Lovely Ever After

Kabanata 110

Kabanata 110

"Mr. Racadio..."

"Just Lastrel." Pagtatama niya, "masyadong mahaba ang Mr. Racadio." I know he was only trying to remove the cold and tension in the air, ngumiti ako sa kanya at tumango.

"Okay, Lastrel." It must be his first name? "Gusto ko lang humingi ng pabor," tumingin ako kay Liham na mahimbing ang tulog, he looked so innocent, like he was an angel when he was fast asleep. He looked so peaceful.

"What is it?"

"Please lie to Liham, alam kong mamaya ay tatanungin niya ang resulta, please just tell him he is just depressed and stressed, kaya siya nagkakaganito, please don't tell him everything we've talked about, he still have one month, right?"

Tumango siya. Alam kong naiintindihan niya ako. Alam kong alam niya ang gusto kong mangyari.

Hinugot ko ang lahat ng lakas ng aking katawan at saka yumuko kay Lastrel, "Within that one month, please find the cure, just... find something to heal him."

"I am the one who started it, but I don't know how to end it."

"Alam kong sa lahat ng tao na naririto ay ikaw lang ang tiyak na nakakaalam tungkol dito, this was your idea, right? You need to do something, not for me, but for Liham, he is your mafia boss. Hindi ba't dapat gagawin mo ang lahat para iligtas siya? Please, do it in one month... before what you say truly happens." I will never forgive myself if he loses himself.

May tiwala ako kay Mr. Racadio, may tiwala ako sa kanya, but before that, he must also have trust to himself.

"I will do everything I can."

"Salamat." Ngumiti ako sa kanya.

Alam ni Lastrel ang iniisip ko, ayoko na malaman ang lahat ng ito ni Liham dahil panigurado ay mamomroblema lang siya, yes, maybe, truly even, he have the rights to know his condition because it is his body and destiny, but I can't just stand and watch him worry about his life.

I want him to enjoy.

I want him not to worry for nothing, alam kong gagawin ang lahat ni Mr. Racadio upang iligtas siya, because among the men of Liham, siya pa lang ang unang tauhan na napatunayan kong hindi siya iniwan at tinraydor.

Ever since time immemorial, Mr. Racadio was there, parang noong nabaril si Liham, he saved him. He will save him again, right?

"Yomi?"

Napatingin kami ni Lastrel sa pinanggalingan ng malumanay na tinig, it was Liham, his eyes were glassy and shining, a sign he was asleep, he blinked, trying to adjust his eyesight, "tapos na ang test?"

Tumingin ako kay Mr. Racadio, alam kong alam na niya ang tingin na binibigay ko sa kanya, please... I know it must be hard to lie for him, but it is for him, for his own good. Binulsa ko ang device na nagmamanipula sa kanya bago pa man niya iyon makita.

"Yes, Young Master." Yumuko si Mr. Racadio at tumingin sa hologram, "Machina, your job is done, shut down."

"Shutting down."

Biglang namatay ang lahat ng ilaw sa paligid, si Liham naman ay nagsuot na ng damit, lumapit siya sa amin, ramdam ko ang bigat na tensyong namuo sa hangin, calm down, Yomi. Calm down. He will probably ask about the results.

"Ano ang resulta?"

Bumilis ang pintig ng aking puso dahil sa kanyang tanong, tumingin ako kay Mr. Racadio, the decision is all yours, Lastrel. Nasa iyo kung magsisinungaling ka o sasabihin mo ang totoo. But please, think about what I said.

"Nothing strange." Kalmadong sagot ni Mr. Racadio, halos bumuntong-hininga na ako, he lied. He lied! It was for the best, habang hinahanap niya ang lunas, habang ginagawa niya ang lahat upang matanggal ang device na nakakabit sa kanyang utak nang hindi siya namamatay o nasisiraan ng bait, o mawalan ng memorya.

"Specify." Sumeryoso ang mukha ni Liham, can he see through us? That we are lying to him? I hope not.

"Dala lang ng stress at depression kaya ka nagkakaganyan, Young Master, I recommend you to sleep at least 8-12 hours a day, iyon ang kailangan mo ngayon, you've been pushing your body too far, after all. You need rest. Babalik ka rin sa normal." Saad ni Lastrel nang hindi nauutal o nabubulol.

"I'm not convinced."

I held my breath because of what he said. Tumingin ako kay Mr. Racadio na kalmado lang na nakatingin kay Liham.

"If it's all because I'm tired, then why do I keep doing things that I don't want? Why do I keep doing things unconsciously? Do I have a double personality disorder? Or what?"

No, but something similar. You have two sides and another unexplainable side. The flight mode and the order mode. Then there's the side effect of the device.

"No, that must be because you are mentally unstable, siguro dahil sa iyong pagkalunod noon, but don't worry, I will surely find the cure within a month." Yes, Lastrel. You must. Nakasalalay sa kamay mo ang buhay ni Liham.

"Okay." Seryosong sagot ni Liham, hindi ko mabasa ngayon kung ano ang tumatakbo sa kanyang isipan. "Do you have anything else to say, then?"

"I recommend you to control yourself, when you give in to temptation, you may end up hurting the persons you love."

Kaya ba naging ganoon si Liham kagabi? Because he was tempted?

"Young Master, you are mentally unstable, you need to stabilize yourself, you need to drink a medicine that makes you calm down, always. When you lose your temper, even just for a moment, there is a tendency that you do something and you will never remember it. Maybe that's the science behind your questions."

"Salamat." Ngumiti si Liham, "I will keep your words in my mind."

Tumingin siya sa akin, "tara na ba?" Tanong ko.

He nodded, nauna na siyang lumabas sa laboratory, ako naman ay tumingin kay Lastrel, "thank you, please find the cure, I believe in you." Bulong ko sa kanya at sumunod na kay Liham palabas.
"Liham..." pagtawag ko sa kanya nang nakalabas na kami sa klinika at sumasakay na sa kotse niya.

"Hmm?" He hummed.

"About our twins, totoo ba ang pangako mo sa kanila? Na lalabas tayo?"

"Yes, why?"

"Hindi ba't masyado pa ring delikado kahit na wala na ang defenders of justice?" After all, there are still other mafias who are waiting for the right moment to strike us. That's always been how the underground organization works.

"We're not going somewhere where a lot of people are."

"Saan, then?"

"Babalik tayo sa isla kung saan kita dinala noon matapos ang limang taon, to reconcile with you. This time, we're complete, we can finally bring the twins."

Happiness took over my senses but there was caution too, hindi ko alam kung magandang ideya ba iyon, considering how unstable he is.

No.

I trust Liham, hindi siya basta-bastang mawawalan ng komposyur.

I smiled, "kailan tayo pupunta?"

"Tonight."