57: my family
#DWTDWP

RYU

My hand curled into fist, knuckles tightly closed. Damn it, how could I let my guards down and let two precious being taken from me without me knowing?! Ilang beses akong napamura at kung hindi lang sana tila natatakot ang receptionist sa akin ay malamang sinuntok ko na ang pader sa matinding galit.

I pushed my hair back in frustration. Fucking damn it, how could I let it happen? Saan nila dinala si Pi? Were they careful because damn it, she's fucking carrying my baby and there's no way I'm losing either of them.

Hinampas ko ang kamao sa mesa at umalis doon, heading back to our room. Seeing the messy room just rose the anger in me. Hindi ko magawang manisa ng kung sino man kundi ang sarili ko lamang. How could I fuxking let it happen?

A glass of water somewhat calmed myself and made me think clearly. Agad kong kinuha ang cellphone at tinawagan si Cooler ngunit hindi ko siya macontact. I remembered he has important business to do at pinilit lamang na makaattend kahapon.

My hands were shaking as I called Poseidon's number at hinintay na sagutin niya iyon.

"Thank fuck you answered," I said in relief when he finally picked up.

"Apollo? Are you seriously calling me while you are in your honeym--"

"I fucking need your help," I said in desperation. I heard him scoff from the other line.

"Only if you will drop the 'f' word."

Goddamn saint.

But fine. "Please, I really need your help."

"Okay, so relax and tell me what happened," he said calmly. In other circumstances, I would have commended him for his calmness at situations like this but no this is not some other circumstances.

My wife and child's safety is at risk. I cannot sat still and calm upon such thought no matter how composed I am.

"Someone took my wife while... while we're asleep, damn it Poseidon... I don't k-know what to do!"

I heard him groan from the other line. "Relax Apollo, this is so not like you to panic."

"My wife and my child is taken! And you expect me to relax, damn--"

"Alright, I'll see what I can do. I will contact you later."

Kung ibang pagkakataon ay reassuring ang mga salitang iyon na nanggagaling sa kanya but then this is a total dfferent situation and no matter what I do, I cannot make myself calm. I was shaking in anger, more so worried. Gayunpaman ay mas galit ako sa sarili ko. How could I ever let that happen?

I paced back and forth the room, tightly gripping on my phone waiting for feedback. Hindi nagtagal ay agad na tumunog ang cellphone, and I answered it in a heartbeat. "Poseidon."

"Okay I did my best as I can and I came up with the last location on her phone."

That isn't much but it could be a little help, thank goodness.

"Saan?"

"Not that far from here, I'm sending you the location. Also, kailangan ko bang sabihan sina Artemis? I cannot get Hermes or Eros at the moment, I think they're on vacation."

Or probably breaking each others bones.

"Yes please," wika ko sa tonong nagsusumamo.

I didn't waste any time at agad na pumunta sa lugar na ipinasa ni Poseidon. I received heads up from Artemis saying she got me covered. Right now I am willing to cross whatever hell it is just to rescue my family.

Ni hindi na ako natakot para sa sarili ko at inisip lamang ang kaligtasan nila. My fist curled when I stopped the car in front of the abandoned building kung saan ang lokasyon na sinabi ni Poseidon. I took at least two guns with me bago bumaba ng sasakyan. Hindi pa man ako nakakababa ay may malamig na bagay ang nakatutok sa gilid ng leeg ko.

Damn it.

And a thing pricked o my side before I lost consciousness.

***

Nang magising ay ay nakatali ako at madilim ang paligid. I have no idea where I was and the place was dim dahil tanging ang maliit na kandila sa gilid ang nagsisilbing tanglaw. In front of me stood a man in black clothes and hat that most likely covered his face.

"Who the hell are you at anong ginawa mo kay Pi?!" sigaw ko at sinubukang kumawala sa pagkakatali but to no use. The knots were done nicely, as if its not a good idea to simply tie me. I swear I won't have mercy kapag nakawala ako rito at malaman kong may nangyaring masama sa asawa at anak ko.

He didn't say a word and just laugh like a villain.

"Who the hell are you at anong kailangan mo sa amin?!" sigaw ko. I tried to wriggle free but it's impossible. Ni hindi ko na maramdaman ang sakit ng pagpupumilit kong kumawala.

"I swear if something bad happens to them, pagsisisihan mong nabuhay ka!"

The man just laughed like evil na mas lalo ko lamang ikinagalit. Then, I heard a door creaked open.

"What the hell bakit walang ilaw rito?"

Suddenly, light illuminated after a click. Tumingin ako sa direksyon kung saan nanggagaling ang boses at natigilan nang makita si Pi. She also froze on her track when she noticed me all tied up.

"Rocket?!" agad siyang lumapit sa akin at umikot upang tingnan ang pagkakatali ko sa upuan.

What the fucking hell?!

Then this man is...

Napangiwi ako nang makita si Cronus na nakangisi. He removed the hat that covered most of his face at hinipan ang kandila.

"Congratulations on your wedding Ryu," bati niya sa mababang boses. He sounded more like Cool Vander than the business-type Cronus. He look worn out at mukhang pagod. Hindi siya nakapunta sa kasal ko dahil may importanteng trip siya and looks like he pulled this prank right after arriving.

Damn psycho man.

Ilang beses na ba kaming nabiktima ng pagiging prankster niya? I remember one time he threw a snake on my tub while I am relaxing. Mas lalo pa tuloy akong nahapo dahil sa kanya!

There was also one time when went inside the fridge para lamang gulatin ako! One time, nang mag-inuman kami ni Cooler at nalasing, we found a coffin on the front door at biglang bumukas iyon. We stumbled on the ground at tila nawala ang kalasingan, only to find out its one of his crazy prank.

What the hell is wrong with his mentality?

But hey he's smart when it comes to business. He's great in love at ramdam ko ang pagmamahal niya sa pamilya.

But why the heck does he got a blackeye and bruised lip?

"Tito? What happened to your face?"

Napalabi si titless kasabay ng pag-iwas ng tingin.

Cronus stood up to to untie me. "Well, your wife is feisty. I got the blackeye nang pinasok namin ang kwarto ninyo at tinangay siya." Then he pointed on his bruised lip. "And I got this when she realized it was me who pulled the prank."

Titless shrugged and rolled her eyes. "Can you blame me? He's lucky I didn't have the time to pick up a gun and shoot him right on his old dick!"

Cronus made a face at me at tuluyan nang kinalas ang pagkakatali sa akin. "Your balls are in danger Ryu."

"You scared the shit out of me!" sabi ko sa kanya.

He just giggled like he always does. "You are a heavy sleeper man, you sleep with your ass out."

Damn old man, what does he expect? For goodness sake it's ny honeymoon. Pero teka, did he... Napatingin ako kay Pi na nakasimangot sa akin.

"What?"

"Did they kidnap you, naked?!" tanong ko.

Fucking hell!

Old man Cronus should lose atleast one eye if he saw her naked. And whoever is his accomplice should go to hell after losing both eyes and limbs!

She blushed, eyes widing. "Of course not! I'm cold so I changed into my pajamas before sleeping!"

That's a relief.

"Tito, this is not a good prank," sabi ko sa kanya.

Tumawa ulit siya. "Can't think of anything to surprise you as a gift in your marriage. Sa tingin, mas maganda kaya kung ginawa ko na lamang mini-zoo ang hotel suite ninyo? I just purchased quite number of wild animals--"

"I would have shoot you countless times on the face and old dick if you do that!" sagot sa kanya ni Titless.

Tumango si Cronus at ngumisi. "Well, I'm not present at the wedding because of business. Isa pa, me and Antonio Bellomo in the same room is bad idea. It is an opportunity for our enemies to blow us up one time."

Good point but still this prank is unnecessary. Saka ko lamang napansin na wala kami sa abandonadong warehouse na pinuntahan ko kanina. It was a full-furnished house.

"Where are we?" tanong ko at iginala ang paningin sa paligid. My eyes glued on the wall when I noticed a huge portrait of me and Pi in our wedding clothes.

What?

Sumeryoso ang mukha ni Cronus at kinuha ang kanyang coat na nakapatong sa sofa. He walked towards me at tinapik ang balikat ko.

"This house is my gift. Congratulations to the both of you," sabi niya at tuluyang kaming nilagpasan, leaving us in awe.

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ShinichiLaaaabs✒️