#COMM

Chapter 30

I almost didn't want to go inside... after that threat the guy gave us. I held on to Jasper's sleeve, and looked him in the eye.

"I'll be fine," he said, as if he knew what was bothering me.

"Don't leave my sight, okay?" I asked, my heart still nervous. The guy didn't say anything exactly threatening... but I knew his kind. The rich boys—the brats. The one who couldn't afford to have their egos stepped on. And I was sure he's pissed at Jasper because of what happened last time. Who knew what he'd do just to avenge his freaking pride.

God. Why was he invited here?!

"Go," Jasper said, slightly nudging me. "Enjoy the party."

I looked at him, then turned to Evan. "Take care of him for me?" I asked. Despite all our differences, I was sure that we both agree on the same thing—keeping Jasper safe.

When Evan nodded, at saka lang ako pumasok sa loob. I kept on looking back, but Jasper also kept on giving me his reassuring look... like everything's going to be fine. But if it was, why was my whole system was telling me that something very wrong was about to happen?

Upon entering the ballroom, I immediately spotted my brothers and cousins in two round tables. I went to where Addie was.

"Hey," I greeted Santi, Aspen, and Maven, before I turned to Addie. I kissed Addie's cheek before sitting down next to her.

"You okay?" she asked.

I sighed. "No, not really," I admitted. There was no point in hiding anything from her, because she'd just know it. Besides, she's one of the people who knew about Jasper and I. And I badly needed someone to talk about it.

"You wanna talk?"

"The program—"

"You and I, we both hate parties," Addie cut me off. "Come on. Humor me. What's happening to you lately?" she asked.

I reached for the flute of champagne from one of the passing waiters. I downed it before I started talking. I began to tell Addie about my exact relation with Jasper now.

"Good for you," she said with a sincere smile. "You really like him?"

I nodded. "Yeah..." I said, sighing. "But that's why I'm so worried."

"Why? Is it about abuela?"

"Yeah, but that's not my problem right now," I admitted. "Kasi..." I said and then began to tell her about what happened last time with the congressman's son. I shuddered even with the thought of that guy touching me. If he only could discern yes from no, I wouldn't have this problem right now. I would be enjoying my Mom's party.

"And that's only what he got?! Your boyfriend should've destroyed his face!" Addie said, visibly furious. "You should've cut his hands! Seriously, I hate guys who don't understand the word no."

I flinched at her choice of words. Really, she's the calmest, yet the most violent person I know.

"Yeah, I know. But I'm worried because he threatened Jasper kanina... I mean, you and I both know his kind. Who knows what he can do to avenge his male pride, right?"

And I reached for another flute of champagne. God, I was so tensed. But even before I could finish my drink, Addie pulled me up with him.

"You know, instead of drinking yourself to death, let's just go check on your guy," Addie said, anchoring her arms with mine.

"Mom will kill me if we leave," I whispered, but half relieved to be able to check on Jasper.

"Auntie's pre-occupied. Plus, Saint brought his girlfriend. Our absence won't be noticed, I promise," Addie said, winking at me before pulling us both out of the ballroom.

As we were walking, I noticed that Addie seemed drunk. She was very giggly—which was opposite to her usual self. She's usually contained and very calculating... but good to know that she could loosen up—I wished Maven could loosen up, too. God, that guy's freakishly uptight.

When I spotted Evan and Kellan, kumunot ang noo ko dahil wala si Nico at Jasper. I almost pulled Addie para bilisan niyang maglakad.

"Where's Jasper?" I asked Evan.

He seemed out of focus. Something was telling me that something so freaking wrong just happened.

"Where. Is. Jasper?" I repeated myself.

Evan looked at me, and his look just gave chills up my spine. "I don't know."

"Ano'ng 'I don't know?!'" I snapped at him. I didn't care if I catch attention. I was starting to get furious. I just told him to look after Jasper! That someone just blatantly threatened him! Tapos sasabihin niya na hindi niya alam kung nasaan?!

"Ma'am—" Kellan cut.

"Where is Jasper?!" I shouted at them both. I didn't get an answer. I whipped out my phone, and began to dial his number, but it was off. I almost threw my phone out of frustration. I was breathing so hard. I was so fucking mad right now. And then I felt Addie's hand holding mine, before she took over.

"When did you last see him?" she asked Evan.

Evan threw me a quick look—he almost seemed apologetic, and he should be! Dapat alam niya kung nasaan si Jasper! He's his best friend! More than me, it should be him who's looking after Jasper! Alam niya naman na walang takot 'yung kaibigan niya!

"Ten minutes ago," Evan said. "He said he'd just call someone. I asked Nico to accompany him since..." he trailed and then looked at me. "I'm sorry," he said. It was the first time that I heard him apologize, but it felt like nothing.

If something happens to Jasper, no words from him would ever make me feel better.

"Aside from phone, don't you have other means of contacting them?" Addie asked. For the moment, I was thankful that I have a level-headed cousin.

"None, Ma'am. We already tried contacting them through the network, but even that seemed cut off," he replied.

"His father is an admiral, right?" I asked. "Shouldn't we inform him—"

"Jasper won't—" Evan said.

"What Jasper wants won't matter if he's..."

I couldn't even finish my sentence.

My heart felt like shattering at the thought. We had just began... and I refuse to end it this way.

Addie held my hand, and then looked at me. "Calm yourself down, Maggie. We'll look at the cameras. We'll find your guy, okay?" she asked and held both my shoulders. "You understand?" she asked again.

I nodded... but there's no calming myself down until we find both Jasper and Nico.

"So, we can't tell Jasper's father, noted. We can still fix this, okay? Please don't panic. Nothing good ever comes out from acting hastily," she said before telling me that she'd just go back. Kellan accompanied Addie para bumalik sa ballroom. She said we needed the help of our cousins, and I just agreed. At the moment, all I knew was that I needed to save Jasper and Nico. I didn't care about the other things anymore.

"Maggie," Evan said.

I couldn't even face him. I knew it wasn't his fault, but I couldn't help how I was feeling.

"I'm sorry," he offered, but it wasn't enough.

A few minutes later, Addie went down with Aspen and Maven.

"You have a boyfriend?" Aspen asked. Maven looked bored, as usual. "Anyway, tell us later. For now, let's find them," he said and then we began walking.

Aspen's a big fan of criminal procedure series, so he was a little bit excited. He gave us our specific tasks, and told us to meet at a spot after a few minutes. I was stuck with Kellan and Evan, while they were stuck with their respective bodyguards.

Tahimik lang ako. Hindi ako nagsasalita. Dumiretso kami hanggang makarating kami sa control room ng CCTV. Evan flashed out his ID, and then like magic, we were allowed inside.

"Around 8:12, hall 5," he said, and then the guy showed us a screen. I could see Jasper and Nico walking. Sinundan nila iyong camera kung hanggang nasaan makikita sina Jasper. Nasundan sila ng camera hanggang makarating sila sa isang banda na wala ng masyadong tao.

I clenched my fist when I saw someone covering Nico's head with a bag. Jasper was quick to get his gun, and pointed it at the person in his front. There were only two of them and eight of the fucking bastards! I couldn't see the perverted piece of shit, but I knew that this was his doing!

Hindi ko alam kung kaya ko pa bang panoorin.

"We should call the police," I said.

"Maggie—" Evan said.

"I don't care if ayaw ni Jasper! Or if ayaw ng tatay niya! This is serious, Evan! Jasper and Nico can die!" I shouted. My chest was tightening so bad upon watching Jasper put down his gun dahil may lalaki na naka-tutok iyong baril sa ulo ni Nico.

My eyes began to water. I had never felt this scared in my life.

We should've just gone home.

Sabi ko sa kanya, e...

"Paki-lapit nga po doon," Kellan said. Napa-tingin ako sa kanya. Agad kong pinunasan iyong luha na tumulo sa mga mata ko. "Evan, 'di ba may kilala ka na pwedeng kunan ng GPS ng sasakyan? Ito 'yung plate number."

Evan nodded, and then called someone.

Kellan looked at me. "Ma'am, naiintindihan kita. Pero kalma lang. Pareho lang tayo na nag-aalala sa kanila."

"But they can—"

"Ma'am, ilang beses na kaming muntik mamatay. Kaya nila 'yun. Tiwala lang, ha?" he said and smiled a little.

"How... can you be so calm?" I asked him because I was on the verge of losing it.

"Kasi kapag oras mo na, oras mo na."

At hindi pa oras ni Jasper.

Hindi pwede.

* * *

I didn't know how Evan managed to do it, but after a few minutes, he had pinged the location of the car. It was just a few minutes from here.

"Are we still going to call the police?" Addie asked me.

"Isn't it the best way?" I asked. I was unfamiliar with this kind of situation. Unlike my cousins, I spent years abroad. I wasn't exposed to the kind of life they lived. Iyong puro threats. Iyong ganito.

"Maybe... but our names can get dragged. But if you really want, we're all for it, right?" she asked Aspen and Maven.

Aspen shrugged. "Sure. What's a little berating from Abuelo, right, Mags?" he kidded. "But if we're gonna get in trouble, tawagin na natin sila Psalm! Unfair kapag tayong apat lang!"

Maven creased his forehead. "They'll notice if we'll all be gone."

"Right," Addie agreed. "Besides, we can do this on our own."

Why... did they seem so excited? Like we weren't talking about life and death here!

We all rode in our respective cars. I borrowed Kevin and Andrew, two of Cohen's bodyguards. I told Cohen na sumabay na lang kay Psalm, and thankfully, he didn't ask any questions. And apparently, under din pala kay Evan si Kevin and Andrew, so I didn't have to worry about them snitching on us.

"You're to stay inside the car," Evan told me.

"You can't tell me what to do," I snapped at him.

"Ma'am," Kellan cut off. "Wag masyadong maldita. Sumunod ka na lang, okay? Kapag napahamak ka, kami ang papatayin ni Sir Jasper."

I ignored them hanggang makarating kami sa sinasabi nila na lugar. The place seemed like we're a few kilometers from the main road. There were lights around, but the area was generally deserted.

I saw Maven and Aspen getting out of their cars together with their bodyguards. Like me, Addie was ordered to stay inside her car. I knew Maven and Aspen were good at shooting, but still. This was real life. They could die.

I'd die if something were to happen to them.

"Kellan and Kevin, stay with Maggie," Evan instructed. I saw him checking if his gun's loaded. Dalawa iyong dala niya. Isa sa likod niya, isa na hawak niya. "If anything were to happen, drive away fast, okay?"

"Evan!" I shouted. Did he just order us to leave them?!

But Evan ignored me, and both guys agreed. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. Hanggang makaalis si Evan, wala akong magawa dahil nasa gitna ako ni Kellan at Kevin.

"We're not gonna leave them... right?" tanong ko, pero wala sa kanila na sumagot. "Kellan..." sabi ko. The fear inside my chest doubled. I wasn't fearing for my life anymore.

I feared what would happen to Nico, and Evan, and Jasper.

Bakit ba kasi nangyayari 'to?

"An order is an order, Ma'am," Kellan just replied... and then we fucking heard a gunshot.