DS #4: Our Bloody Life

Kabanata 35

"Papasok na ako. They will get this earpiece kapag nakita nila," I said. I opened the unlock door. Inabot kami ng ilang oras bago makita ang maliit na farm na 'to. There are barns and I don't know where they are. I don't see anyone here.

"Deretso ka lang. Nandito lang kami," sagot sa 'kin ni Tom. I got Tom and Rio with me. If you will ask where Nero is. Don Manuel punished him and put in a cell. Babalikan ko siya. I clenched my fist.

Tanging buwan lang ang nagbigay ng ilaw sa lugar. Pumintig ang tenga ko matapos makarinig ng kaluskos. There's someone approaching me with firearm with them. Huminto silang dalawa sa harapan ko.

Nagkasukatan kami ng tingin, "Itaas mo ang mga kamay mo," utos ng lalaking merong sigarilyo sa gitna ng mga labi niya. Gumalaw ang panga ko. I raised my both hands, "Umikot ka," dagdag niya. The other man touched my body. Kinuha niya ang dalawang baril na nasa beywang ko.

Hindi nakaiwas ang earpiece ko at isang kutsilyo ko. Pagkatapos nilang kunin lahat ng gamit ay pinasunod nila ako sa kanila.

"Sumunod ka," aniya. I walked with them. I wandered my eyes, natigilan ako nang makatapak sa basang bahagi ng daan. I pulled up my feet. Napatakip ako ng ilong sa naamoy. F*ck! Ihi ata 'to. I wanna puke.

"Bilisan mo!"

Bumalik ako sa sarili at ipinagsawalang bahala ang naapakan ko. We walked until the last barn. I saw a small fire in between us. Israel at the other side. We looked at each other. Tumango siya sa 'kin at nakataas ang ilang papel na nasa kamay niya. He smirked and spit out his gum.

"Nasaan si Pri?" tanong ko sa kaniya. Lumingon siya sa kaniyang likuran. Lumabas ang dalawang kasamahan niya habang hawak ang si Pri ng mahigpit. Nakatikom ang bibig niya dahil sa busal at hindi makakita dahil sa piring sa kaniyang mga mata. She's trying to take their hands off from her, "Take off the cloth in her mouth and eyes. I'll sign the papers," sabi ko.

"Hmmmppp! Hmmppp!" she's trying to tell me something. I wanna get her and hide her from behind so I could keep her safe, pero hindi puwedi hangga't hindi ko napi-permahan ang papeles.

"Sige, tanggalin niyo," anito.

The first time our eyes met, I saw how scared she is. Napayukom ang kamao ko. Umiling siya sa 'kin, nangilid ang mga luha niya.

"No, Pri. Don't cry, it's f-fine," nabasag ang boses ko. She looked helpless, I worried how this will affect her, "I lived more than 20 years without this company in me," I added. An aches started inside my stomach. Dumaan ang kirot sa puso ko.

I can't sacrifice her because of the company I don't know how to operate.

"He wanted me to give the company in him," I said, crying. Crying in front of Don Manuel isn't in my vocabulary. I lived my whole life without crying.

He patted my shoulder, "He wanted you to choose over company or your loved one, Cholo." He sighed heavily. Lalong sumikip ang dibdib ko, "What will you choose? The present or the past that came back to the present?" he asked.

"But that is your dad's company, Cholo!" she shouted. Her tears fell, how I wish I could wipe that off.

"You said, I am selfish, right? Yes I am!" I answered her, "I will always choose you no matter what." Napahikbi siya. Binigyan ko siya ng isang tipid na ngiti. Sobrang bilis ng iling niya.

"Tama na ang drama, baka maiyak kami sa inyo," sagot ni Israel. I wiped my tears. They all bark into laughter. It's fine. I sniffed. Huminga ako ng malalim.

"After this, we are all done, Israel. No touching, I won't disturbed your life and you will too," matigas kong sambit. Kahit na alam kong malabo itong mangyari sa kagaya niyang kriminal.