Heartless Vasiliev

Chapter Ten

Nathaniel 

TRIGGER WARNING: VIOLENCE, BLOOD

Ilang buwan na rin ang nakaraan mula nang mahuli ko si kuya. That was the last time I heard from him and Celeste. I've been traveling a lot for the past months. I remained low contact with kuya as well as my parents. I wanted to cut him off completely like I did with Celeste, but he is my brother. Si Mommy ang palaging nagkukwento ng buhay nila dahil siya lang naman ang nakakausap ko.

Two months ago, I learned that kuya left. He was in the middle of starting his career in our company, but he just left one day and told our parents that he needed time for himself. Mula noon daw ay hindi na siya umuwi. I don't even care what he does with his life at this point.

For my last travel, I rented place in Nueva Vizcaya. It's a rent to own house.  Dito ako namamalagi dahil liblib ang lugar at tahimik. I already considered moving here because of the serene environment. It gave me peace and I am slowly accepting everything. 

Last night, I got an invite from Mom to a family lunch. Ilang beses ko na rin siyang tinanggihan dahil wala na talaga akong balak magpakita pa sa kanila. I never wanted to be in the same room with Konrad, but I've been considering Mom's invite since he hasn't been around for two months now.

Hindi alam ng mga magulang ko ang ginawa ni Celeste at Kuya. Hindi ko rin alam kung sinabi na ba ng mga magulang ko o mas pinili niyang manahimik. I know my parents favor him, but I don't think they will condone what he did.

I replied to Mom, telling her that I will be there. I went out for a walk. Nakatira ako sa sentro ng isang bayan, pero hindi kagaya ng sa ibang lugar na crowded. There are only a few houses from the subdivision where I live. The convenience store, market, and church are just a few minute walk.

Paglabas ko ng bahay para sana mamasyal, may nakita akong babaeng nagtitingin sa bahay na katabi ng akin. Hindi ko siya masiyadong pinansin at nagpatuloy sa pamamasyal. I dropped by a coffee shop and order my usual. Umuwi rin ako nang makuha ang order ko. Before I could enter my house, lumapit sa akin iyong babae na nakita ko kanina.

What caught my attention were her long, wavy, brunette hair. She was smiling and waving her hand at me as she approached. I just stood in place, staring at her.

"Hello po, Sir. Dito po kayo nakatira?" she politely asked. Her voice was angelic.

"Yeah?" I hesitantly answered.

"Itatanong ko sana kung okay lang naman ba ang experience? Gusto ko po kasing bilhin ang bahay na 'yon." Tinuro niya ang bahay kanina.

I shrugged. "I think you should ask other people. Bago lang din ako rito Can't talk much."

Hindi ko na hinintay ang sasabihin niya pero narinig ko siyang nag-thank you nang tumalikod ako.

I went straight to my room and packed a few clothes. Bukas ng madaling araw ako bibyahe para sakto sa lunch na sinasabi ni Mommy. I just spent the rest of the day in my house doing nothing.

KAGAYA ng plano ko, mag-a-alas dose na nang makarating ako sa siyudad. Dumiretso na ako sa bahay dahil doon naman ang sinabi ni Mommy na lunch. I was expecting to see her and Dad. When I was about to go upstairs to my room, I heard Rad's voice entering the living room.

"Mom, Dad, nandito na ako. Kasama ko si Celeste."

I did not have enough time to process what happened. Napansin na lang nila ako nang makapasok na sila nang tuluyan. There was an immediate tension between us. My eyes darted to Celeste and her she was holding her tummy. Doon ko napansing lumalaki ang tiyan niya as if she's. . .

"Buntis ka?" tanong ko.

"Finally, right? Sa wakas, natupad na rin ang pangarap niya," mayabang na sagot ni kuya habang lumalapit siya sa akin.

"Gago ka!" Hindi ko na inisip ang mga sumunod kong ginawa. I lunged at kuya and starting throwing punches.

Nang lumayo ako, dumudugo ang ilong at labi niya.

"Gago ka, Konrad!" I yelled, dropping every single respect I have for him.

"What?! Hindi mo matanggap na hindi ikaw ang ama? Galit ka dahil ikakasal na kami ng ex mo?!"

Mas hindi ko nagustuhan iyon kaya sinugod ko siya ulit. I repeatedly threw punches at him. It wasn't enough for me that I started kicking him. I was able to corner him on a wall where I kept kicking his body.

"Nathan, tama na please!" dinig kong iyak ni Celeste. "Nasasaktan ang kuya mo! Tama na!"

Her trying to protect him pissed me more. I grabbed kuya's hair and slammed his head to the wall. "Gago ka! Mamatay ka na!"

"What is happening here?" Dad's voice roared.

Nasa taas sila ng hagdan. Mom's eyes darted to kuya who is now covered in his own blood.

"Konrad!" Mom yelled as she hurriedly went to his rescue. He wasn't responding and his eyes were closed.

"Love, iyong kotse! Dalhin natin sa ospital ang anak natin!" she cried.

Hindi nila ako pinansin.

"T-Tita," Celeste called. We all turned to her and my heart raced when she was clutching her belly as blood trickled down her legs. "Ang anak ko!"

"Love, bilisan mo!" Mom yelled again.

I stood there as Dad carried kuya to his car and Mom supported Calista to walk. Lulan sila ng iisang kotse. I stood there, dumbfounded. My eyes went down to my hands, covered in blood. I started shaking.

Fuck, am I going to jail? Did I just kill my brother?

After a good two hours of paranoia, I heard Dad's car stop. Nang makitang paparating siya, lumapit ako para sana tanungin kung kumusta sila. I almost sprinted to get to him. Nang makalapit ako, Dad threw a fist on me, pushing me to the floor.

"Ano'ng ginawa mo sa kapatid mo?" he said through his teeth.

"Dad, I'm sorry. I- I can explain."

"You almost killed Konrad! You almost fractured his ribs, Nathaniel!"

"Dad, you don't understand! Kuya and Celeste, they betrayed me! Binuntis ni kuya ang ex ko, Dad!"

"We know, Nathaniel. Get over it! Babae lang si Celeste at ang kuya mo ang papakasalan niya."

"You knew? He betrayed me, Dad!"

"Wala kang pinanghahawakan kay Celeste. Kung ang kuya mo ang gusto niya, si Konrad ang papakasalan niya. And now, thanks to you, hindi lang kuya mo ang nasa panganib. Celeste lost so much blood and their baby isn't doing good."

"Are you seriously siding with them, Dad? Ako ang ginago nila, oh."

He walked away and came back with a suitcase. Inabot niya sa akin 'yon. "That should be enough money to get you started. Leave us, Nathaniel. Go live a life somewhere else because I don't know if could ever forgive you if something bad happens to my son or my grandchild."

"What about me? I'm your son!"

"That's why I'm asking you to leave instead of calling the police on you."

To say that I was dumfounded would be an understatement. I threw the suitcase on the floor. "I need a Dad, not your money."

I left and never looked back.