Wrath of the Blazing Sun (Isla del Tesoro #3)

26

26

Give Me An Answer

"Where's Lolo?" Was the immediate thing I prioritized after landing in Manila and making my way to the hospital.

Every minute, Xenon would be calling me. I'd be bawling my eyes out on him while he does his best to calm me down. Ganon ang nangyari habang nasa byahe ako papunta rito.

[He'll be fine, Flaire... Nothing bad will happen. You should calm down and save your energy for later when you see him...] He reminded me.

"I can't, Xenon... I'm so scared. I'm pressured, anxious... Everything!" Pag-iyak ko sa kaniya.

[I should've come with you, hmm?] Bulong niya. Proving me wrong and him right.

Although even if he wanted to, he still respects my choice. Hindi iyan pupunta rito. But if he does... I'd still welcome him.

Ruce was the one who welcomed my sight at the hospital. May mga nakapalibot sa aking bantay magmula nang makalapag ako. I guess it's his doing.

But they can't even get to my line of sight. I was too focused on the problem that the only thing that matters is that I talk to Ruce immediately to get to Lolo. Hindi ko man lang sila mapansin.

"Flaire, he just woke up-" He looked unorganized. Not very Ruce like.

"What happened?" The emotions were visible in my voice. I'm hurt, stressed, and angry.

Ruce took a deep breath. Hinilamos ang palad sa mukha bago ako sinagot. Like me, he was deeply frustrated as well. "Lolo got in trouble. We were attacked, he was the target. And now, he was hospitalized..."

"Why? I thought we were laying low?"

"No matter how low and hidden, there's still people who may uncover us. They want him down to break our mafia, Flaire. Ours is different from others at dahil don, mas naging target tayo. Because of us destroying other mafia's plans, uminit ang pangalan natin sa mundong iyon. The reason why even before, we were always more of a favorite as targets."

I held my temple. "I need to talk to him..."

"Be gentle with him. He's still weak."

"But is he okay?" I asked again.

He nodded. That was all I needed to know.

Walang sabi-sabi, mabilis akong pumasok sa kwarto ni Lolo. Nakasunod sa akin si Ruce. Even if I wanted him out, he won't let Lolo be alone with me now. He knew how reckless I can be. I know that as well.

I saw my Lolo, sitting on the bed. Reading a book.

He looked so chill when I'm right here, on the verge of collapsing.

"What the..." I couldn't finish.

"Don't curse." Ruce intervene. Inirapan ko siya.

Lolo glanced at us. Before I could say anything more, he beat me to it.

"Before you freak out, yes I'm fine. But my body still hurts because of how they attacked me in the car. So here I am, chilling and doing my best to not look hurt, okay? Don't panic, kids." He specifically looked at me. "Don't be angry, Ruby."

I was controlling my emotions as I walked towards him. My eyes are red. "What... happened?"

"Problems, problems, problems..." He answered as if it was nothing. He's trying to make the atmosphere lighter but I wasn't having it.

"Please don't joke about this..." My jaw clenched. I could feel Ruce alerted behind me. He was preparing to calm me down if I ever went crazy to Lolo.

Lolo sighed. Ruce as well. However, I remained seething with frustration.