CHAPTER 58

HINDI HINAYAAN ni Happy na makita ng kahit sino man na natatakot siya. Nanatiling walang emosyon ang mukha niya habang itinatali siya sa upuan. Ang mga mata niya ay paminsan-minsan ay tumutuon sa babaeng kamukhang-kamukha niya na kalmadong nakaupo di-kalayuan sa kanya.

Another look-alike?

Ilang kamukha ba niya ang mayroon ang Triad? Ano ba ang pinaplano ng mga ito sa kanya?!

Huminga siya nang malalim nang makitang pumasok si Helena sa loob ng kuwarto. Nakangiti ito sa kanya habang naglalakad palapit.

"Happy, how are you feeling?" tanong nito, saka hinaplos ang buhok niya nang masuyo. "Are you ready for the show?"

"What do you want?" she asked calmly and coldly.

Helena smiled in amazement. "I'm really amazed by you. You're calm and collect even in this kind of situation—"

"Why are you doing this?" hindi niya napigilang tanong kay Helena. "You're my mother, aren't you supposed to be on my side?"

Nawala ang ngiti nito, saka tumalim ang mga mata. "I'm getting sick of you referring me as your mother. You took Dominick away from me. You took my husband away from me."

"I don't know what you're talking about," sabi niya sa malamig na boses.

"Didn't your perfect father tell you the truth?" she sneered then laughed bitterly. "Of course. Dominick won't. Secretive as ever. He always wanted to be perfect in everybody's eyes. Especially in the eyes of his first born."

Naguguluhan siya sa mga sinasabi ni Helena pero hindi siya nagtanong. Nakikita niya sa mukha nitong sasabihin din nito iyon sa kanya.

She wouldn't give her the satisfaction of seeing her curious.

Helena sighed heavily. "You're not even curious."

Umiling siya. "My dad is not perfect, Helena. I know he made mistakes and I don't care. I understand Dad and why he keep secrets from me—"

"Even it's about your own mother?"

Nagsalubong ang mga kilay niya. "You're my mother, yes. Dad keeps it a secret from me but I didn't mind—"

"I'm not your mother."

Happy froze, shock was written in her face. "C-come again?"

"I'm not your mother," ulit nito, saka malamig na ngumiti sa kanya. "Did your father tell you that?"

Happy remained frozen. "W-what... h-how... w-what..." She couldn't form any coherent word as she stared at Helena in shock.

Helena chuckled. "I guess Dominick didn't." She tsked. "It was our first year in marriage when his ex-girlfriend came to see him with a child who matched Dominick's DNA. His first born," she sneered. "When you came, Dominick was never the same. His attention was always to you. Always what's best for you. Always. Always. I lost my husband because of you!"

Sa halip na magalit, napangiti si Happy na nauwi sa mahinang pagtawa. "Thank God we're not blood related. I'll kill you later and it's gonna be easy."

Malakas siyang sinampal ni Helena ng maraming beses dahilan para pumutok ang gilid ng mga labi niya.

"Your mother is a whore!" she spatted at her. "She whored herself to Dominick! Dominick's first born should have been my child! Mine! But you took it away from me! You ruined everything! You ruined my plan!" nanlilisik ang matang sigaw nito sa kanya. "And now I will ruin you too after I'm done with you!"

Napailing-iling si Happy. "I was a child back then, yet you were jealous of me. Jesus Christ, Helena, you're a fucked-up bitch."

Mahigpit at malakas nitong sinakal ang leeg niya at matalim ang mga matang tiningnan siya nang masama. "You think your husband loves you? Think again!" Itinuro nito ang babaeng kamukha niyang nakaupo nang kalmado. "No one will be the wiser but me. You think we only have one person to copy you? Think again! I made two look-alikes and this one knows everything about you that even your husband can't tell the difference! I will use your father's plan to trick us before to trick them back as well."

Happy calmly smiled. "I trust my husband."

Tumawa nang nakakaloko si Helena, saka itinuro ang malapad na TV na nasa unahan niya. "There, you will see your husband rescuing your look-alike. Oh, I'm sure you know that your team is here, trying to rescue you and they will rescue the wrong Happy making me happy."

Happy just smiled. "Trust me, my husband can tell."

"Why?" Helena smirked before looking down at her finger. "Because of the tattoo on your finger? Don't worry, the new Happy has one too."

Still worry didn't consume her. "My Blazey can tell."

Mapaklang tumawa si Helena. "Keep saying that. But later, your heart will be broken like how you broke mine."

Napailing siya. "Good luck with your plan, Helena."

Ngumisi lang ito sa kanya, saka bumaling sa dalawang tauhang naroon. "Beat her up but don't kill her. I still need her after the file has been extracted."

Beat her up? My baby! But she didn't let anyone see her worry.

Naglakad na paalis si Helena. "Happy," tawag nito sa babaeng kamukha niya na agad na ngumiti.

Kamukhang-kamukha talaga siya nito! Mula sa paglalakad, pagsasalita, kahit ang boses! Pati kung paano ito gumalaw. Siyang-siya.

"Helena," sabi ng kamukha niya.

"Let's go and finish our plan."

Her look-alike smiled. "Of course."

Nang makaalis ang dalawa, agad na lumapit sa kanya ang dalawang lalaki na inutusan ni Helena na bugbugin siya. Kinakabahan siya sa gagawin sa kanya ng dalawa pero mas itinuon niya ang buong atensiyon sa kamay niyang kumakawala sa pagkakatali.

Napaigik siya nang sunod na sunod na suntok ang tumama sa mukha niya. Halos maluha siya sa sakit nang tumama ang dobleng sipa sa magkabilang balikat niya.

Dalawang lalaki ang bumubugbog sa kanya at wala siyang magawa kundi ang yumuko para protektahan ang tiyan para hindi tamaan ang inosenteng buhay na nasa loob ng kanyang sinapupunan.

Happy was struggling to stay awake while getting beaten. Napapadaing na lang siya tuwing tumatama ang mga kamao at sipa ng mga ito sa tagiliran niya at sa ibang parte pa ng katawan niya maliban sa tiyan niya.

The chair she was strapped in fell into the ground, together with her.

She felt the rope loosen.

Lord, please... give me more strength to fight, she begged.

Pilit siyang nagpumiglas at kumawala sa pagkakatali habang pinagsisisipa siya ng dalawa. Panay ang iwas niya na hindi tamaan ang tiyan niya! Ibang parte na lang huwag lang ang tiyan niya!

God! Please help me get through this! Help me fight this!

Happy was already in the verge of tears because of severe pain when she saw the man's feet kicking toward her stomach.

No! Her mind shouted in fear for her baby.

She was scared, in pain and weak but God was with her—she felt Him when she finally got free from the ropes after so many minutes of struggling.

Mabilis siyang bumangon para umilag at lumaban ng suntukan.

Leave no survivor. 'Yon ang nasa isip niya habang walang habas ang bawat suntok at sipa na pinapakawalan niya sa dalawang kalaban. She was so focus on surviving for herself and for her baby that fear of losing didn't came to her mind.

Happy didn't hold back. She moved with certainty and lividness. She kept seeing the two men beating her up in her mind and her attacks just became more deadlier and deadlier.

Pagkatapos niyang mapatumba ang isa, tumakbo siya at mataas na tumalon, sabay malakas na sipa sa lalaki gamit ang dalawang talampakan.

Sabay silang bumagsak sa sahig pero agad siyang nakabangon.

Nang makitang nakahiga pa rin ang kalaban, mabilis niyang nilapitan ito at hinawakan ang buhok bago ilang beses na ihinampas ang ulo nito sa semento hanggang sa dumugo 'yon. Pagkatapos ay binalikan niya ang isa pang walang malay na kalaban para baliin ang leeg nito.

Hindi puwedeng walang malay lang ang dalawa. Pagkatapos ng ginawa ng mga ito sa kanya habang nakatali siya, hindi niya hahayaang huminga pa ang mga ito.

Happy stood up after ending two lives and was about to leave the room but it was locked. From the outside.

"Shit!" galit siyang napamura, saka tumakbo pabalik sa harap ng TV nang marinig niyang tumutunog 'yon.

And truth to Helena's word, she saw his husband rescuing the wrong Happy.

Kumuyom ang kamay niya habang titig na titig sa asawang nakikipaglaban para iligtas ang pekeng Happy na nakatali rin at may mga pasa sa mukha.

Blazey... I trust you, baby.

IBINABA NI BLAZE ang walang balang baril, saka mabilis na hinugot ang isa pang baril na nakalagay sa thigh holster niya. Umikot siya at itinutok sa kanan niya ang baril, saka kinalabit ang gatilyo.

Then he strapped it back on his thigh before running while putting a new magazine on his gun.

Tuloy-tuloy lang ang pagtakbo ni Blaze habang nakikipagbarilan. Nang makitang may kalaban sa kanan at kaliwa, hinugot niya ang isang baril at nakadipang nakipagpalitan ng bala habang tumatakbo.

He took cover as he changed the magazine of his guns before stepping out from the large pillar to rain more bullets on their enemies.

Then he heard a loud thud behind him. When he looked back, he saw an enemy down. Killed by Kane.

"Watch your back, Your Highness," sabi ni Kane.

He chuckled. "I have you for that," sabi niya, saka binaril ang lalaking nasa likuran nito at itututok na ang baril kay Kane. "No one sneaks on my son's back and live." Then he looked at Kane. "Let's move."

Tumango si Kane, saka sabay nilang pinasok ang bawat kuwarto na nadadaanan nila. They protected each other's back while fighting side by side and back-to-back.

"They're too many." Kane tsked. "Our bullets are running out."

Blaze pointed his gun at the two swords strapped on Kane's back. "You have swords, I have knives. We'll survive."

Kane smiled. "Of course. I-spoil pa natin ang magiging anak ni Mom."

Pinalitan uli ni Blaze ang magazine ng baril. "Speaking of which, I'm hoping it's a boy. Marami akong mapapatay kapag naging babae na siya."

Kane nodded. "I'm hoping it's a boy too. I'd hate to kill teenagers who will hurt her."

Natatawang tinapik niya ang balikat nito. "Good that you feel me. We'll kill everyone who hurts her."

Kane nodded with a smile. "Sana lalaki ang una n'yong anak, Your Highness. 'Tapos babae na ang sunod para may katulong tayo sa pagpatay sa mga mananakit sa kanya."

Blaze actually laughed at what Kane said. "For that, you're my son now."

Kane chuckled. For the first time, he heard him chuckle. Before, it was always a smile.

"Come on," aya niya kay Kane habang ikinakasa ang baril. "Let's roll."

Mabilis na binaril ni Blaze ang papasalubong sa kanilang kalaban samantalang si Kane naman ay nakatalikod na naglalakad sa tabi niya dahil ang kalaban nila sa likuran ang pinapaulanan nito ng bala.

At nang tingnan niya ang mga pinatumba nitong kalaban, lahat sa ulo ang tama.

"Wow..." Blaze was amazed at Kane's shooting skill. "Where did you learn to shoot so accurately?"

"I'd been training since I was six years old."

"Oh. Fair enough."

"How about you, Your Highness?" tanong ni Kane habang patuloy silang nakikipagbarilan. "Where did you learn to kill?"

With gun's blazin', Blaze answered. "I forced myself. To get the justice I wanted."

Walang emosyong binaril ni Kane ang lalaking kalalabas pa lang sa pinagtataguan nito. "How do you force yourself to kill?"

"I was desperate and angry," sagot niya, saka binato ng kutsilyo ang nakitang kalaban dahil ubos na ang bala niya. "Fuck. I'm out of bullet."

"Me too," Kane said before dropping his guns and pulling his swords out from its sheath. "But it's okay. I like using my swords better."

Blaze dropped his guns as well before pulling his knives out. "I like knives better."

"One stab to kill is okay, buddy," bilin niya kay Kane. "Don't make it too much bloody. Magrereklamo na naman si Claud." Claud was the head of clean up crew under Midnight.

Kane lips thinned. "I don't like that guy. I heard him say that Mom is very pretty."

Tumiim ang mga bagang niya. "He did?"

Kane nodded. "Yes. But only His Highness has the right to call Mom pretty so I don't like Claud. He's a motherfucker."

Humigpit ang hawak niya sa kutsilyo. "Let's paint this building with blood then, so he has so many to clean up."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Blaze frowned at Kane while they were walking. "Where did you learn to use motherfucker?"

Kane glanced at him. "From you."

"Oh." Napangiwi siya. "Don't let your mom hear you say that. She'll kill both of us."

"Okay."

"Good." Blaze continued walking while attacking every enemy they encountered.

Hand to hand combat plus knives. While Kane glided gracefully with his swords. Nakikita niyang umiikot ang hawakan ng espada sa pupulsuhan nito habang nakikipaglaban. Kapagkuwan ay ibinato nito ang espada sa kalaban na nasa likuran niya.

Mabilis naman niyang hinugot ang espada sa lalaki na nasa likuran niya at ginamit 'yon para tulungan si Kane sa dalawa nitong kalaban na parehong may hawak na baril.

Blaze went samurai on the two. Slashing and stabbing, they were spurting with blood as they fell.

Kane looked at him. "Hindi ko alam na magaling ka rin pala sa espada."

Blaze shrugged with a smug smirk. "I'm talented. Come on."

"First level, clear," sabi ng boses ni Niccolo mula sa earpiece na suot. Niccolo teamed up with Parisi and Uncle Vent to take down the enemies on the first floor of the building.

"Second floor. Clear," sabi ng boses ni Knight na kasama naman ang ama niya at ama ni Happy.

"Third floor. Clear." Boses ng unang Arkhon na kasama ang hippeis nito.

"Fourth floor," sabi niya. "We'll still checking."

Naghiwalay sila ni Kane para suyurin ang buong palapag nang marinig niya ang boses nito.

"Your Highness! In here!"

Mabilis siyang tumakbo sa pinanggalingan ng boses nito at agad na humigpit ang hawak sa kutsilyong dala nang makita ang sampung kalalakihan na nilalabanan ni Kane nang sabay-sabay.

And behind those ten men was Happy—his wife. Tied to a chair. Face swollen. And she was looking at him, begging.

"Blazey... save me..." She was crying while begging. "Our baby..."

Mabilis na tinulungan ni Blaze si Kane na labanan ang sampung kalalakihan. He blocked and attacked at the same time. Nang mahawakan siya ng isang lalaki sa likuran, sinusubukan siya nitong sakalin, kaya iginalaw niya ang kamay na may hawak nang kutsilyo para saksakin ito sa leeg pero nasalag nito iyon.

Mas malakas ito sa kanya dahil unti-unti nang nauubos ang hangin sa baga niya.

He was losing oxygen, desperate to be alive, he didn't stop head-butting the man behind him. And when his hold on him loosen, he faced him and immediately buried his knife on his neck.

"Fuck you," sabi niya, saka sinipa ito at ibinato ang kutsilyo sa kalaban ni Kane. Pagkatapos ay sumipa ang paa niya na tumama sa leeg ng kalaban, saka mabilis niya itong sinakal at binali ang leeg.

When he heard a snap, he pulled his knife on another man's body to attack the remaining enemies.

Blaze and Kane didn't leave any survivor. If it was not stabbed or slashed to death, then it was a broken neck.

Pareho silang hinihingal ni Kane nang matapos ang labanan.

"Baby!" Agad siyang lumapit kay Happy at mabilis na inalis ito sa pagkakatali.

"Blazey!" Agad na yumakap sa kanya ang asawa nang mahigpit. "I was so scared!"

Blaze stilled and frowned. Something felt off. His wife's body felt different. Maraming beses na niyang nayakap ang asawa ay hindi ganito ang katawan nito. Yes, she smelled the same but she felt different.

Something is wrong.

Kumawala siya sa yakap ng asawa, saka sinapo ang mukha nito at pinakatitigan. "Ano'ng ginawa nila sa iyo?"

Habang sumasagot si Happy, may hinahanap ang mga mata niya sa mukha nito na palaging nakukuha ang atensiyon niya kapag ganito kalapit ang mukha nila sa isa't isa.

And it was missing now.

Pasimple siyang humakbang paatras, saka nilingon si Kane na nakatayo lang hindi kalayuan. "Kane is bleeding," sabi niya habang nakatingin sa kamay ni Kane. "I have to see his wound—"

Happy stopped him by gripping his hand. "Don't leave me. I'm scared."

Napatitig siya sa asawa, saka napabuntong-hininga. "Okay. I won't." Niyakap niya ito nang mahigpit, saka bumulong sa tainga nito. "You're missing something."

"What?" she asked softly.

"The three very tiny moles on my wife's temple where I love placing my lips on," bulong niya, saka sinaksak ang babae sa dibdib habang nasa mga braso niya ito at hindi nakikita ang mukha.

And when the woman dropped dead on the floor, he heaved a deep sigh before turning around.

Kane asked as he neared him. "How many copycat do they have?"

"I hope that's the last," sabi niya, saka bumuntong-hininga uli. "'Yon ang pangalawang kamukha ng asawa ko na pinatay ko." Napailing siya. "This is insanity. Fuck."

Kane nodded. "I would have killed her if you didn't. I mean, I know Mom, she would have ran towards me to see my bleeding hand. That's just who she is."

Tumango si Blaze. "Fuck. Good thing I didn't kiss her. Na-i-imagine ko na ang mangyayari kung ginawa ko 'yon. I might get kicked out the house for good. You know that your mom is a very possessive woman."

"But you did hug the fake Mom," Kane pointed out.

Blaze froze as his body went cold in fear. "Fucking fuck. I need to beg for forgiveness."

"I'm sure, princess, will understand, pussycat." Boses iyon ng ama ni Happy sa earpiece. "Be in the elevator. We're going up."

Agad silang tumakbo ni Kane patungo sa elevator. Nang bumukas 'yon, nasa loob na ang lahat. Sila na lang ni Kane ang kulang.

Agad silang sumakay.

"So that wasn't my daughter." Dominick tsked. "They're using my trick against us this time. This is really personal."

His father looked at Dominick. "We both know why it's personal, Dominick. It's Helena."

Napailing ang ama ni Happy na may hawak na kutsilyo sa magkabilang kamay na nababalot ng dugo. "I know..."

"And knowing Helena..." Uncle Vent tsked. "Be prepared to explain to your daughter."

"I'm always prepared," sabi ng ama ni Happy na nagtatagis ang mga bagang. "And because of that, I'll kill them all."

Tamang-tama naman na bumukas ang elevator. Nakahanda na sila sa pag-atake pero ang sumalubong sa kanila ay hindi mga miyembro ng Triad kundi sina Deth at Lyf.

Akala niya nasa 'baba pa ang dalawa at naglilinis pa ng kalat do'n.

"We cleaned up this floor," sabi ni Deth. "There's one we cannot open. It's fingerprint locked. We hit it with grenade launcher, but the door didn't even budge."

Nagkatinginan silang lahat.

"Doon siguro nila itinatago si Lady Happy," sabi ni Knight.

"What are we waiting for?" the first Arkhon asked. "Let's bring down that fucking door."

Iginiya sila ng magkapatid na Romanov patungo sa pinto na sinasabi ng mga ito.

One look and Niccolo already had something to say about the lock.

"That lock is not easy to bypass but not impossible," sabi nito saka akmang lalapitan ang pinto nang bumukas iyon.

They stilled and went to war mode when they saw who was inside the now open door.

More than twenty men and Helena who was pointing a gun at Happy's head.

And Happy, she had bruises all over her body, making him shake in so much anger.

Blaze saw red.

Malakas at mabilis niyang ibinato ang dalawang kutsilyong hawak kay Helena pero dumaplis lang iyon sa leeg nito dahil nakailag ito at ang dalawang tauhan nito sa likuran ang tinamaan. Alam niyang galit din si Kane sa nakitang lagay ni Happy dahil nakita niyang ibinato nito ang espada kay Helena pero hinarang iyon ng isa sa mga tauhan nito kaya hindi iyon umabot kay Helena.

Lalo silang nag-apoy sa galit nang ipinagduldulan ni Helena ang dulo ng baril sa ulo ni Happy.

"Do something stupid again and me and my men will shoot her head off," sabi ni Helena, saka tumingin kay Dominick. "I see you're still alive."

Dominick smiled like he was unfazed by Happy's condition. But Blaze knew better. Dominick was livid. He could see him tightening his jaw as he spoke with a smile.

"Well... what can I say, even life can't resist me," sabi ng ama ni Happy.

Nagtagis ang mga bagang ni Helena. "This is all your fault. Our marriage failing was all your fault—"

"Oh, screw you," sabi ni Dominick sa walang pakialam na boses. "I begged you. You know I did."

Mas nanlisik ang mga mata ni Helena. "How dare you! You want me to accept this bitch into our family?!" Dinuro nito si Happy gamit ang baril na hawak. "No! She ruined everything! Everything! Your first born should have been my child!"

Tumalim ang mga mata ni Dominick. "Don't call my daughter a bitch, I'll kill you."

"She's a bitch!" sigaw ni Helena. "A bitch! Just like her whore of a mother! A whore!"

Happy's father moved. It was so fast; Blaze barely saw it. All he could see was a blur movement of objects and he heard six gunshots coming from Happy's dad.

It happened so fast. In a blink of an eye, eleven men on Helena's side all dropped dead. Only seven left alive. Excluding Helena who went pale at what happened.

Four from knives and seven from bullets.

Nakaawang ang mga labing napatingin siya sa ama ng asawa. Umuusok pa ang dulo ng baril na hawak nito habang nagtatagis ang mga bagang at matalim ang mga mata.

That was... that was the real monster in battle. No wonder he was a legend.

Dominick tsked. "I'm out of bullets."

Agad namang nagbigay ng magazine si Knight. "Here."

Tinanggap naman iyon ng ama ni Happy at akmang papalitan ang magazine ng baril nito nang magsalita si Helena.

"I said don't move!" Lalong dumiin ang dulo ng baril ni Helana sa ulo ni Happy. "I will kill her."

Dominick sighed heavily before continuing what he was doing—changing the magazine of his gun. "You won't kill her, Helena because you still need her." He smirked. "How's the extraction of the files doing? Is it open yet? I'll assumed it's not because my princess is still alive."

Parang bubuga ng apoy ang galit sa mukha ni Helena. "You and her ruined our family!

Umiling si Dominick. "I didn't. We didn't. Before Happy came, you were already playing me for a fool. I knew, Helena. I'm not an idiot. I know you're gathering information on the Organòsi and putting it together into a hard drive. My mistake was trusting you and thinking that maybe I could change you because I believe that there is no one who is born evil. Evilness is a choice you make for yourself to be superior to others. I thought if I trust you, you'll choose me. But you left the moment your cover was blown even after I begged."

"It was the best thing for me to do," sagot ni Helena sa malamig na boses. "I don't want to see you anymore."

Ngumiti si Dominick na parang wala lang. "I know. But of course, you need to come back because I didn't let you get away with the files, did I?" He chuckled. "Oh, Helena, you thought you're so smart, protecting the hard drive with a fingerprint locked." He smirked smugly. "You're not the only one who has that kind of skill."

"You fooled me!" Helena sneered at Dominick. "But not anymore. I'm just waiting for my ride—a helicopter to get out of here with your daughter. And after the Triad is done with your daughter, I will gut her open myself and send you her body parts."

Dominick tsked. "Why are you so bitter, Helena? Is this because you can't open the hard drive that I found under your closet and I override it and then put another fingerprint together with yours?" He looked at Happy. "My daughter's fingerprint. You need her—the fingerprint of my child that you hated—to open that hard drive. Sorry..." He smirked. "Oops, no not really."

Nakangising ibinaba ni Helena ang baril sa tiyan ng asawa niya na ikinalamig ng buong katawan niya.

No! Our baby!

"How about if I shoot only this part?" Tumawa si Helena. "She'll live but someone will also die."

Blaze's heart was pounding, he was readying to attack—fuck he was ready die just to save his wife and child—when Dominick spoke calmly, stopping him.

"Princess, krav maga please."

Krav maga was a kind of martial art. It was also used to disarm an assailant.

Bumaba ang mga mata ni Happy sa baril na hawak ni Helena sa tiyan nito, saka tumingin sa kanya at sa ama nito bago dahan-dahang tumaas ang kamay na parang sumusuko. "Please have mercy on me," naiiyak na pakiusap nito kay Helena na ikinagulat ng lahat.

Happy didn't beg earlier. Why beg now?

"Not my baby. Please... please I beg you."

"Silence!" sigaw ni Helena na lalong nairita. "Don't move!"

"Please... please..." Happy begged.

"I said don't move!" sigaw ni Helena.

Biglang nawala ang lahat ng emosyon sa mukha ni Happy at mabilis na iginalaw nito ang mga kamay.

She turned around, her hand reached to grip the barrel of Helena's gun and she continued turning until she was already out of the line of fire. Nakipag-agawan ito ng baril kay Helena. Panay ang siko ni Happy sa balikat ni Helena hanggang sa barilin ni Dominick si Helena sa balikat dahilan para mabitawan nito ang baril na hawak.

Mabilis namang itinutok ni Happy sa gilid ng noo ni Helena ang sarili nitong baril habang nakatutok naman ang baril ng ama ni Happy sa gitna ng noo ni Helena.

Nagpalit na ngayon ng posisyon sina Helena at Happy. Ang asawa na niya ang may hawak ng baril.

My baby is such a badass. Blaze couldn't stop smiling.

Ang natitira namang tauhan na kasama ni Helena ay napatumba agad ni Uncle Vent at ng ama niya nang kasimbilis ng kisapmata na umatake nang gumalaw si Happy kanina.

The Team Oldies were really legends. Team Happiness had a long way to go to be like them.

"This is not the end!" Helena hissed. "The Triad will win! We will not lose!"

Dominick smiled. "Thank you so much for leaving me because if you haven't, damn, I wouldn't have enjoyed my very lovely Henreitta."

"I will kill all of you!" sigaw ni Helena sa nanggagalaiting boses habang hawak ang dumudugo nitong braso. "I will end you! I will kill all of—"

Two gunshots fired—from Happy, straight on Helena's temple and Dominick's gun straight on Helena's forehead—and Helena dropped dead.

"I told you I'll kill you," sabi ni Happy sa walang buhay na katawan ni Helena.

"Nobody messes with the Quinns," sabi ni Dominick na nakatingin sa walang buhay na katawan ni Helena. "And live."

"Daddy?" sabi ni Happy na binitawan na ang baril.

"Princess?"

Happy glared at her father. "You have so much explaining to do."

Daddy Dominick gulped. "I will, princess. Maybe later?"

Nilampasan lang ito ni Happy, saka tumakbo kay Kane. Agad nitong sinuri ang dumudugong kamay ni Kane. "What happened to you?" puno ng pag-aalala nitong tanong. "I told you to take care, didn't I?"

Nagkatinginan sila ni Kane, saka sabay na napangiti.

"I'll be fine, Mom."

May babala ang titig ni Happy may Kane. "You better be."

Kane smiled at Happy before embracing her. "I'm relieved that my mom is okay. Next time, don't make yourself a bait, okay, Mom?"

Hinagod ni Happy ang likod ni Kane. "I'm okay." Kumawala ito sa yakap, saka humarap sa kanya. Titig na titig ito sa kanya na para bang minimemorya ang buong mukha niya, saka ngumiti. "I love you."

His heart softened. "I love you too, you know that."

Tumango si Happy, saka sinugod siya ng mahigpit na yakap. "Thank you kasi nakita mong hindi ako 'yon. Thank you so much, Blazey. Thank you," bulong nito.

Niyapos niya ang katawan ng asawa. "You're my wife, baby. I would know if it's you or not."

Kumawala ito sa yakap, saka sinapo ang mukha niya at ito mismo ang sumiil ng mapusok na halik sa mga labi niya na agad naman niyang tinugon hanggang sa pakawalan nito ang mga labi niya.

"Our baby is unharmed," bulong ni Happy sa mga labi niya. "Though I was beat up by two men..." Nagdilim ang mulha niya. "I killed them."

Agad na kumalma siya. "Oh. That's good to hear."

"Yeah?" Happy smiled while looking lovingly at him. "Helena told me you'll broke my heart tonight."

"Did I?"

Happy answered by kissing him senseless.

"Does that mean you're not mad that I hugged the fake Happy?" nakangiwing tanong niya nang pakawalan nito ang mga labi niya.

Nakangiting umiling ang asawa, saka hinalikan na naman siya. "Nope. I'm not."

Blaze let out a sigh of relief. "Thank God."

Natawa si Happy, saka bigla na lang umalis sa tabi niya para kumustahin ang lahat. Nasa asawa niya ang buong atensiyon niya hanggang sa narinig niya ang boses ni King sa earpiece na suot.

"Your Highness and other people hearing this," sabi nito. "We're ready outside. Everything is in placed. I'm already with the cleaning crew."

"To the elevator," sabi ng unang Arkhon na tiyak niyang narinig si King. "Let's go home. King is ready."

Gumalaw silang lahat maliban sa ama ni Happy at si Knight na nakatingin sa labas ng glass wall ng building habang nag-uusap.

"It's more fun if we jump," sabi ni Knight.

Tumango si Dominick. "True. Maybe we should ask King to put an inflatable circle down there so we can jump happily and freely while listening to 'Young, Dumb and Broke.'"

"Dad," sabi ng malamig na boses ni Happy.

It was just the word "dad" but Daddy Dominick actually froze. Ang may kasalanan nga naman, napaghahalataan.

Dominick whispered at Knight. "We'll do the jumping some other time. My princess will gut me because she just found out my lies. I'm scared as fuck."

Knight nodded. "When my wife found out that I ate a chocolate cake with KN, my youngest, even after I promised her we won't, I was scared as fuck as well so I know the feeling."

Tumango ang dalawa na ikinailing ni Blaze. Mukhang nagkasundo ang parehong sinto-sinto.

Nasa likuran siya ng asawa habang nakasakay sila sa elevator, maingat siya na hindi ito hawakan dahil sa mga pasa nito sa katawan. Baka masaktan ito.

Nang makalabas sila ng gusali, halos malinis na ang buong kapaligiran dahil nag-umpisa na pala ang cleaning crew.

And when King saw Happy, his jaw tightened and his knuckles fisted. Then he looked at him. "Please tell me they're all dead."

Tumango si Blaze.

Saka lang kumalma si King. "By the way, every corner and every floor of this building is already wired with bomb. I'm sure of it because me and Dad did it ourselves. While Yrozz and Uncle Ruthgar are battling with the Triad through the computer. Who knows what's happening with those two."

"Thank you, King," sabi ni Happy, saka tinapik ito sa balikat. "Take care, okay? Umuwi ka agad pagkatapos mo rito."

Tumango si King.

Iginiya ni Blaze ang asawa palapit sa kotse na dala rin ni King. Ang isa sa mga sasakyan ng ama ni Happy na bulletproof at crash-proof.

"How's my baby feeling?" tanong niya bago binuksan ang pinto ng kotse.

Ngumiti si Happy kahit halatang pagod ito. "I'll just rest. I'll feel better later."

Tumango siya at inalalayan ang asawa papasok sa kotse. At dahil nasa likuran siya nito, hindi nakatakas sa kanya ang kumakalat na dugo sa pang-upo ito, lalo na sa gitnang hita pababa sa pantalon.

"Baby..." he whispered in fear. "Y-you're bleeding."

Hindi sumakay ng kotse si Happy dahil sa sinabi niya. Sa halip ay bumaba ang tingin nito sa pantalon, saka may bahid na takot ang mga mata na tumingin sa kanya.

"Our baby."

CECELIB | C.C.