Pearl Of The East | ✓

Chapter 44

That’s the thing about terrorists.

Hindi lang sila iyong mga taong na sa mga bulubunduking lugar. Dahil minsan, sila iyong mga taong may malakas na koneksyon. Mga taong may katayuan sa buhay at lipunan.

Perez is the damn founder of the terrorists’ group PPA. And that means, that Leopoldo Bato-bato lied to me. However that doesn’t matter to me anymore, as long as I know that he’s trying to build his life again.

Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na napakalapit lang pala sa ‘kin ng hustisya. Hindi ko inaakalang na sa isang tao lang pala ang lahat ng hustisyang hinihingi ko.

“Eury are you okay?” Tanong sa ‘kin ni M habang nakaratay s’ya sa isang hospital bed. Ngumiti ako sa kan’ya sabay iling.

“I should be the one asking that to you M,” she smiled at me. We’re fortunate that we are able to defeat and held Perez’ group in captivity, with the help of our individual intelligence and skills.

“I’m sorry again M for bringing you into this, nadamay pa kayo sa gulo ko,” I uttered apologetically.

“C’mon Eury we’re both into this. We’re family, gulo mo, gulo rin namin okay?” Ngumiti ako sa sinabi n’ya.

“O s’ya umalis ka na anong oras na o. You still have work right? Now go I’m fine, “ she gave me a reassuring smile. I glanced at my wristwatch and it’s already seven in the morning. Wala pa akong tulog at hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin tumitila ang ulan at malakas pa rin ang ihip ng hangin. Tumango na lang ako kay M saka ngumiti bago lumabas sa kwarto n’ya.

I edged my way towards mang Erwin’s room to check on him and I found him sleeping peacefully. So I just averted my way and walk towards the room which I never want to be inside with.

“Baby where are you going?” Agad na tanong sa ‘kin ni Styyx nang magkasalubong kami. He’s carrying a box of coffee and some pancake, he handed me some but I just signalled him to put it beside and I’ll eat it later.

Hanggang ngayon ay bantay sarado n’ya pa rin ako, matapos kong basagin ang mukha ng hayop na Perez. Kung hindi lang sana sila nakialam ay baka napatay ko na ang hayop.

“I’m going to check on him,” I answered nonchalantly.

“But—“ agad ko nang pinutol ang sasabihin n’ya. Alam kong tututol na naman s’ya.

“I’m not going to do anything Styyx, I just want to check on him that’s it,” bumuntong-hininga s’ya saka tumango.

“Alright I’ll come with you,” he uttered in a persuasive manner. I just nod my head on him, to cut the further words.

Sa labas pa lang ng kwarto n’ya ay may apat na armadong sundalo na ang nagbabantay.

“How is he doc?” Tanong ko sa doctor na kakalabas pa lang mula sa kwarto n’ya.

“He’s okay now ma’am. Just some blood clot in his nose, but he’s gonna be fine,” sagot nito. Naikuyom ko na lang ang kamao ko. I gave him my best fake smile. Hindi iyon ang gusto kong marinig. I want to hear that he’s dying and nothing can help him. Styyx grab my hand before I can even reach the door knob.

“You should remain calm, maliwanag?” He reminded me. I just nod my head.

“Alright let’s go baby,” he uttered. S’ya na mismo ang nagbukas ng pinto, at sa sandaling nakita ko na ang imahe n’ya na nakaratay sa hospital bed, ay matinding pagpipigil na ang ginawa ko.

I want to run our distance and shower him with endless punches. I want to see him again coughing blood with his tragically distorted face. Hanggang ngayon ay pulang-pula pa rin ang kamao ko, at nababakas pa rito ang ilang sugat na natamo ko sa pagsuntok ko sa kan’ya.

Styyx held my hand and clutch it like he’s making sure that I won’t do anything. He never let go of my hand until we finally reach the side of Perez’ bed.

Nadatnan naming tulog si Perez. Sa kaloob-looban ko ay hinihiling ko s’yang huwag ng magising o hindi kaya’y, gusto ko s’yang sakalin hanggang hindi na s’ya makahinga pa. Pero pinigilan ko pa rin ang sarili ko. Mas gugustuhin ko s’yang makitang unti-unting nanghihina at nahihirapan.

He may be put in jail after this, but I will make sure that his life inside the cell will be more than hell. I will make him feel the pain and difficulties that I’ve gone through after he massacred my family mercilessly.

“Wake up asshole, you’re not a Señorito,” matabang kong wika habang sinisipa ko ang paanan ng hospital bed n’ya. Ilang sandali lang ay ibinuka n’ya na nga ang mga mata n’ya, at diretso itong tumama sa mga mata ko.

Nagkasukatan kami ng tingin habang nagpipigil pa rin ako sa sarili ko. Ilang segundo lang ay sarkastiko s’yang humalakhak.

“Are you laughing because you’re still alive, but you will going to live a life like hell later? Or are you laughing because you know that I’m keeping a hold on myself for desiring to kill you and burn you alive? I wonder,” I answered his laugh with my best skill in sarcasm. I can feel Styyx’ hold on my hand became even tighter. It’s like he’s telling me to calm down.

“N-none of those. Let’s say I’m laughing because you’re telling me that I’m going to live a life like hell, when the mere fact is, I’m already there. I thought you’re the bravest Lieutenant and the fearless President. But what happened? Are you scared of killing me that’s why you let me live?” My teeth gritted after hearing his words.

“Oh please shut up you fvck!” Sita sa kan’ya ni Styyx.

“Weird it may sound Mr. Perez. But it’s now one of my dreams to slit that throat of yours and burn that abominable body of yours in an infinite fire like what you did to my family. But I want to see you more dying gradually and screaming in pain,” I uttered sarcastically and with vexation evident on my voice. Pagak na halakhak ang kan’yang isinagot sa ‘kin dahilan para mapahigpit ang pagkakahawak ko sa kamay ni Styyx.

“Same here Ms. President. Iyon nga lang napatay ko na ang pamilya mo,” tumatawa n’yang usal. Pilit ko pa ring pinigilan ang sarili ko at pinahaba ko ang isang pulgada kong pasensya.

“Tell me Mr. Perez. Did your brain cells migrated to your ass for you to have that very shallow reason of killing my family?” Madiing tanong ko sa kan’ya. Muli ay humalakhak siya na puno ng sarkasmo.

“Paano kung tatanungin kita sa parehong tanong Ms. President? We’re on the same side. You killed my family so I killed yours. See? We’re in a fair situation,” he uttered while chuckling yet his eyes are staring sharply at me. Dito na ako hindi nakapagpigil, at mabilis akong lumundag sa ibabaw n’ya. Agad na naglakbay ang mga kamay ko sa leeg n’ya at buong pwersa s’yang sinakal.

“Fair? I can’t see any fair in that Perez! Your men deserves to die! Are you that fool that you can’t even understand it?! My family is innocent. Damn innocent! While yours? Ang mga letse mong tao na itinuturing mo ng pamilya, they deserve what I did. For fvck’s sake! Saan sa nagnanakaw sila ng kapayapaan ang hindi mo maintindihan?” Pilit s’yang nagpumiglas mula sa pagkakasakal ko ngunit wala s’yang magawa dahil nakadagan ako sa kan’ya.

“Eury that’s enough! Shit! Baby please control your temper,” rinig ko ang bawat salita na binibigkas ni Styyx. Ngunit tila ginawa akong mangmang ng galit. Ni isa nito ay wala akong naintindihan.

“Tell me, ano ang laman ng utak mo?! Are you really that air headed fool to build such kind of organization which steals peace?! At kailan man ay hindi tayo magiging magkatulad Perez. Because I have my brain! While you? You have nothing but an organ up there, filled with air! Killing my family in such brutal way will never be fair! Fvck you Perez! Fvck you!” Buong lakas kong sigaw habang hindi ko pa rin pinapakawalan ang leeg n’ya.

Ramdam ko ang paglandas ng luha ko sa pisngi ko dahil sa labis na galit at sakit. Lalo ko pang hinigpitan ang pagkakakwelyo ko sa kan’ya, pero lalo na rin akong pinigilan ni Styyx.

“Baby please… C’mon please,” bigla na lang n’ya akong niyakap saka binuhat pababa mula sa pagkakadagan ko kay Perez.

Nagpumiglas ako pero sa pagkakataong ito ay talagang ginamit na n’ya ng lakas n’ya kaya’t sa huli ay matagumpay n’ya akong naibaba. Pero ang galit na nararamdaman ko ay hindi pa rin humuhupa.

Lalong umusbong ang galit na nararamdaman ko nang pagak na tumawa si Perez kahit pa hinahabol pa n’ya ang hininga n’ya.

Muli ko na sana s’yang susugurin upang muling sakalin, ngunit buong lakas na akong pinigilan ni Styyx. He embraced me tightly, while his back is turned from Perez’ direction, it’s like he’s guarding him from me.

“Move Styyx,” maikli ngunit puno ng awtoridad kong wika. But he didn’t move. He stayed in the same position.

“Baby I can’t. Baby, please control your temper okay? C’mon please baka mapatay mo na s’ya,” mahinahon n’yang wika.

“That’s what I exactly want to do Styyx!” I retorted. But he still didn’t move. He remained hugging me with his might while I’m still refusing.

“You promised right? You promised that you won’t do anything, so please let go na baby okay?” Mahinahon n’yang wika, ramdam ko ang tinig n’yang pilit akong pinapaintindi. Isang malalim na buntong-hininga ang pinakawalan ko bago ako tumalikod sa gawi n’ya.

Kinagat ko ang pang-ibaba kong labi upang sa pamamagitan nu’n ay makontrol ko ang galit ko. God knows how much I want to stranglr that asshole until he’ll lose his breath, but Styyx is keeping me from doing it. Perez should be thankful of that.

“I-is that all Ms. President?” Bagama’t humahangos ay nagawa pa ring magsalita ng sarkastiko si Perez.

“Can you please shut up!? You don’t know how hard it is to tame an angry woman. You should be thankful that I’m keeping you away from your death!” Styyx uttered to Perez with his voice full of irritation.

I just balled my fists and bit my lower lip even more. I don’t want to stay any longer inside the four corners of this room. It’s just kindling the already burning fire inside me.

“Let’s go Styyx,” tipid kong tawag sa kan’ya habang hindi ko pa rin sinusulyapan ng tingin ang direksyon n’ya. I heard Styyx heave a sigh of relief.

“Alright,” he answered and coiled his arm around my waist. Pinilit ko ang sarili kong muling sulyapan si Perez. Bagama’t ramdam ko pa ang pagkulo ng dugo ko, ay pinili ko na lang kontrolin ang sarili ko.

He’s a fool, and if I’ll continue exchanging some sarcastic words against him it’ll just make me look like more than a fool. I forced a menacing smile towards him.

“Live in hell asshole!”