➣ E R I E
"Kuya!"
Hindi ko na napigilan ang buhos ng luha ko nang makita ko siya. It was him! Kuya Vair! In front of me. Breathing. Alive.
He's here...
"Kuya, you're here!" I sobbed as he opened his arms and embraced me. I let my tears flow in his chest. I could feel his exhilarating breath. He's fighting back tears.
"Erie," Nabasag ang boses ni kuya at dalawang kamay na ang pinangkulong sa akin. Naramdaman kong hinalikan niya ang tuktok ng ulo ko at hinigpitan pa ang yakap. "My Erie," His voice broke again, choking with his own tears.
"Miss... miss na miss kita." Humiwalay ako sa yakap at parang bata na umiyak sa kaniyang harapan. Nanlalabo siya sa paningin ko dala ng luha kaya naman pinunasan ko iyon at tiningnan ang mukha niya.
He looks completely okay. Walang galos sa mukha o bakas ng pasa. Pansin ko lang talaga ang pamamayat.
"I'm glad you're here." I uttered.
Ilang beses siyang tumango at siya ang nagpunas ng luha ko, katulad ng palagi niyang ginagawa noon.
Ilang itim na kotse ang pumalibot pa sa amin bigla. Hindi ako pamilyar sa kanila kaya naman inangat kong muli ang baril ko at walang pasabing pinutok iyon sa unang bumaba. Sumunod si kuya at pinatumba rin ang pumangalawa.
Habang ang mga sumunod, kusa na lang tumumba sa sahig. Duguan.
Takang-taka naming nilibot ang paningin sa paligid at hindi namin inaasahan ang mga nagpakita. The Revels. Matagal na nilang ginagawa ang ganito, ang iligtas ang kung sino sa amin ang nasa alanganin pero sa linis nilang kumilos ay nabibigla pa rin ako.
"Ryde, you can now go back home." Said by one of the Revels as he walked closer. Ang ilan sa mga myembro nito ay tahimik na nililigpit ang mga tauhan ng Sindicato na tinapos nila.
"How about Sindicato who are after me? Are they gone?"
"Yes, we already killed them." He answered, unphased. "The mafia will always protect you."
Sameth is safe. The clan managed to clear everyone who tried to capture him. The mafia vowed to always protect each other no matter what.
Now all we have to care about kuya Vair. How are we going to take him to Don Amore?
However, we had no time to think about plans.
Without a warning, we're being picked up from behind and they carried us away.
The Revels grabbed us and forced us to sit in one of their cars.
They are taking us to Don Amore.
Hindi ko mapaliwanag ang kaba at takot na nararamdaman ko. Walang awa ang nakatataas. Para sa kaniya, lahat ng traydor ay may lugar sa ibaba. Anyone who turned their back from the family shall be killed.
"They are here, Don."
Pinagtulukan nila kami sa harapan ng Don. Nilibot ko ang tingin ko at narito rin pala sila mommy at daddy. I wanted to cry and run to them along with kuya. I'm scared. I know what
"Welcome to hell, Vair." He turned around and stood up. "There is no home for you here." At inangat niya ang baril na kanina lang ay pinupunasan.
"No!" Naiiyak kong hinarang ang sarili ko para maprotektahan si kuya. Lahat ay nabigla sa ginawa ko. Sinubukan nila akong hilahin pabalik pero hindi ako nagpadala.
I could tell Don grew angrier because of what I did, but I don't care. I don't care about my own safety now. If he reached his limit then I'll let him pour every bit of his anger on me. I just want to protect kuya. And I'll do everything I can. In every way. Even if it harms me.
"Erie!" Mom stomped her heels to steal my attention. Pinanlalakihan niya ako ng mga mata. Gusto niyang tumayo ako rito at magtago na lang sa likuran nila ni dad.
But that will make me a coward.
How could I protect my brother if I'm a coward?
"Move aside." He ordered.
Nagmatigas ako at umiling.
Axcel stood for me.
"Don, allow me to explain." He had his head bowed, but his gaze were sharp, looking ahead, determined to clear the situation.
"Explain what? That you hid him? You will never justify the fact that you hid a traitor!"
"Don, he's not a traitor." Kontra pa ni Axcel. Now I fear for his life more than mine. He's not even shaking from fear, not even shedding a tear to beg for his life after this. He is just standing straight.
And I know he's just like that because he's still not aware of Don Amore's full capability. He has no sympathy and Axcel haven't seen that yet.
"The night when you were attacked by the Sindicato, Vair leaves not because he's a traitor. It's because he wanted to be a good brother to the youngest Vosslen, he wanted to see her for the last time incase that was his last breath."
"Youngest Vosslen?" Don Amore wasn't amused. I readied myself from whatever he's about to say. "You mean the betrayer who left the family to live a normal life? Isn't she dead in our minds? Why go after her?"
Napapikit ako. I readied, but still got hurt.
"She's a traitor and going to her makes you a traitor too. You should know better, Vair."
"I'm sorry. I just want to see my sister." He choked on his own words. Naluha ako. Naiintindihan ko siya. That night was cruel, everyone almost died from the sudden ambush. Noong mga panahon, naiisip ko rin ang kapatid namin.
Don stood still, his presence is big enough to make us quiver. Walang emosyong mga mata, walang pinapakitang awa. Napasigaw kami nang i-angat niyang muli ang baril. Snubukan kong humarang muli kay kuya pero hinila ako ni Sam patungo sa gilid kasama niya. Nagpumiglas ako, umiiyak, pero hindi niya ako binitawan.
"Vair, I don't care about you and your motive as a brother. I don't care if you miss your little sister or whoever that is. I don't care. All I care about is this family. I don't want to be associated with people outside our clan!" Puno ng puot ang tono nito. "Naiintindihan mo?!"
I covered my ears, we all did, some didn't flinched when Don fired his gun to Vair's left shoulder.
"No, kuya!"
Then another shot to his right leg.
"Please, stop! Wala siyang ginawang masama!"
Hindi matigil ang pagdudugo ni kuya. Napuno lalo ng takot ang puso at isip ko. Nanginginig ang mga kamay ko habang sinusubukan iyon diinan para kahit papaano ay matigil ang pagdurugo. Ngayon ay nababalot na rin sa dugo ang magkabila kong mga kamay. Nanginig ako lalo. Pakiramdam ko ang hina hina ko.
"Erie... kaya ko na," His eyes were barely open.
I had my teeth gritted. I hate it how small look right now. I could manage to fight back with my words by I still look like a coward in front of Don. I look pathetic. Kaso naisip ko, tinaya ko naman na ang buhay ko. Ano pa bang dapat kong ikatakot? Hindi ba dapat ibuhos ko na ang lahat ngayon?
Nilingon ko si Don at humugot ng malalim na hininga. "Please give him a chance. Nagmamakaawa po ako." Lumuhod na ako sa kaniyang harapan. Sa sobrang panghihina ko, bumagsak na rin ang ulo ko sa sahig.
He looked at me like a pawn.
I was afraid. I was indeed a pawn.
"Say what I want to hear then."
My eyes went wide with the sudden remark.
Now the Don wants me to choose.
Napatingin ako kila mommy at daddy. Kila Lider. Kay Ryde. Kay kuya pinakatumagal ang tingin ko at nakaawang na ang kaniyang labi habang paulit-ulit na umiiling.
Inangat ko ang ulo ko. Punong-puno ng luha ang mukha at nanginginig ang mga labi.
Natatakot ako.
"Erie, don't make me wait."
Hindi ko kayang sabihin.
"Isa!" His gun fired a bullet again.
"Ah, no! Stop!" I was crying hysterically, shaking out of fear. Kuya Vair got three gunshots now.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
"Our younger sister... Prey Imogen." I was shaking. My heart keeps aching. So bad. "She's dead to us and once we see her, we'll kill her in an instant because that's what traitors deserved."
Don grinned, contented. He lowered the gun.
My eyes shut tight.
I'm so sorry, Prey.
_