A/N: para sa kapatid ko na nagbabasa nito. Ayan na! Matay m kong madaliin.
Happy Birthday to you! *Who ever you are.*
Grammar and spelling ay hindi ko pa nache-check. Kaya pagpasensyahan nyo na sana.
Seeking Truth
Keifer's POV
"I want everybody to leave." The Monster said.
But nobody moves. Hinawakan ko rin ang braso ni Keigan na bahagyang nasa gilid ko na.
I want no one to leave but him.
"My son and I will talk privately." He added.
But again nobody moves and stared at us.
"K-kuya... W-what does he want?" My brother whispered. I can feel him shaking.
Hindi ko maiwasang hindi magalit. Bakit ganito pa rin ang epekto niya sa kapatid ko? Anong ginawa ng halimaw na to sa kaniya.
"No one will leave this room. If you want to talk to him, do it in front of us." Uncle Keir said.
The monster laugh. "You said so." He turn to me with a serious look in his eyes. "Anong totoo?" He ask.
My forehead crease. Mukang wala talaga siyang balak ipaalam sa kanila ang pag-uusapan namin.
Agad na nagreklamo ang mga Elders dahil hindi nila naintindihan ang sinabi ng halimaw kong Ama. Tanging ako, si Keigan at Uncle Kier lang ang nakaka-intindi sa kaniya sa panig namin.
Its better to follows what he want. I have no plan on telling the Elders what our conversation is about anyway.
"Anong sinasabi mo?" I ask back.
"Alam kong may mga iniwan sayo si Serina. Ngayon sabihin mo sakin kung anong laman ng mga yon."
"Keifer!" It's the Eldest. "What is he saying? Tell it to us!"
Magsasalita na sana ako pero si Kier na ang gumawa para sakin.
"Let them talk. Keifer will tell it to us later."
Binalik ko ang atensyon sa kaharap ko. Hindi ko maintindihan kung anong gusto niyang malaman.
"Laman non ang mga katarantaduhan mo." I said straightforward.
He shook his head. "Eh ang katarantaduhan niya? Sinabi ba niya sayo?"
I didn't say a thing. Alam ba niyang may mga pinapatay si Mom? Alam din ba niya ang tungkol sa planong ginawa niya para kay Angelo at sakin? I can't tell anything dahil baka magkamali ako.
"May mga ginawa siya para sayo pero wala akong paki sa mga yon. Ang gusto kong malaman kung anak ba talaga kita."
Napatingin ako kay Keigan at Uncle Kier na wala ring clue sa mga sinasabi ng lalaking to. Ano gusto niyang palabasin? Nagtaksil si Mom sa kaniya.
Bullsh*t!
"Baliw ka na talaga."
He laugh humorless. "Alam kong Watson ka. Kita naman mula pagkasilang mo. Pero ang malaking pala-isipan sakin, sino samin ang Tatay mo!" He raised his voice.
He's obviously loosing his patience. Ako din malapit ng mapikon sa kaniya at sa mga sinasabi niya.
"Hindi gagawin ni Mom ang sinasabi mo. Nasa last will na dapat panganay mo—."
"Alam ko ang bagay na yan! Pero masyadong matalino ang Nanay mo. Hindi siya papayag magpalamang."
"HOW CAN YOU SAY SUCH THING?"
Hindi ko na napigilan ang galit ko. Naramdaman ko ang paghawak sakin ni Keigan at ang pagpipigil sa kung ano mang magawa ko.
Narinig ko din ang mahinang bulungan ng mga Elders. Malamang na gumagawa na sila ng conclusion kung anong pinag-uusapan namin.
"Matapos ang ginawa mo kay Mom, may gana ka pang paghinalaan siya ngayon." I added.
"I have the right to." He said calmly.
For the first time I saw pain through his eyes. But it was immediately turn cold.
"I fall in love with her from the first time I saw her. Alam kong hindi niya ko gusto pero umasa ako na inabot ng ilang taon." He bitterly smirked. "Tapos malalaman ko na may mga ginagawa siya habang nakatalikod ako. Hinayaan ko siya, naghintay pa rin hanggang sa mapagod na ko." His eyes turn deadly. "Naging tama ang hinala ko ng dumating ang abogado sa araw ng libing niya. Planado nila ang lahat para mapunta ang mana sayo."
"Because you don't deserve it."
"I deserve those money. I work hard for this family. But this Elders and your grandfather never gave me a chance to prove that I'm worth to have it. And they use your Mom, the woman that I loved the most."
"You will never be worth for that money." The oldest interrupt.
Dad turn to him. "Same with you."
Lalapit na sana ang pinaka-matanda sa kaniya pero humarang ang isa sa kapatid niya. Hinarap ulit ako ng halimaw.
"Anong totoo?" He ask again.
"Kung anong kaharap mo ngayon. Kahit ayokong maging anak mo, yun ang totoo!"
"You're too much Keifer. Nahigitan mo pa ko kaya paanong hindi ako maghihinala!"
"Ang babaw ng dahilan mo!"
He laugh bitterly and snap his finger. Sa isang iglap nakatutok na sakin ang baril ni Dylan. Agad kong tinago si Keigan sa likod ko. Kasunod non ang mahigpit niyang paghawak sakin at ang pagkasa ng baril ng mga bodyguard ng Elders.
"Kung nagsasabi ka ng totoo, ibigay mo sakin ang mga documents na iniwan ni Serina."
"Wala akong ibibigay sayo." I said trying my best to calm down.
But my heart is pounding wild. Hindi pwedeng may masamang mangyari sakin dito. Kailangan ako ng mga kapatid ko, ng mga kaibigan ko at ng babaeng sobrang mahal ko.
Nakipagtitigan sakin si Dad. Isang pagkakamali ang kumurap sa harap niya. Ilang minuto din naming ginawa yon hanggang sa sumuko siya.
"Kapag nalaman kong totoo ang hinala ko. I will fvck your mother's corpse." He said that makes me snap.
Namalayan ko nalang ang pagpapalitan namin ng suntok. Sunod-sunod ang pagtawag sa pangalan ko ng kung sino. My fist reach his face multiple times. Wala pa sana akong balak tumigil pero dalawang braso ang yumakap sakin at buong lakas akong ibinalibag.
Napasigaw ako ng unang tumama ang siko ko sa sahig. Agad akong nilapitan ni Keigan at Uncle Kier.
"You son of a b*tch!" The monster shout while trying to stand up.
I did the same while Keigan helps me. My elbow is still in pain and it's giving me trouble to move my arm and hand.
"Don't you dare disrespect her. She died because of you!"
He wipe the blood from the side of his lips. "She died because she choose to die. I can save her! But she choose to leave us than to be with me!"
"Because you're a monster and she loathed you!" I shouted while pointing my fingers at him.
He stops for a while before pulling himself together. Tinignan niya kaming lahat.
"I will find out the truth Keifer, I will." His final words and turn his back.
Sumunod ang mga tauhan niya sa kaniya. Pagsara ng pinto, agad na kumilos ang mga bodyguard ng Elders. Nagtawag din sila ng medics na tutulong sakin.
Hindi ko na naitago ang sakit na nararamdaman ko. Alam kong hindi pa ko nabalian. Pwedeng minor injury lang pero nanunuot ang sakit non hanggang kalamnan.
Dinala nila ko sa isang kwarto at pinaupo ako sa dulo ng malaking kama.
"Tell us everything Keifer, what did you talk about with him?" The oldest command.
Maingay ang tungkod niyang tumatama sa sahig ng kwarto. As usual kasunod na naman niya ang mga kapatid niya.
"Nothing that you know." I answered.
Pumasok ang medics na tinawag nila kaya napilitan ang mga Elders na tumabi muna. Sinuri niya ang siko ko at nilagyan ng bandages as the first aid. Pero kailangan ko pa ring magpa-X-ray.
Pag-alis ng medics nagsimula na silang kulitin ako. Wala naman akong ibang binigay na sagot kundi puro tungkol sa mana. Sinabi ko din na may mga additional information na iniwan si Mom na hinahanap niya.
Alam kong hindi naniniwala ang mga Elders sa sinabi ko pero wala silang magagawa kung ayaw kong magsalita. Napilitan silang iwan kami sa kwarto.
Agad kaming nagpalitan ng tingin ni Uncle Kier at Keigan ng mawala sila. Alam kong meron kaming dapat na pag-usapan. May ilang minuto din kaming nabalot ng katahimikan bago ako magtanong.
"What does he mean?" I ask and they both look at me. "I know you heard him."
Keigan shook his head. While Uncle Kier remained in silence.
I turn to him. "Uncle, please."
"I'm sorry Keifer, I don't know anything about what he's asking you. But I'm aware that your mother has a disease." Uncle explained.
Pareho kami ni Keigan na tumingin sa kaniya.
"W-what kind of disease?" My brother ask.
"She never mentioned."
Pareho kami ni Keigan na bumagsak ang balikat. May mga bagay pa rin kaming hindi alam. How will we fight back if we still have a missing piece?
Pilit kong binalikan ang mga iniwan sakin ni Mom. But there's nothing about her having a disease or about me being not a real son of that monster.
"W-what if he's t-telling the truth?" Keigan suddenly ask.
Uncle and I both disagreed. Hindi yon gagawin ni Mom. She's smart and she knew that if she do such thing it will affect the plan in the future.
"That is none sense." Uncle said with authority.
"Just a w-what if. It means I-im his first born child." He said anxiously. His hands start to grab his hair. "N-no! I can't! I don't want to!"
Agad ko siyang nilapitan pero umatras siya palayo sakin. He's having an anxiety attack. I need to calm him before he do things that will harm himself.
"It m-means, I'm the h-heir—No! I don't w-want to be—."
"Keigan! Ako ang panganay!" I shout at him.
Pero hindi niya ko pinapansin. Panay ang lakad niya at sabunot sa sarili. I tried to grab him but using only one hand is not helping.
"H-he will kidnap m-me again! He will force m-me to do t-things! I-i don't want to r-rape woman! I d-don't want to k-kill!" He said while looking down.
Rape and kill?
"Keigan!" I called him and tried to grab him again. "Did he force you to kill someone?"
Lumayo na naman siya sakin. Nabangga na niya ang isang table na may nakapatong na flower vase. It hits the floor and created a loud noise before shuttering into pieces.
Lumayo siya sa nabasag na vase at bigla nalang umiyak. Sinimulan niyang saktan ang sarili.
"Keigan!" It was Uncle Kier.
"I deserve this! I'm a failure!" He slap his face while crying. "Keigan is not like Keifer! He's useless! He's no use! Keigan is nothing!"
I lost for a second while staring at him. I can't believe I'm hearing this words from him. Ito ba ang sinasabi sa kaniya o ang mga naririnig niya?
"Keifer! Stop your brother!" It was Uncle Kier that put me back in my senses.
I run and grab Keigan but he moves away. I have no choice but to hug him tight. My left hand is giving me trouble to hold him.
Patuloy pa rin siya sa pag-wawala hanggang sa mahigpit niyang hinawakan ang braso ko na may bandage. The crucial pain makes me shout.
"K-KEIGAN! STOP!"
"Keigan is useless! Keigan deserves nothing!" He repeatedly shouts.
Napilitan akong bitawan siya dahil sa sakit ng pagkakahawak niya. Agad siyang kumawala sakin at lumayo. Bumagsak ako sa sahig dahil sa panlalambot.
Keigan is about to hit himself again when Uncle Kier slap him. Sa lakas ng pagkaka-sampal sa kaniya bumagsak siya sa sahig.
"U-uncle!"
"He needs to wake up!" Uncle said and I help myself to stand up.
Nilapitan ko ang kapatid ko. At ganun nalang ang gulat ko ng makita kong may dugo ang braso niya. Nasugatan siya sa mga bubog ng vase na nabasag kanina. He's not moving and staring to nowhere.
"Keigan, let me help you." I said as I help him using my one hand.
Tumayo siya pero wala pa ring reaksyon. Wala ring buhay ang mga mata niya. Pinaupo ko siya sa kama at naghanap ng pwedeng ibalot sa braso niya.
Until Uncle handed me his handkerchief. He look at me and my arm. Mukang alam niya na mahihirapan akong itali yon sa braso ni Keigan kaya siya na ang gumawa.
"I already called my butler and ask him to call an ambulance." He said after helping Keigan.
He looks at me and my brother. I look down because of disappointment. He will definitely ask me questions that I don't even know the answer.
"I'll leave you here." He said and walk out of the door.
When I heard the door close I sit on the other side of the bed. Keigan is sniffing and he's probably back on his normal state.
"I-i'm sorry Kuya, I got scared." He said in a low voice.
"Did you kill someone?" I ask trying not to accuse him.
He still haven't tell me what happened to him when that Monster took him away. I doubt that he will answer me or share anything. But for some reason he starts to open up.
"He ask me to, but I didn't do it so he hit me until he feel satisfied."
My fist clenched. Alam kong may ginawa siya sa kapatid ko pero hindi ko inaasahan na pipilitin niya si Keigan na maging kagaya niya.
A monster.
"He also rape woman in front of me." He starts to cry again. "I remembered how they cried and beg for help." Agad ko siyang nilapitan at niyakap. "...but I can't do anything."
I let him cry like how he cried before. My brother needs help. He need it more than I do.
"I'm sorry for not being there."
Bigla nalang siyang humiwalay sa yakap ko. Pinunasan niya ang mga luha at ilang beses na huminga ng malalim.
"Listen to me Kuya, I-i have something to tell you." He said as if he's in a hurry.
Tinignan ko siya at hinintay ang sasabihin niya. Halata ang pag-aalinlangan niya.
"T-there is—inside m-me." He's having trouble speaking. "I-i—!" Lost with words he starts to panic. "S-some—h-here!" He point out his chest.
"I don't understand. Please calm down."
"A-another—Keigan! H-here!"
Damn it!
Agad akong lumapit sa kaniya pero nakita ko ang mabilisang pagbabago ng expression at mga mata niya.
Isang malakas na pagtulak ang ginawa niya. Malakas na tumama ang ulo ko sa kung saan at kasunod non ang pagbagsak ko.
"K-keigan." I called him.
My vision slowly blurred and turn dark. All I know and remembered is, it was a different Keigan who push me.
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