69: sweet but psycho
#DWTD

RYU

“What a surprise Vander.”

Iyon ang bati sa akin ng taong kinatagpo ko. It’s past 10 in the evening and I have to kiss my wife good night and blurt some little lies just so I could leave the house. I need t do something, I have to do something and meeting Zero is one of it.

If this matter at hand is not that serious, I should have stayed and home and huddled beside Pi but then it’s best to start moving than wait.

“You can call me Ryu,” sagot ko sa kanya at umupo sa upuan na nasa harap ng counter ng bar.

He nodded slightly and shook his glass of rum. Nilaro-laro niya iyon sa kamay at tila nag-iisip ng kung anuman ang dahilan ng pagtawag ko sa kanya. He put another glass of drink in front of me na marahail ay nirequest nya sa bartender na nasa harap.

“So we’ll go straight to the business,” sabi niya. “What is it?”

Ininom ko muna ang rum bago huminga nang malalim. “I know you know already that it’s about my wife.”

Humigpit ang hawak niya sa kanyang baso. “Why, what’s wrong with Pi?”

“You knew all along that a lot is wrong,” sagot ko.

He heaved a sigh. “That includes getting involved with you in any sense.”

Mapait akong ngumiti. Meeting Pi was at first a curse, something I thought so unfortunate that ever happened to me. I hated her. Or maybe I didn’t and I just convinced myself that I hated her. I don’t know maybe I liked her the first time we met at pilit ko lamang na kinukumbinsi ang sarili ko na hindi ang kagaya niya ang magugustuhan ko. But it’s just that she’s so different from women I like. She’s evil but at some point, she’s an angel. I wasn’t lying when I said her flat figure is a sore to the eye. Her tattoos could not be so endearing at least to some, but for me she wore it like jewels which perfectly suit her.

Yup, I’ve been hit that bad.

Her crazy outbursts and murderous tendencies were scary at times. But she’s totally different that when you get to know her, she wasn’t just all about violence and gruesomeness. People just need to see beyond what the naked eye could see.

“Was it really that bad for her meeting me?” tanong ko. Dahil sa akin, iyon na yata ang pinakamagandang nangyari sa buhay ko.

Kinilatis ako ng tingin ni Zero at kahit may kadiliman ay naaninag ko ang galit sa kanyang mga mata. “It would have been better if you two never get involve... in any way.”

It fucking hurts to know that.

“I hate how it made me wonder why. Was it because of business? Guess I’ve been in good terms with her dad,” sagot ko sa kanya. Tila mas lalong napahigpit ang hawak niya sa kanyang baso na kasalukuyang sinasalinan ng bartender. The way his jaw set and that dark glint in his eyes tells something.

Something more than just anger.

Even deeper than that.

“I love Pi,” sabi ni Zero.

“Sure you do,” mahinang sambit ko. Because if not, why was he the ever loyal dog to her? There must be a reason behind and it’s definitely because he loves her. I can’t help but be proud of that. I mean, I could go hit him for feeling such to my woman, but what can I do? I’ve got so much adorable wife that no man in his sane mind could ever resists. “And is that the reason why you say it’s better we never met? Dahil hindi mo siya makuha para sa sarili mo?”

I was fishing for clues and looking for better answers that I couldn’t get from Pi. I want to make her happy, I wanted our family to be happy but Pi is holding back herself for the happiness we both deserve. And I have to fix that matter.

“I am never that shallow Vander,” sagot niya sa seryosong boses. “And I never tried to pursue her or take advantage of her in any possible way. We grew together and I watched her struggled and fight all these years, having you near means torture for her at iyon ang ayaw ko. I want her to have the peace she deserves.”

Hindi ko maintindihan iyon. Ang dami kong gustong tanong sa kanya but I shouldn’t rush things over.

“I watched her battled with things on her own. She’s quite a fighter but it doesn’t mean it was easy. I supposed it was difficult at ilang beses na niyang naisipang sumuko. But then she will realize that she’s Lennon Pi and that she was blessed at some things kaya kahit papaano ay lumalaban pa rin siya. I was there at her down moments. When she almost failed her last year in college, I watched her shout ‘fuck you academic institutions who’s only after money than learning’ at the top of her lungs. Pagkatapos noon ay okay na siya and then she topped her exams. When she caught her boyfriend cheating, she didn’t cry but she literally dismantled the guy and the chick,” sabi niya. 

“Whenever she received good news no matter how insignificant it is, I watched her danced in glee and help people in her own ways. She would lead a medical mission, a home for the aged visitation and makes time with cancer patients. She would kiss them and tell them to never lose hope. That was so sweet of her.”

Pinilit kong itago ang aking ngiti. That’s exactly my wife. She’s totally sweet but psycho.

At hindi ko rin maiwasang mainggit kay Zero. He’s lucky to be by her side and witness how amazing Pi was all through the years. I know I couldn’t compete with the number of years they’ve been together as they grew up but I can promise to spend the rest of my life with Pi as we grow older and make it meaningful.

“You see? She’s so precious that you don’t deserve her.”

Kung ibang pagkakataon ay baka tumayo na ako at sinuntok siya. But then Zero is not someone who get a punch without a fight. And he’s a skilled hitman, maybe I’ll be dead before I knew it. I am so selfish that I didn’t even reflect on myself if I really deserve her. All I know is that I love her and it doesn’t matter if I wasn’t a good man in my entire life to deserve such amazing woman. Ang alam ko lamang ay gusto ko siya para sa sarili ko and I’m willing to fight for it comes hell or high water.

“Even if I don’t deserve her, I love her,” I said with conviction.

Muli siyang uminom bago ako hinarap. “Alam ko. Otherwise, Pi wouldn’t have stick by your side if she doesn’t feel happy with you and if the feeling is only one way. Pi’s too self-centered, I know but she isn’t pathetic to force herself in a bullshit thing like marriage to someone who doesn’t love her. Kung hindi mo siya mahal, you would have been shoot thousand times with one or both of your balls removed.”

Definitely. I couldn’t agree more.

“But having you close to her would only bring back the terrible memories of that fateful Christmas.”

Ramdam ko ang tensyon niya habang inaalala iyon. Like Pi, he held a terrible memory of it, more so if he’s more concern to Pi than to himself.

“Give me light of what happened that Christmas,” sagot ko sa kanya. I sounded desperate, i know but if it’s one of the missing pieces to make everything whole again, I could be desperate and if he asks me to get on my knees just to beg for it, I guess I would.

He had that dangerous smile on his lip, a ever trusting one. “Para saan? It all happened at hindi na iyon mababago pa.”

“But it could make a difference...”

Huminga siya nang malalim. “Or not. Look Vander, we have our own battles. I’m wasting time with you when I’m suppose to go somewhere to work.”

But to be fair, I had sacrifices too. It was hard leaving my wife alone just to meet him.

Inilabas ko ang baril na nakasukbit sa baiwang ko at inilagay iyon sa mesa, right in between us. Napatingin siya doon bago muling uminom. “If it’s your way to say I have to say it or you will gun me down, you think that would scare me?”

“No that’s my way of begging you to tell me what happened. Just... please.” Wala akong laban sa kanya. When it comes to strength of the body and mind to kill people, I’m no par with him. And I have to bet all I’ve got.

Tiningnan niya ako nang matagal bago nagsalita. “Things are not easy as you think it is. If you’re used to having things and info in an instant, well you have to know it doesn’t work like that all the time. Figure it out on your own,” sagot niya at mahinang tinulak ang baril sa direksyon ko.

There’s no way forcing it out on him. The guy is dangerous and his tone wasn’t kidding at all. Napabuntong-hininga na lamang ako at nagsalin ng alak. Maybe few more glass and I’m out. Ilang saglit kaming tahimik at nagpakiramdaman lamang. Surprisingly, I was the fist one to break the silence between us.

“What was she’s like before?” tanong ko. I didn’t get much about Pi’s life and I bet she was adorable when she’s young. I mean, man my wife is insanely adorable now, how much before?

“Sweet and adorable,” matipid niyang sagot.

I know right.

“She’s the kind who will bring you bread and butter in the morning but stab you with a bread knife when you get annoying.”

Exactly.

“She punched a cop before when the cop was being a dick to someone who apparently jaywalked.”

What an adorable woman!

“I love her,” sabi niya.

“Who wouldn’t?” tanong ko. I mean, she maybe scary at times but when you get to know the real her, trust me you’ll be head over heels in love with her. “Is that why you hate me?”

“I hate your name. I would have hate you less if you’re not a your dad’s child or being a Vander.”

So this has something to do with my name and my father.

“You want me out of the picture so you could have her?” tanong ko.

“Kung iyan ang balak kong gawin, your marriage wouldn’t have taken place.”

Well, he has a point but I still couldn’t quite understand it.

“But you love her?”

Tumango siya. “I always will. That’s why I have to keep civil with you because she chose you. She chose to be with you despite knowing the truth. I love her so much but not in a way you think na kahit ako sa sarili ko ay hindi ko maintindihan. I could fucking die just so she could live, ganoon ko siya kamahal. I dealt with her evil natures and I’m willing to support her in her wickedness. I accepted you because you make her happy and I’m the happiest when she’s happy... crappy, right?”

Hindi agad ako nakasagot dahil may umupo sa tabi ni Zero at naglapag din ng baril sa gilid. I was surprised to realize who it was.

Poseidon.

A Vander mafia reaper.

He tapped Zero’s back who was surprised to see him. They knew each other. Both are skilled hitman at alam kong hindi iyon ang unang pagkakataon na nagkita sila. “It wasn’t crappy, normal lamang na mahalin mo ang iyong kapatid.”

Parehas kaming natigilan ni Zero. He was quick to pick a gun at itinutok iyon kay Poseidon. The latter wasn’t even surprised at hindi man lamang natinag. He swiftly move to reach for the glass with a rum on it. Agad na napayuko ang mga nasa counter at nagsigawan naman ang ilang mga nakakita sa nangyari, causing the place to panic as they tried to get away from the scene.

“Poseidon!” sambit ni Zero.

Poseidon just raised a hand to wave as he sipped on his drink. “Hello to you too.”

Tiningnan ako nang masama ni Zero. “You planned this? You brought him with you?!”

“No!” matigas kong tanggi. I don’t remember tagging Poseidon along. Ang alam ko lamang ay may pinakausap ako sa kanya. I asked him to find truths and all. And what did he just say?

Lumipat ang tingin ni Zero kay Poseidon. “At... anong sabi mo?”

Parehas kaming natigilan sa naging sagot nito.

“Pi is your little sister man. Apparently, you’re a Bellomo.”

#

ShinichiLaaaabs

A/N: Hello! Sorry for the super duper late update lol i’m really procrastinating lately. And I read previous comments, natawa ako doon sa nagcomment ng Overdue na raw yung baby dahil sa tagal ng update hahahahahahahahaha