A Villain's Ending [COMPLETED]

013

ONE MONTH LATER

"Permahan mo!" Sigaw ni mama sa lalaking gusot-gusot ang damit at madumi ang mukha. Nakaluhod ito at naiiyak.

"Evette, please..."

Mas lalo akong umiyak. Bakit sila nag-aaway? Bakit ayaw nalang nila magbati?

"Xavier, please let me go." Nagulat ako nang bigla nalang akong hilahin ni mama papunta sa kaniya. Tinutok niya sa aking leeg ang kutsilyo na kaniyang hawak. "Or else I'll kill your daughter in front of you." Naramdaman ko ang panginginig ng kaniyang boses at kamay.

"Mama!"

"Hmm?" Biglang umalog ang karahe kaya nagising ako. Nasapo ko ang aking noo dahil sa gulat.

"Goodmorning," bati ng aking ama na nakaupo sa harapan ko.

Hindi ko siya sinagot. Tumingin ako sa taas. Nakalipad kami ngayon kaya kitang-kita ko ang ulap. I remembered the first time I was in here, halos tatlong araw akong hindi makalakad because I got sick.

Now, I got used to it. It's pretty comfortable honestly.

"Had a good sleep?" Tanong niya sa akin. May binabasa itong mga documents na naka-pile sa kaniyang tabi.

"I had a dream," I mumbled while glancing at him. His long black hair along with his golden eyes, and his intimidating aura... No one would guess he's the famous Duke. Wala pa kasing nakakakita sa kaniya, because he didn't attend any social gatherings kahit iniimbenta siya.

"A dream? About what?" He asked again, still reading the papers on his hands.

"The story you told me."

Natigil ito at tumingin sa akin. "Your mom?"

Tumango ako. Iyon ang storya na sinabi niya sa akin last three weeks ago. The truth of what really happened between them before my mother moved to Eulysis.

He flipped the papers. "Maybe she's also thinking of you," he said in a low voice.

I chuckled. "Maybe mourning the death of her fake daughter," I answered in a bitter tone.

Napakasakit isipin. Tiniis ko ang lahat-lahat dahil akala ko magbabago din ang tingin nila sa akin. I went through humiliation and other horrible things just because I'm inside this body. I didn't do anything wrong, and Faith knew it. She even cursed everyone to hate me. Just why would she do that?

Marami pa akong katanungan ngunit alam kong hindi ko 'to masasagutan kung prente lang akong uupo at maghihintay sa kung anong mangyayari. Even my dad advised me to seek the truth, not just revenge.

Honestly, hindi ko alam kung kailan ko 'to naramdaman. But every time my anxiety and panic attacks, the hatred on me grew bigger.

"Ah, by the way," he spoke, "Susunod ang apat na kumag sa atin sa academy," stated Dad with a sour expression.

Eto din ang isa sa mga bagay na hindi ko maintindihan. Hindi ko alam kung kailan nagsimula, pero isang araw ay bigla nalang ganito ang ugali ni papa sa apat na lalakeng pinakilala niya sa akin. Umaasim na ang mukha niya kapag nakikipag-usap siya sa kanila o binabanggit niya ang mga ito sa aking harapan.

"Iyon naman talaga dapat ang plano di'ba? Pero sumama ka." Tawa ko sa kaniya.

"Well of course. Graduation ng anak ko, hindi ako a-attend?" The corners of his lips rose. "I would love to see their reaction."

My God. I can feel the evil aura coming from him. Mukhang amuse na amuse ito sa nangyayari. Hindi ko tuloy mapigilang tumawa ulit.

"Ah anyways, your hair color." Tinuro niya ang aking buhok. "That style and color suits you more," he said in an endearing voice.

I played at the end of my hair. I dyed this last week in black. I don't want something that reminds me of my mom.

"I can't blame them if they fell more..."

"Po?" Hindi ko na-gets ang sinabi niya. Sino ang tinutukoy nito? Meron ba akong hindi alam?

"I meant the four bastards." He raised his hands and counted four fingers.

Namula naman ako sa kaniyang sinabi. "It's not like that, dad!" Saway ko sa kaniya.

Tiningnan niya ako na parang hindi naniniwala. "Why do you keep denying it? Those four are whipped-"

"Dad! Stop it!" Nahihiya kong pinutol ang kaniyang sentence. Hindi naman ganu'n eh! Mabait lang talaga ang apat na 'yun. Tsaka sila ang nagtuturo sa akin sa mga bagay na kailangan kong malaman.

Surprisingly, it was easy to learn. Mabilis din akong naging mahasa sa magic field; but my favorite part is wielding a sword and holding a bow.

Hmm... Maybe it has something to do with what my father said before? About us being above average? Kaya ba madali lang sa akin ang lahat? Hindi ko 'to napansin noon.

"Keep denying and one day you'll find them kneeling for you."

"Pa!" Saway ko na naman sa kaniya. Kailan ba siya titigil!?

Tinawanan niya lang ako at bumalik sa pagbabasa ng mga documents na dinala niya. Kahit busy siya sa mga nakaraang araw ay hindi niya nakalimutan ang date kung saan ako g-graduate.

Maybe because he's excited to see the reactions of those people who thought I'm dead?

Maybe you're confused but Niccolo was my homeschool teacher. All my performances and task will be given to the academy, so nare-record pa nila ang grades ko. I don't know what strings father pulled but no one suspected that it was me even if my grades will be calculated under my name. Siguro ay may staff siya na binayaran.

"Ah, another thing. Helen is looking for you the other day." Biglang nagsalita ulit si papa.

"Si Helen? Bakit daw?" Inayos ko ang aking black dress. Terno kami ng style ni papa. Naka-black uniform din ito ng pang-Duke at may brooch sa kaniyang gilid with the unique style of patterns from Ohana. Mine is a backless dress. Kitang-kita ang tattoo na pinagawa ko kay Helen last week. Inspired from the unique patterns of Ohana ang nasa aking balat.

"She's asking if you're going to visit her shop again," he shortly answered.

Hindi na ako umimik pa. Maybe I'll send Helen a letter. Siya ang pinakaunang tattoo artist at ako ang pinakaunang customer niya. May malaking tattoo ako mula bewang abot hanggang leeg. It mostly covered the right part of my body. I don't know but having a tattoo is kind of... Good? Hindi ko ma-explain, pero parang tumaas ang confidence ko.

"We're here." The driver of our carriage said.

Kumabog ng malakas ang aking dibdib. Tiningnan ko muli ang labas. Maraming tao. Syempre dahil graduation ito, dadagsa talaga sila especially that the King and other political parties will be here.

Maybe some are here to see the famous Duke, dahil sa wakas ay magpapakita na ito sa madla.

Naka-tinted ang glass kaya hindi kami kita sa loob. Kami lang ang nakakakita sa labas.

My heart is beating louder and louder. Adrenaline is running in my veins. It feels like I'm electrified. Buhay na buhay ang dugo ko. I'm having mixed emotions.

Biglang may humawak sa aking kamay. Tiningala ko ito at si papa lang pala. Malamlam ang kaniyang mga mata na nakatingin sa akin.

"Relax." Tinulungan niya ako sa pagtayo. Malaki naman kasi ang carriage.

I took a few deep breaths and stood up.

"Announcing!" The announcer shouted and I saw everyone's face tilted this way. Most of them are curious indeed. The legend is here.

"The Duke of Ohana, and his future heir!"