KNIGHTS I-7: Thirst of the Supreme (Dagger Knights)

Chapter 2

"I bought you some food, uwi ka agad dito, mahal kong alaga."

Saellyn smiled sweetly when she received France's message. She just replied quickly before putting her phone inside her purse.

"Just pay on the counter, ma'am," nakangiting saad ng babae sa kaniya na agad niya namang nginitian.

"Thank you," she replied.

She immediately finished the coffee she bought. Nang matapos ay nagbayad din siya agad sa counter at lumabas ng coffee shop.

She's actually planning to stay longer to feel the ambiance of the shop but she's excited to go home also. France and her whole team always spoil her with food and she likes it.

Kinuha niya mula sa bulsa ang cellphone nang tumunog ito.

She received one message from Liam, asking her location. Hindi niya na lang ito sinagot dahil papauwi na rin naman siya. Hindi naman na ito magtatanong dahil sigurado siyang alam na ng manager niya kung bakit hindi siya nag-reply rito.

Saellyn was about to call a taxi when a child caught her attention. Pinahaba niya ang strap ng purse bago sundan ang direksyon na pupuntahan nito.

She stopped walking when the child stopped to sit on the dirty land to eat left-over foods.

Mabilis siyang naglakad pabalik sa coffee shop para bumili ng maraming tinapay at inumin. Nang mabayaran niya ang mga 'yon ay agad siyang nagtungo sa direksyon ng bata. She felt happy when the child's still there.

"Hello," bati niya rito nang makalapit siya.

Agad namang tumayo ang bata at yumuko. "Hello po, ate ganda. Magtatanong po kayo ng lugar? Naligaw po ba kayo?"

She shook her head before smiling sweetly. Inabot niya ang maduming kamay ng bata at nilagay roon ang paper bag na naglalaman ng mga binili niya para rito.

"Pagkain lahat 'yan. Kumain ka na ba nang maayos? These are dirty, baka sumakit ang tiyan mo," patukoy niya sa mga tira-tirang pagkain na kinakain nito kanina.

"Ate, madumi pa po ako. Huwag n'yo po akong hawakan. Mamahalin po kasi ang mga damit ninyo," nahihiya nitong saad.

Saellyn smiled sweetly. "It's okay. Binilhan kita ng mga pagkain. Kain ka na ha? May juice rin diyan para hindi ka mauhaw."

"Salamat po, ate! Ang bait n'yo na nga ang ganda-ganda ninyo pa po."

Natawa siya sa sinabi nito. "Salamat din. Kumain ka na, ha? Kailangan ko nang umuwi, eh. Bukas babalik ako rito, mga ganitong oras din. May pupuntahan tayo."

"Sige po, ate. Hihintayin kita rito bukas! Mag-iingat po kayo at salamat po ulit."

Nagpaalam na siya sa bata at nag-iwan din ng isang daan para rito para kung sakaling may kailangan pa itong bilhin ay may pera itong dala. Mas gusto niya pa sanang kausapin ito nang matagal pero kailangan na rin niyang umuwi.

She rested her head on the car's seat as she felt complete and happy knowing that the child won't sleep without eating, knowing that the child wouldn't have an upset stomach for eating spoiled food.

Seeing how these homeless kids beg just to fulfill their stomach hurts her. If only this world was a better place, if only people know the consequences of having a child with unstable life, children won't have to go through these challenges.

Saellyn always feel guilty for being able to eat whenever she wants. She felt guilty, for having a stable life. But after realizing that it's not her fault that other couples were uneducated about pregnancy, she just thought about the things she can do to help.

Nilingon niya ang cellphone nang tumunog ito. Her eyes narrowed when she saw the name on the screen.

Mabilis niyang sinagot ang tawag habang nakatingin sa bintana ng sasakyan.

"Dad?" she uttered.

"Where are you? Your manager told me that you're not home. Alam mo naman kung gaano kadelikado para sa 'yo na lumabas mag-isa 'di ba?" galit na bungad nito.

"Dad, I'm perfectly fine. And it's not like I'm a famous celebrity who can't roam around without body guards," she answered.

"I'm not talking about your goddamn job anyways, I'm talking about my business. Nag-usap na tayo tungkol sa bagay na 'to, Saellyn. They're still trying to find my weakness, at ikaw 'yon. You're the heiress of our clan so what do you think you can do once they find you? Once they found out about your identity?" galit nitong dagdag.

Napahilot siya sa sentido. He's not even worried about her safety as his daughter, he's only worried because she holds a very important position in their clan.

"I'm fine. Pauwi na rin ako. Stop worrying about that too much. People won't know about me, dad," pangungumbinsi niya.

"Siguraduhin mo lang. At ano 'tong naririnig ko tungkol sa punyeta mong pinagkakaabalahan ngayon? Are you a walking charity, Saellyn? What are you thinking helping those cheap people? Giving them jobs? Providing for them? Hindi mo sila responsibilidad!" She rolled her eyes upon hearing that.

"You have your own life, dad. Huwag mo akong diktahan sa mga gusto kong gawin. And I'm helping them!"

"You're tolerating those disgusting family and children, Saellyn! Sa paulit-ulit na pagbigay mo ng tulong sa mga 'yan, iisipin lang nila na laging may tutulong sa kanila at magiging tamad 'yan! Mag-isip ka nga!" sigaw nito.

"If people would have the same mindset as yours, who do you think would help them? Fate? Let the destiny help them get some food? Tingin mo hindi ko naisip 'yan? Others who were as selfish as you think like that, na kapag tumulong ka katumbas no'n ang pagiging kunsintidor sa mga taong mahihirap. Palibhasa may mga pera kayo at ang dali sa inyo para mabuhay nang walang iniisip na pantawid gutom, eh," galit niyang sagot.

"Tinuturuan mo silang maging tamad. Hindi pagtulong 'yang ginagawa mo."

"Edi huwag mong isipin na tumutulong ako. Isipin mo na lang na gusto kong makapunta sa langit once na mamatay ako kaya nagpapakaplastik na ako dito ngayon pa lang. Happy? 'Diba gano'n naman ang ginagawa ninyo kapag nangangandidato kayo? Kunwari mabait sa media pero diring-diri namang magbitaw ng pera at tumulong sa likod ng kamera. Gano'n na lang din ang isipin mo, dad, kunwari nagmana ako sa 'yo," she sarcastically said before hanging up.

Inis niyang pinatay ang cellphone at mariin na pinikit ang mga mata.