Inamin Nya?

Sa isang maliit na bayan sa norte.

"Prince Tobby, Prince Tobby, you see na the news?"

Humahangos na sabi ni Roger.

"What news? Why, is something happen?"

Tanong na nagulat na si Prince Tobias.

Narito sya sa Pilipinas para magbakasyon at syempre gaya ng pangako ni Roger sya ang tour guide. Kaya ang unang ginawa ni Roger ay dinala nya ito sa probinsya nya.

"Yes, Prince Tobby, something not good happen nga!"

"It's Prince Tobias!"

Kinorek sya ng bodyguard ni Prince Tobias na si Allun.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah! I know that already, what is your problem ba?"

"Allun, Roger is my friend, let him call me whatever he wants!"

"But Crown Prince it is rude to call you that! He must address you properly because you are the Crown Prince!"

"What rude are you talking about? Aysus ginuo tinawag pa akong bastos nito eh sya nga itong bastos nasabat sa usapan namin!"

"What did you say?"

"I said you are the rude! I am talking to my friend here you are the one always interupt us!"

"You...!"

"Enough Allun!"

"But your Highness..!

"He is my friend! Being rude to him is also being rude to me! So you should respect him!"

Walang nagawa si Allun kundi manahimik sa isang tabi pero matalim ang tingin kay Roger.

"What is the news again Roger?"

"Oh, Prince Tobby, the news is about my BigBoss! They said she is lost and can not be found. Maybe dinukot daw?"

"What? What do you mean, Kate is lost?"

"Yes, Prince Tobby dinukot daw!"

What's dinukot?"

"She was kidnap by bad people against her will!"

"Oh, abducted!"

"Yes abducted! Ayun pala ang ingles nun! Hehe!"

"But why will the do that to Kate?"

"It is very long story I can not explain to you because I'm nose bleeding na here, I didn't bring many english with me! Why don't you make panood na lang the Senate hearing!"

Hinanap nya ang kakatapos lang na Senate hearing sa social media at ipinanood kay Prince Tobias.

Pagkaalis ni Roger lumapit si Allun sa kanya.

"Forgive me your Honor but I don't trust him!"

"Who? Roger?"

"Yes your Honor!"

"That man is my friend! He save my life! You think I'm hear now if not for them?"

"I know he save your life your Honor but why not just give them gift and honor. I'm sure that is what this lowly people need!"

"This lowly people you are calling are the one who sacrifices themselves for me! They are the reason why I am alive!

Who gave you the right to question my judgement?"

"I am not questioning your judgement your Honor! I just want you to be careful for these people!"

"Why? I trust them! These people are my friends. They accepted me as a person not as a Crown Prince! They are willing to help me because they treat me as their friend and not because I am a Crown Prince!"

"But Your Honor I am here your loyal subject, I am willing to give you my life!"

"Yes I know you are willing to give me your life because that is your job! You should protect me because Iam your Crown Prince! But these people, they help me because they treated me as a friend and that's what makes them different from you!"

"Pardon me Your Honor, but I don't understand."

"You don't understand? It is simple. You, you only care for me because I am your Crown Prince, if I am not your Crown Prince will you still care for me and do all this? No! right? Because your loyalty is not to me but to my title!

But to them, eventhough I am just a nobody they will still care and treat me as a friend! Now do you understand?"

"Yes your Honor!"

Sagot ni Allun kahit nagrerebelde pa rin ang kalooban nya.

"Now call my father, The King, I need to talk to him!"

"May I know the reason Your Honor?"

"No, you can not know my reason!"

'I can't tell him that I need to help Kate! I don't trust him enough, but I know father can help me!'

Pero may kutob na si Allun sa dahilan ng prinisipe. Gusto nyang tumulong sa paghahanap sa nawawala nyang kaibigan at hindi nya ito hahayaang mangyari.

'Why will I do that for this lowly people?! Hmp!'

*****

Kinabukasan.

Second day ng Senate hearing.

"Kamusta na ang paghahanap nyo sa anak mo Gen. Santiago? May mga bago na bang development?"

Tanong ni Sen. Bathan.

"Wala pa rin po your honor hindi pa rin po namin nakikita."

Puno ng lungkot ang mga mata ni Jaime na nagpadala sa damdamin ng mga naroroon.

"Huwag kang magaalala Gen. Santiago, inumpisahan na rin namin ang paghahanap sa anak mo. May mga inutusan na ako at pag may latest development ipaaalam agad namin sa inyo."

"Marami pong salamat, your honor."

Ang lahat ng mga naroon ay nakikisimpatya kay Jaime maliban kila Sen. Reyes, Sen Senteno at Gen. Pasahuay. Napipikon na ang mga ito.

'Lintek na ang daming drama!'

"Sen. Bathan, may I suggest that we proceed to the issue now."

Sabi ni Sen. Senteno na hindi na makatiis sa nakikita nyang ibinibigay na simpatya kay Jaime.

"Mabuti pa nga siguro that we continue with the investigation.

Mukhang may lakad si Sen. Senteno! Hehe!"

Natawanan ang paligid at napikon naman si Sen. Senteno sa simpleng pasaring na yun ni Sen. Bathan.

"Mabuti pa siguro papasukin na ang witness."

Sabi ng isang Senador para mawala na ang tensyon at pakiramdam nya napipikon na si Sen. Senteno.

Pinapasok nila si Dante at pagkatapos manumpa at magpakilala sa sarili ay agad na tinanong.

"Mr. Dante kilala mo ba si Gen. Jaime Santiago?"

"Yes your honor!"

"Pwede mo bang sabihin sa amin kung paano mo sya nakilala."

"Sya po ang huling lalaking kasama ni Angela nung mawala sya."

"Nawala din ang anak mo?"

Parang gulat na tanong ni Sen. Reyes.

"Yes, Sir, kinidnap po sya ng sindikato ng prostitution."

"Sinasabi mo ba na biktima ng kidnapping at prostitution ang anak mo?"

"Opo, your honor! Dinukot po sya at pwersahang pinagamit sa mga iba't ibang lalaki at si Gen. Santiago nga po ang huling lalaking nakasama nya."

Napatingin ang lahat kay Jaime.

Ang kaninang simpatya na nararamdaman ng mga naroroon ay napalitan ng pagkapoot.

Lihim na nangisi si Sen Reyes at Gen Pasahuay.

'Ngayon tingnan ko kung malusutan mo ito, Santiago!'

Pero iba kung magisip si Sen. Bathan.

Napansin nya si Jaime na hindi nya makitaan ng takot. Kahit na makikita sa mukha nito ang sobrang lungkot, kalmado lang itong nakaupo at nakikinig na parang hindi sya ang pinaguusapan. Kung kaya, tinanong nya si Jaime.

"Gen. Santiago, tatanungin kita, totoo ba ang sinasabi ni Mr. Dante sa'yo?"

"Yes, po your honor! Iniregalo po sya sa akin ng mga subordinates ko nung napromote akong general."