Bite the Bullet

𝘽𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙩 26

Eiji's

     "Why don't you take a rest first, Eiji?Kakapunta lang natin dito sa hotel, aalis ka na kaagad." Narinig ko ang pagbuntong hininga ni Ezra.

I wore my black coat before I looked at her. "It's just a brief conversation, and I'll be back immediately," I answered, but she just shrugged her head before she turned her attention to our nephew.

"Look at your Papa, he will leave now. Stop him."
 
She whispered something to our nephew that made him go to me. He clutched at my legs and looked up at me with those puppy eyes. Cute!

"Don't use that tactic on me, Yuki."

He pouted his lips. Hindi pa rin niya ako binibitawan. And then, when I try to step, he climbs on my legs. I turn to Ezra, asking for help, but she just looks away and turns her attention to her cellphone.

"Do you want a lollipop?" I asked him.

I got his attention from what he heard. Binitawan niya ako ng hawak at tumaya ng diretso. "Papa, promise lollipop?" Paninigurado niyang tanong.

I bent my knee so I could match his height. "Yes, and we can buy before I go."

He happily and excitedly nodded his head. Running back to his room to get his jacket. "Eiji, we go back here to the Philippines so you can see Aero. Pero saan ka ngayon pupunta?" May inis sa tono ni Ezra.

"I will meet someone very important that also has to do with Aero. I need to talk to him so I can meet Aero, too," I explained to her.

Mukha namang nakumbinsi ko siya sa sinabi ko kaya hindi na siya tumutol. Sumama siya sa amin sa pagbaba para ihatid ako sa sasakyan ko kasama pa rin ang pamangkin namin. Nang makarating kami sa groundfloor, pinauna ko na silang bumili dahil sa tawag na natanggap ko samantalang ako ay nauna ng lumabas upang kitaan na lang sila sa sasakyan.

"Good afternoon, Wakagashira!" The driver bowed his head. I gave him a single nod as I answered my phone.

[Wakagashira- young leading subordinate in yakuza group, the second in command] 

When I finish talking on my phone, I stay outside the car, waiting for Ezra and Yuki, until I see a familiar face walking out of the hotel. He was smiling while talking to the man next to him. Who the fuck is that?

Hindi na siya nakapaghintay sa akin? I though he could trust my words when I left him three years ago. I know how much Aero loves me but I'm not expecting him to be with someone else. Am I too late?

They are getting closer and closer to me. They were just smiling at each other when Aero pushed the man beside him playfully. Nabangga nila si Yuki at napaupo ito. Gusto kong lapitan sila pero nabato ako sa kinatatayuan ko.

"Nasaan ang parents mo?" He asked my nephew, but that kid doesn't know any Filipino. Although he can speak English, only a little. He is more fluent in Japanese words.

They help Yuki to stand and wipe the dirt off the pants when he looks at me.

"Papa!" He shouted.

From that moment on, it was like a scene from a movie where Aero slowly turning his head to my side. And when we met our eyes, I could see the surprise on his face, to the point where he didn't move from his sitting position. Until the guy touches him and helps him stand.

"Papa?"

Yuki called me again, so I looked at him and held his hands. He showed his lollipop and was happily licking it, so I smiled back.