"HIS PRECIOUS TREASURE"
Haru's PoV:
Dahan-dahan kong minulat ang mga mata ko. Ang amoy agad ng alcohol ang bumungad saken at kwartong puro puti at mga nakakainis na ingay sa gilid. Pakiramdam ko parang binibiyak ang ulo ko sa sobrang sakit. Hindi naman ako uminon kaya imposibleng hangover to. Tsk!
I hissed when I suddenly felt dizzy when I tried to sit up. Agad naman na may kamay na pumigil saken.
"Haru, magpahinga ka muna." Sabi ni Yusei niisan.
"N-niisan... what happened?" Tanong ko sa kanya habang pinipisil ang bridge ng ilong ko.
Narinig kong napabuntong hininga siya. "Nawalan ka kasi ng malay kahapon. At dahil lang naman sa pagod at sama ng loob yun at maraming dugo din ang nawala sayo kaya dito ka na namin dineretso ni Kai sa Torres' hospital."
"Kahapon? Ilang oras na akong tulog?"
"Twenty-seven hours."
Sinubukan ko ulit maupo kahit sumasakit pa din ang ulo ko. Is this what they called stress?
"What happened to Avros? He's still alive and kickin', right?" Tanong ko kay Yusei niisan.
"Nasa kabilang kwarto siya ngayon. He need to undergo to a surgery because you broke his face and nose... almost completely." Paliwanag naman niya.
Napapikit naman ako ng maramdamang umikot ulit ang paningin ko. "Niisan, I felt very dizzy."
"Mawawala rin yan maya-maya. Maramirami din kasi ang nawalang dugo sayo. You also have plenty of broken bones on your hands. May tinahi din diyan." Biglang bumuntong hininga na naman si Yusei niisan. "You almost killed him. Kaya ayaw ko na makita mo siya eh. I know you have a very short temper, Haru. Natakot ako na baka maputol ang pagtitimpi mo at makakapatay ka. We've been avoiding that brutal side of you because it's really out of control. But I think Avros really got into your nerves."
Napatingin ako sa kawalan. "He called mama a b*tch. I can tolerate every filthy words that will come out in his mouth but not that one."
"I understand." Patango-tango na sabi ni niisan habang hinahawakan ang kamay ko. "Just brace yourself much tighter this time or else you can kill somebody."
"It's not like Avros will be the first person that I will kill." Walang ganang sabi ko.
"Haru... you didn't killed uncle Avram." May diin ang bawat salita na lumbas sa bibig ni Yusei niisan. "It was all an accident."
"No!" Pailing-iling na sabi ko. "I stabbed him while we're falling on the stairs. I stabbed him."
Napatingin ako ng deretso sa mata ni Yusei niisan ng marahas niyang hawakan ang magkabilang balikat ko. "It's an accident, Haru. And if not... he deserves it."
Napabuntong hininga ulit si niisan at tumayo na. Akmang pipihitin na niya ang pinto ng bumaling siya sakin. "Haru, magpagaling ka na. Masamang nagpapaiyak ng babae."
"What do you mean?" Kunot noong tanong ko.
Tumingin ulit sakin si niisan habang may ngiti sa mga labi. "Kahapon pa ang iyak ni Dylan dito. We brought you here with a pale face and almost out of blood. Hindi din siya natulog. Ni wala nga atang balak na kumain ng breakfast kung hindi pa siya inayang kumain nina Hendrix at D' Artagnan."
"D-Dylan's here?" My voice almost cracked at my question. "Where is she?"
"Nasa office ko. Pinakain ko muna silang tatlo. Kai and Takeo went to the mansion to get your stuff. Magpahinga ka na."
With that, Yusei niisan take his leave. At dahil wala na akong kasama dito at ang ingay lang ng aparato ang naririnig ko minabuti ko munang umidlip sandali.
***
Nang magising ulit ako naramdaman kong parang ang bigat ng braso ko na parang may nakadagan dun. Nang minulat ko na ng tuluyan ang mga mata ko hindi ko mapigilan magulat.
Dylan is really here.
And she's holding my arm like she's afraid to lose me. Natutulog siya kaya sinubukan kong wag mag-ingay para hindi siya magising. Naupo ako para makalapit lalo sa kanya. Tsaka ko hinimas ang buhok niya. He purred like a cat but she didn't woke up.
I can't help but to smile that Dylan is still here even though she heared me said yesterday that I killed someone. Kahit muntik na naman ulit ako makapatay sa harap ng maraming tao nandito pa rin siya.
Looking at Dylan right now, I can't believe how lucky I am to have her.
Bigla naman akong na estatwa ng makitang unti-unting bumubukas ang mga mata ni Dylan. Nang tuluyan na siyang nagising napaayos siya ng upo at kinusot ang mata niya. Pero agad din naman siyang napatigil ng makita ako.
"H-Haru?" Dahan-dahang umupo si Dylan sa gilid ng kinahihigaan ko at masuyong hinaplos ang pisngi. "Maayos na ba ang pakiramdam mo?"
Kahit kumikirot pa ang kamay ko pinilit ko pa ding hawakan ang kamay niya na nakahawak sa pisngi ko. "I'm fine, Dylan."
Dun na bumagsak ang mga luhang pinipigilan niyang hindi lumabas. Pinaghahampas na din niya ang dibdib ko habang walang tigil na umiiyak.
"Liar... you're such a liar. How could you? How could you put yourself to harm? How could you make me worry?" Tanong niya sakin habang humihikbi. "How dare you making me cry? Alam mo bang ang sakit tingnan nung balot na balot ang kamay mo ng dugo? I was going to run and hug you but you won't let me. Naiinis ako sayo!"
Hinawakan ko na ang kamay niyang humahampas sa dibdib ko at agad siyang niyakap. My Dylan... imbes na matakot mas nag-alala pa siya sakin. Do I really deserve this girl?
Nanatiling ganun ang posisyon namin hangang sa huminahon na si Dylan. Napayakap na din siya ng mahigpit sakin habang binabaon ang mukha niya sa leeg ko. Habang ako naman ay patuloy sa paghaplos sa buhok niya.
"Dylan? Aren't you afraid of me?" Tanong ko kapagkwan.
Bumitaw naman siya sa yakap niya sakin at napatitig sa mga mata ko. "Why would I?"
"I almost killed Avros infront of everybody." Sagot ko naman sa tanong niya.
"Dapat lang din naman ata sa kaniya yun ang bastos kasi mag-salita ang grabe pa magparatang." She replied.
"But you heared me, right? I killed my uncle. I think it's enough reason for you to be afraid of me." Sabi ko ulit.
Napabuntong hininga naman siya saka hinaplos muli ang pisngi ko. "I don't want to judge you, Haru. Siguro naman may rason ka kung bakit mo nagawa yun. At kung ano mang rason yun wala na akong pakealam."
"You won't leave me?" I sounded so vulnerable while asking that.
"I told you I won't, right?" Nakangiting tugon ni Dylan.
Hinawakan ko naman ang kamay niyang nasa pisngi ko at dinala yun sa may bibig ko para halikan.
Matamis din akong ngumiti sa kanya. "I love you with all my heart, Dylan."
"I like you with all my heart too, Haru."
Nagkatitigan din kami ng ilang minuto hanggang sa basagin iyon ni Dylan.
"Alam mo ba kahapon, ang cool mo talaga. I can feel your hatred towards your cousin but I was so amaze to see how you make yourself calm." She said.
"Riou niisan and Yusei niisan always told me to hold my temper because if I don't I became uncontrollable. I have a brutal side and somehow when I snap I can't stop myself from my berserk mode just like what happened yesterday. A doctor ones told me when I was a kid that my anger will harm others so I should learn how to control it because it's like my own sickness that can't be cured." I explained.
Napatango-tango naman si Dylan sa paliwanag ko. "Sa tingin ko nakakaya mo namang pigilan ang galit mo. Pero ng sabihin ng pinsan mo yung masasamang salitang sinabi niya tungkol sa mama mo dun ka na sumabog."
"Dylan, I love my mama so much. I respect her with all my life so should other people too. I won't just stand idly by when someone insults my mother." I said to her as I clench my hands into fist.
I felt Dylan's hand on my hand so I slowly calmed down and unfist my hands.
Ngumiti naman sakin si Dylan. "I can feel your overflowing love to your mother."
"Hmm." I hummed with a smile.
Speaking of my mama. When I lost my consciousness yesterday I felt a hand caressed my hair and when I look at the one who did it...
I saw the beautiful face of my mother.
"Haru?" Napatingin ulit ako kay Dylan ng banggitin niya ang pangalan ko. "Okay lang ba kung magtanong ako kung ano talaga ang nangyari sa mama mo?"
Napagitig muna ako kay Dylan ng ilang sandali bago nagbuntong hininga. I never told anyone about this aside from my cousin Kaito and childhood friends Takeo, Flynn and Bryleigh. Hindi ko kinukwento to sa iba pero meron din na mga balita na lumipad sa labas.
Dylan is everything to me aside from my mama... I can't afford to lose Dylan. So I guess I should tell her.
I cleared my throat first and looked outside the window as I revisit the moment I last talked with mama and the events after it.
"She was once my everything, Dylan. She's the most precious treasure I ever had in my life. But a greedy man stole her life away..."
FLASHBACK:
I was turning fifteen years old when my treasure left me. We are celebrating the birth of our saviour. It was Christmas day.
"Mama! Are you going in the garden again?" I asked her when I finally catch her pace.
Just like always my mama will flash a smile to me. "Yes, I am, Haru."
"I wanna go with you." I said.
Sinundan ko lang si mama hanggang sa makarating kami sa paborito niyang hardin. Tumigil siya pansamantala upang pumitas ng isang puting rosas bago tumingin sakin.
"Haru, if the day will come that you're giving your special girl a flower I want you to pick here in my garden." Mama said out of the blue.
"Special? You're the most special girl I have, mama." I said with a frown.
Ginulo naman ni mama ang buhok ko. "Silly, silly Haru. You will still meet someone who will be more special than me."
"That's so absurd, mama."
My mama chuckled at me as she sat on the nearest bench. "Haru, when you already have someone so precious to you I want to meet her right away. And, Haru, when you get older don't go around and play with girls' feelings. Be a one woman kind of a man."
"How can I find this... this precious girl?" I asked mama without any interest in my voice.
She sat properly and flashed me a smile. "Haru... not all scars shows. Not all wounds heal. Sometimes you can't see the pain someone feels. But if that girl can see and feel your pain... I promise you son, she's the one for you. When the time comes that you already found her don't ever let her go."
Hindi ko talaga ma-gets ang sinabi ni mama kaya kunot-noo lang ang naipakita ko sa kanya na tinawanan niya.
My mama caressed the frown on my forehead while her sky blue eyes are staring at me. "Son, it means that real love doesn't meet you at your best. It meets you in your mess."
"Love? Does precious and love have the same meaning?" Naguguluhan na tanong ko.
"Haru..." mama called me again as she keeps on caressing my hair. "Once you find true love. Don't expect to find it again. So you must hold on to it, hug it if you must, embrace it while you have it."
"But... mama, I don't even know how to love someone aside from our family." I said.
Tumawa na naman si mama at ngumiti. "Love is when the other person's happiness is more important than your own."
I really don't get it.
Nanahimik na lang ako at bumuntot kay mama habang namimitas siya ng mga puting rosas. She will smell it from time to time and smile.
I really wonder why mama is always smiling. Why is she smiling like that?
I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't notice that uncle Avram is now here. When I saw him I immediately run to him and give him a hug.
"Uncle!!" Masaya akong yumakap sa kanya kahit hindi halata dahil sa straight expression ko. Agad din naman akong bumalik sa tabi ni mama.
"What brings you here, Avram?" Mahinahong tanong ni mama kay uncle.
Kumunot naman ang noo ko ng hawakan ni uncle ang kamay ni mama. "Haruka, please be with me. My brother will never know our relationship. You're his wife, right? He will give you money without suspecting you. I know you don't love Ismael, besides your marriage was just arranged after all. We can easily get big amount of money from Ismael if we work together."
"Uncle what are---"
Hindi ko natuloy ang balak kong pagsalita dahil biglang tinakpan ni mama ang bunganga ko.
"What makes you think that I don't love my husband, Avram? Anything can happen you know. I won't let you get a single penny from my husband's money. Did you think that I already forgot that you tried harming Riou because he didn't agreed with your greediness of stealing away money from his father?" My mother said in a calm manner.
"You b*tch..." uncle muttered as he clench his teeth and turned his hands into fist. "Because you also declined my request and mess up with my plan you are now a nuisance to me. So I think you'll understand if I dispose you right?"
Napahawak ako ng mahigpit sa kamay ni mama ng may nilabas na swiss knife si uncle. Bigla akong kinilabutan ng biglang tumawa si uncle.
"M-mama..." I murmured with a shaky voice.
"Stay behind me, Haru." Sabi ni mama.
"No!" Agad na pag-ayaw ko. "I should be the one protecting you. You're pregnant with our sister, mama."
"Haru, just stay behind me." Sabi ni mama habang panay naman ang iling ko.
"Oh! Don't worry my dear nephew. I won't let anything bad happened to you because I can still use you." Uncle said once again with an evil grin.
Napasigaw na lang si mama ng bigla siyang hilahin ni uncle. At dahil ang layo ng mansyon sa garden walang may nakarinig sa sigaw ni mama.
Sinubukan kong pigilan si uncle sa balak niya pero isang suntok sa tiyan ang nakuha ko mula sa kanya na nagpaubo sakin ng dugo. Dahil sa sobrang sakit hindi ko mapigilang mapaluhod habang sapo-sapo ang tiyan ko.
"M-mama... mama... r-run..." nahihirapang sabi ko habang nakatingin sa direksyon nina mama at uncle.
But what happened next tears my world apart. My heart shattered into pieces as I watched uncle Avram stab my mama on her stomach again and again. My body suddenly stops functioning.
"No... NO!!!" Nagawa kong isigaw. "STOP IT, DAMN IT!!"
Tumigil siya sa pagsaksak sa katawan ni mama at walang pasabing binitawan siya. Dun lang bumalik ang lakas ko para tumakbo at saluhin ang katawan ni mama na puno na ng sarili niyang dugo. Her white floral dress is now turning into crimson blood.
"M-mama... hang on.. hang on, mama. I.. I w-will stop the bleeding."
Sinubukan kong takpang ang mga saksak ni mama pero masyado itong marami at hindi tumitigil sa pagdurugo. My mama's mouth is now covered with blood. She's having hard time breathing. Seeing my mother suffering like this as I helplessly stared at her makes me cry a river.
"Mama... hold on." My hand is shaking as I tried brusing away the hair on her face. "I'll call for help."
Akmang tatayo na ako ng hawakan ni mama ang kamay ko. Dahan-dahan at nanginginig niyang hinaplos ang mukha ko. Wala na akong pakealam kung mababalutan ang mukha ko ng dugo. I just want to feel my mother's warmth.
"Haru... w-will you show... mama a s-smile.. before I left?" Mahinang tanong ni mama sakin.
"What?" Nagugulahang tanong ko habang wala pa ding katapusan ang iyak ko.
"I.. I was really.. looking forward to s-see you smile." Sabi niya sakin na ikinaiyak ko lalo. "Show me a... a s-smile please?"
Kahit nasasaktan ako pinilit kong ngumiti para kay mama. Nang makangiti ako kahit maliit lang nginitian niya ako.
"Haru... mama loves you with all my heart." Sabi ni mama habang isang butil ng luha ang tumulo sa kanyang mata.
"I love you too, mama. I love you. Please don't leave me." I begged her while I'm crying.
"Haru..." napatingin ulit ako kay mama ng tawagin niya ang pangalan ko. But then she just smiled at me as if she's not covered with blood.
Napaiyak ako lalo dahil dun. Why does she have to smile like that when she's in the brink of death? I hate her... but still, I can't help but to love her unconditionally.
Napatingin ulit ako sa nakangiting mukha ni mama ng punasan niya ang luha ko.
"Haru... don't cry..."
Bigla na lang tumigil ang pagikot ng mundo ko ng bumagsak ang kamay ni mama na pumunas sa luha ko. Her sky blue eyes are staring at me lifelessly.
S-she left me. Mama left me with a smile. Is she happy because she died? Or because I'm the last person she saw? Kahit ano pa ang sagot hindi ko na malalaman yun. I slowly close my mother's eyes with my shaking hand. Hindi lang si mama ang namatay, pati na rin ang batang nasa sinapupunan niya. We're supposed to surprise dad and my brothers about the news. But it won't happened.
Masama kong tinignan si uncle Avram na nakadekwatro sa bench habang naninigarilyo.
"I will kill you." Nanginginig sa galit na sabi ko.
He just laughed at me as if I said something stupid. "I know you can't, Haru. Now because your mama's dead. You need to obey everthing I will said."
"What if I don't?" Tanong ko sa kanya habang masama pa din akong nakatingin sa gawi niya.
Tumayo naman siya at tinapon ang natitirang sigarilyo sa tabi ni mama at inapakan yun.
"If you won't?" He shrugged then grin widely. "I killed your mama without a sweat. I can do the same with your little brothers."
Napabilog ang mga mata ko sa sinabi niya at humigpit ang yakap ko sa walang buhay na katawan ni mama.
As uncle Avram walk away he raised his hand to wave at me. "Merry christmas, Haru. I hope you like my gift."
He left while laughing like a devil. Ilang oras akong nakatulala lang sa kawalan habang yakap pa din ang bangkay ni mama. Nang maramdaman kong may bumagsak sa unahan ko. There I saw Riou niisan crying silently. Nakita ko naman sa likod ni Riou niisan si Yusei niisan na karga-karga pa sa likod niya si Levi.
Lumapit si Riou niisan sakin at hinawakan ako sa magkabilang balikat. "W-what happened, Haru?"
"M-mama... mama is..." nahihirapan akong makabuo ng salita.
"What happened, Haru!?" Bahagyang tumaas ang boses ni Riou niisan na nag-paiyak sakin.
Napailing ako kay Riou niisan at kumapit sa braso niya para kumuha ng lakas. "I... w-watched mama getting killed. I-I haven't done anything to save her. I should be the one who d-died. I'm a useless---"
Napahagulgol ako sa balikat ni Niisan ng yakapin niya ako ng mahigpit. Binuhos ko lahat ng sakit sa pag-iyak sa balikat ni Riou niisan.
"Call dad, Yusei." Rinig kong utos ni Riou niisan.
Narining ko na lang ang papalayong yabag nina Yusei niisan, Ayato at Levi. Naiwan kami ni Riou niisan dito kasama ang walang buhay na katawan ni mama.
"It's all my fault, niisan. I didn't protected her properly." I blamed myself. "I should have done something."
"It's not your fault, Haru." Niisan said. "Now tell me. Who killed mama?"
Kumuyom ang kamao ko dahil sa tanong ni niisan. "Uncle Avram. We should obey his orders. He threatened me that if I don't he will kill Ayato and Levi."
Napatitig muna sakin si niisan at niyakap naman ako. Tulala ako hanggang sa makarating si dad. Dinala din nila ako sa hospital dahil namaga ang suntok sakin. And the doctors said that I was traumatized. But I told them I'm fine and I insist to go so they send me home.
Nang makauwi ako kaagad akong nagkulong sa kwarto ko. Hindi ako lumalabas. Ni hindi ako kumakain dahil sa wala akong gana. Paano ako gaganahan kung kasalo namin kumain ang taong pumatay kay mama? We never told anyone because he said if we tell dad he won't hesitate to kill my younger brothers. So we never said a word.
Nagkulong ako sa kwarto ko ng isang buwan na minsan lang kumakain. Habang kinukulong ko ang sarili ko sa kwarto ko. Hindi ko namalayan na nalibing na pala si mama. Ni hindi man lang ako nakadalo.
Mabuti na siguro yun. Wala akong mukhang ihaharap sa puntod ni mama dahil kasalanan ko kung bakit siya namatay.
I could've done something. But I just knelt there helplessly.
END OF FLASHBACK:
"Wala akong nagawa, Dylan. Nakaluhod lang ako dun habang pinapanood siyang sinasaksak. Kung hindi ko lang sana ipinadaig ang takot ko maliligtas ko si mama." Puno ng poot ang boses ko ng sinabi ko yun.
A warm liquid escape my eyes when an arms embrace me. Napayakap na din ako kay Dylan habang siya naman ay hinahaplos ang likod ko.
"Stop blaming yourself, Haru." She whispered in my ear and kissed me on the cheek. "Hindi magugustuhan ni mama mo yun."
Mas lalo pa naglaglagan ang mga luha ko. I hugged Dylan as I silently cried a river. It's nice to have someone I can cried on to. Kahit papano gumaan ang pakiramdam ko.
Mama... I'm sorry. Once I get out inside this hospital I will visit you and dad once and for all. I will let you meet my most precious treasure.
🌹💜🌹