#SignAContract
"Anong klaseng ballpen? HBW ba 'yan?"
"Baka Panda."
"Fountain pen, matulis e."
"Ay wow. Sosyal."
"I really wanted to know what happened back then."
"I wish I was there."
"I was there."
"Talaga?"
"Yep, grabe kaya kaba ko no'n."
"Nyahahaha! I'm Rindelle fucking Snow! Trust me."
"All hail."
"So, what happened?"
"Teka, hindi ka kasi masyadong curious e. Chill lang, mahina kalaban."
"And you're not angry he robbed your bank?"
"Bakit pa? Tapos na rin naman 'yon. Isa pa, without that money we wouldn't have built Orpheus."
"Touché."
"Kwento mo na papi."
"Yes. . . And it all started with a tomato juice. . ."
Zen.
Office of the COO,
Ocampo Bank.
"Please tell me, why are we here again?" Nag-aalalang tanong ko kay Rin. Nasa labas kami ng pinto ng opisina ng COO ng kompanya ng pamilya ko. In fact, opisina ng tito ko. And we're supposed to be at school, pero malakas ang kapit ni Rin sa Dean at kay Ms. Lougie.
I'm scared.
"Don't worry, ako bahala sa'yo." He winked at me and opened the door. Like I'm assured one bit. Imagine a guy smaller than you say that. I actually don't know what to feel.
On second thought, I feel like puking.
"Who are y—Zeke! My boy! What brings you here?" My uncle greeted with a maniac grin and twinkling eyes. Sa sobrang gwapo ko, hindi lang ako ang nagkakagusto sa sarili ko.
Nakakainis lang kasi. Ang dami ko ng iniisip e. Una 'yong confession ni Shin. Pangalawa, nakakasakal na si Miki. Pupunta lang ako sa studio kasi nagmomodel ako tapos magagalit siya. Pangatlo, ito; nasa harapan ako ng tito ko na ayaw na ayaw ko nang makita pa kahit kailan.
Rin really has his ways of torturing people. Emotionally and mentally that is. Pero sino ba'ng niloloko natin? We all know that psychological torture is much more painful than any physical inflicted injury. Mas gugustuhin ko pang mabugbog kaysa makasama sa iisang kwarto ang taong 'to.
On second thought again, 'wag pala. Masyadong delicate ang katawan at mukha ko, hindi pwedeng magalusan. Masyado akong gwapo para masaktan.
"Hello, uncle." I murmured.
"Zeke, Zeke, Zeke." He uttered. Lalapit sana siya sa'kin para yumakap kaya napaatras ako, pero pumagitna si Rin sa'min bago pa man siya tuluyang makalapit sa'kin.
"Greetings, sir Richard!" Rin greeted with a gleeful voice.
Uncle raised his brows and looked at Rin from head to toe. "Who is this?" Uncle asked.
"My name is Rindelle Lazaro, sir." Rin said politely. "We have some business with you."
"And that is?" Umatras naman si Uncle at bumalik sa upuan niya. Lumapit naman kami ni Rin sa table niya.
"Small talks will bore you, so I will get straight to the point." Rin started. "Do you happen to know Archie White?"
Uncle's brows raised in apparent knowledge. "Yes? He's your chancellor at school, right?"
"So you do know him." Rin smiled and threw a bag of blue crystals on the table. Uncle looked at him horrendously.
"Why do you have these things?! Who are you? Zeke, get away from this person!" He screeched. I rolled my eyes at him. Like you're one to talk. If I could actually pick between the two of you, I'll gladly serve Rin forever.
Rin snickered so I shrugged nonchalantly. Uncle's eyes widened at me. If I am alone I would've probably be shivering in fear. But I wasn't, so. . .
"No need to panic, Sir." Rin chuckled. "I'm the one who sold that to chancellor—and he deals to other people for me too. I'm not surprised you know what it is." He reassured and gave Uncle a meaningful look.
Uncle flexed his head a bit and cleared his throat before bringing the packet to his nose to smell it. What the freak is that thing?
"Hindi ka nga nagsisinungaling, kapareho nga nito 'yong nakuha ko kay Archie. . ." Uncle trailed off while looking at the packet with wonder.
Rin grinned crookedly and held out his hand in front of me. I chuckled and sighed. Uncle gave me a confused look but I averted my gaze and gave Rin what he wanted. A tomato juice from my bag that I packed for him.
Napangiti naman ako habang inaabot sa kanya ang juice, nakita ko kasi ang penguin na nakasabit sa kanang kamay niya na ibinigay ko no'ng isang araw.
I'm happy he treasures it.
Rin opened the can merrily and chugged it. Ang cuuute! Gusto ko ng kapatid na katulad ni Rin, potek.
"What do you want, exactly?" Uncle's hideous voice brought me back to reality so I unwillingly looked at him.
"I want an ownership card." He stated.
Uncle laughed which took me by surprise. Para ba'ng hindi siya makapaniwala sa narinig niya. Sabagay, like I said earlier, imagine a kid smaller than you saying that.
"That's impossible, kid." Uncle said in between laughs.
Rin frowned. "Is that so?" Then he smiled menacingly. "Did Archie White ever told you that his building is now mine?"
"What?" Uncle gasped with apparent horror. "That's not true."
Rin gasped too. He even clasped his mouth with his left hand—because the other hand is holding the can—like he really is surprised. Natawa naman ako. Putik kasi.
"OMG, you didn't know? I'm so sorry!" He gasped again, but this time he looked at me with eyes wide with horror. Alam mo kung ako nasa pwesto ni Uncle sasapakin ko na 'tong batang 'to.
Then he grinned at me bago humarap muli kay Uncle. Dios mio binasa pa talaga nasa isip ko.
"What are you talking about. . ." Uncle, still in state of shock, trailed off.
"Aww, sorry sir. I know you're also in on that building, right? You're one of those people funding it, right?" Rin mocked disappointedly. He slumped down on the chair in front of Uncle's table and put the empty can of tomato juice on top of it. "Sir, sir, sir!" He excitedly called. "Did you know I'm building an org?" Rin clapped merrily. The penguin on his arm dangling up and down.
"If you want we can build it together! See, my business is stable—" He pointed at the packet that Uncle was holding. "—I made that, and you of all people should know how much money it makes." He grinned.
Uncle gave him a questioning look. Rin sighed, but grinned. "How about a partnership? You give me an ownership card, and I give you lots of that beautiful blue thing, and the money I will make will also be transferred to your card. What do you say?"
Uncle smirked and arched a brow. Ay, I don't like that look. May masama siyang binabalak. "Alright, I'll give you a black card." He announced and opened his table drawer and showed us two black cards.
"This card is called a black card. Zeke's monthly allowance is half of mine. So, yours is going to be blank unless you make your own money." Uncle patronizingly said.
"But why? Can't you do something about that?" I asked worriedly.
"Ah, My dear boy, the deal is to give him a black card and he did not say he needs money inside it, right?" Uncle laughed maniacally.
Fuck you, Uncle. You're the worst.
Rin seems lost in thought before smiling cheerfully at Uncle. "Sure!" He agreed. Wait, he agreed? I think that's somehow wrong. We need money, but if we don't get it right here, right now, we won't make the payment of the whole building next month. Matatapos na ang overall repairs and we can't afford to delay much longer. My allowance won't make the quota. If we can't get enough money to loan here, we're doomed.
"That's right, Zen." He said without looking at me. "That's why we're taking everything here." He grinned—which made me shiver because he looks much more despicable than my son of a bitch Uncle.
But what did he mean?
"Alright, boy. Sign here—oh, before that, let me sign first. I hereby sign our contract, I give Rindelle Lazaro an ownership card in exchange for an alleged partnership on his trading goods and signe—AAAAAAAAAA!"
I didn't know what just occurred. It all happened in a flash. I just heard a bloodcurdling scream, that's not my voice. Pero may naramdaman akong tumalsik sa mukha ko so I wiped my face using my left hand and stared at it.
Blood.
This red liquid. . . Is blood right?
Apparently, it's not mine. But my hands are trembling. My vision is blurring, my ears are ringing. Suddenly I found myself gasping for air. It's not mine, it's not mine, it's not mine. You're fine, you're fine, you're fine, you're fine.
"Zen." I stared horrendously at Rin. His voice brought me back to whatever memories are flowing through my mind. What are we doing here again? Wait, where am I?
"Don't reset your memories. I want you to see this." He grinned then Uncle let out a pain inflicted scream again so I glanced at him.
He looks like he's really in a lot of pain. He's sweating bullets and he's gasping like a dog. I looked at his hand and it's covered with blood. The red liquid still pouring from the opening of the wound where the pen is still intact. His hand painting the contract with blood.
What. . . ? What just happened?
"As you can see, I stabbed his right hand." He chuckled and took out a syringe? What the hell is that thing?
"This thing, is called Potassium." Uncle's eyes widen with horror after he heard what it's called.
Rin grinned at the sight and threatened to inject it if Uncle moved a muscle. "You seem to know what this is, but for Zen's sake I'll explain it in details."
Hindi ko alam kung dapat ba akong matuwa o mainsulto sa sinabi niya. But still, I guess I kinda calmed down a bit. I understood what happened to me. My therapist told me that I would probably break down if I remember those gruesome things this animal did to me. So I guess, it's called a trauma attack. And I also guess, Rin already knew my situation so he told me to not reset my memories. Like dude, that was involuntary. I can't control what my mind wants to forget. The hell.
My therapist also said it was a defense mechanism. But it really doesn't happen that often because I somehow remember what happened on my childhood.
"Potassium is an extremely active metal that reacts violently with oxygen in water and air." He grinned and poked the needle of the syringe on Uncle's neck. Uncle swallowed, which made me laugh. What the fuck. "With oxygen it forms potassium peroxide, and with water, it forms potassium hydroxide. The reaction of potassium with water is dangerous because of its violent exothermic character and the production of hydrogen gas." Rin continued while grinning.
"Question one! Dun dun dun!" Rin said in a singing tone—imitating those hosts of gameshows. "What happens if potassium formed potassium hydroxide?" He clapped Uncle's cheek merrily using his right hand that wasn't holding the syringe.
Hindi ako matalino pero may natatandaan ako na sinabi ni Sir sa subject na ito. "It releases enough heat to ignite the resulting hydrogen, in the presence of oxygen." I stated.
Rin patted Uncle's head while looking at me in awe. I looked dejectedly at him. How come he's always underestimating me?
"Ding ding ding! Correct!" He laughed cheerfully. "In other words, it will explode. And with acidic properties it can burn your skin and destroy your living tissues." He whispered maniacally at Uncle's ear, which made the old man cry in agony. I don't pity him, he deserves this.
"Question two! What happens if I inject this to your body?" He grinned. Uncle's cry grew more pronounced. This time, he was begging for his life. "Oh, no, no, no, no, no." Rin shushed him like he's a kid crying for candy.
"You can't move, right? What did I tell you, Richard? Don't move, or I'll inject this on your neck." Rin said like a psychotic little freak that he is. Actually, he's starting to frighten me as well. He said those words with the most sweetest voice I could ever imagine but what he said is so morbid. What the fuck. I'm actually petrified right now.
"Ding ding ding! The answer is. . . Hyperkalemia! Wow! How great is that! Shall I tell you its effects?!" He laughed maniacally awhile looking so thrilled. "Symptoms: palpitations, muscle pain, muscle weakness, numbness." He grinned maniacally before continuing. "Causes: Kidney failure, hypoaldosteronism, rhabdomyolysis, certain medications." Then he whispered the next words to Uncle's ear. "Complications: cardiac arrest."
"Because human body is mostly made up of air and water, what do you think will happen to you? Ding ding ding! Yes! You will explode! Nyahahaha!" Rin laughed maniacally and injected the syringe on Uncle's neck. Uncle cried and begged for his life. His hand still bleeding.
What the hell? "Dude! Are you trying to kill him?!" I screeched. Shit. This is so insane, I just can't. No matter how much I hate this fucking person I can't just go and kill him! He's family! At masyado akong gwapo para makulong!
"Shh." Rin shushed with his right index finger on top of his lips. Uncle's body became limp and he lost consciousness.
"Is he dead?!" I whispered, alarmed. Fuck! Fuck! Fuck my life! We came here for money! Not for murder!
Rin chuckled so I glanced at him with a horrified expression probably evident on my face. "Chill. He's just passed out, he's not dead." He laughed. "That was fun." He added and pulled out the fountain pen he struck on Uncle Richard's hand. He also took the contract under his bloody hand. Ugh, disgusting.
"Zen, pass me first-aid-kit." He commanded while wiping the blood on top of the table and putting it inside his empty can of tomato juice. What the heck. Don't tell me he's gonna drink that?
I've probably been making some kind of face that he gave me a deadpanned look. "Of course I won't. I'm a penguin, not a vampire." He sighed.
Pagkakuha ko ng first aid kit na nakasabit sa pader, agad ko itong iniabot sa kanya at nagtataka siyang tinignan. Is he hurt?
"No." Agad niyang sagot. "But your uncle is." He seriously said and put medicines on Uncle's wound before wrapping it nicely with gauze and bandages.
"How come you know how to do this stuff?" I asked. He looks like a Doctor. It's impressive.
He smiled lopsidedly. "I aspired to be a Doctor." He conventionally said. "I'm sure you have lots of questions on your mind, but I'll only answer this, He's not dead. And we have money." He grinned.
I nodded and didn't utter another word. Even though I'm afraid, I trusted Rin to the extent where I will probably put my life on the line for him. Some kind of shit I don't understand because as I've said earlier, hindi ako matalino. Gwapo lang ako.
Nailigpit na namin ang lahat sa office ni Uncle Richard. Natanggal namin lahat ng dugo sa lamesa at sahig niya. Which for some reason, Rin placed inside the can. Ginamot din ni Rin ang sugat niya, which I also find oddly compelling. I never thought Rin is capable of treating other people he caused harm to. Iniwan namin si Uncle na walang malay sa lamesa niya, dala dala ang dalawang black card na kinuha namin mula sa kaniya at ang kontrata na may bloody handmark nito.
We ended up robbing the COO instead of persuading him to profit us money. Fuck the what.
"Rin. How are we gonna pass the guards again? We ultimately killed Uncle and robbed him." Kinakabahang bulong ko.
He laughed out loud so I looked confusedly at him. "Calm your tits, brother. Like I said, he's not dead."
"But you injected him potassium." I clearly stated because I saw what he did. I'm pretty sure I'm not hallucinating.
"I injected him water." He laughed with that cute laugh of his that I love so much. Wait, what?
"Water?!" Gulat na sabi ko. I cleared my throat when I realised napalakas ang pagkakasabi ko.
"Yep! It's just water. Because of potassium's transparent appearance, you will somehow mistake it for water. But then again, it's silvery white, so if you look at it closely you'll notice the difference." He laughed again. "Yet, what does your uncle know about that exactly, right? Nyahaha!"
"Then why did he pass out?"
"Of fear. Your Uncle's blood pressure is high. So he's bound to be unconscious under a lot of anxiety and pressure. Hinimatay lang siya. So calm down. Nyahaha!" Masayang sabi niya habang iniikot ikot ang penguin sa kamay niya.
Napabuntong hininga naman ako. Thank the Gods. I won't be a killer today.
"So wala ka talagang potassium?"
"Of course I have! It's on the chem lab on the fourth floor. If ever you need one it's there. Nyahaha!" He laughed merrily.
Ang astig talaga ni Rin nakakainis.
"Last question." I started. "Why did you do that? Was scaring my Uncle necessary?" I asked.
"Zen. Matalino ka, I'm proud of you when you thought about the money and how we're going to be doomed. To be honest, I probably didn't have to do that. I could've just blackmailed him." He sighed while looking at the glass wall.
"Then why?" Seriously, why? Natakot ako sa ginawa niya. I thought we murdered my uncle.
"Revenge." He simply said.
"What?"
"Don't you want revenge?" He looked at me with his penetrating blue orbs. Wait, his eyes are blue?! I thought it's black? Filipino ba 'to?
"What. . . ?" I trailed off. Somehow I don't get it. My mind is still bothered by the fact that his eyes are blue. I feel like protecting him. Why the fuck is that?
"Richard Ocampo is gay and he molested you when you were a child. I stabbed his hand so whenever he sees you he will feel pain. I threatened to poison him as he looks at you watching him die. Whenever he sees you, he will picture me beside you and he will be frightened. He won't call the cops, because then his misdeeds will leak. Zen, you're going to be fine." He said and tapped my shoulder before walking ahead of me.
I don't know why but I feel something inside my chest. Like so much warmth that I can't move an inch. I touched my cheek and was surprised to feel something there. . . Liquid? Oh, tears.
Huh? What? I'm crying? Hahaha. . . I'm free. I'm. . . Finally safe.
I ran and walked beside Rin, wiping my tears away while grinning.
I've decided. I will protect him too.
ヽ('▽｀)/
Dedicated to shittingshits, Shipoops
05.