Pearl Of The East | ✓

Chapter 36

Peace...

Freedom...

Justice...

That’s what I’m fighting for. Peace for everyone in this country. Freedom from adversity. And justice for those people who deserves it. And I vowed to myself that I won’t let death hinder me from conquering it.

“Baby? Are you okay? You’re thinking too deep.” I nodded in Styyx’ question. He held my hand while staring at me with his emerald eyes sparking in worry.

“Here,” nilingon ko s’ya nang may inabot s’ya sa ‘kin. My brows creased when I recognized what it is. Isang tseke.

“Para saan ‘yan?” Tanong ko sa kan’ya habang tinititigan ito.

“I know what you’re thinking. Gusto lang kitang tulungan, kaya tanggapin mo na,” he uttered with entreating tone. Nang sulyapan ko ang halaga sa tseke ay nanlaki na lamang ang mga mata ko. Seriously? 10 million?

“Styyx it’s too much. Saan ko naman ‘yan gagamitin?” He shook his head on my words.

“No it’s not. Perhaps you can build some 15 to 20 rehabilitation centers in that money?” He said skeptically.

“So? It’s for my project?” He nodded.

“Alam kong hanggang ngayon ay hindi ka pa nakakahanap ng panibagong pondo. You spent it’s fund for Bicol region right?” Tumango ako sa sinabi n’ya.

“Just please accept it,” wika n’ya. Agad akong umiling ako sa kan’ya. 10 million is too much. Hindi n’ya naman kailangang magbigay ng ganoon kalaking pera. This is my project and I’m the one who’s responsible for finding a fund for it. Besides I don’t want to pull from someone’s pocket.

“Baby just please accept it. We’re both into protecting this country. Just accept it, isipin mo na lang na para rin ito sa kabutihan nang nasasakupan mo. Baby, bansa ko rin ito. So let me help my country okay?” Wala akong ibang nagawa sa sinabi n’ya kung hindi ang tanggapin na lamang ang tseke.

“But this is too much Styyx. Are you okay with it?” I asked him, securing if it’s really fine with him. Hindi biro ang sampung milyon na ibinibigay niya. Ganoon nga ba talaga s’ya ka yaman?

“Yes it’s okay. C’mon, I already have my house, my cat, my papa, and my fiancé. I can’t ask for more in that. Too much money won’t satisfy my soul baby, besides wala naman akong mapag-gamitan n’yan,” literal na umawang ang labi ko sa sinabi n’ya. He’s really this rich.

“Okay then General salamat,” I smiled sweetly.

“Anything for you baby,” nakangiti n’yang wika.

Styyx. The green-eyed General whom I met unexpectedly in the midst of a battle. The man who pursued me and accepted me for who I am. The man who taught my lips to smile genuinely again. The man who taught my heart to love. The man who always got my back. Guess that I’m this lucky huh?

Tinitigan ko na lamang s’ya habang ang kan’yang paningin ay na sa labas na ng bintana ng sasakyan. He’s damn hot and gorgeous! He’s like a god,  and who would’ve thought that he will be my fiancé?

“Baby matutunaw ako n’yan,” he chuckled. Ngunit taliwas sa palagi kong ginagawa ay hindi ko iniwas ang paningin ko sa kan’ya. Patuloy kong tinitigan ang mukha n’ya na puno ng paghanga.

“I’m just admiring how handsome my fiancé is,” his eyes widened.

“Damn! You’re insulting me baby, ngayon mo lang ba napagtanto ang bagay na ‘yon?” Wika n’ya na tila ba isang kasalanan ang hindi nga iyon mapagtanto nang maaga. Napangiwi na lang ako sa kan’ya saka ko iniwas ang paningin mula sa kan’ya.

“I already realized it right when I first saw you. But what I mean now is that you’re handsome because of your inner beauty,” I answered full of sincerity.

“Can I kiss you now?” Pabulong niyang wika.

“You jerk!” We both chuckled knowing that Emmanuel and Erick are upfront us driving the car.

“Baby, just a quick one,” muli n’yang bulong. Hindi ko na lang s’ya pinansin at nakangisi kong ibinaling ang tingin sa labas ng bintana ng sasakyan. Narinig ko s’yang mahinang nagmumura na sinusundan ng; “Baby, you’re torturing me.”

Nang marating namin ang bahay nila ay mabilis na s’yang pumasok dito at nagbihis. Saglit akong bumaba upang makita si papa. Nadatnan ko ito sa astoea nila at kasalukuyang umiinom ng tsaa, habang na sa hita nito ang waring natutulog na pusa ni Styyx.

“Good evening po pa,” I greeted him and kissed his right cheek. He smiled at me sweetly and placed his tea in a coffee table beside him.

“Good evening too daughter. I heard Styyx will be staying at your house tonight,” he said while smiling. I nodded in his words.

“Alright it’s fine with me. Styyx is old enough to have a child and I am too, to have a grandchild,” tumatawa n’yang wika. Nakisabay na lang ako sa pagtawa n’ya. Mag-ama nga sila ni Styyx parehong loko.

“Nah, Styyx will just help me on sorting some things out,” I explained. Sandali s’yang natigilan ngunit ang mapagbirong mga ngiti ay nanatili sa kan’yang labi.

“Aba e ganoon ba? Akala ko nama’y ganoon na. Wait when will be your wedding hija?” Ngayon ay ako na naman ang natigilan sa tanong n’ya. Hindi pa namin ito napag-uusapan ni Styyx and he’s not mentioning about it too.

“Perhaps if everything is settled and at peace na,” tanging naisagot ko na lang.

“That would take a while, but somehow it’s a good idea. Settling everything and having everything at peace before walking in the aisle right hija?” I nodded in his words.

“Yes po papa, marami pa po kasi akong kailangang ayusin sa bansa,” tumango s’ya sa sinabi ko.

“Being a President isn’t that easy right?” I nodded in him. Hindi ko na nagawa pang sumagot nang bumaba na si Styyx mula sa ikalawang palapag ng bahay nila. He’s now wearing a white Lee shirt and a black sweat short.

He coilef his left arm around me, while smiling at his father. Saglit s’yang yumuko at hinalikan sa noo ang natutulog n’yang pusa.

“We’re going pa,” he bid goodbye.

Papa just nodded and smiled at us while we’re taking the way out of their house. Nang makarating kami sa bahay ay agad na akong dumiretso sa kwarto ko at naligo, iniwan ko muna s’ya sa sala kung saan pinili n’yang mamalagi.

After minutes of taking a bath I was astonished when I saw Styyx in the kitchen and cooking a dinner. As usual he’s still hot with my black apron even though he’s not wearing his uniform.

“Hi baby, I prepared something,” he greeted me with a proud look, while wiping the sweat in his forehead.

“I’m sure it’s delectable,” nakangiti kong wika sa kan’ya. Mayabang n’ya akong sinagot ng isang ngiti. Bumuntong-hininga na lang ako saka pumunta sa sampayan at kumuha ng bimpo.

Nang makabalik na ‘ko sa kusina ay nakahanda na ang lamesa. And I never expected the set-up. There’s a candle in the middle of it. Namamangha man ay pinili ko pa ring ihagis sa kan’ya ang bimpo at sinenyasan s’yang punasan ang pawis n’ya. Dahilan para tumaas ang isang kilay n’ya saka ngumuso.

“Baby I prepared a romantic dinner for us, just please be romantic too, just for a while,” he snorted. Ngumiwi na lang ako bilang sagot.

“You know it’s not my nature General, now let’s eat I’m hungry. The food looks delectable,” he snorted even more. Ngunit wala na s’yang nagawa kung hindi ang mabilis na lang akong ipaghila ng upuan, nang ipaghihila ko na sana ang sarili ko.

“You’re such an unromantic woman,” he again snorted with his voice laced with asphyxiation. Nagkibit-balikat na lang ako saka umusal ng dasal.

The romantic dinner he prepared for us didn’t go that we’ll, dahil puro bangayan lang ang nangyari.

“Here, can you find more of it for me?” Wika ko sa kan’ya matapos kong i-transfer ang encrypted files sa computer ko.

“Baby, you have an awesome collection of guns,” namamanghang sagot n’ya. Nang sulyapan ko s’ya ng tingin ay kumunot na lang ang noo ko. Kasalukuyan n’ya nang nabuksan ang sikretong lagayan ko ng baril na nakakubli sa likod ng mga libro.

“Oh thank you General,” sarkastiko kong wika.

“I’m sorry I was just curious when I saw a weird book, it has nothing written on it so I took it, and I didn’t expect that it’s a key to this. You’re intelligent baby,” he commented. Nagkibit-balikat na lamang ako. Ipinagawa ko lang naman ang lalagayan na iyon at hindi talaga ako ang umimbento.

“Let’s just get back to work General,” a menacing smile automatically crept in his face.

“What kind of work baby? I thought it will be after the wedding,” he jested still wearing  his menacing smile.

“What the hell Styyx!? Ano na naman ba’ng kalokohan ang iniisip mo?” Agad s’yang nagtaas ng kamay habang tumatawa. Seriously?

“I’m just kidding baby, you’re so hot headed. You unromantic woman,” tumatawang wika n’ya na tila nang-aasar.

“Okay that’s it. I’m serious, I’ll work on this alone you can go home now Styyx,” I kid trying to sound serious.

“Nah baby. Huwag ganyan nagbibiro lang ako. So okay let’s get back to work,” he clapped his hands and looked at me seriously. Napangisi na lang ako. Hinila niya ang isang upuan saka tumabi sa ‘kin.

“I have tracked all his recent IP addresses, and this is the result,” seryusong wika ko habang ipinapakita sa kan’ya ang file.

“Wow! You hacked his social media accounts?” Namamangha n’yang usal. Tumango ako bilang sagot.

“Akala ko ako lang ang matalino pagdating sa teknolohiya. But you’re all in a one package baby, you’re damn intelligent, and oh so gorgeous,” he uttered with a wide smile plastered on his face. I just heave a sigh as a response.

“Okay so let’s go back to the real thing Styyx,” wika n’ya sa kan’yang sarili. Napailing na lang ako. He’s very weird.

“Wait why didn’t you hack his bank accounts?” He snapped in. Nagkibit-balikat lang ako.

“Wala naman akong makukuha roon Styyx,” I answered nonchalantly. He gave me a smile, like he’s saying that I’m wrong.

“Nah, you’re wrong baby. You can check his history of withdraws and it’s amount. Somehow it can give us more leads connecting to his IP addresses,” he proudly said and started his way on hacking Mr. Perez’s bank accounts. Napatitig na lamang ako sa kan’ya. He got a point.

“Wait, isn’t it illegal?” I asked skeptically.

“Baby, illegal? You already did hack all his social media accounts and that’s already illegal. Sagarin mo na lang baby okay?” Tumatawa n’yang usal, napatango na lang ako. Pinanood ko s’yang magtitipa ng kung ano-ano at wala akong ibang naramdaman kung hindi paghanga.

Lumipas ang ilang minuto ay ganoon kabilis n’yang na-hack ang bank accounts ni Mr. Perez. Isa-isa n’yang tiningnan ang mga petsa ng withdraws nito. Sunod ay ipinaghambing n’ya ito sa mga petsa na na sa mga IP address ni Mr. Perez. I was astounded and a smile formed in my lips when one date of withdrawal did match on his IP address in Laguna. It was the same day, June 29, at 8 in the morning.

“Told yah baby,” he vigorously uttered following it a hum.

“What’s your theory in this baby?” Tanong n’ya sa ‘kin. Saglit akong nag-isip habang papalit-palit ang tingin ko sa mga datos.

“Perhaps he withdrew to pay a hit man?” Nagdadalawang isip kong wika.

“Precisely baby,” tugon n’ya.

“So that’s it “ Tumango s’ya sa sinabi ko.

“He withdrew 500,000 pesos isn’t that too much? Definitely he used it to kill Detective Chlonan,” tumango ako sa sinabi n’ya. Kung iisipin ay madali lang naman ang lahat ng itong mapagtanto.

“So what’s your next plan baby?” Nagkibit-balikat ako sa tanong n’ya. Wala pa akong nakahandang susunod na plano. Ngunit nang muling sumagi sa isip ko ang huling sinabi ni Detective Chlonan ay naisipan kong hanapin ang naturang pasilidad na sinabi ni Detective Chlonan.

“I need to find the Wolf’s cave,” I firmly said while my eyes are locked at the computer’s monitor.

“You can still count me on that one baby,” I smiled in his words.

“Salamat,” his lips pursed and stole a smack on my lips.

“Always for my fiancé...” Nakangiti n’yang wika. I stare at his emerald eyes for a second, and again I can’t help but to feel admiration for it. His emerald eyes are the most beautiful thing my eyes  can ever see. It’s hypnotic and tranquilizing.

“Let’s call it a night baby,” I gave him a peck on his right cheek.

“The night is just about to begin baby. I can’t live this room without completing it,” he jested with a menacing smile. Mahina ko na lang siyang nasuntok sa kan’yang balikat. What a green statement!

“Matulog ka na Heneral!” Naiiling kong wika sabay hagis ng unan sa mukha n’ya. Ngunit ang gago ay tinawanan lamang ako.

“As usual the unromantic woman is still hot headed. Wait, bakit hindi na lang tayo magtabi? I wanna sleep with you baby,” pinanlakihan ko s’ya ng mata dahil sa sinabi n’ya.

“No! What I mean is I want to literally sleep with you. I wanna hug you while sleeping,” he snorted. Ngunit hindi ako nagpadala sa kan’ya.

“The guest room is 40 meters away from my room General,” I answered nonchalantly. Bumuntong-hininga s’ya saka tumayo.

“Whatever baby, just sleep tight,” he gently said. Inihiga n’ya ako sa sarili kong kama saka ako kinumutan na para bang isa akong bata na pinapatulog n’ya. Naiiling na lamang ako sa kan’ya. But somehow I find it sweet.

“I love you so much baby. Good night dream of me,” he gently said and planted a kiss on my forehead.

“I do too baby, good night,” wika ko bago pa man s’ya tuluyang makalabas sa kwarto ko at isara ang ilaw.

“’Nay, ‘tay, Mr. Guanzon, and Detective Chlonan. I promise, I will give the justice that each of you deserves, just hang on there. I will still fight and survive in this.” Marahan kong wika habang unti-unting ibinababa ang talukap ng mga mata ko.

On the morrow, I woke up by the sound of my alarm clock. I stretched my body while I’m still lying down on my bed. It was followed with my yawn.

I was about to land my feet on the floor when I saw Styyx lying on it. He was asleep with his face facing my direction. Napangisi na lang ako habang umiiling-iling. Ano nga ba ang aasahan ko sa isang Heneral na may berdeng mga mata? Malamang ay hindi n’ya matitiis ang hindi gawin ang gusto n’ya.

He used the bedsheet as his bed. I carefully folded my knees to reach for his peaceful face and to gently caress it. Gamit ang hintuturo ko ay dinama ko ang tangos ng ilong n’ya. He’s perfect.

If everyone says that there’s no one born perfect, then maybe he's the first to be. Matalino, gwapo, at mabait saan pa nga ba ako makakahanap ng lalakeng katulad niya? But I still can’t deny the fact he got his own flaws too. Well, all human has. But in my sight, he’s perfect. Napaka-perpekto n’ya na hindi ko na magagawang humiling pa ng kung ano.

Nagulat ako nang bigla na lang tumunog ang telepono na katabi n’ya lang. Hindi ko sana ito gagalawin ngunit naririndi ako sa ingay nito, ngunit sa kabila nito ay kahanga-hangang hindi pa rin nagigising ang Heneral. Marahil ay napasarap ang tulog n’ya.

Maingat ko itong kinuha at binuksan. Ngunit kusang kumunot ang noo ko matapos makita ang wallpaper nito, pero kalauna’y napangiti rin ako. It was my picture sleeping, I think he took this last night.

Pinatay ko na ang alarm n’ya saka ko muling maingat na inilagay ang telepono n’ya sa tabi n’ya. I glanced at my wristwatch. It’s already 4:47 in the morning. Muli kong tinitigan ang natutulog at payapa n’yang mukha. I don’t want to wake him up, but he needs to, he have work. I heave a sigh before taking my path downward to the kitchen.

I prepared a coffee for him and a pancake. Nang matapos ito ay muli akong naglakad papasok sa kwarto, at nadatnan ko s’yang natutulog pa rin. Huminga ako nang maluwag saka ko inilagay ang pagkain sa tabi n’ya. I stare at his face for a while before kissing his closed eyes.

“Wake up baby,” I gently said.

“Styyx gising na,” muli kong sambit kasabay nang paghalik ko sa isang mata n’ya. Ilang sandali lang ay iminulat na n’ya ang mga mata n’ya, kasabay ng pagsilay ng isang pilyong ngisi.

“Hmm... I thought I was dreaming,” nakangising usal n’ya. Marahan ko s’yang hinampas sa dibdib n’ya.

“Yes you are, so wake up,” I joked.

“Oh? If this is a dream then I don’t want to wake up baby. Kailan nga ba darating ang panahon na palagi akong gigising sa isang umagang ganito?” I don’t know if he’s asking me, so I just remained silent.

“Having those kisses on my eyes from my wife, and waking me up in a very magnificent morning. Isn’t that beautiful baby?” He said sweetly. Tumango na lang ako sa kan’ya. I know Styyx wants us to have our wedding’s exact date. Ngunit alam ko ring kilala n’ya ako, at ang lahat nang pinagdadaanan ko. I know that he understands me and my situation.

Right now I can’t settle down into marriage yet, like what I’ve said to papa. I need everything to be settled and at peace first.

“You brought your uniform? Just go take a bath in the guest room and eat these,” I said while gesturing the food beside him. I refused to answer his question. I don’t want to augment his fantasies and excite him more.

“Alright,” buntong-hininga n’yang wika. Tinupi n’ya muna ang hinigaan n’ya at bago pa man lumabas ay ginawaran n’ya ‘ko ng isang halik sa noo.

Hinayaan ko ang sarili kong damahin ang lagaslas ng tubig sa katawan ko. Kung ako ang tatanungin ay kagaya n’ya, gusto kong gumising sa isang umaga na s’ya ang katabi. I want to be with him everyday. I want to give him good night and good morning kisses. I want to wake him up everyday for his work, like what a typical wife do.

But then again, now isn’t the right time yet. I sworn and ought to serve my country first before everything. It will always come first. At sa estado ngayon ng bansa? Malabong makagawa pa ako ng isang bagay para sa sarili ko.

People are still suffering in adversity. Justice isn’t serve yet. And peace is still an outcast. Kaya’t saan ko pa ilalagay ang sarili ko? I need to settle my country first and accomplish my mission.

Being a President is hectic. Whereas when you’re a President you should always be selfless for the sake of your people and your country.

Selfless enough to temporarily forget the thing about our engagement...

|End of chapter 36|
•Please don't forget to vote and comment <3•