The twist

Nine months later, Brandon and I welcomed a healthy baby girl. Oh! She was so beautiful but tiny which Brandon will reply to me – of course, love she's tiny! You just gave birth to her. May kasama pang pag – roll ng eyes iyon. Brandon, just like me is so in love with our lovely daughter. I named her Amihan kasi ang ibig sabihin noon ay Hilaga at sa Hilaga laging bumaba ang araw, and a sunset for me always means new beginnings and my Amihan is my new beginning.

Having Amihan means totally forgetting and letting go of our old lives. Brandon started to look for a normal job. His twin brother – Bruno is helping us. Thankful ako sa kanya kahit na hindi pa kami nakakapag – usap nang maayos at nagkakikilala. I could only hear things about him from Brandon. Doon pa lang ay alam kong napakabait na niya. I want him to be my baby's godfather. I will ask Brandon about it. I promised him that I will talk to him about everything and every decision I make. Maayos ang pagsasama naming dalawa. We talk about marriage and stuff like that but we both know that we will never do it. Getting married means registering our names at the local City Hall and that could only mean one thing too – they will find us. At sa stage ng buhay naming dalawa ngayon ay hindi kami pwedeng makita ng kahit na sino mula sa nakaraan namin dahil may Amihan na kailangan naming alagaan, mahalin at protektahan. I want to see my daughter grow up. I want to see her first steps, hear her first words – I want to be there in every miles stones of her life. I wouldn't want to miss anything because Amarah and Bradon are my world.

"Brandon! Come look!" I was giggling loudly as I watched Amarah roll over by herself. Hirap na hirap siya noong una but she managed to do it and I couldn't help but be proud of my baby girl. Amarah is just lovely. She is a fast learner, matalino – mana sa akin. Maganda – natural na natural na manang – mana sa akin. Nagmamadali naman si Brandon na pumasok sa silid kung nasaan kaming dalawa ni Amihan.

Amihan was too busy rolling over that she didn't notice her father being there. Brandon was standing near the door, watching his daughter with awe, while I sat on the floor, watching the two most important people in my life with so much love in my eyes. I love Brandon so much. He gave me so much. Ibinigay niya sa akin ang mga bagay na hindi ko inakalang makukuha ko.

I was hopeless before I met him. I never even thought of having a family, nor a child that will be the center of my universe. Ang nasa utak ko lang noon ay kung paano ako mabubuhay, at kung paano ako makaalis sa lugar kung saan ako nakulong.

I was raised to be an assassin. Pinalaki akong hindi nagdedesisyon ng sarili ko. Everything in my life was designed to be a follower. Hindi ako pwedeng mag – isip. Kapag ginawa ko iyon, mamamatay ako. I am a blind follower but that all changed when I met these people that are against the Triad. Wala akong balak kumampi sa kanila, but they are the ones that put doubt in my mind. I remember that one particular moment when Andreas – Brandon's teammate, met up with me and asked me things I am never even thought of.

What if you still have a family?

I am an orphan. I was found in an orphanage.

You're not. You're Amarah Emilio. And you are the daughter of this man.

That was the first time I saw the face of my father. I was only eighteen then. I have no knowledge of him or his friends. I didn't care. I didn't even believe what she said to me. Para sa akin, sinisiraan niya lang ang Triad na nangalaga at bumuhay sa akin. I won't change my loyalty just because of false information. I will stay loyal to the Triad no matter what happens.

It took me some months before I was hit with the realizations. Ipinatawag ako sa main office. I was given a mission. I looked at it, thinking that it was just like those other times. But then, I was greeted by the same photograph Andreas gave me. My whole body shivered. Para ba akong binuhusan ng malamig na tubig noong mga panahong iyon. Something told me that this isn't right. Hindi ko magawa ang misyon at kahit na anong mangyari, kahit na anong sabihin nila sa akin at kabit kinukwenstyon na nila ang katapatan ko ay hindi ko magawang tapusin ang buhay ng taong iyon.

What ifs keep on getting in my head. What if Andreas was right? What if he is my father? I could live another life. Why did he throw me away? Maybe he didn't. Maybe he did. I don't know. I need to know the truth, so I was the one who called Andreas that time. She told me everything at mula noon, ang katapatan ko sa Triad ay nawala.

I joined their own Triad and we came up with a perfect plan. They helped me make the Triad believe that I killed Ido Emilio and his friends. They easily believed me. I have all the evidences and I have dead burned bodies.

Perfect na sana ang lahat kundi nila nalaman ang totoo and since then, I've been running away from everything. Noon ay wala akong pakialam kahit na mahanap nila ako, o si Brandon, but now, I guess we both agree on the matter that we cannot be found because we have this beautiful blessing that is just starting to realize how beautiful the world is. Gagawin ko ang lahat para kay Amihan.

Everything is perfect.

But we were found.

xxxx

I couldn'ttell Brandon we were found. If he finds out that the Triad already knows where we are, hindi siya matatahimik. Alam kong gagawin niya ang lahat para maitakas kaming pamilya. But as I was holding on to that letter that the Triad sent me that morning. I felt tired. Ayoko nang magtago at tumakbo. Ayoko nang patuloy na mamuhay sa dilim. How could Amihan experience a normal life if we kept on hiding? Anong mangyayari? Aalis kami tuwing mahahanap kami? Amihan would never have a normal childhood if we kept on moving. Hindi dapat niya maranasan ang mga bagay na ito. I want her to experience life itself, how happy it could be.

Maybe Brandon would hate me. No, not maybe. He will definitely hate me, pero mapapatawad naman niya ako. Babalik ako at sisigurduhin kong sa pagbalik kong iyon ay katahimikan na ang dala ko. So I planned it all.

"A vacation?" He looked at me. "To where?"

"I don't know. Diba sabi mo gustong makilala ng kakambal mo si Amihan? Why don't you spend time with him for a while?"

"He is in Brazil."

"Then we'll fly to Brazil. I just want Amihan to get to know her godfather." Hinahaplos – haplos ko pa ang buhok ni Amihan. We were in her room, changing her diapers when I told Brandon all of these. Buo na ang plano ko. Aalis sila sa susunod na araw. Sasabihin kong nagkamali ako ng pag-book ng tickets ko at mauuna lang silang umalis pero susunod ako. Kung maniniwala si Brandon, good, kung hindi naman ay wala naman akong magagawa, wala rin siyang magagawa dahil nasa airport na sila sa mga panahong iyon and they would be taking off. I readied all the necessary papers needed. I need to do this to make sure that everything is in place and that my baby girl will be safe.

"Okay, that's nice but what the hell is happening?" Bahagya pang tumaas ng boses niya. I kissed Brandon to distract him.

"What's happening is that you're such a worry rat. Wala namang nangyayari. I just want to get to know your twin." Matagal niya akong tinititigan, sa huli ay nanalo ako. I told him that I have booked the tickets – na matagal ko nang plano ang lahat ng ito. Wala siyang nagawa. Brandon is so whipped for me that he will do anything for me, kahit na marami siyang tanong sa buhay niya.

The day came. We were all in the airport. I was holding onto my daughter so tight. Pakiramdam ko kasi ay matagal kaming hindi magkikita. Pero baka ninenerbyos lang ako. Bakit naman kami hindi magkikita ng matagal? Three days lang ang pagitan ng flight naming tatlo. Brandon was already checking us in, alam kong makikita na niya ang fault at bago pa siya magalit ay hinarap ko na si Amihan. She's 11 months old and as I look in her eyes, it's as if I can see my whole world.

"I love you, Amihan. Please always remember that I love you, okay? Things might have change this early but my love for you will always stay the same. I love you so much." I kept on whispering to her ear, silently hoping that she will remember the words I uttered. She's too young to lose a mom, and I will never let that happen. I will come back for her and for Brandon because he is the love of my life.

"Love, the tickets are different. Bakit after three days ba ang tickets mo?" Kunot na kunot ang noo ni Brandon habang nakatingin sa akin.

"Oh my, really?! What a mistake?!" He stared at me. Sa pagkakataong iyon, alam kong hindi siya naniniwala sa akin. I wanted to kiss him but Brandon is angry. I gave him Amihan at para bang nanandya pa talaga ang pagkakataon, my baby started crying.

"What the hell, Amy?!" He hissed and grabbed my arm.

"Brandon, I'm sorry. You need to keep our baby safe. I promise that I will come back for the two of you."

Agad akong tumalikod. Si Amihan ay iyak nang iyak habang papalayo ako. Brandon kept on calling me and I wanted so much to ran back to him and hugged him. Gusto ko silang makasama habambuhay. Gusto ko silang makasama...

Pero hindi mangyayari iyon hangga't hindi natatapos ang mga taong iyon. Mabigat man ang mga hakbangin ko ay lumabas ako ng airport. I went back to our home. I took my suit – well my assassin suit and my weapons. I received another message from them at naroon na ang larawan ni Adonis Emilio.

I swallowed hard. They know about Ido and his family. I cannot let them be in danger.

Kung may isang bagay man akong gagawin para sa pamilya ni Ido Emilio, ito iyon. I will save his son – no matter what it takes.

Kung akala ng Triad na matalino sila, hindi nila inaasahan siguro ang talino ko. Months ago, I have put different tracking devices on my siblings' cars. I know where he is now. Unfortunately, he is driving along a highway. Pauwi na siya noon. Kabang – kaba ako.

Sa tagal ko sa ganitong trabaho, ngayon lang ako kinabahan ng ganito. Luckily, I drove fast enough and according to the device, he's just 10 kilometers away from me. Naghahanda ako. I looked for the tallest tree of post, may puno, umakyat ako roon at inabangan ko sa radar ang pagdating ni Adonis Emilio. Hindi nagtagal ay nakita kong parating na siya. I also saw two white cars following him from afar. Nang makalagpas ang sasakyan ni Adonis ay saka ko tinambangan ang dalawang kotseng iyon. I shot them from afar. Tumaob silang dalawa. Bumaba ako sa puno and look at them. Some are already dead, but the thing is, I saw Gretel – she is one of the Triad's founding members.

Hindi ko alam kung saan siya nanggaling. Palapit na siya sa akin. Humigpit ang hawak ko sa baril ko.

"Look at you child. Look at what your fake loyalty has done to you." Her voice was cold, I didn't care. Pinuntirya ko siya.

"You killed my mom and separated me from my father. You took away my chance of having a happy, normal life."

"You are destined for greatness, Amarah."

"Bullshit!" Kinalabit ko ang gatilyo. Maybe she expected that, maybe she didn't. Alam kong hindi ko siya basta mapapatay dahil alam kong pinaghandaan niya ang lahat ng ito. She managed to avoid the bullet. She walked to me – inagaw niya ang baril ko. Matapos iyon ay mano – mano kaming naglabang dalawa. I will never give up without a fight. I keep on telling myself that I need to come back for my daughter and Brandon. Na pagkatapos nang lahat ng ito, magiging masaya na ako.

"You have a daughter." She told me. My eyes widened. "I wonder how long it will take for the others to find her. Don't worry, Amarah, we will raise her just like the way you were raised."

"NO!" Hindi ako papayag. I took out my knife to stab her pero naunahan ako. Someone shot me from my back. My eyes widened. I could feel that pain. Next thing I knew, there's blood gushing out of my back. Nanghihina ako.

"Amarah!" I heard Brandon. I saw Gretel pointing a gun at me, but someone shot her too. She fell face down. I bit my lower lip. Nakahiga lang din ako roon. I was shot at the back, I am losing air. I was so sure that I was shot near my lungs and it may have fractured it and that I will die without even seeing my baby girl.

"Amy... Amy... Amy..." I was being cradled by those familiar arms. I tried to smile. "Amy please... why would you do this?" I tried holding on to Brandon's arms.

"I love you..." I told him. Tears were falling like crazy.

"I know... hold on. I'm taking you to the hospital." Oh... he's crying... I held onto his arm tighter.

"Thank... thank you..." I gave him one last smile. I know it's my last but even though this is what happened to us, I will always be thankful because he came to my life and he made me experience things I thought I don't need.

Thank you, Brandon...

I love you and Amihan so much...