Aquilo Thrasyllus Morocov
After telling it to Kiana Louise she starts to break down again. It's really hard to see her in this kind of state. If she's broken then I am more than that.
"H-How about y-your marriage proposal to Mommy?" Huminga ako ng malalim bago siya kinulong sa aking mga bisig.
"I told you that it's just an act right? I need her by my side to keep you on my track and also to know more about the sudden death of your father." She stiffened before pulling out of my embrace. Her lips are quivering and her face is pale. She looks so worn out.
"H-How about that?" I held her face dearly before giving a light peck on her lips.
"Please stay calm my love, promise me." She nodded absentmindedly. Napailing na lang ako dito bago sinabi ang totoo. I didn't expect that today will be the day that she will know everything regarding the awful past of her family. I'm not pitying Kiana Louise because I know she's strong. I am anxious for her.
"I-I'm suspecting that your father didn't die naturally," panimula ko na tinanguan nito. I sigh before continuing. "When his body is under autopsy they saw fragments of poisonous chemical inside of his body. Isa itong nakakamatay na lason kaya bihira lang ito gamitin o makita. But I'm surprised because when I hired an investigator all clues that they can get pointed at Karina and a man named John. But clues are not enough that's why I sacrifice myself to become Karina's lover so that I can prove that she's a murderer." Kiana Louise's mouth gaped open. Natutop nito ang bibig at nanginig ang kaniyang katawan.
"P-Pero bakit ikaw pa mismo ang gagawa Aquilo? You can just hire somebody!"
"My love, I can't do anything if I am not involved. Kahit anong bungkal ko sa baho ng nanay mo walang lumalabas, it is as if she has a huge backer." Mas lalo itong umiyak sa narinig. Hindi ko naman mapigilang yakapin ito ng mahigpit. I'm so sorry for her. Kung pwede ko lang tanggalin lahat ng sakit na nararamdaman niya ginawa ko na.
"A-Aquilo, p-please let me get out of here. Ilayo mo ako Aquilo. I'm scared." I clenched my teeth before nodding. Her pleading voice is enough to hurt me to death. I don't like this.
"Of course my love. I will do anything you want."
Tumayo na ako bago inalalayan si Kiana Louise na halos kapusin na sa pag-iyak. Bago lumabas ng kwarto sinigurado ko muna na walang tao sa hallway. Nang masiguradong okay na hinigit ko na si Kiana palabas ng mansion nila.
I gently seat her in the passenger seat of my car before going to the driver's seat. Nang makapasok ako nakita ko na tulala lang si Kiana sa kawalan kaya ako na ang nagkabit ng seatbelt niya.
"Babe?" I called. She looked at me before smiling. Her eyes are drowsy and her lips keep on quivering.
"I-l'll just take a quick sleep, Aquilo." She weakly said using her hoarse voice. I nodded before reclining her chair. Inayos ko ang higa niya bago kinumutan gamit ang hinubad kong coat kahapon.
After looking at Kiana again I started the engine, but before driving out of the Mansion. I fished my phone out of my pocket and dialed Calliber's number. After a few rings, he finally picked up the phone.
"Damn man it's the middle of the night!" He shriek.
"I need help," sagot ko. Sandaling tumahimik ang kabilang linya bago ito sumagot.
"Papatay ba tayo ng tao?" Tanong nito na ikinatawa ko.
"Soon."
". . .So what do you need?" I looked at the screen of my car to see the time. It's already 4:50 am.
"I need one of your houses."
"Seriously man, what happened?" I sigh and I know he heard it.
"Holy shit, you are damn serious! My rest house in Tagaytay is vacant. You two can have it." Calli exclaimed before I even said something. Mabuti na lang at marunong itong makiramdam.
"Thanks, man. I owe you this one," I sincerely said. He just chuckled on the other line.
"No problem, Aquilo. I with the other will visit you tomorrow but for now, rest there 'kay?" A genuine smile curved on my lips. That's why I really like my friends because they know when to be a lunatic and when to be a samaritan.
"Sure."
We ended the call afterward as I maneuver the steering wheel in the direction of Tagaytay. Calliber's rest house there is good. We already used it when Primotivo had his 30th birthday kaya naman alam ko kung na saan ito.
I glanced once again in Kiana's direction and saw her sound as sleep. She's like a baby. I reached her cheek and stroked it gently.
"I'll end this as soon as possible, I promised." Hanggang nandito ang nanay ni Kiana maaari itong mas mapahamak. At iyon ang pinaka ayaw ko, I can do everything just to make her safe. At kung kinakailangan ko siyang ilayo sa Nanay niya gagawin ko, especially to her Uncle. That guy is an ex-convict, dati itong miyembro ng Mafia at naniniwala ako na siya ang na sa likod kung bakit wala akong mahalukay na baho ni Karina. Parehas na siraulo ang dalawa.
That two devil, I'll make them rot in hell. I'll avenge Mr. Madrid's death, not just for Kiana but also for the sake of my promise to him.
"Make them pay Aquilo."
That sentence still lingers in my memories. I clenched my fist with anger. A sinister smile curved on my lips as I remember all of my Aces. I'm sure that Karina will surely lose her face when this triumph card of mine is finally shown to the public. Masyado pa naman itong maingat si imahe niya sa publiko.
After an hour of driving, we finally arrived at Calliber's Rest House. I deeply sighed because of tiredness. I unbuckled my seatbelt before looking at my Kiana.
I leaned closer to her before reaching her face, she's so lovely. I closed my eyes before kissing her forehead. Linayo ko na ang mukha ko dito bago maingat na lumabas ng sasakyan.
I open the door on Kiana's side before pulling her over. I closed the door when I successfully placed her in my arms. Mabilis na akong pumasok sa loob ng rest house habang maingat na karga si Kiana Louise.
This house only had three rooms kaya naman iyong pinakauna na ang binuksan ko. I gently placed Kiana Louise on the bed before covering her whole body with a black blanket.
"Sleep well, baby." I kissed her lips before exiting her room and making sure that everything is good.
I sighed as I walk towards the bar area of the house. I help myself to get drinks before sitting on the stool chair.
Uminom lang ako ng uminom habang nag-iisip kung paano pababagsakin si Karina. I hissed when I remember her kissing me. If this is not in the plan then I'll never let her taste my lips. I sip into my shot glass before pouring another one. Iinumin ko na sana ito kaso lang may umagaw nito sa akin.
"Drinking alone is unfair Aquilo. Alam mo bang may kasabihan na nakakamatay ang pag-inom ng mag-isa?" Turan ni Rogue bago ininom lahat ng laman ng baso ko. Matapos nito umupo siya sa tabi ko bago muling nagsalin.
"Care to share your thoughts?" He asked me before placing the new shot glass in front of me.
"Where're the others?" Tanong ko. Hindi kasi ito pupunta dito ng mag-isa, sigurado akong kabuntot na naman nito iyong iba.
He tsked before rolling his eyes. "They're outside. Nagpapatayan pa kung sino ang unang gagamit ng banyo."
Napailing na lang ako dahil sa sinabi niya. Minsan talaga baliw ang mga iyon.
"Even Saint?" Rogue laughs almost like a maniac. Pinagpapasalamat ko na soundproof ang mga kwarto dito. Hindi muna kasi pwedeng magising si Kiana Louise, she needs lots of rest.
"No man, he's on the phone. You know, a quicky with her sister." Anito habang tumataas ang kilay. Maliit naman akong napangite.
"Shut up Montessor, let me in first!" Nabaling ang tingin namin sa tatlong taong pumasok.
"You shut up Ruiz, ako ang unang gagamit!" Pabagsak na umupo sa harapan namin si Saint bago nagsalin ng alak sa isang baso at malamig na tumingin sa akin.
"I can see that you are still alive," anito bago ngumise. Umismid na lang ako at tumingin sa dalawang taong nag-aaway.
"Ako na kasi!"
"Shut the fuck up, napakaarte mo. Ako muna!" Napahilot ako sa aking sintido dahil palakas ng palakas ang boses nilang dalawa.
"Ako nga kasi!"
"Rest house ko ito kaya ako ang una!"
"Presyohan mo at bibilhin ko. Baka pati buhay mo bilhin ko!"
"Tang—"
"Can you shut up!" Mabilis na umiwas ang dalawa nang batuhin sila ni Rogue ng hawak na bote. Tumama ito sa dingding at nagliparan ang mga bubog galing dito. Takot na bumaling sa amin sila Primotivo at nagtaas ng kamay.
"C-Calm down Dorcas!" Bualals ni Calliber nang babatuhin ulit sana sila ni Dorcas. Napailing na lang ako bago hinawakan ang kamay ng huli.
"Calm down Dorcas. Lumabas ka na naman ng walang pahintulot ni Rogue." Naiiling kong ani. Sumimangot naman ito bago naghalumbaba.
"Fuck off." I just sigh before looking in Primo and Calli's direction.
"Seat." They obediently do what I said. Pinagpapasalamat ko na tumahimik na din dahil kung hindi puputulin ko talaga ang mga iniingatan ng mga ito.
"So what's the plan?" Na basag ang katahimikan nang magtanong ang kanina pang tahimik na si Saint.
"You tell me," I suggest.
Saint smiled innocently before nodding. In this kind of situation, I know that Saint Yves already had a plan on his head. He's a mad genius, sobrang talino nito kaya nagtataka ako kung bakit baliw na baliw ito sa kapatid niya.
But who knows? The forbidden it becomes, the tastier it will be.
"I already gather evidence. Kailan ang launch?" Nakangiseng tanong ni Calliber. Inisang inom ko naman ang laman ng aking baso bago ngumise.
"Later." They all whistle.
"That's nice but how about the other one. It's John, right?" Tanong ni Primotivo bago tumingin kay Dorcas. Humalakhak naman si Rogue bago ako inakbayan. Mukhang bumalik na ito sa dati.
"Don't underestimate my capabilities, Primo. I'm more than my tattoos." Napailing na lang ako dahil totoo ito.
Rogue Dorcas is a former Mafia Boss before becoming a general, a politician and a governor. Muntik pa nga itong tumakbong presidente ng Pilipinas kung hindi lang namin pinigilan. Although he has the power and fame, in his state of mind siguradong babagsak ang Pilipinas. Anyway, he's a college professor now. He's been in this job for over a year.
"Okay, so what did you dig?" Tanong ko. Rogue handed over to us the folder his been holding for a moment now.
"My great friend X gave me that man's profile and illegal businesses. He can also pull some string to put that guy behind bar,m or do you want to bring him behind Satan?" I chuckled at what Rogue said. I love the latter.
"I prefer the latter," I said before grinning. We all laugh before continuing our plan. This should go smoothly. Hindi ko mapapatawad si Karina sa mga ginawa niya kay Kiana. That evil woman should be put behind bars.
Alam ko kasing bukod sa pagsasalita at pasimpleng pananakit sa anak, sinasabotahe rin nito lahat ng business na itinatayo ni Kiana. At alam ko rin na inaakit nito lahat ng mga lalaking napapalapit kay Kiana Louise. I'm somehow thankful for it. Ang ayaw ko lang ay ang makitang umiiyak si Kiana kapag-iniiwan siya ng mga nagiging boyfriend niya.
I don't want to see her miserable again. I want to spoil Kiana Louise with everything I have, I want to give her the world because she deserves it. My Kiana Louise Madrid deserves everything, and I'll make sure that she will have it. Be it happiness or even the head of her mother.
"I'll go upstairs." Paalam ko bago iniwan ang apat na abala pa rin sa pagpaplano. I know that they can handle it. For now, I need some rest. I'm very much worn out to the point that any minute now I might collapse.
Maingat kong binuksan ang pintuan ng kwartong kinalalagyan ni Kiana Louise bago pumasok. Dahan-dahan akong lumapit sa kaniya bago humiga sa kaniyang tabi. Her warmth makes my tired body at rest.
"I love you so much. From the beginning until the end," I whisper before scooping her gently and kissing her hair. I'll do everything for this girl. I'll protect her until my last breath.
I promise.