Chess Pieces #2: Hunter Sanford

Chapter 40

I was crying really hard inside Hunter's arms. I missed this feeling. For three years I haven't been able to feel his warmth that's why my emotions exploded right at this moment. Naghalo-halo na ang lahat ng mga emosyon ko. From frustration, anger, pain and of course, longing.

And as Hunter tightened his embrace, I knew that he also felt the same.

Oh God. I will do everything so I can never be away from this man.

"You didn't even bother calling me." I said between my sob. My voice were muffled dahil nakasubsob ang mukha ko sa malapad nyang dibdib.

"I've been dying to call, my goddess. Believe me. Pero alam ko na kapag narinig ko ang boses mo ay agad akong uuwi para makasama ka. But I don't want to risk your life again because of my selfishness." he said and I felt him heaved a deep sigh.

"You already heard it. That night at the bar. With Gray. I begged you to speak. I begged you to talk to me. But you ended the call without saying anything."

Heck, I can still remember the pain that I felt when he hanged up the call. I felt rejected. I felt like he doesn't want to see or talk to me. I even begged and he made me feel like he doesn't care about me anymore.

Then I remembered back then. When Hunter was still chasing me. Noong wala pa akong nararamdaman para sa kanya. I drove him out too. Lahat ng klaseng pagtataboy ay ginawa ko sa kanya. But he didn't give up. At kung mahal na nya ako noon pa, paano nya natiis ang mga pagtataboy ko sa kanya? While me na halos hindi na makayanan ang sakit sa simpleng pagpatay nya lang ng tawag.

How can he still go on and endure all the pain that I inflicted on him?

My gosh... I hope that Hunter will not get hurt again.

"I didn't say anything, Artemis, 'cause I know that the moment I did, I won't be able to stop myself from staying beside you. And I don't want that. Hindi ko kayang mapahamak ka ulit nang dahil sa akin."

I shook my head and hugged him tight. "It's not your fault, Hunter. Hindi mo ginusto ang nangyari. It's not your fault." mas humigpit ang yakap ko sa kanya. "Let that sink in your head, Hunter. Let that sink in. Hindi mo kasalanan ang lahat. Wala kang kasalanan. So please, don't ever think of leaving me again."

I feel like I already had a trauma of Hunter leaving me. Takot na takot na ulit akong maulit ang mga panahon na wala sya. Ang mga oras na hindi ko man lang alam kung nasaan sya. That time when I haven't heard any news about him. That time when I still wasn't sure if he'll ever come back to me.

I don't want to feel that again. I'm scared. I'm scared that Hunter will leave me again.

There's this void feeling inside my chest. At alam kong hindi mapupunan iyon hangga't hindi nya ipinapangako sa akin na hindi nya ako iiwan.

Humiwalay ako sa kanya at ikinulong ang mukha nya sa mga palad ko. I brushed his hair away from his face and stared at those gray orbs.

"I'll be the one who'll beg this time." nanginig ang mga kamay kong nakahawak sa kanya. "Please, don't leave me, Hunter. Don't ever leave me again. Hindi ko na kakayanin kapag nawala ka."

Malinaw pa rin sa isip ang ang exact words na sinabi nya when he first confessed his feeling for me. I know now why he seemed so anxious that time when I died at the game. He said that he failed to protect me. He failed to protect everyone.

Kaya naman noong nangyari sa akin iyon, he left. 'Cause he thought that he'll be able to to protect me if he's away. He thought that he's the reason why I got stabbed. But I don't blame him at all. Hindi ko isinisisi sa kanya ang nangyari. I don't blame him for the hideous scar that's on my skin. Dahil alam ko na hindi nya rin ginusto ang nangyari sa akin.

Mas masasaktan ako kung patuloy syang lalayo sa akin. Now that I am able to hold him again, hindi ko na kakayanin kung magkalayo ulit kami.

"Tracer."

Noon lang bumalik sa akin na hindi lang pala kami ang tao sa bahay na iyon. I was so lost at the moment but I don't even care if they all saw the drama that we had.

I just wanted to let all my emotions out. Matagal kong itinago ito kaya wala na akong pakialam sa mga tao sa paligid. They knew our story anyway.

Hunter and I both looked at Vexen. She seemed teary eyed while looking at us.

"We're a team, Tracer. We're just waiting for you to ask for our help."

Napatingin sa amin ang lahat. Even L who was so engrossed with what he's doing with his laptop looked at us too. Isinara pa nya ang laptop nya at nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin sa aming dalawa.

Creed and Gray stood beside Vexen habang si Death ay nakaalalay sa likod nya. Nanatiling nakaupo si Vander sa tabi ni L pero tumingin na rin sa amin. The scar under his left eye was so obvious.

Hunter was taken aback with what Vexen said. Tinignan nya isa-isa ang lahat bago huli akong tinignan. He looked like a lost child who doesn't have any idea what to say.

"Matagal ka na naming gustong tulungan pero ayaw namin na pangunahan ka. But you didn't asked for our help with your problem even once, Tracer."

Napatingin sa akin si Hunter. His eyes were searching. Para talaga syang naliligaw. He's asking for my help through his eyes but I don't even know what team Vexen is talking about and why she's calling him 'Tracer'.

"I just... Don't want to bother you. Alam kong may mga problema din kayo—" he started saying but Creed cut him off.

"Fuck you, motherfucker!" Creed hissed and he looked really annoyed. "Even if we have our own damn problems, we are willing to fucking help you! You've been a help for us! Kahit hindi ka kasali sa misyon ay tumutulong ka! But you are not asking for our help!"

"I want to help you too, Kuya." It was Gray with a warm smile on his lips as he looked at his brother. And for the first time, he looked like a leading man instead of a bully in a movie. "But you're always shutting me out. It's my problem too 'cause you're my brother. Kung anong problema mo ay problema ko rin."

"At magkaibigan na tayo simula pa lang yata sa pagiging sperms ng mga tatay natin!" it's Creed again. "You helped me with my mission. You helped me save the kid that's why I experienced happiness with her. Kaya hayaan mo rin naman akong tulungan ka."

"Just asked, Hunter." Vexen said and smiled. "And we'll be glad to help."

I felt Hunter's hand intertwined with mine. It was a bit cold and he's slightly shaking so I squeezed his hand. I have no idea what these people are talking about. About the mission, about them being a team. But at least I knew that they are Hunter's friend.

"Please... I need... Your help." bulong ni Hunter pero alam kong narinig ng lahat 'cause they all smiled at him.

"Give me all the information that you got about your parents' death. Ako na ang magtutuloy." sabi ni L at muling binuksan ang laptop nya.

"Lucius will be here tomorrow. We'll help you find your parents' killer." si Creed na tinapik pa sa balikat si Hunter.

"I'll help you guard your goddess, Kuya." Gray said with all smiles but Creed put an arm around his shoulders.

"Basta sunduin mo si Maria bukas."

"Eh, kailangan kong bantayan din si Artemis!"

I laughed. "It's okay. I'll be at Apollo's place tomorrow." I looked at Hunter. "I'll tell him about us."

I know that I should talk to my brothers now that I've already found Hunter. Maybe they'll tell me to stay away from him, just like what they said to my past relationship. But this time, I'll fight for Hunter. Ipaglalaban ko sya na hindi ko nagawa noong ipinagtabuyan sya ng mga kapatid ko sa hospital.

"Me, Kuya Vander and Death will be on standby, Tracer. Sabihin mo lang kung anong gusto mong gawin namin." Vexen said.

And as I looked around the people who's offering Hunter their help, I realized that they were the people whom Hunter is with for the past three years. And I'm glad that he found a good friends.

Hunter deserves to be love. And I will give everything more than what he deserves.