The Ring of Cercle

PROLOGUE

                                                                           PROLOGUE

“The most beautiful people I've known are those who have known trials, have known struggles, have known loss, and have found their way out of the depths.” 

                                                                                                                                     ― Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

He picked up the phone.

"Hello?"

"Where are you?" the other line said.

"Di mo na kailangan pang malaman. Whatever happens, hindi nila makukuha ang singsing." he said with fatal tone.

There was a pause.

"Marcus." he sighed.

"Yes, friend." 

"You know what to do. Si James." he held the phone tightly.

"I always know what to do."

Tumango siya at tumingala sa kalangitan. Alas kwatro pa lang ng hapon, ngunit madilim ang kalangitan. Nagbabadya ng isang malakas na ulan.

Tumikhim siya.

"You know I'm not confident with my son, what if he'll choose a woman who-

"Jacques," Marcus hissed " matanda na ang anak mo-"

"Well, he's not doin' good with women!" he blurted. Sumandal siya sa hood ng kotse niya. 

" Oh of course he's not, but you know him jacques, you know him."

" I don't think I do." kinuha niya ang singsing sa bulsa. tinitigan ito ng mabuti.

" Jacques, parang anak ko na rin si james. at kaibigan kita." 

Nilalaro ng daliri niya ang singsing. God, ilang taon na niyang ginagawa yun, but it always feel like the first time he touched it.

"He is a rosetti, Jacques." putol ni marcus sa daloy ng isip niya. " and a good one." 

Tumikhim siya.

"and jacques-

he sighed.

"Jacques, you were like him. when you were his age, you were like him, you son of a bitch." 

Narinig niyang tumawa si marcus.

"I don't find it funny, Marcus" he said grimly. 

"Oh i do.." said Marcus." but let's see, uhm, what if ...ah.."

He frowned. "what?"

"what if,,..ikaw na mismo ang maghanap ng babae para sa kanya?" marcus grinned.

He gasped. napahalakhak si marcus.

"I caught you! see? jacques fucking rossetti is caught with my bare hands!"

"Magsalita ka pa.." he said hotly.

"  I'm serious, dead  serious, have time to ponder on my suggestion."

" I am fucking over fifty to be a matchmaker! only women do that!" he hissed.

Marcus laughed.

"Wala nang ibang paraan, jacques, binibigyan kita ng idea kung paano mabigyan ng solusyon ang problema mo sa anak mo...and- marcus paused.

"What?"

"Alam mong hindi basta basta ang responsibilidad sa magiging susunod na successor ng singsing. at sa tingin ko, walang pakialam si james! alam kong alam mo 'yan..." marcus said.

Ikinuyom niya ang kanyang kamay.

"Masyado pang maaga para dyan." he sighed.

"We do not know, jacques."

He surveyed the place. 

" Yes, marcus, we do not know." he said.

" you always don't know jacques.James too, well, i think we have to be patient with him. As what i said, he is a rossetti. "

tumango siya. "Damn he is.."

" it's been years, friend. naaalala kita kapag tinitingnan ko si james. you were like him, not doin' good with women. bars, cigarettes, fights...- marcus smirked.-"fucking old times."

" Always the melodramatic marcus-

"Until lora..."

He stiffined. naalala ang kahapon. Isang mapait at malungkot na kahapon.