CHAPTER 5

Mula sa malawak at malaking opisina, nakaupo sa swivel chair ang lalaki habang makikita sa salaming dingding ang magandang landscape ng pinakamalaking mall sa bansa, ang Han Mall. May sampung palapag ang mall at may sukat na 590,981 square meters. Mayroon iyong 4,000 stores, restaurants, at entertainment. Doon din matatagpuan ang nag iisang Olympic‑sized ice‑skating rink sa bansa, at IMAX theater, at higit sa lahat naroon ang tanyag at kilalang Disneyland‑themed amusement park na dinadagsa tuwing holiday season.

Inilapat ni Blane ang likod sa upuan at isinandal ang braso sa arm rest, mula sa bulsa ay inilabas niya ang isang lumang bracelet yarn, it was a color red and orange combination with an initials D&I. Katulad ng suot niya kahit na luma na iyon, at hindi babagay sa suot niyang suit ay hindi niya iyon hinuhubad.

Those yarn bracelets are a matching pair, uniquely crafted by the person who means the world to him.

Matagal na niyang hinahanap ang taong iyon, at limang taon na ang nakararaan ay nagkaroon siya ng pagkakataon na makita ito subalit muli lang nawala sa isang iglap. At hanggang sa kasalukuyan ay hinahanap pa rin niya ang babae.

"Isa, where in the world are you?" bulong niya habang humigpit ang paghawak niya sa bracelet, He close his eyes but the steamy scene from five years ago flashed through his mind, those memories still linger vividly, and whenever he recalls them, he gets turned on. it's embarrassing to admit, but she's the only one who can make him feel that way.

Iminulat niya ang mga mata at inabot ang telepono, nag dial siya ng numero, saglit na nag ring sa kabilang linya bago may nag angat at sumagot.

"Hello, this is Fearless Investigative Firm, may I help you?" tinig ng lalaki sa kabilang linya.

"Sean, got any updates on the thing I'm looking into with you?" tanong niya sa kaibigang private investigator.

"Actually, there's no name 'Isa' on the guest list from five years ago, so I think, she used an invitation that wasn't actually for her. So she's tough to track down," sagot nito, nagbuntong hininga siya.

"Did you find out whose invitation she used to get into the masquerade ball?" muling tanong niya.

"Hmm, that's a tough one, Blane, but I'll do my best to look into it," sabi ng kaibigan. Maya maya ay nagpaalam na rin siya.

Sa kaibigang imbestigador na rin siya minsang nanghingi ng tulong para mahanap ang batang Isa na inampon noong walong taong gulang ito.

Nauna lang siyang ampunin ni Krisler Han kasama ang mga kapatid sa Angel's Haven kung saan sila lumaki, nangako siyang babalikan si Isa at dadalawin pero hindi nanyari ang bagay na iyon, twenty one na siya noong magawa niyang bumalik sa ampunan pero wala na ito doon.

Base sa imbestigasyon nito, isang lalaki na nasa edad kuwarenta ang umampon kay Isa, ibang pangalan ang ginamit nito at ang tunay na nagmamay ari ng pangalan ay matagal ng namatay sa isang aksidente, kahit ang address na binigay nito ay peke rin kaya nahirapan si Sean na hanapin si Isa noon.

"Isa... now that I have the power and wealth, I'll protect you and give you the best things in this world, just like I promised you." bulong niya at muling tiningnan ang bracelet sa kamay. "Where are you? I want to see you."

Naistorbo ang pag iisa ni Blane ng tumunog ang intercom. Pinindot niya iyon at nagsalita.

"Yes?"

"Good afternoon Mr. Han, Sir Levi wants to talk to you; he's with the food safety officer, Miss Jana." Inform ng desk clerk.

"Okay, tell them to come in," sabi niya.

Nang bumukas ang pinto ng opisina niya ay nakatingin na kaagad siya sa mga dumating. kaya ng makasalubong niya ng tingin ang babaeng kasama ni Levi ay kaagad itong nagbaba ng tingin. He's naturally observant, so his intense gaze often gets misread – people think he's sizing them up, and it ends up intimidating them, but he's just looking.

"Good afternoon Mr. Han," pagbati ng mga ito. Tumango siya.

"So what's the reason you're here in my office?" tanong niya. Nakayuko pa rin ang kasama nitong babae, na para bang natatakot tumingin sa mga mata niya.

"Miss Jana has something to report, Mr. Han," sabi ni Levi.

"Is it something that important that you have to report directly to me? You're the operations manager – can't you handle the problem?" seryosong tanong niya.

Napakamot naman ito sa batok.

"Well, it's a problem I can handle, but it's major and we need to take action now," anito, nangunot ang noo niya.

"What’s the problem?"

Bumaling ito sa babaeng nakayuko.

"Miss Jana, you can talk now." Sabi nito, tumingin ang babae kay Levi, napailing siya ng makitang chineer pa nito ang babae.

"You can do it, just talk. Mr. Han doesn’t bite." Bulong nito na humangga naman sa pandinig niya. Nagbuga siya ng hangin.

"What do you think of me? Some kind of man-eating monster?" he said to Levi, a bit annoyed. Levi just laughed.

Levi is one of his guys in the team – he's tough as nails in a fight, but kinda loves slacking off at work.

Nagsimulang magreport ang babae at bahagya pa itong nanginginig ng magsalita.

Nagulat ang mga ito ng mapahampas siya ng malakas sa kanyang mesa ng marinig ang sinabi nito.

"How dare they deliver contaminated food? Are they crazy?" galit na wika. "Any reports of food poisoning at the restaurants?"

"No, nothing like that. But the chefs and kitchen staff who tasted the food got stomachaches, so it wasn't served to customers. The diners did have to wait a bit, but managers handled it and calmed everyone down," report ni Levi.

He clenched his fists and he was fuming – messy work was his biggest pet peeve.

"Which food company supplied the contaminated food?" seryosong tanong niya.

"It's Fresh Food Trading," sagot nito.

"Cancel their contract," utos niya, nagulat naman ito.

"But Fresh Food Trading is our long-standing food supplier," depensa ni Levi.

"I don't care. Cut them off. And I'm still deciding if we’ll press charges – food contamination’s a big deal in this industry," galit na sabi niya.

"Got it, Mr. Han," anito at wala ng nagawa pa.