Chapter 9: Promises

Promises are meant to be broken so as our hearts.

We bid our goodbyes for the children before we went off. They are hopeful that we will come back and play with them again. Pinangako naman namin na babalik kami.

"Bakit mo naisipang gumawa ng blog?" Magnus asked while we are inside his car.

"I want to create a living testament of how I lived. I want to explore my life. And for the things I might not be able to do. We can't predict our life. Baka mamaya o kinabukasan, mawalan na tayo ng kakayahang gawin ang mga bagay na gusto natin."

Tumango lamang siya sa aking naging sagot. I don't know if he believed my explanation because he remained quiet.

Hinatid niya ako hanggang sa tapat ng bahay namin. Papapasukin ko sana siya sa loob nang tumunog ang kaniyang cellphone. He is hesitant to answer the call but after a few seconds, he picked it up.

Hindi muna ako pumasok dahil hindi pa naman siya nakakaalis. Sa tingin ko ay kawalan ng respeto kung tatalikuran ko siya.

"Hello?" he said, frowning.

I heard a panicking voice on the other line. Magnus' eyes widened when he heard what the caller wants to tell him. Maya-maya pa ay walang lingon-lingong sumakay siya sa kaniyang kotse at nagmamadaling pinaharurot ito paalis. Maging ako ay nataranta kaya pinara ko ang dumaang tricycle at pinasundan siya.

I can't explain his expression because everything was a blur. Honestly, I am worried about him. He might not be able to take another hardship in his life. He has everything on his plate right now. If so, I will be with him through all of it. Nangako akong tutulungan ko siya at mayroon akong isang salita.

"Dito na lang po, Manong. Salamat po," I uttered.

Nadatnan ko ang mga basag na bote ng alak sa labas ng pinuntahan niyang bahay. Nagkalat din ang mga damit sa kalsada. Nilapitan ko ang batang babae na umiiyak sa tapat ng gate.

Tumikhim ako. "Hi. What's your name, princess?"

Her doe eyes stared at me. Pula ang kaniyang mata at ilong dahil sa kakaiyak. Magulo rin ang kaniyang buhok. My heart broke at that moment when she smiled and hugged me. I was totally stunned.

"A-ate, please help Mommy. She is hurt. D-daddy beat her up. He's bad, ate," she said, crying while clinging to me.

Inayos ko ang kaniyang buhok at pinunasan ko ang kaniyang luha. At a young age, I suffered from depression. I don't want that to happen to this little girl. Her muffled cries were drowned when a drunk guy went outside the house and scream like a mad man.

"Hayop ka, Germaine! Lumayas ka dito! Putangina!" sigaw niya habang pinagbababato ang ilan pang mga gamit. Tinakpan ko ang tainga ng batang babae dahil napapapikit siya sa sobrang takot. Naramdaman ko ring nangangatog ang kaniyang maliit na katawan. I am scared, too. But she needs someone who is willing to be with her.

Sumunod namang lumabas ng bahay ang isang babae na puro pasa ang katawan. Kitang-kita ang sakit na dinanas niya sa kamay ng lalaking iyon.

"D-don't do this to me, Phil. Our d-daughter needs me. Please. Please," she knelt down to the man.

Umiwas ako ng tingin dahil hindi ko iyon kayang tignan. I opened my eyes when I hear nothing even the cries of that woman. Lumingon ako sa kanila at nakita kong nakaluhod din sa harap ng ginang si Magnus. His tears are constantly falling. Hindi niya malaman kung saan hahawakan ang kaharap. Napatakip ako sa aking bibig ng yakapin ni Magnus ang babae. He is so weak. I can't stand seeing him like that.

"Shhh. 'M-ma. Please don't kneel. N-nakalimutan mo na bang ikaw ang reyna ko. A queen doesn't beg," he uttered.

Pinigilan ko ang aking hikbi nang mas lalo pang lumakas ang hikbi niya. Natulala ang kaniyang Mama bago sinuklian ang mahigpit niyang yakap.

"Magsama kayo! Mga palamunin!" The drunk man furiously went inside the house after screaming. Inalalayan ni Magnus ang kaniyang Mama na tumayo at sinakay ito sa kaniyang kotse.

"Hey," I called him. He turned to me and took his sister from me. Her tired eyes looked at me and smiled. I smiled back at her and pinched her cheeks.

"Stop crying. You might wake up the giants," I said, trying to scare her. It looks like she believed it because her crying stops. My smile grew wider.

Napailing na lamang sa akin si Magnus. Binelatan ko siya na ikinatawa niya. I rolled my eyes at him.

I started picking up the clothes on the street. Magnus helped me after he deposited his sister in his car. Winalis ko rin ang mga nagkalat na basag na bote. I was quiet the whole time because I want to give Magnus a moment to think. I know that he is exhausted.

Umupo muna ako sa gilid ng kalsada pagkatapos kong sinalansan ang mga gamit sa loob ng kotse. Magnus' Mom and sister slept peacefully after. The commotion made them tired. They seem to be used to it though.

Hindi ko maiwasang maawa sa Mama ni Magnus kahit na iniwan niya na lang basta ang anak at ipinagpalit sa bago niyang pamilya. I hope she has her reasons. Magnus is the most important person to me right now and I want him to be happy with his life. I don't want someone from his past to come back and hurt him again. He had enough.

"Your reward, miss." Magnus sat beside and hand me a chocolate ice cream. The sides of my lips rose for a smile.

"What is her name?" I asked.

Tumingin siya sa akin na parang nagtataka.

He frowned. "Who?"

Tinuro ko ang kaniyang kapatid. Mukha namang naiintindihan niya iyon dahil nagliwanag ang kaniyang mukha.

"Pheliz. She's seven years old."

Nanaig sa amin ang sandaling katahimikan.

"Don't ever leave me, miss. Baka kapag ikaw ang nang-iwan sa akin... hindi ko na kayanin," he suddenly uttered out of the blue. Nahabag ako. Bumundol ang sakit sa aking dibdib nang makita siyang ganito kahina. Nangatal ang labi ko pero sinikap kong sumagot.

I nodded and turned to him. " I promise not to leave Magnus Cayden Monreal until the extent of my life."

"And I promise to keep Red Salvador safe, always," he vowed.

Tumingala ako at mapait na napangiti.

Give me more time. I want more time with him.