*Hugerson's Point of View
It's Saturday in the morning and I'm currently finishing off the last book series that I have been reading from the other day. Napatingin naman ako sa oras at halos quarter to 6:00 na pala ng umaga.
I unknowingly get my phone to just check on it and immediately glance towards the bed where Tita Avani is still currently sleeping.
Napabuntong-hininga naman ako nang wala sa oras na pagmasdan ko siya.
After the unexpected situation that happened from her office, we started to take care of her even if she didn't want to. That's why currently from this moment, we're here in their mansion to give her a better treatment.
May mga personal health services naman sila dito, kaya dito na namin siya dinala agad at hindi na sa public hospital.
Grateful enough that Tito Neron wasn't home last night when we brought her here. He'll be raging in thunder, once he knew what happened to his sister.
It's better this way, because we don't want this to happen again.
"Is she awake, yet?"
Agad naman akong napasarado ng libro nang marinig ko 'yon. Nang ibaling ko naman ang atensyo ko sa pinto ay doon ko nakita ang isang Axe na naglalakad papunta sa akin at mukhang inaantok pa, lalo na at nakapangtulog pa siya.
Right. I've been up all night just looking after Tita Avani, while the others were in their dreamlands.
Hindi pa naman din ako inaantok kagabi kaya mas minabuti ko nalang na bantayan si Tita.
Umiling naman ako kay Axe bilang sagot sa naging tanong niya sa akin at binalik na ulit ang atensyon sa libro na binabasa ko. Axe sit right beside me and take a glimpse towards Tita Avani.
"Who are those men?"He suddenly asked out of nowhere.
Tumingin naman ako sa kaniya at halos walang buhay na Axe ang nakikita ko ngayon.
He grew up with Tita Avani by his side when his parents continuously moving out of the country after his last trip with them. Kaya hindi na din ako magtataka kung bakit ang laki ng epekto sa kaniya kung ano ang nangyari kay Tita.
Axe is a happy-go-lucky person, but who knows what it's like to see him like this.
Tinignan ko naman si Tita Avani.
Based on how she was beaten up, it's like they really wanted her to say something. Ayaw ko man aminin pero halos bugbog sarado siya.
Hindi pa nga masyadong humihilom ang iba sa sobrang laki ng epekto ng mga pinaggagagawa nila sa kaniya, kaya nag-aalala talaga kami sa kaniya hanggang ngayon.
We are still not assured that Tita Avani is safe, already. Who knows when will those men show up, again.
But what does she have to do with those men who did this to her, after all?
"hmm.."
Sabay naman kaming napatayo ni Axe nang marinig namin ang paggising ni Tita Avani.
"Tita..."Halos sabay lang kami ni Axe nang tawagin namin siya.
Pinanuod naman namin siya kung paano niya imulat ang mga mata niya at i-adjust ang paningin niya bago niya kami tuluyang makita.
"Hue... Axe..."Sambit niya at pilit na bumabangon kaya inalalayan agad namin siya.
Sakto lang din naman na bumukas ang pinto at iniluwa doon sina Rye at Zace na mga mukhang bagong gising lang din.
"Tita!"
Agad silang lumapit nang makita nilang gising na si Tita Avani.
"I'm fine and okay. You can let go of me, right now."If that what she wants, then we carefully let her go.
Agad naman naming napansin na nilibot niya ang mga tingin niya hanggang sa mag-landing sa aming apat na sobra kung makatitig sa kaniya, lalo na at mukhang nanghihina pa siya.
Wala namang sa oras na napakunot ang noo namin nang makita namin siyang tumawa ng mahina.
"I might melt, boys."Biro niya at tinignan kami isa-isa.
Pero hindi rin tumagal, binalutan kami bigla ng isang seryosong aura nang mawala ang ngiti ni Tita Avani.
"From now on, I want you to stay alert as much as possible. Especially you, Axe."Out of nowhere, she told us those words, making us look at each other, specifically towards Axe.
Stay alert? For what?
"Is this about those men? Auntie, alam mo namang walang ibaba-"
"Please, Axe."Biglang nanahimik si Axe nang marinig namin 'yon mula kay Tita Avani na seryosong nakatingin sa kaniya at sabay din lipat sa amin ng tingin.
"Who are they?"
Umupo ng maayos si Tita Avani at saka sumandal sa headboard ng kama.
"The Onyx-an underground syndicate organization inside and outside of the business world. This organization contains well-known families around the country who are now actually downgraded, and currently are on to cases bringing down other families-including us."Tumingin siya ng diretso sa amin.
Downgraded?
"Downgraded by means, getting each and all families' valuable possessions."Mas lalo kaming naguluhan pagkatapos marinig ang sunod na sinabi niya.
"Family heirlooms."
Nanlaki ang mga mata naming lahat matapos naming marinig 'yon. That means-?
"Yes, their ambush yesterday was their first move. That means, the Carters are now up next as their targets."
"What is our family heirloom?"
Sumingit naman sa usapan si Axe. Huminga muna ng malalim si Tita bago niya sagutin ang tanong sa kaniya ni Axe. She even looks like she's hesitating and doesn't want to answer him.
"Your great grandfather's cufflink."After what we heard, Axe suddenly got himself off from his seat.
Even us went exactly out of mind after knowing what was their heirloom.
That cufflink is expectedly suppose to be pass down to Axe on his upcoming birthday, which is exactly 2 weeks from now. Every man from the Carters are destined to be passed down with it.
If one guy from their family didn't get to be passed down with that cufflink, then that will ruin their family's tradition.
"Those bastards."Rinig naming bulong ni Axe.
"That's why as much as possible, I want you to be alert together with Ms. Raven."
Sa huli niyang sabi, lahat kami ay napataas ng kilay sa kaniya maliban nalang kay Axe na lumiwanag agad ang mukha pagkatapos naming marinig kung sino ang tinutukoy niya.
Hearing that girl's name made me suddenly boiled in anger.
After what she did? I don't think so.
How could she even talk about that girl after what she did back there in the cafeteria, anyway?
"What do you want from us to be with that girl?"I gruffly asked. Tumawa naman agad siya nang makita ang naging reaksyon ko.
"You'll know, soon."Ngiti niya.
Napailing kami sa sinabi niya at nagpasya nalang na magpaalam para umalis, para na din makapagpahinga siya ng maayos.
"She'll be a big help, trust me. Now that your lives, together with the heirlooms are in danger."
With that, my mind went completely into a mess as we left her.
* * *