III. Call

Chapter 3

Call

Muli ay kaharap ko si Heinn matapos ang mahabang panahon ng pag-iisip. Today, I made an appointment with him to discuss something.

"Glad you're taking my offer," salubong niya sa akin kanina.

"Heinn, I'm not here for that. I have a more important matter to be discussed with you."

Kumunot ang noo niya at nagpamulsa. "Oh, so you're humbly declining my offer?"

I shook my head. "Let's not talk about it. Iba ang ipinunta ko rito." Umupo ako at isinandal ang likod sa backrest ng sofa. "I need a copy of the mortgage contract my father has signed a year ago. I want to trace what real estate he conveyed as security on his loan. Can you get that for me?"

Hinilot niya ang sentido at dismayadong tumingin sa'kin. "I saw this coming."

Napaayos ako ng upo. I looked at him with so much confusion. 

"What?"

"I already knew about that thing. My father already talked to him about it. He even convinced him to seek for closing forms. He had three business days to cancel the loan after loaning 100 million pesos. Naisip na rin namin na mangyayari 'to. Na what if, bigla siyang magkasakit, knowing that he was already physically weak, or what if maging shaky 'yung magandang feedback and financial sustainability ng kompanya kung saan siya naginvest? I mean, it could happen, right? Syempre, if that happens, the burden would be yours for sure. And now, eto na nga..."

Umiling-iling ako. Hindi makapaniwala sa mga nangyayari. "Ano ba kasing ginawa ni Papá sa 100 million pesos? Sigurado ako na naginvest si Papá sa Claveria Motors, San Augustin Corp. at sa DVC, pero bukod do'n ay wala nang iba. And besides, it's been 2 years since he invested to DVC, so, anong ginawa niya sa pera? Siguro naman alam ni Tito 'di ba?"

I look so desperate looking for an answer I know he doesn't even know about. Pero nagbabakasakali pa rin ako. Alam niya nga ang tungkol sa utang. Baka may alam din siya kung ano'ng pinaggamitan.

"Alam ko..."

Nabuhayan ako ng loob sa sinabi niya.

"Nag-invest siya sa isang pyramiding. He even encouraged Dad to also invest pero hindi pumayag si Dad. Even with all those written evidences your dad believed were legal, my father didn't agree. Binalaan ni Dad ang Papá mo na 'wag na mag-invest dahil dubious ang ibang dokumentong iprenisenta sa kanila, but you father was too determined. Later on, they found out it was an investment scam. The culprit flew to Thailand according to the authority. They are being chased as of this moment. Natangayan ng bilyon-bilyong pera ang mga kilalang business tycoon sa Pilipinas, including your Tito Reugene."

Namilog ang mga mata ko sa natuklasan.

"Tito Reugene? Pero ang sabi ni Tita, ipinatalo niya ang pera sa Casino-"

"Ayaw lang nila na magtaka ka at isiping kasali rin ang Papá mo sa na-scam."

I was blown away by the informations from Heinn. I knew it! There's something about my father loaning millions of pesos.

Hanggang sa makauwi ay hindi parin maalis sa isip ko ang mga nalaman. Gulong-gulo ang isip ko at nadagdagan lamang ang sakit sa ulo nang buksan ko ang TV.

Nasa headlines ang ground breaking ng Madrideus sa lupaing minsang iangkin ni Tito Reugene. Dinaluhan iyon ng mga kilalang engineers, architects and business titans, including my Tito Reugine who included Food and Beverages in his business ventures. Sa tinagal-tagal ng panahon, kay Raeden din pala mapupunta ang lupaing iyon. At kung pa'no niya nakombinse si Tito? Yun ang hindi ko alam.

Parang hinalukay ang sikmura ko sa pag-iisip na nasa iisang lugar si Tito Eugene at Raeden. Tito is a very dangerous man. At kung may binabalak man siya ngayon, natitiyak kong isa nanaman iyong madilim na plano.

"Look!"

Inilahad ni Lin sa akin ang cellphone niya at may ipinakita. Website iyon ng Forbes Magazine. Nakaindicate roon ang listahan ng real estate tycoons sa Pilipinas. My father use to be on top of this some years ago.

Raeden Madriaga (Net Worth: $14.7 Billion)

Photo via Self-made Billionaire Ph.

The founder and chairman of Iraya Food and Beverage, Inc.— country's largest food and beverage company, and the CEO of Madrideus Wine Company w/c currently operates subsidiaries in Europe, China, and Middle East. He has also become one of the prominent business titans, and a slew of other business conglomerates whose interest range from real estate and property development, automobiles, down to telecommunications. Madrideus Wine Company will soon to operate in Hongkong, England and in the Philippines in partnership with G&N Corporation.

Pumapangalawa si Raeden sa may pinakamataas na net worth sa buong Pilipinas. I knew from the beginning that they soon will rise, that if the grape plantation would be sustained, they could put up a business. Now, I can see, that despite of starting from scratch, Raeden managed to rise to the top. Aside from his investments in real estates, it is the determination and vengeance that fuel his net worth.

This is the start of his business endeavors in the Philippines. They are starting. He's already at it.

"Naiisip mo ba ang naiisip ko?"

Tinignan ko si Lin na ngayon ay itinataas-baba ang kanyang kilay.

"Ano?"

"Sa tingin mo, di ka niya na gusto? Look, sobrang yaman niya na. Kayang kaya niyang bayaran iyong utang ng Papá mo! Kita mo naman oh, nag-ooperate ang kompanya nila sa iba't ibang bansa. And compared sa net worth mo... na'tin, sobrang laki ng net worth niya!"

Inirapan ko siya. "Last time I checked, kay Heinn mo ako pinagtutulakan. Ngayon naman, kay Raeden."

She let go of a strained laugh, "Eh, mas kaya pala nung isa-"

Salamat sa cellphone kong nagring at nakatakas ako sakanya. "I'll just get this call."

Lumayo ako sakanya at lumapit sa veranda na tanaw ang city lights. 

"Hello,"

Unregistered ang number kaya nang maisip na baka prank call or wrong dial lang ay papatayin ko na sana, kung hindi ko lang narinig ang boses sa kabilang linya. Parang binuhusan ng asido ang lalamunan ko sa narinig na boses. It intoxicates my whole system.

"Aria, I have an offer to you."

Nanlamig ang buong katawan ko. Ilang minuto akong natahimik bago pinatay ang tawag nang hindi sumasagot. Pa'no niya ako nacontact?

"Are you done?" Lumapit si Lin sa'kin. "Nga pala, remember the day I that I told you I bumped into Raeden? Hiningi niya nga pala number mo."

That's it! My question has been answered!