Maingat na inilapag ni Shin ang tatlong plato sa mesa, kasunod ang mga kobyertos. It was dinner time and he cooked something special because it was the twins' birthday— their fifth birthday.
Niluto niya ang mga paboritong pagkain ng mga ito; sweet and sour fish, mashed potato, and fried chicken. He had also prepared vanilla-flavored cake for them and put it in the center. He wanted to give them a party but he was saving some money.
Hinubad niya ang suot na apron at isinampay iyon sa hook na nasa pader ng kusina saka humakbang patungo sa sala kung saan naroon ang dalawa. Inabutan niya ang mga itong parehong naka-ngalumbaba sa headrest ng couch at nakatanaw sa salaming bintana.
"Hey, bunnies. Food is ready," he announced.
Si Steyah ay bahagya lang siyang nilingon.
"Pero Pa, wala pa siya."
Nagpanggap siyang hindi alam kung ano ang ibig nitong sabihin. He frowned at his daughter.
"Are we expecting visitor?"
Umiling si Steyah at ibinalik ang tingin sa labas ng bintana. Sa pagkakataong iyon ay si Stern naman ang lumingon sa kaniya.
"We are waiting for Mumma," his little boy said.
He released a painful sigh and then massaged the back of his neck.
It had been four months since Eva left and he hadn't heard from her yet. Bagaman sinunod niya ang sinabi nitong huwag niya itong hanapin ay hindi pa rin niya maiwasang mag-alala sa kondisyon nito. He was worried about her— na kahit magtanim pa siya ng galit dito ay hindi pa rin niya magawang tuluyang kalimutan ito.
Eva may have turned her back to her kids, but she was still their mother. She was still his wife. Ilang gabi siyang hindi nakatulog ng maayos kaiisip sa sitwasyon nito, at habang ginagawa niya iyon ay unti-unting nawawala ang galit na naramdaman niya noong gabing hindi na niya ito dinatnan doon.
And the reason why he was saving money was to pay for a private investigator. He needed someone to look for Eva, so basically, the majority of his salary from the shop went to that plan. He was also planning to send her to a mental asylum if she wouldn't agree on taking her pills— and that required more funds.
He couldn't use his father's money— yet. Dahil ayon sa abogado ng ama ay wala pa ring buyer ang bahay at sasakyan ng ama niya. Ang nasunog na shop ay mayroong fire insurance pero matagal ang proseso bago maibalik ang mga nasira at nasunog na property at mga items.
Gusto niyang tumulong sa paghahanap ng buyer ng mga naiwang ari-arian ng ama—pero nag-aalala siyang baka kapag bumalik siya sa Yllanas para asikasuhin iyon ay mag-krus ang landas nila ng mga dati niyang kaaway.
Some members of Nexus gang had seen his face, so they would surely recognize him. Ganoon din ang ibang mga gangs na nakaharap na nila noon. Nag-aaalala siyang baka hindi na siya makabalik sa mga anak sakaling makita siya at mapasakamay ng mga kalaban.
Ano'ng mangyayari sa mga anak niya kung pati sya ay mawawala?
But he did try to ask for Jon's assistance— maaari siyang bigyan ng back up ng Titans habang naroon siya sa siyudad. But Jon, who he spoke to a couple of days before the fire incident happened, was unreachable. Ilang beses na niya itong tinawagan subalit laging naka-patay ang cellphone nito.
He simply disappeared. Inisip na lamang niyang baka maling numero ang ibinigay nito. Ayaw niyang isiping may nangyari nang masama rito.
Kung sana ay makabalik siya sa Yllanas upang maasikaso ang mga ari-arian ng ama, ay magiging madala ang pinansyal na suliranin niya. He could use the money to hire private investigators to find Eva and his father's murderer.
BINABASA MO ANG
SHATTERPROOF
Fiction généraleWATTYS 2021 WINNER - WILD CARD CATEGORY Shin Takano used to be a notorious gang leader; living his life surrounded by money, alcohol, cigars, drugs, and women. He used to show no mercy to his targets and enjoyed the fun of beating them up and scammi...
