Tear of Vengeance

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 4

"You're insane, Nile," Pristine was shocked by Nile's words. "You're gonna bring our lives in danger." She stepped back slowly. Maling-mali ang gagawin niya kung papayag siya rito.

Nile frustratedly put his hands on his face. "Yes! It's insane! I will sacrifice my reputation to your family just to save you from that fucking man!"

"Hindi ako sasama," Bawat salita niya ay sumasabay sa paglakad niya papalayo. "Don't waste your years of serving us, especially dad just because of this idea, Nile. We treated you as a family."

"You don't get it, Pristine."

Doon na siya napasigaw sa sariling frustration. "Ano'ng hindi ko maintindihan?!"

"Na hindi mo ginusto ang kasal na 'to! Mapapahamak ka lang kay Aslan. I know that guy, I've seen him wrecking a man's life." Nile is now grabbing his long hair out of pure frustration. She also saw his teary eyes. "I've been with you for two decades already... At ayaw kong makitang pinapahirapan ka niya." His eyes seem like a black hole, it's getting lost. "You're the half of my life." He said as he look into her eyes.

Pristine can't help but sob. "Same with me, Nile. Ayokong mawala pa ang nag-iisang taong naging parte ng buhay ko. You're like a b-brother to me." Pabulong niyang dagdag. Gusto niyang iparamdam dito na siya ang magsikripasyo at masaktan sa kung anumang consequence na magaganap sa buhay niya.

He laughed sadly. "A brother? How can you be so naïve? All my life, aside from being with your dad all the time, I am hoping that I get more time to be with you. Not just a brother, but something more..." His confession made Pristine more confused. She can see it, how a single tear fell from his eyes, looked away at her and brushed his disheveled long hair.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry if I cannot give back the feelings that you mean to me." She cried, doesn't care about the make-up that gotten smeared on her face and fled away from Nile.

Para sa kaniya, ito ang tama- hindi, ito ang nararapat dahil masisira lamang ang buhay ni Nile. Her family trusted him so much at ayaw niyang magtraydor ito sa kanila. Para sa kaniya, ito pa rin ang nakilala niyang patpating bata na naatasang magprotekta sa kaniya hanggang ngayon na tumanda sila.

For her, he was meant as a protector, not a savior.

"No!" Impit na sigaw niya nang binuhat siya ni Nile na parang sako ng bigas. "Put me down, Nile!"


Ngunit hindi natinag ang binata at ipinasok siya sa likurang upuan ng sasakyan nito. Kahit na baha ng luha ang kaniyang mata at paulit-ulit na nagmamakaawa kay Nile, pinipilit niya pa ring buksan ang pinto.

Ngunit wala pa rin siyang magawa dahil napaandar na nito ang kotse palayo sa kanilang mansyon. Walang nakapigil sa kanila dahil ang rutang dinaanan nila ay ang kahabaan ng kanilang farm papunta sa main road.

"Please, Nile. 'Wag mong gawin 'to." Pagmamakaawa niya sa bawat hikbi. "Bumalik na tayo, please!"

Hindi man lamang siya nito pinansin. Parang ibang tao ang kausap niya, hindi ito ang Nile na kilala niya dahil para itong may galit sa mundo. Kita niya sa mga mata nito mula sa salamin. Hindi ito ang taong nagbubungad ng ngiti sa kaniya kapag nakikita siya.

Ang kaniyang isipan ay puno ng pangamba. Paano kung madiskubre ng mga magulang niyang wala siya sa mansiyon? Ayaw na ayaw siyang pinagbubuhatan ng kamay ng kaniyang lolo.

She just came to her senses when the car abruptly stopped, made her face dwell in the driver's back seat because of the impact.

Oh no! She knew whose car it is!

At doon niya nga nakita ang taong lumabas sa kotseng humarang sa kanila.

Mabilis ding lumabas si Nile at napatili siya nang ilabas ang baril sa likod nito.

"Oh my God!"

She saw how Aslan and Nile pointed their guns at each other!

"I know how desperate you are." Rinig ni Pristine ang pagbanta ni Aslan mula sa labas. Kahit hindi para sa kaniya ang mga salitang iyon ay naapektuhan siya sa paraan ng pagsabi nito kay Nile. Nang silipin niya ang dalawa ay para itong mga tigreng susunggab na lamang kung sino ang maunang umatake.

Kumilos siya ng mabilis papunta sa driver's seat para i-unlock ang pinto sa likod. Nang maabot niya ito ay dali-dali siyang lumabas para awatin ang dalawa. "Aslan!""

"Pristine!" Tarantang sambit ni Aslan. Mabilis siyang tumakbo papunta rito pero hinablot ni Nile ang kaniyang braso.

"Stay here!" Halata sa tono ni Nile ang galit.

"Stop, Nile..." Lumingon siya rito at pinilit makapagsalita dala ng pag-iyak at hikbi. "...I beg you." Ramdam niyang ayaw siyang pakawalan nito dahil sa higpit ng hawak ngunit binitawan siya sa huli.

Matapos niyang sabihin iyon ay umabante si Aslan sa kaniya para protektahan.

"Pinagbigyan kitang duruin ako sa harap ng parents ni Pristine dahil may respeto ako sa kanila pero hindi ko palalampasin 'tong ginawa mo." Namilog ang mata niya nang narinig niya ang pagkasa ng baril ni Aslan.

"No! Aslan! Aslan, I'll come with you." She desperately held his hand that was ready to fire a bullet. When he looked at her, his eyes that was invaded by fury has melted slowly.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. She took the chance to pull him away from Nile.

Nang tingnan niya ulit si Nile ay para itong nagmamakaawa. Nakatayo lamang ito at dahan-dahang ibinaba ang kamay. Nginitian niya lamang ito at umiling. Agad naman nitong naintindihan ang mensahe niya. Hindi man nito maisigaw ngunit ramdam niya ang poot na nararamdaman nito.

Aslan guided her to enter the passenger's seat. When both of them are inside, there was an awkward silence. She saw his hand holding the steering wheel tightly. So, she held it, making him glance at her.

"I'm here now. We can go back to the mansion." And he obliged.

Nang pinaandar na nito ang sasakyan, namayani ang saglit na katahimikan. Nang pareho nang kalmado, siya ang bumasag ng katahimikan.

"Aslan, can you promise me na hindi 'to makakarating kay lolo?"

That caused the car to stop. "What...? Sa ginawa niya sa'yo, you're still protecting him?"

She took a deep breath and explained. "I don't want to cause any troubles after this marriage. I understood Nile, he thought I was forced but I chose this decision on my own will because I only followed my grandfather's command."

When he didn't reply, she glanced and saw his dumbfounded reaction. She cannot read any emotion on his eyes, she can only see the glistening emerald eyes covered with pure dilation.

"Alright, I will keep it as a secret." May kinuha itong panyo sa bulsa at iniumang ang braso para pahiran ang kaniyang mukha na balot ng tuyong luha. Tahimik lamang siyang nagmasid habang dahan-dahan nitong pinupusan ang kaniyang mukha. That was only a small gesture but she appreciated it... A lot.

"There, I took away every negativity in your face." He added, that made her smile. "May I take you to your castle now, princess?"

She smiled again and nodded. His words reminded her about the dialogue of a prince in her mother's storytelling when she was a child. The only difference was that the prince in the tale has a white horse and a white suit, the man beside her made was riding a black car, with his black suit. But this man is no prince, he was a mere gentleman who made her believed that fairy tales doesn't exist, only chivalry and an act of respect.