RUCKUS DEEPLY inhales the scent of the woman sleeping peacefully in his arm.
He didn't know how they end up sleeping like this. Him hugging her from behind while she sleeps on his arm.
Nonetheless, Ruckus couldn't push Sunset nor could he stand up and leave. Whatever stupidity goes to his brain last night hasn't yet subsided and until now he's still being an idiot.
Cuddling with a prisoner?
Great.
Tahimik siyang napabuntong-hininga. See, he didn't last longer than a day and he's already back with her. Damn. He wonders if his mother is watching him right now. Could be. And Ruckus could only imagine the disappointment of his mother. Hopefully, mom will not tell anybody, particularly his twin.
Tang'na naman kasi bakit ba hindi ko matanggal ang kuryusidad ko sa babaeng 'to? And why the fuck does cuddling her feel good? Comfortable and homey.
Natigil sa pag-iisip si Ruckus ng umungol si Sunset. Hindi nagtagal ay may pangalan itong tinawag.
"Midnight..."
Maingat na gumalaw si Ruckus para tignan ang mukha nito at napagtanto niyang nananaginip ito.
"Midnight..."
Midnight? Must be someone who's very much dear to her. Hopefully not another psycho.
"P-Please don't take them... N-No... Please..."
Hindi nagtagal ay umiling ito habang paulit-ulit na sinasabi ang no and please.
Ruckus was about to wake her up when tears started to fall from her eyes. That renders him. For some reason, Ruckus felt his chest tightening. This woman must be dreaming something very sad or perhaps bad for her to cry.
Sighing, Ruckus holds her shoulder to give her a gentle shake. "Sunset... Wake up."
Hindi ito nagising at patuloy parin ang pagtawag sa pangalang Midnight.
"Sunset, wake up!" He called louder this time, wiping her tears.
At mukhang nagising ito dahil sa paghawak niya sa mukha nito. But what Ruckus didn't expect is for her to go into attack mode.
Damn it!
Mabilis itong gumalaw at siniko ang tiyan niya saka gumulong isang beses na siyang ikinahulog nito sa sahig.
Fuck!
Bago pa man siya makapagsalita o makahuma ay mabilis itong tumayo at pumasok ng banyo.
Huminga ng malalim si Ruckus bago naupo sa kama. Damn the woman really hit hard. He waited for her to get out of the bathroom but it looks like she has no plans of going out unless he goes away.
Tumayo si Ruckus at lumapit sa tabi ng pintuan at nakatagilid na sumandal sa pader.
"Sunset are you okay?" He asked, not knocking at all. He's sure she'd hear him.
No response.
"Fine..." Ruckus sighed. "I'm leaving, thank you for cuddling me," he humored to make her feel better. "I had a good night's sleep, so good I thought you hand job me last night," he added.
Ruckus sighed when Sunset didn't even cuss him.
Fine.
He straightened up. "Good morning, Sunset. See you," he said before turning to the door to leave.
Pagkalabas ay nagtungo siya sa opisina ni Mark para tanungin kung kumusta ang babae sa mga nakalipas na araw noong hindi niya ito binibisita o tinitignan sa kamera.
"Did she stay in the isolation room?" Ruckus asked, sitting in a chair in front of Mark's desk.
"No, she didn't," Mark replied, eyes on the computer.
"You telling me she stopped bitching around?"
"No, boss." Tumingin ito sa kanya. "It's the other prisoners that stopped touching her."
Tumaas ang kilay ni Ruckus. "Elaborate."
"Menezes doesn't go into trouble because she wants it. It's always because someone touched her inappropriately that's why she snapped and gets into trouble," Mark explained.
Nodding his head, Ruckus narrowed his eyes on the man.
"Did someone touch her again?" Ruckus's jaw tightened. Peasants can't keep their hands to themselves. Tch.
"Yes, someone did. And she was lashed five times yesterday—"
"What?" Ruckus calmly asked even if he was angry.
"A prisoner groped her and she headbutts him in response sending the man to the ward with a broken nose."
Ilang sandali siyang nakatitig lang kay Mark bago siya walang salitang tumayo at lumabas ng opisina nito.
Pagkalabas niya ay hindi mapigilan ni Ruckus ang pumalatak.
Just yesterday she was lashed and she fall to the floor this morning on her back but not a single pain crossed her face.
Damn woman... You're strong. But damn himself more for feeling worried about her. Inis na napasuklay ng buhok niya si Ruckus saka siya lumabas ng underground at umuwi ng bahay niya.
"Where have you been?" Salubong ng kapatid niyang si Kronack na nasa sala pagpasok niya ng bahay. Kasama nito si Kalisz na kinakausap si Death na tahimik lang.
Ruckus frowned. Why are they here so early?
Shrugging the thought, Ruckus sat beside his twins.
"Didn't know I must report my whereabouts now twinie," Ruckus grinned. "You miss me noh?"
His twin brother glared.
Natawa siya. Mukhang wala sa mood ang kakambal niya.
"What's up with the bad mood, twinie?" he asked.
Mahina lang itong pumalatak at hindi sumagot habang nakatingin kay Kalisz. Then Ruckus frowned while looking at his pregnant sister-in-law.
"Pandak, 'di mo ba ako babatiin?" Tanong niya dito.
Nagtaas ito ng tingin mula sa librong binabasa nito kay Death na hindi niya alam kung nakikinig ba o ano. Blangko naman kasi ang mukha ng bata.
"Kapre."
Napangiwi si Ruckus sa itinawag sa kanya ni Kalisz.
"Si Death talaga ang ipinunta ko dito. At gusto ko rin tawagin kang kapre, wala kasi sa bahay si Morris kaya't wala akong matawag na Morri."
Napahilot ng ulo niya si Ruckus. Damn... I wonder how twinie stayed sane? This is a total craze.
Humilig siya palapit sa kakambal para bumulong. Mahirap na baka ibato ni Kalisz ang libro sa mukha niya pagnarinig nito ang itatanong niya.
"Twinie..."
"What?" Bored na tanong nito.
"How do you keep up with her weirdness?"
"I'm barely hanging Ruck. Damn! Her adoration for Morris is maddening." His twin's voice was frustrated while whispering back. "I'm very jealous."
Mahina siyang natawa. Kawawa naman 'tong kakambal niya.
"Anyway—" His brother looked at him. "— can we talk?"
"We're talking—"
Walang babala na hinawakan nito ang braso niya at hinila patayo kasabay nito.
"Sweet babe, Death, we'll just talk outside." Paalam nito sa dalawa.
Kalisz nodded while Death didn't even move a muscle to respond.
Sumunod siya sa kapatid niya ng hinila siya nito palabas ng bahay kung saan ang malawak na pool.
"I heard you have been drinking more than usual, Ruck." Umpisa ng kakambal niya ng makarating sa pool lounge na nasa gitna ng malaking pool.
"Stress reliever, twinie—"
"You also haven't been seen with women," Kronack interjected, taking a sit on the single sofa.
Tumaas ang isang gilid ng labi ni Ruckus. "Twinie..." he drawled smirking. "The last time I check my life does not revolve around women and not having one for months is not a problem at all for my dick, so why are you even worried."
"What happened to your acorn-size dick is my last worry, Ruck, it's the changes in you—"
Nagpantig ang tenga ni Ruckus saka mabilis na kinuha ang isang unan at ibinato sa kakambal niya.
"Tang'na, Kronack mahal kita pero ang sarap mong lunurin ngayon." Sobrang sama ng tingin niya sa kakambal niya.
Kronack chuckled, adding to his frustration.
"Calm down, Ruck." Kronack tsked. "I'm just kidding. But seriously, go have fun—"
"No thanks." Ruckus sat on the sofa across his twins. "This isn't the time to have fun when Riot is comatose—"
"He's fine, Ruck. He's not dying, so you should chill." Giit nito.
Umiling SI Ruckus. "I'm not in a mood—"
"Too bad, Kalisz and Auri set a blind date for you—"
"A what?" Ruckus asked in disbelief.
"Blind date," ulit ng kapatid niya.
"You jesting, twinie?"
"Not a word."
Ruckus tsked. "Twinie, date is not my thing you know that."
"Come on, give it a try."
Tinitigan ni Ruckus ng mariin ang kakambal niya. Saka siya lihim na napamura.
Damn, Kronack knew something and isn't telling him directly. His twin has that attitude towards him. Pag may ayaw ito sa ginagawa niya ay gumagawa ito ng paraan para baguhin iyon. Not to harm him but to save him. Between the two of them, Kronack is the one that acts like an older brother. Shielding and looking after him when they were abandoned and he does it until now.
"Fine," Ruckus replied. "When it will be? But know tho, that if the woman is annoying I'm going to leave her alone."
"Tonight."
Frowning in disbelief, Ruckus flatly spoke. "So ready, eh? You can't even wait until next week."
"Come on." Tumayo ang kakambal niya at ngumisi.
Agad na nagtagis ang bagang niya nang makita ang ngisi nito. Tang'na Kronack, you hold your words.
"Better have woman liking your dick than squirrels. You know if squirrels are to know your hiding acorn between your legs they could go after you."
Ruckus pressed his lips together before he stood up to beat the heck out of his annoying twin.
"Fuck you!" Hinabol niya ito papasok sa loob.
"Sweet babe! Cover me!" Tumabi ito kay Kalisz at yumakap.
Pero inikutan lang ito ng mata ng asawa nito. Lumapit si Ruckus at sinapak ito sa balikat habang tumatawa ito.
"Tang'na mo twinie, maisipan sana ni Kalisz na matulog sa kuwarto mag-isa—"
"Ruckus! You shouldn't cuss in front of Death!" Kalisz shouted at him.
"Don't worry, Pandak, Death knows how to cuss even before we met each other—"
"Still!" Giit nito.
Tumayo ito na agad na inalalayan ni Kronack. Gustong umikot ng mata ni Ruckus sa kakambal niya. Babasagin? Laging nakaalalay?
"Uwi na kami Death," paalam ni Kalisz kay Death na sa kanya nakatingin. "I'll visit you again next time."
Lumapit sa kanya si Kalisz at ngumiti. "Good luck with your blind date, Kapre. Enjoy."
Inakbayan niya ito at naglakad sila papunta sa front door ng bahay niya.
"See you around, Pandak. 'Wag ka magpapagod. Alagaan mo pamangkin ko. Dapat gwapo 'yan paglabas," aniya dito.
"Gago, babae magiging anak namin. Tch," anang kakambal niya na nakahawak sa kamay ni Kalisz.
"Cuddlebear, be nice to Kapre."
Ngumiti si Ruckus sa kakambal niya para inisin ito.
"Before he cries because he looks very ugly today," dagdag ni Kalisz na nagpadulas ng braso niya na nakaakbay dito.
"Seriously, Pandak?" Hindi maipinta ang mukha niya.
"Mm-hmm, magkamukha kayo ni cuddlebear ko kaya't kasing pangit mo siya. See, itong kakambal mo ang pangit sa paningin ko. Nakakainis pa," anito na ikinailing niya.
Women and their pregnancy. Tsk!
Ruckus grinned while his twin sulk. "That's okay, Pandak... At least," he paused smiling widely. Let me hit two nerves in one sentence. "Hindi ako mataba."
Mabilis na lumayo si Ruckus sa mag-asawa na parang papatayin na siya ng tingin.
"Tang'na mo Ruck!" Kronack is glaring at him.
"Hindi ka matutulog sa tabi ko Kronack!" Sinapok ni Kalisz ang kakambal niya sa dibdib. "Ayoko makatabi ang kamukha ng gagong tinawag akong mataba!" Nagmartsa ito papunta sa sasakyan at sumakay.
"What the fuck! Ruck!?" Galit na mura sa kanya ng kapatid niya.
Ruckus tilted his head to his right, giving a smug grin to his twin that surely will annoy his brother even more.
"Serves you right twinie for comparing my dick to an acorn."
Iniwan niya itong nagngangalit ang panga dahil sa inis sa kanya. Pero pagkatalikod niya ay agad nawala ang ngisi ni Ruckus.
Kronack must have felt betrayed upon learning about his visits to Sunset but is quiet about it. Not to mention, he took lashes so the woman will be spared while Kronack was very much protective of him growing up. Protektado siya lagi ng kapatid niya pero ito siya tumanggap ng latigo para sa babaeng tumulong sa isang gago para masaktan ang asawa nito.
Ruckus sighed from the guilt, raking his hair and pulling it from frustration.
Sorry, twinie... I'm really sorry...
PINAHID NI Sunset ang luhang ayaw tumigil sa pagpatak mula sa mata niya.
Naiinis siya hindi lang sa mga luha kundi pati na rin sa panaginip niya. It's been years since she last had a dream of them. And until now it always makes her cry.
Tumitig siya sa kawalan at hindi pinansin ang binatang kinakausap siya mula sa labas ng banyo.
She just wants to be left alone. Hopefully, Ruckus will leave. The last thing she wants right now is him seeing her weak or having a glimpse of how shattered a person she is.
Yumuko siya at pinikit ang mga mata habang inaalala ang huling araw na nakita niya ang dalawang taong importante sa kanya.
"Sunset, do you think he'll punish us severely this time?"
Sa kabila ng dilim ng silid ay lumingon si Sunset sa pinanggalingan ng boses saka niya hinanap ang kamay nito. Sunset was able to find it and immediately felt the trembling hand of the girl her age.
Holding it tightly, Sunset spoke. "He will. He could even kill us this time."
Narinig niya ang pagsinghot nito kaya't umusog siya para yakapin ito.
"Sunset, I still don't want to die. I still want to experience a life free and without fear."
"You'll have it. I promise, someday we'll get out from here. But now, if he comes here and we see he's going to kill us, we'll do everything to kill him, okay?"
"C-can w-we do it? He terrifies me, Sunset. I can't move when he's around because of fear..."
"I'll do it. But only if he tries to kill one of us—"
"Ma...ma, food..."
Natigilan si Sunset ng marinig ang pagtawag sa kanya ng batang nasa isang panig ng silid.
Sunset pressed her lips together. "Stay here, I go take Midnight."
Tumayo siya at dahil sa memoryado niya na ang madilim na silid ay alam niya kung saan tutungo.
"Midnight..." Kinarga niya ito nang mag-umpisa itong umiyak. "Sshhh... Food will be served soon, okay? Don't cry, baby..."
"Mama..." Yumakap ang maliliit na braso nito sa kanya at sa kabila ng takot sa maaring mangyari mamaya ay napangiti si Sunset.
"I love you, Midnight but don't call me mama, okay? The monster will come soon he shouldn't know how you address me or he'll be mad."
Bumalik siya kung saan ang siya nakaupo kanina dala si Midnight.
"Sunset, I hope we all will have a better life someday. I hope Midnight will not grow up just like him. I'm afraid Midnight will be molded into someone who we hated most. I can't bear to see him so evil," anang katabi niyang nakayakap sa kanya at kay Midnight.
Napalunok si Sunset at mahigpit na niyakap si Midnight. Hindi siya makasagot dahil hindi niya alam. Hindi niya alam kung anong naghihintay sa kanilang tatlo.
"Why did you kill her?" Naitanong ni Sunset.
"I had enough. Ella was hurting Midnight and wanted to cut his arm. Midnight's cry was crippling my heart. I can't bear seeing him cry and in pain. Seeing him sad is enough but to watch his pain was too much."
Sunset sighed. "Fine then. If he asks who did it I will say, I. Okay? If we are to live and only get punishment then I'll take the punishment, okay? You will not tell that you did it—"
"But Sunset... You were already punished yesterday—"
"I'm fine. Worry not about me." Putol niya dito.
Sunset opened her eyes when she heard someone open and close her door cell.
Nagbuga siya ng hangin. Mukhang umalis na si Ruck.
Nagtagis ang bagang niya dahil sa nakaraan. Dahil sa panaginip niya ay bumalik lahat ng pangyayari ng araw na iyon.
The day the two of her loved ones were taken away from her. She was just sixteen when the two were forced out of that dark room leaving her behind. Until now she can still remember his word.
You are not to see them ever again! Your punishment for killing Ella is the three of you being separated, you will be lashed severely to make you remember to be obedient and from now on you will be alone. While they will be far from you. You angry me so much Sunset. Don't try to ever test me again or I will kill them.
And from that day, she never saw them again. Rene's constant reminder that he knew their whereabouts rendered her to kill the man even if she could already.
She tried to look for them but she couldn't. And only René could tell her where they are now. Pero ngayon parehas na silang nakakulong, malabo niya ng mahanap ang dalawa.
Mapait na napangiti si Sunset. Her hope is all gone. And yet again, she's in the dark. Like always. In the dark where her hopes for a better life together with them slowly vanished.
Tumayo si Sunset at binuksan ang ilaw saka naligo at nagbihis. Matapos ay lumabas siya ng banyo at inilaan ang oras sa pag-eensayo. Despite not having a lot of space, Sunset made sure she still get exercise. She needs it when she's living with criminals just like her.
Matapos ang pag-eensayo ay nilinis naman niya ang silid niya.
Prisoners have to clean their own room. Walang cleaner dito. But that's fine, marunong naman siyang maglinis. Iyon ang ginagawa niya sa mansyon ni René araw-araw habang lumalaki. Pagluluto lang ang hindi niya alam. Mariin na ipinagbawal ni René na pumasok siya ng kusina sa mansyon nito. Takot ata ang hayop na lasunin niya, tch.
After cleaning, Sunset sat on the floor to rest. She will have to wait another boring hour for her shift in the factory. How she hopes she'll have mp4 with upbeat music. She would love to dance while listening to one and waiting for her shift.
Ilang minuto na siguro siyang nakaupo sa sahig nang marinig niya ang pagbukas ng pintuan ng selda niya.
Sunset looked up and was surprised to see three people she never ever expect to see in her cell.
Hmm... This interesting...
The Crown's matriarch and patriarch and...
Ahh...
The twin of my favorite Crown.
Clfern