Behind Those Sweet Words (Editing)

SPECIAL CHAPTER 2: THE PLANS

"Hey! Welcome back!" Cedric shouted, his arms wide open as if expecting a hug. 

I just smiled at him.

Kabababa ko pa lamang mula sa private helicopter ko dito sa rooftop ng Jeong building na pagmamay-ari ni Tito Shin Jeong, na siyang nag-ampon sa akin sa Korea. Ang mga tao ko ang sumundo sa akin sa airport.

Shin Jeong is Cedric's uncle, his mother's older half-brother. He is 60 years old and hasn't had any children due to his wife's ovarian illness. Namatay na rin ang asawa nito sa edad na 42.

"Wala man lang pasalubong?! Anong kwentang pag-uwi 'yan?" reklamo niya nang lampasan ko siya.

"Tss. Where's my car?" I asked him. I want to see my girl and my prince. I want to hug and kiss them right now.

I endured four years without visiting them or seeing them in person. All I had were the pictures and videos they sent me. 

I stayed away because I needed to fix my life for them. Ginawa ko ang lahat-lahat. Sinunod ko ang lahat ng planong ginawa ni Cail.

***
FOUR YEARS AGO

"We have plans, Johannes. Please, get inside now. We need to have a serious conversation." 

Sumunod ako sa kanya dahil sa laki ng tiwala ko sa kanya. We sat facing each other, with a table between us.

"First of all, congratulations," she said with a slight smile. May kislap ang kanyang mga mata. 

Nagtaka ako at nangunot ang noo. "For what?"

"Soon, there's an angel about to call you daddy," she said, looking at me and studying my reactions.

I was stunned. What the fuck did she mean?

"You still can't get it?" she asked with a grin.

Lumakas bigla ang kabog ng dibdib ko. "I-Is N-Nancy... p-pregnant?" I stuttered, unable to believe it.

She just raised an eyebrow.

"What the hell?" I couldn't understand how I felt. There was a strange happiness, but alongside it was a mix of fear and anxiety.

Nancy is pregnant... 

Paano ko sila bubuhayin? Paano ko haharapin ang mundong kasama sila kung nasa lusak akong kalagayan? Paano ako ipagmamalaki ng anak ko? Paano ko pa haharapin si Nancy? Eh, hindi nga niya matanggap na kriminal ako at nakulong. Ang sabi pa nga niya ay bumalik na ako ng kulungan.

Wala akong maipagmamalaki sa kaniya. Baka nga sa ngayon ay siguradong alam na din ng mga magulang niya ang tungkol dito at paniguradong galit na galit na ang mga iyon sa akin.

They will surely keep Nancy away from me. I don't deserve her.

I lowered my head, and my tears began to fall again. Wala nang pag-asa ang buhay ko. Bakit kailangan ko pang mabuhay kung wala naman sila sa piling ko?

"Don't let yourself go down. There's another way for you to be with them."

Nabuhayan naman ako ng loob sa sinabi ni Cail. "Sabihin mo."

"Pero kailangan mo munang magsakripisyo. It would be best if you got away. You need to fix yourself, and we need to close your case."

Muling nangunot ang aking noo. "How?"

"You have to die."

I was shocked by what she said. "What the fuck?"

"Idiot. I don't mean literally die!"