A strong person is the one who knows how to be quiet, shed a tear for the moment, and then picks up the sword and fight again.

—————-

Vie's POV

It was always about the fight.

That was all I could hear from my father. In his office, at home, while he was talking on the phone. He was telling everyone about his breed of fighters. On how he was earning money from them. And how he got so many sponsors for being the best promoter in this deadly sports game.

Because my father, Ulysses Venderbilt was the promoter and owner of Fighter's Ring. A local mixed martial arts promotion company based here in Manila. It was patterned from Las Vegas' Ultimate Fighting Championship. My father saw the potential of this kind of game here in the Philippines. It started with small underground fights, until people started noticing his promotion. It produced events nationwide that showcases some of his best fighters, and his consultant Brandon has helped my father to grow his promotion into a popular multi-billion peso enterprise.

And I should be proud. I should be honored that my father has an empire. That people were loving and supporting his events.

But no. I am just getting sick of it each and every day.

Because behind the fame that Fighter's Ring promotion was getting right now, there was something darker lurking deep within the promotion. Something sinister that I don't understand why those patrons keeps on enjoying it.

I am used hearing bets in my father's office. I am used on seeing big and muscled men inside our house negotiating with my father. I am used on seeing them bloody and beaten inside the ring.

But what I am not going to get used to was seeing men lifeless after each fight inside that deadly ring.

Napahinga ako ng malalim at naupo sa couch na nasa loob ng silid ko. Hindi pa rin mawaglit sa isip ko ang huling fight na napanood ko kanina. It was raw. Brutal. I could still hear the cracking of the bones from someone's neck. The ultimate final kill.

He's going to go for the kill. Johnny "The Executioner" Jones is going for the kill.

Napapikit ako nang maalala ko ang boses ng announcer sa fight kanina. Ang lalakas ng hiyawan ng mga tao. Bugbog na bugbog na si Peng Sales. I felt bad for him. He was a good man. Ilang beses ko din siyang nakita sa opisina ni Papa. He was asking for a main event fight sa Fighter's Ring. My father, he knew who were those fighters and fights that can sell. And Peng Sales was not saleable in the mainstream fights.

But father gave him a choice to get the fame that he always wanted.

To fight Johnny Jones in their underground illegal cage match.

Johnny Jones was the ruthless, soulless fighter of my father. He was not having fights in the mainstream cage matches in Fighter's Ring. Those fights were nothing to him, because he was fighting for the rich and powerful people who were hungry for violence.

People who were hungry for blood.

Gore.

Kill.

Napabuga ako ng hangin nang maalala ko ang eksena kanina. God damn Johnny. Demonyo talaga. I knew Peng was pleading for his life. But knowing Johnny, he would give the entertainment those people what they paid for. And for his satisfaction.

The kill that people was looking for after each of his fight inside that deadly ring.

Alam kong illegal ang fights na iyon. Pantakip lang naman ni Papa ang Fighter's Ring para hindi siya maimbestigahan tungkol sa illegal fights na ino-organize ng consultant niyang si Brandon. Kung millions ang kinikita ni Papa sa Fighter's Ring, mas doble, triple ang kinikita niya sa Death Match. Milyon ang pustahan madalas. Sometimes, businesses were at stake. Hindi ko maintindihan kung ano ang nagustuhan nila sa ganoong klaseng laro. For me, it was not a game but just a mere justification that they can watch someone getting killed without dragging their conscience in hell.

Well, those illegal fights would never be investigated. Those people who tolerate that kind of deadly game were politicians, billionaires. Government officials. I never knew them personally. Their identities were hidden para hindi malaman ng mga tao na tumatangkilik sila sa ganitong klaseng laro. Gumagastos sila ng milyon para lang makapanood ng mga taong nagbubugbugan at nagpapatayan sa gitna ng ring. Gumagastos ng malaki sa pustahan. At talagang nagbubunyi sila sa tuwing mayroong namamatay.

Napatingin ako sa pinto nang may marinig akong kumatok doon. Bumukas at si Papa ang sumilip. Tuloy-tuloy siyang pumasok at nakangiti sa akin.

"Did you like the fight?"

"Pa, you know I don't like those fights. I am not going to get use to that kind of violence." Sagot ko sa kanya.

Sa narinig ay nawala ang ngiti niya at seryosong tumingin sa akin.

"Vivienne, those fights paid for your education. For what you are getting right now. Your condo, your car, everything that you are using right now. Kaya huwag kang umarte diyan." Alam kong naasar siya sa sagot ko.

Hindi na ako kumibo. Kahit naman magsalita ako wala din namang silbi ang sasabihin ko. Kung ano ang gusto ng Papa ko, iyon ang masusunod. Wala akong boses. Tau-tauhan lang ako sa buhay niya na kailangang sundin ang lahat ng gusto niya.

"I want you to go in my office. I want you to meet some people."

"Kailangan ako doon? For what? For your entertainment?" Sagot ko.

Mabilis na lumapit sa akin si Papa at mariing hinawakan ang mukha ko.

"If I tell you to go there, you will go there. Wala kang karapatan na suwayin ang kung anong gusto ko. I own you. Everything about you at kung ano ang gusto kong gawin sa'yo, gagawin ko. Kung hindi, ibabalik kita sa basurang pinanggalingan mo." Napa-aray ako dahil ang diin ng pagkakahawak niya sa pisngi ko tapos ay marahas niya akong tinulak.

Marahan kong hinaplos ang pisngi ko habang nakatingin sa kanya. Mabilis na nagbago ang hitsura ni Papa. Nakangiti na ngayon siya sa akin. Nawala na ang bangis ng mukha na kanina lang ay para akong lalapain.

"Come on, dear. Our visitors are waiting for you. They want to meet my precious daughter." Ngiting-ngiting sabi niya.

Demonyo ang tingin ko kay Papa. Katulad ni Johnny. Katulad ni Brandon. Lahat sila, pare-parehong ganoon ang tingin ko. If only I had a choice to get out from this hell, I did it already. But I can't.

Not until he tells me where I can find my mother and my sister.

Kahit labag sa kalooban ko ay tumayo ako at sumunod sa kanya.

"Smile. I don't want our visitors to think that you are some kind of a frigid waste," sabi pa niya habang sabay kaming naglalakad patungo sa private office niya. Nang buksan niya ang pinto ay maraming lalaki ang naroon. Si Brandon na agad nakangiti sa akin. Naroon din si Johnny na titig na titig sa akin. Ang tatay at trainer ni Johnny at ibang mga hindi pamilyar na mukha sa akin.

"Gentlemen, this is my precious daughter Vivienne." Isinenyas ni Papa na maupo ako at agad na umurong si Johnny para doon ako makaupo sa tabi niya. Nakikiusap ang tingin ko kay Papa na sa iba na lang ako pumuwesto pero itinuro niya na doon nga ako maupo kaya wala na akong nagawa.

"Hi, Vie." Narinig kong mahinang bati sa akin ni Johnny. Tiningnan ko lang siya tapos ay itinuon ang tingin ko kay Papa na ngayon ay nakatayo na sa harap ng mga bisita niya.

"What are we going to do for the next fight? Mukhang wala na akong makuhang mailalaban pa kay Johnny. People are looking for something new. Deadlier match. New face. New fighter that can match his power." Sabi ni Papa.

"Kahit sinong ilaban mo sa akin, walang tatalo sa akin. Ako at ako pa rin ang matitirang nakatayo sa Death Match," mayabang na sabi ni Johnny.

"What if I can get you a new fighter?"

Pare-pareho kaming napatingin sa isang may edad na lalaking nakaupo sa bandang likuran ng mga naroon. Sa napansin ko, siya ang pinakatahimik at hindi nakikigulo sa mga taong narito. But his persona showed so much authority. His stare could give you chills. His cold voice felt it was running through my veins. Giving me goosebumps. Just by looking at him, I felt something bad was going to happen.

Nakita kong nagtinginan sa bawat isa ang mga taong naroon. Waring nagtatanungan kung sino ang lalaking iyon.

"Who are you again?" Si Papa ang nagtanong sa kanya.

"Mr. Venderbilt, this is Mr. Greg Laxamana. A billionaire and he is the biggest sponsor of our next event in Fighter's Cage." Si Brandon ang nagsabi noon.

"Billionaire? Name one of your businesses," mayabang na sabi ni Papa. Tingin ko ay nakita niyang threat ang lalaking iyon sa kanya dahil hitsura pa lang ng lalaki ay talagang mukhang billionaire na. The black Armani three-piece suit that he was wearing was screaming authority to all of us.

Si Brandon ang sumagot. "He owns International Movers a big cargo company, Kotherix Pharma and Gray Tech."

Hindi agad nakasagot si Papa. Kilala ko ang mga pangalan ng businesses na iyon. Those were huge companies, and this man owns those? He was really something. Biglang-biglang nag-iba ang hitsura ni Papa at agad na lumapit sa lalaki at nakipag-kamay.

"It is nice to meet you, Mr. Laxamana."

"Call me Greg," tanging sagot nito. "As I was saying, what if I can give you a fighter. A brutal fight that the crowd won't forget."

"What will be at stake in that fight?" Tanong ni Papa.

Ngumiti ang lalaki at inayos-ayos nito ang suit na suot.

"You will have fifty percent ownership of all my companies if I lose."

Nakita kong nanlaki ang mata ni Papa. I knew he was always hungry for whatever valuables he could have and he won't let this chance pass. "And if your fighter wins?" Nakataas ang kilay na tanong ni Papa.

Ngumiti lang ang lalaki. Pero sa totoo lang, nakakatakot ang ngiting iyon. Parang sa kabila ng mga ngiting iyon ay mayroong hindi magandang gagawin ang lalaki.

"I haven't decided yet on what prize I wanted." Sagot nito. "Maybe soon I'll let you know."

What the fuck? That was really something. Ngayon lang ako nakarinig na isang pumupusta pero walang demand kung ano ang gusto niyang kapalit sa pusta niya. At fifty percent ownership of his companies? This man must be crazy!

Nakarinig ako ng pagbubulungan sa paligid.

"Kahit sino pa ang fighter na ilaban sa akin ng kung sino, siguradong hindi mananalo. Ihanda 'nyo na ang pagbuburulan ng kung sino man na iyan," sabat ni Johnny tapos ay tinapunan ako ng tingin at kay Papa. "Pero sa susunod kong laban, I have one request. A prize that I always wanted to get."

"Name it, Johnny. I'll give it to you. Sa laki ng pera na ibinibigay mo sa akin, kahit ano pa ang hingin mo ibibigay ko." Walang anuman na sabi ni Papa.

Ngumiti si Johnny. "Good. Because on my next fight, I don't want a cash prize."

Kumunot ang noo ni Papa. Nagtataka din akong tumingin kay Johnny. Ayaw niya ng cash prize? This man was hungry for money. He wanted every one to know how rich he was. Tapos ngayon ayaw niya ng cash prize? At ano ang gusto niyang premyo?

"You don't want cash prize? Johnny, millions of peso ang nakukuha mo sa tuwing may laban ka." Paalala ni Papa.

Ngumiti lang ang lalaki. "I already have everything. Money. Fame. Power. Isa na lang ang wala ako. Someone I can spend my money with."

Naparolyo ako ng mata. What's with this asshole trying to be sentimental right now? Someone he can spend his money with? Wala siya noon? Sa dami ng babae niya, puwedeng-puwede niyang ubusin ang pera niya sa mga iyon.

"I want Vivienne to be my prize for my next fight."
Natigilan ako at nanlalaki ang mata na napatingin kay Johnny.

"What?" Taka kong tanong sa kanya.

Hindi niya ako tinapunan ng tingin. Kay Papa lang siya nakatingin. Hindi agad nakasagot si Papa at tumingin sa akin.

"If I win, and I know I will win. I'll have her and I'll fight for you forever. Isipin mo ang perang ibibigay ko pa sa iyo sa lahat ng laban na gagawin ko. You know I don't lose."

Hindi sumasagot si Papa. Nag-iisip lang. At sa hitsura ng papa ko, tingin ko ay hindi siya tututol sa gusto ni Johnny. Pera ang mahalaga kay Papa. Money. Power and fame.

"Is that all?" Tanong ni Papa dito.

Tumango si Johnny.

"Pa," tawag ko sa kanya para malaman niyang hindi ko gusto ang naririnig ko.

"All right. It's settled then."

"What? Pa!" Pero hindi ako pinapakinggan ng ama ko. Para lang siyang nakikipag-business deal sa mga kaharap niya. Pakiramdam ko ay hangin lang ako dito na hindi nila napapansin. Patuloy lang silang nag-uusap kung ano ang mangyayari sa next fight. Ilang beses kong tinatawag si Papa pero hindi niya ako pinapakinggan hanggang sa matapos ang meeting na iyon.

Hindi ako makagalaw sa kinauupuan ko. Hindi ako makapaniwala sa narinig ko.

I'll be Johnny's prize if he won his next fight.

Oh my God. No. I don't want. Hindi ako papayag na mapabilang sa mga babae niya. I knew how he treat his women. He doesn't respect women. Para sa kanya ang babae ay mga laruan lang. Kapag nagsawa itatapon na lang niya. And I knew he loved to beat them. Johnny was one sick animal.

Napakapakit ako sa kinauupuan nang maramdaman kong lumapit sa akin si Johnny.

"Told you you'll be mine. Dapat nga maging proud ka. Dahil kailangan pa kitang paghirapan na makuha. But for sure hindi naman ako mahihirapan sa fight na iyon. Kung sino man ang ang lalaban sa akin, siguradong tutumba sa ring na hindi na humihinga." Punong-puno ng kumpiyansang sabi ni Johnny at tumayo na tapos ay lumabas ng silid.

Ang lakas ng kabog ng dibdib ko habang tinitingnan ko ang mga lalaking naroon na isa-isang lumalabas. Ako na lang ang naiwan doon at hindi ko namalayan na tumutulo na pala ang luha ko.

I didn't sign up for this kind of life. Kahit ibinigay ni Papa sa akin ang marangyang buhay, pakiramdam ko ay preso ako at walang karapatang magdesisyon para sa sarili ko. I was his pawn that he could use everytime he needed to advance on something. Kung may magagawa lang ako. Kung makakatakas lang ako ay ginawa ko na. Pero paano ang nanay ko? Ang kapatid ko? Hindi ko makakayang pabayaan na lang sila basta. If I ran away, something bad could happen to them at hindi iyon makakaya ng konsensiya ko.

Kaya kahit alam kong suntok sa buwan, ngayon pa lang ay ipinagdadasal ko na manalo ang kung sino man na makakalaban ni Johnny sa next fight nito.