KING OF TORMENTS [Completed]

EPILOGUE (HIS POV)

"Haring ka-abs, smile ka nga. Parang ganito, oh!" Vain pointed at his face confidently.

Sobrang lapad ng ngiti ng gago. I scoffed and chose to ignore him.

"Your smile looks so creepy. Isusumbong kita sa tatay mong general. Kailan ka pa natutong mag-shabu?"

"Sumbong din kita si tito mong pari! May kinakalantari ka ng iba sa opisina mo, bebe ko! Taksil ka man sa sumpa mo—!"

He even sang the last sentence. When would you mature, Vain?

"Children, shut up!" Saunder hissed.

My hand automatically flew in my forehead. Kapag talaga nagsama ang tatlong ito sumasakit ang ulo ko.

"Smile ka sabi, Haring ka-abs!" Vain poke my cheek. "Alam mo namang ayaw niyang makita kang nalulungkot. Smile ka na, ha? Para hindi na rin malungkot si Sappy kung nasaan man siya ngayon."

That made me sigh. Almost five months had passed but still the memories of that day... still hurt me. Dahil alam kong kahit ano pa ang gawin ko ay hindi na mababalik ang mga buhay na nawala. I never expected that Leandro's premonition would be acurate. He was right that between the three of us: Dad, Sapphire and I... someone would really die.

"I need to go now. Please, facilitate the enrollment. And Vain..."

"Yes, haring ka-abs?" Nag-beautiful eyes pa ang kumag.

I took a deep breath.

"Utang na loob, huwag mong lalandiin ang bagong mga mag-e-enroll."

He bit his lips before wiping his imaginary tears. May pahawak-hawak pa siya sa dibdib niya na akala mo talaga ay inaalipusta ko ng sobra. Sumisinghot-singhot niyang nilingon si Thatum.

"Masama bang mag-move on? Kung hindi lang sana ako pinagtaksilan ng isa diyan, hindi naman ako magiging ganito kalandi! I hetchu, Thatum babe! Magsama kayo ng Apple mo! Malalandi!"

Nilampasan ko si Vain. I approached Saunder instead, and gave him the instruction. I had totally forgiven him but it took me how many months to accept his apology. Hindi ko na rin mabilang kung ilang suntok ang tumama sa mukha niya bago ko siya tuluyang napatawad.

"Where are you going, king?" Thatum asked.

Isang malungkot na ngiti ang gumuhit sa aking mga labi.

"In our private mausoleum. She was already there."

***

I licked my lips while walking. I looked at the flowers I bought before a sigh escape my mouth. Magugustuhan kaya niya ang mga ito?

I reached the familiar Mausoleum. Mabigat ang aking dibdib habang pumapasok. Tears escaped from my eyes when I saw the two tombs inside.

And my brat was there, too, crying while looking at the name engraved on the tombs. When she noticed my presence, she automatically ran towards me. Naibaba ko ang mga dalang bulaklak at mahigpit siyang niyakap.

"Sabi ko naman diba na sabay na tayong pumunta dito? Ba't kasi antigas ng ulo?" banayad kong tanong.

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