The Red Butterfly (My Lady Gangster 2) :Published under Lifebooks

Red 44

Renz's POV

I followed Fia on her way back in the Philippines. Hindi na siya nanatili pa matapos nang libing ni Zehl, hndi siya nakipag-usap kahit kanino. Kaya sinundan ko na lang siya, kahit pa nasa iisang erpolano kami ay hindi kami nagpansinan. She was just silent; she was asleep on the whole duration of the flight.

Wala rin siyang dalang kagamit gamit, halatang naglalakad lang siya na parang walang patutunguhan.

"Fia," I called her. That's when she noticed my presence when we walked out of the airport. Tinignan niya lang rin ako at tumayo lang sa antayan ng sundo. Napabuntong hininga na lang ako at tinabihan siya.

"San ka pupunta? Ihahatid na kita." Sabi ko na lang, kasi nagpasundo na rin naman ako sa driver ko. Ha! Kita ko ri naman na wala pasa wisyo si Fia.

Pero ilang Segundo na ang lumipas ay 'di pa rin siya sumasagot at nagulat nalang ako anng dumating ang sundo ko ay sumakay siya roon. Tumabi na rin ako sa knaya sa likod ng sasakyan.

"Fia, where should I---" Hindi ko natapos.

"In your house."

I sighed once again, not being able to bear seeing her so quite. Ha! This is so damn awkward and at the same time a very sorrowful day.

Nang makarating kami sa bahay ay walang imik na pumunta na siya sa kwarto ko. Gabi na rin naman, kaya alam kong gusto niya na magpahinga.

"Fia, is it okay with you to sleep beside me?" I asked dumbfounded. She just started at me and put a pillow in the middle of the bed. Saka siya pumwesto sa kabila at tumalikod, wala na akong nagawa.

Humiga na lang rin ako at pinatay na ang ilaw. I am also tired, but I can feel that she has not been sleeping with the whole duration of Zehl's funeral.

Wala siyang kasabay matulog, kaya alam kong 'di talaga siya makakatulog. Idagdag pang wala na si Zehl. Sakto namang napukaw ang pag-iisip ko nang marinig ko ang mahina niyang paghikbi. I also closed my eyes and let tears flow from my eyes. She's so near, yet I can't comfort her. Ha! I don't know how, I don't know if I'll hug her, will she break down? Or If I touch her, will she totally lost it? I can't risk it. Because Fia is pretending to be okay, she's showing everyone that she can be fine on her own. It was as if like, she doesn't want anyone's help.

NAgpatuloy lang siya sa paghikbi, kaya naman nanatili lang akong nakikinig. Ilang oras ko siyang inantay para tumahan, pero hindi siya humihinto. Kaya hindi ko na napigilan at tinggal ko ang unan sa pagitan namin. I pulled her to face me and hugged her. I let her rest on my chest as I pat her back.

"Shhh, it's okay, Fia. Cry all you want. Iiyak mo lang, alam kong masakit. Pero kaya mo 'yan, alam ko 'yon. You're strong Fia, Zehl knows that. That's why cry it all tonight and start to live again tomorrow, live as if Zehl is still alive. Because he will be watching you, he didn't really lieft. He's still there, in your heart."

And with that Fia cried loudly. It was the first time seeing her cry like this and it pains me that this is all I can do, to wait for her to be okay.

Days, became weeks, weeks became months, but Fia is not getting okay. And still the only lead we had on Zehl's case was the bullet and what kind of gun was used to kill him. And nothing else, we've been tracking all the possible drivers that passed the intersection on that day through CCTVs. But still, no one is suspicious and was acquitted of suspicion.

Malinis ang pagkakagawa ng krimen. Ha! Halatang pinag-planuhang maigi. Kaya wala kaming chice kun'di ang isa isahin ang mga nahuling criminal ni Zehl at ng grupo namin. At sa dami no'n ay inabot kami hanggang sa ngayon. Kaya naman hinayaan ko na munangnNaka-leave si Fia sa NBI at Underworld. Pero sa bahay ko pa rin siya tumutuloy, sa tabi ko rin siya natutulog. And problema lang, umuuwi siya na laging lasing.

"Fia," I halted her when she was about to go upstairs. Inantay ko na siya sa living room, kasi madaling araw na naman nang dumating siya.

"Yesh?" Her face was red because of her drunkenness, that's why I walked closer to her.

I don't want to lecture her, because I know it was her only way of overcoming the tragedy. "I---I will visit Zia and the kids tomorrow. Do you want to come with me?"

Napataas man ang kilay niya ay ngumiti naman siya.

"Sure,sure." She said and proceeded upstairs. Ha! Gusto ko siyang pagalitan, gusto ko siyang sitahin, pero 'di ko magawa. Hindi ko kaya.

Pinapanood ko si Fia na mag-alaga mga anak ni Zia. NAkakatuwang tignan na may hawak silang parehong bata, kita ring giliw na giliw sila sa kambal. Pero kita ko pa rin ang pangungulila sa mata ni Fia. Alam kong naiisip niyang magkakapamilya rin sana sila ni Zehl, kung buhay pa ito.

Hindi ko tuloy mapigilang mapabuntong hininga, kaya tinapik ako ni Lhester at inabutan ako ng juice.

"Boss, okay na ba siya?" Tanong niya, kasi pati siya ay 'di niya maasikaso si Fia. Lalo na't may anak na sila ni Zia.

"I don't know. She looks okay, but I think she's not." Seryosong sagot ko, kaya napatango tango siya.

"Alam mo, Boss. Mas maigi kung dalhin mo siya parati dito. Para naman imbes na bar at bahay ang piupuntahan niyan e mag-alaga na lang siya sa mga pamangkin niya. Alam mo naman, minsan wala rin ako dito sa bahay."

Napalingon ako kay Lhester. "Are you sure? Do you think it will help?"

Ngumiti naman siya at tinapik ako sa balikat. "Boss, ako ang best friend 'di ba? Syempre alam ko ang likaw ng bituka ng babaeng 'yan. At alam kong makaka-move on rin siya. Tandaan mo, she's Lufia, the fierce Red Butterfly."

Nang makauwi kami ni Fia ay nanibago ako. Sa loob kasi ng halos tatlong buwan na namalagi siya rito ay ngayon ko lang siya nakita sa gabi na hindi lasing.

"Fia, what if you help Zia for the mean time?" I suggested when we both sat on the sofa. Tinignan niya naman ako at ngumisi.

"Renz, are you complaining now? Dahil ba nagangamoy alak ang kama mo palagi sa umaga? O dahil nakikitira ako dito sa'yo?

Her smirk was one of the things that I missed, that's why I reach for her head and mess with her hair. After Zehl's death, I also noticed that she dyed her hair darker shade of Red again and her curl was a bit drastic. Though it still suits her.

"Fia, alam ko kasing nabuburyo ka sa bahay. At tulungan mo si Zia, alam kong may alam ka sa pag-aalaga ng bata. Kasi inalagaan mo si Lulu 'di ba? Zia is a newbie, better teach her."

Napataas naman na ang kilay niya at tinabig ang kamay ko sa ulo niya. "Tss. Are you hiring me as babysitter, Mr. De Vera?"

I smiled widely. "If I say yes, how much payment will you want?"

Pinaningkitan niya naman ako ng mata at saka ngumisi ng nakakaloko.

"I know what I want."

"What?"

"How about you start going home early every night and dine with me? Will you accept that offer?"

Napahawak muna ako sa baba ko at nag-isip. Nakasanayan kong sa opisina kumain, pero mukhang nasanay naman si Fia na kasabay lagi si Zehl kumain no'ng nabubuhay pa ito. Kaya niya siguro hiniling iyon.

I looked at her first and nodded.

"Okay, deal.