{CHAPTER TWENTY - SEVEN: SAY HI, NOT GOODBYE}

Ivy's POV

Ang tatay ko ang nasa likod ng kaharasan na toh? Ang tatay ko na handang pumatay sa sarili nyang mga anak. How can a parent do this to his own children?

Hindi ko mapigilang hindi maiyak. Puro na lang ako iyak! Puro na lang ako luha. Tangina! Bakit hindi ko mahanap yung side ni Ivy na sobrang lakas? Na kahit kelan hindi matatapakan ng sino man?

"Huwag nyo ako matatay-tatay! I'm not you father and you're not my kids!"

Parang gusto kong mabingi sa lahat ng sinasabi nya. He's not my father, and we are not his kids. How come? Paano nangyari lahat ng ganito? Why do we need to suffer like this? Tangina! We've travel so long yet we are still hurting. Shit!

"Dad? What are you talking about?!" Hindi na rin mapigilan ni Ghil na hindi maluha. Her Dad is hurting her. Our Dad is hurting her! Muli, sinampal ni Dad si ate.

"Dont you dare to call me 'Dad'! Hindi nyo ako tatay! You're just from the mistake of your mother!"

Mistake. My mother. Bakit ang dami kong hindi alam sa buhay ko? Sa pagkatao ko? Sino ba ang tunay kong ama? Wala ng lumabas sa bibig namin kundi hikbi. We cant find the right words to say. To shout.

"Hindi nyo ako ama. Anak kayo ng mama nyo sa ibang lalaki. Noong magboyfriend pa kami, she made her one night mistake from another man at ikaw ang bunga nun, Ghil! I thought our relationship is perfect pero sinira iyon ng Mama nyo. Worst? She did it again, twice! And you...bitchy Gianna is the result. Kamusta naman ang buhay ko di'ba? Minahal ko ng higit sa buhay ko ang mama nyo pero ang alam lang nya ay kung paano ako lokohin! We get married, yes...pero idinaan lang nya sa pera ang lahat! Para lumaki kayo sa maling ama, para lumaki kayo sa isang malaking kasinungalingan! Sira ang buhay nyo pero mas sinira nyo ang akin. Gago kayong lahat!"

Totoo? Totoo ba lahat ng isinisigaw nya? Bakit ganun? Bakit sobrang sakit na malaman mo na anak ka ng isang kasinungalingan? I just want to die. I was too fed up. Ayoko na. Suko na ako. Masyado na akong nasasaktan, I just want to live peacefully and this what happened!

Umiiyak akong lumapit kay Papa at lumuhod sa harapan nya. This is the first time I pleaded to someone. I need to swallow my pride. I need to end this shit.

Nakakapagod na kasi eh. Nakakapagod na.

"Gianna..." 

I looked up to Ghil before smiling. Kung hindi ako ang tatapos ng gabing toh, sino pa? After all, sakin nag-ugat ang lahat ng toh.

I'm not a Salvador. I'm not a Montereal. I'm just a no one.

Tumingala ako para harapin ang tatay ko. Ang taong nagsilbing tatay ko ng pansamantala.

"Please...please kill me now."

That is the only pledge I said to someone. To the person who used to be my father. Kailangan ko ng mamatay. Gusto ko ng mamatay.

"J-just kill me...kung iyon ang makakapagbayad ng lahat ng kasalanan ko at ng pamilya ko, please kill me now. Aim your gun in my head and shoot me. Please...gusto ko ng mamatay."

The voice keep broking. My tears keep flowing. Ayoko na. Hindi ko aakalaing mata tapos na dito ang buhay ko. God! Kaka-18 ko pa lang kanina yet mamamatay na ako.

"If that is your wish, then I will grant it."

"No! No! No Dad! Shit, stop! Huwag mong papatayin si Gianna! DAD!" 

As if namang mapipigilan ni Ghil ang taong ito tsaka after all, I dont want this to stop. Tapusin na lang ni Papa toh para maayos na lahat.

Napangiti na lang ako nung itinutok ni Papa ang butas ng baril sa ulo ko. Atleast, someone grant my wish before I could lost my existence here in this world.

"Happy Birthday, Ivy."

"Thank you...Dad." were my last words. I tried to stop my tears before smiling. Gusto ko namang mamatay ng nakangiti noh.

"NO!!"

Then all I can hear is a sound of a gun.

Game over.

For me. For this shit. For everybody.

---

"Stop this bullshit, Martinez!"

Napamulat ako ng mata ko at napatingin sa pintuan. Hindi ko alam pero parang bumalik kaagad ang lakas ko at tumakbo ako papunta kay Alexander. God! Akala ko katapusan ko na. Akala ko, kailangan ko pang ialay ang sarili ko para matigil lahat ng toh.

I cried in Alexander's shoulders. I feel comfortable and safe everytime that he is with me, and I can feel my heart beats so fast.

"I-I..."

"Shhh...you're safe."

Tears we all over his shoulder. Nakakaiyak talaga. Si Alexander is my knight, and will be my forever shining armor. I turned my head to my father and his hands were bleeding. So binaril pala ni Alexander yung kamay nya para mabitawan yung baril. God! Thank you very much.

I also saw Cairo and his gang in Alexander's back. I smiled at them, gesturing 'thank-you' and they nodded at me. Isipin mo, my enemies were my friends now.

Now I know that I cant stand by myself. I need someone who loves. I need friends to find and care.

"Elijah, take Ivy away from this. Kami na nila Cairo ang bahala dito."

Ha?

"No Alexander! I wont leave you alone here! Papatayin ka lang nya! I'm not crazy to leave you in this kind of fucking place!"

Alexander faced me as he hold my hands. "And I cant let you stay in this fucking damn place too, Ivy! I will come back, promise. And I will bring back you your sister."

I cant leave him here! Hindi ko kayang umalis ng hindi sya kasama palabas. If I need to fight, I will! Hindi pwede toh. I cant just sit and let him fight this maniac out here.

"N-no..."

I felt Elijah's hands on my shoulders as he took me away from the commotion. He help me run the way back at the car they brought. He shut the windows before facing me. Nandito ako sa backseat and he was in the passenger's.

"Babalik ako dun sa loob. Don't make any movements. Call me if something's wrong."

All I can do is to nod. At this moment, kailangan ko munang sundin si Elijah. This is for everyone's sake. Hindi ko rin sya pwedeng pigilan. Alexander and Cairo's friends need help inside.

It was like I was a rock here inside the car. Kahit anong putukan at sabugan, all I can do it to pray and begging that Alexander is coming back na may kamay at paa pa. Kinakabahan ako. I know that something is wrong here.

After a very loud explosion, hindi na ako nagatubiling lumabas ng kotse at pumasok sa loob ng building. Di'ba sabi ko gusto ko ng mamatay, then why dont I die with Alexander anyway? Mas maayos na yun di'ba.

Paika-ika akong pumasok sa loob. Dead bodies were scattered on the floor. Dahil dito, my feet is now covered with their bloods. Ew.

From the very first floor, I can hear their shouts. Some debris were also falling. I need to save Alexander, Cairo and his friends with my sister before this building collapse or else katapusan na talaga namin.

I grab two snippers from the dead men on the floor bago sumugod pabalik ng ika-apat na palapag. From the open door, I can see Alexander fighting with his full strength bago ko masilayan si Cairo sa hindi kalayuan.

"Shit Cairo! What happened?!"

I help him to his feet bago ko sya dinala sa ligtas na lugar. Far away from the commotion. He was full of blood kaya kailangan ko pang tumapyas ng tela mula sa puting gown ko at ipinunas sa mga sugat nya.

"W-why...why did you...come b-back? I-ts dangerous...t-there."

Umiling ako. "Can you just please shut up your mouth? I'm here to save you, idiot! I can't just let the all of you die inside!"

I held his face bago muling bumaling sa pintuan papasok ng gulo. I need to start saving my sister in the easiest way para mabawas ng kahit kaunti ang problema nila. I hope mabawasan kahit papano.

"I...I need to go there. J-just stay here, okay? Babalikan kita. Here, take this. You know what to do with that."

I gave him one of my snippers before I poke his forehead. I hope he'll be okay I leave him here. I was getting nervous, it was like risking my life and giving it freely to Death. Ugh!

I head towards the door before peeking and I saw my sister lying on the floor. I need to get her ng hindi ako napapansin. I run towards the back door near Ghil. When I opened, I slightly entered while crawling at agad kinalas ang pagkakatali ng kanyang mga kamay. I also slung her left arm to my neck bago sya tuluyang hinila palabas. See? I was just so fast. Partida pang nabaril ako kanina.

I placed Ghil beside Cairo who is currently sleeping. Is he crazy?! Paano kung may kalaban and it attacked pero tulog tong isang toh? Gago talaga eh.

Kinalabit ko si Cairo hanggang sa magising. "Gago ka ba? Bakit ka natutulog?! You wanna die? I can kill you!"

He just laughed. "Mamamatay na rin naman ako so why take it longer? I would just take a rest---"

"Shut up, jerk! You're not going to die so just keep your eyes open! Bantayan mo tong si Ghil and never do anything stupid!"

"Okay." He said in hushed tone. Bakas dito ang panghihina but I know that Cairo wont give up fast. For his friends.

Napailing ako. I run back to the commotion at sumilip sa pintuan.

What the effin fuck?!

Nakatutok ang baril ni Alexander kay Papa at ganun rin naman ang kay Martinez. So ano, magpapatayan sila?! Are they losing their minds? Kinasa ko ang baril ko bago pumasok sa loob.

"Go hit that gun at papasabugin ko rin yang bungo mo!"

Itinaas ko ang baril ko at itinutok kay Papa. Alexander and everybody in the room was shocked dahil bumalik ako but I didnt care.

"Tangina Ivy! Didnt I told you to stay away---"

"Hindi ako gago Alexander! I wont let you die here alone!"

Napailing na lang ang kausap ko sa sagot ko nung tumawa si Martinez.

"Look at these two love birds, battling with me without knowing where they will end up. Kung alam nyo lang na kahit mapatay nyo ako, you wont win this game."

"But its not our goal to win. We just want to kill your ass-y life at here, devil! You used to be my father and why are you here acting na para bang hindi ako naging parte ng buhay mo?!"

"Kasi kinamumuhian kita!"

Tila napaawang ang bibig ko sa sinabi nya kaya hindi ako nagdalawang isip na kalabitin ang gatilyo at pinatamaan ang binti nya. He cried in pain kaya napaupo sya sa sahig at nabitawan ang baril. We grabbed that chance to help Cairo's gang to get out of the place when I run back to Alexander who is having a hard time walking due to his injuries.

"Hey...tara na bilis!"

I snatched his hand but he quickly shoved it away nung hinawakan nya ang magkabilang pisngi ko before he kissed me.

He kissed me in the middle of chaos. In the middle of commotion. And I suddenly felt like the world stopped. Na para bang okay lang ang lahat. Like we were in paradise.

We stopped between five seconds when he let go.

"I want you to run out of this place. May bomba dito and in my estimation, isang minuto na lang bago ito sumabog. Now run Ivy!"

Tila nabingi ako sa mga sinasabi nya. How can he be like this? How can he be so...adorable? How can he make me cry like this?

"I wont leave you alone!! Lalabas tayo dito ng buhay! Please Alexan---"

"No Ivy! I want you alive! Tangina, umalis ka na!"

"No! Hindi ako gago, put*ng*na! Hindi kita iiwan dito mag-isa. Kung kailangang mamatay ako as long as na kasama ka, ayos lang. But I will not leave you here!"

"Gago! ANO BANG HINIHINTAY NYO DYANG DALAWA?! SASABOG NA TAYO! TARA NA!"

It was Jacob shouting pero hindi ko sya pinansin. Hindi ako aalis dito ng hindi kasama si Alexander.

"Take him out Jacob! Please..."

"No! No! JACOB! LET ME GO! ALEXANDER!! ALEXANDER, ANO BA?!!"

Jacob dragged me out of the place. Tangina, masisiraan yata ako ng bait nito.

"Jacob! KAILANGAN NATING BALIKAN SI ALEXANDER DOON! MAMATAY SYA! LET ME GO! I NEED TO SAVE HIM!"

Ano ba? Bakit ba ayaw akong pakinggan nito? Hindi ko naman hahayaang mamatay si Alexander sa loob.

Before the door in front of me shut, I saw Alexander smile before mouthing, "I love you."

Kasabay noon ang pagbangon ni Papa at hindi nagdalawang isip na iputok sa dibdib ni Alexander ang baril bago ito napahiga sa sahig.

"N-no...no! NO!"

Pilit akong nagkumawala kay Jacob at pinuntahan si Alexander but before it, I shoot my father with the gun of Alexander. Tangina nya! Bakit kailangang si Alexander ang mamatay?! Di'ba ako ang habol nya dito? Bakit nandadamay sya ng iba na inosente naman?!

I cried the hell out of me beside Alexander. Kung mamamatay sya, paano na ang buhay ko diba?

"Alexander no, don't leave me please...NO! Just keep holding on, please. Huwag kang bibitiw and I know you can do it. Please..."

Sa tulong ni Jacob, binuhat namin si Alexander papunta sa kotse at sakto namang sumabog ang building. Ako na ang nagmaneho papuntang ospital lalo na't kailangan sa emergency sina Cairo, Ghil at Alexander.

My sight keeps getting blury dahil sa mga luha sa mata ko but I need to drive fast.

Noong nakarating kami sa ospital, agad kaming humingi ng tulong sa mga doktor at itinakbo kaagad sa ER si Alexander.

Doon ako nagiiyak sa labas ng silid. He needs to get operated dahil sa bullet but I know that he's in a critical state but I kept praying. Sabi nya babalik sya sakin, he loves me right? Babalikan nya ako.

Hindi nya ako iiwan.

Kahit 99% pa ang rate na hindi sya makakaligtas, well wala akong pakielam! Kayang kaya kong bayaran lahat ng ospital sa mundo buhayin lang nila si Alexander!

Sa palagay ko, tatlong oras yata akong umiiyak at naghihintay habang pilit naman ako pinapatahan nila Tita Francine.

Noong lumabas yung doktor, doon lang ako nabuhayan ng loob.

"H-how's the patient? Is he okay? Where is he? Can I see him now?!"

Derederetso kong tanong. Wala ng paligoy-ligoy dito. I need to secure if Alexander is already okay or else guguho ang mundo ko.

The doctor cleared his throat before answering, 

"I'm sorry but we did our best pero hindi na kinaya na pasyente ang operasyon."

----

Two straight updates kahit nasa school. Hindi naman ako nakikinig sa klase so nagwa-WP lang ako. Ang sama ko kay Alexander noh? Pinatay ko kaagad. Ahahaha. Tomorrow will be the next update. If there are any typos for this chapter, please understand it. I haven't checked this part yet.

So far, this is the longest update.

"Happy birthday my princess. And please give this dance for me tonight." -Alexander