Chapter 3
Unknown Assasin
Zahara Rain's P.O.V
Napahinga ako ng malalim at saka humarap kay Kuyang Holdaper. Nakita ko ang pag-aalala sa mga mata niya ng makita niya ang mga luha ko sa pisngi. Agad niya namang nakuha ang ibig kong sabihin kaya agad niya akong inakbayan at humarap sa kanila.
"Hindi pa nga pala kami kumain ng lunch. Kain muna kami. Nagugutom na kasi itong baby girl ko eh." palusot ni Kuyang Holdaper saka ako hinatak palabas ng pinto. Napahinga naman ako ng malalim habang naglalakad kami papasok sa elevator.
Nang makapasok na kami sa elevator ay doon na tuluyang bumuhos ang mga luha ko. Agad kong niyakap si Kuyang Holdaper at doon naman ako umiyak.
"Sana pala nagsama ako ng isa. Tuwing lagi tayong magkasama na tayong dalawa lang, lagi ka nalang umiiyak. Nagdadalawang isip tuloy ako kung tama bang bumalik ako. Pakiramdam ko kasi ay ako ang dahilan ng pag-iyak ng taong mahal ko." biro niya at napangiti naman ako habang umiiyak.
"Thank you... Thank you for being there when I need you the most... Thank you, Kuyang Holdaper." sinserong bulong ko at huminga ng malalim dahil nagsisimula ng sumikip ang dibdib ko.
"I love you and I will always love you, Rain. Mamahalin kita ng mamahalin hanggang sa maubos ako." sabi niya at mas niyakap ako ng mahigpit.
Nang malapit ng bumukas ang elevator ay nagpunas na ako ng mga luha at humiwalay sa kaniya. Ngumiti naman siya at ginulo ang buhok ko.
"For me, you will always be the bravest girl that I know. Kaya mahal kita eh." sabi niya at tumawa.
"For me, you will always be one of the best bestfriend that I have! I love you too, Kuyang Holdaper." nakangiting sabi ko. Napansin ko namang napahinga siya ng malalim at muling ngumiti.
Bumukas ang elevator kaya lumabas na kami. Inakbayan niya ako at pumasok kami sa isang restaurant.
"Good evening, ma'am, sir. Table for how many po?" nakangiting bati ng waiter.
"For many people? Our friends will coming this way too. Maybe after a minute or an hour." nakangiting sabi ni Kuyang Holdaper.
"This way, ma'am and sir." nakangiting sabi ng waiter at inalalayan kami papunta sa table na maramihan.
Umupo naman kami ro'n at binigay na sa amin ang menu. Sinabi namin ang mga order namin pagkatapos ay umalis na siya.
"Mukhang marami akong dapat malaman." sabi ni Kuyang Holdaper.
"Kasal na kami ni Allistair." sabi ko na naging dahilan ng pagkasamid niya dahil umiinom siya ng tubig. Natawa naman ako habang tinatapik ang likod niya dahil nagpatuloy siya sa pag-ubo.
"Huli na ba ako?" gulat na tanong niya matapos maka-recover sa pagkasamid.
Nagsalubong naman ang kilay ko ng hindi ko makuha kung anong ibig niyang sabihin.
"Huh?" nagtatakang tanong ko.
"Wala, wala, haha. Tapos?" tanong niya at umayos ng upo.
Nagkwento naman ako kung anong mga nangyari noong wala pa siya. Nanatili naman siyang nakikinig.
"Here's your order, ma'am and sir. Enjoy your meal." sabi ng waiter at sinerve na ang mga pagkain sa lamesa. Napatigil naman ako sa pagkukwento at nanlalaki ang mga mata habang nakatingin sa mga pagkaing nasa harap namin.
Narinig ko naman ang pagtawa ni Kuyang Holdaper at hindi ko naman siya pinansin. Pagkaalis ng waiter ay agad kong kinuha ang tinidor at kutsilyo saka nagsimulang kumain.
Napapikit ako sa sarap at muling sumubo. Hindi ko na pinansin si Kuyang Holdaper na nakangiti habang pinagmamasdan ako habang kumakain.
Ilang saglit pa ng dumating na rin sila Melissa at umupo sa tabi namin. Kasama rin nila sila Allistair at Angeline na nahuling pumasok. Napabuntong hininga nalang ako. Bigla akong nawalan ng ganang kumain.
"Oh sorry, there's no space for you, darling. Better sit there and be a good dog okie?" sabi ni Melissa kaya napatingin ako sa kaniya. Kausap niya si Angeline at tinuro ang isang table na katapat lang namin.
"Ah, yeah, no problem." kalmadoong sabi ni Angeline na parang pagod na at umupo sa katabi niyang table. Napaiwas nalang ako ng tingin ng tumayo rin si Allistair at umupo sa harap niya.
Nanggigigil na binagsak ko ang hawak kong tinidor at kutsilyo saka tumayo.
"I'm done. Nawalan na ako ng gana. See you at the room." paalam ko at tumalikod na.
Naglakad ako paalis ng restaurant at ramdam ko naman ang pagsunod sa'kin ng isang tao. Hindi ko naman 'yon pinansin at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad.
Nang nasa elevator na ay napahawak ako sa pader ng biglang sumakit ang ulo ko.
"Shit! Are you okay?" nag-aalalang tanong ni Kuyang Holdaper at sinalo ako ng mawalan ako ng balanse.
"I'm... I'm okay." bulong ko at sinubukang tumayo ng maayos. Inalalayan niya naman ako.
Pumasok kami sa elevator at nanatili siyang nakaalalay sa'kin. Hindi naman na ako nagsalita dahil pakiramdam ko ay hinang hina na ako.
Nang bumukas na ang elevator ay lumabas na kami. Naglakad na kami habang siya ay nanatiling nakaalalay sa'kin.
Pumasok na kami sa kwarto at nakitang mas lalo itong gumulo. Nagsalubong ang kilay ko.
'Nag-away ba sila kanina?'
"Rain, ang init mo!" singhal ni Kuyang Holdaper at tuluyan na akong binuhat. Binuksan niya ang isa sa mga pinto ng kwarto at pumasok kami roon.
Hiniga niya ako sa kama at tinanggal ang sandals ko. Pagkatapos ay kinumutan niya ako at hininaan ang aircon.
"You should have told me you're not feeling well earlier. Baka lumala pa 'yan." nag-aalalang sabi ni Kuyang Holdaper.
"Kukuha lang ako ng gamot at tubig. Magpahinga ka d'yan. Babalik din ako." sabi niya at lumabas ng kwarto.
Napaayos nalang ako ng higa at binalot ang katawan ko ng makapal na comforter.
Allistair's P.O.V
Rain and Kyon went outside the room. I was about to follow them when Melissa asked me.
"Hindi mo alam na umalis kami?!" Melissa exclaimed. She can't believe that I didn't know they were missing a while ago.
"No." I answered and she laughed sarcastically.
"Bumalik lang si Angeline nagiging tanga ka na naman?" Cheska asked, surprised of what I am acting right now.
"Bro, anong nangyayari sa'yo? Sa ating lahat, ikaw ang inaasahan naming unang makakapansing wala sila. Simula noong matapos na ang lahat ng gulo ni hindi mo maalis sa paningin mo si Rain. Ilang segundo lang siyang nawala sa paningin mo halos halungkatin mo na ang buong mundo." Luke said, also surprised.
"I ah - ahm sorry?" I said, unsure.
"May pinagusapan lang kasi kami kanina. Pasensya na ku-"
"Don't talk to me when I am not taking you pathetic bitch!" Cheska yelled at Angeline while pointing her finger at her.
"Hey! Don't talk to her like that!" I yelled. Cheska looked at me with a death glare.
"Ayusin mo 'yang desisyon mo, Lucas. Ilang beses mo na siyang sinaktan! Ilang beses mo na siyang pinagmukhang tanga! Oras na masaktan mo na naman ang kaibigan namin dahil sa lintek na babaeng 'yan!" she yelled and point her finger to Angeline as she finished her line. "Ako na mismo ang maglalayo sa kaniya mula sa'yo!" she added and walk outside the room.
"Lucas, may tiwala ako sa'yo. Huwag mo na sanang saktan ang kaibigan namin. She have already done enough. Let's give her the life she deserve and not the pain that she don't need to feel." Arra said and tapped my shoulder before walking outside the room.
"If I were you, I won't do the same mistake again. Hindi porket mahal ka niya ngayon ay mahal ka na niya habang buhay. Lahat may hangganan. Lahat may kabayaran. Kaya kung ano mang desisyon mo, siguraduhin mong napag-isipan. Sige ka ikaw din. Baka sa huli, ikaw ang uuwing luhaan." Maureen said and leave the room.
"I have my eyes on you, Lucas. Just like in the chess, one wrong move and you may lose your queen. Itatak mo 'yan sa isip mo." Devin said and walked outside the room too.
"Don't fail us again. Mananahimik muna ako sa ngayon. Huwag niyong sagarin ang pasensya ko." Melissa said and also walked outside again.
"You already have my trust the day I agreed for your wedding. I've seen your sacrifices. Pinagkatiwala ko na siya sa'yo pero hindi ibig sabihin no'n ay papabayaan ko na siya. Kapatid namin 'yon, Lucas. Prinsesa namin 'yon. Malaki ka na. Hindi ka na bata. Paalala lang." Aster said and leave the room.
"Hindi na sana maulit 'to. Kaibigan kita pero kaibigan ko rin si Rain, bro. Sana maintindihan mo. Pinapaalalahan ka lang namin sa mga posibleng mangyari. One wrong move and you may lose Rain... Forever." Luke said and walk outside.
"I agree with Luke, Lucas. Be wise to your decisions." Andrew said and also walked outside the room.
"I agree with them. Sige, baba na ako. Baka maistorbo ko pa kayo. Nakakahiya naman. Magmumukha pa akong third wheel." Nathaniel sarcastically said and walked outside the room with the others.
We are now all alone in this room, me and Angeline. They are now outside the room.
I immediately hold Angeline's hand when I felt someone's presence here in the room.
"They... They are now here, Lucas... They are now here to hunt me down..." Angeline said and hold back my arm because of nervous.
"Look what we have here." someone said and appeared in the dark. He's wearing an all black outfit. I can't see anything except his dark eyes.
"Ang alam ko ay kasal ka sa bunsong anak ng mga Kingston. Why are you with her now? Change of hearts eh?" another man asked and appeared on the dark. Just like his accompany, he's also wearing an all black outfit.
"Don't you ever dare question my love for her!" I yelled and pointed my finger at him. He laughed sarcastically while holding his tummy.
"Is that a joke, ahm I guess Allistair Lucas Lim is your name? Hahaha! Patawa ka masyado, bata. Mahal mo siya pero nasa ibang babae ka? Sabagay, hindi na rin ako magtataka kung manlalalaki ang anak ng mga Kingston." he teased and my eyebrows met in confusion because of what he have said.
"She will never do that to me!" I exclaimed.
'Or that was just I thought...'
He laughed again and took out his phone and showed it to me and I saw a picture...
Rain and Kyon...
In a boat...
Kyon is laying down while eyes closed...
While Rain...
Is kissing him...
As expected, anger started to built in in my chess. Angeline immediately hold my arm when I can't control myself anymore. The man laughed she see me my reaction.
"It can be photoshopped! Control yourself, Lucas! They are doing it on purpose! Focus!" Angeline yelled while still holding my arm to stop me.
"It is my wife there kissing another man! And you are expecting me to calm down?!" I yelled like a beast.
"Please! Calm your ass down!" she also yelled.
I didn't mind her and run towards to those people in black and we started to fight. I punched the other one but he managed to dodge it and punched me. I didn't mind the pain and punched him back.
I noticed that Angeline is already having a fight with the other guy. She's now good when it comes to combat. She have improve a lot.
My attention was divert when a fist suddenly hit my face. I immediately fight back.
"Where did you get the picture?!" I roared as I continue on punching his face. He just laughed while I'm hitting him.
"You really have no idea, Lucas. Hahaha! You can protect other girls but you can't protect your own girl?" he teasingly asked and laugh like a mad man again which made me stop.
'Am... Am I really can't protect Rain?'
One hard punch from him that made my body touched the floor. He stretched his muscles and laugh again.
"If I were you, I will get close to my girl now and I won't take away my eyes off her. Mahirap makahanap ng gano'n kaganda. Mag-iingat ka. Baka mawala nalang siya sa'yo bigla." he said and leavd the room by the window with his accompany.
"Don't you dare lay a single finger on my wife. Because if you did, I'll open the gates of doom and make you experience what it feels like to live in the dark." I murmured.
"Lucas, ayos ka lang?" Angeline asked, worried.
I sat down and touched my jaw. It hurts but what I am thinking now is what he have just said.
"Am I really not able to protect my girl?" I asked out of the blue.
"You are able to protect your girl. From the start, you are already protecting her. You are not just telling it to them so they didn't know your sacrifices. Don't put yourself down, Lucas. You are worth the sacrifice and love." Angeline said and smiled at me. I just sigh and stood up.
"Tell me the full details later. Let's go down now." I said and she nodded.
We went to the restaurant and I saw them sitting in a table. We walk near them and we sit to our chairs.
"Oh sorry, there's no space for you, darling. Better sit there and be a good dog okie?"Melissa sarcastically said and pointed her finger to the table beside us.
"Ah, yeah, no problem." Angeline calmly said and sit to the chair next to our table.
When I saw Rain and Kyon, I immediately stood up and sit to the chair next to me to face Angeline. I don't want to see them for now. Everytime that I will see them, I'll just remember the picture that I saw earlier. It still hurts me whether it is fake or not.
'I hope it is just fake...'
'I love you, baby wife. Forever and always.'