Chapter 42

Humigpit ang yakap sa akin ni kuya habang nakatulala kami sa tagpo ni Tristan, Savannah, Rashid at Gray.

Hindi ko na siguro magagawang tumayo nang maayos kung hindi ako inaalalayan ng kapatid ko. My whole body is shaking, my heart is aching and my tears are continuously falling.

Hindi ganito ang inaasahan kong mangyayari. I thought everything was fine, Savannah and I were in a good situation a while ago but what happened?

Papaanong biglang nabaliktad ang pangyayari?

Gusto kong lumapit sa kanila pero alam kong ang mga oras na ito ay para lamang sa kanilang apat. The Sous Leau's legends reunited again, but in a very heart breaking scene.

This isn't supposed to be like this, their reunion can't be like this.

"I-I'm late, I'm sorry, I'm sorry Savannah, Cap." Mahinang sabi ni Rashid.

I tightened my grip against my brother's shirt.

"K-Kuya.." bulong ko sa kapatid ko nang makita kong yumugyog ang mga balikat ni Rashid habang nakaluhod at nakayuko sa tabi ni Savannah na yakap si Gray.

Hindi ko makita ang ekspresyon ni Tristan dahil nanatili lamang itong tahimik at nakatalikod sa aming lahat.

"I-I should have—I should have—" isinutok na ni Rashid ang kamao nito sa lupa.

"Who asked you to be here, Rashid? Wala ka na sa Sous L'eau." Napamura si kuya sa sinabi ni Tristan.

"Is that how you thank me, Cap? Kung hindi ako dumating, ako na lang ang matitira sa ating apat."

"Boys, let's go. Gray needs peace." Mahinang sabi ni Savannah.

Rashid and Tristan nodded. Binuhat nilang dalawa ang katawan ni Gray sa paraang parang buhay pa rin ito. Sabay nilang inakbay ang braso ni Gray sa kanilang mga balikat.

"Gray, we're going back to our base." Tipid na sabi ni Tristan.

"This is 00043, copy. We four, coming back to our base." Rashid tried to lighten his voice like what he used to.

Savannah stood elegantly in front of them. She brushed her tears and held her head up high. Nauna itong naglakad sa tatlong lalaking nasa likuran niya.

"Give way, daraan kaming apat." She strengthen her voice and tried to fight against her tears, but this time the mistress failed to win.

Katulad ko ay walang humpay ang pagbuhos ng mga luha nito habang humahakbang siya patungo sa sasakyang kasunod si Rashid at Tristan na buhat si Gray.

"We'll follow you, ako na ang bahala kay Lina." Agad na sabi ni kuya nang dadaan na rin si Tristan.

Tristan nodded.

Nauna nang tumakbo ang sasakyan nila pabalik sa Sous L'eau. Sumakay na rin kami sa sasakyang dala ni Armando.

"W-Why? Why kuya?"

Nanatili lamang nakatitig sa akin si kuya at sa halip na sagutin niya ako ay pinahid niya ang aking luha.

"T-Tell me this is just a dream. Nanaginip lang ako hindi ba kuya? He's not yet dead, may sasabihin pa siya sa akin. Magiging buo pa silang apat, they will have their good reunion again. Gray will clean his name, hindi ko magawang magalit sa kanya dahil alam kong may dahilan siya."

"L-Lina, please. Stop this sister," paulit-ulit niyang pinupunasan ang mga luha ko.

"Tell me, please tell that this is just a dream kuya.." pagmamakaawa ko.

"I would love to, gusto kong sabihin sa'yo na nananaginip ka lang. Gusto kong pagaanin ang loob mo. But this is the reality of this world, answers that were about to reach you might be snatched away in a single snap."

Hindi ko na magawang makapagsalita sa sinabi ng kuya ko. Kahit si Armando ay hindi na rin nagawang magsalita pa.

Nabalot ng katahimikan ang buong biyahe sa pagitan naming tatlo. Nakarating kami sa Sous L'eau at sumalubong sa akin ang malakas na hagulhol ng aking ama.

Sa pagkakataong ito ay siya naman ang nakayakap sa walang buhay na katawan ni Gray.

Gray was my father's adoptive son. He raised and loved his wholeheartedly.

"M-My son, wake up. Wake up son, I will accept you again. You are not like your biological father, you are like me. Ako ang ama mo, you are my good boy."

Tumalikod na ako habang kinakausap ni Papa si Gray, hindi kaya ng puso kong makarinig pa ng sakit.

I can't help but to blame myself. Hindi masisira si Gray at Tristan nang dahil sa sa akin, hindi masisira ang samahan nilang apat kung hindi dahil sa akin.

"L-Lina.."

"I-I need to be alone, Tristan. Samahan mo muna si Papa, Rashid at Savannah. They need you more, huwag mo akong intindihin. I'm alright."

"No, hindi lang kami Lina. A-Alam kong pati ikaw--" inagaw nito ang braso ko at iniharap niya ako sa kanya.

Hinawakan niya ang magkabilang pisngi ko at sinalubong niya ang luhaan kong mga mata.

"T-Tristan..I'm sorry, I'm sorry for breaking your group. H-Hindi sana kayo nagkagulo ni Gray, kasama niyo pa siguro si Savannah at Rashid. Nagsimula ang lahat nang makilala mo ako. I'm sorry."

"Lina, it wasn't your fault. Death is part of our world, h-hindi na maiiwasan ang ganito." Umiling ako sa kanya.

"I'm really sorry, sorry. I'm sorry Tristan."

"Hush, hush baby." Pinunasan niya ang aking mga luha.

Nang bumalik kami ay inaasikaso na ang katawan ni Gray. My father signed for cremation. Lahat kami ay nasa loob na ng chapel na siyang mismong nasa loob ng headquarters habang hinihintay si Daddy at ang abo ni Gray.

Nakahilera kami sa unahang upuan. Savannah and Rashid are seated together, sumunod si Tristan at ako.

Si Rashid lamang ang tumanggap ng tasa ng kape habang nakatulala sa altar.

"It's too risky to come back, Rashid. Bakit ka pa bumalik? Bakit ka pa sumali? Tahimik na ang buhay mo."

"Sa tingin mo Cap matatahimik ako kapag nabalitaan kong sabay-sabay kayong namatay tatlo? How will laugh with my wife thinking about my friend died without my help?"

Tumungo ito at mariing hinawakan ang tasa ng kape.

"If I could just turn back time, sana hindi na lang ako umalis. S-Sana nakiusap na lang ako kay Aurelia, sana nakatulong ako nang mas maaga."

"D-Don't say that Rashido, me, Gray and even Theo were so happy with the path you chose. We're so proud of you, you followed your heart. Thank you for saving us."

"And don't you dare tried coming back again, hinding-hindi ka na tatanggapin ng Sous L'eau."

Rashido forced a smile on his face.

"Ofcourse, I won't come back. Masaya na akong laging niaaway." Tristan and Savannah grinned.

Tipid na ngumiti sa akin si Rashid.

Dumating na si Daddy at ang hawak nitong vase. Natahimik kaming lahat, ipinatong na niya sa lamesa ang vase, may nakapatong na rin litrato ni Gray kung saan buhay na buhay ang berde nitong mga mata.

My father was about to start with his speech when another Sous Leau agent rushed inside the chapel like he was about to give us a bomb.

And yes, it was really a bomb information.

"Commander Satchel, someone wants to talk to you. He told us that he's friend of your—" malakas ang kutob ko na si Alexis o Bryce ang tinutukoy ng agent.

Hindi ko na tinapos ang sasabihin ni Daddy, I immediately went outside the chapel. I rushed at the main gate and then I saw Alexis.

"C-Cleo!"

Sinulyapan ko ang mga bantay na kasalukuyan nang natutok ang baril kay Bryce at Alexis.

"Papasukin nyo sila, they are my friends."

"Cleo," sabay na banggit ng mga ito nang makapasok sila.

"Stop calling me Cleo, nakakaalala na ako."

"Where's Gray?" tanong ni Alexis.

"He's already cremated. Sumunod kayo sa akin." Bago pa man ako humakbang ay hinawakan ni Alexis ang kamay ko, may inabot ito sa aking flashdrive.

"What is this?"

"Gray told me that I should give that to you if—" itinaas ko na sa ere ang kamay ko.

"Hindi na kami magtatagal Lina, we're not welcome here. Lalo na at baka hindi na kami makalabas." I just stared at them.

"No, walang makakagalaw sa inyo habang nandito ako. Nabuksan nyo na ba ang laman nito?"

Sabay silang umiling.

"Then let's watch this together."

Bumalik kami sa chapel, inabot ko sa isa sa Sous L'eau agent ang flash drive para iplay ito sa projector.

I informed my father that Gray left a video message for us. Hindi ko alam kung video message nga ito. Nang bumalik ako sa upuan ay wala si Tristan.

"Where is he?"

"Hinabol ka," sagot ni Rashid.

Nang lumingon ako sa entrance ng chapel ay humihingal na si Tristan habang iginagala ang kanyang paningin. Malalaki ang hakbang nito papalapit sa akin.

"Where have you been?" saglit itong sumulya kay Bryce at Alexis na nakaupo na sa likuran.

"Why are they here?"

"They brought something,"

Hindi ko pa man natatapos ang sasabihin ko ay narinig ko na ang boses ni Gray.

The video is now starting.

I heard how Savannah took her breath when we saw Gray wearing his Sous L'eau uniform as well as his badge.

"This might be another cliché line, but still let me tell you these words. If you're watching this today well, that means that I'm already dead." Humigpit ang pagkakahawak ng kamay ni Tristan sa akin.

"I hope the bullets that killed me came from Sous L'eau, I deserve your bullets for betraying you. Pero malakas ang paniniwala ko na baka iligtas nyo pa ako. This was why I considered myself lucky for having a chance to live with you."

"Hindi ko alam kung papaano magsisimula, or should I say..kanino ako magsisimula? I made a big damage and I am not hoping that you'll forgive me."

"I have my reasons but I don't have plans cleaning myself, I want to remain the villain forever. It's cooler than being the heroic figure."

I heard Rashid and Tristan's light laughter. Kahit si Savannah ay tipid rin natawa sa sinabi nito.

"But before my upcoming death, I want to use my father's gift years ago." Inilabas ni Gray ang isang ukulele.

Before he started strumming it he looked directly at the screen.

"This is dedicated to the first woman who broke my heart. Who only love games, pinilit kong isawalang-bahala ang nararamdaman ko dahil kilala na kita. You're still inlove with someone else and you are just seeing me as one of your baby toys just like Rashid and Theo."

There are times when you make me laugh
there are moments when you drive me mad
there are seconds when I see the light
though many times you made me cry

There's something you don't understand
I want to be your man

"You are always telling me that you can love me, that you can take care of me. But are you serious about it? Hindi ko alam Savannah kung kailan ako maniniwala sa'yo. That's why I already accepted that we can just be friends, kahit ilang beses na akong umasa na sana hindi ka mapaglarong babae."

I'm at your feet
waiting for you
I've got time and nothing to lose

There are times when I believe in you
these moments when I feel close to you
there are times I think that I am yours
though many times I feel unsure

There's something you don't understand
I want to be your man

"Hindi na ako umasa pa sa'yo Savannah, that's why I diverted my attention to someone else. And then, I fell in love with her. Harder and even turned me into madness."

"Lina, I'm sorry for ruining your life. For making you miserable, sorry for everything. It was just that, I love you so much babe. Buong akala ko ay naagaw mo lamang ang atensyon ko dahil sa pakikipag kompetensiya ko kay Theo. Pero hindi, it was your unique personality that made me fall hard. Your smile, laugher and even your tears. I'm sorry."

"Theo, I won't say sorry. The only problem is we fell in love with the same woman. Love her for long years and then, let's see each other in hell. Asshole." Akala namin

"Rashido, I'm happy for you. You are now free to use your most favorite gun." Tumaas ang dirty finger ni Rashido sa ere.

"Lastly, father. I'm sorry Dad, I'm really sorry. I love you so much, ikaw lang ang nag-iisang amang mamahalin ko."

Sa huli naging emosyonal na si Gray dahil kay Daddy. He bowed his head on the floor and we can clearly see how his tears fell.

"Take care of yourself Dad, thank you so much for everything. For your love, warmth, knowledge and all. This is 00027, Commander Grayson Satchel of Second Unit Division. To my family, Sous L'eau Agency! I'm sorry for all the damages. I have to go now, This is your green eyed agent, officially signing off."

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VentreCanard