Andie took a sharp breath as she settled herself on the couch inside the cabin. Opposite her was Kevin, occupying the bigger sofa. Chief was standing near a beareu in the kitchen. And she silently watched him roam his eyes inside the cabin, as if checking the small place with disdain.

Nang sabihin niya kanina na kasal na sila ni Dax, anger quickly flashed in his eyes. Akala talaga niya kanina, tuluyan na itong magagalit. He was never the type to bend easily when it comes to rules. And she just knew that once she'd face him, she will also face his wrath for what she had done. But to her suprise, Chief remiatned calm and requested to talk to her in private of which she agreed.

It was just the three of them who entered the cabin. Nagpumilit si Dax na sumama sa usapan subalit mariin siyang tumanggi. She knew, this is just between her, Kevin and Chief-- her family.

Family.

Her heart instantly felt heavy with the word. After everything they did-- all the lies and deceit that has caused her so much pain-- can she still call them her family?

"Mas maaga sana kami kung hindi lang talaga sinadya ng gagong--"

"Dax. Dax ang pangalan ng gagong tinatawag mo, Kevin," mabilis niyang putol sa kaibigan. Agad na umigting ang panga nito subalit hindi siya natinag, pinanatili niya ang mga mata rito.  "Kung gago si Dax, ano ka pa? Sinungaling? Manloloko? Huwad?"

Tumuwid na ang likod nito, ikinuyom ang mga kamao. Lalo siyang nainis dito. Ito pa talaga ang may ganang magalit gayong ito ang unang nang-insulto!

"May dahilan ang lahat, Andie!" sagot nito sa mataas na tinig.

"Anong dahilan? So that you can have me for yourself or for whatever selfish reason you have?" She scoffed and slowly shook her head. "You're a liar, Kevin. I cannot trust you anymore."

Tumayo na si Kevin, lalong ikinuyom ang mga kamay. His face was screaming for bloody murder. "At sino ang gusto mong paniwalaan, 'yong walang kwentang Lavigne na 'yon? Wala namang binatbat--"

Mabilis siyang tumayo at bago pa man nito maituloy ang iba pa nitong sasabihin, dumapo na ang kamay niya sa pisngi  nito. She was stunned for a moment. Maging ito nagulat din sa ginawa niya. But he deserved it... for everything he did!

"Take that as my warning, Kevin. I will not sit back anymore and allow anyone to insult my husband infront of me. You've made a fool out of me for two damn years!" she yelled, pinaglipat ang tingin kina Chief at Kevin.

Hurt flashed across Kevin's eyes.  Lumambot na rin ang mukha nito, muling sinubukang maglakad palapit sa kanya subalit umatras siya.

Yumuko na siya, marahang niyakap ang sarili. Her lips quivered as her tears threatened to fall from her eyes. Kung kanina galit siya, mas nangingibabaw na ngayon ang sakit ng panlolokong ginawa ng mga ito.

She was beyond hurt. And she doesn't know how she will recover from the pain. Masakit na ang mismong mga taong pinagkakatiwalaan at sobrang minahal niya ang nanloko sa kanya.

What were they thinking? Have they not thought of her when they deliberately tried to rip Dax away from her life? Were her feelings not important?

"Andie, hindi kayo dapat. You're supposed to always be with me--"

"Let her be, Kevin. Sige na, iwan mo muna kami," mabilis na sabi utos ni Chief kay Kevin.

She heard Kevin huff. Nang marinig niya ang papalayong yabag nito, saka pa lamang siya tuluyang nag-angat ng ulo.

Noon niya napagtanto na lumapit na sa puwesto niya si Chief. They were standing in the middle of the living room, looking at each other... as if they were both strangers.

Lalong bumigat ang dibdib niya.
For the past years of her life,  she lived and breathed just to make this old man in front of her proud. She owed him everything she has now. And it pains her to see him in a different light other than the loving and just father she had known him for.

"How did you know about..." hindi nito halos maituloy ang gustong sabihin. It was the first time she's seeing that way-- almost speechless.

"Y-your lies? Everything that you did just to keep Dax away from me?" pagtutuloy niya sa nang-aakusang tinig. Marahan itong tumango. His guilt-laden eyes never leaving hers. "I-I heard you... talking to Dax," she answered in a shaky voice. The memory of that day when she learned about her family's deceit burned in her memory. Bumalik sa dibdib niya ang sakit na pilit niyang nilimot sa nakalipas na ilanh araw. Muli rin siyang nilunod ng lungkot. Hindi na niya napigilan ang lumuha. "W-why, Chief? W-why?" basag ang tinig tanong niya.

Chief didn't say a word. He just stood there in front of her and watched her cry her pain. Maya-maya pa, humakbang ito palapit sa kanya at marahang pinalis ang luha niya. She sobbed.

"I'm sorry, Andrea. But I had to do what  I have to do. You needed protection," paliwanag nito sa mababang tinig.

She flinched and took a step away from him, confusion washing over her.  "Protection from what? From the rules? From Dax? From love? That's why you are tricking me to marry Kevin instead?" she accused, shaking her head slowly. "I don't need protection, Chief. I just want to be happy."

Muli, hindi nagsalita si Chief, tumitig lang sa kanya habang patuloy siya sa pag-iyak. Nang bahagya siyang kumalma, mabilis siyang nagpunas ng luha. "I owe you everything that I have now, Chief. But you don't own my heart."

Chief's jaw clenched but she remained unfazed by the impending anger he's ready to unleash. Subalit dumaan ang ilang sandali, nanatiling walang imik si Chief, tumitig lang sa kanya na tila ba pinag-aaralan siya. Ilang sandali pa, mapait itong ngumiti, nangingilid ang luha.

"From this moment on, you are no longer associated with the agency, Protector Cortez. You are therefore stripped off of the all priveledges  that go along with your positio. Therefore you are bound to uphold the non-disclosure agreement you have signed when you entered The Organization. Surrender your gun and ID," dire-diretsong sabi nito, inilahad ang kamay sa  harapan niya.

Muling tumulo ang luha niya. The decision was cruel but she knew it was needed. She knew the rules and she broke them... willingly.

At sa nanlalabong tinig, naglakad siya patungo sa silid nila ni Dax at kinuha mula sa bag niya ang kanyang baril at ID. She bit the insides of her cheeks as she tried to keep herself from sobbing. She knew it would come to that when she married Dax. But she never knew it would be that painful.

That gun and ID were everything she had worked hard for for the past decade of her life. It was easily all her worth as a person. And now she's letting go of it-- for she's now deemed unworthy to be called Protector.

She gently placed her gun and ID at Chief's waiting hands. Nang maideposito niya ang mga iyon sa kamay ni Chief, tumayo siya ng tuwid sa harap nito. And with a shaky voice she said, "T-thank you for everything, Chief. T-this is P-Protector C-Cortez, signing off."

Chief gave her a knowing look and a painful smile before he spun his heels and walked towards the door. But before he could even turn the knob, kusang humakbang ang mga paa niya patungo rito at niyakap ito mula sa likuran.

Humagulgol na siya. She wanted to stay angry at Chief-- for his lies and betrayal. But her heart just can't. He was, after all, the only father she had known.

"I-I'm sorry, Chief," aniya sa pagitan ng paghikbi. "I-I hope in time you can f-forgive me."

Chief didn't face her. Instead, he rested his hand on her arms, giving it a gentle squeeze. "I can never get angry at you, Andrea. To me, you will always be the daughter I had the privilege of raising. Don't worry, Dax will remain in the agency. It's the last thing that I can do for you. Be safe," anito bago marahang kumawala sa pagkakayakap niya at tuluyang lumabas ng cottage.

Dax was beside her in no time. He instantly surrounded her with his warmth as  she watched Chief and Kevin walked away from her-- to the uncertain tomorrow she knew she now had to face with Dax.

---

"Chief," pukaw ni Kevin kay Elias. Mula sa bintana ng eroplano kung saan sila nakalulan pabalik ng Washington, bumaling siya sa anak-anakan.

Bakas ang pag-aalala sa mukha nito. At kahit na hindi nito sabihin, alam niya kung bakit.

"May koneksiyon pa rin tayo sa kanya, Kevin. Nariyan pa si Dax. I didn't fire him because of that purpose," pahayag niya.

"But the plan--"

"Remains the same. You will continue with the plan. It's the only way."

"Pero Chief--"

Inabot niya ang balikat  ng anak-anakan at marahan iyong tinapik. "I trust you, Kevin. We will move as we've planned."

Bumungtong-hininga si Kevin bago alanganing tumango. Ilang sandali pa, bumalik na ito sa upuan nito habang siya naman at muling tumingin sa labas ng bintana-- sa kadiliman ng gabi na tila walang katapusan, patungo sa kinabukasan na walang kasiguruhan.###

1564words/6:46pm/08022022