Kahit may pagtatampo pang nararamdaman si Dionysus para sa matalik na kaibigan ay nagawa niya pa rin itong puntahan sa hospital para kamustahin.
Okay, para kamustahin ang dalawa: Ito at si Melarie.
Dionysus doesn't have the slightest idea on why he remained composed after being questioned by his own buddy.
Hindi lang kasi basta bastang tanong ang ginawa ni Trevor sa kanya kahapon.
The former questioned his loyalty towards him.
Dahil hindi rin naman siya manhid para hindi masaktan, kaya kahit katiting ay na offend pa rin siya sa klase ng tanong ni Trevor.
But since, between him and Trevor, he is the sane one. Yung nasa tamang estado pa ng pag iisip at pag babalanse sa mga bagay bagay, ay siya na rin ang naunang magpakumbaba.
Naiintindihan niya ang sitwasyong kasalukuyang kinasusuungan ng matalik na kaibigan.
Trevor was driven by grudge as well as pain. So as the BESTFRIEND-slash-RIGHTHAND of the infamous Trevor Salvatore , he needs to be the one in sane and help his buddy compose itself.
Dionysus doesn't want Trevor to do harmful things, na alam niyang pagsisihan nito balang araw.
Yeah, his an attorney so its his job to give legal advice to his client. After all, Trevor is his top priority...as of now.
Dionysus immediately went to the top floor of the hospital where Melarie was being confined.
Alam niyang mahigpit rin ang siguridad ng facility lalo pa't pag aari ito ni Trevor, kaya naman ay dinala niya pa rin ang pass para makapasok siya kwartong kinaroroonan ni Melarie.
Sampung security guards ang nakatalaga ngayon sa parteng yun. Napangiti ng lihim si Dionysus.
Alam niyang overprotective at territorial ang matalik niyang kaibigan kaya di na siya magtataka pa kung marami mang tao ang magbabantay sa labas ng kwarto ni Melarie ngunit wala sa loob.
"Hey." He greeted Trevor who was busy drinking coffee.
Itinaas nito ang tasa at tipid na ngumiti sa kanya. "Hey."
"Kamusta siya?"
"She woke up an hour ago. Nag hihisterical kasi hinahanap yung kaibigan niya daw. Gigi ang pangalan."
"Ow. What did you tell her?"
"I just said that her friend's fine..."
"...and I'll bring her here." Tumayo ito ng diretso at inayos ang nagusot na polo.
"But since you showed up." Ngumiti ito ng malaya. A smile that he missed to see from his bestfriend's face.
"I'll bestow the task on you. Dalhin mo dito si Gigi. I'll give you the address. Might as well tag Gemma along. For sure matutuwa si Melarie kapag nandito ang kapatid niya."
Dionysus gave his bestfriend a reassuring smile. He would gladly do it.
"I'll be going now." Paalam niya dito.
He was about to go near the sleeping Melarie to give thr woman a gentle kiss on the forehead but Trevore instinctively pulled his arm.
Natawa na lang siya sa gesture nito.
"Possessive as ever."
Trevore shot him a glare. "You know me."
"I know. O sige. Alis na ako."
Dionysus went to the door to make his exit. But before closing the door, a certain question popped on his head.
"Mind telling me "How are you gonna tell Melarie about what happened to her friend?"
"When you get back. Now get your ass to work!"
It took him 3 hours to reach Gemma's place. Fuck the slow and long traffic! Kung alam niya lang na aabutin siya ng ilang oras sa kalsada ay dapat pala ginamit niya na lang si Erin---ang kanyang helicopter.
Within minutes, he could have reached Laguna without any hassle.
Dionysus made sure that he'll look decent in front of Melarie's friend and Gemma. Kaya inalis niya ang mga piercing na nakakabit sa magkabila niyang tenga.
He doesn't look like an attorney when his ears wore piercings.
He bought flowers along the way for the ladies. He knew that Gemma already has a husband so he also bought JD.
He's 'that' generous. Kaya naman lapitin siya sa chicks. Galante siya sa pagbibigay ng materyal na bagay. Isang tao lang kasi ang dapat niyang paglaanan ng mas higit pa sa materyal na bagay.
Exclusively, that person is the only one who he can give his whole.
Sunod sunod niyang pinatunog ang buzzer ng gate ng medyo katamtamang laking bahay nina Gemma.
Wala pa mang 3 minuto ay may lumabas ng babaeng nakasuot lamang ng malaking tee-shirt.
"Wait."
Sigurado si Dionysus na wala itong suot na short---o kung meron man, ay sobrang ikli nito para takpan ang kalahating portion ng makinis nitong hita.
He was busy checking her round jiggly legs kaya hindi niya napansin ang gulat na rumehistro sa mukha nito pagkabukas na pagkabukas nito ng trangkahan.
"Hi---" naputol ang sana'y pagbati ni Dionysus nang masilayan ang mukha ng babae.
As if on cue, a ghost from the past just blasted to the present.
"No..."
"Gill..."
Akmang hahawakan niya ito sa kamay nang bigla itong umiwas at lumayo ng ilang distansya sa kanya.
The gate was widely opened so Dionysus made his way inside the premise.
Sakto ring lumabas ng bahay ang kapatid ni Melarie na buntis.
"Kuya Dion!" Agad itong lumapit sakanya at nagbigay ng yakap.
They had met before, twice or thrice and Dionysus could not believe that Gemma would address him as "kuya" since they really don't have that much talk before to form a bond.
"Hi." He said plainly before gazing back to Gilliana who's now about to get inside.
"Uhm, ate Gigi. Wait. Ipapakilala ko kayo sa isa't isa."
Kita niya ang paghinto nito at mariing pagkuyom ng kamao.
Buti na lang at mabilis na bumalik ang tingin ni Gemma sa kanya kaya di nito nakita ang naging reaksyon ni Gilliana.
He, on the other hand, doesn't have any idea kung bakit ganun na lamang kung maka react si Gilliana.
Wala siyang naaalalang nagawang kasalanan dito bukod sa paglaanan ito ng buong pagmamahal niya.
In fact, he should be the one angry and pained.
Siya ang iniwan nito sa ere.
"Btw kuya. She's Ate Gilliana, bestfriend siya ni ate even before highscool."
'I know...'
Dionysus felt the rush of nostalgia as he tries to reminisce the past. THEIR PAST. It was long long ago, and he wanted to go back just to feel and experience the best moments of his life with the girl who left him scarred and tainted.
"And Ate Gigi, he is kuya Dionysus, matalik siyang kaibigan ni Kuya Trevor."
"H-hi." Kiming bati nito sakanya.
He can sense insincerity towards Gigi's simple word.
And that pained him a lot.
He should be the one to treat her that way, not the other way around!
"Nice meeting you..."
'...Again."
It wasn't a struggle bringing the two ladies with him. Especially when they heard that they will soon see Melarie.
Gemma, as usual, was accompanied by Juno---the husband.
Pinasakay niya ang tatlo sa kanyang kotse para isahan na lang. The couples sat on the backseat, giving no choice for Gilliana but to sit right next to him.
Tiningnan niya ito saglit bago pinaharurot ang sasakyan.
"It will take us more than 3 hours of time to reach the city so I suggest, we should eat first. Saan niyo gusto?"
"Sa Fastfood na lang." Suggestion ni Gemma.
"Sige. Jollibee na lang tayo since, natatanaw ko rin naman na. Mga 30 minutes lang tayo. Okay ba sainyo?."
"Drive thru na lang tayo. Sayang din ng oras."
Napatingin siya sa katabi bago tumango.
"But---"
"Sige pala kuya. I agree with ate. Pwede naman tayong kumain along the way or sa hospital na mismo. Mas excited akong makita si ate eh." Pagsang ayon ni Gemma sa suhestiyon ni Gilliana.
"But kuya won't be able to eat right. Siya yung nag da-drive." Sabat ni Juno.
"No don't mind me. I can manage---"
"Susubuan ko na lang siya." Napatingin siya kay Gilliana na seryosong nakatingin sa kanya.
"Case closed." Natatawang ani Gemma.
Lihim naman siyang napangiti dahil sa sinabi ng dalaga.
***
Sa kabilang banda, isang itim na kotse ang lihim na sumusunod sa kanila.
The driver of the car was an Albino looking man with perfectly trimmed eyebrows, thick mustache and has a shoulder length hair that seems to complement with his European features.
"Currently following them boss." His strong English accent echoed inside the car.
"Just make sure that you'll be able to track down Trevor's location." The man on the other line spoke.
"I will boss." The albino guy assured.
His vigilance did its work by tailing Dionysus' car.
He was determined to obey his boss' order.
For the sake of the brotherhood.
***
Nagkakagulo na ngayon ang mga tao sa hideout ng Blood Moon Organization.
Ang mga tauhan nina Treven at Emmanuel Salvatore ay nakikipag digmaan na sa mga bagong dating na mga lalaking naka itim. Lahat ng mga ito ay may mga suot na maskarang abo na may nakaguhit na tatsulok sa bandang noo.
Nakita ito ng matandang Salvatore na kasalukuyang pinoprotektahan ng batang Salvatore.
Emmanuel knew right then and there that only luck and miracle can save them from peril.
The insignia he is currently seeing is too familiar that even his fingers shuddered in so much fright.
"Dad? Are you okay? You're trembling." Puna ni Treven sa ama.
The old man gave his son a warning. "Don't fight back son. Let's just escape. Delikado silang tao."
"I don't fu king care Dad. Walang hiya silang lumusob sa teritoryo natin, they should taste the wrath of a Salvatore."
"But son. Bala ang sasalo sayo kapag pinagpilitan mo yang gusto mo."
"Dad. Hindi pwede. Paano yung tauhan natin?"
"Let them be."
Butil butil na ang pawis sa noo ng matanda. Halatang nangangamba na ito sa maaaring mangyari sa kanila.
"No way Dad."
Treven left his father looking at him wide eyed as the former moved forward to back up his men.
Madami sa kanila ang nalagas kompara sa kabilang panig.
Their machines and guns are no compare to what the other group has.
Upgraded guns and war machines.
Hindi alam ni Treven kung saan ito mga galing.
Philippines cannot do such machines na kayang tumupok ng limang tao sa isang tira lang. Kaya sigurado siyang galing pa ito sa ibang bansa.
The war machines are incredibly awesome, kung nasa sa kanila lamang ito. But reality kicks in, those war machines are being used to destroy their organization.
Lumapit si Treven sa isa sa kanyang tauhan.
"Rip. Go to my father. Itakas mo siya dito."
Bakas ang pagdadalawamg isip sa mukha nito. "Paano kayo boss?"
"Hindi ko pwedeng iwan ang iba dito. They need me. Technically, ako pa rin ang pinuno sa organisasyong ito kaya dapat pangatawanan ko it---shit!" May ligaw na balang napunta sa kanilang direksyon at natamaan nito ang kaliwang braso ni Treven.
The piercing heat of the bullet is more awful than the bullet itself. Parang hinihiwa ang laman niya ng init na hatid ng balang iyon.
"Fucking move now Rip! Habang may oras pa!"
Nagpaputok ng ilang ulit si Treven para back-up-an si Rip.
May mangilan ngilan siyang napatumbang kalaban bago naubos ang bala ng kanyang baril.
He abruptly throw the gun away and looked for another.
May nakita siyang enhanced armalite na hawak ng napatumbang kaaway at kaagad na pinulot iyon bago nagtago sa isang malapad na bakal na poste.
He signaled his men to hide as well while the enemies are walking closer to their spot.
Naramdaman ni Treven na may tumabi sa kanya.
"Boss, konti na lang tayo. Wala na ang iba sa atin. Yung tanginang War Machine na yan ang may kasalanan..."
"...dapat makuha natin ang isa sa dalawa nilang machines." Napaisip siya sa suhestyon ng tauhan.
"You're right. Now, back me up. Sabihan mo yung iba okay?"
"Areglado boss."
Umatras si Treven nang umatras hanggang sa makapunta siya sa likuran ng bodegang nagsisilbing hideout nila.
His actions are calculated and refined.
Ayaw niyang pumalpak sa ano mang binabalak.
His target is to get one machine para pumantay na ang laban.
"Abandoning your people, eh?"
Napatigil si Treven sa tahimik na paghakbang nang maulinigan ang tinig na iyon.
At first, he thought he was the one that voice was speaking to.
Pero laking pasalamat niya dahil, nasa may bandang exit ng kanilang hideout ang tinig.
Natural lang talagang malakas ang boses na iyon para madinig niya.
"Y-you?!"
Treven was about to continue his plan when he heard that shocked voice of his father.
Yes, kilalang kilala niya ang boses na iyon. At hindi siya pwedeng magkamali ng dinig.
He managed to take a light step towards the voices until he reached a certain barrel. Doon siya nagtago.
Nakikita niya ang kanyang amang nakaluhod sa paanan ng isang lalakong naka formal suit.
The man's figure reminds him of someone but it'll be a total joke if this man would be the person he is thinking about.
Tanging ito at ang kanyang ama lamang ang naroon kaya madali lang niya itong mabaril.
But it seems that luck has no mercy on him.
Tatayo pa lang sana siya nang may lalaking tumutok sa kanya ng baril.
He cussed under his breath when he realized that its the end line for him.
"Oh, seems like the son wants to join the meeting."
Napatingin siya sa lalaking kaharap ng nakaluhod niyang ama at gayon na lamang ang panlalaki ng kanyang mga mata.
'No... it can't be...'
"It's over for you guys. I won." The man laughed like a sinister before pointing a gun above.
"I-ikaw..."
"Oo. Ako nga. Why? Did I gave you the most shocking revelation in your life?"
"I--"
"Did you really think mapapatay mo ako sa isang bala lang? You were blinded by the thought that you actually killed me that night, well, the truth now has resurfaced. I AM FUCKING ALIVE AND READY TO MESS UP YOUR HELL-OF-WORLD." nakangisi nitong pahayag habang matagumpay na nakatingin sa mag amang tila tinakasan ng boses.
Ni isa sa mag amang Salvatore ay walang nangahas na mag bigkas ni isang letra.
They were shocked. Tama ang lalaki.
"I actually let the people in the agency---as well as the world---believe that I died right at that moment when you shot me on my head. Thankfully daplis lang ang nangyari. My men came right after you ran away like a mad dog. Hah! They injected some drug on me to sedate me so that our plan would work. They put fake bullet in my forehead along with a fake blood. And you know what? Everything actually worked! My brilliance worked! Naungusan ko kayo! Lahat kayo!"
His devilish laugh echoed in the area.
Treven on the otherhand, never thought that the man could be this... powerful and menacing.
Nagawa nitong ipeke ang pagkamatay nito.
Lihim na napangisi si Treven nang maalala si Melarie.
He would never let this scumbag win over him.
"Napaisip lang ako, ano kaya ang magiging reaksyon ni Melarie kapag nalaman niyang... isang peke pala ang kanyang kaibigan... hmm? Do you have any idea... Ron Antonio?"
The man firmly gripped his hands to fists. His face darkened and that time, Treven was sure as hell that the man is fuming mad.
"She won't fucking know. Because...
.
.
.
Sisiguraduhin kong, wala sainyong naririto ang matitira."
Ron pointed his gun towards Emmanuel Salvatore's head.
"Say bye to your dad."
"No--"
A loud bang escaped Ron's gun.
Bulagta namang napahiga ang wala nang buhay na matandang Salvatore.
Treven couldn't believe that Ron could actually do that.
How far did this man endure to easily kill an old man?
"I endured everything Treven. From bits of pain to the most agonizing." Ron spoke icily. His emotions escaped from him, a long time ago.
"Now it's your turn to say your final words."
Nagagalit na minura ito ni Treven. Tears dripping from his eyes down to his face.
He just can't accept defeat.
"Fuck you."
Ron pointed the gun on Treven's head. "I don't do a man."
"Au revoir."
"RON!"
🔫🔫🔫
Tbc...