Misty Eyes (Book 2 of Eyes Trilogy)

Chapter 40

"Tell me Dr. Vicente, what is really happening? Anong nangyari nang gabing 'yon? Why did I end up with Gray? What is happening with you? You looked troubled and--" hindi na niya ako hinayaan pang makapagsalita.

Bigla na lamang itong bumulalas na hindi ko inaasahan.

"Naiipit ako sa gulo nyo! Why can't you tell her the truth Gray? Gusto ko nang tumahimik! I want to live my life peaceful, I want to live with my family again without running. Sous L'eau is hunting me, Cap Theo laid down an order to shoot me to kill, the remaining syndicates that I tried to infiltrate years ago are still after my head. Kahit saan ako lumingon ay lahat ay ulo ko ang hinihingi. Ito ang kasalukuyang sitwasyon ko Isabella."

Kapwa kami napasinghap ni Savannah sa aming narinig.

"That was really an order? Nababaliw na ba si Theo?" kahit ako ay hindi makapaniwala sa sinabi ng doctor.

"All I did was to follow commands, lahat nang naaayon sa ahensiya ay sinunod ko. I followed the every Satchel's order because I vowed for that, pero hindi ko akalain na ang simpleng pagsunod ko sa mga utos ang unti-unting maglulubog sa akin sa lupa."

Nanatili kaming tahimik habang pinakikinggan ang doktor.

"Sumunod ako sa utos ni Commander Satchel, that I should value his daugther's life more than anyone else. When Cap Theo was showered by that chemical, I saw him as a threat for your escape. Sa halip na makakaalis ka nang ligtas, mapapabagal ka nito na posibleng ikapahamak ng buhay mo. That's why I lied, I told you that he won't be able to regain his eyesight, binigyan kita ng dahilan para iwan siya. I want you to think that soon he'll be worthless, na hindi na siya ang lalaking kilala mo na makakaya ka pang protektahan. But everything backfired, you're too inlove with him that you were willing to give your own eyes. You threatened me and my whole family, kilala ko ang mga Satchel sa sandaling sinabi nila, gagawin nila. That's why I agreed, para itigil mo na ang pagbabanta mo. Pero sa sandaling tuluyan ka nang makatulog, gagawin ko pa rin ang siyang ipinangako ko sa'yong ama. I'll leave Theo and save you instead. And then, I'll ask for your father to help me protecting my family. I was about to carry you inside the submarine when another mouth of a gun threatened my life. This was when Gray snatched you away from me."

Halos hindi ako makapagsalita habang nagkukwento si Dr. Vicente. Kahit si Gray ay nanatiling tahimik at hinayaang magsalita si ang doktor.

"Anong magagawa ko? I was threatened one after another. From you Isabella to Gray until Cap Theo woke up, matapos ang gabing 'yon nabuhay na akong nagtatago sa banta ng buhay ko. What was my fault? All I did was to follow orders."

Habang naririnig ko ang mga sinasabi ni Dr. Vicente hindi ko maiwasang maawa sa kanya. He was right, anong malaking kasalanan niya? Bakit kailangan niyang maipit sa sitwasyong wala naman siyang ginawa kundi sumunod lamang sa utos.

"But w-why didn't you coordinate with Sous L'eau, you were loyal with our family. My father was attached with you, he appreciated your service and loyalty. Why didn't you cooperate with them?"

"How is that possible, Isabella? Cap Theo is always at its peak of pulling his trigger. Galit na galit ito nang magising ka na wala sa tabi niya. I was expecting that he'll blame me but his hatred was beyond death. Mapapatay niya ako at higit pa siyang nakakatakot sa mga sindikatong humahabol sa akin. Orders from Commander Satchel will never stop him from killing me."

"Agree, kung hindi ka siguro nagtago at nagpahara-hara ka sa harapan ni Theo habang mainit pa ang ulo nito malamang matagal ka nang patay. Having his orders right now?" Sabat ni Savannah.

"Nagtago ako sa kanya, sa buong Sous L'eau, maging sa'yong ama at sa lahat ng ugnayan ko hanggang sa aking pamilya. It was years of hiding from those people who are after my head. Pero nagpasya na akong lumabas sa mga oras na ito, running won't make my life any longer, kailangan nyong marinig ang panig ko. I was the victim of your conflicts, ayoko nang habangbuhay maipit sa inyong banggaan."

Dr. Vicente pushed Gray in front of us, tamad nang ibinaba ni Gray ang kanyang kamay at humakbang na ito papalapit sa akin.

"Now it's your turn Gray, Commander Satchel treated you as his real son. You tell them everything that they deserve to know. Try cleaning your name, katulad nang kung papaano ko nilinaw ang pangalan ko." Nangunot ang noo ko sa sinabi ni Dr. Vicente.

Cleaning his name?

"Uhuh? I don't have any idea about this. Nalusutan ako?" natatawang sabi ni Savannah.

"Why not shooting me, Lina? I lied and I stole you away from Theo." Patuloy lang siya sa paglalakad patungo sa akin.

Tumaas ang aking kamay sa ere habang tinututukan siya ng baril. I tried myself to look tough and compose in front of his eyes, gusto kong ipakita sa kanya na kayang-kaya kong iputok ang baril sa kanya.

But I can't, kahit gaano kasakit ang ginawa niya sa akin hindi ko magawang isipin na ako mismo ang kikitil sa kanyang buhay. Kahit ito na rin mismo ang sinabi sa akin ng kapatid niya.

"Spill the beans, Gray." Matigas na sabi ko.

Bumalik sa pagkakaupo si Savannah sa harap ng sasakyang habang nanunod sa mga pangyayari. Buong akala ko ay magpapatuloy ito sa paglalakad pero tumigil ito sa mismong harapan ko.

Kung iisipin, wala naman itong masamang pakikitungo sa akin. He took care of me, he was so gentle and he was always respecting my decision during our time together. Hindi nito ipinipilit ang bagay na gusto niya kapag sinabi kong hindi ko gusto.

Ang tangi niya lamang malaking pagkakamali ay ang pagsisinungaling sa akin. But as a person, the way he treated me, I can't complain. I really can't.

I can't see his face too well because of the headlights. But I saw how he slowly gave me his warm smile with his saddest green eyes.

"I'm sorry Lina, I am just too inlove with you. I'm sorry and—"

Tuluyan nang bumagsak ang mga balikat ko, nabingi sa malakas na sigaw ni Savannah, nanikip ang dibdib hanggang sa bumuhos ang aking mga sariwang luha.

Someone shot him dead.

Head shot.

My eyes went to someone aiming his gun to Gray's previous position. And my heart sank when I saw a pair of beautiful brown eyes.

--

VentreCanard