There are so many monsters in this world and all them are humans

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Leon's POV

Talagang sinusulit ko ang mga araw na kasama ko ang mga anak ko. Kung ano ang i-request nila sa akin, sinusunod ko. They wanted to play at the park, then we played at the park. They wanted to buy new toys, I bought them new toys. And right now, they wanted to have an ice cream, then we were buying some ice cream.

Just looking at them smiling, laughing, I felt really complete. Kahit kaming tatlo na lang habang-buhay okay na sa akin. They don't need their mom. Ilang taon na rin naman na kami lang ang magkakasama. Kahit na nga noong nasa agency ako ay bihira ko din silang makita dahil babad ako sa mga cases na hawak ko. Good thing my mother was helping me to raise my kids. Hindi talaga niya pinabayaan ang mga anak ko.

Kaya ngayon, kahit alam kong pagagalitan ako ng nanay ko dahil ibinili ko ng napakaraming ice cream ang mga bata, titiisin ko na lang ang panenermon niya sa akin. As long as my kids were happy, I was going to give everything to them.

Pagkatapos naming bumili ng ice sa convenience store ay lumabas kami at pumuwesto sa labas noon para kainin ang ice cream. Pinabayaan ko lang na magsikain ang mga bata at ako ay ganoon din ang ginawa. Pagkatapos naman dito ay ihahatid ko na rin sila pauwi. Too bad, after this I needed to focus on my training. Napakabilis ng two weeks. At sa tagal ko ng hindi lumalaban sa cage, siguradong maninibago ako. Iba ang underground fights. I knew I'll fighting up to the end. Lalo na nga at kailangan kong ipatalo ang fight na iyon. Siguradong ang makakalaban ko ay hindi titigil hangga't hindi na ako humihinga. That was the ultimate entertainment that those patrons were waiting during underground fights.

Hanggang sa mahagip ko ang couple na nag-uusap sa tapat na building ng convenience store. Ang babae agad ang napansin ko. Her curvy body. Nakahubog naman kasi iyon sa suot niyang dress. She was wearing a simple white fit dress, but it complimented her curves very well. The well-endowed breast, the tiny waist. The rounded ass.

And when I looked into her face, she was gorgeous. Beautiful in my eyes. After so many years of meeting different women, this was the first time that a woman got my attention again. Like I don't want to let go of my gaze from her face. Her long wavy hair that frames her pretty face complimented her look.

But I knew there was something wrong. Even if she was far away from my place, I knew she was not comfortable with the man that she was with. The way the man was holding her, she doesn't like it. I could sense fear.

Hindi ko inaalis ang tingin sa kanila kahit na nga nagkukulitan ang mga anak ko sa harap ko. Napaangat ako sa kinauupuan nang makita kong marahas na hinawakan ng lalaki ang mukha ng babae. Shit. Mag-syota ba talaga ang dalawang ito? Bakit parang hindi naman gusto ng babae ang ginagawa sa kanya? I could sense threat, and I wanted to sprint towards them and beat that guy to the ground even if he was a big one. Bigger than me.

I hated men who treats women like they were nothing. I hated men who thinks they were above all and women need to follow whatever they wanted. But I also hated women who let their men treat them like that. I meant women should know if they were in an abusive relationship. If those women felt that they were being abused and used, they should leave that relationship immediately. They don't need to stay in a relationship if there was no respect. And right now, that was all I could see.

Napahinga ako ng malalim. Nakaramdam ng panghihinayang para sa babae. Maganda naman siya. Mukhang edukada pero bakit nagtitiyaga at pumapayag na tratuhin ng ganoon ng boyfriend niya. Inalis ko na ang atensyon ko sa kanila at itinuon sa mga anak ko. I will make sure that my daughters will grow up strong. I will teach them that no one could take away their self-respect. That they were the ones who would decide for themselves. And they don't need any man to save them.

Kahit ayaw ko ay hindi ko napigil ang sarili na hindi muling tingnan ang gawi ng babae. Ngayon ay nakita ko siyang nagpahid ng luha at sumakay sa kotse. Napailing ako dahil sigurado akong hindi pa nakakaupo ng maayos ang babae sa loob ng sasakyan ay pinaharuruot na iyon ng kasamang lalaki. Sinundan ko ng tingin ang papalayong sasakyan at napailing. Sayang talaga.

Noon tumunog ang telepono ko. Unknown number. Sigurado ako na si Ghost ito.

"Are you ready?" Iyon ang bungad niya sa akin nang sagutin ko ang tawag niya.

"A bit." Dumampot ako ng tissue at pinahiran ang nagkalat na chocolate ice cream sa paligid ng bibig ni Anna tapos ay damit naman ni Elsa ang pinahiran ko dahil natuluan din ng ice cream.

"A bit? You're not practicing?" Dama ko ang disappointment sa boses ni Ghost.

Napakamot ako ng ulo. "I am spending time with my kids. Like what Chief Coleman said."

"And I told you that you are going to have a fight two weeks from now. A deadly one. I thought you don't want to die?"

Napa-rolyo ang mata ko at napailing. "Why do I need to lose that fight again?"

Narinig kong huminga ng malalim si Ghost.

"Leon, don't test my fucking patience." He said that in a calm tone but definitely I felt shiver down my spine. Buwisit ang matandang ito. Bakit ba ipinanganak itong napaka-intimidating? Boss material talaga ang animal. Kapag may sinabi na siyang seryoso, hindi na puwedeng hindi pakinggan. At lalong hindi puwedeng hindi sundin.

"I am just asking why do I have to lose? I mean, parang ang babaw ng explanation mo." Pinilit kong mangatwiran sa kanya.

"Fine. I know behind the underground deadly fights, there is more sinister happening that surrounds Ulysses Venderbilt. They have a secret group. A group that cannot easily infiltrate. Kahit marami akong sources, they cannot get in, that's why I am doing this case by myself. Kids are getting killed." Seryosong-seryoso ang timbre ng boses niya at alam kong bothered siya sa pagkakasabi noon.

Hindi ko maintindihan ang kaba na bumundol sa dibdib ko at napatingin ako sa dalawang anak ko.

"Kids?"

"Yeah. Kids as young as infants. Fuck," napabuga ng hangin si Ghost. "I don't want to remember the photos. Fucking sick psychos."

And I think that was something. First time kong naramdaman na apektado si Ghost sa isang case.

"By sponsoring Ulysses legal fights, and getting in his underground illegal fights, I know I am close. I can get into their sick group." Paliwanag pa niya.

"What about the kids? What do they do with the kids?"

"You don't want to know." Padaing na sagot niya.

"Damn it, Ghost. Ako ang kakarnehin sa cage. At least let me know what's the reason why I have to put my life on the line for you." Sagot ko.

"This secret group, I don't know who the founder is. But after every underground fights some patrons are going to celebrate. And by celebrating it means, they need to sacrifice something."

Kumunot ang noo ko. "All right? What kind of sacrifice?"

"Jesus, you have kids, Leon. Don't let me tell this to you."

"Inumpisahan mo na. Don't kill me with the suspense." Asar na sagot ko.

"They sacrifice kids after every fight. They are having a hunting game."

"Hunting game?" That was a first. Anong klaseng hunting game iyon?

"Yes. I've seen the bodies of the kids. It was not a pretty sight. Their tiny bodies were hit by a crossbow arrow. Fucking crossbow arrow, Leon. They were being hunted like a prey. And the worst part, while those kids were fighting for their life, they were being skinned alive. Mutilated while they were still breathing. You get the picture?"

Nakaramdam ako ng panlalamig at automatic na inilapit ko ang inuupuan ko sa mga anak ko at hinawakan sila na para bang may biglang kukuha sa kanina.

"Little girls and boys. I don't know where they are getting their victims. But those bodies that I've seen were aged from six years old to twelve." Bahagya pang pumiyok ang boses niya. "The worst that I've seen was an infant. Maybe around eight months old. A girl. I've seen many horrible deaths. I tortured and killed deadly people. But this one, I will search hell just to find the son of a bitch that killed that baby." Ngayon ay ramdam ko na ang galit sa boses ni Ghost. "Kaya kahit kalahati ng mga negosyong hawak ko ay kaya kong ipamigay makapasok lang sa organisasyon ni Ulysses."

"Why? What happened?" It got my curiosity.

"Are you sure you still want to hear it?"

"Bite me." Napapailing na sabi ko. Minsan sumusobra sa drama 'tong si Ghost.

"The baby was found on a pile of garbage. Headless. Her whole body was skinned. Each little finger was cut. Toes too. They didn't find the head though. Just the skinned and mutilated tiny body. I've seen worst, but that one will be forever embedded in my head. That's why I need you to lose the fight. Because after your fight and Johnny wins, there will be a celebration. Which means there will be a sacrifice. You get my point now?"

"So, for you I'll be your sacrifice." Napabuga ako ng hangin.

"I know you understand what I am talking about. Even if you're going to lose, you need to put up a good fight. The entertainment that they wanted."

"Fuck you." Hindi ko na natiis na hindi sabihin iyon. Ako ang ibabala niya sa delikadong case niya.

"I trust you, Leon. Just remember what you're going to do is for those kids that they killed without mercy. You have two beautiful daughters. I know you don't want them to experience the horror that those unfortunate kids experienced."

"Spare my kids from this." Asar kong sagot sa kanya. Marahan kong hinilot-hilot ang ulo ko.

"Go to the training camp today. I already talked to Agent Orange and Agent Blue. They are waiting for you. And this weekend, you're going to face Johnny for the weigh-in." Anunsiyo niya. "You need to train. I'll expect a report from Agent Blue about your training today."

May sasabihin pa sana ako pero wala na akong narinig na sagot mula kay Ghost. Inis kong inilapag sa mesa ang telepono ko.

I needed to lose the fight. In my mind, there were so many scenarios playing on what could I do to escape my impending death match. But what Ghost told me about those kids fueled the anger that was beginning to fire inside my chest.

I looked at my beautiful kids. The innocence on their faces. Their laughter. What kind of demon would want to hunt and kill kids?

Napatango-tango ako. Ghost was right. If I were in his shoes, I'll do the same. I'll sacrifice whatever, whoever I could just to stop a dangerous and sick organization like that. There was no place for them here. Maybe hell won't accept them too.

Iniligpit ko ang mga kalat na nasa harapan namin at pinagkukuha ko ang mga ice cream na hawak ng mga anak ko. Hindi na naman din kasi nila kinakain. Pinaglalaruan na lang. Sabay na nagreklamo ang dalawa. Si Elsa ay nag-umpisa ng umiyak at sigurado akong magta-tantrums na ito ng todo.

I told them we needed to go. Ihahatid ko na siya sa nanay ko para makapunta naman ako sa training camp ng XM.

I needed to train well for my fight two weeks from now. Just a short notice to train for a big fight.

Even if I am going to lose, I needed to show everyone who Leon Deaver Kaestner was. I am going to give them the ultimate fight that they couldn't forget.

And I am going to be back with a vengeance in that deadly cage.