Symphonian Curse 9: Queen Diamond

Chapter Twenty-Nine- Out From The Town

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Out From The Town

EVERYONE in Villa Contreras was in a hurry that night. Masama pa ang loob ng lahat dahil nawala si S pero nagdesisyon na si Eli na umalis sila roon sa kabila ng nangyari. Alam niyang hindi na safe sa pamilya nila ang manatili roon.

"Paano si S?" tanong ni Zee. "Hindi tayo pwedeng umalis nang wala si Ezra!"

"I can't risk all your lives for the sake of one."

"He is our brother," Elijah interrupted. Ang mga asawa nila ang naghahanda ng lahat nga mga gamit nila while the men carried the things in the living room. Nagkataong na-corner siya ng dalawa sa sala. "Kuya, we have to do something."

He sighed. "As much as I want to do something, I can't. Wala naman akong kapangyarihang gaya ng kay S o ng iba pang first borns. Mahal ko si S, alam niyo 'yan. Ano pa man ang nalaman natin, it won't matter. Just like you, I want him safe but I know he left because he wants us to be safe so we'll honor his decision. We need to leave," he firmly said. Walang nakakibo sa mga ito. Ipinagpatuloy nila ang paghahanda sa pag-alis. After few more minutes, naroon na sa sala ang lahat. Evan and Erwan came in.

"Are we really going to be safe?" it was Yñez who asked the two.

Tumingin si Evan sa wristwatch nito. "I hope you can go out from the town peacefully," Evan answered.

"We know a safer way out from here," Erwan interrupted. "Evan and I will follow your convoy. Let's go."

Kanya-kanya na sila ng sakay sa mga sasakyan. Nakasakay na ang lahat maliban kina Ethan at Marcie. Mahina pa rin si Ethan pero wala na ito sa panganib.

"Ethan, dito na kayo sumakay sa kotse," aniya. Hindi ito sumagot. Tumitig lang ito sa asawa nito. He can tell that Ethan wasn't planning to go with them.

"Tio, you need to go," Evan reminded Ethan. It was the first time that he heard Evan called Ethan 'tio' which means uncle and he was sure it wasn't just because of respect but more of a title given to whom it is due. Kung uncle ni Evan si Ethan, it means kapatid o pinsan ng ina nito ang lalaki gaya nila. It has been a mystery to him kung paano napunta si Ethan sa pangangalaga ng kakambal niya at kung bakit ang kakambal niya ang nagpalaki rito.

He suddenly remembered Ethan's narrative about his identity.

"My father died before I was born. My mother died few months after she gave birth to me. Ipinaubaya niya ako kay Queen Diamond."

Then he remembered S' words in the attic.

"I've taken enough from Ethan. I want to do what's right."

Ethan's father died few months before he was born and his mother died few months after he was born. Gano'n ang eksaktong sitwasyon nina S at Star noong hindi pa nila alam na adopted ang mga ito. Ano ang posibleng kinuha ni S mula kay Ethan? Could it be...

"What if ayokong sumama sa kanila? Pepwersahin niyo ako?" hamon ni Ethan kina Evan at Erwan. Hindi nakakibo ang dalawa. Nilapitan ni Marcie ang asawa at hinawakan sa braso. "Wag kang magalit sa kanila. They're just doing their duties," Marcie said patiently and gently. Tila natauhan si Ethan. Walang kibo itong sumakay sa kotse kasama ang asawa.

"Tio Eli, please take care of him," Erwan asked.

"I will."

Sumakay na siya ng kotse. After few moments, they started to travel. It was almost nine in the evening when they departed from Villa Contreras. They were all silent inside the car. Debbie who was sitting right next to him in the passenger's seat was keenly observing the road. Pasulyap-sulyap siya sa backseat kung saan tahimik na nakaupo sina Ethan, Marcie at Zara. Ethan was leaning on his wife's shoulder and resting. Zara was looking at the outside. Nauuna sa kotse nila ang van na dina-drive ni Blake at ang nauuna sa convoy ay ang van na dina-drive ni Zee. Behind their car were Evan and Erwan on a motorcycle.