His Sweetest Obsession

Kabanata 25

MAAGA AKONG gumising para makaalis agad. Hindi kasi akong masyadong nakatulog kagabi dahil sa mga nalaman ko kahapon. It keeps bothering me.

Nakawala ako sa sakit ng kahapon nang malaman ko ang totoo. Pero hindi na ako napanatag ng maisip kung sino ang pinaka-naapektuhan sa nangyari. Alaric's suffers more than I did.

Bumuntong hininga ako sa pag-aalala. I tap my cheeks slightly to wake myself up. I was looking at my reflection in the mirror.

"I need to talk to him." I sighed before going out of the room. It was six in the morning and I was not expecting my parents to wake up.

Mabagal akong bumaba, iniingatan ang sarili. Palabas na sana nang makasalubong ko ang isang katulong.

"Magandang umaga po."

"Good morning. May available bang sasakyan?" Kaagad kong tanong. Alanganin itong ngumiti sakin.

"W-Wala po. P-Pero pabalik na naman po siguro yung sasakyan galing sa bayan." Nagpasalamat ako dito at tuluyan ng umalis.

Hindi ko na kayang umupo doon at maghintay na dumating pa ang sasakyan. Somethings telling me that something bad will happen. Kinakabahan ako dahil sa naiisip ko. 

Nakalabas ako ng gate, dala-dala ang pangamba.

I sighed while looking around–naghahanap ng masasakyan. Nangunot ang noo ko nang makita ang papalapit na itim na van.

Nakatingin lang ako dito hanggang sa tuluyang huminto sa aking harap. Napaatras ako sa takot nang mabilis na nagsibukasan ang pinto nito at lumabas ang tatlong naglalakihang mga lalaki na balot ang mga mukha.

Bago pa ako tuluyan makatakbo ay mabilis akong nasunggaban ng mga ito. I tremble in fear when they hurriedly cover my mouth with a handkerchief.

Napaluha ako sa takot nang mabilis ako nilang nabuhat at napasok sa sasakyan. My visions blur when I smell what's in the kerchief.

Bago tuluyang magsara ang pinto ay mabilis ko pang-narinig ang boses ng aking Papa.

"Liana!"

Unti-unti akong napapikit at hindi na nakayanan pang labanan kung ano ang naamoy sa panyo. Kinain ako ng takot hindi lang para sa sarili kundi pati na rin ang batang nasa sinapupunan ko.

Papa, save us.

"IS THAT what you would do for the rest of your life?" Brandon said sarcastically. I swallow the remaining Jack Daniels in my glass as I focus my sight on the wall.

"Baliw na ata yan." Pang-aasar ni Philip. I pour out more whiskey in the glass. Pangatlo ko na to' ngayong umaga. After pouring, I returned my sight on the wall.

"Baliw sa asawa." Dagdag nito. They both laughed teasingly. Kung pangkaraniwan araw ito ay baka mapatay ko pa sila sa inis pero hindi. It's not the same day anymore.

I sip in the glass as I lifelessly looked at the wall.

"Tangina nito. Ano ganyan ka na lang?" I ignored them when they shamelessly lied on my bed. I was on the carpeted floor where empty bottles of beers and whiskeys lie in.

I continue to drink. I don't feel like arguing with them. I just don't feel like doing anything. After all, I have nothing.

"Gago, who wouldn't be crazy? Her wife's portraits are on the wall!" Brandon hysterically said. Saglit na nawala ang atensyon ko sa mga larawan ni Liliana. I remember the reason why I put her portraits and pictures on the wall.

Philip laughed.

I stand up as I walk to her largest picture on the wall. I even put it in a frame. I stretch out my hands as I trace her face with my fingertips. She's so pretty.

This is all I can do. I bitterly smiled.

I can't kiss her anymore. I can't hug her anymore. I can't do all the things that I wanted to do with her. I just can't... she doesn't want me...

I breathe heavily–trying to control my emotions. I weakly put my forehead to her beautiful portrait as I tried to reminisce her in my thoughts.

In my mind, I can hug, kiss, and do all the things that I wanted to do with her. She's with me in my mind. That's the only reason why I'm still alive today–her memories. 

"Apollo!" My thoughts about her vanished when I heard a thunderous voice. I abruptly looked at the door of the room–waiting for him to come out.

From the corner of my eyes, I saw the two men became serious as I am. Calling me by my first name is something serious since the meaning itself is dangerous. They were only allowed to call me that if we were on the agency or a mission. Ngayon ko na lang ulit narinig ang pangalan na iyon.

Not too long, Liliana's father gives me a strong punch which I didn't avoid. I deserve it.

I stumble a little bit.

"Marius! Hindi tayo pumunta para diyan!" Saway ni Mrs. De Rossi. His jaw clenched when our eyes met. Akmang iisa pa ito ng suntok nang marinig ang muling saway sa asawa.

"He impregnated my princess, Liora!" Nanlambot ang tuhod ko nang marinig ang sinabi nito. I look at them–shocked.

"Oo, tangina ka! Hindi sana mapapahamak ng pekeng babaeng yun ang anak ko kung sinunod mo ang payo ko!" Literal na tumigil ang pag-inog ng mundo ko nang marinig ang sinabi nito.

"W-What?"

"Gago! Ano, bingi ka na rin?!" Asik nito.

"Tumahimik ka, Marius!" Mrs. De Rossi shouted angrily at her husband.

She then looked at me–teary-eyed.

"T-They kidnapped your wife, Apollo. Help my daughter, please. Save her and your child."

MUFFLE SOUNDS coming from people talking woke me up. Nahihilo kong minulat ang paningin. Nakailang pikit pa ako para ma-adjust ang paningin sa paligid. Maliwanag ang paligid kaya mabilis kong nakita ang ilang lalaki na may mga hawak na baril.

Nanginig ako sa takot. I tried to get out just to realize that I was tied in a chair.

"Hi." I abruptly look at who called me.

I gulp when I saw Margaux, standing a few meters away from me. She's standing mighty with her arms crossed. 

"It's finally nice seeing you, my husband's mistress."