Taste of Hell

Chapter 24

Chapter 24

I look at him confused and before I can add another words, Red stand beside him.

"I brought him here as my peace offering for what I did back there." malapad siyang ngumisi sa akin at umakbay kay Nikov. Samantalang sumama naman ang timpla ng mukha ng lalaki pero hindi naman ito nagsalita.

"What the!" Giovanni reacted. "Anong ginagawa ng lalaki na iyan dito!?" akmang susugurin ni Giovanni si Nikov pero pinigilan siya ni Felix, may pagproprotesta man sa mga mata ni Giovanni nang lumingon siya kay Felix pero hindi naman na ito pumalag.

"Let's go, boys!" tawag ni Red kila Felix at Giovanni. "Let them talk." nawala na ang ngisi sa labi ni Red at sumeryoso na ang mukha nito.

"Hey! Huwag mo kong itulak!" angal ni Giovanni ng itulak siya papalakad ni Felix na nasa likuran niya.

"Tss. Pasalamat ka nga at hindi kita binuhat." Felix snorted.

"Fuck you." angil ni Giovanni pero imbis na patulan siya ni Felix ay tuluyan na lamang siya nitong hinila paalis samantalang naiiling-iling naman na sumunod sa kanila si Red.

Pero bago iyon huminto siya at binalingan si Nikov.

"Hurt her again...and I'll break your neck....Gustaf." it doesn't sound like an empty threat. Even though Red's voice is chuckling, it is the opposite of her facial reaction.

Hindi naman kumibo si Nikov pero sa tingin ko ay nakuha nito ang gustong iparating ni Red pagkatapos nun ay umalis na ang babae.

"A-Anong ginagawa mo rito?" napaatras ako ng humakbang siya papalapit sa akin. Ngayon na kaming dalawa na lang ang naiwan pakiramdam ko ay na-corner ako at wala ng ibang matatakasan.

"I thought I'm gonna lose you." malalaking hakbang ang ginawa papunta sa akin.

"D-Don't..." pigil ko sa kaniya. "Don't come any closer...p-please." pakiusap ko. Hindi pa nga ako nakakabawi sa nalaman ko ngayong gabi pagkatapos narito sa harap ko si Nikov.

"Neva——"

"Don't call my name!" sigaw ko. "Don't call my name!" My body started trembling as soon as I remembered the last time I've met him. It was that day. When he tried to kill my father and I.

"Please."

I was bewildered when I heard his voice as if he is in deep pain.

"It wasn't me." aniya.

Tinitigan ko lang siya at hindi nagsalita.

"I was not the one who shot you...it's one of my men. But I took the blame since he works for me." paliwanag niya.

"Anong ginagawa mo rito? Ngayon na nalaman mong buhay ako, pumunta ka ba rito para patayin ako? So you could get revenge on him?" walang buhay na tanong ko sa kaniya.

Gusto kong magalit sa kaniya at sisihin siya. Iyon ang matagal ko ng gustong gawin pero ngayon na nasa harap ko na siya hindi ko na alam kung ano ba ang nararamdaman ko sa mga oras na ito.

I want him to comfort me. I want my Nikov back! But our situation is so fuck up!

"When I saw you got shot I feel like my world just stop. The feeling I felt when I found out that my mother passed away, resurfaced. I got scared. I tried to protect you and get you but you look so scared of me."

Lies. Mariin akong napapikit.

"Just go." pagkatapos ay tinalikuran ko na siya.

"Please...take me back..." his voice cracked. "I am willing to do anything for you. So please take me back. I'm sorry. I don't know how to live without you anymore, Nevaeh."

"You're lyi——" bago ko pa matapos ang sasabihin ko ay pinihit na niya ako paharap sa kaniya at hinalikan, marahan at puno ng pagmamahal.

"I love you." he said breathlessly.

"This won't work." naiiyak akong umiling. "I am the daughter of the man who killed your mother, Nikov." I reminded him.

"I know. I know." marahan siyang tumango at hinaplos ang pisngi ko. "Pero ikaw rin ang babaeng mahal na mahal ko. Mas matimbang iyon para sa akin."

Tuluyan na akong napahahulgol at niyakap naman niya ako.

"Nikov," umiyak na sambit ko sa pangalan niya habang yakap-yakap rin siya. "Baron Fedorov killed Eve. He killed my bestfriend!" parang batang sumbong ko sa binata.

"And he get the karma he deserves." aniya.

We stayed like that for I don't know how long.

"Nevaeh..."

"Hmm?" napatingala ako sa kaniya.

"Let's go home." then he smile warmly.

"Home?" ulit ko.

Tumango naman siya sa akin.

"Umuwi na tayo. I promise I won't never let you go again like that."

"Would it be really okay for us to get back together?" alanganing tanong ko.

Walang pagdadalawang isip naman na tumango siya sa akin.

"Nikka misses you so much. And I miss you so damn much too."

Napaiwas ako sa kaniya ng tingin.

"Si Nikka..." simula ko. "...alam ba niya?"

"Yes." he answered. "But she's not mad at you. In fact she misses you even more. She is always sad and keep asking if we already see each other. So, come home."

"I-I don't know if I can really go back with you." naiiling na pagsasabi ko ng totoo.

I'm now working for the organization. My life now is a bit different from before.

I am not sure if...

"I tried to get near you but the organization you work for when let me." he said.

"A-Ano?" I startled.

Tumango naman siya. "Red brought me here telling me that you need my comfort that's how I was able to see you and talk to you."

"Pero bakit naman ginawa iyon ng organization?" nalilitong tanong ko.

Nagkibit-balikat naman siya. "Maybe because they think that I'm a threat to you? My men shot you and tried to kill you." sagot niya. "But do you really have to be in that kind of field? That's too dangerous for you."

"Hindi naman," umiling ako. "The boss is actually giving me easy mission." paliwanag ko.

"Just like this one?" he asked.

I nodded.

Bumuntong hininga siya pero hindi na siya nagsalita pa.

"Then just come home tonight. And tomorrow I'll try to talk to your boss."

"H-Huh?"

"Let's go home so you can rest." malumanay na sabi niya.

Wala na akong nagawa kundi ang tumango at magpatangay sa kaniya.