Dancing with Fire

CHAPTER 11 - Who am I?

CHAPTER 11

Bumili sila ng pagkain sa isang malapit na convenience store, 20 minutes away from their mainstay.

It's almost 2:30 pm kaya't gutom na gutom na ang dalawa.

Pagdating sa bahay ay inilipag ni Trenton ang isang brown envelope sa mesa. Sandali namang kinilatis ni Sandra ang binata at ang bagay na nakalapag sa mesa. He wasn't the serious type, but he was sincere when he talks. He is charming and annoying in his own cunning way.

Binuksan ni Trenton ang envelope na hawak-hawak niya at bumalandra ang mga litrato ng mga taong hindi niya nakikilala but her father. "Hindi naman lingid sa kaalaman mo na ang tatay mo is no stranger of frugality. Binata pa lang si Leo ay namulat na siya sa kahirapan ng buhay."

What is he talking about?

"Lumuwas siya ng ibang bansa-" sabay turo sa mukha ng kanyang ama at lumipat ang kanyang daliri sa katabi nitong lalake. "At ang nakababata niyang kapatid na si Alexander, to try their luck in Brussels."

"Teka." Pagtataka ni Sandra, "Walang kapatid si Papa. Nag-iisang anak lang siya."

"He didn't tell you then." He concluded.

"Teka lang... I'm not following you. Paano mo nalaman yan?" Pagtatakang tanong ng dalaga. She was confused to hell to what he's talking about.

"I too was shocked when he suddenly confided something like this to me. I don't know the reason but, I think I had it figured out recently." And then he continued. "Later on, nakuha sila bilang bell boys sa isang hotel, just a temporary job to feed themselves during latency. One day, umuwi si Alexander to tell the 'good news' to his brother. He got a much better job."

"What job?"

"Hitman." Tipid nitong sagot.

"Yung, pumapatay para sa ibang tao?"

"Exactly."

"Sandali, what does it have to do with Papa?"

"Hindi pa naman ako tapos magkwento diba?" He impishly said which annoyed her.

Shithead.

Nagpatuloy naman ito. "He asked your father to join him, but his principles won't permit it so he declined. Alexander is the stubborn and adventurous one kaya hindi rin ito napigilan ni Leo sa pagpasok sa ganitong kalakaran. Sa umaga ay sabay sila nagtatrabaho samantalang sa gabi naman, iba ang tinatrabaho nito."

He pulled a chair and sat beside her. "Kahit na anong sabihin ni Leo sa kapatid ay hindi ito nakikinig sa kanya kaya kahit labag sa kalooban ay hinahayaan nalang niya ito. Everyday of his life he feared for his brother's life, pero kahit papaano ay namuhay sila nang masagana dahil sa kita ni Alexander. They quitted their jobs as common employees and started a small food business. Several years have passed by and they had their own family. They were exceptionally happy and were doing well with their lives until one late morning..." Shifting his weight in his seat, "Napasugod si Alex sa bahay ni Leo, balisa at punung-puno ng dugo."

Sandra flinched a little.

"Sabi niya kay Leo, he was tasked to kill Vitaly."

"Vitaly?" Not recognizing the name at all.

"Kaibigan siya ni Alex at kabilang rin ito sa tinatawag nilang grupong "Circa."

"Circa?"

"Like him, they were the feared, well-known mercenaries of Belgium. When you can give the best price for a bloodshed, then they'll give the best presentation of your choice."

Anong... Where the hell is this story going??!!

"Going back, he was persistent of asking Leo and his family to leave the country as soon as possible dahil baka madawit ito sa gulong napasok niya. He didn't tell him the whole thing, but he said he was asked to kill a colleague. Her wife Stephanie also gave birth on that same day. He asked his older brother to take care of their youngest child for her wife died after labor and he can't bring both the children together with his troubles."

"Children..."

"Yes. Two girls. The other one stayed with Alex and the other girl, with Leo."

Sandra gasped in disbelief.

"Alex gave him a huge sum of money and made sure that Leo left the country that morning. Pagkatapos noon ay hindi na muli pang nagpakita si Alexander sa kanya at sa kahit sino sa pamilya niya. No one knows his whereabouts or where had he been after that."

"Kailan lang to nangyari?"

" It happened approximately 21 years ago."

21.... Years??!!

Same as my age.

Mother of God.

"Si Audrina lang ang anak nina Leo at Carol."

What the hell is he saying?

"Are you fucking kidding me?"

Leonardo and Carol, they're not your biological parents. Pamangkin ka nila dahil anak ka ni Alexander." He said cautiously.

"No, that's not true." Sandra said, confused. "Anak ako nila Papa! Paano mo nasasabi ang lahat ng yan! Ano bang alam mo?" Disappointment is evident in her reaction.

He slouched on his seat a little, sympathizing with her. "I'm sorry."

"Tama na, ." She stood up, but Trenton caught her hand before she can walk away. He didn't say anything and just hugged her. Sandra was continuously wriggling out of his embrace.

"Bitawan mo ako."

Agad-agad na inalis ni Trenton ang kanyang yapos sa dalaga at hinayaan itong lumakad patungong kwarto.

************************

Hindi napigilan ni Sandra ang mapaiyak nang matindi sa nalamang katotohanan. Halatang hindi siya makapaniwala sa nadiskubreng sikreto tungkol sa kanyang pagkatao.

Is this true?!! Is this really happening??!

~~~ I know I've hurt you so much... But this, the company, the assets, the estate, everything that we own... It's not mine... It's yours. ~~~

~~~Kung hindi ka dumating sa amin, hindi ko alam kung saan na ang buhay namin ngayon. ~~~

~~~Kung hindi ka dumating sa amin, hindi ko alam kung saan na ang buhay namin ngayon. I know you'll find me stupid to say this but... You are a blessing in disguise."~~~

~~~Maiintindihan mo rin ako balang araw.~~~

Her sudden emotional conversation with her father the other night was given a little light by the revelation Trenton had just shared.

Ang mga nakilala kong magulang for twenty-one years ay hindi ko tunay na mga magulang... And now they're dead as a doornail because of what, people who's giving loads of retribution to someone I never knew who turns out to be my... Father??!!!

How can they die like this... Mama, Papa, Ate Audi and her baby. They don't deserve any of this, ever. My family is gone because of a careless mistake this Alexander has done in the past.

And now, I don't know where to go or what to do.... Even where to start.

I don't even know who am I anymore.

(Author's Note: On this same day, chapter 12 will be coming. Love lots!)