No Time to Die

Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Stay

I never really paid attention before. Noong nalaman ko na Cortell si Colton, agad na kaaway ang tingin ko sa kanya. I never cared how he looks. I never cared how he is as a person, other than a Cortell heir I needed to get rid of. And even if I let go of that idea, I never looked at him as a friend. More so, family.

Now all I can see is how much he took after our Dad. Their deep set eyes are very similar. While I look so much like Mom, Colton is very much like Dad. The way they stare, the way they think and the way they speak... They are so alike.

"Growing up, the Cortells didn't really keep my real identity a secret. At six years old, no, maybe five, I already know I'm from a different family. And... I was a curious kid. I wanted to know my roots and the only remaining family I have. That's you, Nyssa. You're the only family I have left."

Nanatili lang akong nakatingin kay Colton.

I was in shock when he said we're siblings. I isolated myself trying to process everything. I thought I managed to do that. Pero ngayon na kaharap ko ang kapatid, pinaghalong gulat at mangha pa rin ang nangingibabaw sa akin.

"The Cortells poured resources to have surveillance on you because I asked."

"And answered your request, they did," I replied, remembering that Aiden told me that once.

"I grew up knowing a lot of things about you. And I... I lose my mind every time I hear that you almost died in missions. Ang daming beses mong muntik mamatay. I don't want another dead family member, Nyssa." Colton's voice almost cracked.

Umawang ang labi ko sa gulat at pakiramdam ko, sinaksak ako dahil sa narinig.

I'm not an emotional person. Or if I am one, all I have is hate. I never turned soft for anyone or anything. Paano mangyayari iyon e bata pa lang, malupit na sa akin ang buhay. Life forced me to be hard to the point that it takes a lot to break me.

But this... Just knowing that Colton is scared to lose me, I want to hug him and assure him that it's fine. Hindi pa ako mamamatay. At na simula ngayon, may masasandalan na siyang pamilya. From now on, he'll have protection from me. No harm will ever come to him because I will never allow it. No one can ever touch him. Papatayin ko ang magdadala ng pahamak sa kapatid ko.

"You don't know how hard it was to keep this from you. The first time I saw you, I wanted to tell you already. But Aiden told me not to. Sabi niya, kapag ginawa ko 'yon, walang pasubali mo akong papatayin. I'd like to believe otherwise but he knows better. I had no choice but to oblige."

I nodded, taking in every word that my brother had to say. Hindi nga nagkakamali si Aiden. I'm not easily convinced. If Colton told me upfront that we're siblings, all while knowing that I think it was his family who killed my family, I probably would have hurt him until he took it back.

That would be something I'll regret for the rest of my life. Kaya sa tingin ko, hindi rin masama na nilihim niya ang katotohanan.

"Colton," I called.

"Yeah?" he said. I feel like a warm hand touched my heart with the way he looks at me. Puno iyon ng adorasyon at respeto para sa akin.

I cleared my throat to prevent my voice from cracking.

"I'm sorry... For everything."

Bahagya siyang nagulat sa sinabi ko.

"I'm sorry that I failed to protect our parents and... your twin. I'm sorry that I initially thought you were an enemy. I'm sorry for not knowing you're alive all this time, for not being there while you grow up and for not setting the best example as a person..."