Pagliko namin ulit ni Zero, pareho kaming tumigil nang makita namin ang isang grupo ng mga kalalakihan na nakaharang sa daan.
Merong mga nakasandal sa motorbikes, and some of them were holding weapons in their hands. Their eyes were looking menacingly at us na parang alam na alam nilang darating kami. I swallowed hard as I felt a bead of sweat trickle down my forehead.
Hingal na hingal na ako, so was the guy standing beside me. Hitsura pa lang ng mga lalaking nasa harapang namin parang alam ko na kung sinu-sino sila.
"Z-zero," I stuttered nervously saka ako lumingon para tignan siya.
His features were relaxed kahit alam na niyang napapalibutan na kami ng mga miyembro ng Deadlock. Samantalang ako naman, kulang na lang hukayin ko na ang lupa saka ibaon ang sarili ko para tapos na lahat.
"Stop right there," said the familiar cold voice of a man.
Lumingon ako at nakita ko yung Gian na hawak ang baril niya at nakatutok sa amin. He was breathing heavily, too just like us.
Gaano kalayo na nga ba ang tinakbo namin? Di ko alam. Basta ang alam ko lang- kung kanina pagod na pagod na ako... ngayon, hindi na ako makakilos at gusto ko na ding mag-collapse sa kinatatayuan ko. Di ko lang magawa dahil sa sitwasyon ko ngayon.
"What are you going to do? Kill us?" tanong ni Zero na kala mo nagtatanong lang siya sa tindahan kung may tinda silang kendi.
Napakunot ang noo ko at pinunasan ko ang pawis na tumutulo na mula sa noo ko.
Ba't ang abnormal nitong lalaking ito? Mamamatay na nga kaming pareho tapos nagagawa niya pa ring maging kalmado?
Kinasa nung Gian, yung baril niya and he stepped forward.
"Yeah," sagot niya without even thinking twice.
Zero scoffed and he put his hand on his pockets. "Can you really do that?"
I saw Gian, gritted his teeth and his eyes sharpened to him. "What makes you think I can't?"
Nagpabalik-balik lang ang tingin ko sa kanilang dalawa hanggang sa may kung sinong pumutol ng katahimikan.
"Taeng hayup ka, Zero! Bumalik ka pa dito? KAFAL MO DIN ANO?!" sigaw ng isang pamilyar na boses mula sa grupo ng mga lalaki sa likuran namin ni Zero. "At isinama mo pa yang mukang janitor pish na yan!" and he eyed me.
Napangiwi ako when I saw the same man I hit last night standing with the rest of the guys. May cast siya sa kanang kamay niya at plaster sa bridge ng ilong niya. May cut din siya sa labi at medyo, uhhmm... puro pasa yung muka niya.
Galit na galit at namumula yung mga mata niya habang nakatingin sa akin, parang feeling ko kulang na lang eh bugahan niya ako ng apoy mula sa kinatatayuan ko.
T-teka? Ako ba yung tinutukoy niyang janitor pish? Este, fish?
"What the hell happened to you?" tanong nung Gian sa kanya with a frown on his face, his gun still aiming to us.
Napalagok yung lalaki na kung hindi ako nagkakamali ay Ban ang pangalan. Nag-iba yung hitsura niya at halata kong biglang ninerbiyos nang makita niya yung Gian, saka niya iniwas niya yung mga mata niya.
"Uh-eh," Ban swallowed hard, tapos sumagi yung tingin niya sa akin.
Napahakbang ako papunta sa likuran ni Zero kasi biglang tumindig yung balahibo ko sa sobrang talas ng tingin niya.
Siyempre guilty ako. Ako may gawa nun, eh. May kasalanan ako sa kanya and I guess saying 'I'm sorry,' won't count.
Bumuntong hininga yung Ban tapos tumingin siya kay Gian. "A-ano, n-nalaglag lang s-sa hagdan."
I saw the guy standing beside Ban tried his best to keep himself from laughing. Pati rin si Zero napakagat labi din para pigilan ang tawa niya.
Namula bigla yung muka ni Ban at siniko niya ng malakas yung katabi niya na nakasuot ng black and white stripped shirt at naka-glasses.
"Taragis! Tatawa-tawa ka diyan End?" he yelled to his friend. "Tumigil ka nga! ANG EPAL MO!"
"I'm not laughing!" the other guy defended himself, kahit na ang pula na ng muka niya kakapigil. Pero makalipas din ang dalawang segundo, sumuko na siya. Humagalpak na siya katatawa.
"AHAHAHA! Oo, Gian. Nalaglag yan sa hagdan! AHAHA!" he wept and he hugged his stomach. He's laughing so hard na naiiyak na siya. "Nabalian yung muka kaya nagkaganyan!!! AHAHAH!"
Si Zero, tumawa na din siya pero di gaano kalakas dun sa katabi ni Ban.
"AYY! PAKSHIT! TUMAHIMIK NGA KAYO!!!" sigaw nung Ban at sinuntok niya sa balikat yung katabi niya but the guy kept on laughing. "BUWISEEEET!!!"
Napabuntong hininga ako at napakunot ng noo.
I turned the other way at nagtagpo yung mata namin nung Gian. I felt chills again.
Grabe, talaga siya makatingin. Nakakatakot. Parang mapapasok ako sa isang nakakatakot at kakaibang dimension pagtumitingin ako kaya iniwas ko din agad yung mga mata ko.
"You think I'd believe you?" sabi nung Gian sa kanila. "Explain yourself later. Let's finish this up first." and he motioned his head to Zero and me.
Mas kinilabutan ako lalo at namanhid yung buong katawan ko sa magkahalong kaba at takot na bigla kong naramdaman.
Ito na ba yung araw na mapapa-massacre at salvage ako ng sabay? Gusto ko nang umiyak talaga, pero nakaka-distract itong katabi ko. Parang wala lang talaga sa kanya ang nangyayari ngayon.
"Put your gun down," sabi ng isang pamilyar na boses.
Natigilan ako when I saw Dylan already standing behind Gian.
D-dylan? P-papanong nandito siya? T-teka! Nananaginip ba ako?
I blinked and I slapped my cheek. Nung nakaramdam ako ng sakit, napatunayan ko ding hindi ako nagha-hallucinate. Humigpit ang hawak ni Gian sa baril niyang nakatutok sa amin and his eyebrows met.
My mouth fell open nung na-realize ko na si Wesley ay nakatayo na rin sa likuran ni Gian. Meron din siyang baril na hawak at nakatutok din sa lalaki.
"Put it down or we'll blow your head off," sabi ni Wesley with this weird coldness in his voice.
With Wesley's words, dahan-dahang naglabasan ang fifteen division leaders ng VIOS na naka-white tux, and I can see that all of them are ready to fight anytime.
Sa biglang pagdating nilang lahat bigla akong nabuhayan ng loob. Para akong nakakita ng liwanag sa dilim, tapos siniko ko ng konti si Zero.
"Paanong nandito din sila?" I asked him habang nakatulala sa kanila.
He chuckled a bit then he looked down to me while his hands were still on his pockets. "We all came here together. Kasabay ko silang dumating dito. Di mo alam?"
I blinked at nanlaki ang mga mata ko. I look at Zero disbelievingly.
"A-ano? Kasama mo silang pumunta dito?" I half yelled.
He nodded with a smile.
Aba, eh kung kasama niya naman palang...? Anong sense na tumakbo pa kami ng pagkalayo-layo? Edi sana- ARGGGHHH!!!!! Masisiraan talaga ako ng bait sa mga nangyayari sa akin!! AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
"You really are looking for war, aren't you, Elrick?" tanong ni Gian sa kanya.
"No," sabi ni Zero. "Just like what I was telling you earlier, I'm here for no reason."
"BULLSHIT!" Gian, growled and he threatened us with the gun on his hand. "Don't fucking lie to me! I know you're up to something that's why you are here! So tell me now what that shit is before I fucking loose my patience!"
Silence reverberated and filled the whole street for almost a minute. Lahat nagpapakiramdaman. No one dared to move, until a low yet very audible sound was heard by every ears. Tunog ng isang kinakasang baril.
Lumingon ako mula sa pagkakaharap ko kay Gian at nakita ko yung lalaking Ban ang pangalan at yung katabi niya na tinatawanan siya kanina. Both of them now have guns on theirs hands at nakatutok na sa amin pareho nila Zero. 'Yung mga lalaking kasama nila, they slowly walked towards the VIOS men in white tux at nagtapatan sila, their own weapons were held tightly on their hands.
Dylan and Wesley stayed on their spot to keep the VIOS defense.
To picture things out, this is the situation.
Sina Dylan at Wesley, nakatutok ang mga baril nila kay Gian. Sina Gian, Ban and the other guy whose name was End, nakatutok naman ang mga baril sa amin ni Zero. And the rest of the gang members were one-on-one. Naghahamunan ng tingin, nagta-tantsahan ng lakas base sa lakas ng dating at tikas ng tindig.
Tumahimik ulit ang paligid hanggang sa binasag ni Zero muli ang katahimikan.
"Just let us go. Wala naman na kaming ibang pakay," sabi ni Zero sa lalaking kaharap namin. "Come on, Reid."
Walang reaksyon yung Gian. Nakatingin lang siya kay Zero na akala mo siya lang ang nakikita niya, without a care even if there are two guns aiming his head.
Ako naman sukdulan na ang kabang nararamdaman ko feeling ko maiihi na ako.
I whined inside and I bit my lip. Tinapunan ulit ako ng tingin nung Gian kaya sinamantala ko na ang pagkakataon para gumawa ng hakbang.
"P-pwede bang ibaba na lang natin ang mga baril natin?" I asked them.
Lumingon silang lahat sa akin at tinapunan ako ng tingin na tumahimik daw ako.
Yumuko na lang ako to hide my frowning face.
Sinusubukan ko lang naman ayusin ang gulo sa diplomatikong pamamaraan, eh. Masama ba yun?
Bumuntong hininga ako at tumingin ulit ako sa paligid ko as the cold wind of October's night blew against my face.
Ang mga tao sa urban area, ganito ba talaga? Laging nagsasakitan, naghahamunan?.
Then, I heard a coin dropped.
Ting!
"Akin yan!" sigaw ni Congo, a VIOS leader sa isang Deadlock member na kaharap niya.
"Finders, keepers! Di mo ba alam iyon? Akin na itong PISO mo! WAHAAHA!" he teased and he let out his tongue saka niya itinaas yung baryang hawak niya out of the other guy's reach.
Namula yung muka nung Congo sa inis. "Di ko naman nawala yan para mahanap mo, ah! Nabitawan ko lang! AKIN NA YAN! IBALIK MO! AKEEEN NAAA!"
Natiiglan yung kausap niya at nag-isip sandali kung ibabalik ba niya. "Ayoko nga. Kung gusto mo bilhin mo na lang," he handed out his hand with all his glory. "Limang piso."
Napangiwi ako. Ano daw? Tama ba yung rinig ko sa bentahang nagaganap? May mga... sayad ba itong mga lalaking ito?
Nagsalubong lalo ang kilay nung Congo at sinapok niya ng malakas yung kaharap niya. "AKIN YAN!! IBALIK MO SA AKIN!!!"
'Yung ginawa niyang iyon, parang nagsilbing pandingas ng nagbabadyang digmaan.
Sabay-sabay silang lahat na nagsigawan at nagsimulang magbugbugan. At nagmukang isang malaking arena ng free style combat ang lugar kung nasaan kaming lahat.
I felt a nerve twitch in my forehead.
At ang lahat ng ito ay dahil sa piso? Unbelievable.
-------
BANG!
"AAHHH!!" I yelled at yumuko ako agad hoping na sana di ako matamaan habang nagpapalitan ng bala ang mga lalaki sa harapan ko.
All the men before me started fighting.
Zero against Gian, Dylan against the End guy and Wesley versus Ban.
Si Zero tried punching Gian pero nakakaiwas agad si Gian sa suntok niya. All that Zero managed to do to Gian was to disarm him. Pagkaagaw niya sa baril, binato niya agad and it landed on my foot.
Si Dylan at yung End naman, they were exchanging bullets. Nakatago si Dylan sa likuran ng isang pader, habang yung kalaban niya, ay nasa likuran ng patong-patong na lumang drums. Si Wesley at Ban naman, nagsusuntukan na din sila gaya nila Zero.
I blinked twice.
Teka? Asan na yung mga baril nila? Bakit di nila ginagamit?
"Leche kang puchanginis ka! Pag yung muka ko talaga nadaplisan mo magdasal-dasal ka na!" banta ni Ban kay Wesley.
Wesley, tried punching him on the face, pero naka-iwas agad si Ban at napuruhan niya sa sikmura si Wesley.
Wesley collapsed on his knees pero nang makabawi siya, tinignan niya si Ban. "The hell? Mukha mo pala yan? Akala ko paa. Pati bakit puro linta?" he motioned to his bruises.
"Gagu! Pakyu!" sigaw ni Ban sa kanya and they started exchanging punches again.
Sa madaling sabi, ako lang ang hindi busy.
Takbo na kaya ako? Pagkakataon ko na ito, eh!
I stood up at tatakbo na nga sana ako paalis nang makita kong bumagsak si Zero sa sahig and he groaned, clutching his stomach.
He spitted out blood and he saw me turning my back.
Natigilan ako at napakunot ang noo ko.
"Is that all you've got, huh?" tanong nung Gian sa kanya and he lifted Zero up by grabbing the collar of his white shirt.
"Z-zero!" I gasped when I saw his poor situation.
Susuntukin na dapat nung Gian si Zero but I immediately grabbed the guy's arm to stop him just in time.
Di ko alam kung saan ko nahugot yung bilis at lakas para mapigilan siya, basta ang mahalaga matulungan ko lang si Zero ngayon sa sitwasyon niya.
God! Sobrang kawawa na yung hitsura ni Zero. Kanina pa ako naka-upo sa tabi pero di ko man lang napansin na... DIYOS KO! EWAN KO BA KUNG BAKIT, BUT I FEEL VERY GUILTY!
Zero was so beaten up at may bruise na din siya sa tabi ng kanang mata niya from one of Gian's hard punches. I bit my lip and I sucked in a large breath.
"Stop" ang sabi ko sa leader ng Deadlock na kaharap ko ngayon.
Iust as expected, I was greeted by another spine chilling, death glare. Kahit nasisindak ako sa hitsura niya, I have to hide my fear. I swallowed hard and looked at him intently.
"P-pwede bang tama na?" I asked him. He just stared at me impatiently.
"P-please?" I added.
My heart was thumping madly at yung mga mata niyang nakatitig sa akin- para bang they are making their way to get inside me. Nakakapangilabot talaga.
"Get your fucking hands off me" he said threateningly.
Ginawa ko agad yung sinabi niya without even thinking twice na tipong napaso yung kamay ko sa paghawak sa kanya. I thought he was going to stop but I was shocked when I saw him tried punching Zero again, buti na lang napigilan ni Zero yung suntok niya with his hands.
"Teka! Tama na!" I tried yelling kahit na nalulunod ng ingay mula sa mga lalaking nagpapalitan rin ng kamao sa likuran namin ang boses ko.
Sinubukan kong paghiwalayin sila pareho nila Zero by grabbing their arms away from each other. Kaso nabigla ako when I felt something hit me hard on the face.
PHAG!!!
Sandali akong natigilan at napatulala, wondering what happened.
Nung nalasahan ko na ang coppery taste ng dugo ko at ang sting sa gilid ng labi ko, I narrowed my eyes on the stranger beside Zero and me.
"Did you just punch me?" I asked him, trying to calm myself down.
"Move out of the way you fuck!" he growled to me. He pushed me, hinatak niya si Zero at sinuntok niya ulit.
Zero's back landed on the ground sa lakas ng suntok sa kanya. My hand clenched at nagsalubong na ang dalawang kilay ko.
"SABI KO TAMA NA!" I yelled. "STOP IT!"
Pero parang walang narinig yung Gian. He walked towards Zero again para ulitin uli ang ginawa niya.
That did it. I lost my patience. Pakiramdam ko umakyat yung init ng lupa sa ulo ko at yung pisi ng pasensya ko biglang naputol, nasunog at naging abo.
Ang matindi, nakaramdam ako ng di maipaliwanag na galit sa taong ito. Siguro dahil wala siyang awa at kahit na wala ng laban ang tao sa kanya- patuloy pa din siya sa pananakit.
I grabbed his arm and I tackled him down para hindi na siya makakilos, making a loud thud. His stomach was flat on the ground as I kept his right hand in place behind him.
-------
I was about to punch Zero's stupid face again when I was suddenly grabbed from behind my back, away from him.
Everything happened so fast, next thing I knew, I felt a hard blow on my stomach and my right cheek was already against the moist ground, my right hand locked on my back.
"Arggghh! SHIT!" I growled in pain.
Male gasps were heard everywhere.
DAMN IT!
I tried looking up but I can't. All I managed to see were the faces of my men looking so surprised in my current situation.
"Ang sabi ko tumigil ka na di ba?" I heard a man yell behind me. "I told it to you in Tagalog and in English, too! Don't tell me you didn't understand! Or do I still have to say it in twelve different languages before you grasp the thought?"
The guy's hold on my arm tightened, making me wince in pain- again.
"FUCK! BASTARD!" I roared.
-------
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko at mas kumulo lalo ang dugo ko nung marinig kong tawagin niya ako gamit yung salitang 'Bastard'.
Tinawag na nga niya akong 'Bitch' nung nakaraan tapos ngayon pati 'Bastard' din? ABA! Kung hindi rin abusado itong taong ito ano?
"Anong sabi mo, huh? Take that back!" I said at mas hinigpitan ko pa yung hawak ko sa braso niya making him groan in pain.
"SHIT! FUCK YOU! I'M GOING TO KILL YOU ONCE I GET OUT OF HERE!" he growled. "ASSHOLE!"
I gritted my teeth.
AT TINAWAG PA NIYA AKONG ASSSS-SUS KO PO DIYOS KO! PATAWARIN NIYO PO AKO SA KUNG ANO MANG MAGAGAWA KO NGAYON!!!
Sobrang galit na galit na talaga ako ngayon, pakiramdam ko umuusok na ang tenga ko.
I narrowed my eyes on him. "Iyon eh kung makaka-alis ka pa diyan! Ang lakas ng loob mong sabihan ako ng ganyan samantalang ikaw itong nasa alanganing sitwasyon? Isa pa kung meron mang BASTARD between the two of us, it's no other than you!"
"DAMN IT!" he growled once more. "LET GO OF ME YOU PIECE OF SHIT!!!"
Nagasalubong lalon ang kilay ko sa paulit-ulit na pangi-insulto niya sa akin. "NO! ROT IN HELL! DAPAT LANG SAYO YAN! I SWEAR TO GOD I'LL NEVER LET YOU GO! MAKAKAWALA KA LANG DIYAN KAPAG PATAY NA AKO!"
And I shot him the deadliest death glare I could ever manage.
"THEN DIE! FUCK YOU!" he tried looking back at me pero hindi niya magawa kasi nga tinapakan ko bigla yung likuran niya para hindi siya lalo makakilos. "LET GO OF ME AND I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW!!!"
For a while, I tried keeping him in place. Buti na lang, I have the upperhand kaya hindi naging mahirap para sa akin.
Natigilan ako when I realized na hindi na gumagalaw ang mga tao sa paligid at nakatingin na lang sila lahat sa amin.
I looked around. Parang estatwa lahat and their heads were turned to me.
Sina End at Dylan na kanina lang ay nagbabarilan, nakatulala , nakatingin na lang sa amin at sa parehong lalaking nasa paanan ko na akala mo nakakita sila ng multo.
Si Zero, his mouth was slightly open and his eyes were also huge just like the rest.
All the members of the VIOS and Deadlock were also stunned. Yung kamao pa nung iba, nakatigil sa ere kasama nung mga armaments nila.
Si Wesley at Ban, lalo na si Ban, his mouth was open wide, kulang na lang pasukan ng langaw yung bibig niya sa gulat na reaksyon meron siya.
"Puta. P-paanong...?" I heard him utter in a mere whisper habang nakatulala sa amin.
I raised an eyebrow.
Teka, parang may mali ata?
"H-hoy!" I tried calling Zero's attention but he didn't even budge. He just kept on starring at me, US, habang nagpupumiglas ang lalaki sa ibaba ko, gaya ng lahat. "A-anong nangyayari?"
"DAMN IT! I SAID LET GO!" sigaw ulit nung lalaking tinatawag nilang Gian na hawak ko.
Kumunot ulit ang noo ko at naalala ko yung inis na nararamdaman ko sa kanya.
"Fine! I'll let you go if you spare us all," I told him.
"In hell that's gonna happen!" he yelled at patuloy niyang pinilit na manlaban.
"Edi wag! Magpa-deliver ka na ng hapunan mo dahil dito ka na kakain at dito ka na din matutulog!" I dared him at tinapakan ko yung likuran niya, making him cough and groaned in defeat.
"DAMN YOU!" he growled.
Pinanlisikan ko siya ng mata kahit na he's having a hard time looking at me back dahil nga halos maging isa na yung muka niya at yung lapag. "Let's see kung sino ang mas matibay sa ating dalawa! AKALA MO HA!"
Kung alam lang nitong lalaking ito kung anong mga pinagdadadaanan ko sa buhay, hinding-hindi niya pipiliing kalabanin ako.
"Shit!" he hissed.
He slammed his other free hand on the ground and he stopped fussing.
For a while, inobserbahan ko siya pero hindi na siya nagpumiglas pa.
"I'll take that as a yes," I told him.
I felt him sight beneath my shoes. "FUCK YOU!"
I bit my lip.
Nako! Kung pwede lang sana kanina pa kita binatukan! Ang talas masyado ng dila nitong lalaking ito nakakarindi na!
But still, I can't help but smile inside and feel glad. Kasi kahit papaano- I managed to find a way to escape from this situation with the rest of the VIOS guys. Sinenyasan ko si Zero na umalis na kami and he nodded his head, making all the men in tux including Wesley and Dylan to do what Zero was telling them.
Binitawan ko na din si Gian and he stood up with his eyes more intimidating than before. Hindi ko alam kung bakit hindi ako tinatablan ngayon. Siguro kasi galit pa din ako.
Nung lumalakad na kami ni Zero palayo, I stopped when that guy with a rotten mouth called me.
Paglingon ko, muntik na akong matamaan ng uppercut mula sa kanya, salamat na lang sa mga naging trainings ko nung athlete pa ako, I have the ability to dodge a short range attack while it's still a foot away from me.
I heard gasps from all around me but I decided to ignore them. My attention instinctively went to the guy on a grey shirt, with a scowling face, surrounded by his dark, intimidating aura. Sa lalaking kung tawagin ng lahat ay boss ng Deadlock.
I extended my hand and I hit his nose using my hand. Making his nose bleed sa lakas ng impact ng atakeng ginawa ko.
Sa totoo lang, I was surprised to see na hindi man lang siya napaatras at hindi man lang niya kinailangan ng oras para maka-recover. Bumuwelo siya agad para suntukin ako.
Hindi ko alam kung anong meron, pero parang something inside told me that he's going to hit me to the gut so I avoided it just in time. Siguro nga kasi... madali siyang basahin kahit na totoong he has good techniques and his style was impressive.
Sinalo ko yung kamao niya using one hand and I used my other hand to pull him towards me. At nung dumating na ang tamang tiyempo- I wrestled him and threw him down to the ground with his back now touching the ground making a loud thud- again.
Mahirap mambalibag ng kalaban lalo na pag masmabigat ng di hamak sayo- but once you learned the proper way to do so, you'll find out yourself that it's just a piece of cake.
Isa lang ang sigurado ko. What I did surely hurt him.
"TANG-INA! GIAN!" narinig kong sumigaw si Ban sa likod ko pero di ko siya nilingon.
My breathing was hard as I stared angrily at the defeated man before me. I stepped on his chest at isinuot ko yung hood ng jacket ko.
"I can't believe you'd attack someone whose back is turned" I remarked while hiding my anger to him. "Ang daya mo."
Parang hindi siya lalaki.
He stared at me like I'm something that has to be crushed immediately. "In this world nothing is fair, moron."
------
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