The Truth About Us (COMPLETED)

43

My brain was trying to register this sudden turn of events when my hearing caught the sounds of heavy footsteps coming toward me. Nang tumingala ako ay nakita ko si Chronos. He was wearing his usual black suit and tie. He was wearing it so often that it almost looked like it was his uniform.

He scooched down and slapped Romano's face. Nang wala siyang makuhang reaksyon ay ngumisi siya. I cannot believe I encounter both soulless and lifeless people in a night.

Umatras siya nang tumunog ang cellphone niya na hinuha ko ay nakatago sa bulsa niya. He disregard me for a while to answer the call.

Wari ko ay tinatanong si Chronos ng tungkol sa katawan ni Romano dahil lumingon ito muli sa lalaki at ngumisi. "Good job, Hades. He is dead. You made me proud."

My mouth gaped open but I immediately closed it before it spewed harsh words. Hades was his son. He was several years older than my daughter. I wanted to berate him for dragging his son into his messy life at a young age but I prevented myself. I need his help right now. I do not want to fall on the bad side.

"Call the clean-up crew. Dapat nandito na sila bago may makatuklas sa bangkay." He kicked Romano's body and I shuddered. Wala talaga siyang pakialam. 

Tumingin ako kay Hagen at nakita ko ang pamumutla ng mukha niya. Sinubukan kong tumayo at lumapit sa kanya kahit nanghihina ang tuhod ko. 

"Hagen," I called him as I applied pressure on his wound. Dumilat naman siya ngunit hindi siya sumagot. I am glad that he was not unconscious but that did not lessen my worry about his unresponsiveness.

Halatang nanghihina na siya sa maraming nawalan na dugo. I lifted my head to meet the gaze of Chronos. "Kailangan natin siyang dalhin sa hospital."

Wala akong narinig sa kanya. "Chronos, baka may malapit na hospital dito. Kailangan natin siya-"

"No."

"Chronos! He cannot die!" I cried out.

"He will not die. Hindi natin siya dadalhin sa basta-bastang hospital. I do not want us to be bombarded with questions and alert the feds. Do you understand? You are covered with blood," he said to me like I did not know. "It was one thing that I solved your problem. It is another that I will let you bring me a problem."

Tumingin siya kay Hagen at sinipa ang tuhod nito. He shook his head in dismayal. "See? I told you. Ako ang kailangan mo. It's a good thing that I did not believe you can do this by yourself and with the authority. Now, where are they who are suppose to help you? None. People who are reckless like you are bound to fail." Alam kong hindi maintindihan ni Hagen ang sinasabi ni Chronos kaya ako ang nainsulto para sa kanya.

Hindi na ako nagsalita pa dahil ang kahuli-huling gusto kong gawin ay ang galitin siya. Kailangan ko ang tulong niya ngayon. I looked at Hagen's state and I counted a hundred in my mind to calm me. Hindi iyon nakatulong dahil nawawala ako sa tuwing nakikita ko ang paghihirap sa mata niya. Every ragged breath I hear from him made me frantic. It takes everything in me not to shout at Chronos to make his men come here quickly before his cousin meets his death.

Hindi ko alam kung ilang minuto kami naghintay. I do not even know if it's that long. It was like every minute spared seems long enough. Wala na akong pakialam kung saan kami balak dalhin ni Chronos. I am just looking at Hagen's face while holding his hand tightly. Even squeezing it to let him know that I am here and everything will be alright as Chronos's men treat him in the ambulance. Isa sa nagpagaan sa loob ko ay sa hospital pa rin kami balak dalhin ng lalaki niya. Wala akong pakialam kung may koneksyon siya sa hospital na iyon. Ang gusto ko lamang ay mabigyan ng karampatan na lunas si Hagen at maayos na serbisyo.