A Bloodless War

Kabanata 16

Kabanata 16

"HERE, Lyx." Trece handed me a box na kaagad kong tinanggap.

"What's this?" I asked, sinisipat ng tingin ang kahon. Naupo ako sa sofa at pinakatitigan iyon.

"Gown," aniya. I stopped, kumunot ang noo ko at kaagad na napatingin sa kanya.

"Gown? For what?" takang tanong ko.

"For your next mission," she told at napatawa ako at humarap sa kanya.

"What is it this time?" nakangiti kong sabi.

"You're going to a party," sagot niya sa akin.

"What is it? A simple one or an elite party?"

"Elite..." she answered and that made me smile.

"Kaninong party ba?" Binuksan ko ang kahon at napangisi nang makita ang kumikinang na kulay pilak na gown.

"Hindi na importante," sagot niya. "All you have to do is shut the congressman's mouth."

"What happened? May nakaalitan na naman si Antonio?" I asked her, annoyed.

"Probably yes," she shrugged.

"Ang alam ko kasi tinanggihan ni Congressman Yap 'yong business proposal ni Antonio," she said. "You know that man."

"No one would even dare rejecting him, bago pa man makakanta sa iba ang mga taong ganoon, pinapatay niya na," I continued.

"Hmm, nothing new," sagot niya.

"But this certain man rejected his offer." Nguso ko at sumulyap sa tablet kung nasaan ang litrato ng Congressman. "Palaban."

Trece laughed, naupo siya sa tabi ko at inayos ang buhok ko.

"We're really used to living this way," aniya.

"Bata pa tayo, nandito na tayo. Even if we don;t want this, hindi natin kayang lumayo dahil sa hawak nila ang leeg natin. We grew up with this, it's possible we'll die like this," I said bitterly.

If I was just another person then, I'll be happy.

Nang sunduin ni Hawk si Trece ay kaagad akong tumayo para pumunta sa kwarto ni Mommy. She''s with her therapist right now, ilang buwan na rin ang nakalipas nang palihim ko siyang hinanapan ng espesiyalista para sa kalagayan niya.

I can see that she's improving. She responds to her therapist almost everytime they have sessions. Pasekreto nga lang dahil kung hindi, hindi niya ito papayagan.

"Miss Alarcon?" I smiled at the Doctor.

"Yes, Doc?"

"Your Mom's doing great, Miss. She responds to every test and that's a good sign," aniya sa akin.

"Thank you," sumulyap ako kay Mommy at nakita kong nanunuod siya ng palabas na ibinigay ng therapist na makakatulong sa recovery niya.

"She is doing well, maybe months or weeks, mas malaki na ang improvement sa kanya," he smiled again, ang maliit na biloy ay lumabas sa kabilang pisngi niya na mas lalong nagpagwapo sa kanya.

"Mabuti na lang nakilala kita," tawa ko. Ngumisi siya at nagkibit-balikat.

"You're lucky," he chuckled. "May magaling ng therapist ang Mommy mo, may gwapong nakikita ka pa araw-araw."

"What?" my eyes widened. "You're not even handsome!" I hissed.

"Ows? You always look at me, Lyx. Ako kaya ang pinagwapo sa lahat," He winked and ruffled his hair.

I froze. Not because I was amazed but because it reminded me of someone.

"Stop it, Ad..." nag-iwas ako ng tingin at pinakialaman ang telepono ko.