The Game Changer (Mafia Families #2)

Extra 5 : I Remember

Zel's Pov

It's the night of her birthday pero walaw akong maibigay. Feeling ko pabigat lang ako kay Ress, kahit hindi ko man maintindihan kung bakit ganun nalang ang pagmamalasakit ni REss saakin pero nagpapasalamat ako, kung hindi dahil sakanya y hindi ako mabubuhay.

Hindi ko lang alam kung anong mangyayari kung makaalala na ako. Pero isa lang ang alam ko, na kung makaalala man ako ay hindi magbabago ang tingin ko kay Ress.

I care so much for her. I feel like she's not just a friend to me.

Tinignan ko na ang sarili ko sa salamin. I am wearing a black suit para sa special birthday celebration I prepared for her sa tulong ni Manang. It's the only thing I could do with the limited situation.iolet gown.

Sinundo ko na si Ress sa kwarto niya and as usual ay nasa balcony siya, wearing the most elegant and beautiful violet gown.

"You looks stunning." sabi ko at ngumiti.

"Talaga? Hindi mo pa nga nakikita ang mukha ko." Biro niya.

I reached for her hand.

"Kahit na, ramdam at lama kong kahit ano pa ayn tinatago mo ay ikaw parin ang pinakamagandang babaeng nakilala ko."

Ngumiti siya pero parang may lungkot at parang maiiyak siya.

"Okay ka lang?"

"I'm just happy." Sabi lang niya.

"If you didn't find me I wouldn't be alive."

"Kung hindi dahil saakin ay wala ka sana sa sitwasyon na ito ngayon." Sabi niya and looked at me like he wanted to say sorry but she couldn't. Why would she? She saved my life.

"C'mon Ress. Wag mo sabihin niya, You saved my life and that's what's important to me. If you didn't find me then I wouldn't have met you." Sabi ko. "Kaya tama na ang drama, it's your birthday kaya dapat masaya ka lang."

"I know. I'm sorry." She aqueezed my hand. "Shall we go?"

"After you m'lady." Biro ko at natawa naman sya ng konti.

"Napakagentleman mo ata ngayon. I didn't know you had it in you."

Ngumiti lang ako. As long as she's happy, I am contented.

I told her to close her eyes and led her to the garden.

"Open your eyes." sabi ko at napatingin siya sa paligid. "Do you like it?"

Pinuno namin ni manang ng mga roses ang paligid ng Gazeebo at nilagyan ng mga ilaw. May isang maliit na for two person table sa Gazeebo habang may nakakalat na petals sa carpet papunta sa Gazeebo.

"Thank you Zel."naiiyak na sabi ni Ress. "It's perfect. I don't know what to say... I love it. Thank you very much."

Ang saya ko ngayon, I never felt this happy before. Not that I could remember.

She suddenly hugged me and I know it is perfect.

"Anything for you." Bulong ko nalang and kissed her forehead.

"I don't deserve you." sabi niya.

Those four words. I know that those words ended what was supposed to be a perfect night.

Biglang sumakit nanaman ang ulo ko and a wave of memories crashed down on me. Napaatras ako at napahiga sa damohan. I turned at ang nakita ko ay mga bulaklak.... They were...

Someone was calling my name pero hindi ko maalala ang pangalan niya. I have to. I have to know her. She's the most important person for me in the entire world.

I have to protect her...

I would take a bullet for her.

Bullet...

May naririnig akong putok ng baril sa malayo...

Tumaktakbo ako.... Napatingin ako sa tabi ko at nakita ko ang mukha niya...

It's her.

I have to bring her to safety...

Sino siya?

I have to remember.

I have to remember her name.

Why would anyone shoot us?

Bigla nalang nagbago ang paligid. She was with me, I am holding her hand. There is so much blood, she said my name.

I still can't remember her name.

Morelo...

Vermillion...

Saverin...

Zeigren...

I know those names, I am one of them.

My name...

I remember my own name.

Nanghihina na ako at alam kong hindi na ako tatagal but just a little longer ay pinilit kong buksan ang mga mata ko and caught a glimpse of her tear stained face.

I remember her.

Her name.

The name and face of the person I love.

How could I forget?

That's right... Everything is falling into place.

I am in the Mafia.

I am a made man.

I am a Mafioso.

I remember everything.