Bewitching the Tempter

Chapter 40: Hero

"Ninong Larry?"

My hands trembled that I almost lost my grip to the gun.

W-Was it him? The person behind everything?

"Enough, Chavez." Matigas niyang sabi at bumaling sa akin. "It's been a long time, Klio." Nakangisi niyang sabi, which just confirmed everything.

Wow. I don't know what to say or do anymore.

"Demonyo...ahas..." I angrily uttered as I looked at him. Ngunit tila hindi man lang siya natinag.

"Damn, Klio! Stay away from him!" I heard Alaric's voice but I was too angry to move myself.

The old man laughed while looking at me. "Wala ka pa ring pinagbago, mahina at uto-uto ka pa rin hanggang ngayon." He uttered and kicked me, making me fall to the ground.

"P-Paano mo nagawa sa amin 'to? Sa akin?" Nahihirapan kong sambit, hirap na hirap dahil hindi ko talaga matanggap.

Of all people, he's the least I would suspect. Pero bakit siya pa?

"My father treated you like his brother. Hindi man kami malapit sa isa't isa pero alam ko 'yon. Nakikinig siya sa mga payo mo even though he's stubborn. He trusted you! But what did you do?" I asked with my trembling voice.

"I just did what I should do. And mind you, your father isn't that nice, Klio. Already forgot what he did to you? He didn't treat you like his daughter, he didn't love you!"

I laughed. "Enough with your manipulative tactics already, you shitty old man! My father is clearly better than that. He didn't treat me as his daughter because he wanted to protect me. Shitty and stupid, right? But at least he's not a monster like you! Isa kang manggagamit, mamamatay tao, sinungaling, manyakis, at traydor!" I yelled at halos mabingi naman ako dahil sa biglaan at malakas na pagsampal niya sa akin.

"So you already know? But did you forgot already that I was the one who's there beside you while you're growing up. Ako ang tumayong ama mo, you love and treasure me so much, Klio. Kaya nga mahal din kita and see? You're still alive. Sayang nga e, makukuha na sana kita no'ng gabing 'yon kaso nagawa ka pang itakas sa ibang bansa."

My eyes widened and if I could only kill him with my sharp eyes, I would've done that already.

Potangina niya. Napakasahol. Napakahayop!

"Right. If I could only turn back the time, hinding-hindi kita pagkakatiwalaan. You're a rotten two-faced devil!"

He smirked and pulled my face closer to him.

"But you can't and now, you can no longer escape me, Klio." Aniya at malakas akong hinatak palapit sa kanya but before he could even do something after that, a bullet already hit him, daplis nga lang dahil nailagan niya.

I took that opportunity to get the gun, na agad kong itinutok sa kanya.

"Can you even pull the trigger?" He asked with his mocking rotten voice.

"Why not," nangangalaiti kong saad at ipinutok ang baril.

It hit his arm but damn, he shot me on my arm too, making me drop the gun.

Muli niyang itinutok ang baril sa akin.

"Nagkaroon ka na ng sungay, I guess it's time to cut them, hmm." Aniya at lumapit pa sa akin.

I thought it's gonna be the end of me already but another shot hit him, making him fall to the ground.

"Yeah, right. You have your men here, huh? But I have mine too. And you're coming with me, whether you like it or not." He smirked and stood.