Kabanata 12
My mom was hysterical, nanginginig pa ang kanyang kamay habang yakap ako at nakasubsob sa balikat ko.
"M-Mom..."
"I'm scared, honey..." She sobbed. "I thought...I thought..."
"I'm alright, Mom." I sighed, marahang inilayo sa akin para pagmasdan ang kanyang mata.
"Don't worry about me," I dried her tears.
"Why can't I?! Nagpunta lang kami ng Manila at mababalitaan ko ang nangyari sa'yo?! I can't lose another daughter again!" She cried. "I-Ikaw nalang ang natitira sa akin, Winter."
I bit my lip, stopping myself from crying but I was too weak. Kasalanan ko nanaman, if only I am not stupid and followed Warrion around, kung nakinig lang akong nasa panganib ang buhay ko at bawal akong umalis mag-isa ay sana hindi mangyayari ito!
You stupid Winter! The only thing you could do to help your family is to stay safe! You can't bring back your sister! Sana kahit ikaw nalang ay hindi na pasamain ang loob ng Mommy!
"I-I'm sorry, My..." I murmured and sobbed.
"It's alright, darling..." She sobbed too. "B-Basta, anak, sa susunod... H'wag matigas ang ulo, ang gusto ko lang naman ay maging ligtas ka."
Mahigpit kong niyakap si Mommy at sumubsob sa kanyang balikat.
My Dad entered the room at walang pagdadalawang-isip na naupo sa gilid ng kama ko para mayakap ako.
I sighed, I hugged him tightly back and whispered.
"I-I'm sorry, Dad..." I murmured. "Naantala ko ba ang stay n'yo sa Manila?"
"No..." He gasped, bahagyang lumayo sa akin para sapuin ang pisngi ko. "That was nothing when it comes to you, okay? Uuwi kami ng Mommy mo kahit nasaan pa kami para sa'yo, hmm?"
My tears fell again, malungkot akong napatingin kay Mommy na nagpupunas ng luha pabalik kay Dad na namumula ang mga mata, halatang takot.
My Dad gasped when he saw me crying, kaagad na iniangat ang kamay at pinunasan ang luha ko.
"Don't cry, Winter. It's gonna be alright, pinaghahanap na ng pulis si Senator Arsenio, my hunch was right, he's the mastermind of the threats."
"He is insecure," I murmured, drying my tears. "Ikaw kasi ang nangunguna sa survey."
"There is a lot of position in the senate!" My Mom exclaimed. "Bakit pa kailangan n'yang takutin ang pamilya para lang magwithdraw sa eleksyon ang Daddy mo?"
"Pride, honey." Ani Dad at nilingon si Mommy at pasimpleng yumakap. "Remembered last quarter of election? Magkapartido kami but he did not win a position? Tapos nung sa sunod n'yang takbo, nanalo na s'ya."
"He has loyal supporters, syempre, matalik kaming magkaibigan noon and when that happened, pati sa akin ay nagalit. Nung nangampanya tayo, naalala n'yo? That was one of his loyal supporter."
"What happened, then? Ang mga kumuha sa akin kanina?" I asked him.
"Nasa kulungan na, hija." My Dad answered. "The two men in front, including the driver died from the crash. 'Yung iba ay nakulong na at hinahanap si Arsenio ngayon dahil umamin 'yung mga natira."
"Kung ganun...there is a chance na makulong s'ya at matanggal sa senado?" I asked.
"Yes," My father nodded. "We are investigating everyone involved, ayun sa mga nahuli kanina. Mas pinaigting ang security ng mansyon at nitong ospital."
"Kapag nahuli, Dad?" I asked.
"Then good, we are safe again. Sa susunod na linggo na ang eleksyon at kapag natapos ay pwede ka nang bumalik sa mga dati mong ginagawa, hija."
I nodded. Kinagat ko ang labi ko at napaisip bigla.
"Si...Si Warrion po?" I murmured and my Dad looked at me.
"He's investigating too, namumuno s'ya doon sa mga security at imbestigador. He has a connection with the intelligence so we can assure everything will be good again after."
"Is he hurt?" Nag-aalala kong sabi.
"He has a gunshot wound pero daplis lang," Ani Mommy. "Saglit lang na ginamot at ayos na s'ya."
"But...it hurts, right? Ayos lang bang gagalaw s'ya kaagad?"
My father chuckled, shaking his head and caressed my hair.
"Warrion's been to wars, hija." Aniya. "May mga mas malala pang naranasan iyon kaysa rito kaya wala lang sa kanya ang daplis, isa pa, doktor iyon kaya alam ang gagawin."
I nodded, biting my lip.
"You are already attached to him?" Gulat akong napaangat ng tingin kay Daddy at nakita ko ang pagsinghap n'ya at pag-iling sa akin.
"Don't be, Winter. Like your other bodyguards, his contract will end too. Isa pa, he said he'll quit after everyone involved in the incident was properly jailed and cleaned."
My heart ache, parang piniraso ang puso ko roon at napakurap pero pinili ko ang ngumisi at umiling, tila wala lang ang sinasabi ni Daddy.
"It's just that...he's a good friend." I murmured.
"Really?" My father smiled at me. "As long as I want Warrion to stay and guard you, I can't. I allowed him to quit despite the end of his contract after this. May buhay rin kasi bukod dito ang tao, swerte nalang tayo at nagkataong napakiusapan kong maging bodyguard dahil wala raw ginagawa."
"Isa pa, he's hands-on to your case, Winter." My mother smiled, staring at her phone. "He's fast, using every connection he has. In fact... I was informed that Arsenio was captured and is on the way for questioning."
Umalis ang mga magulang ko at naiwan akong mag-isa sa kwarto, walang pakiramdam ang braso kong naipit ang nagkasugat. I wasn't really that injured, tanging sugat at mga pasa lang ang nangyari but my parents are overprotective that they want me to stay in a hospital.
Days passed without any sight of Warrion, tanging ang mga balita lang mula kay Mommy at Daddy ang nalalaman ko.
In fact, Senator Arsenio was guilty, based on the investigations. Nahuli at nakulong ang kanyang mga kasabwat at tauhan.
Sa araw-araw ay sumasaya lang ako sa bawat pagbisita sa akin ng mga kaibigan, kasama na si Macarena at Max.
I actually can go and stay at home pero ayaw ng mga magulang ko, saying if anything happens ay maganda at narito ako para mabilis matignan.
I understand them so, I stayed here. Mas umigting ang mga guards sa akin. Sa labas ng pinto ay may tatlo, sa labas ng ospital ay may mga nagtatago rin.
Even the mansion has guards too, and of course, my parents who's going back and forth here to Manila.
My friends has guards too, galing sa kanilang mga pamilya para iwas sa mga panganib rin.
"Okay ka na, Winter?" Ngisi ni Macarena pagkarating, hawak ang isang basket ng prutas.
"Hmm," I smiled and showed her my hand. "I can move my hand now, I can actually go home too."
"At iyon ay kung papayagan ka," She chuckled. "Mas magandang dito ka na rin muna, Winter. Mas mababantayan ka pa."
I nodded, kagat ko ang labi ay muli akong sumulyap sa kaibigan at mahinang nagsalita.
"You...have any news from Warrion?" Bulong ko sa hangin at nanlaki ang mata n'ya at tumango, mabilis s'yang naupo sa tabi ko at nagsalita.
"I can't see him in your guards outside or anywhere but I am well-awared na nahuli man na 'yung may mga gawa at involved ay nag-iimbestiga pa rin s'ya at baka may nakalusot. In fact, I saw him on TV last time! Press conference ata!"
Umawang ang labi ko roon.
"For?"
"The incident," Aniya. "S'ya ay pinagkatiwalaan ng Daddy mo sa security."
"Can you tell me what happened that day?" I asked her softly and she nodded, remembering it.
"I am positive, Winter! That child we saw with him isn't his."
"Paano mo naman nalaman?" My forehead creased. "They looked alike! With green eyes and such!"
"No, hindi n'ya ata kamag-anak, parang nautusan lang s'yang magsundo. I don't know exactly but when you left, he called his brother and a woman, he calls her Lars. Pamangkin ata 'nung Lars? I don't know."
"But the boy has green eyes..." I murmured.
"And so his brother." Ani Macarena. "Don't be frustrated, feeling ko it has something to do with Caspian and not with Warrion."
"Nung pagdating ni Caspian, dali-dali s'yang sumakay sa kotse n'ya, hinabol ka tapos wala na akong alam sa nangyari." She sighed.
I nodded quietly, sumulyap ako kay Macarena at nagsalita.
"He wants to quit," I murmured and she froze, nakita ko ang madramang pagbagsak ng bibig n'ya.
"What?! Seriously?!"
"After the investigation...na tapos na rin naman." Mahinang sabi ko at pinaglaruan ang daliri ko.
"Mas labanan natin, Winter! You have to get Warrion!" She cheered.
"But...can I really get him?" Mahinang sabi ko at tumitig sa daliri ko. "We have a connection but he doesn't like me."
"It's obvious that he likes you!" She exclaimed. "I can feel it, Winter! Warrion likes you too, okay? I know what men tends to do when they care for someone. He pushed through the investigation of your case. He protects you, he takes care of you and I know his stares, nararamdaman kong gusto ka n'ya."
Hindi muna ako umimik, nanatili akong nakatingin kung saan at naputol lang nang pumasok si Max, dala ang isang pumpon ng bulaklak at humalik sa pisngi ko.
"Aalis?" Ani Max at nakita ko ang multo ng ngiti sa labi n'ya habang hawak ang kamay ko at nakaupo sa hospital bed. "Edi ayos na rin, safe ka na rin 'nun."
Hindi ako umimik, ngumuso roon si Macarena at hindi na rin nagkomento.
"Kaya pala hindi ko nakikita d'yan sa labas? Ayos rin, hindi bale, kahit walang panganib na at wala kang bodyguard, ako ang bahala sa'yo."
"Max..." I sighed. "Mawawalan ako ng bodyguard kasi ayos na, wala ng panganib so, hindi mo ako kailangang bantayan."
"I still want to!" Max exclaimed and stared at me. "I like you, Winter. You know that, right? Mas mabuting ako na ang magbabantay sa'yo at hindi ang lalaking iyon. You're safer with me, kung binantayan ka lang sana ng maayos 'nun ay hindi ka mapapahamak--"
"It's my fault!" Giit ko at tinitigan s'ya. "Warrion just kept me safe! He followed me kahit alam n'yang mapanganib!"
"Alright..." Kinalma n'ya ako nang mapansing nagagalit na ako. "Okay, he kept you safe, alright. He did that because that's his job while me...gagawin kong protektahan ka kasi gusto kita. I intend to keep you safe because I like you." Pinisil n'ya ang kamay ko.
We stopped and our eyes shifted when the door opened. My breath hitched, nakagat ko ang labi ko sa gulat nang makita ang naroon.
The dark, handsomely man I've been wanting to see is here!
Warrion on his plain black shirt and maong jeans entered, malamig ang tingin n'ya at mula sa mga mata ko ay bumaba ang tingin n'ya sa kamay ko.
I flinched, biglang napansin ang kamay ni Max sa kamay ko kaya marahas ko 'yung nahila at bumilis ang pintig ng puso ko.
"W-Warrion..." My voice trembled.
Sa pagpasok n'ya ay nakita kong nanlaki ang mata ni Macarena at mabilis na napatayo at napatingin sa akin.
"Uhm...ano! Sorry, mauuna na kami!" Macarena exclaimed, akmang aalis pero naalala si Max na nakikipagtagisan ng titig kay Warrion kaya napabalik s'ya.
"Max! Tara!" She said and pulled Max who was startled.
"Elena! What--"
"Tara! Gabi na!" Ani nito pero hindi natinag si Max, mukhang magpupumilit kaya tumikhim ako at hinarap s'ya.
"Ayos lang, Max." I smiled a little. "Pagod na rin kasi ako, gusto ko nang magpahinga."
I saw Max froze for a while, definitely thinking about it but then looked at Warrion and sighed, nodding a bit.
"Okay..." He said. "But I will come back tomorrow, rest, babe." I was shocked when he kissed my cheek and stood.
Warrion remained serious, unmoving. Malamig ang kanyang tingin sa amin at nang lumapit si Max sa kanya ay nagkatinginan sila.
I sensed the tension, kung hindi lang tumikhim si Macarena at hinila si Max ay hindi ko na alam ang mangyayari.
The silence filled the room the moment the two left, halos marinig ko na ang tunog ng orasan sa katahimikan at walang ingay ang kanyang mga lakad patungo sa akin.
"Warrion..." I said in a small voice pero nanatili lang s'yang nakatayo sa tabi ko. He didn't even talked.
"H-How are you? Hindi kita nakita, huh?" Ngumisi pa ako pero hindi s'ya kaagad umimik sa akin.
I was confused when he sat beside me, marahang hinawakan n'ya ang braso ko at naamoy ko ang kanyang pabango.
He smells shower gel, mint with a glint of his expensive perfume. Nakita kong marahan n'yang tinatanggal ang bandage na nasa braso kong sugatan kaya napabuntong-hininga ako at tumitig sa braso n'ya.
"They said you're wounded too," Inabot ko ang braso n'ya at nakitang sumulyap s'ya sa akin nang magawa iyon.
Hindi s'ya umimik, marahang inangat ko ang sleeve ng kanyang shirt at nakita ang gauze na naroon sa sugat n'ya.
I sighed and lifted my gaze to look at him.
"Masakit?" Bulong ko.
"I'm good," He said coldly, marahang tinanggal ang kamay ko sa balikat at ibinaba.
He proceeded in checking my would, mabilis s'yang tumayo at may kinuha sa kabilang table at nang bumaling ay dala na n'ya ang panlinis ng sugat ko.
Tahimik ko s'yang pinagmamasdan habang naglilinis. I noticed how tired he looked right now, magulo ang kanyang buhok at ang nakakunot ang noo.
Like usual, he isn't talking and just remained quiet. Habang nagfofocus s'ya roon ay ginawa ko ang nakasanayan at iniangat ang kamay ko para haplusin ang buhok n'ya.
He froze for a while but continued, I ran my fingers on his hair, slowly touching it.
"I'm sorry..." Mababa ang boses kong sabi.
He gulped, his jaw clenched a bit, tila naalala nanaman ang ginawa ko at pumirmi ang labi. He suddenly looks mad, mas nagseryoso sa pag-ayos ng sugat ko.
"Sorry kung tinakasan ko 'yung security sa bahay, I was just too bratty, h-hindi naman dapat kita sinusundan."
"Why are you following me, anyway?" His husky voice said. Nagbaba naman ako ng ulo at suminghap.
"W-Wala lang..." I murmured. "I was curious so, I did it."
Hindi nanaman s'ya umimik, I saw him lifted a clean bandage to cover my wound.
"Kasalanan ko," Bulong ko. "E-Edi kung napahamak ako, napagalitan ka pa."
"Is that what you're thinking? Are seriously worried that I'll be scolded?"
"O-Oo! I have no idea kung nagalit sa'yo si Dad, did he? Kakausapin ko kung--"
"Damn, woman! Here I am worrying about your safety yet you were thinking about that!" He exclaimed, mad.
Napatalon ako, nakagat ko ang labi at suminghap.
"I-I just..."
He shook his head, bahagyang lumayo sa akin at hinanap ang mata ko.
"When are you going to think about your safety, huh? In all those times that I'll let you slip even for a while lagi kang nakakawala! In just one blink, you are fucking risking your life again!"
I don't know why but my tears began forming at the side of my eyes, I sniffed, noticing how his green eyes darkened, looking mad and worried.
"I-I admit my mistakes, i-inaayos ko naman." Mahinang sabi ko.
"Then tell me, paano kung hindi kita nailigtas? Tell me what will I do if you I haven't rescued you?! Paano kung bumalik ka nanaman sa dati?!" He exclaimed at me.
Napahikbi ako, nanginig ang balikat ko at tumungo.
"S-Sorry... Sorry..."
"Isang bitaw ko lang sa'yo, nasa bingit ka nanaman ng kamatayan! Tell me, Winter Andromeda, tell me what will I do if I lose you?!"
Hindi ako umimik, tahimik akong umiyak habang pinagmamasdan s'yang galit at frustated. He looks like he's gonna burst in any minute sa hindi ko maintindihang dahilan.
"I will quit," He said coldly after a minute kaya mas naluha ako at pinagmasdan s'ya.
"W-Warrion..."
"Your father have told you, right? Everything is done now, wala nang magtatangka sa buhay mo. You can finally go out without security."
"B-Bakit ka aalis? P-Paano pala kung mayroon pa? H-Hindi natin masasabi kung wala ng may balak!"
"You won't need me anymore," He said, bitterly mad. "You have your boyfriend now, right? Max? He'll protect you, he said that, right?"
"B-Bakit ikaw? P-Pinoprotektahan mo naman ako, a?"
"I am protecting you because that is only my job! Walang iba! E, sya? Poprotektahan ka n'ya kasi gusto ka n'ya! You both like each other so, why bother--"
"I don't like him!" I exclaimed. "I want you to protect me because I like you! I like you around me, Warrion! Can't you see that I like you very much?!"
He stopped but then proceeded.
"Ipapahamak lang kita," He laughed humorlessly and looked away. "Always. I'll just always put you in harm. I am not a good protector."
"D-Don't say that!"
"Why won't I? Totoo naman diba? Look at what happened last time! Kung nahuli nanaman ako ay may nangyari na sa'yo!"
"H-Hindi mo 'yun kasalanan," I said. "Y-You just saved me!"
"You won't understand why, anyway." Mariing sabi n'ya. "It's better if we keep our distance to each other, it won't take time before I go out of your house."
"D-Don't leave..." Bulong ko at sinubukan s'yang hawakan pero umiwas s'ya sa akin.
"Hindi mo ako pinahamak, you saved me, Warrion. And about Max, I don't like him, I never told him I do. We aren't together."
Hindi s'ya umimik at marahas na sinuklay ang kanyang buhok, umiigting ang panga.
"I wish it was easier, to be just like that," Malamig n'yang turan.
"Warrion..."
"You won't understand," His jaw clenched. "I have to stay away from you, I won't put you into that darkness again."
"W-What darkness? I already lived with that! My heart is already filled with darkness! Ano pa ba ang sinasabi mo?!"
"I will leave."
Marahas kong pinunasan ang luha ko at nagmamakaawang tinignan s'ya.
"P-Please, stay? I promise, I'll be a good girl, kapag sinabi mong hindi lalabas... Hindi ako lalabas."
I saw him wanted to give in but stopping himself. Pilit nag-iiwas ng tingin pero bakas ko ang desperasyong umalis.
"W-What can I do make you stay?"
"None."
He was fisting his knuckles. Tila kinakalma ang sarili sa kung ano.
"H-Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit ka aalis but please, please stay."
"I will leave, Miss Almedarez. I got bigger life than this, hindi buong buhay ko ay iikot lang sa'yo." He spatted hardly, hindi tumitingin.
My heart crumpled, halos manlabo na ang mga mata ko sa luha at sumisinghap.
"I-I like you, Warrion..." I confessed, crying. "S-So, please, stay... I like you."
"Am I supposed to like you too?" His brow raised at me at natigilan ako roon.
"I-I thought our feelings are m-mutual."
"Have I ever told you I do?" He spatted. "No, right?"
Napatungo ako at nasaktan sa mga salita n'ya.
"I don't want to do anything involving you, napipilitan lang ako kaya ako pumayag sa pakiusap ng Daddy mo."
Tahimik akong humikbi at tumungo. Tinakpan ko ang bibig ko at suminghap.
"I don't like you, I let you do anything because you're my client and I'm bored."
"I-I thought we had an understanding--"
"You are just a job to me, Miss Almedarez. Nothing more." He cut me off.