Reigning Battle Beyond Greed

Chapter 23

"Coffee..." alok ni Tan nang tabihan niya ako.

Tinanggap ko iyon. "Thanks."

Nagawan niya ng paraan kung paanong maililigaw ang body guard ko. Nasa veranda kami ng beach house niya, nakatanaw sa malawak at asul na dagat.

Hapon na nang makarating kami sa Sual, Pangasinan. He has a two-storey house near Masamirey beach.

Beach has negative ions that helps you calm down. It proves to relax and refresh senses. Iyon ang paliwanag niya kung bakit niya ako dinala doon.

"You can stay here as long as you want. I'll ask someone to check on Jj."

Tumango lang ako bago humigop ng kape at pinagsawa ang mata sa magandang tanawin. Kampante naman ako na hindi siya pababayaan nina Mama Claire.

Nakaka-relax nga ang dagat. Just by looking at it, pakiramdam ko ay malayo ako sa problema at stress.

It's a perfect get-away sa mga taong gustong takasan ang problema pansamantala. Call it selfish, but I can't take it anymore. I need some space. Kahit sandali lang. I pomised Jj to be back as soon as I feel okay.

"Kaya pa? You can surrender, you know. I'm here, lean on me."

"Papahinga lang ako. Then, game ulit. It was pretty tiring pretending to be strong and powerful." Malungkot kong pahayag.

When all I wanna do is cuddle a stuff toy at night. Wake up and enjoy a normal school the next day. Talk with Maicah about some crushes at night. Kaso hindi pwede eh.

Because it will never be the same again. Iyon ang mapait na katotohanan. Hangga't hindi pa nagigising si Maicah, we can never go back to the simple life we used to have.

Yong walang body guard 24/7. Yong hindi mo aalalahanin kung may paparazzi o panganib sa paligid. At mas lalong hindi mo proproblemahin ang susuotin, ang ayos at kung paano ka makikitungo sa mga taong nasa paligid mo.

"Sure ka?"

Tumango ako. "There's no turning back. This is my choice."

"I'm always at your back. Remember that."

"Thanks. But if you're doing this again dahil sa kasalanan ng mga magulang mo, I've already accepted what happened. Your parents mistake isn't your fault."

His family own one of the leading cargo ship company in the country. Nagkaroon ng aberya sa isang ship nila noon. It was because the management let the ship operate kahit overloading na at hindi inaasahan ang pag-ulan nang malakas sa laot. Libo-libo ang namatay. That includes my parents.

But his parents has cleared their name out of the controversy. Money speaks power in the justice system. Nagkasya na lang ang kompanya na bayaran ang pamilya ng bawat pasaherong namatay. I refused to accept the bribe. Walang katumbas na pera ang buhay ng mga magulang ko.

Ngunit dahil nagipit, nawalan ng choice si Ate kung hindi tanggapin iyon. Or else magugutom kami. First year pa lang siya ng college noon. At ako naman ay nasa junior highschool pa lang.

Then one day, Tan came. He introduced himself as the heir of the Bermudez shipping company. Hindi niya iyon itinago.

"It was my parents' fault. But I can't help it. I felt the need to care for you. You know I love you." Marahan niyang pahayag. He's been an honest friend, worthy of my trust.

That's why, there's nothing I can do to return the favor but to be very honest as well.

"I love you too." Seryoso kong pahayag pagkatapos ay ngumiti. "You're the brother I could ask for, couz." Biro ko.