Your Highness

XIII. DRUNK

I woke up in the middle of the night because I'm thirsty. Napaungol ako ng makapang wala ng laman ang tumbler ko.

Hinila ko paitaas sa noo ko ang eye mask bago hinanap ang sleepers. Kinapa ko pa ito sa ilalim ng kama ko.

I don't know if it's because it's midnight pero may naririnig talaga akong kalabog. Hinanap ko ang pinanggalingan ng tunog.

My brows furrowed nang matanto na sa basement ito ng mansiyon galing. What's happening?

I opened the door only to see Tatay punching a familiar man. My eyes widened.

"Tatay!" He stopped and look at me. Nakita ko ang pagkalma niya.

Thanks god suntok lang ang natamo ng tao. Maraming suntok. Putok na ang buong mukha nito kaya mabilis akong lumapit.

"Tatay, anong ginagawa mo?! You never resort to violence."

The law is shitty but Tatay believed in it's power.

"They hurt you." was his only words as if it's enough to make the world crumble.

"Atty. Rama. Please believe me, hindi kami iyong nagpasaksak sa'yo. Mr. President.." pagmamakaawa nito sakin.

I face my father before I kneeled down and untie the man. The name is Mr. Fortelijo Sukuzi, the owner of the world's largest pharmaceutical company. His son was declared guilty for drug trafficking and numerous sexual abuse.

I was the lawyer who made it possible and if I were to think of it, they really has the big motive to kill me. But, that's now how law works. We need evidences, strong ones to prove that they really did it.

"Tay, kahit patayin mo pa 'to. Wala tayong mapapala. I want the suspect and the mastermind on jail not on a fucking coffin."

"Fine, princess."

Nakahinga ako ng maluwag. I called our bodyguards para alisin na iyong tao.

"Wait." The man is shaking. I felt sorry kasi mukhang natakot talaga siya ni Tatay.

"H-hindi po ako magsusumbong. Suntok lang naman 'to." He knows what my father is capable of once he tells the police. I shook my head.

"Kami na po ang bahala sa pangpaospital niyo."

"Make sure na maipapagamot niyo siya mg maayos." dagdag kong utos.

Before I went back to sleep, I scold Tatay. Inamin niya naman na mali siya. I let it pass. Nag-aalala lang naman siya.

Kung si Jisus iyong nasaksak, makakapatay din siguro ko.

Tatay is kind, there's no doubt about it. However, there's a reason why the PH militaries, navy's and marines feared him. Making him your enemy is every bad thing. I attest to that.

Back to the culprit, noong nahawakan ko iyong kamay niya malakas na talaga ang kutob ko na babae siya. Oo nga at makalyo ang kamay niya, para bang hirap sa buhay pero sigurado akong babae iyon.

Ang tanong ay kung sino siya? Bakit gusto niya akong patayin?

Natulog akong iniisip ang posibleng dahilan ng lahat...

•••

"You left me.." bulong sa'kin ni Titan.

"Sorry, tagal mo kasi. Tsaka alam kong ihahatid mo pa jowa mo kaya nauna na ako." He sat beside me kaya napaisog ako.

It's been a month na mula ng magkaayos kami at ayos naman ang pagkakaibigan namin. Magkasintahan parin kami sa mata ng lahat except for our friends of course.  We're at a club in QC, chilling.