The Nightwatch

THE DINNER

Chapter 5.

It's been almost half an hour when this sophisticated woman arrived. The rest of them are halfway to finishing their dinners and casually talking.

But I can't even bring myself to touch the plate infront of me. I feel so insulted. I'm trying my best to keep my clenching fist under the table for I am shaking with rage.

"Nadaplisan ka ng bala kagabi. Are you feeling okay now?" this woman named Wendy is holding a tissue near her mouth so fancily it makes me angry.

"Who are you? Who are these people?" my voice is trembling and loathe can be easily heard. My eyes despite of being watery by the tears I have no longer in control are full of anger and misery.

I can't understand why these people can eat and talk like they are not with someone who's family had been massacred.

Wendy didn't answered me and instead glance at Nay Matilda, "Nagamot na ho ba ang sugat nya?"

Just as when Nay Matilda nod her head, hinampas ko ang mesa nang dalawang kamay at tumayo.

Some of the utensils slid off the table. Natapon ang mga putaheng may sabaw. All of them were stunned for a moment.

"Can you just please, please tell me first what the hell is happening before you proceed into eating your dinner without considering how I feel?!" I yelled infront of Wendy's face.

Napatayo na si Tristan at Beverly. Alam kong gusto nila akong lapitan upang pakalmahin, but fear crept them first.

"I don't wanna shock you, Briella" she replied with so much calmness.
"So you think I am not shocked? I am more than shocked!" Nay Matilda came to me and started tapping my back.

"Please calm yourself, young lady. I am here to explain to you the situation" Nay Matilda signaled me to sit down.

Bumuntong hininga ako bago muling umupo.

"What is your first question then?" she proceed on finishing the meat served on her plate.

"Bakit ang pamilya ko? Anong ginawa nila? Anong ginawa ko?!"

The three of them except Wendy remained quiet.

"That thing the man gave you is the reason behind all of this" i don't completely understand why this is because of that watch.

"You're wondering why this happened to your family? Because you held something you shouldn't even knew existed. That's how powerful The Mercenaries are" finally she finished the last piece of her food and began focusing on talking to me.

"Tauhan ng The Mercenaries ang nanloob at pumatay sa pamilya mo. They aim to retrieve the watch that man gave to you. Ang bagay na iyon at hindi lamang basta isang relo, Briella. Iyon ay ang nightwatch. Hawak nito ang mga ebidensya ng katiwalaan ng The Mercenaries. They are willing to kill anyone who has seen even just a glimpse of it. Katulad ng nangyari sa lalaking nagbigay sayo non"

"Hanggang ngayon hindi ko pa din maintindihan kung bakit sa dinami daming tao sa lugar na iyon, sa akin nya ibinigay ang relo? Intensyon nya ba yon?" mahigpit na ang hawak ko sa aking buhok na para bang anong oras ay sasabunutan ko na ang sarili ko.

"We believe it's not intended and he didn't knew you personally. Its just  that you were the one who's there when that situation happened"

Kung ganon napakamalas ko naman pala.

"Nakilala ang lalaking iyon bilang si Carlo San Luis. 41 years old. Isa sya sa tauhan ng The Mercenaries. Our team's created a theory that Carlo was trying to split up with the group and exposing their secrets at the same time. That may explain the fact why he stole the nightwatch. But again it's just a theory. A week ago police got a tip from people passing by the vicinity of Geo Bridge that they noticed a strange thing floating on the water. And it is confirmed that it's Carlo's corpse" Wendy explained.

"Who are those Mercenaries you are talking about?" tanong ko ng may pagngingitngit.

"They are the Black Code's greatest enemy. Isa silang sikretong kompanya na nag i-import ng mga pinagbabawal na gamot at hindi lisensyadong mga armas dito sa Pilipinas. Paniguradong ang laman ng nightwatch na iyon ay mga ebidensya na magdidiin sakanila as nasabing krimen. At katulad ni Carlo at ng pamilya mo, hindi nalalayo ang natitira mong mga kaibigan sa kapahamakan"

Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi ni Wendy. Hindi ko nagugustuhan ang biglaang pagtaas ng balahibo ko at pagbilis ng tibok ng puso ko.

"Anong tungkol sa mga kaibigan ko?" no matter how I tried to hide my fears, nadidinig iyon sa boses ko.

"Ang mga kasama mo noong araw na nakuha mo ang nightwatch at ang kanya kanya nilang pamilya ay nangaganib din ngayon. Katulad ng nangyari sa kaibigan mong si Alison at sa Lola nya"

Hindi ko napigilan na mapasigaw sa galit at sa sakit at sa sobrang pagkatakot. Mga halang ang kaluluwa ng mga taong iyon.

"Pero hindi mo kelangan matakot, Briella" Wendy reached out and hold my clenching fist.
"Nasa ilalim ka ng pangangalaga ng Black Code. Nasa ilalim ka ng proteksyon namin. Walang makakapanakit sa iyo habang tinutulungan ka naming lutasin sitwasyong kinahaharap mo. Makakapaghiganti ka sa mga taong pumatay sa mga mahal mo sa buhay sa paaran na legal at hindi madudumihan ang kamay mo"

Wendy's voice switched into a comforting one. Tila pinapanatag nya ang nag aalab na apoy sa kaibuturan ng aking puso.

"Tutulungan ka namin, Briella. Kung hahayaan mo kami"

Wendy sent me back to the room when we finished our discussion. Nakakaramdam ang magkabilang sentido ko ng pagpintig na nagsasanhi ng pagsakit nito.

Barado na ang ilong ko at hindi ako makahinga ng maayos dulot ng sobrang pag iyak kanina.

My head received a lot of explanation more than I can absorb. Ngayon na nalaman ko lahat ng iyon, I don't think I could ever sleep peacefully.

Nakaramdam ako ng bahagyang paglundo ng kamang kinauupuan ko kaya nabalik ako sa wisyo.
Nakita ko si Beverly na tahimik na pumasok sa kwarto at umupo sa kama katabi ko.

"Alam kong hindi ka okay. Pero gusto ko lang sabihin na nandito kami ni Tristan at Nay Matilda para tulungan ka sa araw araw. Kasi simula ngayon parte ka na ng pamilya namin" Beverly smiled at me and I knew she's trying to comfort me.

And I wish I could smile back and tell her I appreciate it. But my heart and my mind is constantly filled with so much pain and anger that there is no room for appreciation.

I know I won't able to sleep soundly tonight like I used to. But as I close my eyes tonight and open it tomorrow, I hope everything that happened to me is just part of my dream.

***