Chapter Thirty-one

Childhood

Pumunta nga ako sa pribadong bahay ni Kuya Aldrich. I didn't call him again. I don't trust him anymore. Pinagkatiwalaan ko siya noong mga bata pa kami. But we grew up and we grew apart...

Tuluyan nang lumayo ang loob namin sa isa't. Lalo na pagkatapos ko siyang makilala pa at ang mga nakakatakot na kakayahan niya. And I became more scared that I never knew what he was thinking. Lalo na ngayon na pinapakialaman pa niya pati ang anak ko at dinadamay. Whatever he's planning or thinking, kapag pinahamak niya ang anak ko I won't have second thoughts of dragging him even to hell with me. Siguro nga ay may takot din ako sa kaniya pero ibang usapan na kapag nasali ang anak ko.

I infiltrated his house. It's one of his private properties in the country. Sa magkakapatid na Zachmann ay si Aldrich Zachmann ang talagang nagmana sa mag-asawang Zachmann as they said. He always made Mama and Papa proud of him. And his fighting and planning or thinking skills were exceptional. At halos wala rin siyang kinakatakutan. So I'm scared that he will do something to my son and he doesn't care if Adam's family will be involved.

Dumaan ako sa gilid ng malaking bahay. Naghanap ako ng pwede kong maging entrance. Hindi kailangang pintuan dahil pwede ring bintana and maging daanan ko. And when I found one tuloy-tuloy na akong pumasok sa loob ng mansyon.

I wasn't yet familiar inside this mansion. Nakapunta na ako rito dati at alam ko rin na isa ito sa mga bahay ni Kuya Aldrich na minsan na rin naming napuntahan noon, but I've never been here in the upper floors. I was greeted with many bedroom doors as I got in the hallway. Hindi ko alam kung nasaan dito ang anak ko o kung nasaan din si Kuya Aldrich. But I might just open each door...

"Aeva..."

Agad akong pinanindigan ng mga balahibo nang marinig ko ang malamig at nakakatakot na boses ni Kuya Aldrich sa likuran ko. Agad ko ring hinarap ang banda niya.

"Kuya Aldrich."

I had goosebumps when a smirk formed on his lips. "I was just about to check on Mikolos... Glad naabutan kita na nandito na sa second floor..." aniya.

I didn't speak yet. Mas binabantayan ko ang magiging kilos niya. The lights here in the hallways were dimmed and almost dark but we can see each other clearly. At kailangan kong maging handa para umatake.

"I was expecting you'd come. We talked over the phone, anyway. Pero hindi ko kumatok," He grinned like it's funny and he's being creepy... "Papapasukin naman kita sa bahay ko. Inaasahan nga kitang dumating, 'di ba? But, well, saan ka dumaan? Sa bintana ba? You passed through the balcony... I see."

"Kuya Aldrich, nasaan ang anak ko?" I asked him immediately. At hindi na ako nagpaliguy-ligoy pa. After all ang anak ko ang talagang ipinunta ko rito.

"You've really already lost your trust in me, Aeva."

Napatingin ako kay Kuya Aldrich. Sa mukha niya. I knew that he's being, or trying to be sarcastic... But I realized that I still saw some emotions that passed through his eyes and facial reaction even just for a very short while. As he was looking at me. Nanatili rin akong nakatingin sa kaniya.

"You really think I'd do something bad to your son? Ganoon na ba kasama ang tingin mo sa akin, Aeva? No. I may be a real bad person. But do you really think na ipapahamak ko ang anak ng kapatid ko?"

"We both know that we're not really siblings by blood, Kuya Aldrich." I said. I was also firm on where I stood. Standing there in front of him I know that even when he looked relaxed, I know that he can do dangerous things right after and respond quickly. Quicker than I can. But I'll also do my best, I will push myself to my limits if it's for my most precious son.

"Ouch, Aeva... Tsk, tsk... You may be right. But you even still call me kuya..." And then he let out a sigh. "How would Mama and Papa, and our siblings will react if they find out now that you started thinking that we are not really family... Don't you think about how they'd feel, Aeva? How about my feelings? Because clearly you're hurting me right now, Aeva..." He let out a sarcastic reaction on his face acting like he's truly sad but he's definitely not.

Saglit akong napapikit. "Stop doing this, Kuya Aldrich." And then I looked at him straight. "Alam kong hindi mo nagustuhan ang mga ginawa ko sa buhay ko... I know that you think that I betrayed you, or our family. And maybe I once did... I did. Pero huwag na sanang madamay pa ang anak ko. Wala naman siyang kinalaman dito, kuya..." I pleaded. And I still call him that dahil bukod sa nakasanayan ko na, I also still respect him. And I still look up at him like my older brother...

Nag-iba naman ang expression niya sa mukha niya. He turned more serious and frightful... "So, you really do believe that I'd do something to Mikos? That I'd hurt your son?"

Umawang lang ang labi ko. Yes, I don't trust him anymore but I feel like I can still look at him on a lighter side... Because maybe after all alam ko pa sa sarili ko na nakikita ko pa rin ang Aldrich na nakilala ko noong mga bata pa kami sa kaniya kahit ngayon.

My childhood memories were not all good. Maaga akong naulila at nang mamatay sa isang aksidente ang pareho kong mga magulang ay napunta naman ako sa isang bahay-ampunan. And I was alone until the Zachmann couple adopted me. But it wouldn't be possible if the young Aldrich Zachmann didn't found me first. Siya ang unang nakakita sa akin. At naalala kong siya rin ang nagsabi sa mga magulang niya na kunin nila ako sa orphanage na iyon. And then they have given me a home... and a family... They've given my name Aeva Analia Zachmann...

At kahit pa alam ko na rin ngayon na kaya lang nila ako pinatuloy sa pamilya nila ay dahil magagamit nila ako na parang pamalit sa totoong anak nilang may sakit... But after all and after all these years that I still got to spend with the Zachmann family, nagkaroon pa rin ako ng isang pamilya dahil sa kanila. Hindi ko man gusto ang pinapagawa sa akin kahit nakalakihan ko na iyon. I didn't like killing people. No matter if they are a bad person. I didn't like putting the justice in my hands.

But the Zachmanns... They are still my family.

And during my childhood days, I only trusted Aldrich Zachmann the most... He was my childhood friend... and my brother... I can't help it when my tears suddenly fell down my cold cheeks remembering everything from the beginning.

Mukhang natigilan din si Kuya Aldrich nang makita ang luha ko. Agad din akong umiling at pinigilan pa ang pagbuhos nito. "I'm sorry..." I said. And then I looked up at him.

"I'm sorry, Kuya Aldrich..." I said it. "I know that I have disappointed you. And I'm acting like this now. It's because... I'm scared of you. I'm afraid of what you could do especially to my son. Dahil alam kong nagalit ka rin sa akin sa mga ginawa at naging desisyon ko noon. And for that I am truly sorry..." I can't help it anymore but I just cried more. Kahit pa may hawak at hawak ko pa rin ang baril ko na dala ko.

And then Kuya Aldrich spoke. "As expected of you, Aeva... You are indeed weak." He said.

And I just looked at him...

"You're right that you're not really our sister. Because you're weak. You can have potential. You did your job as equal assassins to the Zachmann family, but you can never do it if I'll just leave you alone." He said.

Nanlaki naman ang mga mata ko habang nakatingin sa kaniya.

He sighed. "Maybe the real reason why I chose you among the other children in that operation was because I saw my little sister in you..." Tumingin siya sa akin at tipid na tipid na ngumiti. "I'm sure you probably already know about her. Asherina told you about Eithne Analia Zachmann." He said.

He let out another sigh. "She was born with a weak heart. So she can't be with us... And when I found you in the orphanage, I thought that I remember Eithne in you..."

"Did you..." Nagsalita na rin ako. "Did you tried to protect me all these times? In my missions, I mean." Because now that I really think about it there were moments in my past missions that I thought I had died but I did not... Umawang pa lalo ang labi ko sa realizations ko.

He just shook his head and didn't answer me but I was sure now. "I never liked that you're this weak ever since, Aeva. Just look at yourself now." He said, looking at my probably pitiful state right now crying in front of him.

"Kuya Aldrich..." My lips parted.

"I just thought that I needed to at least protect you after just really dragging you into the mess of the Zachmann family..." He said.

Lalo pang umawang ang labi ko at tumulo pang muli ang luha ko. I think it's regret... that I didn't or that I stopped trusting him. When all along he just acted like the bad person, but the truth was he had protected me all this time...

"Never cry in front of the enemy, Aeva." He seriously reminded me this after all.

"But you're not my enemy..." I said.

He shook his head. "Please bring the toys and other things that I bought for your son. Mikos is in this room." Pagkatapos ay giniya niya pa ako sa isang kwarto na kung nasaan ang anak ko na mahimbing pang natutulog.

"I'm sorry I made you worry." Bumaling siya sa akin at may ngisi pa sa mga labi niya. "Sakto lang that I wanted to visit my niece and nephews." He's also talking about Kuya Levi's children. "I just wanted to see them. Hindi ko na ba pwedeng dalawin ang mga pamangkin ko?" He asked like he's being a little playful now.

Bahagya naman akong napailing.

"They've grown up a lot. But still, I'm sorry. Alam kong nag-alala ka para sa anak mo. But I learned that you were away and not on a mission..." Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa. "And I thought that maybe you went to see Adam Rozovsky. Am I right?" Ngumisi pa siya sa akin.

Hindi naman ako makatango o iling...

While he nodded like he already understood something. "I just tried to play a prank on you... But maybe it gone wrong, huh." Umiling-iling din siya na mukhang para sa sarili niya.

"You're not the type of person to play pranks on your siblings, Kuya Aldrich..." I said it.

And he suddenly chuckled. He laughed and it sounded genuine... "That's because you're all too serious kapag ako ang pinag-uusapan ninyo. Tsk."

I can't laugh or even smile like him now, pero gumaan na ang loob ko. Lalo at nakita kong nandito na ang anak ko at ligtas lang naman siya. I sighed a sigh of relief.

"Did you bring a car with you?" Kuya Aldrich asked me.

Bumaling naman ako sa kaniya at tumango. "Yes. I parked it... a little far from here..."

Ngumisi na lang siya at umiling sa akin. "Tell Levi that he's as paranoid as you."

"You can't blame us..." I said.

Tumangutango naman siya. "Yeah, yeah. All right."

Kuya Aldrich carried the still sleeping Mikos to my car. Maayos niyang pinuwesto ang natutulog kong anak sa loob ng sasakyan. At pagkatapos ay sinunod din naming ilagay doon ang mga bagay at laruan na pasalubong niya para kay Mikos. At ngayon ko lang din naalala na napansin ko nga rin pala sa bahay nina Kuya Levi na may mga bagong laruan din na nandoon ang mga pamangkin ko na alam ko na ngayong sigurado ay galing din sa kay Kuya Aldrich. Tsk. Napailing na lang ako. He's as messy as the Zachmann clan...

"Go back now. I know that Rozovsky is waiting for you two to be back. Mabuti hindi pa naman ako nilulusob ng mga kamag-anak niya ngayon." He smirked.

Napailing na lang ako. "I told him that you won't harm our son..."

Umiling na lang din siya. Pagkatapos galing sa pag-asikaso kay Mikos ay bumaling siya sa akin. "You can talk to Mama and Papa kung gusto mo nang umalis... We will protect you and your son still. I will protect you, Aeva." He said.

Nakatingin ako sa kaniya at unti-unting tumango. "Thank you, Kuya Aldrich."

And then he tapped my head that he hadn't done for like a very long time...