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Lahat ng Kabanata ng BUNGLED: Kabanata 31 - Kabanata 40

61 Kabanata

Chapter 30 The long trip to safety

THE Toyota revved then chugged when it hit rocky roads. JC was thankful it had a tight suspension, the bumps felt bearable under his butt, giving him little discomforts with his aching shoulder, even on potholed roads. He forced himself to get rest but the droning of the engine kept him awake all the time. This reminded him of the dull sound of the airplane, which was familiar. He was a patient lot but miles and miles on the road made Tommy notice that he was hurting. The way was paradise under the sun, with infinite lines of coconut trees along the way. Sea breeze came through the open window. It was a perfect combination of climate and scenery. On the right were the green mountains. On their left was the warm Pacific current. In spite of all the splendid view, JC found no time to appreciate all of them. Weakness and pain were making him delirious and hallucinations came in in

Chapter 31 Love deepens

Tessa cut the cantaloupe into squares and rectangles, and then served herself. She sipped her coffee. After three days of having breakfast with JC, an empty longing had crept up into her being. She was lonely. She asked herself what falling in love meant. She realized little why it was happening to her, gradually, in a wonderful way. Day after day, her feelings for him grew deeper and deeper. Then she started recalling the whys and wherefores. First, was how he reminded her every day how special she was. It was how he said it that she was enthralled, mesmerized by his words. Nobody could have done it better than the way he penetrated into her being. Second, was the way he delighted her with his stories, remembering how she laughed and laughed at some simple human frailties that he skillfully wove and crafted into interesting anecdotes.

Chapter 32 Under Tessa´s care

As soon as Tommy reached the Time’s office, he called New York. He had been expecting JC to be in touch with him. The following day, lunchtime, he still heard nothing from him. It was not likely of him to be silent for a long time. It was understandable though, considering that along the way in the provinces there weren’t many telephones available, even private ones. That was the reason he failed to call. But they had agreed that as often as he could, he would tell him where he was. What was taking him so long? Not after lunch and into the dusk of the first day, for in any restaurants or stores along the way, he should be able to call. He was already starting to suspect something had happened. He called New York for the second time to inform them of his disappearance. When Tommy came out of the Time’s bureau after office work, two military men picked

Chapter 33 Reminiscing the past

Viewed from a different angle, the idea of traveling was a complete waste of time. This was how he saw it now that he was nursing an injured shoulder. If there was a way to get home without the interminable way of waiting, he would have chosen it. But it´s a perfect opportunity, however, to recall the past, and to find time to put some order in his life. Clarity of mind was what he needed. On his way back to New York, JC used all the waiting time rebuilding his past to find answers to his questions. He was transported back to the time when he was going to school with his mother by crossing the park on foot. It was a five-minute walk daily from home and she took pains in teaching him the four mathematical operations. She was indefatigable. First, she taught him simple addition. Then as time rolled on, they slowly progressed into the more complicated ones like divisi

Chapter 34 JC´s exit

Time to go. JC would have to travel to the farthest point in the south next to Borneo. From there he would have to cross the big sea to be on the mainland. The American Embassy in Kuala Lumpur had already been advised of his coming. Jerry, his friend at the Office in New York will meet him in Kuala, Lumpur. From there they would take him back to New York. Freedom and Father Sin went with him, making sure that he would arrive safely. They gave JC a habit to wear so that he would also look like a priest. The three of them traveled in this way. And nobody suspected. After delivering him to Jerry, both of them went back to where they came from. Back in New York, JC felt relieved he was back. He stretched in his favorite bed, lying there the whole time as if he had not been there for a long period and reminiscing the dangers he encountered in those few days. The buzzing of the car engine and the droning of the airplane was

Chapter 35 Astral travel

On his first day at work, JC was quite energized. He got up early and geared himself up, coat and tie and all of those rituals an office worker needs to accomplish before going to work. He had toasted bread topped with butter and marmalade and hot cappuccino sweetened with honey for breakfast. Thankful for a new day, he went out of his apartment blissfully joyful. He took the same route to his office on his 4x4. He parked at a space reserved for The Times, then took the elevator up to his office. When he strode in the hallway, he didn’t expect the unexpected. He saw heads popping up one by one from their workstations. He couldn’t believe his eyes when everybody cheered. He knew what it was and the gesture buoyed his spirit up. Jerry congratulated him with a wink. Mr. McMillan was at the door of his office standing to greet him. Kate was behind smiling from ear to ear. An overnight celebrity, he became. &n

Chapter 36 Tommy´s testimony

TOMMY was brooding in a room where he was holed up. His mind danced on the thought that this friend, JC, could already be safe and might be traveling back to New York or already be safe there. He asked himself the question several times. Above him, there was a slight movement that barged into his pondering. This led him to shift his vision. There was a little gecko that crossed his eyes. It darted off to catch a lone mosquito, then got lost into a small crack on the ceiling with the vector in its mouth. Seconds later he heard a familiar sound coming from that same house lizard. He looked out of the window. Dusk was enveloping the sky yonder and he saw only a reddish horizon for it was getting dark. Slouched, alone, beside the window overlooking the grounds, he thought of that unfortunate mosquito’s plight. Tired and exhausted his body resisted th

Chapter 37 The assassin

New York. It was in spring when the tentacles of the monster slithered as far as Manhattan. Respect for jurisdiction or territory was about to be disregarded, if they had some of it, as one assassin followed JC up to where he thought himself unreachable. Rudy Rude landed at JFK International Airport incognito. With no other purpose but to look for the tape, he checked out, picked up his bag, and immediately got a taxi directing himself nearest to Central Park West. He checked into a hotel and never worried about his identity. Nobody knew him and time was all his in the world to find his quarry. The next thing he did was to secure a weapon. It wasn’t hard to buy a Beretta semi-automatic with a silencer from one of the shops. It was small and easy to handle. After going around the shops for the things he needed he rested. It was already dark when he settled himself. He sat on a chair, looking at the shapes in his hotel room: the

Chapter 38 Homeless JC

He searched his memories, going over and over every detail for answers to all questions. Deep in his mind, he knew the reasons for all the events that had unfolded, for which now he was answering to be punished. No . . . It’s the tape, JC concluded. The word resonated in his mind. Now he was certain it was the tape, but would they go this far? There’s no other cold-blooded heartless evildoer who would do that to Fidel. It’s got to be the monster. But why include poor Fidel? He was only a bystander. If they were after the tape, they would have to go straight for me. Or to the office and turn it upside down. But would they know it’s hidden there safely? With two guards at the entrance and a close circuit security system, getting access would be difficult if not nearly impossible. Go on . . . let’s see if you could bust the office, he said angrily. Fear pierced through him after reali

Chapter 39 Kate´s night

JC went out of the café to breathe fresh air. He paused and stood at the door thinking. Then he went back inside. With no place to go, he used the remaining coin to dial another number. “Hello,” Kate answered in her classic soft voice. “Hello, Kate. It’s JC here. I’m outside in a café. Can you meet me here?” “Are you ok? You sound weird, JC. Am I wrong?” “You’re right. I am worried as hell.” “Worried about what?” “I can’t go into my apartment.” “Why so? “The policemen found a dead body in my apartment and I don’t have any clues as to why. I couldn’t stay until they’re done with the investigation, at least for the night” “Which café are you in?” “It’s one alon

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