#SAT9S

DEDICATED TO : SHANE LIMONAR

(Note : May nagtanong sa akin kung ba't kailangan ko i-include ang past ni Shinn. I think it's a MUST. For you to understand the way he behaves 'coz I don't know if  you're going to love or despise him in the next chapters. That's all for now.)

CHAPTER 52 : MADNESS

Letting anyone knew my true identity was the least thing I want to happen. Yet, keeping my profile low had been quite of a problem. I've been a party frenzy for years. Hence, I became an eye-catcher. I enjoyed it but at the same time, it's quite disturbing to think that there would be a chance for my family to know my whereabouts. For sure, they wouldn't waste a time to send guards to capture me. I can't let that happen, not when I'm still looking for my kind of pleasure. A higher one that could beat all my previous records.

Finding my own contentment is not yet written on my set of list. Why? For a plain-vanilla reason. Being contented is void of freedom, too. Para akong humanap ng sarili kong kulungan. No friggin' way. Hangga't maaari ay wala akong kaaadikan. So, I settled for the things that could please me for a moment, just for a little moments of self-satisfaction. When I get tired of it, sorry not sorry but it's time for disposal, baby. I've got no time for hypocrisy. A life without booze and sex is a killer. I can't imagine myself dying in boredom and drought with eyes widely open. That would be extremely awful.

However, unforeseen things must be genuinely special. In a good or fucking bad way that meant to rearrange or destroy my way of living. The consequence of sheer madness. Fate is a real fuck indeed, and karma is a real bitch.

The first strike happened when I was with these three. Ryan and Roy's another brother, Rex, visited the two assholes in New York. We went on the same bar, so they tag me along. One night that I got wasted and unaware that I've been bluffing on my way home, I spilled my own secret.

"No family, no problem!" My arms were lifted by them while I couldn't even feel my feet as I step unsteadily. My vision was kinda blurry, so I partly focus on what I hear. Too blasted by inebriant. Masyadong marami ang alak na nainom ko sa gabing 'yon.

"Ang gago talaga. Inom nang inom marami, hindi naman kaya." Oh, I heard a magic word, or was that their endearment for a dear friend? Gago. Akala ba nila hindi ko sila naiintindihan pag lasing ako? Roy is a real arse. I should poison him. No. Breaking his cam would be the best. This asshole would cry for sure.

"Stiff." I hissed,

"Tangina. Dapat iniwan na lang natin 'to."

"Hold your mouth, Roy." That was Ryan for sure. The leader figure turns out to be fatherly. It sucks to be the eldest. From one sudden moment, I remembered Armour to him. I dismissed the thought as fast as it came into my head.

"Hanggang dito ba naman sa New York ganyan ang ugali mo?" The voice wasn't very familiar to me. Maybe, that was Rex.

And they end up having an argument. I couldn't help but grin. See? It's good to live alone. Having a family isn't as good as having the privilege of being independent. You can live your life the way you want. You decide alone. No one will interfere. No unnecessary rules. No fucking tradition. You're limitless! Isn't that amazing? What will you get with people who mostly butt in on your way of living? They will only push you to choose the wrong options. Why would you even bother to share your needs when you can have it on your own? Why would you even bother to care when they usually gave you tons of additional baggage to carry? Mostly, they were the cause of a problem and eventually would accuse you of being a burden but the fucking truth was it's the other way around. They were the hindrance. A burden that causes you to be someone else. You cannot be yourself if you're tied with something. What more if someone keeps on holding you behind? It's same banana.

"It sucks, right?" I butt in with lack of sense. "I've been there, too."

They stopped arguing, and due to high effect of toxicant, I couldn't just shut my mouth.

"Why don't you just wish for a new life? No parents that controls the three of you. No sibling who argues. No family but you can live by your own style and you can be your own self." I let out a snickered laugh. "That must be the best advise I gave."

No one dares to talk. Oh, I know they were listening. I wasn't speaking for myself but for their own benefit. That wasn't bad, was it? I was just giving them a piece of advice, to bring them enlightenment. Realizations must've hit them hard.

"Or you might want to escape, too, and have a new identity just like what I've done. The rest of the Aslejos are dumb. There's no way I'm going back to Vegas."

"Who the fuck are you then?" That was Roy. Man, he doesn't really like being defeated by my words. Despite of looped nausea, I managed to smirk.

"That's for you to find out, asshole. I'm gonna break your beloved cam, by the way."

"I'm gonna break your bones instead."

I felt a solid punched touch down on my jaw before I passed out. The next day, I woke up, with a jaw blackly discolored. I couldn't exactly remember what happen that night and they didn't speak up after, not 'til I hide Roy's equipment as a revenge for the punch he gave me. He looked like he's going to sweep me alive and I just laughed it off. He was extremely pissed.

"You mad, bro?" I teased.

"Give it back, bastard."

"Sumbong ka na sa kuya mo." I countered as I let out a loud laugh. His face was red in anger.

"Tangina mo. Para kang bata, gago."

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever."

"Give it back."

I raised my middle finger and sway it in the air as an answer.

"Gusto mo atang tawagin ko ang pamilya mo sa Las Vegas?"

My eyes flew back at him. I stared at him for a long moment. The fucker was expressionless. What does he knew?

"Call them, then." I laid my back down to bed. Maybe, he's just bluffing. Hindi ako kakagat agad. I know better.

"Fine." He took his phone and dialed a number (He didn't dial any. He was just pretending to make a call to take the daylights out of me.) "Hi, Sir. Good morning. Eliscent Aslejo is here in New York. Trace the number and-"

"What the fuck?" I felt my blood as drains down and my face turn into its palest color. How the hell did he knew my real name? I spit unprintable oaths. "How did you-"

"Give my equipments back and I'll pretend that I didn't know anything." His face remained unreadable. I was force to give it back. Damn. Pakiramdam ko ay naisahan ako.

After that scene, I throw my share of questions. Gladly, they gave me legit answers.

"We got curious, so we delve into your family's information. Hindi mahirap hanapin ang mga Aslejo sa Las Vegas dahil kilala ang pamilya niyo. Rex knew your brothers personally." Ryan was the one who explain. Wala akong mapapala kay Roy, while Rex just came in. It's awkward to have a talk with a new comer.

"Nagtrabaho ako sa Las Vegas. I handled two projects as landscape architect kaya kilala ko ang mga kapatid mo." Rex explained further. "Don't worry. Your secret is safe with us."

"Yeah. Tell that to your brother." I rolled my eyes.

"Who? Roy?"

"Who else? He gave me a scare this morning."

"Don't mess up with him. Lalo na sa mga gamit niya. Leave him with his photographs." They both chuckled.

"What if I won't? Gusto ko gumanti."

Ryan smirked. "Good luck."

At certain times, they hold it against me as a bribe or a threat. They found the best way to tease, very effective. They could easily annoy me by just mentioning Las Vegas and my real name.

"Huwag pikon." Ryan let out an infectious belly laugh. Roy and Rex joined him within a second. They were all laughing at my expense. Great. What's funny in my case?

"Fuck you all." He pulled my cap. "Hey-"

"Sa'n mo binili 'to? This is cool. Akin na lang. Ipapadala ko sa kapatid ko. She'll love this."

I frowned. "She?"

The three assholes stared at me. Ryan hide his grinning face.

"Grammar error." Roy butt in while sipping his wine. I breath in irritation. Hindi ko na lang pinansin ang sinabi nila. Eventually, stealing my caps became their hobby. Hindi ko alam kung saan napupunta. Hindi naman sila nagsusuot no'n.

Years of being with them wasn't as bad as I think. I haven't got friends for the sake of friendship but what I've gained with these assholes were more than that. I've gained brothers. They were a better replacement to the real ones, Armour is excluded. Ilang beses man silang manakot at nilabag ko man ang mga kagustuhan nila, hindi nila ako nilaglag.

Hanggang sa natunton ako nang tuluyan. In-expect ko na rin dahil unti-unti akong nalalantad at marami na rin akong nakasalamuhang tao. Contrary to what I used to think, they didn't sent an army. My father's lawyer was the one I talked to. Nang malaman 'yon ng magkakapatid, they offered to help. Ryan, in particular.

"Balak mo tumakas ulit?"

"I don't have plans yet."

"Pumunta ka kaya ng Pilipinas? O kaya sa New Zealand?" He suggested.

"New Zealand?" I frowned.

"Rex was working there, remember? At least, kahit pansamantala lang."

I took the offer. Ryan personally arranged my tickets. Natatawa na lang ako pag naiisip kong para talaga siyang si Armour. He thinks maturely among the three. Kung sa akin siya ikukumpara, magmimistulan na siyang ama. Damn maturity. It doesn't define what kind of person we are.

So, I went to Philippines instead. Isang araw lang ang tinagal ko dahil nakatanggap ako ng e-mail sa lawyer ni Armour. Napalitan akong bumalik sa Las Vegas. The lawyer wanted to discuss important matters about my brother's testaments with urgency. The lawyer revealed something unforeseen.

"He left 80% of his shares to you. That's the reason why he didn't change your surname. He didn't want a longer process once you've been caught. He thought you can handle the business." The lawyer cleared his throat. "Or maybe he thought you can use it for different purposes."

Nalaman ko rin na dahil do'n ay mas nagpursigi ang mga Aslejo na hanapin ako. Of course, they crave for more power. Hahanapin at hahanapin nila ako. They couldn't render the business without an official statement. Hindi nila mapapaikot ang batas hangga't walang Eliscent Aslejo na haharap sa mga abogado. I couldn't decide whether to curse Armour for making it more complicated or to thank him for giving me a shrewd and vengeful way to escape again. I didn't see that coming. He must've thought that I'll be needing his help again, so he arranged a beneficial back up plan. Clever.

So, I faced the whole family. That time, their threats were simply useless while I have something against them that could destroy years of what they so-called 'hard work' and 'legacy.' One wrong move and all of it will go down the drain.

"I'm gonna sell my shares." I watched my father's grim face, his lips were pressed into a thin line. Mababakas ang galit sa mukha nilang lahat. Pinigilan kong ngumisi.

They may say that I am merciless devil for being unsympathetic. Can't they take it as a little payment for what they've done? This family is made from hell, I represent their sins. I'm maybe bad, but that's just because I came from the worst. Binabalik ko lang sa kanila ang mga maling ginawa nila sa akin noon.

"What does it takes for you to stop this nonsense?" A good question from one of my brothers.

"Let's have a deal then." I tap my fingers, creating slow audible beats.

Kalahati ng shares ay binalik ko sa business ni Armour. I used the other half as investments. Bumili ako ng chain of hospitals na papalubog na at pinag-aralang pataasin ulit ang kalidad. It took me a couple of years before it recompense.

"Masyado ka naman atang bato dyan sa ginawa mo." Rex spills his opinion nang minsang maikwento ko sa kanya ang plano ko. The board was planning to make another branch and I recommend him as the landscape architect. "Wait 'til Kuya Ryan hears this."

"What's wrong with that?"

"May gana ka pa magtanong? Hindi ka dapat nagtatanim ng sama ng loob sa kanila. Malaya ka na. Masmayaman ka na sa kanila. Kulang na nga lang ilubog mo yung dating business niyo dahil nag-iinvest ka sa mga katunggali ng business ninyo. Kung hindi ka nga naman talaga siraulo."

"Words from someone who grew up with a happy family." I said drily. Why would I even expect that they will understand my case completely? Hindi ako naghahanap ng kakampi sa katauhan ng iba pero ang marinig 'yon sa isang kaibigan ay masakit sa tainga. I bet they have great childhood memories. I had none. As much as possible, I don't indulge myself to dwell on self-pity.

He sighed and apologized afterwards. "I know I have no rights to interfere. Take it easy, Shinn. They're still your family."

Take it easy? Hindi ko alam kung paano 'yan. I always do it hard and I don't think I have to explain myself to anyone who's not even part of my world. Though, I give exemptions to a very few people. Marval assholes must consider themselves lucky because they're on the list. Hearing this from Rex gives me a slight blow.

"Everything happens for a reason, Shinn. Loosen the grip. You might end up throttling your own neck." Rex added.

Is it true that everything happens for a reason? The quote should be corrected. Everything happens not for a reason, but as a consequence of one action. I used to defend Newton's law in my thesis 'til it sinks in my system. That's why I believe on the contrary.

"Cut the drama." I dismissed our topic. Hindi ko matatagalan nang hindi mag-iinit ang ulo ko sa patutunguhan ng usapan. "I bought a hospital in New Zealand."

"You did?" He seemed surprise. Ang alam ko ay nabanggit ko na 'yon dati.

Kung saan-saan akong lugar napapadpad,  except Las Vegas. I avoided it like a city of plague. Perks of being a jet setter. I mixed studying with pleasure while running my own business. Danger is just a shadow away. I'm fully aware of the threats, proclaiming my death. Often times, I'm in disguise or else I'll be dead by now.

"Ayoko ng buhay mo." Minsan akong bumisita kay Ryan. When he did an exhibit for his artworks. I bid for ten and I just get three of it. Seems like the bidders would kill for this assholes canvas. "Ewan ko na lang pag dumating yung araw na magsawa ka sa mga ginagawa mo."

"As if." I'm certain that's not going to happen. I changed the topic. "Pupunta ako sa New Zealand next week."

"Anong gagawin mo ro'n?"

"I have a business to finish. Dalawin ko na rin si Rex. Where's Roy? I haven't seen that asshole for a couple of years."

"Busy with his own exhibit. Pag na-contact ko, ipapaalala na lang kita. Mumurahin ka lang no'n." He snapped his fingers. "By the way, pwede bang isama mo na rin yung package ko para sa kanya?"

"Sure."

My flight was scheduled a week after. Habang papalabas ako ng arrival ay napansin ko ang babaeng humito sa harap ko. She was unsteady. Bago pa siya bumagsak ay binitawan ko ang luggage ko para saluhin siya.

The scene sucks. I'm not the gentleman type and I should've pass her on security personnel. I thought it was a scheme to get my attention. Hindi na bago sa akin ang mga ganitong eksena. This woman has no originality. It was one of the most common way to flirt.

"Ren. . ." She murmurs while I stare on her distress face. Her eyes were closed, but it was obviously swollen and dark underneath. Had she been crying for hours? It took me seconds before I realize that she wasn't flirting with me. She collapsed for real.

And who the hell is Ren?