CHAPTER 33

BAHAGYANG UMATRAS si Ivy at nilakihan ang pagkakabukas ng pinto para makapasok si Russo sa loob. Nilingon niya si Andrius pero wala na ito sa tabi niya, nang ipalibot niya ang tingin, nakita niya itong lumabas ng kuwarto nila.

She frowned. He was just beside me.

"Señorita." Pukaw ni Russo sa kaniya.

Napakurap-kurap siya bago iminuwestra ang kamay patungong salas. "Have a seat."

Pero hindi gumalaw si Russo. Nanatili ito sa kinatatayuan malapit sa pinto. Nang lingunin niya si Andrius nakita niyang naglalakad na ito palapit sa kaniya.

"Russo..." Andrius smiled at Russo who just nodded in return. "You're here. What can we do for you?"

Pinapakiramdaman niya si Russo, binanasa niya ang kislap ng mga mata nito at bawat paggalaw ng katawan. Hindi siya sigurado sa tumatakbo sa isip nito pero alam niyang may binabalak ito.

"I'm here to deliver a good news." Ngumiti si Russo sa kaniya. "The Salavaderás is now under control. Their execution is scheduled tomorrow morning. You can go home now, Señorita."

Inakbayan siya ni Andrius. "She's not going home, Russo. She's staying with me."

Kinunutan siya ng nuo ni Russo, halatang hindi nagustuhan ang sinabi ni Andrius. "But Señorita—"

"It's true." Sabi niya habang pinagmamasdan ang pag-iiba ng kislap ng mga mata ni Russo. "I'm staying with my corazoncito."

"Oh, yeah..." Andrius smiled happily, "I forgot, you're invited to our wedding next week." He kissed her on her lips, "we just can't wait to be husband and wife."

Tumalim ang mga mata ni Russo pero kaagad din iyong nawala. "But Señorita, there is no danger in Bogotá anymore. I helped your father clean up the mess you made. You belong in Bogotá. You don't belong in this place—"

"She belongs with me." May diing sabi ni Andrius saka bumaba ang kamay nitong naka-akbay sa kaniya. "Not in Bogotá, but with me."

She smiled at Russo. "Thank you for the help, Russo, I appreciate it but I'm not leaving Andrius' side."

Nagbaba ito ng tingin kapagkuwan ay malamig na tumawa. "You appreciate my help. That's it?" Nanunumbat ang mga mata nitong tumingin sa kaniya. "I was by your side since you were just a teen. We are partners in everything. I did everything you asked without question. We were okay, happy even, until you met him.

Ang matalim nitong mata ay tumuon kay Andrius. "You ruined everything. My señorita was happy in Bogotá. She doesn't need you. You're a nobody, you don't deserve her, yet you manage to soften the heart of my Señorita and you stole her from me. It is I whose gonna protect her. It is me, Russo, who protected her all these years and you took her away from me like my efforts are nothing!"

Hinugot nito ang baril na nakatago sa likod at galit ang matang itinutok iyon kay Andrius pero ang kasintahan ay kalmado lang na nakapamulsa.

"Russo!" Nanlaki ang mga mata niya sa ginawa niya. "Drop the gun! Now!"

Bumaling ito sa kaniya at lumambot ang mukha. "I always listened to you, but not today." Umiling ito. "You hurt me, Señorita. And I'm sorry that I have to do this. He stole you from me, I have to take you back where you belong, with me...I can never forgive him—"

"Russo..." umiling siya, "I was never yours—"

"But I love you!" Russo hissed those words to her, stunning her. "All those things you told me to do, I did it because I love you! I killed for you! I did everything for you just to make you happy!"

Umiling siya. "No, Russo... our relationship is strictly personal and you know that since the beginning—"

"No. You told me you trust me and you don't trust so easily. You made me feel special. You always say that no one is better than me. That I'm irreplaceable." Russo whispered as he tightens his grip on the gun he's holding. "You told me that there is no one in this world that you trust most but me. And then you met him!" Dinuro nito si Andrius gamit ang baril na hawak. "You forgot all about me. You just met him but you fell in love with him and you discarded me. Me! Who's by your side for more than fifteen years!

Marahas itong umiling. "I thought when you lost your memory, when we left this country, you'll see me again, but no, you keep on painting his face! You keep on dreaming of him! You won't stop asking who he is! You keep on trying to remember him! If I have known that that was going to happen, I should have kill him rather than shoot you with a special bullet fragments!"

Umawang ang labi niya sa pagkagulat. No... Russo... "Y-you're the one who s-shot me and b-burned me?"

Tumiim ang bagang ni Russo. "With the right trajectory and distance, the bullet fragments will not kill you, it will just damage part of your brain. It's a risk I have to take to take you home. I know the risk because I'm your sicario. I've used it before. But I didn't plan for you to get burn. That was an accident."

Hindi siya naniniwala nitong mga nakaraang araw na ito ang traidor dahil wala siyang maisip na rason, pero ngayon, naiintindihan na niya.

He loves her and she can't and won't reciprocate that feeling and he can't accept that.

Mahina siyang natawa. "So that's why I'm alive. The bullet in my head is just a small fragment, not a whole bullet like what the Doctor said." Tumawa na naman siya ng mahina. "That was good, Russo. You deceived me and Iris. I bet you threatened the Doctor's family, I'm sure you promise to kill his love ones if he didn't make a false medical report for you."

Tumiim ang bagang nito. "I did it for you!" Dinuro na naman nito si Andrius. "He's just hurting you! You even went to the Police to surrender yourself because of this bastard! You're ruining your life because of him! He's nothing, Señorita while you are everything!"

"No." Kumuyom ang kamao niya. "You did it for your self, Russo, not for me." Gumuhit ang malamig na ngiti sa mga labi niya. "The Salavaderás finding the house we were hiding in in Bogotá, the Salavaderás on the Airport, the Salavaderás finding out about Andrius faking his death and the war I was planning against Salavaderás. That was you." Tumalim ang mata niya. "You sold me. I should have known but I trusted you."

"It's his fault." Dinuro na naman nito si Andrius gamit ang baril na hawak. "If he didn't enter your life, we would have been happy! And married!"

Her face softened, gone the anger and resentment. "Even if I didn't met Andrius, I will never marry you. You're my friend, like a brother that I can always count on."

Kinalabit nito ang gatilyo ng baril at ang bala ay ilang dangkal nalang ang layo sa leeg ni Andrius pero hindi ang kasintahan gumalaw at hindi niya ito nakakakitaan ng takot.

"That's a warning." Nanggagalaiti na sabi ni Russo. "Next time, I won't miss." Inilahad nito ang kamay sa kaniya. "So come with me, Señorita, and I will spare his life."

Bago pa siya makahindi, sumabad sa usapan si Andrius.

"You know, what?" Andrius smiled coldly. "You shouldn't have miss in the first place." Andrius, then, expertly pull the gun hiding in his back and with a speed of lightning, he fired it at Russo.

Napamura si Russo ng tamaan ito sa balikat, siya naman ay napaigtad sa gulat dahil hindi niya inaasahan 'yon. Now she understand. Kaya pumasok ito sa kuwarto kanina ng papasukin niya si Russo para kunin ang baril nito.

"You son of a bitch!" Akmang babarilin ni Russo si Andrius pero naunahan ito ng kasintahan.

Kinalabit ulit ni Andrius ang gatilyo at tumama iyon sa kamay ni Russo na hawak ang baril.

Napasigaw si Russo sa sakit at nabitiwan nito ang baril na hawak habang sapo ang dumudugong kamay. "I will kill you!"

"My. Baby. Is. Not. Your. Señorita." Itinutok ni Andrius ang baril sa tuhod nito at gumagalaw ang panga na kinalabit 'yon. "Who the fuck do you think you are to come into my house and threaten me? Who give you the right to fuck with me and take my woman away? Sicario or not, no one disrespects me in my territory. Ivy is mine and not yours and she will never be yours.

"You think I'll just let you shoot me? You think I'll let myself get shot again? I'm a soldier you mother fucker, I'm a Lt. Cor." Andrius aim on Russo's other leg then he fired. "That's for shooting my baby in the head. And this," binaril na naman ito sa paa ni Andrius, "is for deceiving her and selling her to the Salavaderás."

Ivy just watch as Andrius walk towards Russo who's bleeding and grunting on the floor in so much pain.

She should feel something, he works for her half of her life! Magkasama sila palagi. Hindi niya magawang maawa rito pero namalisbis ang luha sa mga mata niya.

Sa tanang buhay niya, hindi niya naisip na ta-traidorin siya ni Russo. Naniniwala siyang hindi nito kayang gawin 'yon. Na mahalaga rito ang pinagsamahan nilang dalawa. Bawat paghihirap, bawat pagkapanalo at bawat laban, magkasangga sila.

Tinuyo niya ang luha. She still remember those days when she would break down and Russo was there, offering support. He's not just her loyal sicario, he was her friend, like a brother that she can count on.

This is her fault. Hindi niya napansin na may nararamdaman ito sa kaniya. Pero kung napansin man niya? Anong gagawin niya? Wala siyang nararamdaman para rito. The outcome would still be the same. She would still fall for her corazoncito.

Humugot siya ng malalim na hininga saka tinitigan ang lalaking tinuring niyang matapat at maasahang kaibigan.

Masakit pala na traidorin ng taong akala niya ay tapat sa kaniya. Na hindi siya ipapahamak. Nakakatakot na na mag-tiwala ulit.

Itinutok ni Andrius ang baril sa ulo ni Russo. "I wonder how would you feel if I shoot you in the head? Would you live?"

Tinitigan ni Ivy ang mukha ni Andrius. Wala itong emosyon maliban sa nag-aapoy na galit sa mga mata nito.

"Corazoncito—"

"You really pissed me off with your nonsense speech." Andrius tsked. "You motherfucker. You think after the stunt you pulled, I'll stay nice? I don't think so. I can kill you, legally. You're in my house, you're trespassing, and you took a shot at me. It's called self-defence bastard, google it."

Akmang kakalabitin na ni Andrius ang gatilyo ng bumukas ang pinto ng penthouse at pumasok doon si Sanford na nakahanda na ang baril, si Yrozz na may dalang laptop, si Phoenix, Titus, Nate, si Doc Blaze at ang kamukha nitong lalaki na nakahanda sa pakikipaglaban. At ang pinakahuling pumasok ay ang lalaking sumisipol at nilalaro ang matalim na kutsilyo sa pagitan ng mga daliri nito.

"Bud." Boses iyon ni Khairro. "We heard a gunshot. You okay?"

"Hindi ka naman siguro nabaril ulit, no?" Sabi ni Phoenix.

"If you get shot again, I suggest you leave the army." Sabad ni Titus. "Because you're a pussy."

Tumango si Doc Blaze bilang pagsangayon. "Kung nabaril ka ulit, hindi na kita gagamutin. Katangahan ang tawag diyan."

Tumaas ang sulok ng labi ng lalaking kamukha ni Doc. Blaze. "If you got shot again, i am not guarding your ass."

Andrius looked up at his friends, "I'm okay, lunatics." Then his eyes settled on the man whistling and playing with a knife. "Rhyzk? What are you doing here?"

Tinuro nito si Phoenix. "He called. Said its 911 so I came. Tapos nalaman ko na pagbabantayin lang pala niya ako sa building na nakaharap sa kuwarto mo. I mean, what am I? A building fucking bodyguard?"

"Oh." Ani Andrius na nakatutok pa rin ang baril kay Russo. "We're okay here. You can go." Pagtataboy ni Andrius sa mga kaibigan.

Pero bago pa makalabas ang mga ito, pumasok doon ang sampung kalalakihan na kilalang-kilala niya.

Her father's sicarios.

Kaagad na doon itinutok ni Andrius at Khairro ang baril sa mga kalalakihang bagong dating. Ganun din ang mga kaibigan nito na mas naging alerto at handang makipaglaban.

"Come on!" Andrius grunted. "Can't you give me a fucking break?"

Bubunot na sana ng baril ang mga Sicario ng ama ng pumasok ang Papá niya.

"Halt." Anang ama niya at kaagad na tumigil ang mga Sicario sa sana ay gagawin ng mga ito.

Umawang ang labi niya ng magtama ang mga mata nila. "Papá..."

Bumaba ang tingin ng ama niya kay Russo na dumadaing sa sobrang sakit habang nakahandusay sa sahig. "Don't waste your bullet on him, Lt. Cor. Salazar. His blood in your hands won't be worth it."

Ibinaba ni Andrius ang baril na hawak saka bumuga ng marahas na hininga. "Now I have to file a report to my Superior because I discharge four bullets."  Andrius tsked. "Just great."

Sinenyasan ng ama niya ang mga tauhan nito na hulihin si Russo.

"Papá—"

"I'll take care of him." Walang emosyong sabi ng ama.

Sinundan ng mga mata niya ang mga tauhan ng ama na binuhat si Russo palabas ng penthouse.

"He just did it because he loves me and he's jealous."

"His reasons doesn't justify what he did. He still sold you, shot you and endangered you. And for me, he committed a horrific crime and that is hurting my daughter. I can never forgive a man who tried to hurt you, Mi Reinita."

Nag-angat siya ng tingin sa ama niya. "Papá..."

He called me his little princess again. After so many years!

Naglakad ito palapit sa kaniya saka masuyong hinaplos ang buhok niya. "Te extraño tanto, mi reinita." Isang masuyong ngiti ang gumuhit sa mga labi nito na hindi niya inaasahan. "You nearly drove me crazy for the last three years looking for you."

Her lips parted, "Papá..."

"I was told you're dead, but there is no body so I didn't mourn for you."

"I'm sorry, Papá..."

"Have you forgotten that you're my Princess?" Hinaplos ng likod ng mga daliri nito ang pisngi niya, "how can you made me go through that hell, mi reinita?"

Her eyes watered. "Lo siento, Papá."

Tinuyo ng daliri nito ang luha sa gilid ng mga mata niya. "Don't cry, mi reinita. Don't cry."

A soft sob escaped her lips. "Lo siento, Papá. It's just that...its been a long time since you called me your little Princess. I miss it."

Hinawi nito ang ilang hibla ng buhok niya na nakatabing sa mukha niya. "You will always be my reinita. Always. I might be hard on you these past few years, making you do things you don't want to do, letting you handle our business problems and sending you off to marry a stranger, it's because I wanted you to be yourself again. I wanted to see you rebel against me, like you used to before your Mamá died.

"We don't see things eye to eye, we always argue and fight, you wanted to go on your own, build a kingdom on your own. You never once listen to me. And that is my Ivy. Strong, brave, risk-taker and a skilled business woman. But the death of your Mamá scarred our family reinita. But the scar in your heart is way too deep, you didn't recover. I thought if I make you do a lot of things you don't want to do, you'll return to your old-self where you talk back to me and go against me. But you never did. You're always 'yes, Papá', you never say 'no, Papá'.

"I told you over and over again not to disappoint me but I pray that you will. Mi reinita always disappoints me just to spite me, but at the end, she makes me proud."

"You should have told me..." pabulong niyang sabi.

"Lo siento, reinita. Your Papá is never good with emotions. I did what I thought was the best move and decision at the time."

Hindi napigilan ni Ivy ang umiyak. "I thought you're hard on me because you blame me for Mamá's death. Lo siento, Papá. It was my fault. I will forever bear the guilt of Mama's death."

"No...no..." masuyo siya nitong niyakap na ikinahagulhol niya. "It was never your fault, it was mine. All mine, reinita. Only I will forever bear the guilt of the death of my love. Only me, reinita. It was a bad decision made solely by me. Sorry, reinita, if that's how I made you feel these past few years."

"Its okay... it's okay..." himihikbi niyang sabi habang hinahagod ng ama ang likod niya at siya naman ay mahigpit na nayakap dito.

It's been a long, long, long time since she embrace her father. And she miss him. The only parent she has.

"Now, now, stop crying." Pinakawalan siya nito sa pagkakayakap saka tinuyo ang mga luha sa pisngi niya. "It may have cause me to live in hell for the last three years, but sending you here in the Philippines was a good move in my part. You met the man you love and you finally grow a backbone again to rebel against me."

Suminghot-singhot siya. "If only I knew that you wanted me to rebel against you, I shouldn't have ask Russo to kill me. I was so afraid that you will hurt my corazoncito because I disappointed you." Tiningnan niya ng masama ang ama. "You're an idiot, Papá. You should have just told me that that's what you wanted. You should have told me! Argh! I wanna smack you in the head."

Tumawa lang ang Papá niya. "That's my reinita." Pinanggigilan nito ang pisngi niya saka nagpatuloy sa pagtawa. "Go on, smack your Papá in the head."

Inirapan lang niya ito saka bumaling kay Andrius na tahimik lang na nakamasid sa kaniya.

"That was heartwarming." Komento nito.

Ang tawa ng ama niya ay napalitan ng seryusong mukha ng tumuon ang tingin nito kay Andrius.

"You." Talagang dinuro nito si Andrius. "What can you possibly offer my daughter that I cannot give her?" Tumalim ang mata ng ama niya. "I could give her a home, money, anything that she'll desire and many more—"

"I will offer her my heart, my love and my life," wika ni Andrius na pinutol ang iba pang sasabihin ng ama niya, "but since she already has my heart and my love and my life, then I'll offer her my surname. It may not hold great wealth and everything that she'll desire and many more, but I can assure you, Sir, it holds happiness, loyalty, fidelity, a lifetime, and the grandest love for your daughter. That is all I can offer... Sir. Take it or leave it... but if you choose 'leave it', my apologies in advance, I'm still marrying your daughter."

Her father couldn't speak. He just stared at Andrius for a minute before he nodded and give her hand to Andrius. "Then I give you my blessing."

Lumapad ang ngiti niya kapagkuwan ay nabura 'yon ng may maalala. "Papá, the payment for your help..."

His father smiled. "Easy. I want you to go to Bogotá once in a while. Visit your Oldman there with my grandchild of course."

Gumuhit ang malapad na ngiti sa mga labi niya. "Phew! I thought you'll ask me to leave my corazoncito."

Her Papá frowned. "Didn't he tell you?" Bumaling ito kay Andrius.

Kinunutan niya ang kasintahan. "Tell me what?"

Napakamot sa batok ang kasintahan. "I called your Papá before I got discharge from the Hospital. I told him that if the payment has something to do with you leaving me, then I will wage war against him and I'll make sure to win and he will never see you again. Because you're mine."

Her lips parted. "W-what?"

Andrius give her a loop-sided smile. "Baby, I believe that a father will always be a father. Sa dami ng nagawa mong hindi naayon sa gusto ng Papá mo, pagkatapos mong mawala ng tatlong taon, tinulungan ka pa rin niya ng humingi ka ng tulong. To me, that only means one thing. He loves you. So I, you know, used it against him. Just a little."

"He threatened me." Her father looks satisfied that Andrius threatened him. "That's a very hard backbone you got, young man."

Ngumiti lang si Andrius saka bumaling sa kaniya. "Well, why don't we set a dinner with my parents to finalize the wedding?"

Excited siyang tumango. "I want to marry you tomorrow."

"Sounds great to me."

"About damn time." Yrozz exclaimed.

"Ihahanda na ba namin ang tuxedo namin?" Nangingiting tanong ni Phoenix.

"Masarap ba ang pagkain sa reception?" Sabad ni Rhyzk.

"Ako na ang bahala sa cake." Nakangiting sabi ni Nate. "It's free."

Her Papá object, of course. "No. How can we prepare a grand wedding if its tomorrow—"

"No." Her eyes darkened. "I want a simple wedding, Papá!"

"But, reinita—"

"Zip your mouth, Papá, it's my wedding." Pagmamatigas niya.

Mas lalong nagsalubong ang kilay niya ng hilahin ng ama niya si Andrius pagungong kusina. Nasisiguro niyang pipilitin nito ang kasintahan na maging enggrande ang kasal nila.

Ngumiti lang siya. My corazoncito will not fold. She's sure of that.

But if he fold...

"Corazoncito?" Tawag niya sa kasintahan mula sa salas.

"Yes, baby?" Malakas ang boses na sagot ni Andrius mula sa kusina.

"Huwag kang magpapadala sa gusto ni Papá, tatamaan ka sakin." Malakas din niyang sabi. "I will make sure that you will not enjoy our honeymoon!"

Hindi na sumagot si Andrius kaya humarap siya sa mga kaibigan nito.

"Tea, soda, coffee, juice—" she halt and smiled, "on second thought, mag tubig nalang kayo. Nagtitipid kami."

Umupo si Titus sa pang-isahang sofa. "Wala kayong flavoured water?"

"Wala." Matamis siyang ngumiti. "Pero sa mini-store sa baba mayroon."

Napipilan ang mga kaibigan ni Andrius.

"Sige, tubig nalang." Napipilitang sabi ni Phoenix.

"Okay. Kumuha nalang kayo sa kusina." Pagkasabi no'n ay naglakad siya papasok sa kuwarto para magpahinga.

I'm sleepy.