She Is Zarcaen's

CHAPTER 41

AUDRESYNE

Sandrou came and I could sense his gaze on me from my back since I was facing the other direction. But it caught me off guard when he called out my name.

"A-Audresyne..."

Hindi ko siya pinansin. Nanatili lang akong nakatitig sa leche flan. Gusto kong kumain ng leche flan pero leche pa rin dahil naaalala ko ang kahayupan ni Zarcaen sa aking katawan gamit ang pagkain na 'yan!

"What do you want, Luzman?" malamig na tanong ni Dad. Halatang hindi nito nagustuhan ang presenya ng bagong dating. Dati-rati pangalan ng lalaki ang gamit ni Dad upang itawag sa kaniya, pero ngayon ay apelyido na lang. Just calling Sandrou's surname formally means he is no longer close to the family.

"Maaari ko po bang m-makausap kahit saglit si Audresyne?" nauutal niyang wika.

"For what?" malamig na tanong ni Dad. "You have already brought damages to my family, iho. Do you want me to add your injuries?"

My Dad's last sentence caught my attention. I turned completely around. My brows arched when I saw his condition. He has a bandage on his left arm, and I also noticed that the middle finger on his left hand is missing, with a bandage as well. May pasa rin siya sa pisngi na kasalukuyan nang nangingitim.

He was not tortured, he was being played.

Naningkit ang aking mata at walang emosyon na binalingan ang tatlong babae na painosenteng humigop ng apple shake. Sabay-sabay pa ang mga itong nabilaukan nang biglang tumalim ang aking tingin. They even couldn't look into my eyes directly!

Alam kong sila iyon. They played him and let my Dad punch him multiple times. Ang mga sugat ni Sandrou ay halatang hindi pa ganu'n katagalan, probably last week pa nila iyun ginawa.

I shook my head in disbelief. Talaga namang-!

"Backyard," malamig kong wika bago tumayo sa kinauupuan. Sumubo pa ako ng isang kutsarang leche flan bago tumalikod.

"Are you sure, Audresyne?" nag-aalalang tanong ni Mom.

I nodded my head. "You shouldn't worry about me, Mom," I said.

They should be worrying about this thicked-face man instead. Sa aming dalawa, siya ang baldado. Buntis lang ako pero kaya ko pa ring lumaban kapag ito may ginawang di ko magugustuhan sa akin.

Ako ang unang naglakad patungo sa backyard namin- kung saan dito ko narinig ang usapan nila Eullasyne na nabuntis niya ito. Pero ngayon ay wala ng epekto sa akin. Probably because I have already someone who made me feel how to be loved without worrying about anything, except the reality that we are not born in the same world.

"Talk," I simply said and didn't bother to look at him, nakatanaw lang ako sa mga kalangitan, walang mga bituin at buwan. Madilim ito at halatang may paparating na ulan.

Hindi ko siya narinig na nagsalita. Ang kaniyang hininga at paglunok lang ata ang naririnig ko. He's torn between the idea of talking to me or not. But he knows I fucking hate waiting. Hindi ako nagsasayang ng oras.

"Magsasalita ka o hindi?" malamig kong tanong.

"I-I'm sorry..." was all he could say.

"Okay. 'Yun lang ba?" I asked as I raised my brow.

I could feel that he was staring at me. "Please be mad at me..." he begged.

I laughed sarcastically. "Isn't your situation right now the proof of the Mafia Queen's madness?"

Napayuko ito. "I am not talking about your title. I am talking about the real Audresyne without the Queen..."

Dude, I was born to be a queen.

I made my facial expression serious. "You know what? Despite betraying and hurting me, I am still grateful that you stabbed me to protect my sister and your child."

Halata sa mukha niya ang pagkabigla sa aking sinabi. "W-Why?"

"You weren't aware how grateful I am when I found out about your affairs."

Mas lalo itong hindi nakapagsalita sa aking sinabi. I just gave him a half smile that made him stare at me in confusion and surprise.

I continued, "because that moment made me realize that if we are truly meant to be, no matter the challenges we face, we can still fight for our relationship despite the negativity. Unfortunately, things turned out differently. Our relationship is no longer working. But truth be told, everything happens for a reason. Yes, it hurts a lot after knowing you were cheating on me, pero doon ko napagtanto na kailangan munang masaktan bago matauhan," mahaba kong wika.

I could see the pain and regret in his black orbs. Nakita kong namumula na ang kaniyang mata, any moment by now ay tutulo na ang kaniyang mga luha.

"And yes, natauhan ako. I snapped in reality that our relationship was just a test and lesson for us not to do it again. Sana nga lang i-apply mo. You have experienced the worst downfall and you almost lost everything after the consequences of your action. I hope you won't make the same mistake again... especially to my twin sister," may halong diin ang pagkasabi ko sa huling dalawang salita. I was just giving him a hint, warning him not to cheat on Eullasyne, even though it was just unrequited love.

Nagawa niya nga akong lokohin na kahit may nararamdaman siya sa akin, sa tao pa kayang hindi niya gusto. But maybe, just maybe... he'll learn to like her, but no one knows about his feelings. Hindi naman madidiktahan ang pagmamahal, kusa iyang mararamdaman. But I just hope he won't hurt her the way he hurt me.

"And I have also learned enough. Nagsisi akong muntikan ko ng madamay ang anak niyo sa galit ko. The baby is innocent. Nadamay lang rin siya sa mga panloloko niyo pero hindi ibig sabihin na sisihin rin siya. And I'm really sorry about that. Kung hindi mo ako binaril, wala na sana akong pamangkin ngayon. Huwag mong isipin na ang anak mo ay isang pagkakamali. That kid is a big blessing to us, an angel, and can give us full happiness in our life. Don't also blame Eullasyne for being the root of how you suffer today. She suffered invisibly enough as well. Panindigan mo ang nakaantabay na responsibilidad," I said seriously.

I took a deep breath before continuing, "Don't be a coward Sandrou. Naging matapang ka noong ilang beses kang mangaliwa. Pero nakikiusap ako sa iyo na ang katapangan na iyon ay gamitin mo upang magpatuloy sa buhay. Gamitin mo ang katapangan na iyon upang akuin at tanggapin ang responsibilidad sa iyong mag-ina. Pinaghirapan niyo ang paggawa ng anak, sana naman, paghirapan mo rin ang pag-aaruga at pag-aalaga sa kanila. Please, don't hurt them, take care of them, and don't leave them. Kahit sa huling sandali pakinggan mo ako. Therefore, hindi na ako manghihimasok sa buhay niyo unless you wouldn't grant my favor."

Umaalog na ang kaniyang balikat sa pag-iyak. Parang hindi siya naging Mafia King sa mafia world noon. Probably because the Luzman Mafia Organization was already one the most well-known mafia organizations when his father decided to let him take over. Pero sinayang niya lahat.

"A-Audresyne..." he called me weakly.

"I have to go," I said and was about to make a step.

"I s-still love you..."

Sandali akong natigilan bago siya hinarap muli. "You won't cheat on me if you love me."

Mas lalo itong napaiyak. "I'm s-sorry."

"That was our closure to each other. Be contented with what you have right now, Sandrou. Dahil baka darating ang araw ay wala ka ng matitira."

"Do you hate me now?" halos pubulong niyang tanong.

"Don't give us reasons to hate you. Dahil kapag ako ang umaksyon, lahat ng parte ng iyong katawan na tumatayo ay puputulin ko."

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