Never Die

#03

I'm cooking breakfast. It's past eight in the morning. Hindi gaano mainit ang araw. Nasa pangatlong itlog na ko ng priniprito ay may narinig akong yabag.

"Oizys?" Rinig kong tawag nya. I didn't glance at him. Tinuloy ko ang ginagawa ko at sumenyas sa kanya para umupo. He obeyed me like a child.

Tinapos ko ang gawain ko at umupo na kaharap nya.

"Eat." I command. Kumain naman kahit kita kong pangiwi ngiwi sya. Nasasaktan siguro sya dahil sa mga sugat nya. Matiwasay at tahimik naming tinapos ang pagkain. Nag hugas muna ako ng plato habang pinaupo ko sya sa may sala.

"The Apostle did that to you." That's not a question, it is a statement. Pagkaupo ko palang ay yan agad ang sinalubong ko.

Lumikot ang mata nya. Iniwas sa mapanuri kong tingin.

"S-Sorry for the trouble.." Hindi nya pinansin ang sinabi ko. He diverted into different topic.

"Why did they do that? Anong ginawa mo sa Apostle para patayin ka sa bugbog?"

He hardly breathe. "Alam na nila na hindi ko na sinusunod ang gusto nila. They just punished me." Maikling tugon nya.

"By barely killing you? Halatang may malaki kang kasalanan kaya ka pinabugbog nang tauhan nya. Tell me, is this about.." I cutted my words.

Lumikot ang mata nya. Kumibot ang labi habang hindi mapakali sa upuan. I crossed my arms in my chest. Waiting for his answer.

"T-They want to kill you.." Nahihirapang saad nya. Napaayos ako ng upo.

"I heard him instructing his men to kill you. Nagpakita ako. Sinabi ko na wag ka nang idamay dahil inosente ka at walang alam." Napapikit sya nang mariin bago tignan ako ng matiim sa mata.

"I know that somethings going on with the Apostle and you. I feel you somehow connected. Simula ng sabihan mo ko mag halungkat ng impormasyon tungkol sa kanila ay nanganganib na ang buhay mo."

"You didn't know me.." Yun lang ang lumabas sa bibig ko. Bahagyang lumaki ang mata sa akin. He stared at me like a curious child.

"So why did you do that, Richie Mabini?" I ask him. His lips slightly rose. Giving me a unknown smile.

"Because you're Oizys Liwayway. A girl that has something in her."

The day went on. Mabini still in here to keep his bruises heal. I'm on another side was planning and concluding something in my head.

Tinignan ko ang litrato na hawak ko. A girl with expressive almond raven eyes wearing a emerald bodycon mini dress. Her body is glittering with expensive jewels. Her hair messy with a bun. She sophisticated standing and touching a wine glass. Kuha mismo sa isang party.

It was Vyin Andolong. Why is my father connected to her? Anong utang ang kailangan bayaran namin para isa isa kaming tapusin. My father isn't saint. He did bad things. Kaya malalim ang kasalanan nya para gawin sa amin ito.

Tinignan ko ang isang burner phone. Kinuha ko ito sa gamit ng tatay ko at alam ko na isa ito sa paraan para makausap ang boss nila. Natatakot ako pero hindi ko papakain ang sarili ko sa takot. I'm giving them justice that we deserve for years and I'm giving them, my own kind of justice.

Pinindot ko ang kaisa isang number na nandoon. It take minutes until the ring stops. I heard someone breath.

"This is not Helio Liwayway, Am I right? Because Helio is few weeks dead." Hinigpitan ko ang kapit sa hawak hawak ko nang may marinig akong malalim na boses ng lalaki.

I cleared the lump on my throat. "This is his daughter." I heard his laugh. It has humored in it.

"Oh I see. What can I do for Helio's daughter?"