Taste of Hell

Chapter 27

Chapter 27

"P-Papa..." emosyonal na tawag ko pagkabukas na pagkabukas ko ng pinto.

Naabutan ko si papa na nakaupo, nakaharap sa malaking bintana.

"I thought you already left." aniya.

"Papa!" hindi ko na napigilan at humagulgol akong tumakbo papunta sa kaniya para yakapin siya.

"B-Bakit hindi mo sinabi?" umiiyak na tanong ko.

He just smile sadly.

"I've done a lot of bad things, Nevaeh."

"But you didn't do it so why did you take the blame and..." hindi ko na natuloy ang sinasabi ko dahil sunod-sunod ako napahikbi.

"She is begging...she have a family, husband and 2 children." panimula niya. "When he said that I see a light..."

He touch my cheek. "Her children lost their mother. I don't want them to lost their father too if I tell them the truth."

Hindi ko nakita sa kaniya ang kahit kaunting pagsisisi sa desisyon na ginawa niya noon. Pinili niyang akuin ang kasalanan na hindi naman siya ang gumawa.

"M-May kailangan pa ba akong malaman, Papa?" tanong ko.

Umiwas siya sa ng tingin at naramdaman ko ang pagiging mailap niya na parang may gustong iwasan.

"Papa." tawag ko.

"W-Wala na." umiling siya.

"Who killed Nikov's mother then if it's not you?" tanong ko.

Sumulyap siya sa akin at bumuntong hininga. "His father." sagot niya.

Napaatras ako at nanlaki ang mata sa narinig.

N-Nikov's father? The old Gustaf ?

"Nakatutok ang baril ko sa kaniya habang nagmamakaawa siya. Pagkatapos narinig ko ang putok ng baril at kasabay nun ang pagbulagta ng babae." pagkukuwento niya. "Pero hindi ako ang kumalabit ng gantilyo. It was him. When I turn on my back I see him. Standing, pointing a gun. Smiling without conscience. It feels like I've been staring at the mirror."

He killed his own wife?

"I'm sorry." he sighed. "Hindi ko na dapat iyon sinabi sa kaniya pero ayokong pati ikaw ay habang buhay dalhin ang kasalanan na iyon." umiling siya.

I was on my way to see him and bid goodbye. Aalis na kami ni Nikov. I didn't quit being an agent. The boss told me that I can always go back whenever I want and I can pay them a visit too.

"I still didn't know what's running on your mind, Harbinger." I heard the boss's voice.

Even Rigor too!

Huminto ako at hindi muna agad pumasok sa loob ng silid.

"Why don't you just tell her that you didn't kill her mother?" Rigor snorted.

Her mother?

I didn't heard his response.

"Kung ayaw mong sabihin, ako ang magsasabi." Rigor said.

"Rigor," I heard the boss deadly tone.

"Your daughter is the only family you have now, Harbinger. Kung talagang gusto mong makabawi sa asawa mo sabihin mo ang totoo sa anak mo! For once, be honest! I know you lived most of your life lying. But just this one, be true and tell her that she died because she was killed--"

"Nevaeh."

The boss sharp eyes glance on me.

Papa stood up.

"Nevaeh! What are you doing here?" lumapit siya sa akin.

"W-Who killed my mother?"

Umiling siya. "Rigor is just blabbering nonsense." sagot niya.

Nilingon ko si Rigor pero nagkibit-balikat lang ito sa akin.

"Papa...please...stop lying. I am your daughter. You have to be honest to me." I look at him, hurt.

Matagal siyang hindi kumibo hanggang sa nagpakawala siya ng buntong hininga.

"His father killed her." matipid at pilit na sinabi niya sa akin.

"You wouldn't tell her the whole story." nakasimangot na singit ni Rigor. Lumapit na rin ito sa amin.

"Listen carefully, Nevaeh." Rigor sighed. "That day...that bastard found out your hiding place. His men attacked your father and lost consciousness. When he wakes up your mother is dead. And you, luckily you survived. We found out it a bit late. Nang dumating kami doon ikaw na lang ang nagawa naming iligtas. That old man didn't killed your father purposely. He did that because Harbinger killed his one and only son. You know the story of your mother's affair, right? Her lover is the one and only son of Roberto Astof."

"A-Astof ?" ulit ko. Nagtataka akong lumingon kay Papa pero nanatili lang siyang nakayuko at hindi umiimik.

Tumango si Rigor. "Yes. Unfortunately, your father is Roberto's bastard."

"He only considered Martin has his one and only heir."

Then those memories I had? Isn't real?  Were those are all my hallucinations? I don't understand...

"You suffered from hallucinations and delusional. Of course it's understandable, at a young age that must be traumatizing. And right after you got discharged your father is already in jail."

I stayed there, lost for words.

"We send you to an orphanage and while you were staying at the orphanage we secretly provide for all your needs and your studies until you are able to get your life back and live normal life like what you should be doing and what your father wants." Boss sighed.

"There's a lot of things you should know..." marahang tinapik ni Rigor ang balikat ko at sumulyap sa ama ko. "But I think it would take the whole day to tell you so will just chat another time." tumango ito at saka nagpaalam na.

Sumunod na rin na lumabas si boss.

"You should go too. Your fiance is waiting for you." He spoke calmly.

Tumango ako pero nanatili ako sa kinatatayuan ko. Nang mapansin na hindi pa ako umaalis ay tumingin siya sa akin.

"I'm sorry, papa."

Then I turn around and was about to leave when he speak.

"Your mother loves you...very much. So please...don't blame her and d-don't be mad at her." I could hear the pain in his voice when he said that. "You can be mad at me for the rest of your life. It's okay if you won't forgive me but forgive your mother."

Hindi ako kumibo pero nanatili ako roon.

"It was all my fault. I was the only one who's happy in our marriage. She was forced to marry me."

Hindi na ako nagsalita pa at tuluyan ng lumabas ng silid.

How could he say that even though she betrayed him?

What was she thinking when she marry my father? When they lived in one roof? And when she cheated on him?

And why did she stay? Is it because of me?

I feel so clueless.

"Are you okay?" napalingon ako kay Nikov ng daluhan ako nito at alalayan.

"Y-Yeah. Sorry you waited too long." marahan akong ngumiti sa kaniya.

"It's okay." he nodded.

"Halika na. Alis na tayo?" I told him.

"Okay."

Palabas na kami ng headquarter ng makasalubong namin si Red.

Tumango lang siya sa amin at nagdire-diretso na. Seryoso ang mukha niya at mukhang nagmamadali.

Hindi ko tuloy mapigilan ang magalala.

What happened?