The Assassin's Heart (gxg)

Chapter 38

Summer

"Dad, are you sure about us coming to the Gala?"

Tanong ko sa kanya habang kumakain kami. Naimbitahan kasi kami pero nagdadalawang isip ako.

Di ko alam kung bakit pero parang may something sa akin na ayaw doon pumunta.

"Yes anak, after so many years it's the first time na makikita tayong buong pamilya in public. I want to show off my beautiful children you know?"

Nakangiti niyang sabi saka ako napailing.

"Why though? Akala ko ba gusto mo tayo maging private? Diba for safety."

Sagot ko.

"Napag-isip isip ko na, mas delikado kung walang nakakaalam ng existence niyo. Papano kapag isa sa inyo ang nawala, mas mahihirapan akong maghanap."

"Dad... Wag ka ngang magsalita ng ganyan, you're scaring Chris."

Pagsaway ko sa kanya when I noticed him stopped from eating .

"Malalaki na kayo anak, dapat open na kami sa mga ganitong usapan. Gusto kong maging aware kayo."

He said then sunod namang nagsalita si Mommy.

"Tama ang Daddy niyo, it's about time you learn about this whole privacy and safety we've been talking about since you were kids. Kaya nga kami umuwi ng Daddy niyo, ngayong secured na ang future niyong dalawa oras na para mamalagi na kami palagi sa tabi niyo."

"Saan ba talaga kayo nanggagaling? Bakit takot na takot ata kayo."

I asked putting down my fork and table knife.

Nagkatinginan lamang sila saka huminga ng malalim si Dad before speaking.

"I told you before diba? I was part of a research and defense project noon. Before I gave up that position sa dating kompanya na kabilang ako, may nangyari muna."

"That project was about creating a defense weapon na maaaring gamitin ng ating bansa sa oras ng sakuna. But that project was unsuccessful. It was possible pero minabuti na lang naming wag ituloy dahil naisip namin ang posibilidad na gamitin lang yun sa masamang adhikain."

"We all agreed, but one person did not. He's the one running that company now. Isang secret agency na nagbibigay serbisyo upang pumatay."

"He was mad dahil hindi kami tumupad sa usapan. It was so personal to him kasi gamit yung project na yun gusto niya ring pagalingin sa malubhang sakit ang anak niyang babae. Kaso we can't take the risk."

"The project was stopped immediately. We all left except him and.... After that ... Namatay yung anak niya..."

"Kaya pagkatapos nun, hindi na ulit kami nagkaroon ng connection sa kanya. We kept our families in private in fear of he might do something terrible."

When he stopped napatingin ako kay Chris na nakatingin din sa akin.

He was still processing everything.

"Pero after so many years, wala namang nangyari diba? Baka nagkamali lang kayo ng akala."

Sabi ko.

"Sana nga anak, kasi di ko makakaya na may mangyaring masama sa inyo."

Sabi niya.

"You let someone die to save us."

Biglang sabi ni Chris na ikinatigil namin.

"It's not like that, nanimbang lang kami. It was one life over billions. Sa ganung sitwasyon mas iisipin mo yung nakararami."

Sagot ni Dad.