Kryptonited ✔ (Alpha Sigma Omicron #3)

21. The Dose Makes the Poison

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

"How are you, cousin? I haven't heard from you in a while." Phoenix asked, nakapatong ang paa nito sa desk. He was wearing formal attire. Ngayon ko lang itong nakitang pormal na pormal ang suot.

Dinalaw ko ang lalaki sa kanyang kompanya, he has that share of wealth from the bloodline. Wala naman akong pakialam sa pera ng pamilya mula pa noon. Ni hindi ko ginalaw sa bangko ang perang naka-transfer sa pangalan ko galing kay daddy. Lalo pa ngayon, I could grasp the life my father had before and it was terrible.

It was funny that months ago, I had no idea Phoenix existed. Nakilala ko lang ito nang dumalo ako sa kanyang one in a lifetime seminar and I knew him in one painting. His painting of Tamara Mashalah. It was quite obvious that we descended from the same ancestors.

"Our people were ready for a bloody rescue operation when you were abducted." He smirked. "The power of stupid love. I can't believe, they let you go like that."

I swallowed. "Do you know what will h-happen to h-him?" My heart pounded fast.

"To who?" Lumawak ang ngisi nito at pinagkrus ang kanyang braso sa dibdib.

Bahagya akong nakaramdam ng pagkainis. Alam niya ang tinutukoy ko, nagmamaang-maangan pa ang lalaki. Pumantay ang linya ng labi ko.

"Kay Zak," Huminga ako nang malalim. "A-anong m-mangyayari sa kanya?"

"He's probably as good as dead by now," walang pakundangang sagot ni Phoenix. Umayos ito ng upo at pinaglaruan ang ballpen. "Aren't you happy? You served justice to the family like a true Salvatore. One man down. Your father must be proud."

Her mother and my father were siblings. Hindi ko ito nalaman noon, hindi ko naman nakita kahit isang beses ang kapatid ni daddy. Wala akong ideyang mayroon itong kapatid. That explained why Phoenix wasn't using Salvatore. Trevino was his father's surname.

"We should stop," I told him in the eye.

Tumigil ang pag-inog ng ballpen sa kanyang kamay. Humarap sa akin ang binata at tinitigan akong mabuti. His eyes were deadly, at kung ibang tao ang kaharap nito baka manginig na sa takot. Pero hindi ako, mas takot pa ako kay ate Reign at sa tsinelas ni Manang noon. Maybe, because we were cousins and that stare wouldn't effect on me.

"I knew it," He whispered to himself. "You fell with him in your own trap. You caught some stupid feelings." Nagsalubong ang kanyang kilay. He gritted his teeth. "Why would I stop now? I can taste their sweetest downfall in my mouth already. There's nothing more pleasant in my eyes than see them bleed."

"It's a cycle," sinabi ko. Ang bilis ng tibok ng aking puso, my emotions were through the roof. "Hindi ka ba mapapagod sa ganitong sitwasyon? It's an endless cycle! Paulit - ulit na lang! You attack, they retaliate! Maraming inosente ang nadadamay." For once, my voice was firm.

Sumasagi sa isipan ko ang letter ni mommy. She was one of the innocent souls that were caught in the middle of their war and suffered. Sigurado akong hindi lang siya ang nadamay sa kaguluhan nila. It has to end.

Tumingin siya sa aking parang nababaliw na ako nang tuluyan. Phoenix laughed. It sounded crazy. Napatayo ito mula sa pagkakaupo. Pinasadahan niya ang buhok ng kanyang kamay.

"Do you hear yourself, Rainbow?" tanong nito ng may diin. "Do you hear yourself? Do you remember how Tamara suffered in the hands of those men? How our family suffered because of their greedy acts? And just because you fucking fell for the trap, you would forget it all?"

"And are you any better?" Tumayo rin ako. Wala nang dahilan para manatili akong nakaupo sa visitor's chair. "They weren't the only people who suffered! My mother suffered in my father's territory just like Tamara! You aren't any better. I am not any better. We were not the good guys either, we were just a toy in their play! And the more we play, the more we lose."