Hello to Marita Bogtong Groves 👋🏻 Happy Reading. Halabyu 😘

CHAPTER 33

MALAKAS ANG KABOG ng dibdib ni Blake habang sabay silang tumatakbo ni Blaze pasunod sa babaeng nagpakilalang ina ni Bailey. Halos liparin nila ang distansiya palabas ng ospital.

Lalo niyang binilisan ang pagtakbo nang makitang malapit na sila sa pinto.

"Come on, Blaze!" Blake urged his twin to run faster.

Parang sasabog ang dibdib niya sa halo-halong emosyong nararamdaman habang inililibot ang tingin sa kabuuan ng parking lot.

"Where is she?" nanginginig ang boses at hinihingal niyang tanong. "Fuck! Where the fuck is she?!"

Napahawak si Blaze sa magkabilang tuhod habang habol ang hininga. "Fuck! Nasaan na siya?"

"Go east!" utos niya, saka humiwalay siya sa kakambal para hanapin ang ina ni Bailey.

Halos halughugin niya ang bawat sulok ng parking lot pero hindi niya ito nakita hanggang sa may kotseng lumabas mula sa parking lot ng basement. Hindi tinted ang salamin n'on kaya malinaw niyang nakikita kung sino ang nasa loob.

"Blaze!" He shouted his brother's name. "Blaze! In here!"

Tumakbo siya paharang sa papaalis nang kotse. Wala sa isip niya na puwede siyang sagasaan ng driver kung mali ang impormasyong ibinigay sa kanila ni Midnight. Ang nasa isip lang niya ay makausap ang sakay n'on.

"Blake! Watch out!" sigaw ni Blaze nang iharang niya ang katawan sa dinaraanan ng kotse.

"Stop!" sigaw niya sa nasa loob ng sasakyan.

"Fuck!" Blaze hissed when he neared him, and the car stopped. "Ano sa tingin mo ang ginagawa mo?!" singhal sa kanya ng kakambal. "Paano kung nasagasaan ka?!"

Hindi niya pinansin ang galit nito at itinuro ang nagmamaneho na ngayon ay lumabas na ng sasakyan. "It's her."

Bumaling si Blaze sa itinuro niya, saka natigilan din katulad niya nang makitang nakalabas na ang babaeng nagmamaneho.

That face. The way she stood. Her voice. It was all different! There were no similarities but Midnight said she was the person they'd been longing for.

Isang tao lang naman ang pareho sila ni Blaze na miss na miss na... na gusto nilang makita.

They were longing for the same person. Isang tao lang at hindi iyon kamukha ng babaeng nasa harap nila ngayon.

But Midnight... his words. He was going against the organization's rules for them. He would never lie and torture them like this, right?

Kumuyom ang kamay ni Blake at pinilit niyang gumalaw ang sarili.

"What do you think you're doing?" istriktong tanong ng ginang sa kanila. "If this is about my husband, don't worry. Wala akong sasabihin sa kanya basta alagaan n'yo lang si Bailey. You don't have to do this. I could have run you over!"

Blake looked into the woman's eyes. There was no familiarity in there. Nothing. Ang mga salita lang ni Night ang pinanghahawakan niya.

"I'm sorry," panimula niya habang naglalakad palapit dito. "I'm sorry."

The woman frowned. "What are you talking about? Why are you saying sorry for?"

Tumayo siya sa harap ng babae, saka pinakatitigan ito nang matagal bago nagsalita. "I'm sorry kasi hindi ko kayo sinamahang mag-jogging ni Cassie nang umagang 'yon—"

"Ano ba'ng pinagsasasabi mo—"

"I'm sorry because I chose Calle that morning. I'm sorry—"

"I don't know what you're talking about—"

"Because I couldn't save you. I'm sorry because I couldn't give you a proper justice. I'm sorry I'm a bad son. I'm—"

"Please stop talking—"

"I'm sorry because I failed you... Mom."

The woman stilled before laughing coldly. "Oh, you must be kidding me. I'm not your mother, child. Nagkakamali ka—"

"Mom." Hinihingal pa ring lumapit sa kanila si Blaze. "I'm really sorry for disrespecting you and for this." Bigla nitong tinanggalan ng isang hibla ng buhok ang kanilang ina. "Your face may change but your DNA will still be the same."

Halatang nagitla ito sa ginawa ni Blaze. "You're saying sorry for disrespecting me yet you just disrespect me again! And I'm not your mother—"

Hindi pinatapos ni Blaze sa pagsasalita nito, bigla na lang nitong niyakap ang kaharap nila nang mahigpit. "Na-miss kita, Mommy," sabi ni Blaze sa nanginginig na boses. "Miss na miss ka na namin ni Blakey."

Binaklas ng ginang ang pagkakayakap dito ni Blaze. "Child, I'm not your mother—"

"Mommy, naman," sabi ni Blaze sa nagrereklamong boses. "Huwag mo naman kaming ipagtulakan... Night told us. We know it's you. Come on, Mom..."

Umiling ito. "Pasensiya na pero hindi talaga ako ang mommy n'yo—"

Inilabas niya ang kutsilyo sa suot na boots dahilan para manlaki ang mga mata ng kanyang ina.

"What the heck are you planning to do—"

Ibinaon niya ang kutsilyo sa kanang hita niya.

"Stop it!"

"You're not Mom, right?" sabi niya, saka lalong ibinaon ang kutsilyo sa hita niya. "Then you shouldn't care what will happen to me. Kasi 'yong mommy namin na kilala ko, masyadong maalalahanin 'yon para hindi ako patigilin—"

"Stop it, Blake!" His mom hissed at him. "Using what you have learned in Psychology to control me is not what a good man will do!"

He chuckled coldly. "That's the thing, Mom, I'm not a good man—"

"Lucky will be very disappointed in you," sabi nito sa nananakot na boses. "Ano na lang ang mararamdaman niya kapag nakita niyang may sugat ka?"

Napatigil si Blake sa ginagawa nang pumasok sa isip niya ang nakangiting mukha ni Lucky na tiyak na mag-aalala sa kanya kapag nakita ang sugat niya. "Fuck," he hissed.

Matagumpay na ngumiti ang kanilang ina. "You're not the only one who knows how to play this game, Blake, so stop it." Inagaw nito ang kutsilyong hawak niya, saka tiningnan siya nang matalim. "Your mother will—"

Blaze hugged their mother from behind. "Mom, please stop this. You're hurting, Blakey," malambing na sabi ng kakambal niya. "Alam mo bang hanggang ngayon sinisisi pa rin niya ang sarili niya sa nangyari sa 'yo?"

Their mom stilled before looking away. "I'm not your mother."

Mas humigpit ang yakap dito ni Blaze, lalo na't hindi nito binaklas ang pagkakayakap ng kakambal niya. "Mom, you know how Blakey is. He's not showy. Kita mo nga, hindi ka niya mayakap-yakap kahit alam kong gusto niyang gawin 'yon. Nagiging malambot lang naman iyan kay Lucky. Kaya kahit nasasaktan siya ngayon, hindi mo 'yon makikita. Ganyan siya kahit noon pa, naalala mo?"

Their mother stayed silent.

"Mom..." Blaze rested his chin on their mom's shoulder. "We really miss you. Gusto mo ba talagang umabot pa tayo sa DNA test? Hindi ba puwedeng sabihin mo na lang sa amin? Hindi ba puwedeng umamin ka na lang?"

Her mother was still silent.

Blake envied Blaze as he talked to their mom. Kahit noon pa, madaling lumalambot ang mommy nila kapag nilalambing ito ni Blaze.

Samantalang siya, hindi niya magawa 'yon. Sa lahat ng tao, si Lucky lang ang kaya niyang lambingin. Kay Lucky lang niya nailalabas ang mga emosyong sanay siyang itinatago.

"Mommy, hindi mo ba kami nami-miss?" malambing na tanong ni Blaze. "It's been eleven years, Mom. Don't you want to look into our eyes and tell us you love us like you used to do? Don't you want to hug us like before? Ayaw mo ba kaming makasama tulad noon? I know a lot has changed but, we can still work it out and make it. Huwag mo naman kaming iwan ni Blake uli. Hindi na namin kakayanin kung mawawala ka uli sa amin sa ikalawang pagkakataon."

Titig na titig siya sa mukha ng ina, pinag-aaralan ang emosyong lumalabas sa mukha nito bawat segundong lumilipas.

At isa lang ang sigurado niya.

May pumipigil ditong aminin sa kanila ang totoo. Or maybe because it had been too long. They had been deceived for far too long.

The lies... their grief... And now that they were here, she couldn't even own up. Silang na nga tatlo lang. Mas may alam pa ang ibang tao kaysa sa kanila na anak nito.

Nagtatagis ang mga bagang na kumuyom ang kamay niya. "Let her go, Blaze—"

"Blakey!"

"Let her go," sabi niya kay Blaze na masama ang tingin sa kanya. "Huwag mo siyang pilitin na gustuhing makasama tayo. It's been eleven years. Siguro nga nakalimutan na niya na tayo. Tanggapin na lang natin na patay na si Mommy. Because that woman you're hugging is not Mom. Our mom died a long time ago."

Blaze loosened his embrace on their mother the same moment a tear slid down from her eyes as she looked at him.

"You can say a lot of things, but I love my sons. With all my heart and all my soul. I would give my own life for them. Ganoon ko sila kamahal."

His face darkened. "If the DNA says you're Mom, and you know how much we grieved for you, but you didn't show yourself to us for eleven years... I'm sorry to be a disrespectful son, but I'll loathe you." Nalaglag ang kanina pa niya pinipigil na luha sa gilid ng mga mata. "Grabeng pagsisisi at pagluluksa ang pinagdaanan namin. Ang dami kong isinakripisyo para lang bigyan ng katarungan ang pagkamatay mo. Inako ko lahat ng responsabilidad kahit hindi ko na kaya. Pumatay ako para sa 'yo. 'Tapos buhay ka lang pala..."

Pinakawalan ni Blaze sa pagkakayakap ang ina nila, saka bumuntong-hininga. "Blakey is right, Mom. We're happy that you're alive. Pero ang hirap lang kasi ng mga pinagdaanan namin, lalo na si Blake."

Their mom looked at him then smiled. "For taking on all the responsibilities, for taking good care of your brother, for handling the business well, for every sacrifices you made, your mom is very proud of you. Very."

His lips thinned. "Are you really proud of me... Mom?"

Lumambot ang mukha ng ina nila, bakas ang lungkot sa mga mata nito. "She's very proud of you, Blake."

Tumingala siya, saka ikinurap-kurap ang mga mata bago tumingin kay Blaze. "Halika na, hayaan na natin siyang umalis. Hindi natin mapipigilan ang isang tao na gawin ang gusto nilang gawin. It's their choice. I learned that from Lucky."

Ilang segundong matamang tinitigan siya ng kanilang ina, saka umangat ang kamay para haplusin ang pisngi niya pero agad siyang umiwas.

"Only my loved ones can touch me," sabi niya sa malamig na boses. "You're not my mother, remember?"

"Blake—"

"I ran after you, thinking that maybe, maybe we could still be a family even after all these years. Na siguro nga, 'yang mukha mo lang ang nag-iba, ang boses mo lang ang hindi ko nakilala, na ikaw pa rin naman 'yong mommy namin na minahal kami, na ipinagluluto kami, na inaalagaan kami, na halos ibinigay sa amin ang lahat. Pero siguro nga marami nang nagbago. Hindi lang ang mukha mo kundi ang buo mong pagkatao. Whatever happened to you, whatever decision you have made to be here right now, I hope you're happy and didn't regret anything. And you're right. You're not my mom. Our mom is dead and she's never coming back."

Tinalikuran niya ang kanyang ina. Tinatawag ni Blaze ang pangalan niya pero hindi siya lumingon. Patuloy lang ang mabilis niyang paghakbang habang namamalisbis ang luha sa mga mata niya.

He felt like he just lost his mother for the second time.

She can't even own up!

"Blake! Hey! Blake!"

Humarang sa dinaraanan niya si Blaze at mabilis niyang tinuyo ang mga luha. "Come on, Blakey, Mom's right there. We just have to reach out, to force her to own up and be with us again. Hindi naman mahirap 'yon, 'di ba? Eleven years, Blake. Eleven years! Don't you wanna be with Mom again? This is it. Ito na 'yong gusto nating mangyari. Mom is here, let's just forget about the past and be a family again. Ayaw mo bang mabuo tayo?"

Napapagod na tumingin siya kay Blaze. "Bakit? Gusto ba niyang mabuo tayo?"

Blaze's shoulder sagged. "Blakey..."

He blew out a loud breath and shook his head. "I nearly killed myself in so much guilt, Blaze. While you're studying and I'm burying myself with business works that I can't even comprehend, I would drink myself to oblivion, blaming myself for everything. And when I can't kill myself because I'm worried of you, I killed other people. For the justice. For her. 'Tapos ngayon, buhay pala siya. 'Yong sabihin lang niya na oo, ako ang mommy n'yo. 'Yon lang. Mahirap din ba 'yon?"

"Maybe she has her reasons," pangungumbinsi pa rin sa kanya ni Blaze. "You're the Psychology graduate. You can tell, right? Come on, Blakey, this is not the time to be irrational. Let's think. Come on, work with me here."

Nilingon niya ang ina nilang nakatayo pa rin sa kinatatayuan nito kanina.

Inilahad niya ang kamay rito. "Come on, Mom. Let's go home and be a family."

Blake felt like someone squeezed his heart painfully when their mom just looked away and didn't reply.

Mapakla siyang tumawa, saka tumingin kay Blaze. "I reached out, she declined. Let's go."

"Blake—Mom! Come on!" Blaze sounded so frustrated. "Work with me!"

Blake offered his hand again at their mother. "Come on, let's go home."

But no reply.

Blake let out a loud breath before sighing heavily. "I tried."

Napailing si Blaze, saka humarap sa kanilang ina. "Mom, come on. Mom... please?"

Wala na siyang balak na maghintay. Akmang aalis na siya nang mahagip ng mga mata niya ang itim na van na padaan sa kanila. At nang makitang bumukas ang bintana n'on habang umaandar, agad niyang itinulak si Blaze padapa sa semento. Kapagkuwan ay naramdaman niyang may tumulak din sa kanya dahilan para mapadapa rin siya.

Blake heard gunshots but didn't feel any bullet invading his body.

Mabilis siyang bumangon nang tumigil ang putukan at pinulot ang kutsilyong nakita sa semento. Akmang hahabulin niya ang van nang makitang nakatayo malapit sa kanya ang kanilang ina. Sapo nito ang tagiliran at bumabakat ang dugo sa damit nitong suot.

And she was looking at her like she was begging for his help but she just couldn't say it.

"Fuck!" Blake hissed and carried his mother towards the hospital. "Blaze! Come on! Mom got shot!"

Mabilis na tumayo si Blaze at humabol sa kanya patungong ER.

Hinihingal na ihiniga niya ang ina sa stretcher, saka akmang aatras para bigyan ng espasyo si Blaze na asikasuhin ito nang hawakan ng kanyang ina ang kamay niya.

"D-don't l-leave..." she begged. "P-please, Blakey-baby?"

Blakey-baby. Before Lucky, there was only one person who called him that.

His Mom.

Tumango siya, saka pinisil ang kamay nito. "I'm here." Nilingon niya ang kakambal na kausap ang mga nurse. Mabilis itong lumapit sa ina nila para tingnan ang tama ng baril.

"I told them I don't know you," sabi ni Blaze habang dinidiinan ng kamay nito ang tama ng baril ng kanilang ina. "Kapag sinabi kong mommy kita, mag-a-assign sila ng ibang doktor sa 'yo."

Ngumiwi ang kanilang ina at napasinghap nang malakas. "H-hindi naman s-sila maniniwala k-kahit s-sabihin n'yo."

Blaze blew a lout breath. "There's that. Fuck."

Their mom glared at Blaze. "Don't c-cuss. T-tatamaan ka sa 'kin."

"Sorry, Mom," mabilis na hingi ng pasensiya ni Blaze. "I won't do it again."

Napailing na lang siya. Blaze was Blaze. He couldn't stop cursing.

May nurse na lumapit kay Blaze. "Doc, the OR is ready."

"Good." Tumingin muna sa kanya ang kakambal. "Wait for me outside. Leave it to me, okay? Trust me. We're not gonna lose her twice."

Tumango si Blake, saka hinayaan ang mga nurse na itulak ang stretcher patungong OR. Siya naman ay nagmamadaling sumunod pero natigilan nang makita si Night na papalabas ng elevator habang may lalaking tumutulak dito para mabilis itong maglakad.

"Night!" tawag niya.

Napatigil ang dalawa sa paglalakad.

"You need backup?" he asked as he looked at the man behind Night.

Ngumiti lang at umiling si Night. "Nah. I can handle it. Call you later."

Tumango siya, saka sinundan ang papalayong bulto ng kaibigan.

That man behind Night... he was sure that he was from the organization. May kinalaman ba ito sa sinabing lihim ni Night sa kanila?

Fuck! Why did I force him to tell me? He knew that Night was vulnerable when it came to all the people who knew him as him. And he used that against Night.

I'm such an asshole.

Mabilis niyang tinawagan si Knight.

"Oh, Blake, how's life you motherfucker—"

"It was my fault. About Night. I forced him to tell me," pag-amin niya. "I used his weakness against him. Ako dapat ang parusahan—"

"Blake." Knight's voice turned cold and merciless. "Drop it. It was his decision to tell you. It's not your fault that he's weak. And you're not under the organization per se, hence you're not covered by our rules and laws. Alam ni Midnight ang konsikuwensiya ng ginawa niya, hindi mo kargo 'yon."

"But, Velasquez—"

The line died.

Nagtagis ang mga bagang niya. That man was really brutal, cold and merciless.

Ihinilamos niya ang sariling palad sa mukha, saka malalaki ang hakbang na tinungo ang kuwarto ni Lucky.

"Oh, God!" Lucky exclaimed when she saw him entered her private room. "Are you okay? What happened?"

Kahit nahihirapan ito at kailangang magdahan-dahan, nagawa nitong umalis ng kama, saka sinalubong siya.

"Ayos ka lang ba?" Iniangat nito ang laylayan ng damit niya—kung saan kumalat ang dugo ng kanyang ina—para tingnan kung may sugat siya. Nang walang makita, nag-angat ito ng tingin sa kanya at bakas sa mukha na nakahinga nang maluwag. "What happened? Bakit may dugo ang damit mo? Si Blaze? Nasaan siya? Nabaril na naman ba siya?" puno ng pag-aalalang tanong nito.

Umiling siya. "Blaze is okay. Pasensiya na umalis agad ako kanina nang hindi man lang nagpapaalam sa 'yo. I know I made you worry and—"

"It's okay." She smiled at him, understanding him. "I understand." Kapagkuwan ay bumaba na naman sa damit niya ang tingin nito. "Whose blood is it?"

He sighed in worry. "It's Mom... s-she's in the OR... She got shot outside the hospital—"

"Kung ganoon, ano'ng ginagawa mo rito?" parang galit nitong tanong. "Go. Wait for you mom. Go."

Masuyo siyang napatitig sa kasintahan. "You won't ask me anything about Mom? You're gonna be okay here? I know you hate being alone and being by yourself—"

"Kasama ko naman si Bailey at puwede mo namang sabihin sa 'kin ang tungkol sa mommy mo sa ibang araw," putol nito sa iba pa niyang sasabihin. "Go. I'm okay. Kaya ko ang sarili ko. I'm healing. Sige na, doon ka na muna sa mommy mo. She needs you. You haven't seen her for eleven years, go and be with her. I'll be okay. Nandito pa ako pagbalik mo."

Nag-aalangan siyang tumango, saka hinalikan sa noo si Lucky. "I love you, baby. I'll be with you later, okay? I promise, I'll be with you."

"I understand, now go," sabi nito, saka ngumiti. "I'll be okay."

Tumango si Blake, saka tiningnan si Bailey. "Buddy, take care of your sister, okay?"

Nag-thumbs-up si Bailey sa kanya habang malapad na nakangiti. "You can count on me, Kuya Blake."

"Good." He looked back at Lucky. "I'll see you later. I'll miss you. Don't stress yourself. Don't move around too much, okay? Call me when you need anything. Don't hesitate."

Lucky smiled before tiptoeing and puckering her lips. "My kiss please?"

Blake chuckled and pressed his lips on hers. "I love you."

"Love you too, Blakey-baby. Bantayan mong mabuti ang mommy mo, okay?" bilin nito sa malambing na boses.

Blake nodded and kissed Lucky on the lips again before leaving the room and returning to the OR.

His mom needed him.

Does she though?

CECELIB | C.C.