SHIELDER (CPAGS Epilogue)

Part 6

I couldn't remember how Kuya Hunter managed to take me out of the storage room despite my trembling knees. Despite the fear in me to get out of where I was hiding. Hindi ko na rin matandaan kung paano ako nakalabas ng bahay nang hindi nakikita ang nangyari sa sala gayong madadaanan naman namin iyon. I think Kuya Hunter covered my eyes. That's the only explanation I could think of.

I was young. I understand but at the same time, couldn't understand everything that had happened. I was confused.

My parents were dead. They were killed. They protected me and they were killed.

Pero hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit kailangan nilang mamatay. Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit may pumatay sa kanila. That man said something about a game. A chess game. And he told me that we would meet again someday.

Is that the reason my dad had been training Kuya Hunter? So that he could protect the family? Dahil ba roon kaya kailangan ng pamilya namin ng proteksyon?

It was just a chess game but... why did my parents have to die?

It felt like my head had been ripped apart. Sobrang sakit ng ulo ko. Ayokong mag-isip. Ayokong maalala ang nangyari kanina. Gusto kong isipin na isang masamang panaginip lang 'to.

I wanna wake up now. I want to see the smiling faces of my parents again. I don't want to think that they're really dead.

Ayoko... Masakit. Ang sakit sa dibdib. I don't want this pain.

How would I be able to wake up every morning knowing that my parents were gone? Na hindi ko na magagawa ang mga bagay na kasama sila? That I would grow up without them? That on my next birthday, they wouldn't be there anymore. At kahit sa paggising ko man bukas ay wala na rin sila.

I wouldn't get to feel my mother's warmth anymore. Kapag nananaginip ako ng masama sa gabi, she wouldn't be there to soothe my fears away. I wouldn't get to hear her hum a song as she tried to get me back to sleep.

I wouldn't get to prove to my dad that I can protect the family too. There wouldn't be a big party on my next birthday, just like he promised where I could get to wear a tux and tie. Hindi na ako makakabawi sa kanya dahil hindi ako naging mabuting anak.

I wouldn't get to experience the favorite part of my day anymore. Those moments where I would just sleep on the sofa after hours of Mom teaching me about computers, and I listened to her move around the kitchen, I would fall asleep.

I wouldn't get to feel her gentle taps as she tried to wake me up. And when I would open my eyes, my parents wouldn't be there anymore.

Muling bumuhos ang mga luha ko pero hindi ko ramdam ang mga iyon na tumutulo sa mukha ko. I felt it more inside my chest. And how I wished I could stop the pain I was feeling.

Mom... Dad... Did I ever tell you both that I love you? And I'm sorry. Sorry kung naging pasaway ako. I'm sorry if I wasn't a good son. Sorry po...

Biglang dumating ang mga kaibigan ni Kuya. I knew them. They're Kuya Creed and Kuya Lucius. Bahagyang lumayo sa 'kin si Kuya Hunter para makipag-usap sa dalawa. I think he did it so I wouldn't hear their conversation dahil mukhang seryoso sila habang nag-uusap.

But when he did that, when he put a distance between us so he could talk with his friends, I felt... angry. Hindi ko gusto pero nainis ako.

"Archer! Ano'ng ginagawa mo rito?!"

Lahat kami ay napatingin sa lalaking papalapit sa kanila. He looked furious. It was the first time that I saw this man. He looked like he was the same age as dad. Perhaps a little bit older. Still, I didn't know him.