My Sin In His Past (The 3rd Book of "In His Past" Series)

Chapter 14

Zynder can't hide his smiles when he got home. The day might be tiring but being with Louisa made him forget about all of it. Para bang wala ng saysay ang kahit na ano basta ba't kasama niya ang babae. Kanina nga ay ayaw na niya itong bitawan habang nagpapaalam ito sa kaniya. He has to drop her off to a street near their home because she said that her parents might get angry if they see him. Mahigpit lamang siyang nakayakap dito at nanghingi pa nga ng ilang halik bago niya ito payagang umuwi.

Napangiti na naman siya nang matandaan ang pagmamaldita ng babae sa kaniya. He never really liked "maldita" girls before, but his preference might have changed because of her. Para siyang tanga na nakangiti habang binubuksan ang front door. Gusto pa nga niyang sumipol habang palakad papunta sa hagdanan.

"Where have you been?" Agad siyang napatulos sa paglalakad at nilingon ang madilim nilang sala.

"Dad . . ." he muttered when he realized who was there. 

Why is he home? He was supposed to come home next month.

"I said . . . where have you been?" Hindi naman ito sumisigaw ngunit pakiramdam niya ay manginginig ang tuhod niya sa kaba. That has always been his dad's effect on him. Kahit na anong gawin niya ay hindi pa rin matatanggal ang katotohanan na mas makapangyarihan ang dad niya kaysa sa kaniya. He promised himself that he would do everything to be more powerful than him. He needs to protect his brothers from his father.

"I went to Pangasinan . . . I just . . . I just visited my collection," pautal-utal niyang sagot. "I'm sorry, Dad. I didn't know that you were coming home. I could have rescheduled my visit there."

Hindi ito nagsalita at matalim lamang siyang tinitigan. He was twice more menacing to look at because he was sitting in the dark. Only his shadows can be seen. Siya naman ay nakatayo lamang doon at hinihintay ang magiging reaksyon nito. Nais niyang mapaluhod sa kaba ngunit pasalamat na lamang siya dahil sa wakas ay nagsalita na ito.

"Get ready, we would go to the lab," malamig nitong sabi bago tumayo at naglakad papalapit sa kaniya. He was tall, but he couldn't deny that he felt like a rabbit in front of a lion when his father was near.  Akala niya ay lalagpasan siya ng ama ngunit bigla itong tumigil sa may gilid niya at pinatong ang kamay sa kaniyang balikat. "I'm not always here, Zynder, but you should be aware that I have eyes and ears everywhere. You haven't been doing your duty, son. Just tell me if you don't want to do it anymore . . . I would gladly let Yohan take over your duty as the first son. Are we clear here?"

"Ye-Yes, Dad . . ."

Malamig siya nitong muling tinignan bago mahinang tinapik ang kaniyang balikat. "Good, follow me when you're done reflecting your negligence."

Matapos iyon ay iniwan na siya nito at naglakad na palabas. Siya naman ay naiwan doon at hinintay muna niyang makalabas ito ng bahay bago siya kumalma kahit papaano. "Shit . . . " he cursed silently while glancing at the door where his father went out.

"Kuya . . .?" Mabilis siyang napalingon sa may hagdanan at nakita si Xav na nakatayo doon at para bang kanina pa nagtatago. 

"Xav, kanina ka pa ba diyan?" 

Did he hear what Dad said?

"A little . . . Is Dad threatening you, Kuya?" nag-aalala nitong tanong sa kaniya kaya naman mabilis niya itong nilapitan.

"No no no. It's nothing. Get back to sleep, Xav. May aayusin lang kami ni Dad," assure niya dito. As much as possible, he doesn't want his brothers to know what he was doing. It's much better if they will be kept in the dark. In that way, they are protected. Hinatid niya si Xav sa kwarto nito at nginitian habang pinapanood itong pumasok ng kwarto. "Get some sleep," he assured to his youngest brother. Kahit nag-aalangan ay sumunod pa rin ito sa kaniya at tuluyan ng pumasok sa kwarto nito.