KEIRA’S POV
I woke up in Ran’s bed with him next to me na mahimbing ang tulog. Nakaunan ako sa braso niya and he has one of his hands on top of my baby bump. Umayos ako ng pwesto para nakaharap ako sakanya and I just stared at his face. This man’s handsomeness is beyond words. Naalala ko pa ang una kong naisip ng makita ko siya for the first time nang college kami. The only thought that came to me then was that he’s the most handsome guy I have ever seen. Though I never told him that, he actually lives with it. Totoo nga na first impressions lasts. And I never thought that this day would come – the day that I will be carrying his child inside of me.
Pinagmasdan ko lang siya sa loob ng ilan pang minuto until I couldn’t stop myself anymore. I started tracing the lines on his face. Una ay ang mga kilay niya. Sunod ay ang mga pilik-mata niya na mas mahaba pa kumpara sa akin. Sunod ay ang ilong niya – he has a really high nose bridge. Next is his magnificent jawline at panghuli ay ang labi niya. This lips which can do miracles – ang mga labing kinaaadikan ko. He is my drug.
“Are you done checking out my face, love?” Napasinghap ako kasi bigla na lang siyang nagsalita and then I glared at him.
“Don’t scare me like that.” He just gave me a small laugh and then kissed the tip of my nose.
“Busy ka sa ginagawa mo kaya hindi mo napansin na kanina pa kita pinagmamasdan.”
“Ran.”
“Hmm?”
“Pwede bang maging kamukha mo na lang ang baby natin?”
“I can’t really control that, love. Bakit gusto mong maging kamukha ko ang anak natin?”
“Bakit, gusto mo ba na maging kamukha ko? Gusto mong magmukhang babae ang anak natin? O sinasabi mong mukha akong lalaki?” He burst out laughing after I said that. He seriously laughed at me.
“You’re being silly so early in the morning, love. I think you’re just hungry. Tara, maligo na tayo para makakain ka na.” Tumayo na siya sa kama and I gasped. Wala siyang saplot. My God, this guy.
“Kunin mo nga yung damit mo, lalaki!”
“Why bother? You already saw me like this so why hide it? Come on.” Kahit na ba! Tumalikod ako sakanya at nagtalukbong ng kumot pero naramdaman ko na lumapit siya sakin at niyakap ako kahit na balot ako ng kumot.
“Do you want another round bago tayo maligo?” Tinulak ko siya at tumayo na ako pero nakatakip pa rin sakin yung kumot habang prente namang siyang nakahilata sa kama niya.
“How many times do I have to tell you to stop flirting with me?” He laughed at me. Again. Padabog akong pumasok ng banyo niya at ni’lock ang pinto pero rinig ko pa rin ang tawa niya. Asar!
Naligo na ako at lahat-lahat. I sure took my time. Ang sarap kaya magbabad sa maligamgam na tubig. Pagkalabas ko ng banyo, nakita ko siyang nakabihis na at may mga damit din ako sa kama niya.
“San ka naligo?”
“Sa banyo sa kwarto mo. May balak ka kasing tumira sa loob ng banyo ko eh. Dinalhan na kita ng damit. Bihis ka na at nakahanda na ang pagkain sa baba.” Nagkibit-balikat lang ako at nagbihis na. Sabay din kaming bumaba para kumain. Naabutan namin dun yung walo na kumakain na habang may kanya-kanyang sariling mundo.
“Morning, guys.” There was a chorus of ‘mornings’ tapos bumalik na sila sa mga ginagawa nila. Ran and I took our seats and we also ate our breakfast.
Since the bombing of Apocalypse and Genesis’ hideouts, everyone has been on edge because of the threat from Pyramid. They’re making sure that I am always safe while continuing to run the businesses. Apocalypse is slowly getting stable with the help of my Royal Guards pero hindi maiiwasan ang mga maliliit na problema especially that they have known each other as mortal enemies but I can say that each side is trying to compromise to avoid further conflicts.
Nangangalahati pa lang ako sa kinakain ko nang tumayo na si Grey at Titus.
“Going somewhere? Ang aga pa ah.”
“We need to meet someone, Em.” Titus.
“Who?”
“The private investigator that we hired. He will give us the findings kung sino ang nagpadala nung kahon kahapon. At kung sino ang nagpadala ng mga assassins sa hotel pati na rin ang may kagagawan ng pagloloko ng elevator noong dinugo ka.” Kinilabutan ako sa sinabi ni Grey dahil naalala ko ang mga pangyayaring yun.
“Can I go?”
“No.” They all said in unison. And I mean, all of them.
“Geez, fine.”
“Don’t worry, babalik kami kaagad pag nakuha na namin ang results.” Lumapit silang dalawa sakin and both kissed the top of my head.
“Be careful.” Binigyan nila ako ng isang huling tango bago sila tuluyang umalis.
“Who’s going to be my guards today?”
“That would be me, Hale, Ash, and Clark, Big Boss. Bakit?”
“Para alam ko kung ano ang pwede kong gawin.” I answered Cloud.
Tinapos na namin ang pagkain namin at umalis na din sina Ran, Yan, at Xander. Inasikaso ko na ang mga papeles na kailangan kong I’check at pirmahan sa opisina ko dito sa bahay. This was actually Uncle’s office before pero dito ko na ginagawa ang mga kailangan kong trabahohin.
Nabawasan na ang mga paperworks ko ngayon hindi gaya ng mga gawain ko nang kaka take’over pa lang namin sa Apocalypse at Fuentebella Group na gabundok. By around 9:30 am, nangangalahati na ako kaya nag-unat muna ako ng katawan at pumunta sa garden. When Kookie saw me, agad siyang tumahol at tumakbo papunta sakin pero nakatali siya kaya ako na lang ang lumapit sakanya. Kung buhay ng mga aso ang pag-uusapan, matanda na ito si Kookie pero I’m thankful na andito pa rin siya. Hindi siya pinabayaan ng Royal Guards ko nang mawala ako. Inalis ko muna ang tali niya at nakipaglaro lang ako kay Kookie. I have to sit on the grass because I can’t really squat with my big tummy. Panay lang ang takbo niya sa paligid ko and he would roll on the grass kapag nilalaro ko ang tiyan niya. He’s one of my stress-relievers.
Nakikipaglaro pa rin ako kay Kookie nang marinig kong tinatawag ako ni Hale. Tinali ko na ulit si Kookie and told him to stop running around dahil nabubuhol sakin yung tali.
“H! I’m here!” Lumapit siya sakin at kasunod niya pala sina Titus, Grey at pati na rin si Ash. Titus and Grey seems upset about something.
“Help me up.” Tinayo ako ni Titus at Hale.
“Bakit ganyan ang itsura niyong dalawa?”
“We have the results, Em.” Grey.
“Well? Who is it?”
“Zandra Imperial.” Agad kumulo ang dugo ko sa sinabi ni Titus.
“You mean ‘that’ Zandra?”
“Yes.” Grey.
“I knew it was her. The nerve of that woman. Did you sent her a favor?”
“All done, Em.” Hale.
“Anong balak mong gawin sakanya?”
“I’m still thinking about it, A. Any suggestions?”
“I want to torture her and then kill her afterwards. She did horrible things to you, Em.” Grey.
“We already sent things that she’s afraid of. I suggest that we put her in an elevator next and let her experience what we have experienced.” Ash.
“I can arrange to have Japanese assassins kill her.” Hale.
“For me, I want to kill her myself.” Titus.
“Aren’t you all brutal?” I rolled my eyes to their ideas. That’s literally returning the favor.
“Or better yet, have Kyran kill her. That would be a very painful death.” I was about to react to that nang may magsalitang iba kaya napatingin ako sa mga bagong dating. My Royal Guards. Dito na ba sa garden ang bago naming meeting place?
“You’re going to have me kill who?” They’re now facing each other and staring each other squarely – I mean my FMOA and my Royal Guards. I can see them all because I’m sitting on a bench while they’re all standing.
“Your other woman.” I crossed my arms in front of me when Titus said that.
“Other woman?” Kunot-noong tanong naman ni Ran.
“Zandra Imperial.” Titus.
“Now why would I do that?” Ran. So hindi niya man lang yun ide'deny?
“Because you must.” Titus.
“Reason being? I don’t kill people without any reasons, Titus.” Silang dalawa lang ang nag-uusap dito. Parang audience lang kami eh. They’re the leader of each group so I think that’s the reason why the others are letting them talk. Titus for my FMOA while Ran for my Royal Guards.
“I will give you three reasons and if after knowing those things, you still don’t want to kill her, then we will.” Ran gritted his teeth while Titus looked him straight in the eye. They are now within each other’s reach.
“Go ahead and enlighten me.” Ran.
“First, she was the one who sent those Japanese assassins. Second, she’s the one behind the events that happened on that elevator and lastly, she’s the one who sent the box which Em opened yesterday. Now, tell me what you will do and choose your next words wisely.” Titus.
“Do you have any proof to support this claim?” Ran.
“We have every proof that you will need.” Ran didn’t answer to Titus for a couple of seconds and they just continue to stare each other down.
“Who’s going to kill her? You? or us?” Titus asked once again and Ran clenched his fists. Why can’t he just give the answer Titus wants?
“No one will kill her.” Napabuga ako ng hangin and tilted my head to the side waiting for Ran to explain himself because what he said actually hurt me. Hindi nanaman siya nagsalita which not only irritated me but also my FMOA. I bit my lower lip in irritation.
“You better explain yourself while I’m still giving you the chance.” I can see that Titus is really trying hard to control his anger.
“No one will kill her because I said so.” That did it. Agad na sinuntok ni Titus si Ran sa mukha at dumura si Ran ng dugo. That must’ve hurt but I couldn’t care less. He deserved it.
Yun ang naging simula ng rambulan ng FMOA at Royal Guards ko. Ang mga guardians ko na malapit sa garden ay lumapit na sa amin but I signaled them to not interfere. They immediately stopped approaching and just watched them.
Titus is fighting both Ran and Clark and he can handle both of them just fine. Hale is fighting Yan. Xander fighting Ash and Grey fighting Cloud. Mabuti na lang at malawak itong garden so they have enough space for this fight. Hindi ako umalis sa pwesto ko at pinanuod lang sila. If you ask me, mas nakakalamang ang FMOA ko kesa sa mga Royal Guards ko kahit na apat lang sila. You wouldn’t really want to piss them off. Another reason is that the four of them have something to fight for – they’re fighting for my sake while my Royal Guards? I don’t know. I don’t know what Ran’s reason is and I doubt that the other four know it, too. They’re just fighting my FMOA because Ran is fighting Titus – in short, they don’t have a concrete reason to fight my FMOA. I also believe that they need this fight not just to prove Titus’ or Ran’s point in the argument earlier. Alam ko na unang beses pa lang nilang magkita-kita ay gusto na nilang kalabanin ang isa’t-isa but they wouldn’t do it because of me. Men will always be men and they need to connect their fists to better understand one another. They need to let off some steam kaya pinabayaan ko silang gawin ‘to. The discussion on what to do with Zandra is far from over but I don’t want to discuss it with people who are ready to jump at each other’s throat at any minute.
Their fight continued and all of them are bleeding now. What do you expect? They’re my strongest line of defense from the opposite sides so it’s expected that they can handle each other. Pero ayokong gamitin nila ang mga kakayahan nila laban sa isa’t-isa. I need them to use it together. Good thing that they’re not using any weapon or else, malamang ay pula na ang kulay ng garden na ‘to. I kind of feel sorry for the people who would clean this mess. Okay, I think they had enough.
“Guys, that’s enough!” I shouted over the noise pero hindi nila ako pinansin.
“Knock it off!!” I tried again but still didn’t get the response that I want. Lumapit ako sa mga guardians na nanunuod sa kanila at kumuha ng dalawang baril. Tig-isa sa magkabila kong kamay.
Nakabalik na ako sa pwesto ko kanina at lahat-lahat pero patuloy pa rin sila sa pagbabasagan ng mukha. Huminga ako ng malalim at tinutok sa kanila ang mga hawak kong baril. Ni hindi nila napapansin ang ginagawa ko. I waited for my chance to pull the trigger and when I saw it, I took it.
First bullet from the gun on my right hand passed in between Cloud’s and Grey’s faces – barely an inch. First bullet from the gun on my left hand passed Xander’s and Ash’s faces. The four of them automatically stopped but the others seems oblivious to what is happening. I can’t really blame them as the guns that I’m holding have silencers.
Tinutok ko na sa mga natitirang nag-aaway ang mga hawak kong baril and waited for my chance but the chance never came dahil pinaghiwalay na nina Xander, Cloud, Ash at Grey sina Yan, Ran, Xander, Hale at Titus. Nakatutok pa rin sa kanila ang mga hawak kong baril and they all stared at me wide-eyed.
“I said enough, didn’t I?” Walang sumagot sa kanila but I got their attention now kaya tinawag ko ang guardian na may ari ng mga baril and gave them back to him.
“Ran.” He looked at me while holding his jaw.
“Why?” Kumunot ang noo niya sa tanong ko so I rephrased it.
“Why shouldn’t we kill Zandra? She attempted to kill me twice. The second time, we almost lost our son but she didn’t stop and sent me that box which caused me to have one of those severe panic attacks. So, why?”
“KZ, she’s a well-known person in this country. Her death will cause an uproar. Every person who’s close to her will be investigated. Hindi tayo makasisiguro na hindi madadawit ang pangalan mo o ang pangalan ko dito. We need to use another method to deal with her. Let me handle this. Just give me time.” Napaisip ako sa sinabi niya. Ayoko mang aminin pero may punto siya.
“Fine. Deal with her but if she ever pull another stunt, I will be the one to kill her and I won’t let anyone stop me even you.”
Umalis na ako sa garden at dumiretso sa kwarto ko. I locked the door and went to the E-room. I think I need to check on my friends and see what they’re up to. Kailangan ko lang ng mapaglilibangan sa mga oras na ‘to.