"Venice Ithalia!" I turned around to see the person who called my name. Napangiti ako at lumapit sa kanya.
"You became my friend here kahit secret lang but I want you to know that you're the most mapagkakatiwalaan and true friend I have. And gusto kong ibigay sayo 'to, remember this?" Sabi niya ng slang, sabay pakita sa akin ng litrato naming dalawa. I smiled. It was taken the day we've met in the same park kung nasaan kami ngayon.
"Of course. You're really one of the sweetest Baey. Anyway why are you saying me these?" she smiled.
"I don't wanna leave, but hindi naman talaga ako dito nakatira. Don't be sad though, next school year, I'll tell my parents to migrate and study here," she winked. "You will miss me and that's I'm sure of."
"I'll wait for you, then. Yeah, you're right I will miss you so much. Ilang araw lang tayong magkakilala but it feels like I know you for so long," she hugged me.
"I'm gonna miss you too, Venice..." I shed tears because of that.
She was true to her words, after months she came back, she's studying here but sadly not the same school as mine. Pero nagkikita pa rin kami sa park.
And the next thing I knew ay nasa ibang lugar na ako, no, nasa daan ako papuntang park, parang nagshift ako to another time and day. Right now I was lurking behind the trees, thick and high grasses. Based on what I'm seeing right now is that, there were a lot if men.
They're more than ten in total wearing black suits with big rifles. Walang tao kundi kami lang. Gabi na rin kasi at nasa liblib kaming lugar, daan papuntang park. I was here because Bailey wants to see me kahit gabi na, at naglakad lang ako papunta sa tagpuan namin and this, ito ang naabutan ko while I'm on my way.
Dumako ang tingin ko sa babaeng nakahandusay sa kalsada. Blood is gushing down from her wound on her head, more like a gunshot. Kilala ko na kung sino ang babaeng iyon pero ayaw tanggapin ng isipan ko na siya nga.
Hindi...
Hindi si Bailey ang nakikita kong duguan at wala ng buhay. Hindi siya yun. Hindi. But her uniform, her dark red colored hair, and the car na pamilyar na pamilyar na sa akin ay sinisigaw na si Bailey nga ang babaeng nakahandusay sa malamig na kalsada.
Naramdaman kong nagbabagsakan na ang mga luha ko. Para na akong nababaliw. I want to show myself off at pagbabarilin din sila. Gusto kong labanan sila. Gusto kong magwala, pero something is stopping me. Alam kong kapag lumabas ako sa pinagtataguan ko ay matutulad din ako sa kanya. Wala akong laban.
Nahihirapan na akong huminga. I wanna call Dada. I know Dada can help me, he can help Bailey. He's part of the Mafia, at kahit hindi niya alam na alam ko ang sekreto niya, hihingi ako ng tulong sa kanya. Damn!
Everything hurts! Bakit siya pinatay? Bakit?!
Pero bago ko pa kunin ang cellphone ko sa bag ay narinig kong nagsalita ang isang lalaki.
"Their fault, mahina ang mga taong nagbabantay sa prinsesa nila." He's talking about those men na nakahiga rin sa kalsada, wearing black suits too with guns. At alam kong mga bodyguards iyon ni Bailey.
"Now tell me, sino ngayon ang talunan?" and he laughed na nakapagpatayo ng balahibo ko.
Nagtawanan din ang mga kasamahan niya. I think he's their Boss pero hindi ko makita ng malinawan ang mukha niya dahil nakatalikod siya sa akin.
I gritted my teeth, I wanna strangle him to death. Hayop siya! Wala siyang awa! Demonyo!
Ano ang ginawa ni Bailey to deserve this?
Pinaka-titigan ko ang mga hayop na ito. I have to memorize their fucking faces at hahanapin ko sila isa-isa to get revenge. May napansin din ako, they have one thing in common. A tattoo on their nape. It's a gun na may ahas na nakapa-libot dito. At ang taong nakatalikod sa akin na hinala ko ay Boss nila ay nasa likod ng tenga niya iyon and it was a gold gun ang black snake.
"We have to go," tumingin sa nagsalita ang Boss nila. Napatingin din ako sa taong iyon. His voice is very familiar.
And this time nakita ko ang mukha ng Boss kahit side view lang. Nanginig na naman ang buo kong katawan dahil sa galit, nakita ko na siya pero hindi ko alam ang pangalan.
"Someone's lurking behind the tree, Boss" doon ako natuod. Ang boses na pamilyar sa akin ay alam niya na nagtatago ako.
Shit.
"Where?"
Lumingon sa akin yung lalaking nagsalita, at nagtama ang tingin namin. Sumikip ulit ang dibdib ko. It was one of Dada's investor. Mr. Delgado. What the hell?!
He's staring at me like he's talking to me. He wants me to run. Alam ko iyon. And it's really the best thing to do right now.
At dahil sa takot ko ay nagsimula akong tumakbo bago ko pa makita ang tinatawag nilang Boss. Narinig ko pa silang nagtawanan.
Nanginginig ako ng sobra sa galit at takot. Lungkot ang nararamdaman ko habang tumatakbo. I am running like there's no tomorrow. And I hate to leave Bailey there alone pero kailangan. I promise, I'll find them. Sobra-sobrang sakit ang nararamdaman ko. She became part of my life, she's a sister to me, tapos ganito pa ang makikita ko? Bakit siya pa? Bakit ang kaibigan ko pa?
I fished my cellphone out of my pocket, hingal na hingal akong huminto. Napadpad ako sa isang madilim na lugar at isang street light lang ang nagbibigay ng kaunting liwanag sa paligid. Pinakiramdaman ko ang paligid at wala namang mga taong humahabol sa akin.
I want to call Dada. Pero mas nauna kong natawagan si Zaki.
I talked to him on the phone asking me why am I crying. Sinabi ko lang na puntahan niya ako, that I need him.
Zaki is my guy bestest friend. Hindi ko alam pero siya ang kailangan ko ngayon.
Ngayon ko lang naisip na ayokong madamay si Dada dito or kahit si Zaki. What if patayin din ni Delgado si Dada, no, ayokong mangyari iyon lalo na at investor siya sa kompanya ni Dada. He knows me. He'll threat us.Damn, I don't know what to do!
Minutes passed ay dumating si Zaki. He hugged me at paulit-ulit niya akong tinatanong kung anong nangyari.
I guess I was so shocked na hindi ko magawang sabihin kung ano ang nangyari. I just kept on crying. Hindi rin ako nagpahatid sa bahay namin at sa bahay niya ako nagpahatid.
Nang kumalma ako ng kaunti ay sinabi kong nakita kong patay na si Bailey. Shocked registered on his face. He asked me when, where, who, and why. Pero iling lang ang naisagot ko sa tanong niyang sino. Ngunit, hindi nagtagal ay naikwento ko sa kanya ang tungkol kay Delgado, but didn't go further.
Ayoko siyang madamay. That's why I need to keep it myself. First time kong hindi magsabi sa kanya ng totoo. Pero mas mabuti na iyon.
I'll make sure that I, myself will get the revenge for her. I don't care kung mabahiran ng dugo ang kamay ko. I don't care if I will kill. For Bailey kaya kong gawin ang lahat.
"Zaki..."
"Hmm?"
"Nagmamakaawa ako. Train me to be like you," he told me he's a mafia also months ago. In fact his Dad was training him to become the next Mafia Boss. I was surrounded by mafia at hindi ako natatakot. Kung ganoon lang din edi makikipagsabayan na rin ako.
"No way."
"Please..."
"Veni, no. I won't let you get the revenge you're looking for. Hindi ka papatay."
Naiintindihan ko naman siya but I really want to. Hindi ako patatahimikin ng konsensya ko kapag wala akong nagawa para kay Bailey.
"They saw me, Zaki. They will find me. And before they will kill me I wanna fight them. I want to save my self. Kahit para sa akin nalang?" Nagmamakaawa kong sabi. Though it's real, pero mas higit pa ang gusto kong maghiganti. I am 17 pero nang dahil sa nakita ko wala na akong pakialam kung bata pa ako to learn how to kill. Damn it!
Alam kong kapag sinabi ko ito kay Dada ay hindi rin siya papayag. That's why I'm asking Zaki.
"Mr. Jin needs to know this," umiling ako agad.
"No, please..."
"I can protect you Veni, pero alam natin pareho na hindi sa lahat ng oras. But you're still young and your Dada will kill me."
"I don't care if I'm young. He won't kill you unless you're gonna tell him."
Ilang beses pa akong nagmakaawa nang napapayag ko siya.
Memories of years ago flooded my head. Parang isa iyong tornado na paikot ikot at pilit na pumapasok sa ulo ko. Lots of memories. From the day I started to go to school with Mama and Dada beside me, kung gaano kami kasayang pamilya, and when I met Zam Kinsley who's 3 years older than me. I was in high school, while he's a college student hanggang sa kung paano ko nalaman ang sekreto ni Dada, my 18th birthday, and lastly my graduation day kung saan nawala sa akin ang mga magulang ko.
Those men with gun and snake tattoo ay nakita ko iyon sa mga braso at kamay ng mga taong umambush sa amin noong graduation ko.
Hindi ko masasabing sila yung mga taong pumatay kay Bailey, but they were part of the group of demons.
They saw me, they found me and because of that nadamay sila Mama at Dada kahit alam kong sila rin ang mga kalaban ni Dada before, seeking also for revenge.
I remembered all now. Bumalik na lahat ng alaala ko. And it hurts a lot. As much as I want to remember all my memories, ngayon ay parang gusto ko nalang magka-amnesia ulit. Totoo nga ang sinasabi ng iba na our brain seems to forget those memories na nagbibigay ng sakit sa atin para hindi na tayo mas masaktan pa.
Even remembering my parents happy faces hurts me so damn much. Hindi ko na ulit iyon makikita ulit. Hindi ko na sila makakausap ulit. Hinding hindi ko na sila mayayakap at maririnig ang boses nila.
Even Bailey's slang accent when she's speaking Filipino, and her beautiful smile and angelic face. I will never hear or see her again.
It's all because of Delgado and his Boss na alam ko na kung sino.
I slowly opened my eyes. Sa sobrang liwanag ay ilang beses akong pumikit para mag-adjust ang paningin ko.
I am aware too that I'm crying. I saw Jyeo's perfect face at nakita kong nag-aalala siya. He's wiping my tears away.
He kissed my forehead.
"You're awake..." He whispered at napapapikit nalang ako sa tuwing hinahalikan niya ako sa noo.
"I love you..." Yan ang paulit-ulit niyang sinasabi. I want to say I love him too pero parang nawala ang boses ko at hindi ako makapagsalita.
"Are you okay? Do you need something?" Tumango ako ng tipid. "What is it baby? Tell me please," hindi nga ako makapagsalita, parang nanuyo ang lalamunan ko.
"She needs water, Yeovil." Thank goodness at alam ni ate Savv ang gusto ko.
Agad namang kumuha si Jyeo ng baso at sinalinan ito ng tubig, Ate Savv helped him na ipaupo ako at ipainom sa akin ang tubig.
Nakatulong ang tubig sa pagkauhaw ko. "T-thanks." I said almost a whisper.
"I'll check her first, Yeovil." Tumango si Jyeo. At ilang minuto rin ang ginawang pag-check sa akin ni Ate Savv at ilang mga katanungan din ang sinagot ko nang matapos ito.
Dalawang araw din pala akong tulog. And I clearly remembered what happened.
"Iiwan ko muna kayong dalawa. Magra-rounds muna ako. And we'll have to run some tests again sayo Ithalia mamaya," tumango ako at nagpasalamat.
Hindi nagtagal ay lumabas na rin ito.
"Hey." I looked at Jyeo. How I missed his face, his voice, smell, all of him.
"I missed you." I said.
"I love you. I am so sorry..." Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. "It's my fault."
"Hindi mo kasalanan."
"I shoud have pro---"
"Jyeo, it's okay. It's not your fault." He held my hand and kissed the back of it.
"I was so damn worried. I thought... I thought you'll leave me," I rolled my eyes.
"Come on, I will never do that. I will never leave you," he smiled a little.
"Now that's a relief," ngumiti nalang ako.
Kung hindi nangyari 'to for sure it will take time for me to remember all. May maganda ring naidulot ang pagkakahampas sa akin ng baril. But my heart is shouting in pain.
"Jyeo.."
"Hmm?"
"It hurts," naiiyak kong sabi. He needs to know. After all nasa sa akin lahat ng kasagutan. Kasagutang kung sino ang pumatay kay Bailey.
"What hurts, baby? Saan? Kailangan ko bang tawagin si Savv?" Taranta niyang tanong. I shook my head.
"Tell me Venice what hurts. Is it your head? Your wounds?" Umiling ulit ako, may mas masakit pa doon.
Nagsimulang tumulo ang luha ko na kanina ko pa pinipigilan.
"Naaalala ko na ang lahat Jyeo and it made my heart hurt so damn much. I miss them. My parents and Bailey. But remembering they were killed makes me want to kill too. If.... If only I wasn't injured right now. Nakita ko ang ---" He hugged me at mas lalo akong naiyak.
"Ssshhh I'm here. I'm just here. Stop crying now let's talk about it kapag magaling ka na. You need to rest. It's okay kung hindi mo muna sabihin. I hate seeeing you cry Venice, seeing you hurt makes me hurt too. We'll get the justice for them. Sisiguraduhin ko iyon." He's kissing my head and it calms me down.
"I am so sorry for it took so long na maalala ko ang lahat. I should have told Zaki about them before I lost my memories. Pero natakot akong madamay siya. I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault, Venice."
"My heart is shouting in pain," I sobbed.
"I know," he hugged me tighter. "If only I could take that pain away to make you feel better," he whispered.
"A tattoo of black pistol with a snake. They're the ones who killed Bailey and my parents."
"Fuck." Nahimigan ko ang pait at panggigigil sa boses niya. He already knows kahit na tattoo lang ang sinabi ko.
"Lance Franco Del Salvador, he's the master of all what happened. And I'm certain that he was the one I encountered in the forest. Ibinayad ako ni James sa mga utang niya kay Del Salvador siya iyong tinutukoy ko nang tinanong niyo ako noong tumakas ako kay James." Jyeo is seriously looking at me. "He said he will get me from you Jyeo that's why he didn't kill me yet."
"I won't let him do that. Magkamatayan muna kami," I can see flame in his eyes now. "He took my sister from us and I won't let him take another one. I swear I'll make him taste what hell tastes like." Puno ng galit ang boses niya.
He doesn't want to lose me. And I wanted to cry because of that.
"Jyeo wait for me," I placed my hand on his face. "I won't let you fight alone. We'll make him pay together..." My hand is itchy to pull the trigger pointing at Del Salvador's head.
Hindi ako papayag na mag-isa lang siya. Gusto kong kasama ako. Gusto kong katabi ko siya sa lahat ng laban. No matter what happens, we'll face it together.
He fights, I fight.
He kills, I kill.
He dies, I die.