There are moments, when you're getting to know someone, when you realize something deep and buried in them, too. It feels like meeting a stranger you've known your whole life. – Leah Raeder/Unteachable

FALL OF THE KING | STANISLAV VAUGHN

CHAPTER THREE | PUNCHES

STAS

"S-Sir. Mr. Rozovsky..."

I didn't even take the time to glance at the man who was kneeling in front of me surrounded by my men. I knew what he looked like already. Blood dripping from his head. Blood shot eyes. Broken nose. Face full of bruises and wounds because of the punches that my men gave him. Did I feel mercy? No. Because even if they kill this man in front of me, I won't stop them. In fact, I would commend them if they did that.

"Sir!" Ngayon ay lumakas ang boses ng lalaki kaya napatingin na ako sa kanya. Umiiyak na sa harap ko at kulang na lang ay gumapang palapit sa akin.

Dinampot ko ang tobacco cigar na nakapatong sa ashtray sa mesa ko at humithit doon. Tumayo ako sa kinauupuan at pumuwesto sa harap ng lalaki. Naupo ako sa gilid ng mesa at patuloy sa paghithit at buga ng usok mula hawak ko.

Marahang gumalaw ang lalaki at paggapang na tinungo ang lugar ko. Akmang pipigilin iyon ng mga tauhan ko pero sinenyasan ko silang pabayaan ang lalaki. Nang makalapit sa akin ay kumapit sa paa ko. Humalik sa suot kong sapatos.

"Mr. Rozovksy, please. Give me another chance. I am really sorry," umiiyak na sabi ng lalaki habang nakayakap sa mga binti ko at patuloy na humahalik sa mga sapatos ko. Kita ko ang kaba sa mukha ng mga tao kong naroon dahil alam nilang ayaw na ayaw kong nadudumihan ang sapatos ko. Napuno na kasi iyon ng dugo galing sa bugbog na mukha ng lalaki.

"Calvin, how many years do you work here in Fire Palace?" Sige pa rin ako ng pagbuga ng usok sa bibig ko.

Naka-tingala siya sa akin at napalunok. Halatang kabadong-kabado.

"F-five years, Sir." Pumiyok pa nang sabihin iyon.

Napatango-tango ako. "Five years. And when did you start stealing from me?"

Lalo na siyang napaiyak at humigpit ang kapit sa akin.

"W-wala lang akong choice, Sir. P-pasensiya na po."

"Why do you need to steal from me? You know me, Calvin. You know what I do to people who steals from me." Malamig pa sa yelo ang tono ng boses ko.

Bumuka ang bibig ng lalaki pero hindi nito naituloy ang sasabihin. Napaiyak lang ito at yumuko tapos ay sige halik sa sapatos ko. Sa buwisit ko ay sinipa ko ang mukha niya para makalayo sa akin. Sabog ang dugo sa bibig at ilong niya at halos hindi makahinga sa sakit na nadadama. Tumalungko ako sa harap niya at hinawakan nang mariin ang mukha niya.

"It's like stabbing me in the back. You took my money without my knowledge. You all know that if you need help you can ask from me." Mariing sabi ko at itinulak ko siya 'tapos ay muling tumayo. Nandidiri akong tumingin sa kamay ko dahil napuno ng dugo iyon at mabilis ang isang tauhan ko na lumapit at inabutan ako ng panyo na pamunas.

"S-sir... sorry po talaga. N-nasilaw lang po ako sa dami ng pera na nakikita ko sa Casino. Sir, hindi n'yo naman iindahin ang perang nawala sa dami ng pera n'yo," umiiyak pang sabi nito.

Nagtagis ang bagang ko sa narinig at mabilis na lumapit sa kanya. Napasigaw siya ng malakas nang idiin ko ang baga ng hawak kong tobacco sa pisngi niya. Iyon ang ginawa kong ashtray. "Be fucking proud I wasted this Gurkha cigar on your face." Mariin na mariin kong idinikit ang tobacco sa pisngi niya at kulang na lang ay lumusot iyon sa laman niya. "And it's not about the fucking money. It's about loyalty." Gigil na sabi ko at muli siyang itinulak. Tumingin ako sa mga tauhan kong nakapaligid at lahat ng mga iyon ay kakikitaan ng takot sa mukha habang nakatingin sa akin.

Ang lakas ng hagulgol ni Calvin habang naninikluhod sa harap ko. Lumikha nang sugat sa mukha niya ang idiniin kong tobacco.

"How much did you steal from me?"

Hindi siya agad nakasagot at tumingin lang sa paligid. Bumuka ang bibig pero hindi makapagsalita. Tumingin ako sa mga taong naroon. "Do you know how much?" baling ko kay Patek. He was my right-hand man. My personal bodyguard. He was the one who found out about this guy who was doing a nasty job behind our backs.

"Ask him first." Sagot nito.

Tinapunan ko ng tingin si Calvin. "Tell me how much."

"T-ten million, Sir." Napahagulgol ito nang sabihin iyon. Muli akong tumingin sa gawi ni Patek para masiguro kung tama ang narinig ko at umiling ito. Itinaas ang dalawang daliri at nagmuwestra ng bilog. Tumaas ang kilay ko at natawa.

"Even at the edge of death you are still going to lie to me." Napapailing na sabi ko at tinungo ang table ko. Kinuha ko doon ang cigar cutter at nilaro-laro iyon. "Do you love to finger your woman, Calvin?"

Nakita ko ang katarantahan sa mukha niya at napatingin pa sa paligid niya. "S-Sir?"

"I said, do you love to finger women? Fucking them using your fingers."

Napalunok si Calvin at umiiling. "H-hindi ko maintindihan, Sir. A-ano po ang ibig n'yong sabihin?"

Natawa ako. "Nah. Nevermind. You won't need that in hell anyway." Sumenyas ako kay Patek at sa isang tao ko na hawakan si Calvin. Nagpipiglas ito pero mas malakas ang mga humahawak sa kanya. Ang panyo na ibinigay sa akin ay inilagay ko sa bibig niya para ma-muffle ang pagsigaw niya. It pains my ears. Nawawala ako sa concentration.

Pilit pa rin siyang nagpipipiglas. Pilit na sumisigaw kahit may pasak ang bibig. Kinuha ko ang kanang kamay niya at ipinasok ang middle finger niya sa butas ng straight cigar cutter. I knew the sharp blade would create a precise cut. His eyes were full of fear while looking at me and I smiled when I pressed the cutter hard while looking back at him. I could hear the cutting of the bone of his middle finger. His eyes widened in horror while the cloth in his mouth muffled his screams. His bloody middle finger fell on the floor. I took his other hand and did the same.

There was a total silence in the room. What can only hear was the muffled scream of agony from Calvin. His face full of horror while looking at his two bloody middle fingers on my carpeted floor.

"Clean this mess." Utos ko sa kanila tapos ay binalingan ko si Patek. "Tell Lumar to stab him deep twenty times before cutting his throat. The twenty million that he stole from me is my donation for his death and for his family. Tell them that this asshole ran away with his other woman. Make sure they will never find his body." Kumumpas na ako para umalis na sila sa harap ko. Lalo lang nagwala si Calvin pero wala na siyang nagawa nang bitbitin palabas ng opisina ko. "Shit." Mahina kong nasambit dahil nalagyan ng dugo ang kamay ko pati ang sapatos. Tumungo ako sa banyo at naghugas ng kamay. Habang ginagawa ko iyon ay napatingin ako sa sarili kong repleksyon sa salamin. Napahinga ako ng malalim at napailing. Another wasted soul. Damn those people. Alam naman nila kung ano ang ginagawa ko sa nagnanakaw sa akin pero bakit ginagawa pa rin? Calvin was working at the casino for five years. I thought he was a loyal manager. He did his work well around the casino. I even gave him a huge salary plus incentives. Nalaman ko lang ang ginagawa niyang pagnanakaw sa casino nang isang dealer doon ang pumiyok sa ginagawa niya. Ibinuko ang ginagawa ni Calvin na pagnanakaw sa mga perang bina-bundle para dalhin sa bangko. But did I feel any remorse of what I did? No. He deserved that. All the people who would try to cross me would experience so much hell from my hand.

Tinuyo ko ang mga kamay ko at bumalik sa table ko. Nilinis ko ang dumi sa sapatos tapos ay kinuha ang telepono at tiningnan ang message doon. Si Ilyenna. Nagre-remind na may meeting na naman ako kasama ang daddy ko at si Uncle Rom. May announcement daw. Even if I hated those two old fools, I still had to deal with them. I had to listen to their old ways which I think won't be needing in this time anymore.

Pahagis kong binitiwan ang telepono ko at tinungo ang table sa kabilang gilid kung nasaan nakapuwesto ang mga cctv monitors na naka-connect sa buong hotel. The hotel security had this kind of things in the security control room but I needed to have my own. Gusto kong nakikita din ang mga nangyayari sa buong paligid. Tiningnan ko ang mga tao sa entrance, sa casino at napangiti ako dahil napakaraming tao. Buhay na buhay ang buong hotel. Pati ang mga restaurants sa paligid ay ganoon din. I checked the bar and I creased my forehead when I saw her.

Napapikit-pikit ako at inilapit ang mukha sa monitor para matitigang maigi ang babaeng nakita ko na naglalakad palabas sa bar. I couldn't understand why my eyes were fixed on her. I switched the camera to follow where she would go and she went to the lobby area to talk to the concierge then she walked back to the bar again.

What the fuck was this? This was the first time I felt my chest was pounding so fast. I was looking at her and my whole damn system was like rebooted and suddenly became fixed just to look at her.

Who was this woman?

Dali-dali akong lumabas ng penthouse ko at bumaba sa lobby ng hotel. May pagmamadali ang mga hakbang ko na tinungo ang bar at mabilis kong sinuyod ang paligid para mahanap ang babaeng nakita ko sa cctv monitor.

And there it was again. The strange feeling when my eyes locked at her. Seeing her in the flesh.

The woman was laughing while talking to the bartender and I wanted to sprint to their place and slit the throat of that guy. But I immediately told myself I was becoming an ass. He was my employee and he was just doing his job entertaining clients. But what pisses me off, he was making her laugh.

There was nothing grand about her but her whole persona was screaming so urbane. She looked sophisticated and totally different from those women who were dying for my attention. Those women who were trying to so hard to impress me with their doctor enhanced faces and fake boobs. Their luxury bags, expensive dresses, pricey shoes with red soles.

This woman was just wearing a simple white long sleeves polo tucked in her faded fitted jeans. My eyes went down to her shoes and chuckled. Well, she was wearing stiletto shoes with red soles. What's with women and this fucking shoes with red soles?

Inayos ko ang suot kong suit at lumakad palapit sa bar. Nanlaki ang mata ng bartender nang makita ako doon. He should be. I don't go in this place. If I wanted to have my drink, they bring it to my room.

"M-Mr. Rozovsky," nanginig pa ang boses ng bartender at halatang kinakabahan sa presensiya ko.

Tumango lang ako dito at naupo sa stool sa harap ng bar area. Naupo ako malapit sa babae at nag-iwan lang ako ng isang stool sa pagitan namin.

"The usual, Mr. Rozovsky?" tanong ng bartender at akmang kukunin na ang bote ng Hennessy na paborito ko.

The usual? No. Definitely not. Tinapunan ko ng tingin ang babae at tingin ko ay hindi niya ako pansin. Nakatingin lang siya sa telepono niya at sige ang pagba-browse doon habang nagsi-sip sa kaharap niyang vodka tonic.

"Pour me some Remy Martin Jeroboam."

Lalong nanlaki ang mata ng bartender at tiningnan ang hilera ng mga expensive liquors na naroon sa pinakataas na parte ng liquor display. Tinapunan ko ng tingin ang babae at hindi pa rin inaalis ang tingin sa cellphone niya. Hindi ba niya nararamdaman ang presensiya ko?

"S-Sir," kabadong-kabado na sabi ng bartender. "S-Sir, sure po kayo?"

Sinamaan ko ng tingin ang bartender at dali-dali itong umalis sa harap ko. Kinuha nito ang bote ng alak na sinasabi ko at nang lumapit sa akin ay nanginginig ang kamay na binuksan iyon. Napa-ikot ang mata ko. Dahil ba mahigit dalawang milyon ang halaga ng alak na ito? This was not even my favorite. I just had to impress this woman that was why I chose one of the most expensive liquors on the bar list.

Kinuha ko na ang bote mula sa bartender at ako na ang nagsalin noon sa baso ko. Gusto kong pagalitan ang sarili ko. Why am I fucking doing this? I had to impress a woman? The fuck was wrong with me?

Nakita kong nag-angat ng mukha ang babae at ngumiti sa bartender. Umu-order ng isa pang vodka tonic.

"It's on the house."

Doon na siya tumingin sa akin at nakita kong saglit siyang napatitig sa mukha ko. And damn. Looking at her face was like looking at heaven. Her face was immaculate. Her beautiful heart shaped face. Her deep-set eyes looking at me like she was trying to know my deep darkest secret. I couldn't take away my sight from her moist lips that I knew any man would do anything just to have a taste of it.

I wonder how those moist lips would feel around my dick.

And when she smiled, everything lit up. For the first time, I felt the burden was lifted from my shoulders. Her smile brought peace around me. A feeling that I was looking for so many years.

"Excuse me, what?" Nawala ang ngiti niya nang sabihin iyon.

"I said your drink is on the house," itinaas ko ang basong hawak ko para makipag-cheers sa kanya.

Ngumiti ng pilit ang babae. "Thank you, but no. I can pay for my drink." Iniabot niya ang perang pambayad sa bartender at nakita kong natataranta ang staff ko dahil narinig nito ang sinabi ko sa babae.

"And I insist that it's on the house."

"And I have my own money to pay." Ngayon ay humarap na siya sa akin.

Nawala ang ngiti ko sa labi. Hindi ba niya ako kilala? Most of the women that I offered like this would end up in my bed. Nagkakadarapa pa.

"Don't you know who I am?" Seryosong tanong ko.

Tumaas ang kilay niya. "Should I? Is there a reason for me to know who you are?" dinampot niya ang vodka tonic at uminom doon at nakatingin sa akin na talagang sinisino ako.

Napalunok ako at hindi maialis ang tingin sa mukha niya. Who was this woman? She didn't know who am I? Was she fucking kidding me? Walang hindi nakakakilala sa akin dito. This was the first time a woman was not giving in to me. The first time that a woman didn't know me and I am goddamn Stanislav Rozovsky.

"I own this place." Iyon na lang ang sinabi ko. Baka sakaling magkandarapa na siya sa akin kapag nalaman niya kung sino ako.

Natawa siya at muling uminom hawak na vodka tonic.

"Good for you, Sir." Damang-dama ko ang pagka-peke ng tawa niya. Halatang hindi siya impressed sa sinabi ko.

Shit. I needed to shift my body because I felt a sudden surge of heat in between my thighs. The way she said 'Sir'. Damn it. There were so many sexual things flooded my head about what I could do to her so she would keep on saying that word. Screaming 'Sir' over and over.

"You really don't know who am I?" I am losing my composure. Hindi puwedeng lalabas ang babaeng ito sa hotel ko na hindi dumadaan sa kama ko.

"Sorry to burst your bubble but, no. I really don't know who you are." Punong-puno ng pagtataka ang mukha niya.

"I am..."

Nahinto ang sasabihin ko nang tumunog ang teleponong hawak niya at sumenyas siya sa akin ng sandali. The fuck? Did she just told me to wait?

"I need to take this important call." Pagkasabi noon ay tinalikuran na niya ako at sinagot ang tumatawag sa kanya. "Yes. All right, Dad. I'm coming up." Tumayo ang babae at ngumiti sa akin ng maasim. "I have to go. Thanks for your offer for the free drinks but I don't really take offers from strangers. Good night. Sir."

Napaawang lang ang bibig ko at sinundan siya ng tingin habang naglalakad palabas ng bar. I wanted to say something but like a ghost, she was nowhere to be seen. Napatingin ako sa bartender at parang nahihiyang inalis nito ang tingin sa akin. Alam kong nakita nito at narinig ang nangyari ngayon. This was the first time a woman left me and didn't even try to get my fucking name.

Dinampot ko ang baso at inisang inuman ang laman noon. Tumunog ang telepono ko at si Ilyenna ang tumatawag sa akin.

"Your father needs you here. I think this meeting is something important." Dama ko ang kaseryosohan sa boses niya.

"I'll be there." Tumayo ako at lumabas ng bar. Luminga pa ako dahil baka sakaling makita ko ang babae doon pero wala. Dumeretso akong sumakay sa elevator at tumungo sa conference room. Nang makapasok ay nakita kong naroon ang Daddy ko at si Uncle Rom. Nagtatawanan pa.

"Stas." Nakangiting bati ni Daddy at ganoon din si Uncle Rom. Tumango lang ako sa kanila at naupo sa malapit sa kanila.

"I've heard what Calvin did," komento ni Uncle Rom.

Tinapunan ko lang siya ng tingin at tipid na ngumiti. Uncle Rom was like my second father. He helped me to know what to do in this organization. He introduced me to people whom to deal.

"He deserved what happened to him." tanging sagot ko.

Tumango-tango siya. "Tama naman iyon. You need to show them what they can get if they crossed you. Remember. Power."

"What is this meeting about?" Gusto ko na lang na matapos na ito at makabalik sa penthouse ko. Ngayon umaalsa ang inis ko dahil sa nangyari kanina sa bar. That woman insulted me. Nobody tried to do something like that before. She was the first who said no to me.

Nagtinginan si Daddy at si Uncle Rom.

"There is something that we need to discuss." Seryoso na ngayon si Daddy.

Nagtatanong akong tumingin sa kanila.

"You need to get married." Walang abog na sagot ni Uncle Rom.

Bago pa ako makasagot ay bumukas ang pinto ng conference room at napaangat ako sa kinauupuan ko nang makilala ko kung sino ang naroon.

It was the woman that dissed me at the bar.

And she went straight to Uncle Rom, kissed his cheek and called him Dad.