F.L.A.W Series Book 4: SAPPHIRE

Chapter Twenty-Four

"It's still crowded as before. Walang pinagkaiba sa Pilipinas." Komento ni Saph habang tumitingin sa paligid. "People still minding their own businesses and don't give a shit about anyone else's."

Naroon sila sa Siam, isang distrito sa Bangkok, Thailand. Tiningala niya ang mga mall na nagtataasan at mga gusali na wala pa noon.

"Still a busy neighborhood, huh?" Si Nate na panay din ang paglilibot ng mga mata. "Remember when we used to do some pick-pocketing here?" Sabay turo sa isang eskinita kung saan may mga nadali sila noon upang dukutan.

"Yeah." Aniya habang inaalala ang tagpong iyon. "Para lang meron tayong pambili ng mainit na sabaw para sa kumakalam nating sikmura." Sabay lingon kay Nate.

"Tom yum goong!" Sabay nilang bulalas kaya naman pareho silang bahagyang natawa.

"You're such a pain in my ass before kaya palagi tayong napaparusahan. Kaya palagi tayong hindi pinapakain ni Boss." Sabi ni Nate na napapailing pa. "That's why we were left with no choice but to find another way so we could eat."

"You were the one who taught me how to nick some people for money."

"We both need to survive and you were the reason why we got starved in the first place." Pang-aasar nito.

"Fine, fine, it was my fault." Pag-ako ni Lux. "I can't help it, I'm just a kid back then. I was.... weak."

"I know, that's why I've been so protective of you." At seryosong tumitig sa kanya. "And still am."

Si Sapphire na ang unang umiwas at ibinalik ang tingin sa paligid.

"So this is what you call a trip down memory lane, huh? Reminiscing our past adventures of being a small-time thief?" And walked along the road.

Sumunod naman sakanya ang binata at iniwan ang nirentahang sasakyan sa parking.

"Come on, follow me." Utos sakanya ng lalaki na nagpatiuna na sa paglalakad kaya naman sinundan na lamang niya.

Medyo natatandaan ni Saph ang daang tinatahak nila. Alam niya kung saan sila patungo at hindi niya alam kung ano ang magiging reaksyon niya sa makikita. Ngunit nanlaki ang mga mata niya nang makita ang lugar kung saan sila unang nagkakilala ni Nate.

The place looks as if it was abandoned a long time ago and it appeared as if it was burnt down by a huge fire. It was totally different from what she remembered.

"What happened in here?" Tanong niya habang pumapasok sa loob ng sirang gate.

"Fire broke out and everyone got arrested including Boss." Sagot ng lalaki kaya naman mabilis siyang napabaling rito.

"What? When was that? Was it when you were still part of the group? Were you arrested too? What happened? Paanong nangyari yun? Boss has a connection with the government, right? How did he end up getting caught? Who sold him to the police?" Sunod-sunod niyang tanong.

"I did." Seryosong sagot ni Juggernaut na nakatitig na sa sunog na gusali. "He needs to pay for his crimes and for what he has done to us, to you."

"Oh, Nate."

Hindi makapaniwala si Saph sa ginawa ng kaibigan. Ni wala siyang alam tungkol sa naging buhay nito pagkatapos siyang mabili ni Madame Pearl at dinala sa isla. Ni hindi niya naisip kung naging madali ba ang buhay nito noong nawala siya.

"What about the fire?" Sunod na tanong niya. "Were you also the one-"

"Yeah, I burned this place down." He answered intensely. "And it was a spectacular scene. The angry flames looked magnificent while devouring everything in here." He's describing it as if he's still currently watching that scene.