Vices X Virtues (AWESOMELY PUBLISHED BY POP FICTION)

Ruthless

DALAWAMPU'T PITO

"Nanay.." Stan muttered in his sleep. Napahinga ako ng malalim as I caress his hair. Kinumutan ko ito when somebody cleared his throat behind me. Lumingon ako sa likod ko and saw Jackson on the doorway. Tumuloy ako sa library namin at pumasok ako doon. Jackson handed me an envelope. Mabilis ko iyong binuksan.

"Any findings?" I asked him as I review the report. May mga nakakita daw sa mga lalaking nagtangka at nagtulak kay Phoebe para magtago sa factory na iyon. I gritted my teeth kapag naalala ko kung ano ang itsura ng bangkay ni Phoebe. Surely, those men will pay with their lives in hell.

The DNA test results confirmed my fear. Si Phoebe nga ang may-ari ng katawan na iyon. Tito Robert made sure that he will personally see the DNA Testing, kaya sigurado akong hindi iyon magkakamali. Masakit mang isipin, pero si Phoebe nga iyon.

"These men has messages on their phones directed to Mrs. Amanda Madrigal Sir. The network has provided us a report about the exchanges. Upon interrogation, umamin silang binayaran sila ng mag-ina para dukutin si Ma'am Phoebe." Sabi ni Jackson. I looked at him, my breathing ragged. My head is pounding at ganoon na lang ang panginginig ko sa nalaman.

Them.. the two of them.. it was them.

Nagngitingit ang kalooban ko sa nalaman. Agad akong tumayo and took my suit. Jackson followed behind me.

"Get Natalia." I said. Tumango ito at may tinawagan sa cellphone nito. Pinagbuksan niya ako ng pintuan at pumasok ako. He waited for my further instructions.

"Tell your men na dalhin si Natalia sa Ocean Park. Ngayon na. gusto ko pagkarating ko roon, nandoon na siya." I said. Tumango ito at nagmaneho na.

I was not able to protect Phoebe, but I will surely avenge her. That's the least I can do.

_______________________________________________

"SANDRO!" Natalia shouted. Putok na ang labi nito habang nakatayo kami sa gilid ng aquarium. Ngumiti ako dito bago lumapit sa kanya at mariin itong sinampal.

"You.Dirty.Bitch." I hissed before dragging her hair para makatayo siya. I looked at her straight into her eyes and she shook. Lumuha ito at hinawakan ang mga kamay ko.

"Sandro please.. sinunod ko lang ang gusto ni Mommy..I--" I slapped her again before wringing her neck. She choked at namutla siya. napaupo siya sa gilid and looked at me.

"Walang ginawang masama si Phoebe sa iyo Natalia! Everything that you have, sa kanya dapat!! You should thank her dahil nagkaroon ka ng magaang buhay!"

"Mang-aagaw siya! Inagaw niya si Daddy! Inagaw ka niya! Palagi na lang akong manghihingi sa tira tira ni Phoebe! She's the real Madrigal at hindi ako!" she shouted back. I gritted my teeth. Nilingon ko si Jackson at lumapit ito sa akin dala dala ang mga posas na pinakuha ko.

Lumapit ako dito at kinuha ang mga braso niya. Gumapang ito palayo sa akin.

"S-sandro..p-parang a-awa mo na.." nanginginig nitong sabi. Natawa na lang ako and looked at her before shaking my head.

"Awa? A Montreal never takes pity.Montreal's are born ruthless. Lalo na sa mga taong nanakit sa mahal namin." I answered and grabbed her hair before putting the handcuffs on her hands. She gasped when I pressed her cheeks tightly.

"S-SANDRO!!"

I dragged her on the edge of the aquarium and smiled at her bago ito itinulak para mahulog sa tubig. She screamed and tried to swim upward but her hands were tied. Tinitigan ko siya habang naghihirap itong makatakas sa nalalapit niyang kamatayan.

Nahirapan akong huminga habang tumitindi ang galit na nararamdaman ko habang nakikita kong naghihirap si Natalia. I imagine Phoebe trying to run away from the flames, being as helpless as she is right now. I gritted my teeth and stared at Natalia fighting for her life.

Hindi ko napigilan ang luhang tumulo sa mga mata ko habang nakatingin kay Natalia. She looked at me with pleading eyes pero nanatili akong matigas.

Natalia has to pay the price. Her life in exchange with Phoebe's life. That is what I wanted.

"NATALIA!" a woman shouted behind me. humarap ako and saw Amanda running towards us. Umiiyak ito at lumapit sa akin bago lumuhod.

"A-Alessandro..w-wag ang anak ko.." she cried while hugging my legs. Iniwas ko ang tingin ko dito. Humagulgol si Amanda and tried jumping inside the aquarium but my men stopped her. hinawakan ko ang braso nito. I looked at Jackson while dragging Amanda.

"Ilabas na ninyo." I said. Tumango ang mga tauhan ni Jackson. Hinila ko si Amanda na hanggang ngayon ay umiiyak pa rin. Gusto nitong makita at malaman kung ayos lang ba ang lagay ni Natalia pero hindi ko ito pinayagan.

Dinala ko si Amanda Madrigal sa presinto at doon, pinilit ko siyang umamin sa ginawa niyang kasalanan. She was convicted for Murder and was sentenced for reclusion perpetua or life imprisonment.

Natalia was nowhere to be found pagkatapos ko itong nilunod sa Ocean Park. Some says na nagtago na ito para hindi na madamay sa kaso ng ina niya. Well, I don't really care. Kung hindi naman dumating si Amanda, baka tuluyan ko na siyang pinatay.

I sighed and looked at the sky. Finally, I was able to give Phoebe her justice.

________________________________________________________

"Never make a slurping sound when you eat a soup. The movement of the spoon should be inward and never burp infront of everyone on the table.."

I looked at my tutor na hanggang ngayon ay tinuturuan pa rin ako ng etiquette. Yumuko ako and looked at the window. Tumayo ako at iniwan ang teacher ko bago lumabas.

I went to my room and stared at the mirror. I touched my face and felt the bandaged covering it. I sighed at pinigilan ang pagluha ko.

Half of my face was ruined because of the fire in the factory kung saan ako dinala ng mga lalaking nagtangkang dumukot sa akin. if it was not because of Brick, baka tuluyan na akong nasunog.

"You're thinking again.."

I looked at Brick na nakasandal sa pintuan ko. I tried smiling pero hindi ako sigurado kung nakita man niya iyon dala na rin ng bend ako sa mukha. He walked to my side and looked at me.

Brick was hired by my grandfather para bantayan ako. Natunugan na kasi ng Lolo na balak ni Amanda na patayin ako para mawalan na ng tagapagmana ang mga Madrigal. And Lolo saved me because he wanted to save an asset, not a granddaughter.

He looked at me bago sinubukang hawakan ang mukha ko. I flinched at tumalikod dito.

"Sowing anger on your heart will never solve anything Ma'am." He said. Tinitigan ko ito and I narrowed my eyes.

"Wala kang alam Brick. Just shut up." I answered at tumayo na. Naglakad ako palayo rito bago pumunta sa fountain ng garden. I stared at the water and looked at my reflection.

And no. I don't see Phoebe anymore..

But someone more dangerous than her.

Pa-try lang ha, Next UD on 50 comments. Para naman may moment akong makapag-isip ng UD. :)

*pen<3