AGTML

Chapter 13

Learning the Hard Way

“Exodus, a renaissance thinker once said that to exact vengeance, one should crush his enemy to the point that the latter will not be able to anymore retaliate; and your death was my resolve.” Elmo said.

Exodus was shivering as he was muzzling up all his courage to pull the trigger. His mind was clouded, confused and tormented. His body is wounded, weak and broken.

Then a loud sound resonated all over Exodus condominium unit. It was Julie who was able to break Exodus unlocked door. Julie stumbled to the floor and saw Elmo standing in front Exodus while the latter was convulsing with fear while pointing a gun on his head.

“Exodus don’t!” Julie screamed as she embraced Exodus “Moe please let him stop! He is my brother!”

Upon hearing those words Exodus eyes broke with tears and cried. Julie was also crying and begging Exodus to hear her out. This time it was Elmo who was shocked in seeing Julie cry with sorrow on the frustrated death of his brother.

“Julie, what are you doing? He was trying to make your life miserable.” Elmo asked confusedly.

“I know! But he’s still my brother Moe! I grew up with him! I believe that he was just blinded by his ambition. But despite of that I am always willing to forgive him and ask forgiveness too.” Julie cried.

Exodus remained in shock. Things seem to be hasty for him to absorb. Then Exodus passed out.

“I am sorry Exodus! I am sorry brother, I am sorry!” Julie’s voice echoed to Exodus thoughts.

***

“Where am I?” Exodus finally said.

“You lost consciousness Exodus. We brought you to the hospital.” Julie answered.

“Ouch! My arm, my chest… I thought it was the end.”

“It should have been.” Elmo interfered.

“Moe…” Exodus said surprisingly.

“I’ll take my leave.” Elmo said ignoring Exodus.

“Exodus… I am glad you are okay…” Julie said.

“Julie I am very sorry. I was driven by my desire to get back what I thought was mine. I was blinded and fooled by myself which caused our sibling rivalry.”

“There was no rivalry between us Exodus, you are my brother. All I wanted you to do was to listen to me. So that I could explain myself and ask forgiveness.”

“No, it is I who should ask forgiveness Julie. I am sorry for everything that I’ve done.”

“It’s okay Exodus, no worries.”

The two siblings took that opportunity to talk about their lives for the past six years. Exodus and Julie are glad that at last everything was back to normal between them.

“Exodus, why don’t you return to PSJ? I can give you some of my shares if you want.” Julie offered.

“Thanks Julie, but I am already contended with Waldrich, besides I still have to fix the mess in our company.”

“I see.”

“Julie you are lucky to have Mr. Magalona on your side. During that incident, he mentioned about my compensation to what I’ve done to you. Julie he did it because of you. No person will do such thing if you are not important to him.”

Julie went silent.

“But Julie he is capable of crossing the lines. It is also your duty to protect him from himself. While he was at my condominium I could see his anger and thirst for vengeance, but not to me but to himself. If he was seeking to avenge PSJ he had a lot of chance to kill me that time but he didn’t. Instead he even told me…” Exodus hold back and hesitated to tell Julie the truth about PSJ “…how important you were to him.”

“I see. Are you going to file a case against him?”

“Well he committed a lot of crimes Julie… but is he also important to you?”

Julie nodded.

Exodus smiled “I see…”

***

A Week After

“Due to the consecutive incidents that occurred to Waldrich Corp. Waldrich Australia CEO Exodus Ludovice sold the shares left by his fellow shareholders who passed away a week ago. Business analysts said that this mess was done due to Waldrich’s Business competition gone wrong. However, Exodus maintains that everything was just a result of a personal feud between Mr. Shores and Mr. Graham. As for the reason why he was confined in Epworth Hospital and the injuries he incurred Mr. Ludovice remains silent about it.” The News reporter said.

Door Bell Buzzing

“Mr. Magalona?” Exodus called out.

“Exodus… are you here to strangle me and force me to commit suicide too?”

“(Hard laugh) no I am not a monster like you Elmo. I am here to give you something.”

Exodus took a brown envelope from his coat and handed it to Elmo.

“I was supposed to use it against you after my presentation. That contains information about you and your family.”

“My family? Who gave you these?” Elmo frantically asked.

“I told my men to look for some information about you. That ‘s what they found. Honestly, I really don’t know where they came from and admittedly I only had a shallow knowledge of your identity. But I heard that you are looking for someone that has something to do with your family’s death that is why I decided to give you that.” Exodus explained.

“I see, thank you Exodus.”

“Ahmm… I’ll take my leave now.” Exodus bid.

“Okay.”

As Exodus stepped out of Elmo’s gate, Exodus again called Elmo’s attention.

“Hey Moe! Though your methods were rough, thanks for making me realize the truth about Julie. I owe you the honor of my Mom’s name.” Exodus thanked.

“Some people just have to learn the hard way Exodus, and yours was the hardest.”

 “Good thing I didn’t die.” Exodus joked.

Elmo grinned “Actually, I intended your death. You should thank Julie for that.”

Exodus eyes became wide upon hearing Elmo’s words, but he just brushed it off and left.

Elmo instantaneously opened Exodus’ envelope. He was surprised and mad upon reading the papers inside the package.

“These are my family’s death documents! And these are transfer papers… my family’s bodies were transferred!”

Then Elmo’s mobile rang. He checked his phone to see who’s calling.

I am sorry Julie I have to go. You saw who I really am. I don’t deserve to be with you anymore. I think I’ve already done my part. Moe thought as he shut off his phone.