Amarah: The Impossible Challenge

Challenge # 02

The twist

Nine months later, Brandon and I welcomed a healthy baby girl. Oh! She was so beautiful but tiny which Brandon will reply to me – of course, love she's tiny! You just gave birth to her. May kasama pang pag – roll ng eyes iyon. Brandon, just like me is so in love with our lovely daughter. I named her Amihan kasi ang ibig sabihin noon ay Hilaga at sa Hilaga laging bumaba ang araw, and a sunset for me always means new beginnings and my Amihan is my new beginning.

Having Amihan means totally forgetting and letting go of our old lives. Brandon started to look for a normal job. His twin brother – Bruno is helping us. Thankful ako sa kanya kahit na hindi pa kami nakakapag – usap nang maayos at nagkakikilala. I could only hear things about him from Brandon. Doon pa lang ay alam kong napakabait na niya. I want him to be my baby's godfather. I will ask Brandon about it. I promised him that I will talk to him about everything and every decision I make. Maayos ang pagsasama naming dalawa. We talk about marriage and stuff like that but we both know that we will never do it. Getting married means registering our names at the local City Hall and that could only mean one thing too – they will find us. At sa stage ng buhay naming dalawa ngayon ay hindi kami pwedeng makita ng kahit na sino mula sa nakaraan namin dahil may Amihan na kailangan naming alagaan, mahalin at protektahan. I want to see my daughter grow up. I want to see her first steps, hear her first words – I want to be there in every miles stones of her life. I wouldn't want to miss anything because Amarah and Bradon are my world.

"Brandon! Come look!" I was giggling loudly as I watched Amarah roll over by herself. Hirap na hirap siya noong una but she managed to do it and I couldn't help but be proud of my baby girl. Amarah is just lovely. She is a fast learner, matalino – mana sa akin. Maganda – natural na natural na manang – mana sa akin. Nagmamadali naman si Brandon na pumasok sa silid kung nasaan kaming dalawa ni Amihan.

Amihan was too busy rolling over that she didn't notice her father being there. Brandon was standing near the door, watching his daughter with awe, while I sat on the floor, watching the two most important people in my life with so much love in my eyes. I love Brandon so much. He gave me so much. Ibinigay niya sa akin ang mga bagay na hindi ko inakalang makukuha ko.

I was hopeless before I met him. I never even thought of having a family, nor a child that will be the center of my universe. Ang nasa utak ko lang noon ay kung paano ako mabubuhay, at kung paano ako makaalis sa lugar kung saan ako nakulong.

I was raised to be an assassin. Pinalaki akong hindi nagdedesisyon ng sarili ko. Everything in my life was designed to be a follower. Hindi ako pwedeng mag – isip. Kapag ginawa ko iyon, mamamatay ako. I am a blind follower but that all changed when I met these people that are against the Triad. Wala akong balak kumampi sa kanila, but they are the ones that put doubt in my mind. I remember that one particular moment when Andreas – Brandon's teammate, met up with me and asked me things I am never even thought of.

What if you still have a family?

I am an orphan. I was found in an orphanage.

You're not. You're Amarah Emilio. And you are the daughter of this man.

That was the first time I saw the face of my father. I was only eighteen then. I have no knowledge of him or his friends. I didn't care. I didn't even believe what she said to me. Para sa akin, sinisiraan niya lang ang Triad na nangalaga at bumuhay sa akin. I won't change my loyalty just because of false information. I will stay loyal to the Triad no matter what happens.

It took me some months before I was hit with the realizations. Ipinatawag ako sa main office. I was given a mission. I looked at it, thinking that it was just like those other times. But then, I was greeted by the same photograph Andreas gave me. My whole body shivered. Para ba akong binuhusan ng malamig na tubig noong mga panahong iyon. Something told me that this isn't right. Hindi ko magawa ang misyon at kahit na anong mangyari, kahit na anong sabihin nila sa akin at kabit kinukwenstyon na nila ang katapatan ko ay hindi ko magawang tapusin ang buhay ng taong iyon.