from my relationship with Camilla. In the first place, it’s not her fault, but I can’t afford to cover up my brother’s stupidity. I know Camilla was pregnant, and that’s the reason why I can’t fix our relationship.”

“Of course, your ego won’t allow that. You can’t sacrifice your stupid principle and pride for love. But there’s another reason why you can’t fight for Camilla. It’s because of guilt.”

Nagbago ang ekspresyon ng mukha ni Nico, nawindang, naguguluhan. “What are you talking about? I don’t need to feel guilty. For what?” he insisted.

He sighed. “People are good at lying,” he uttered. Gusto niyang warakin ang pagkatao ng kaniyang kapatid niya magtanda ito. “I might be stupid, but don’t pretend you’re a good one, Nico. We’re almost the same. I know why you can’t burst your anger wildly the time you caught Camilla cheating. It’s because you’re the one who cheated first, not once, but always.”

Shocked na napatitig sa kaniya si Nico. Umalma ito na tila susuntukin siya.

“Before you punch me, prove to me that my accusation was wrong. I have proof, Nico. You had a secret affair with your girl client and saw you in Sania’s resort with the girl. Pumasok kayo sa hotel room na ginamit namin ni Camilla. Did you get my logic?”

Hindi natuloy ang kamao ni Nico sa kaniyang mukha. Nanginginig ang kamao nito at nanlilisik ang mga mata sa kaniya.

“H-How dare you! You meant it! Sinadya mo ‘tong mangyari, ang lasingin si Camilla at angkinin! I know what your stares mean to her, Chase. I feel your desires, as*hole!” nanggagalaiting sabi nito.

“I’m just saving Camilla from your stupid, fake innocence and kindness, Nico. Stop acting a good son, and remove your mascara. Hiding in the dark for a long time might blind you forever. We are both womanizers, but I can’t be like you, who can have s*x with different women while still in a ten-year relationship with an innocent woman. You stubbed Camilla’s back many times. And before you stub her in her face, I will do it first against you to slap you the reality.”

Lalong nanggalaiti si Nico at tuluyan siyang nasuntok sa pisngi. It’s no effect on him. Sa pagkakataong iyon ay ginantian na niya ito ng suntok pero sa sikmura. Namaluktot ito sa sakit.

“I won’t punch your face, baka biglang matanggal ang maskara mo at makita ng conservative mong pamilya ang tunay mong pagkatao. Don’t worry your secret will remain in my files unless you will force me to reveal it. The key to revealing it was ruining my life with Camilla,” aniya.

“You can’t get Camilla, Chase! She’s not easy to get, like what you think! She offered her heart to me since we were kids.”

“Let’s see. I will kill that f*cking love she invested in an irresponsible man like you. Mag-focus ka na lang sa pagsalba sa peke mong pagkatao, Nico. Don’t worry, Camilla will learn to accept her fate with me and forget you forever.”

Binuksan na niya ang pinto ng kotse sa driver side at lumulan. Binuhay na niya ang makina nito at nagmaniobra. He saw his mother standing in front of the door while sobbing. He didn’t mind her and kept going.

Bumiyahe siya pabalik ng Maynila. Mabuti pinagamit sa kaniya ang condo unit ni Wallace sa Makati, mas malapit sa ospital na gusto niyang pasukan after his residential and specialization. Wala pa siyang balak bumili ng sarili niyang bahay sa Pilipinas dahil hindi rin naman siya naglalagi sa iisang lugar.

He’s not bothered about Camilla’s running away issue. He knew where to find her. Hindi aware ang dalaga na na-hack niya ang cellphone nito at nalagyan ng tracking device. Lahat ng taong related sa kaniya ay alam niya ang kilos dahil sa hacking system na ginawa niya.

All of their devices were under the control of his system. Kaya walang kawala ang mga ito sa kaniya. Alam niya kung may nagbabalak nang masama against sa kaniya. Pero itong taong nagbigay ng detalye kay Camilla tungkol sa kaniya, medyo magulo. He needs to research all the people involved in Camilla’s life. He doesn’t have details about Camilla’s father's side yet.

Active pa ang ibang miyembro ng Cosa El Hombre pero hindi ginagamit ang pangalan ng organisasyon. Miyembro pa rin naman siya ng international mafia group na Black Horn Organization kahit patago ang operation nila. He’s the one who monitors the organization’s operation.

Inuna talaga niyang hanapin si Camilla bago gawin ang misyon niya. Gusto niyang matiyak na nasa ligtas itong lugar. At mukhang umayon sa kaniya ang pagkakataon dahil nasa Makati lang din si Camilla. Malapit sa sentro ng Makati ang tirahan nito, medyo mahirap pasukin ang lugar dahil matao at maraming residential house.

“You can’t get away from me, Camilla. Kahit saang lupalop ng mundo ka magtago, mahahanap din kita. Hindi mo mailalayo sa akin ang anak ko. I marked you as mine, and no one can steal you form me,” may gigil niyang usal. Inilabas na niya mula sa bag ang kaniyang gamit para sa pagpapanggap.

He disguised himself to hide his real identity. Meron siyang nakahandang prosthetic mascara para maiba ang kaniyang mukha. Nagpalit din siya ng damit, simpleng itim na t-shirt lang at denim pants. Iniwan niya ang kotse sa tapat ng isang fastfood chain saka pinasok ang masikip na eskinita.

Namo-monitor niya sa kaniyang cellphone ang location ni Camilla at nakikita ang mapa ng eksaktong kinaroroonan nito. And he finally got the house where Camilla is. It was a two-story house with a grocery store on the ground floor. Nagkunwari siyang bibili ng soft drinks. Surprisingly, Camilla served him the bottle of soda.

“Keep the change,” sabi niya, pinaiba ang kaniyang boses.

“Thank you, sir!” nakangiting sabi nito.

He simply stared at Camilla’s smiling face. She looks innocent. “Finally! I found you. You want a hide-and-seek game, huh? Don’t me, Camilla. I love chasing games,” he murmured while sipping his drink from the bottle of soda.

Nag-explore pa siya sa grocery store. Open ang bandang kaliwa nito at merong bakeshop. May mga tindera rin doon na nag-aasikaso sa mga panindan. Nasa kanan ang counter na maraming nagkalat na paninda. Meron ding bigasan doon at kung anong gulay at prutas. It’s a perfect business for the public place near the school and companies.

Wala siyang ideya kung sino ang may-ari ng bahay, maaring kamag-anak din ni Camilla. May babaeng mataba na nakaupo sa loob ng counter, kausap ni Camilla. Halos kaedad lang ng mommy niya ang babae, kulot ang buhok na maputi, parang may lahing Chinese. Aware siya na ang tatay ni Camilla ay may lahing Chinese, so meaning, kamag-anak nito sa father side ang babae.

Muli siyang lumapit sa counter at kunwaring namimili ng tinapay na nababalot paisa-isa at nagkalat sa dilaw na tray. Sumisimsim siya sa bote ng soda na merong strew. Mula roon ay naririnig niya ang usapan ng dalawang babae.

“Tumawag na ba ang mommy mo, Camilla? Baka nag-alala na ‘yon,” sabi ng ginang.

“Alam naman niya na aalis ako. Nagtampo lang ‘yon,” ani Camilla.

“Nako! Baka ako naman ang awayin n’on dahil bumalik ka rito.”

“Wala siyang magagawa. Kasya naman mabaliw ako sa stress doon sa bahay. Hindi nila ako mapipilit magpakasal.”

“Paano ‘yang baby mo? Kahit sustento man lang sana mula sa tatay ang kinuha mo.”

“Hay! Hindi na kailangan! Makapag-apply din ako ng trabaho pagkatapos kong manganak. Mabilis lang ako makapasok sa ospital sa Makati kasi doon ako nag-OJT noon. Kayang-kaya kong buhayin ang anak ko. May malaki naman akong ipon sa bangko. Tutulong muna ako sa ‘yo rito, Tita.”

“Ikaw ang bahala. Wala naman akong anak kaya mainam na narito ka. Ako na ang kakausap sa nanay mo sakaling tatawag siya.”

“Salamat po.”

Ibinalik na ni Chase ang bote ng soda sa counter at bumili ng candy. Si Camilla pa rin ang nagbenta sa kaniya. Nang mag-abot ito ng limang candy sa kan’ya ay sinakop niya ang kamay nito sa paghawak.

Natigilan ang dalaga at gulat na naaptitig sa kaniyang pekeng mukhang. He felt excited when their eyes met. Mas gusto niya na naroon si Camilla at malayo sa conservative nitong pamilya. Mas malaya siyang mabulabog ang buhay nito.

“Thank you,” aniya, sabay bitiw sa kamay ng dalaga.

Tulala pa rin itong nakatingin sa kaniya at nasundan siya ng tingin. Lumabas na lamang siya at nagpasyang umalis sa lugar na iyon. Sapat na ang impormasyong nalakap niya upang mapanatag sa sitwasyon ni Camilla.