30 Doors

Last Door

"In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."

-Martin Luther King, Jr.

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VLAD  

I'd live. I wished I would. I wished I could. I would if I could. 

Nakatarak sa kanang dibdib ko ang isang matulis na espada. Sinisimot ng kirot ang bawat ugat roon habang unti-unti nang nanghihina ang aking katawan. 

I have lost too much blood in the process. Nakasandal ako sa isang pader, iniinda ang hindi maipaliwanag na hapdi sa bawat kalamnan ko. I feel like I have been poisoned. I was poisoned. The sword's blade has poison on it. 

I'd die without any antidote.  

Pasara na ang mga talukap sa mata ko nang matunghayan ko ang madugong labanan nina Larry at Andreas. To no regret, I listened to what the latter had to say. He did not kill Karen. The Reds did. 

Tumakbo sa isip ko kung ano ba talaga ang tunay na nangyari. Simula sa pagkakatanggap ko ng email mula sa Montellano Online Shop patungkol sa application ko, hanggang sa maging parte ako ng kompanya. I thought I was hired because I was good enough to be in the operations. 

Everything was set up. Everyone was sacrificed because of the mafia war that has long been existing for generations. 

I did not kill her. K-Karen knows that. Sinundan ko siya sa UN Avenue dahil sa banta sa buhay niya. The Reds shot her in the head. I was too late to save her. 

Hearing those words from Andreas, the sincerity in his voice, including the pain made me realize how everything was turned and twisted against all of us.  They say everything will always fall into place, if this maxim was true, I'd say it's the ugliest truth I have ever witnessed. 

Pinilit kong bumangon nang mamataan kong gigilitan na ni Larryson si Andreas; but I was too weak to move a limb. Hindi ko alam kung mabubuhay pa ako. Hindi ko alam kung kakayanin ko pa. 

Luckily, Minalyn was brave enough to do what I couldn't. She immediately grabbed the sword and threw it like a javelin expert. Naglakbay ang dulo ng espada mula sa mga kamay ng babae patungo sa likuran ni Larry. My eyes were half-closed when I saw the tip of the sword hitting Larryson's nape. Blood burst out from his neck and to his mouth.

The world froze. As if everything really fell into place. Larryson fell on his knees, shaking, crying, and spitting crimson. Ilang segundo itong nakaluhod at tulala bago tuluyang bumagsak sa harapan ni Andreas. 

"Andreas!" Dinig kong sigaw ni Mina at Bella. 

Tuluyan nang nagsara ang talukap ng mga mata ko. Ramdam at dinig ko ang paggalaw ng dalawa na marahil ay inalalayan si Andreas para makabangon. 

The next thing I remembered was Mina calling my name. Kasunod no'n ay naramdaman ko ang mainit na bisig nitong pinilit akong buhatin palabas sa second floor. 

"Vlad, dude... it's over. Don't sleep!" Nanghihinang sambit ni Andreas na sa tingin ko'y siyang sumasalo sa bigat ng katawan ko sa kaliwa. 

I felt Bella's tiny hands on my hips. Lifting me up. Helping me move. She was crying. 

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