VINCENT (Book 2 of 2) ↠ Amor Aeternus | (PUBLISHED UNDER CLOAK-POPFICTION)

SPECIAL CHAPTER #2 : LEVI

LEVI'S POV 

"Sir Levi, pinapatawag po kayo ng dad ninyo po."

I ate the last part of my apple before throwing the remains in the nearby bin. I didn't make a move after that and continued to stare outside of my window.

It was a nice day and my cousins were playing at the backyard. Bakasyon ng lahat kaya ang mga nakababata kong mga pinsan ay nagpunta sa bahay para dalawin si Cole. Nagkalat ang mga yaya nila na kasama sa pamamasiyal doon sa bakuran ngunit walang nagawa ang mga ito para mapanatili ang mga paslit sa iisang lugar.

I almost smiled as I watched them play outside my window. They were all acting like rascals.

I even saw Grey and Reed aggressively battling with their water guns. My little brother, Cole, was climbing the mango tree near my window and Savannah was right below, probably waiting for his harvest. Chelsea was there too, talking animatedly with Keira. They were laughing at Grey who was rolling in the grass, already drenched from head to toe.

They looked happy.

Good for them.

"Sir?"

I sighed and with a fleeting look, I tried to memorize the happy faces of my cousins and my brother. Watching them enjoy their childhood was enough for me not to wish my own would be the same.

"Where is he?"

"Sa basement po."

Tumalikod na ako sa pinapanood ko at naglakad na papalabas ng kwarto. Ngunit hindi pa man din ako nakakatapak sa may pintuan ay hinarangan na ako ng maid na tumawag sa akin.

"Sir Levi, saglit lang po..."

I looked up, only to watch her lips tremble and tears flow from her eyes.

Sinubukan niya akong hawakan ngunit agad akong umiwas.

I didn't want anybody to touch me.

"Move."

Hindi siya ka agad sumunod at biglang lumuhod sa harapan ko.

It was not the first time that someone begged for something from me. Dad said that only those who are weak do this, but I was only thirteen then, and watching a grown woman begging for my time was something I wouldn't want to see again.

"M-may itatanong l-lang po sana ako."

Nagbuntonghininga ako.

The maid was old. Matagal na siya sa pamilya at siya pa ang nagpalaki kay dad. Wala akong maramdaman habang tinititigan ko siyang umiiyak kung hindi pagkainip. Gusto ko na malaman kung anong kailangan sa akin ni dad para mapagplanuhan ko na ang mga susunod kong gagawin. Nagpapatagal lamang siya sa akin.

"S-sir...alam niyo po ba kung...kung saan nila dinala ang anak ko?"

Unconsciously, my head tilted as I continued to watch her. I knew her daughter because she was my maid and she... she was my very first kill.

Utos ni dad 'yon noong nakaraang gabi kaya wala ako nagawa kung hindi ang sumunod. Kinuha ang anak niya ng mga tauhan ni dad habang mahimbing silang natutulog sa maid's quarter para maging practice target ko.

It was necessary like Dad told me. I always hit my target during practice. He needed to confirm if I could do it with people, too.

"Don't look for her," I said. I was not sure if it was necessary to tell her about what I did. Wala rin naman mababago. "She's already dead."

It was a test of obedience from my father. Either I kill my maid with no questions asked or one of my brothers will die by my hands that night.

I had no choice.