LOVE & PROMISES [Editing]

Chapter 28 || Why he protects

tw // mentions of killing , death , poisoning

"Direktor ng Juarez Film Production Company, natagpuang patay sa isang abandonadong parke. Sa ngayon ay iniinspeksyon ng mga pulis ang nasabing lugar para sa mga ebidensya na makakatulong sa paghahanap sa gumawa ng krimen laban sa mga Juarez.", the TV News Reporter stated as she stands infront of the camera with the police officers behind her, inspecting.

A 9-year old Elijah was sobbing as he looked at the tv screen. He ran towards the kitchen faucet and roughly washed his bloody hands. Seconds later, the front door of his house opened and evil laughter began echoing.

The two adults sat comfortably on the couch as they drank their wine. Smirks on their faces. Elijah approached them with an angry expression.

"What are you two doing here?", he angrily asked, clenching his fists. The smirk on their faces grew bigger.

"We came to celebrate and congratulate you.", his aunt replied with her dark toned voice.

"Because of you, we didn't have to get our hands dirty. Now, we can claim his possessions.", his dad's brother uttered and laughed like some evil monster.

Nagsalubong ang mga kilay ng bata at sumagot. "I did it to protect my sister! Wala akong choice!", ani niya sa mga matatanda habang unti-unting naluluha.

"Oh right, for your sister.", his aunt says with a shady chuckle. Tumayo ang kanyang tita at nagsimulang maglakad papunta sa kanya.

Her heels clicking adds some suspense effects. She leans down to Elijah's height and whispered, "Seems like the sibling is more important than the father.", she then laughed along with her husband.

Elijah tightened his grip as he was on the verge of crying again. "Can you just give me my sister back?! Nagawa ko na yung gusto niyo, diba?!", the 9-year old yelled at the two adults. Napatigil sa pagtawa ang dalawang matanda.

Fear started crawling when he saw those creepy smiles. "Your sister?", his uncle spoke.

"She was so annoying that's why.. we killed her."

That's the time his whole well-being has been broken. He sacrificed the life of his father for his sister. He became a bad guy just to get his sister back. And now, he's left with nothing because they killed her too.

Tumingin siya sa mga ito habang ang mga luha niya ay unti-unting nahuhulog. They didn't care about the broken state of the child.

"I.."

"What?"

"I'll kill you two.", he said with a very dull tone. Since he was just a child, it didn't scare off the adults. Instead, they laughed.

Elijah grabbed a knife and started walking towards the two. When he was about to stab one of them, his uncle spoke.

"You can't do anything to us, Elijah. If you lay a finger on us, they will know that you're the killer of your father. Ano nalang ang iisipin ng mga tao tungkol sayo? Such a filthy brat."

Napatigil siya sa sinabi ng kanyang tito. He didn't want anyone to know about what he did. It will ruin his life even more. Slowly, his hands let go of the knife and sat. His uncle and aunt smirked. "Don't worry, we'll let you have some of your father's money. Sayo narin itong bahay na 'to. We'll send someone to take care of you since you literally don't have anyone.", they said as they walk towards the front door, opening it.

"By the way, we already found a solution so they won't suspect that it was one of his family members who did it.", huling sabi ng tito niya bago sila umalis sa pamamahay ng bata.

Nanatiling nakaupo si Elijah habang nakatingin sa kawalan. He felt so much hatred, regret and sadness.

2 hours had passed, and all he can think about is how foolish he is to trust those two adults. He couldn't protect the last two of his loved ones. That's when he developed an obsession to protect others by violence.

That same year, he poisoned and killed his uncle and aunt as he found out that they're harassing his father's workers. After a month, with no one to call the director of the company, Elijah's mother comes back with her new husband.

The husband is a good man, so Elijah won't bother their relationship. Unless, the man will abuse his mother.

When he turned 10, the news of his father's death resurfaced, along with the revelation of the killer. Nagulat ang bata nang makita niya ang lalaki na tumulong sa kanya na umalis doon sa parke bago pa dumating ang mga pulis.

He felt guilty. That is why, with his power and money, he spoke to his mother about it and she agreed to send the guy a trusted lawyer of the family.

For 3 years, he helped the guy until it got released from jail. Strangely, he haven't seen the man since then. Elijah felt that, he was hiding from someone specific.

He then met a new student named Alex Clemonte. Until now, he couldn't forget the first sentence she said to him. "Ikaw yung bata na niligtas ni papa nung gabing yon.", he then realized that she is the daughter of the man who helped him.

As a promise to the man, he became protective of Alex. But everytime he tried to, he always end up getting mad at her because he couldn't protect her as she can protect herself. 

He found many friends that he protected and is still protecting to this day. Until this girl, whom he likes, says something that slightly changed him.

"Violence isn't always a way to protect, Eli. Di mo alam, baka lalo pang masaktan yung pinoprotektahan mo dahil sa pamamaraan mo.", Venice said.

This is the past of Elijah Juarez. The reason why he is obssessed with protecting people. It's really complicated because he uses violence as a way of protecting people.

Although he doesn't think about it so much in the present time. An incident will make him recall the words Venice said to him.

Someday, he'll know what real protection is. And someday, he'll know why violence isn't always a way to protect his loved ones.

- end of chapter -

Thank you for reading !