Only Ever After

Kabanata 36

Kabanata 36

Seryosong tumingin si Liham sa akin, nagulat ako nang naglakad siya palapit at saka ako niyakap, as if covering my body with his to shield me from the guns, as if he was willing to take all of the bullets for me.

"Remember the day when you told me that you love me?" Bulong ni Liham, "that was the happiest day of my life, I love you, Yomi. So damn much."

Why does it feel like a goodbye? Humigpit ang hawak ko sa ilalim ng damit niya, lumabas ang mga luha ko na nagbabadyang tumulo, he sighed and wiped my tears away.

"Go get him!" Utos ni Isigro sa mga tauhan niya.

"I'll make sure they won't hurt you, Mi." Kinasa niya ang baril at tinuro ito sa mga tauhan na lumapit, he pulled me close to his back until I felt the warmth that prickled on his skin, "move back!" Utos niya sa mga kalaban.

"Drop your weapon if you don't like your lady to get hurt." Halatang hindi nagsisinungaling si Isigro, matalim ang tingin na ibinibigay niya kay Liham, nagulat ako nang biglang binaba ni Liham ang baril niya.

"Make sure to keep your words." His cold voice ordered, alam kong magaling si Liham ngunit mag-isa lang siya at maraming kalaban, he cannot fight against them alone. We were outnumbered.

Tumingin muli ako sa lalaking walang buhay, duguan siya at nakahiga lang sa lupa kung saan nagkalat ang kanyang mga dugo, it was my brother. Is he really dead? Hindi ko alam kung ano ba dapat ang maramdaman ko.

He was never a good brother, but still, he didn't deserve to die like this. Siguro masyado siyang nasilaw sa pera pero kahit na ganoon ay kuya ko pa rin siya. I wiped my tears away, unsure if I am crying for my dead brother or Liham, or both.

"Kick your gun." Isigro grinned, "and the lady will be spared."

"Liham, huwag..."

Hindi nakinig si Liham sa akin, he kicked the gun away until he was armed no more, tumango si Isigro sa mga tauhan niya na agad na hinila si Liham, nagulat ako nang suntukin nila sa sikmura si Liham, he did not move though or look pained with such impact, alam kong ayaw niyang magpakita ng kahinaan.

"Torture him until his hard face looks like a pained face." Isigro smiled at the thought, tumawa naman ang mga tauhan niya at sinunod ang kanyang utos.

Napako lang ako sa aking kinakatayuan, what should I do? I feel so helpless, the pain of Liham made me feel useless, he was suffering because of me and the idea hurts me, alam kong kaya niyang patumbahin ang lahat kung wala ako, but then I doubt that now, sagabal ba ako sa kanya?

Hanggang sa umimpit na si Liham nang dumapo ang kamao ng isa sa sugat niyang gumagaling na, "huwag!" Sigaw ko at tumakbo palapit sa kanya, may mga tauhan naman na pumigil sa akin, nagpumiglas ako ngunit masyadong mahigpit ang hawak nila sa akin.

"Get her inside the van." Utos ni Isigro sa dalawang tauhan niya na agad namang sumunod, kinuha nila ang kamay ko.

"You promised not to harm her..." Liham's voice was full of venom, "spare her, just kill me and spare her." And then he coughed blood.

Hindi ko maiwasang maiyak, if only I can do something. If only somebody comes to save us.

Tumawa si Isigro dahil sa inasta ni Liham, mahigpit niyang hinawakan ang panga ni Liham, "is this real? The mafia boss of the Silician House is asking me to kill him? Oh boy, no, you cannot die that easily, killing you is too easy, instead, I will slowly kill your soul until you are nothing, sisimulan ko siya." Ngumisi si Isigro at tinuro ako habang patuloy na nagpupumiglas sa dalawang tauhan, "I will marry your woman, she is quite the catch, I heard you two are having a baby?"