Don't Mess with Numero Trece (PDN Series #1)

DMWNT 23

DMWNT 23: The Day He Fell

[Calyx]

"You look worried." Lumapit si Rijjah sa akin at mahinang tinampal ang noo ko. "You know I hate it when you furrow your brows like that."

"I can't help it," sagot ko sabay hila sa kan'ya papunta sa kandungan ko. Kapag nandirito ako sa St.Benedict ay naglalagi siya sa dorm room ko para daw masulit ang oras na makasama niya ako. Si Jah ang pahinga ko sa panahong kagaya nito. Without her, I would have broke with the constant pressure of being a Lazarus.

I buried my face in the crook of her neck and sighed. "I need to go, Caspian wants to talk to me."

Tinawagan ako ng kapatid ko kaninang umaga, gusto niya raw akong kausapin. Alam kong tungkol sa misyon niya ang pag-uusapan namin. Dalawang araw nalang kasi bago ang tournament, lahat ng mga dadalo ay naimbitahan na, naihanda na rin ang gym na gagamitin.

Rijjah cupped my face and looked at me gently with her dark eyes. "Hindi ko alam kung gaano kabigat ang mga dinadala mo. But always know that I'm here for you. Always, Cal."

"I know, Jah." Nginitian ko siya at hinalikan sa mga labi bago ako nagpaalam at lumabas.

Makaraan ang humigit-kumulang limang minuto ay nasa likod na ako ng main building. May maliit na upuan doon, walang ibang tao, at tahimik kaya perpektong lugar para magkausap kami ni Cas.

"Kanina ka pa?" Tanong ko bago naupo sa tabi niya.

He nodded. Caspian always looks guarded when he talks to me. I suppose because I seem to always bring out the worst in him.

"Talk," I said curtly, my gaze on the patch of grass in front of me.

"Trece Cleverine is all yours."

Nagtagis ang mga bagang ko dahil sa sinabi niya. Nakikinita ko nang mangyayari 'to pero nandoon pa rin ang katiting na pag-asa na tatapusin ni Cas ang trabahong binigay ni papa sa kan'ya. Father won't like this.

"Did your plan fail?" I smiled darkly. "Or did you even execute your plan properly?"

Tumayo siya, hudyat na tinatapos niya na ang usapan. "That's none of your business. I'll stay out of your way so you can finish the job."

"This was supposed to be your job, Cas."

He smiled wryly. "Ayaw mo no'n? You finish the job, you get father's praise, and then who knows? Maybe he'll let you lead TOCE after him."

I flexed my fingers, trying to control my temper. I want to beat the crap out of him. He always thinks it's as easy as saying 'I want out' and he expects everything will be fine.

Of course everything will be fine because Calyx is there to finish it. Calyx always finishes the job. Tangina lang.

Tumayo ako. "Maybe if you get the job done, maybe you'll also get father's praise."

"I don't need his praise. I just want to stop feeling like I owe you," matigas niyang pahayag.

I sighed and smiled faintly. "I had high hopes for you this time, Cas. But just like before you keep disappointing me."

Iniwan ko na siya roon. Kailangan kong ipaalam sa iba ang plano, at ang pinakaunang kailangan kong kausapin ay ang sentro ng lahat ng kaganapang ito.

Trece Cleverine.

Habang naglalakad ay iniisip ko din kung ano ang sasabihin kay Papa. He had asked for a report about what Caspian is up to.

Caspian must think that I love being father's lap dog. I laughed drily, remembering how many times I received father's whip in his place.

_
Report
09/05/20

To: Lazarus, Carlos

Your younger son is doing well, father. He set up the first part of the operation. I will finish the rest with his assistance.

From: Lazarus, Calyx
_

[Caspian]

"...just like before you keep disappointing me."

Hindi pa rin iyon mawaglit sa isip ko nang iwan ako ni Calyx halos limang minuto na ang nakalilipas. Nanatili ako sa pwesto ko, wala sa loob na nakatingin sa kawalan.

I was fourteen when I was first allowed to take on a mission.

Assistant ako noon ni Calyx. Ang misyon ay tuluyang iligpit ang lalaking kalaban sa negosyo ng pamilya. I was green but my skills could par with the organization's best men. It was supposed to be my debut in the underground society.

I had a clear shot. The man was down, all I had to do was to shoot him. But I hesitated for a second.

Those mere seconds were enough to turn the situation against me.

I was supposed to die that day.

But Calyx took the bullet.

He was hit on the shoulder and the target escaped.

That night, as I watched Calyx on the hospital bed, shocked and afraid, Calyx looked at me calmly.

He looked calm even when father stormed inside and asked for a full report. I was dismissed but I knew I was in trouble. My father would be angry with me.

Kaya nakinig ako sa pag-uusap nila sa labas ng pintuan.

Wala akong gaanong maintindihan ngunit hanggang ngayon ay naalala ko pa rin ang sunod na nangyari sa loob ng silid na 'yun.

"It was my fault, father. I missed the target."

That's what Calyx told our father. Pagkatapos niyon ang tanging narinig ko ay ang tunog ng sinturon, ang paglatay nito sa balat, at ang miminsang daing ng kapatid ko.

He was wounded. He had wires attached to him but he was still whipped. That's the kind of father Carlos Lazarus was.

Ako dapat 'yun.

'Bakit kailangan niyang akuin ang kasalanan ko?' 'Yan ang laman ng utak ko nang muli ko siyang harapin ilang oras matapos umalis si Papa.

Calyx had looked at me calmly again. Tila ba walang iniindang sakit. He told me one thing that I was forced to remember for the rest of my life.

"This is what happens when you fail, Cas. Don't fail again."

Ilang beses kong sinabi sa sarili ko na wala akong mukhang maihaharap sa kanya kapag muli akong nabigo.

Pero binigo ko na naman siya. It was like seeing him take a bullet for me all over again.

I really wanted to make it right this time. I had set out to break Trece's defenses, and yet it was her who managed to break through mine.

Hindi ko sinasadyang magkaroon ng katotohanan ang lahat ng kasinungalingang sana ay bitag para sa kan'ya. Hindi ko sinasadyang mapansin ang mga bagay na dapat ay hindi ko na pinansin.

Just like how she twitches her brows when she's confused or irritated.

I didn't mean to notice how she continues slurping her chuckie even when it's already empty.

I didn't mean to remember the small things like how she puts her nose really close to a book when she's trying to focus, or how freakishly she organizes her things in the CR, or how she could just stare at me directly and say the most embarrassing confessions.

I don't know why but I can't bring myself to hurt her. That would have to be my brother's job.

Sorry for failing you again, Calyx. But this time I'm going to face the consequences of my actions.

I need to speak with my father. Ibig sabihin ay kailangan kong umuwi sa lalong madaling panahon at alam ko na sa oras na bumalik ako sa St. Benedict, maisasakatuparan na ni Calyx kung ano man ang plano niya at matutuldukan na rin kung ano man ang meron sa aming dalawa ni Trece.

It's the end of the show.