66: I know him so well
#DWTDWP

Pi

My heart sank as I heard the door shut. Gusto ko siyang pigilan, gusto ko siyang yakapin at sabihing ayaw ko siyang umalis. I hate myself for saying things I didn't mean.

It's not true that I missed my old life. It's not true that I regretted everything. It wasn't true when I said he's tiring.

He's my strength, he means everything to me but then there were times when we say things out of anger.

But I'm not angry with him.

Mas galit ako sa sarili ko dahil sa ginagawa ko. Tinitikis ko siya at sa bawat segundong ginagawa ko iyon, dobleng hiwa iyon sa puso ko.

I began weeping as I called his name.

"Rocket!" I panicked ngunit kinain lamang ng iyak ko ang pagtawag ko sa kanya.

What if he will really leave? I don't want him to leave! I didn't mean it when I say he should leave. Gusto ko siyang yakapin at iiyak sa kanya lahat ng pait ng alaala kong iyon but look what I did.

"Rocket!"

Umiiyak na tumakbo ako palabas at hinabol siya. From the stairs I could hear the sound of his car leaving kaya mas lalo akong nagpanic. Hinabol ko siya hanggang sa makalabas ako ng bahay ngunit hindi ko na siya naabutan.

I sat on the garage and cried my heart out. Naiinis ako sa sarili ko. I think I'm losing my mind, how could I send away the only person I can trust? The only person who could soothe me when nothing feels right?

I had a slight breakdown on the garage at paulit-ulit na nagplay sa utak ko ang kanyang boses. Pain was evident in it and the guilt trip started. Dahil sa ginawa at sinabi ko, hindi lamang siya ang nasasaktan kundi maging ang sarili ko. Niyakap ko ang mga tuhod at patuloy na umiyak. I started reflecting on myself.

I'm better than this.

I mean, I'm stronger than I thought I am right? Kinaya ko dati, I lived with the promise of killing who tortured and killed my mom. I promised I won't show mercy and I will not hold back.

Pero bakit kailangan kong isali sa galit ko ang asawa ko? Wala siyang kinalaman dito. It's his dad, not him.

And I made my mind how to get even. Rionessi Morisson will pay.

Hindi man lamang ba niya naalala ang ginawa niya? How could he face us, the Bellomo gayong may kahayupan siyang ginawa dati?

I'm strong, paulit-ulit ko iyong sinabi sa sarili ko. I picked myself up from ruins and stood. Bumalik ako sa loob ng bahay, grabbing my phone, keys and wallet.

I have to fix things between me and my husband.

***

RYU

Cooler is not answering his phone. If I'll call Gray, I have to go through the witch's interrogation so maybe next time. My only resort is to call my little brother but I don't want him to drink so I set off alone. I drove without direction and tried to find a place to ease the pain I felt.

Pi's words keep on ringing in my head. She's tired of me and she missed her old life. I should have known this time will come and should have prepared for it. I should have had my heart guarded but it wasn't simple as that.

I was hurt but above all, nag-aalala pa rin ako sa kanya. She's tired, something's bothering her and she badly needs some rest. Maybe leaving the house is actually a good idea, maybe I can come back later and she already cool down from whatever stressing her.

But didn't she say she experienced cramps and dizziness?

Paano kung mahilo siya sa bahay at wala siyang kasama? What if she'll feel the cramps again? I want to grab the steering wheel and head back pero pinigilan ko ang sarili ko.

Baka mas lalo siyang mastress kapag nakita ako. She asked me to leave, I guess I just need to give her the peace she wanted.

For a day.

I don't want her to be alone even if she finds me tiring.

Huminto ako sa isang day pub at nagpasyang pumasok. The place is cozy and I think it will be good to wait for time to pass there.

I remembered ordering a bucket of beer as my mind wandered to nothing specifically. Masyado lamang akong distracted sa mga nangyari kaya hindi ako makapagfocus.

"Hi!"

Mula sa iniinom ay inangat ko ang tingin sa babaeng naupo sa high stool sa tabi ko. She only got my attention for less than a second at nagpatuloy ako sa pag-inom.

"I'm Claire, wanna buy me a drink?"

I huffed. "Wala ka bang pambili para sa sarili mo?"

Mapaklang natawa siya. She reached for my leg and brushed her hand on my thigh. "It would be better if it's from you."

I swatted her hand away. I don't like being touched. I hate it when someone do things I don't like. Those who bothers me would taste my wrath. And it's been long since the last time I asked the reapers to do me a little favor. Or if not, I could be the one pointing a gun between her eyes.

I guess being with Titless keep me out of trouble lately.

Well, not really since she is trouble herself.

Now why can't I stop thinking of her?

Halos nakalimutan ko na na may nangungulit pala sa akin. She's a little persistent though despite my obvious annoyance.

"Are you alone?"

I smirked. "Do you see anyone with me?"

She's actually pretty, the kind I would fuck at the back of my car whenever I feel like. But that was before. Going around playing is what I used to do.

When I say I got a pack of slut and bitches, I really do.

I could fuck her to vent out my anger and sadness but no, I won't and wouldn't even try. I am a married man, devoted and whipped badly to my wife.

"Go away slut."

She laughed at sinalinan na lamang ng beer ang baso ko. "I like men who plays hard to get."

I gave her my smirk, the one that shuts people. "And I hate easy-going sluts."

That really shut her up before excusing herself. I was thankful I got what I wanted and resumed drinking, recalling my precious memories with Titless. I don't know how long I've been drinking until I could no longer remember. My low alcohol tolerance got me unconscious in no time.

***

Pi

It's night time yet I still have no idea where the fuck Rocket runs to! Alam kong kasalanan ko so here I am, trying to make things right- my way.

I can't get Cooler on the phone, too shy to ask his mom and no idea where to go.

But I have one last resort but I guess it will be hard.

I still tried my luck though.

Now pretty girl is in front of me with obvious hate in her face. I don't think she's happy with our marriage. Hindi man niya aminin, alam kong may gusto siya kay Rocket. She did admit loving my rocket though.

And I have it noted she she's someone dangerous. I'll try not messing too much with her.

"So what do you want to ask me?" malamig niyang tanong at ibinaba ang inumin.

I invited Mnemosyne to the nearest cafe, at least here she cannot do anything to me. Who knows she'll choke me to death for marrying Rocket.

Hindi maikakailang may gusto siya kay Rocket. Mnemosyne does not even make efforts to hide her obvious feelings that Rocket did not accept wholeheartedly.

"Do you dislike me?" diretso kong tanong.

Her pink lips parted open. "Huh?"

"About marrying Rocket."

She scrunched her nose. No matter how I look at her, she's so pretty and petite in every angle. But do not judge someone with their appearance. She is someone definitely dangerous.

"What am I, a kid who will whine over that matter? It all happened, asawa ka na ni Ryu and there's nothing I can do about that. And to answer your question, yes I do hate you not because you married Ryu. I hate you because you look like someone who do not value people very much."

Literal na napaawang ang labi ko sa sinabi niya. Of course I value people, contrary to what she's saying! It's just that I don't act like rainbows and everything nice around them!

"Do you even love Ryu?" tanong niya ulit.

Nakaramdam ako ng panginginit ng mukha. "Of course!"

"But why are you here, looking restless? Ah, let me guess nag-away kayo?" sunod-sunod niyang tanong. "Hindi ko pa man alam ang totoong nangyari, I know you two had a fight. It wasn't even a week after your marriage and this happens? Naaawa ako kay Ryu. He's almost perfect in everything, right? Looks, brains, money and all. Minalas yata siya sa usaping pag-ibig."

How could she hit it that way? Hindi ko pa nga nasasabi sa kanya ang sadya ko! I want her to help me find Rocket yet here she is, blurting facts I didn't think she'll hit bullseye. And the fuck, does she mean minalas si Rocket sa akin?

Hey, she crossed like five thousand lines!

"I love Rocket!" apela ko. Of course I do. It took me a while to admit it to myself pero sigurado ako sa nararamdaman ko!

"But ends up hurting him? Hey Bellomo, here's the thing, I know Ryu more than you do. I love him since we were kids and I've long accepted I'm no more than a little sister to him but I cannot stand this. Ryu may look tough pero gaya ng sabi ko sayo noon, he's not as what he seems to be. He's soft and lovable. He loves deeply too. No matter how annoyed he is, he won't leave people behind unless you tell him something painful that will make him reflect on it ngunit sa huli ay kapakanan mo pa rin ang iisipin niya. So what did you tell him?" she asked with her brow raised. I could feel her obvious dislike pero hindi ko matatanggi na tama nga siya.

I did really say something awful.

Napayuko ako at kinagat ang pang-ibabang labi. "I... I told him to leave."

Tinaasan niya lamang ako ng kilay. "There must be more to it. If you tell Ryu to leave, then the more he'll stick to you. So, anong sinabi mo para umalis siya?"

Oh god, I didn't tell her Ryu left and I couldn't find him yet she's so sure about it.

"H-how did you even know he left?" I asked her.

She scowled at me. "Do you really think I'm dumb? You're not with him and there's no reason for you to come to me desperately unless you will ask for something."

What the hell, I am really desperate!

I sighed and sulked. "Help me. I did really tell him to leave... I told him he's tiring to have around... I told him I missed my old life."

She looked disappointed.

On my defense I am really having a bad day! Everyone has a bad day right? And we tend to do and say things we didn't mean.

But here I am, trying to clean my mess.

Napabuntong-hininga si Mnemosyne. "I'll only help you this once. If something like this happens again, I'll make sure to wake Ryu from whatever bullshit you made him go through."

I nodded with a sigh. "Alright."

Her threat isn't really necessary. Next time I'll be mindful of whatever I say to him. I'm not gonna lost my Rocket...

...sadly, sooner or later, I'm losing a father-in-law.

***

I didn't think going to Mnemosyne would make things that fast. Is this really how anyone in Vander Mafia works? In an instant?

Hindi ko inaasahang sa isang pub ko siya matatagpuan. His head was flopped on the table, his back facing me.

But I know that broad back belongs to him. Maybe Mnemosyne is wrong in some point when she said I don't know Rocket that much. Maybe not as much as she knows him but I know Rocket enough.

Even if you show me just a strand of his hair, I would know it's Rocket. Even if I'm blindfolded I know it's Rocket. I know because my heart always respond to him, even just a mere sight of him caused my heart to rattle.

And who the fuck is that woman who looks like she wanted to hop on his lap?!

I am going to strangle her to death!

I think I could use a barbwire to strangle that slut.

Make her swallow lead.

Claw her eyes out.

...then feed it to the wold ducks!

Or maybe everything that could make every nerve in her body feel pain.

Bago ako nakahakbang ay bigla akong hinawakan ni Mnemosyne sa braso. "Anong gagawin mo?"

"Guess what?" I replied with a smirk.

"Huwag kang gumawa ng eksena," banta niya sa akin. Okay I'm a bit offended. Mukha ba akong walang breeding na nagkakalat kung saan-saan?

I gave her a sweet smile. "Don't worry, I won't tarnish my name."

Her cold eyes scanned me for a while. "That's not what I can see right now. You look like you'll literally roast the woman any minute now."

Mahinang tinapik ako ang kanyang balikat. "Roast? Hmm, nice idea." I got my house keys at inilagay iyon sa palad niya. "Take Rocket to our new home please, susunod ako. And oh, don't even try to make a move on my husband. Huwag mong samantalahin ang kalasingan niya. I'll know if you did."

She looked at me with disbelief in her eyes bago ako nilagpasan upang kunin si Ryu at dalhin sa sasakyan.

Just gonna take care of some things. I'll follow later after I'm done.

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ShinichiLaaaabs✒️