Chasing Hurricane (PlayboySeries#2)

Chapter 30

Von Khenry Montejar is now already a father of a baby girl. Within those years of separation and my constant contact with this crazy Elizalde, I have come to hear news about him sometimes. Kahit na inabandona na ng pamilya ang Cassiopeia na ito, may mga taong hindi pa rin naman siya iniwan dahil sa kagagahan niya noon at hanggang ngayon. Von, the notorious playboy, just happened to get a taste of his own medicine. Nagkaroon siya ng anak sa isa sa mga babaeng naikama niya noong mga unang taon niya sa kolehiyo. It was way before he even met me. Ang playboy na gago, binagsakan ng anak isang araw sa mansyon ng mga Montejar nang mamatay ang Ina ng bata. The child was almost 3 years old by that time and the brute, thankfully with a miracle, accepted and loved the child immediately. And then... the rest is history, or at least that was the end of what I opt to know about him.

"Uuwi ka na ng Pilipinas?" Cassiopeia casually asked after a few other subjects and jokes she said. I look at her, making sure there was no pity shown on it as she look back. She smiled a bitter one.

"Yeah..." mahinang sagot ko sa kaniya. "I'm kinda hoping this is for good though. Ang lamig kaya ng America, bwesit."biro ko. Hindi lang naman ako sa America namamalagi dahil pumupunta rin naman ako sa Europe. Minsan, depende kung saan ako dinidistino sa mga misyon na binibigay ng Familia. I was on my own in every mission, part of my punishment.

But basically I can go anywhere, just not in the Philippines or anywhere near it. Minsan kung giniginaw na talaga ay namamalagi ako sa Miami. But I always find myself back here in New York. Ayoko man aminin pero dahil iyon sa nandito ang lukarit na si Cassiopeia Elizalde. I wasn't allowed to go near any of the 3 families sons and daughters but like Cassiopeia said, parang itinakwil na siya ng sariling mga magulang kaya exception na daw siya sa truce na iyon.

Although I hate to admit this but she was somehow close to... home.

"I wish I can go home too." she trailed off, whispering more to herself. Naka tanaw sa malaking Christmas Tress ng New York Times Square at puno ng lungkot pa rin ang mata sa kabila ng pagpapanggap na maayos siya.

I wonder how things could have been now if the decisions and actions we did in the past was far different from what we took? Sometimes I thought if only we took another path, then maybe,just maybe, the consequences we are facing right now could have been different. I wonder what could I have been doing at this exact moment if only I took a different path before.

Sometimes, in moments like this, I imagine myself seating in the living room's floor. Eating whatever food Damon ordered. Hearing Tinashee and Hades banters, Perse's endless complains and... looking back at Azrael's eyes full of life and happiness in the midst of everyone's chortles.

Clutching my chest, sometimes I still pray to bring back time, to hope for everything to be just a mere dream. Alam mo iyon? Yung ilang taon na ang lumipas pero yung sakit ay parang kanina lang nangyare lahat.

Have you ever just sit still and come across the thought of someone who died but everything just still feel so... unreal. Like time had passed by and for a moment, you still can't believe that we can no longer hear their voice and hugged them like how we used to do.

Bakit...ganun? Ang sakit-sakit isipin na parang kanina lang ay naririnig mo pa yung boses niya tapos ngayon... lumipas man ang panahon, ang hirap pa rin tanggapin na mananatili nalang sa alaala mo ang lahat ng yun.

"We're really glad you're back, Vixen." I was watching the vastness of the ocean beneath me when I heard a familiar baritone voice from behind. Nanatili akong nakatingin sa mala-dyamanteng repleksyon ng karagatan dahil sa sinag ng papatagong araw.

Silence filled the solemnity of afternoon light. I can feel the presence of the 4 people I have been wanting to see for years.

"Walang iwanan, Airess. Walang iwanan, diba? I' m sure A will say the same too." Hades said out loud. Huni ng ibon ang biglang nagpatingala sa akin. Dark clouds are threatening to take over the whole sky.