REAM.
The moment I heard her reasons, I know there's no way that I can stop her.
It's her attitude, and I embrace her whole.
Kaya nang marinig ko ang mga rason niya, ang pagsasakripisyo niya para sa lahat ay umalis na ako.
I admit, I became furious.
Pagkalabas ko ay hindi pa rin natatapos ang labanan.
I'm also done with everything like my wife Trixy.
May lalapit sana sa akin, but I just stood up with authority within me.
"This whole place will explode!" I yelled for them to stop.
May mga malalapit sa akin na napahinto, kaya ang mga nasa dulo ay taka sa nangyari bakit biglang natahimik.
"There's a bomb in this whole place," I repeated and my voice echoed around the place because of the sudden silence.
Alam ko halos lahat ng tao ay nandito dahil pinapahanap kami ni Marco, and this is my chance to remind them all.
It's a good thing that half of the population inside this laboratory is already with us.
Marami na ring namatay na nasa panig ni Marco at sa panig namin. We are all innocent here, si Marco lang talaga ang may pakana.
That's why I'm giving them another chance to be with us and to be saved.
Ang kaninang mga sunod-sunod na putok ng mga baril, ang tunog ng mga kutsilyo, ang maliliit na pagsabog, ang mga gulo na nangyari, ang pagdanak ng dugo sa lugar na ito— biglang huminto at natahimik.
I gave them a smirk.
"And it's up to you if you still want to be with Marco. Basta ang lahat nang nasa panig namin, makakaligtas ng buhay."
After I said those, I heard their gasps. Tinitigan ko lamang sila ng walang emosyon sa aking mukha, I want to make them believe and think that what I've said was serious. I am dead serious.
"Marco is losing now. Half of you is with us, and we don't have any choice because any time soon, this place..." I cut myself from talking to give them a thrill, and I gave them a cold smile. "Boom!"
Narinig ko ang samu't saring mga bulungan, may iba na tumango at pumunta na sa panig namin.
Yeah right, they want to be saved.
"That's good. When all the exits will open again, we only have two minutes to get out. Understand me? You need to follow my friends who will lead you all the way out of here. Trust them, and you all will be saved." I nodded my head.
And it's good to see that most of here are listening to me.
I saw my friends coming to where I am standing without my wife with them.
I closed my eyes hard.
As I open my eyes they are all here now.
"Why did you leave Trixy, Ream?" My twin sister asked while giving me a fierce look.
I sighed. "I convinced them to be with us. We don't have much time kung wala pang kikilos para sumama ang karamihan sa atin," I explained.
"At least bid your goodbye with your wife! Did you see her sad eyes huh? We all know that Trixy is getting strength from you but what you did? Iniwan mo siya!" Francine half shouted.
"I won't because I will be with her to fight until the end."
Namuo ang katahimikan sa aming lahat.
"W-What?" Si Nick naman ang nagsalita.
"Anong ibig mong sabihin?" dugtong naman ni Steel.
"I hope you all understand me. It's my wife we are talking, I can't just leave her... I can't." I almost pleaded.
I saw the sympathy in their eyes.
Naramdaman ko na rin ang pangingilid ng luha sa gilid ng mga mata ko. But I wiped it immediately.
"K-Kuya..." I looked at my twin sister.
"Kuya... ang sarap sa pakiramdam na marinig ang mga salita niyan sayo." Francine always calls me by my name. Yes, we're twins pero ako ang unang nailabas, so she supposedly calls me kuya, but she won't. Matigas ang ulo.
Nakita ko ang pag iyak niya, she understands what's really happening right now.
Then I felt his warm hug. "K-Kuya Ream, pati ba naman ikaw? B-Bakit?" I let her cry on my shoulder.
"Because I love her, twinny." Yes, I used to call her twinny when we are alone, but right now... I want to call my one and only twin sister twinny like before, even though there are people who are watching us.
"Ang sakit... hindi ko na kaya kuya. B-Bakit kailangan mangyari sa atin 'to? Ako na lang mag-isa." I softly touch her hair.
"Don't be, you are still with our friends. There are always reasons to live. At hindi ka maiiwan mag-isa, you have Nick with you..." I shifted my eyes to Nick who's just silently watching us. "Yes, I am allowing you now. You are already a lady, you can be with the man you love. But always remember that you will always be my baby twinny." Kumalas na siya sa yakap namin at patuloy na pinapahid ang luha niyang hindi na matigil sa pag tulo.
"Himala ang haba ng nasabi mo..." she joked. Bahagya naman akong natawa sa sinabi niya.
Yeah, I always keep on myself all my thoughts. Nakakatamad kaya magsalita.
Lumapit ako sa dalawang kaibigan ko na simula una pa lang ay nakasama ko na.
I tapped Nick's shoulder. "I know a thing with you and my twin sister. I know I shouldn't tell you this because you will do it anyway, but I will still say it to you, take good care of my sister. Huwag na huwag mo siyang sasaktan, dahil kapag nangyari 'yon, kahit wala na ako, I will go to your dreams and I will punch you endlessly."
I saw Nick shaking his head but there's a small smile on his face. Noong una pa lang ay gusto ko na siya sa kambal ko, but it's not that easy... and I saw how he respect my decision about my sister.
"I will."
I shifted my eyes to Steel.
"Thank you, for making us happy always. At saka huwag mo rin sasaktan 'yang si Celestine..." I gazed at Celestine and we both exchanged smiles.
"Oo naman tol! Mas bhoxs mapagmahal 'to kaysa sa inyo ni Nick!" I laughed at the word he used.
"Celestine... habaan mo na lang pasensya mo sa kay Steel." I almost facepalm.
Tumawa rin si Celestine. "Ubos na ubos na nga pasensya ko diyan, sarap nga ingudngod yung mukha sa lupa."
"Grabe, wala ng lalaking pinaka pogi sa mundo, tsk tsk."
Napailing at natawa kaming lahat.
I looked at them all. They have a smile on their faces but their eyes says otherwise.
It's also hard for me... but what about my wife? Alam kong mas nasasaktan siya sa mga oras na ito.
"We don't have enough time, papunta na si Trixy kay Marco," ani Celestine.
I nodded my head. My wife needs me now.
Napatingin ako at ang mga kaibigan ko sa mga taong nag sama-sama na at naghahanda.
"Here's my bag, make sure to give them the capsule, alright?" They all nodded their head.
Nilingon ko pang muli ang mga tao, ang mga nakaitim na suot, ang mga iba't-ibang uri ng doctor at mga scientist.
"You need to follow them." I pointed to where my friends are. "If you want to be save, you need to be obedient, not all the time we will use war to save ourselves. Go prepare and evacuate yourself."
Halos lahat ay sumang-ayon sa sinabi ko.
I hug my friends for the last time before I leave them there.
Nagsimula na akong maglakad papunta sa lugar kung saan din papunta ang asawa ko.
I know nasa pinakataas 'yon.
And while walking, I saw the whole place. Ang mga nakaraang araw at kanina na maingay ay tumahimik na.
It's like an abandoned place. Sobrang tahimik ang magulong lugar na ito.
Napatingin din ako sa mga taong wala ng mga buhay sa bawat madadaanan ko... na naging biktima lang din.
Ang puting-puti na lugar na ito na nabahiran ng dugo.
Mas binilisan ko pa ang lakad ko.
Then I saw Romy, halatang nagbabalak na siyang tumakas.
Huh, after everything that happened?
Agad ko siyang nilapitan at kinwelyuhan.
"What? Escaping like a scared rat?" I uttered angrily.
I looked at him without emotion in my eyes.
I saw how he was scared.
"H-Huwag mo akong sasaktan!" I don't know but I let out a sarcastic laugh.
"Are you joking me big time huh? The fck!" Hindi na ako nag atubili at agad ko siyang sinapak.
Punong-puno na ako.
I punch him again and again and again. I'm not still satisfy na naliligo lang ang kanyang mukha sa sarili niyang dugo.
"This is for betraying the parents of my wife!" Then I punch his jaw.
"This is for betraying your own niece!" I punch him.
"This is for being a traitor!" Then punch him.
"This is for making our life living hell!" Then I punch him again.
"And this is for all the bad things you've done!" Then I gave him a solid and strong punch.
Kahit ang kamao ko ay dumudugo na at sumasakit sa malalakas at paulit-ulit na suntok na pinapakawalan ko.
Halos pumutok na ang labi, ang kanyang mga mata, nabasag na rin pati ang buto sa kanyang ilong... but still it didn't satisfy me.
Halos mawalan na siya ng malay.
"Stand up! You son of a bitch!" I shouted. Kinwelyuhan ko ulit siya at pilit tinayo.
"T-Tama n-na..." Umubo na siya ng dugo.
"Of course, I will not let you die with my own hands. Sabay-sabay tayong mamatay sa pagsabog ng buong lugar na ito. You heard me?"
I'm gone mad. Paano pa pag kay Marco? Halos mandilim na ang paningin ko.
Galit na galit ako. I want to make them suffer.
Malapit na dito ang lugar kung nasaan ang asawa ko at si Marco.
Marahas ang pagkakahawak ko kay Romy habang naglalakad, dahil kahit ang pag tayo ay nahihirapan na siya.
Pero hindi pa ako nakakapasok sa lugar kung nasaan sila nang mabungaran ko na ang paglalaban ni Trixy at ni Marco.
I heard my wife shouting endlessly. I saw how mad she was like me.
Hindi muna ako pumasok at hinayaan lamang siya.
And looking at my wife being fierce na wala ng kinakatakutan. I let her.
"Shut your fcking mouth," I told Romy with my warning voice.
Nang bitawan ko siya ay napadausdos siya ng upo at napasandal.
I glanced again to my wife fighting Marco.
Habang tinitignan at napapakinggan lahat nang hinanakit ng asawa ko ay hindi ko maiwasan na maalala ang lahat.
Si Trixy yung tipong tahimik lang pero sa loob-loob niya, padalos-dalos kung mag desisyon.
Kahit sa nangyayari ngayon. Noon at ngayon, kapag ang mga mahahalaga at mahal niya na ang nasa kapahamakan ay hindi na siya nag iisip ng kung ano... she will do everything for them, for us.
She will sacrifice the world and herself for the people she loves. That's how my wife is.
She's selfless when it comes to the people she loves.
Ang rason kaya't hindi agad ako nagpakita, it's because I know she will be distracted once she sees me. That's her.
I know she always blames herself for what's happening. Dahil dati ay palagi na lamang siyang nagkakamali sa desisyon niya... but I still embrace that side of her, nagawa niya lamang iyon dahil sa amin na mga mahal niya.
At ang pagkakamali ko? I always let her be with herself all alone to fight... and now, I will be with her.
I will fight together with her.
Noong mga bata pa kami, I always like and adore her. At kahit nasa ibang katauhan at pangalan siya nang muli kaming magkita, it's still the same... I still fall for her.
And even now, my wife doing everything for peace... I can't help but fall over and over again.
The moment I saw her amber eyes, I didn't think twice... I know she's my Xyxy.
Yes, I know everything.
Nang una nagdadalawang isip ako, but I still confirmed it.
When I confessed my feelings for her when we were at the amusement park, I know that she was Xyrene Trixy Montilla.
But destiny really played on us well, tinanggi ko na hindi ko talaga siya gusto nang malaman ko na siya pala ang nakakita ng future.
She's the one who got the chip that I invented.
Iniwas ko siya sa kahit na anong paraan, but then nagpakilala siya bilang si Xyrene Trixy Montilla sa isang masquerade event.
Tawang-tawa pa ako nang hindi siya mapakali noon na baka malaman ko na iisa lang sila ng babaeng simula bata pa lang ay kinahuhumalingan ko na.
I know it dahil alam ko ring nakita niya ang tattoo ko na siyang nickname ko sa kanyang noong mga bata pa kami.
Pero lahat naalarma nang malaman na buhay pala ang anak ng Montilla.
At doon na rin nalaman kung nasaan si Celestine na isa rin pala sa amin.
And a mistake happened again, we fell asleep for nine years, dahil sa padalos-dalos na desisyon ni Trixy dahil mag-isa lamang siya, at 'yon ang naging mali naming lahat. But I know it was a safe decision that she made tho because we still have a reason to open our eyes because of it.
And now, I will never let her be alone again.
I came back in reality. As I heard the loud sound of alarm of this whole laboratory.
Nagkulay red na rin ang bawat ilaw na nakabukas.
Pati si Romy ay napatingin-tingin sa nangyayari.
Agad akong pumasok.
"W-What? The activation of the bomb is in that button?" I heard my wife asked.
"R-Ream?!" Nakita ko ang gulat sa mga mata niya ng makita ako.
"Damn! Go fix the bomb of Francine, before it will fully activate the bomb! Maaaring masama sa pagsabog ang mga kasama natin!" I saw her panicking.
Ako ang humawak kay Marco na hinang-hina na rin dahil sa ginawa sa kanya ni Trixy, pero nagawang pindutin ang button para magbukas muli ang bawat exit ng lugar na ito— na siyang button din pala ng isa pang bomba sa buong lugar na ito.
Agad ko rin siyang kinwelyuhan at bigyan ng isang malakas na suntok sa mukha.
"Tangina!" sigaw ko sa kanya.
Nakita ko na parang may tinitignan si Trixy sa kawalan... and I think it was the microchip in her head. She's doing her thing.
"W-Wala na kayong magagawa, lahat tayo ay mamatay sa loob ng lugar n-na ito." Nagawa niya pang ngumisi kaya't binigyan ko siyang muli ng malakas na suntok at doon ay tumumba siya at dumapa ang mukha. Serve him right.
Kinalikot ni Trixy ang bomba ni Francine at nakita kong napahinga siya ng maluwag.
"Two minutes before the full activation of the bomb. Bilisan niyo na sa paglabas, pag natapos ang dalawang minuto ay muling magsasara ang lugar na ito at mawawalan na ng signal, I can't talk to all of you." Agad niyang sinabi habang hawak ang phone sa isang kamay niya na nasisiguro kong sila Celestine ang kausap.
I saw a rope and chair. Hinila ko si Romy at Marco, at tinalian sila sa upuan nila para hindi na sila makatakas at makagawa pa ng makakasira sa plano.
I saw them smirking. "Mamatay din kayo!"
I also gave them a smirked, a wicked one. "Yes, sabay-sabay tayong mamatay pero kayo sa impyerno ang punta niyo."
Nanatiling pula ang ilaw sa buong lugar at ang nakakarinding alarm na patuloy na tumutunog.
Napatitig ako sa dalawang siyang puno't dulo ng lahat. Ang mga walang katapusang kasakiman nila na ilang paghihirap at kamatayan ang pinagdaanan.
This will end soon.
Nang mapaupo si Trixy sa sahig ay agad siyang lumapit sa akin.
"R-Ream why are you here?! Dapat hindi ka na sumunod pa sa akin!" I saw the anger in her beautiful yet innocent face.
But my eyes still softened when I glanced at her amber eyes.
Damn. I really love her.
"It's a good thing that I am here, kung hindi masisira na naman ang plano. Two of us here save many lives."
Hindi na ako nagtaka nang yumakap siya sa akin.
"Natatakot ako." I smiled. She's always true to herself with me, and I like it.
I love it when she wants me, when she needs me, when she's asking for strength, and she will go to me. I love everything about her.
"Shh... I'm here. Your husband is here," I whispered while softly touching her hair.
"Pero Ream, bakit? Bakit nandito ka? Hindi ko kakayanin na pati ikaw mawala."
Umiling ako. "At sa tingin mo makakaya ko kapag ikaw nawala, where in fact I can be with you... so here I am."
Natahimik siya. Niyakap ko rin siya ng mahigpit, mahigpit na mahigpit— because I know this will be the last.
"My wife will die, then I die. I die with you baby. There's no question for that," I uttered softly.
Habang magkayakap kami ay nakita ko ang malaking flat screen clock sa white wall.
Our two minutes were done...
Nawala na ang linya nila Francine sa phone na hawak ni Trixy.
At alam ko sa mga oras na ito, tuluyan na ring nag sara ang lahat ng lagusan. We are lock down here... and later we'll die.
I'm not afraid of death... but thinking about my wife dying, breaks me.
At nagsimula na ang totoong pag activate ng bomba sa buong lugar na ito.
I smiled bitterly when I saw the clock once again. We have ten minutes.
Ito na ata yung pinaka nakakatakot na sampung minuto ng buhay ko.
Pareho kaming napatitig ng asawa ko sa dalawang tao na parehong nanghihina at mga nakuyo sa pagkakagapos nila sa upuan.
"Why?" Trixy asked. At doon unti-unting umangat ang tingin nilang dalawa sa amin
"I will never say sorry to you."
Hindi pinansin ni Trixy ang sinabi ni Marco. "B-Bakit? I know you together with our parents, magkakaibigan kayo. So why? Paano niyo nakaya na patayin ang bawat magulang namin na naging kaibigan niyo? Paano mo nakaya na nahihirapan ang anak mo? Paano mo nagawa na patayin si Nolan na anak mo? Why? Kasi hindi ko maintindihan? Because of that fcking research or project o kung anong kabaliwan na gustong-gusto niyo makamtan? For what? Para makalamang sa lahat? Is that really what you want?"
And Trixy shifted her eyes to Romy na halos hindi na makamulat ang mga mata dahil sa pagkakasuntok ko kanina.
"You? My great traitor uncle? Paano mo nagawang patayin ang sarili mong pamilya, ang sarili mong kapatid, ang sarili mong pamangkin?! Ha?! I can't understand kahit saan ko kasi tignan! Marami kayong sinirang buhay... p-paano niyo nagawa 'yon?" It hurts me seeing my wife breaking down in front of people who don't deserve to see that side of her.
Ilang segundong katahimikan ang namayani bago nanghihinang nagsalita si Marco.
"Because y-you will never understand us."
Napapikit ako ng mariin. Walang kahit na anong dahilan para mapatawad sila.
"Bakit kami ni Romy nagsama? Dahil nararamdaman namin ang isa't-isa! Yung pakiramdam na paulit-ulit na sinasampal sa amin na talunan kami! Na wala kaming alam, na wala kaming nagagawa! You all will never understand us!" sigaw ni Marco.
"Eh tangina pala ng nga rason niyo! Alam niyo 'yon? Nakakaputangina!" Trixy is not the kind of person who will curse. Pero sobra na, thinking about those people, our friends, our parents that died just because of that reason? Tangina.
Trixy my wife is gone mad. Nakita ko na lamang na natumba ang upuan na siyang pinagkakatalian nilang dalawa, dahil paulit-ulit ng sinisipa ni Trixy ang mukha at katawan nila.
Agad ko ng pinigilan ang asawa ko at niyakap siya.
Napatingin ako sa oras. We only have six minutes.
Kahit naka tumba na ang upuan na pagkakatali nila ay nakapag salita pa si Marco.
"I will never regret what I did. I just love a woman. The reason why bakit sayo ako galit na galit batang Montilla? Because your parents ruined me. I just love your mother..."
I felt Trixy stiffened.
She slowly shifted her eyes to Marco.
"W-What?" she asked as I heard her voice cracked.
"The mother of Nolan and Celestine... who became my wife, she loves your father. Tanggap ko na sana nang magdalang tao siya... I thought, Celestine is mine, but sadly not. Mas lalong umusbong ang galit ko sa lahat."
I gritted my teeth. Hindi pa rin 'yon sapat na dahilan para gawin niya ang mga kasamaan at kasakiman niya.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"I will never tell it to you. But I know what you are thinking right now... you're right."
Biglang napasigaw ng malakas si Trixy at napahigpit ang hawak sa akin.
Nakita ko ang pagkabagsak niya na agad ko sinalo.
Hinayaan ko na sila Marco at Romy, at dinala ko palabas nang malaking kwarto na 'yon si Trixy.
I want to talk to her privately.
"R-Ream, a-ang sakit ng ulo ko..." I heard her inhaling and exhaling, calming herself.
Umupo kami at sumandal sa glass wall... kung saan nakikita pa rin namin sila Romy at Marco, but this is enough not to hear us, at saka para makita ko na rin kung may gagawin pa silang 'di maganda at para makita na rin kung ilang oras na lang ang natitira.
We have five minutes.
Kinulong ko kaagad sa mga braso ko ang asawa ko.
"S-Sing a song for me," halata na ang panghihina sa boses niya.
Hindi na ako nagaksaya ng oras at mahinang kinantahan siya ng 'with a smile' by Eraserhead.
Lift your head
Baby don't be scared
Of the things that could go wrong along the way
You'll get by with a smile
You can't win at everything but you can try
I smiled. The song is kinda connected with us, simula nang ikasal kami ay ito na ang kinakanta ko sa kanya pag tinotopak siya. But now, I am singing it for her because anytime soon... we will be gone.
Naramdaman ko ang mga patak ng luha niya sa mga braso ko. I continued singing.
Baby you don't have to worry
Coz there ain't no need to hurry
No one ever said that
There's an easy way
When they're closing all their doors
And they don't want you anymore
This sounds funny but
I'll say it anyway
I heard my voice cracked while singing. Nararamdaman ko na rin ang pag init ng lalamunan ko, ang pag ngilid ng luha sa gilid ng mga mata ko.
Napapikit ako ng mariin at huminga ng malalim bago muling nagpatuloy.
Girl I'll stay through the bad times
Even if I have to fetch you everyday
We'll get by with a smile
You can never be too happy in this life
I heard her sobs. And it tears my heart, I know I will die... but hearing her pain sobs, it can kill me. It's killing me.
She sings along with me.
In a world where everybody
Hates a happy ending story
It's a wonder love can make
The world go around
Hindi ko na napigilan ang pagtulo ng luha ko kaya't hinayaan ko na lamang iyon. I will cry with her. It's my wife, we can show our sufferings and pains with each other. Kaya naming ipakita sa isa't-isa ang kahinaan namin, dahil ang isa't-isa lang din naman ang pinagkukunan namin ng lakas.
We continue singing for the last verse.
But don't let it bring you down
And turn your face into a frown
You'll get along with a little prayer and a song.
We stopped singing.
She looked up at me with her eyes full of tears.
"I remember what you've told me when I saw the future once..."
We gave each other smile while tears are flowing down our faces.
"What is it?"
"You want me to find you because I am your only hope. And I never regret that I saw the future once, because of that I met all the amazing people... I met you."
Napangiti ako sa sinabi niya.
"You will always be our hope... my one and only hope."
Napatingin ako sa oras. One minute left.
Hindi ko maiwasan na maalala ang lahat. Simula nang mga bata kami, ang pagkakahiwalay namin, and then she came back with the name 'Trixy Buenavista' but still I fall for her the moment she uttered my whole name with her amber eyes who always looking at me deeply. All the happy memories with her, our wedding day— everything about us.
"Ream, I am t-tired. Kinukuha na ng microchip ang lakas ko nang gamitin ko ito. It got all my strength." Huminga pa siya ng malalim.
Agad kong hinawakan ng marahan ang kanyang ulo at dinala iyon sa aking dibdib para ipahinga siya.
Tumulong muli ang mga luha ko.
"C-Clinton was right. It's so good to die in the arms of the person you love," she slowly muttered.
Napatingin ako sa orasan.
20 seconds.
"C-Can I c-close my eyes, my husband?"
Niyakap ko pa siya ng mahigpit. Mahigpit na mahigpit.
And at last, I nodded my head.
"It's better that way, hindi na mahihirapan ang katawan mo once na sumabog ang buong lugar na ito. You can close your eyes now wife."
"Hmm... I love you, my husband. I love you more than anything, Ream Mercedes."
"Ten seconds for RCHL self-destruction." I heard a robotic voice from all over the place to inform us.
10 seconds.
9...
"I hope you have a better sleep, my wife."
8...
Then I just felt her hands hugging me loosened.
7...
She's gone.
6...
She didn't die because of the explosion, she died losing her strength in my arms.
5...
"I love you, my wife."
4...
"I love you, my Xyxy."
3...
"I love you more than anything, Xyrene Trixy Montilla."
2...
I closed my eyes while hugging her tightly in my arms.
1...
And the bomb explosion embraces the whole place... with us.
--
HartleyRoses