One Damn Shot of a Lifetime [COMPLETED]

Chapter 23: Atonement

All white. All I can see is all white again. I slowly opened my eyes and saw my arm cast and a bandage on my stomach. Oh right, nasaksak ako. The door of the room slowly opened at takita ko na pumasok si mom at Asher. Mom immediately ran towards me.

"Oh my baby! You're awake. Asher told me eveything." mom said crying. I looked at Asher, I know he lied to mom but I think it's for the best.

"What happened to the abductors? Nakatakas ba sila?" I asked.

"Don't worry baby, they are already behind bars. The police told me that there was an unknown group of people that shot them down at itinali sila before pa sila maka takas and Asher told me na ganon na ang kalagayan nila pag dating niya doon at nakita ka niya na may kutsilyo sa iyong tiyan kaya agad ka isinugod dito." paliwanag ni mom. But I know it was all a lie, it was Dauntless Regime and.... Axel.

"After everything is settled here, do you want to transfer to Singapore? Para malayo ka sa kapahamakan o gulo." dagdag ni mom na kina kunot ng noo ko. Pero napa isip ako, it would be safer for everyone here if I just leave and start a new life there in Europe. Tumango lang ako bilang tugon. "Then I'll have your papers ready" sabi ni mom and smiled. I'm ready to leave my life here behind for the sake of those I care about.

"May I talk to Asher alone mom?" I said and smiled at her. She nodded at lumabas sa room at umupo si Asher sa kama.

"What happened?" I directly asked.

"It's true na nakakulong na sila, Edina is still alive but I'm sure sa kulungan din ang bagsak niya pagkatapos niya operahan." I was relieved to hear that. I know I hate her but I didn't want her dead or maybe I didn't want Axel to be a killer if Edina did die. "We were so freaking worried Cath. Lahat kami hindi maka tulog kaka isip kung nasaan ka na at yung tawag ni Edina ang nag turo saamin kung nasaan ka. She was stupid enough to state the exact address of where you were."

"she only did that because she didn't knew that Axel was the anonymous leader of Dauntless Regime." I said blankly. Totoo naman, pag alam lang niya na si Axel ang kausap niya sa telepono sa panahon na iyon siguro dandoon pa din ako ngayon.

Maya maya lang ay may kumatok sa pinto at nakita kong pumasok si Zane na may dalang mga prutas.

"Uhmm, I'll leave you guys." sabi ni Asher at tinapik si Zane sa balikat bago lumabas.

"Jeez you look awful" bungad niya agad sakin at nilagay ang prutas sa labesa. "How are you feeling?" tanong niya.

"Well, I'm alive" I said and he chuckled.

"So I had a little chat with your mom outside, are you really leaving for good?" He asked and I saw sadness crossed his face.

"Yeah, I guess." tipid kong sagot.

"Sayang hehe, ikaw pa naman ang pinaka unang babae na pinapasok namin sa circle namin. Don't worry we will conduct a farewell party paglabas na paglabas mo dito." wika niya at bumalik sa pagka cheerful at playful ang mukha niya.

Hindi ko mapigilan ang mapangiti. I just started to make friends and memories and now I'm gonna leave these great people behind.

~~

Three days later and the doctor said that pwede na akong lumabas, I still have this heavy cast on my arm tho. Pag pasok ko sa bahay.

"SURPRISE!!"

Bumungad agad sakin ang mga magagandang mukha na medyo matagal ko din hindi nakita. Zane kept his promise about the Farewell party.

"wow ganito ba kayo kasaya na aalis na ako?" I jokingly said.

"of course not! Gusto lang namin na pag nandoon kana sa Singapore, pag maalala mo kami masaya ang memory na nasa isip mo hindi yung puro iyak at drama." sagot ni Cayden na may suot-suot pa na party hat. I can't shake off the feeling that something is missing..

"looking for him?" biglang sumulpot si Zane sa likod ko. Ahh, kaya pala parang hindi kompleto. The demon is not here.

"Where is he anyway? Hindi ko na siya nakita mula nung sa warehouse." sabi ko.

"Ang alam ko lang is nag kukulong siya sa bahay nila after he heard na aalis ka. He might be losing his mind, I really think you should talk to him." paliwanag ni Zane. Siya lang ata ang hindi nagsasawa sagutin ang mga tanong ko huhu thankyou Zane.

"May I talk to you in private sis?" sabi ni Asher at tumango siya kang Zane. Ewan ko ba sa mga lalaking to, parang may secret code or message ang mga gestures nila sa isa't isa. Sumunod nalang ako kang Asher papunta sa bandang pool. Umupo siya sa gilid ng pool and dipped his feet on the water and I did the same.

"So what's this all about?" I asked at naka tingin lang siya sa tubig.

"You know, Axel is a lonely person. Sure he has all the luxury in the world, good looks and other stuff but he's just a boy drowning in darkness." bigla niyang sabi.

"Saan ba patungo ang usapan na ito?"

"I've never saw him act like this towards the opposite sex. He became so protective and territorial, na parang kaya niyang paslangin ang buong mundo hindi lang masaktan ang babae na iyon." he turned to look at me when he said that last phrase. My heart was melting because of his revelation. Bakit parang niapalabas niya na ako ang dahilan bakit nagkakaganon si Axel?

"What does this have to do with me?"

"arrgh! Are you thus stubborn?! Sino ba ang babae na palagi nililigtas at tinutulungan ni Axel?" frustrated niyang sabi.

"You mean I am the girl?" atubili kong tanong.

"Yes Catherine, and I'm not stupid nor blind not to notice that you like him too. You just don't realize it. The way you look at him is like your eyes dazzling with adoration. Oh how I wished I could feel that that way towards someone, you're very lucky to have that Cath. If I were you I won't let that feeling go, who knows if you'll ever feel that again if you will let this opportunity pass. Don't let your stubbornness daze you from this chance, It's like your One Damn Shot of a Lifetime" Asher said.

One damn shot of a Lifetime.

Nag e-echo sa sisip ko ang sinabi ni Asher. Will I waste this one shot of feeling this thing called attraction?

"So is that why my mind is driving me crazy whenever I'm around him?" I said and he turned to me. Bigla naman niya ako tinalsikan ng tubig.

"You really are a damn stubborn, stone-hearted girl" sabi niya at tumawa.

"Now tell me, do you really want to leave without talking to him?"
.
.

"Take me to him"