The First Fall

Chapter Four

     "What the fuck? Kunin mo na lahat rito, 'wag mo lang ako saktan!" sigaw niya, may mga luhang umaagos sa kanyang mga pisngi.

     I smile. I really get off the terror in their eyes. It gets me so...powerful and high.

     "Wala akong pakialam sa mga ari-arian mo," I say quietly.

     Napalaki ang kanyang mga mata, mga balat tila namulta bigla. Pinaglaruan ko yung kutsilyo sa aking mga daliri.

     "'Wag, please," pagmamakaawa niya, habang sinusubukang tumayo.

     Alam kong maghihiganti siya pag nakakuha siya ng tiyempo makatayo, kaya binunot ko yung tali sa pantalon ko. He watches me as I watch him back.

     "You don't recognize me, Gino?" I ask mockingly. Six surgeries ago, baka mamukhaan pa niya ako.

     "No. No," he cries. "Hindi kita kilala. You have the wrong person!"

     I squat down, noticing how his body pulls back. He's probably prepared to attack me any minute kahit na sa hita ko lang siya hiniwaan.

     If he only knew...

     "I was twenty when you last saw me," I say with a dark smile. "House Party in QC, remember that?"

     The recognition of the place made him froze. Halata sa kanyang mga mata na may naalala siya bigla.

     "Ikaw," bulong niya. "Imposible hindi kayo magkamukha," bulong niya lalo.

     "May point, pero hindi mo nga ba talaga ako naaalala?" Sagot ko, at mas dumagdag yung takot sa kanyang mga mata. I know he knows. It's crystal clear in his eyes.

     He probably remembers how weak I was. How terrified, and horrible I looked that night. Yung utak niya ngayon umiikot sa mga pangyayari noong limang taong nakalipas.

     "You took two turns," dagdag ko, staying on form, ready for him. "That means two pounds of flesh for you."

     Na-anticipate ko na yung susunod niyang mga galaw, kaya nakaiwas ako ng maaga. Napasigaw siya muli sa sakit ng subukan ako itumba sa sahig. My knife slams in his chest, as another scream erupts throughout. I immediately spin up on my knees, sliding another cut on his back. Napadapa siya ng tuluyan and I took the chance to wrap the rope around his neck. I choke him, reveling in the pained sounds he makes, until he grows limp and unconscious. Ayoko namang mamatay siya ng ganun-ganun lang.

     Because I hate being easy.

     Those hands he used as he groped me? They will be gone.

     And I promised him that in action.

     The moment I entered our house, Hades—our Cane Corso greeted me gingerly. I rubbed his head. "Do you know where our dad is, Hadie-boy?" I baby talked, but he only whines at me seeking more head scratches.

     Pinagbigyan ko naman siya dahil isang-linggo ko rin siya hindi nakita. As if hearing our noises in the foyer, Sergei saw us both sprawled on the floor. Napa-beywang nalang siya sa amin at umiling. A smile is seen on his lips. "Where have you been young lady?" He demands. His Russian accent is getting faint with years living here in the Philippines.

     Nginitian ko siya pabalik sa sahig. "I finally did it, dad."

     Nawala yung mga ngiti niya, napalitan yun ng paglaki ng mga mata. Naintindihan niya agad kung ano yung ibig kong sabihin. "Really?"