Chapter 24: Surprise Encounter with Danielle Gustilo

We headed to Greenhills Shopping Center and observed the mansion house near it, where Danielle's staying. The house has a perimeter fence made of wood and hollow blocks, guarded and, had beautiful exterior designs.

Mike Luna used a binocular to observe the house's surroundings and its activities. He spotted a lady, dressed in white who helped the boy carry his things going to the wooden chalet. Another woman in uniform was behind them with the baby's stroller, and a beautiful lady looking at where the two were going.

"Marco, Edward, look at this..." Mike gave the binoculars to me.

"Yes, a boy of seven-year-old with a maid....and a baby in a stroller...Danielle...you bitch!" I said while using binoculars.

"Marc, behave...cool...we'll follow our plans tomorrow, and not now...okay?" Edward warned me.

"Edward, Mike....quick, they're going out...."

We hurriedly ride in the car and positioned ourselves to wait along the street where Danielle's car will pass by. My calculation gave us the edge to follow her car wherever way she wanted to go. Danielle's car passed going to the main road, EDSA, where we followed her up to the Robinson's Galleria, then to the lower level parking lot. We waited until Danielle, the maid and the boy entered the shopping center.

"Edward, Mike, I think, it's better to have the boy be kidnapped by us...to make Danielle more miserable than Ayah Isabel...than me!" I shouted at them.

"Cool Marco, this is not in our plan...and besides...it's very dangerous..."

"Shut up Edward...they're doing this for me, then, I'll do it for them....come with me quick!"

Three of us were very careful not to make a disturbance that could affect my decision to capture the boy. We followed them to the third floor where Danielle Gustilo enters the beauty parlor, while the maid and the boy were roaming around the mall.

Mike Luna made a move to distract the maid that he talked to her with a lover boy effect. The maid brought the boy to the first floor where he rode on an electronic toy ride. While Mike and the maid were busy talking to each other, Edward Ramirez and I got the boy away from them going to the car park. I saw Mike was following us behind. We speeded up the car going from Shaw Boulevard up to Roxas Boulevard, then, going to Bacoor, Cavite. When we reached the subdivision; we stopped along the road.

"Edward, the boy must stay there at the house, until we can find a way for this?"

"Marco, I think, it's better, I can handle him at Bantayan island? What do you think?"

"It's okay, but be sure to take good care of him there?"

"Find your way to take him there...you know, authorities now are moving to find him. Go now, I'll call you on Bantayan island. I'll take care of your belongings and the meeting with Danielle."

"You have to meet her? No, Marco, just stay here in Bacoor."

"Okay, quick...go now....get a plane ticket...or any means, it depends on you...use your intuition, my friend." Edward and the boy got out of the car.

"Marco, it's better, you have to take us to the airport, the earlier the better...isn't it?"

"Okay, come inside the car, we'll go there together."

I dropped them at the Manila Domestic Airport, not telling Edward that we were heading to Intercontinental Hotel in Makati City. Mike and I took a rest in the hotel room until I woke around ten in the evening. I lifted the hotel's telephone and ordered something to drink.

"Mike, get up...it's over...let's talk."

"Hmmm, what? why?..."

"Let's talk, come on..."

"Okay, I'll take a bath first..."

"Okay, go on."

The hotel staff delivered my order and I gave a two hundred pesos tip. He smiled at me with gladness and said, "Thank you, Sir!" I smiled back at him, "You're welcome!"

"Sir, you need young beautiful ladies....for entertainment?"

"Hmmm...what's your name?"

"Walter sir."

"Okay Walter, just one young and beautiful...with smooth skin, okay?"

"Okay sir, no problem."

"No problem for the hotel's management?"

"Just a visitor....no problem sir."

I started to pour whisky into my glass, put two ice cubes, swirled slowly, and gobbled it. I poured again and put ice cubes. Mike finished bathing, toweled-dry, strapped the towel to his waist and I gave to him the glass. He drank it instantly, went inside the room to get dressed, and sat in front of me.

"Marco, what you're thinking about this thing...I mean, the boy?"

"Well, Edward knows best for that matter, he can do it very carefully."

"I'm hoping that all's well for us..."

"Mike, those people didn't have the right to take my child without my consent...and wanted me to be miserable with my life?"

"Sometimes, I think, leaders are doing their job just for their personal interest."

"Yes, look, for almost two decades, we're under the rule of a dictator...that's why people under him really have the guts to do the illegal things...and we cannot do the same for what they're doing? Unfair isn't it?"

"We have the same point of view my friend. By the way Marco, I have to process my documents as early as possible. It's okay for you?"

"No problem Mike, after this event, we'll process your passport and NBI clearance."

"Okay Marc, thanking you so much!"

We poured another two shots in a row. And other shots for us again. "By the way Mike, I ordered a young beautiful lady, any moment she's coming. This is for you, don't worry...a present for you."

"For me how about you?"

"Don't worry, I'll continue drinking here."

"Pare Marc, how about two of us in one?"

"Okay, you make the first move...I'll follow..."

Almost five minutes, we heard a knock on the door, which I opened at once.

"Sir, here's your order....kindly check sir..."

"Walter, great, here's for you." I gave the tip to Walter and the lady went inside our room. Feeling groggy I introduced her to Mike Luna with many gestures as I can remember.

"Mike here's your gift! What's your name lady beautiful?"

"Merry."

"Ahh, Merry this is Mike...your partner tonight...have a seat beside us..."

"Okay...Mike... and you handsome..."

"Lady... I'm not handsome!!"

We drank, knew each other, and talked together while Mike started his fast and furious tactics to our visitor. He's so fast when it comes to women. I looked at Merry. She's so silky white and had a beautiful body curve but she's a willing visitor to entertain us that night.

"Merry...we can do it together with Marco? No problem?" Mike asked her and responded, "No problem, I like Marco...he's so handsome!"

We drank together and savor heaven's gift without qualms and procrastination.

XXX

Early in the morning, she dressed herself up at once, I gave her five thousand pesos, and she smiled accepting the payment. She kissed me again on my lips with passion, felt she liked me so much the way she looked at me and gave me a business card to me which I accepted and thanked her.

"Marco, call me...I'm waiting for your call...I liked you."

She opened the door, looked, and kissed me again. I looked at her walking the hallway until she disappeared. What a lovely night with a young and beautiful lady!

The wonderful feeling of satisfying yourself and other people made me energize my being to its peak; tiring but inspiring to go on living in this world. A God-given way to procreate mankind, but depends on every human individual to use in a positive direction.

It was almost eight when I woke up. Mike's sleeping on the sofa like a log. I woke him up.

"Mike, let's get up now...I have a meeting with Danielle."

"Hmm, I thought...."

"Mike, I have to meet her!"

"Okay, why? I'm tired..."

"Hey, wake up...Mike!" I left Mike in the hotel's room, walk slowly to the coffee shop, and ordered two-shot of espresso coffee. I drank and ordered again for another two shots. I saw Walter approaching me, smiling, and greeting me.

"Good morning sir! How's your night sir?"

"Really the best! Where did you get her?"

"Sir, she's a college student, you know...but she's good and a scholar."

"Yeah...do you know her residence?"

"Yes sir, if you want her just call me."

"Okay Walter...here's another gift for you," I gave him five hundred pesos. "Walter, you know, I'm waiting for another lady here in the coffee shop. Can you help me?"

"What I'm going to do sir?"

"Put a table and chair at the back of the coffee shop...I'll sit there...and watch her. If she comes, tell me here. Do you know her? ....Here's the picture."

"Okay, sir."

I positioned at the back of the coffee shop, drank another two shots of espresso coffee, and waited. After ten minutes, I saw Walter hurriedly approaching me and giving a sign that she was coming. My tired body got energized with espresso coffee and broiled with anger deep inside.

I saw her seated down and ordered. I approached her at the table and suddenly sat in front of her. She stood up at once without noticing me. She's totally surprised by my presence.

"Please have a seat, Danielle Gustilo. I want to talk to you. Do you recognize me? Do you recognize my scar on the forehead?" She kept her silence while looking me straight in the eyes.

"How can I forget you, Marco Fernando?" She answered confidently.

"And, how can I forget you Danielle, the woman who made my life miserable?"

"That's the price of loving someone beside me Marco Fernando," she said smiling.

"And who do you think you are? You're paying people to destruct my life?" I abruptly held her hand tightly which made her squirm with pain, "Where's my son, you bitch!!!"

"I'm not in the position to answer your concern, Marco. Release my hand, you bastard!!" Danielle began to show her fear.

"I'll break you into pieces....for the last time...where's my son!!" I insisted with force.

"Okay, Marco...tomorrow afternoon...we'll have to meet at the Sheraton Hotel, Room 300, exactly 2:00 pm. You can meet me alone; I'll give your son to you personally. Deal?"

"Okay..." And I released her hand, looked at her straight in the eyes and she cried silently.

"Why are you crying, my Queen?" I asked her.

"My son was kidnapped yesterday...I'm sorry...I have to go Marco." She stood instantly and left while I looked at her until she disappeared at the front door.

"Wow, friend, you really have the guts to hurt her?" Mike appeared at my back suddenly.

"Sit down Mike."

"You heard everything I said to her? I thought you're tired of playing...."

"Weeehhh, and you?"

"Wonderful...but we have to check out with this hotel to be safe from questioning."

We packed our things together with Edward's belongings, checked out, and went straight to the Sheraton Hotel at Vito Cruz Street near the Harrison Plaza.

Mike and I checked in at the hotel front desk, telling the staff in Room 301 for both of us. The staff checked the availability of the room which gave us a positive note for tomorrow's meeting. We ordered our lunch and drinks delivered to our room. After lunch, I called up Edward Ramirez in Bantayan Island.

"Hello Edward, good afternoon my friend. How's everything over there, the boy?"

"You know what Marco, his name is the same as you, Marco Fernando Jr."

"What? Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure...that's what he said to me."

"Ask some other information about him and his mother, for sure. Edward, we're here at the Sheraton Hotel, Vito Cruz."

"Why are you there...together with Mike?"

"Yes, we'll meet Danielle tomorrow afternoon here, in this hotel."

"Okay, please be careful friend."

"Okay Edward, bye."

I told Mike Luna about our meeting in Room 300 of this hotel tomorrow, and I gave him some instructions when worst comes to worst. We did sleep for the whole afternoon and evening, and when we woke up, it was six in the morning the next day. We jogged along Roxas Boulevard near the Cultural Center of the Philippines. It was such a great feeling to release the unwanted toxins on our bodies and keep fit all the time.

Mike as I observed, really enjoyed my company and the way his life was shaped even though there were dangers along with it. He's a man willing to perform everything because of money, or anything with value. I admired his courage to change his "color," anytime, anyplace wherever he may be.

"Marco, remember your meeting with Danielle, this afternoon...2 pm..."

"Yes Mike, are you ready my friend?"

"Yes, Pare, at your service anytime."

After jogging, we came back to our hotel room, in which we rested for a while. Mike dressed in his formal suit and went to the hotel lobby to observe. And, I dressed in casual attire for easy movement of my body and energy. After lunch, we waited for more than an hour when Mike went inside our room. "Marco, I saw Danielle with a dozen of men following her going to Room 300."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, my friend!"

"That bitch!!"

"What to do now?"

"Okay, we'll stay here inside...I won't meet her! We'll go home to Bacoor, Cavite after they left the hotel."

We stayed for a week inside my house for possible news about the disappearance of the boy in Greenhills, but nothing such news in the dailies and television. We extended our silence without going outside the house; we slept, ate, and had a wonderful time with our loved ones. While Christmas was the theme of the moment, a celebration with them gave much happiness to every father like us. My two-month vacation leave was nearing on the 28th of December 1987, and I talked to Mike Luna to process his papers.

** XXX**