70: to get even

RYU

Zero was throwing us glares samantalang relax na umiinom lamang s Poseidon. Maging ako ay halos hindi makapaniwala sa naring ko. Just where the hell did he get that information?

But if there’s someone I could rely in terms of getting genuine and reliable information, it would be him. I never know how someone could get something with sureness in a matter of short time but Poseidon is someone who doesn’t open his mouth unless he had proven it true. Before relaying something, he had undergone so many procedures just to prove it true and correct.

Unang nakabawi sa pagkabigla si Zero. He gripped hard on his glass before taking in the alcohol in one shot. “Nababaliw ka na reaper.”

Mahinang tumawa si Poseidon. “You know I’m crazy but not when it comes to getting the truth. Come on Zero, you didn’t even wonder why you love Pi so bad but not in a romantic way? Why did you get so protective to her all these years? Why you ride along with all her crazy whims?”

“Shut up Poseidon, wala kang alam,” matigas na sagot ni Zero.

Nakaupo lamang ako at tila hindi pa maproseso ang nalaman. I know Zero cared for my wife in so much level but it never crossed my mind what it was. Didn’t he told me he loves her not in a way I could imagine? Was it brotherly love?

But Zero was as confused as I am. Marahas siyang tumayo at mabilis na hinablot ang nakalapag na baril sa gilid namin. With one swift movement of the hand, there was a click and he pointed the gun on Poseidon’s temple. Hindi man lamang nagulat ang huli at kalamadong umiinom pa rin.

“You know I could let your brains scatter in this place kahit pa dalawa kayo,” banta niya.

“I know,” sagot ni Poseidon. “Alam kong alam mo iyon, so why do you think would I risk my life over saying a lie?”

“Y-you’re lying...” hindi pa rin makapaniwalang sabi ni Zero.

Ipinilig ko ang ulo dahil gaya niya ay hindi rin ako makapaniwala. “Paano... paano nangyari iyon Poseidon?”

“As simple as it is, Zero is Antonio Bellomo’s son,” sagot niya.

“Si Flavio ang ama ko!” giit ni Zero. 

Hindi ko mapigilan ang pangngiwi. If Pi’s here, she would have strongly opposed to Zero’s statement at sasabihing napakapangit ni Flavio para maging ama ni Zero. No matter how I hate to admit, Zero is ‘okay-looking’ on my perception but a god to women. I have to deal with it.

“Or that’s what he wants you to believe,” sabi ni Poseidon.

He chose to stay silent at marahas na muling umupo. He grabbed his glass and started drowning himself in alcohol. “How did it happen? Paanong naging anak ako ni Antonio Bellomo? I know my mom’s a gang slut but what you’re trying to say the impossible. He loves his wife so much and he swore to her to not have any other woman.”

“He did.” sagot ni Poseidon. “But shit happens when men are high and drunk. He broke such promised and pick one of the Bellomo’s sluts to play with, which happens to be your mother, Eliza. Unfortunately, naging bunga ka ng kasalanang iyon but Flavio intervened and told your mom na ipapapatay siya ni Antonio kapag ipinaalam niyang buntis siya so she decided to keep it. Pero ang totoo ay walang alam si Antonio na nagbunga ang kasalanan niyang iyon. Flavio acted like a friend and helped your mother all through the years kaya marahil ang akala mong kabaitan niya sa inyo noon ay dahil anak ka niya.”

If I were Zero, i would have been as confused as he is right now. Hindi rin madaling paniwaalan ang mga sinabi ni Poseidon lalo na sa parte niya. 

But the way his grip tightens around his glass, I’m sure he’s feeling so much emotions right now.

Nagpatuloy si Poseidon. “Which means Flavio is using you against Antonio Bellomo, your very own father. What would break the heart of a man knowing his own blood was the one who’s betraying him? I know you’re the one messing with the Bellomo’s shipments na minsan na ring naging problema namin. That’s as per Flavio’s command. But you’re slowing down due to the reason that this has caused stress to Pi and to her little brother and that’s something you didn’t want to happen.”

Tila hindi na kaya ni Zero na marinig pa ang ibang detalye kaya marahas na tumayo siya at sinipa ang mesa sa tabi. “I don’t want to hear any of your bullshit,” sabi niya at tinapunan rin ako ng masamang tingin bago umalis doon.

When he left, Poseidon just shrugged at me at patuloy na uminom. Tila nakalimutan kong huminga kanina dahil sa mga nalaman. I have a lot of things in my ind right now ngunit hindi ko maiwasang mag-aalala para sa asawa ko.

Paano kapag nalaman ni Pi na si Zero ang tumatraydor sa kanila? How would this affect her? She always considered Zero as the best one and she’s assured she had his loyalty on her. Or maybe yes, his loyalty is on her, not on the Bellomo’s name.

“Nag-aalala ako para kay Pi,” sabi ko. “I’m not sure how all this information would affect her.”

Biglang tumunog ang cellphone ni Poseidon at agad naman niyang sinagot ng tawag. He stayed silent as he listened to someone speaking on the other line bago ako nilingon na may blankong ekspresyon sa mukha.

“Got it,” sagot niya at ibinaba ang tawag. He took a heavy sigh before keeping his phone on his pocket. “For now huwag muna ang magiging reaksyon ni Pi tungkol dito ang isipin mo. She busted into your home, shoot your dad and...”

The way he stopped just made me angry. Ayaw ko ng ganito, this is making me nervous and angry as well!

Mabilis siyang tumayo at tinapik ako sa balikat. “For now let’s just head to the hospital.”

Now this is something more stirring than what I learned a while ago.

***************** 

Pi

This is actually harder than I imagined. I made a sigh as I passed through the huge, silently thankful it wasn’t much of a sweat. When you’re pregnant, you’re easily tired but then baby’s being helpful by not being a hassle today. Hindi gaya noong mga nakaraang linggo na madalas akong inaantok o di kaya ay masakit ang mga binti ko.

Now is the perfect time to do everything as planned.

Kinapa ko ang baril na nasa bag ko. I would be happy to blow up the entire place but my grudge only applies to my father-in-law so I’ll spare everyone in this house. Pinagbuksan ako ng katulong na agad kong ginawaran ng matamis na ngiti.

“Hi! Is your Rionessi around?” tanong ko.

Gumanti ng ngiti ang katulong bago sumagot. “Kauuwi-lamang po. Pwede n’yo po siyang hintayin sa sala.”

“Thanks,” sagot ko at nagtuloy-tuloy sa loob ng bahay. For the few times I’ve been here, I never missed to notice how huge yet empty this house is just like ours. Empty-- dahil sa laki niyon ay halos wala namang mga tao maliban sa ilang katulong at mga security guard.

I placed my bag on the side table, securing I had it at my reach when shit happens any moment now. I had three guns inside and another two hidden somewhere in my body.

Rocket must forgive me for whatever I am about to do.

If he don’t, maybe I can convince him to forgive me.

Sa katunayan, hindi ko kayang kontrolin ang galit ko sa mga sandaling ito. Being here in the same house with the man who owed me more than his life is really suffocating. Hiing-hindi ko siya mapapatawad sa ginawa niya. How dare him destroy my life. How dare him smile at me like nothing gruesome happened before. Pinagkait niya sa akin ang pagkakataon na magkaroon na normal na buhay. If it wasn’t because of him, I wouldn’t be as misguided as this dahil may inang nagpalaki sa akin.

He had taken that opportunity from me thus it would only be fair to take his life.

Alam kong hindi rasyonal ang pag-iisip ko ngayon but I have to do this or else I will suffer even longer. Hinding-hindi ako matatahimik hangga’t buhay siya.

No, I can’t possibly do whatever he did to my mom because doing so would only bring back the memories of that fucking time so how about no. I’ll make his death short and simple-- but with a little torturing of course. I’m sure Rocket will hate me for this but I will also hate myself if I let this go like it didn’t affect me all through my life.

Hindi nagtagal ay narinig ko na ang bati sa akin ni Rionessi.

“Pi, what a surprise,” bati niya sa akin at tumingin sa suot na relo. “It’s late, alam ba ni Ryu na naparito ka?”

No, Rocket slipped off to godknowswhere nang akala niya ay natutulog na ako. I was supposed to slip off kapag nakatuog siya but man was waiting for me to sleep at umalis. I had no idea where he is and that’s least of my concern at the moment dahil nang umalis siya ay naging hudyat din iyon sa akin para gawin ang plano ko. He just needs to make sure he’s not somewhere banging a whore or I’ll blow his dick up for doing so.

“No, I think he went somewhere,” sagot ko sa kanya. “Probably at Vander’s residence.”

Mahinang tumango siya. “Well, doo din ako galing dahil naroon ang asawa ko, I just went home to do some stuff. So, what brought you here?”

Great, at least I have the least hassle to blow his mind dahil wala rito sina Mommy Sweet. She’s the sweetest woman and it would be a shame to kill her husband in her presence. 

Opsie, Mommy Sweet, sorry but I have to do this.

“Got some important questions.” Kinuha ko ang bag ko at nilagay iyon sa tabi ko.

“I see.” Umupo siya sa upuan na nasa tapat ko at ngumiti. His wrinkled face smiled at me as he saw my baby bump. “In four months time, I’ll have my grandchild.”

“Yup but you’re not going to see him,” sagot ko.

Takang napatingin siya sa akin. “Ha?”

I didn’t waste time and pulled one of the guns inside my bag and pointed it to him. He was silent for a while as the sound of the gun safety echoed through the living hall. “Actually I am here to kill you.”

Bakas ang gulat sa kanyang mukha pero hindi man lamang siya nagpanic. Maybe he’s used to situations like this and facing guns is something normal to him.

“May I know why?” tanong niya. Asshole had the guts to ask! And it’s making me mad!

“You didn’t know what you did few years ago?” I’m close to tearing up pero pinigilan ko ang sarili ko. I cannot cry at this moment. Maybe later. When he’s all dead. I’m cry be tearing up for joy.

I shot his leg at napadaing siya sa sakit na dulot niyon. That made me somehow feel better. Seeing him in pain will make me feel better--  or that’s what I wanted to convince myself. It’s such a waste to kill him dahil una, he had some good genes. I mean look at him, this evil man somehow managed to produce an amazing man like my Rocket.

“Do you want me to remind you what happened? That fateful Christmas?!”

Shock dawned his face at tila pilit na inalala ang mga nangyari. Napabuntong-hininga siya at napayuko samantalang halos manginig na ako sa galit. I started shooting around the house, destroying everything.

“When... when you killed that woman... with a child...”I couldn’t even bring to make myself say it. It was so painful just to remember.

“At circumstances, I have to make things no matter what. I shouldn’t have done it, with a presence of a kid,” sagot niya. Mapaklang tumawa ako. At circumstances? He called such as at circumstances?! it wasn’t even an accident!

“...Pero hindi ko alam na ganito ang magiging epekto niyon sayo,” dagdag pa niya habang hawak-hawak ang tama sa binti. “I was lost and grieving and your people made wrong move--”

Mapaklang tumawa ako. “So now you’re putting the blame on us?”

I know he’s feeling the pain of the gunshot on his knee right now ngnuit wala akong pakialam. Galit ako, and whether it’s right or not, i only care about getting even now.

“This is not to reason out pero alam mong sa mundong ginagalawan natin, it’s only fair to punish those who made mistakes,” malumanay niyang sagot at bahagyang ngumingiwi.

His replies only made me angrier than before. What did my mother even do?! what did the young me do to deserve witnessing such cruelty? Sinira niya ang buhay ko and I guess I could only do the same. A bit late but I still need to do it anyway.

Suminghot ako at pinigilan ang sariling pumiyok ang boses. “My mom did nothing to you! She’s the greatest woman... kaya huwag mong sisiraan ang mommy ko sa harap ko.”

I couldn’t let my tears and emotions take over kaya pinili kong kalabitin ang gatilyo at itinapat iyon sa paligid. The sound of gunshots along with the shattering sound of glasses and other things echoed inside.

Wala pa ring luhang lumalabas sa mga mata ko. All I know is that I’m angry and filled with so much emotions. Hatred, vengeful, pity and all. Hindi ko na alam kung anu-ano pa basta ba nanginibabaw ang galit ko at kagustuhan na makaganti.

Ilang beses siyang napakurap. “Your mom?”

“Do I have to remind you of your evilness? Kung paano ninyo binaboy at pinatay ang mommy ko? Are you that cruel to remind me of that day?” muling pumiyok ang boses ko.

“But I did nothing...”

“Hindi ko kailangan ang mga paliwanag mo. It’s too late for all of it. I’m all set to kill you. I guess that’s what keep me alive before,” mapait na ngumiti ako. “Ang patuloy na mabuhay para ipaghiganti ang mommy ko.” I looked at my baby bump and smiled bitterly. “Guess I had another reason to live.”

Suddenly, there was a loud explosion from the outside. Sunod-sunod ng naging putok kaya napadapa ako at umiwas sa pagsabog. I panicked when I began to think of Baby Rocket’s welfare. Damn, I don’t even have time to think for myself, ang nasa isip ko lamang ay maging ligtas ang anak ko.

Through the smoke due to explosion, I saw Rionessi Morisson crawled on the floor towards me kasabay ng tunog ng paparating na sasakyan. Halos hilahin na niya ako upang umiwas sa mga lumilipad na umaapoy na bagay.

“This way Pi!” tawag niya sa akin.

From the thick smoke, an ugly face showed with the most annoying smirk on his face.

“Hitting two birds with one stone,” nakangising sabi ni Flavio sabay balik sa dalang baril sa kanyang tagiliran. Other men arrived with large guns at pumalibot sa amin. Bumaling siya sa mga tao niya na gaya niya ay ubod din ng sama ang mukha. “Take them!”

Before I could react, a drugged handkerchief was placed on my face, dahilan kung bakit nawalan ako ng malay.

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