IZANA
“Marry her or else..” They said, i don’t have a choice. Hindi naman pwedeng mapahamak si Haven. Hindi pwedeng madamay pamilya niya.
If only i knew going back here in this country is a curse. Sana hindi na lang ako bumili. I should’ve just stayed with her.
I bit my lower lip. “Just… don’t hurt her. Please.” I begged. “I’ll do everything.”
That was the last conversation and here i am in front of our friends. Section Uno. “Punch me. Tangina, sasaluhin ko lahat.” I said.
Emma wiped her tears and slapped me. “You are a jerk, Kuya.” She said. “You were supposed to protect her from everything. Hindi sukuan!”
“I know for sure na the sparks are no longer there but you should stay! Kasi, doon kayo sinusubok.” She added. “KUYA PLEASE.”
“Emma, umalis ka jan.” I heard Ran’s voice. He stood in front of me at hinawakan ang kwelyo ko.
He punched me. Really hard. 5 times? No, 10 times. “Putangina mo.” He said. “Ano kami dito? Display? You can ask for help pero tinanggap mo.”
Rindou also punched me. “Kupal. I am expecting na poprotektahan mo si Ashy pero ano ‘to?” He asked and showed the invitation.
He ripped it. He even burned it. “I won’t fucking go to your wedding. Respeto na lang para sa pinsan ko.”
I wiped the blood out of my mouth. I saw Hina slap Chifuyu. “Ipakita mo sa ‘kin yang pinsan mo. Ako kamo harapin!”
“I-i’m sorry.” I whispered.
The door opened and it was her, Ashlyn. She rushed towards me at agad na pinunasan ang dugo sa mukha ko. She’s crying and i hate seeing her cry.
“Let’s go? Uwi na tayo.” She said in the most comforting voice.
I pulled her towards me and hugged her. “I’m sorry.” I whispered.
She didn’t reply. She just sobbed harder. “Tangina naman.” I heard Hanma cursed. “Pwede bang tayo na magtanan sa dalawang ‘to?”
“Please, let’s do something.” Senju begged.
“Chifuyu.” Mikey called him.
I held her face and wiped her tears. “I love you. I love you so much and i’m willing to sacrifice myself just to protect you.”
Agad siyang umiling. “No… we’re supposed to face all of these. Please, let me protect you. Let me help you.”
“I hate seeing you in this kind of situation. I love you. And, i’m willing to work my way towards you. Towards our sparks.”
She stood up. “Please… Kuya, help me.” She said and Ran helped her. They helped me sat on the sofa at agad naman niyang nilabas ang first aid kit.
She can’t stop herself from crying while treating my face. “Paano mo nasikmurang wag sabihin sa ‘kin?” She asked.
“I’m sorry. I-i am afraid.”
I am such a jerk and cruel man. “Ano bang sabi ko? Kapag kaya ilaban, ilalaban naman.”
“Are you mad at me?” I asked.
Instead of answering my question. She planted a kiss on my lips. “No one could ever make me hate you.”
“I love you too much to the point na.. i can’t even hate someone like you.” She added. “Magpahinga ka jan.”
She walked towards her cousins. Just by watching her, she’s still the same. She’s still my love, the one i want to marry.
It sucks that in this life, wala kaming choice but to embrace this. Tangina. I want to fight. “Gusto niyo ba kidnappin na lang si Sam?” Baji said.
“Ibahin niyo yung direction papuntang simbahan.” Dagdag niya pa.
“Tangina mo naman, Baji.” Ryusei said. “Pero, pwede rin. Ako mag drive.”
“Matsuno, reto mo na lang kay Ryusei yang pinsan mo.” Sabi ni Mitsuya. “Naiistorbo lovelife ng mga tao.”
I saw Ashy na kinuha ang susi ng motor ni Rindou at helmet. “Love, where are you going?”
“Papahangin lang.” She answered.
I stood up. “Kaya ko. Let’s go.”
She looked at our friends. “Pigilan niyo nga.”
“Mahal naman..” I begged. She didn’t look at me. Dire diretso siyang lumabas. I heard her start the motorcycle.
“Hayaan mo si Ashy. Hihinga lang yan.” Mikey said.
After hours, umuwi siya. Mugto ang mata. “Nakausap mo?” Emma asked and she nodded.
“I begged… lumuhod ako.” She answered. “If that’s the only way to stop that from happening, lumuhod ako. Nagmakaawa ako.”
“As much as they want to stop that shit… hindi nila kaya.” Dagdag pa niya. “Anong magagawa ko, diba?”
She stared at the invitation na nasa table at nilapitan ito sabay pinunit. “Kurokawa.” She called my last name.
“Do you really want to get married to someone? For family business purposes?”
“No.” I answered.
She nodded. “You’re smart. You can do everything. How come na hindi ka agad nakagawa ng mga paraan to make this stop?”
“Did you just accept it kasi mapapahamak ako and my family?” She asked.
“Or, you’re just tired of me na rin kaya ganyan?” She sighed heavily and wiped her tears. “Answer me.”
“I just don’t want you to suffer.” I answered.
“But, we’re in this together.” Sambit niya. “Kailan ba ako hindi naka survive sa mga problema sa buhay?”
“You’re with me when we lost our child. Kasama kita harapin lahat ng mga kagaguhan na nangyayari sa buhay natin…”
I walked towards her and gently wiped her tears. “We’re together every time na may problema. Tapos, bibigyan mo ako ganyang reason?”
I embrace her tightly. “I’m sorry. I just want to see you safe. I love you so much that i am willing to risk everything. I want to protect you from them.”
“But, you’re not even protecting me.” She whispered. “You’re hurting me with your decisions.”
“I love you, baby. Please.” I whispered. “Just trust me.”
Agad siyang umiling. “Paano?”
“Gagawan ko paraan. Gagawan namin paraan.” I said while wiping her tears and gently planted a kiss on her face. “Stop crying na.”
She sobbed like a little kid in my arms. “Shh… i love you. I’m so sorry.”
“Tangina niyong dalawa. Hindi ako aattend sa kasal na yan kung hindi kayo.” Sanzu said.
“Boss Madam over anything else.” Section Uno said. “Kaya kung mas piliin namin si Madam sa kasal mo, pasensya.”
“Understandable. Thank you.” I answered.
I looked at my woman. “Let’s go? Uwi na tayo. Uno’s waiting for us.”
