I RAN fast as I level up the speed of the treadmill. I catched my breath and exhaled it. Sweats fell down from forehead to my shoulders.
I glanced at the TV monitor when a drama flashed in it. It's all about a family who has a lot of secrets. I smiled sadly as I remembered a memory from the past.
It was a rainy evening. I kept running while covering my head using a box as if it can protect me from getting wet. I just finished selling sampaguitas on the streets but unfortunately, only few bought it.
"I'm home," I said as I got inside our small house.
Mom raised her eyebrow. "Where did you go?"
"I wandered on the streets to sell sampaguita."
She held out her hand. "Where's the money?"
I took the it on my pocket and gave it to her.
"Bakit ito lang?"
"Pasensya na po, kaunti lang po ang bumili ngayon."
"Hindi ako naniniwala!" Tinuro niya ako. "Kinupit mo 'yong ibang pera 'no?!"
"Hindi po," mabilis kong iling. "Hindi po ako gano'n."
"Eh saan mo tinago?!" Hinatak niya ang kwelyo ko at marahas na kinuha ang bag. "Dito 'no?!"
"Wala po r'yan! 'Nay, tama na po!"
Kahit anong paliwanag ko ay pinilit pa rin niyang buksan ang bag ko. Tinaktak pa niya 'yon dahilan para mahulog ang mga gamit ko. Kapagkuwa'y natigilan siya at nanlalaki ang mga matang tumitig sa akin.
"Anong ibig sabihin nito?!" bulyaw niya saka pinulot ang mga notebook at lapis. "Nag-aaral ka?!"
Napayuko ako. "Libre naman po eh."
"Sinabi ko bang mag-aral ka ha?!" Tinuktok niya ang ulo ko. "Walang laman 'yan! Hindi ka matalino!"
"Napag-aaralan naman po ang lahat."
"Wala kang patutunguhan! Nag-aaksaya ka lang ng panahon!"
Namuo ang luha sa aking mga mata. Pigil na pigil ang pag-iyak ko dahil kapag narinig niya 'yon ay sigurado na papaluin niya ako. Mamumula na naman ang pwet ko sa dos por dos. Kinagat ko na lang ang labi upang maiwasan ang paghikbi.
"Meron po," mahinang tugon ko. "Kaya ko po 'yon."
"Iyong kumita nga ng pera, hindi mo magawa. Pag-aaral pa kaya?!" Sinipa niya ang mga gamit ko. "Itatapon ko 'to!"
Doon na ako napaiyak. "'Wag po!" pigil ko. "Tama na po, 'nay!"
Maski ang kapatid kong babae ay ginaya si nanay na ihagis ang mga gamit ko sa basurahan.
"Kailangan ko po 'yan, 'nay! Iaahon ko po kayo sa hirap kapag nakatapos ako!"
"Iaahon?!" mapakla niyang tawa. "Hindi na tayo makakaahon pa dahil lubog na lubog na tayo sa utang!"
"Hindi ko naman po kasalanan kung bakit tayo nalubog sa utang eh."
"Aba't sumasagot ka pa?!" Pumulot siya ng tsinelas at hinampas 'yon sa akin. "Wala kang utang na loob!"
"Anong nangyayari rito?" entrada ni tatay. Halata sa mata niya ang pagod dahil na rin sa trabaho.
Nabuhayan ako ng loob dahil siya lang ang kakampi ko rito sa bahay. Dagli akong tumakbo patungo sa kaniya at yumakap. "Tatay..."
"Bakit?" Hinaplos niya ang buhok ko. "Nasaktan ka ba?"
"'Yan!" hirit pa ni nanay. "D'yan ka magaling! Sa mga paawa epek mo!"
"Magtigil ka nga," kunot-noong saway ni tatay. "'Wag mong pagsabihan ng ganiyan ang anak mo."
Sumiksik ako kay tatay. Napansin ko ang biglaang pagsimangot ng kapatid ko. Ayaw na ayaw niya talaga na kumakampi sa akin si tatay.
"Anak?" Muling natawa si nanay. "Hindi ko 'yan anak!"
Pinanlakihan siya ng mata ni tatay. "Manahimik ka."
"Bakit? Totoo naman ah?" Ngumiti siya sa akin. "Hindi kita anak. Sampid ka lang sa pamilyang 'to."
Tila huminto ang mundo ko nang marinig 'yon at ang kirot sa aking dibdib ay pinapatay ang kalooban ko.
"'Tay," nanginginig na sambit ko sabay yugyog sa kaniya. "Hindi naman po totoo 'yon, 'di ba?"
Imbes na sumagot ay umiwas siya ng tingin habang ang kapatid ko ay nakangisi na sa tagumpay.
"Ampon ka lang." Pinakadiin pa 'yon ni nanay. "Hindi ka namin kadugo. Napulot ka lang namin sa tabi ng kalsada."
"Naawa sa 'yo si tatay," nakangiwing sabi ng kapatid ko. "Kaya kinuha ka niya at dinala rito."
"Hindi ko naman akalain na ang ampon na katulad mo ay siya pang sisira sa pamilya ko."
"Hindi ko po kayo sinira." Naikuyom ko ang kamao. "Kayo ang sumira sa buhay niyo."
"Bastos ka ah?!" Akma pa niya akong babatuhin ng tsinelas ngunit humarang na si tatay.
"Tama na 'yan! Pumasok kayo sa loob!"
Kahit gaano katapang sina nanay at kapatid, tumitiklop din siya kay tatay. Lalo na kapag seryoso na ang pagiging galit nito. Parehas pa nila akong sinamaan ng tingin bago bumalik sa bahay.
Tumalikod ako at lumuluhang naupo sa kahoy na papag. Ramdam ko ang simoy ng malamig na hangin. Magpapasko na ngunit ang natanggap kong regalo ay ang katotohanan sa aking pagkatao.
"Lyric, anak..." Tumabi sa akin si tatay at inakbayan ako. "Tahan na. Pagpasensyahan mo na sila."
"Bakit hindi niyo po sinabi sa akin?"
"Maliit ka pa noon. Hindi mo pa maiintindihan."
"Ngayong malaki na ko, wala pa rin kayong balak sabihin sa akin?"
"Meron naman pero humahanap lang ako ng tamang pagkakataon." Bumuntong-hininga siya. "Patawad, anak."
"Naiintindihan ko po," tugon ko kahit na libo-libong karayom pa rin ang tumutusok sa dibdib ko. "Hindi niyo po ba alam kung sino ang mga magulang ko?"
"Pasensya na, anak pero hindi eh. Naghanap ako dati ngunit wala talaga akong mapag-alaman."
"Salamat pa rin po dahil kinupkop niyo ako, pinakain at binihisan. Tinuring niyo po akong pamilya kahit na hindi niyo ako kadugo."
"Hindi kailangan magkadugo para maging kapamilya."
Ngumiti ako. "Maraming salamat po."
Saktong pagtila ng ulan ay narinig kong bumukas ang pinto. Pumasok si nanay at hinagis sa aking dalawang bag. Napabalikwas ako ng bangon at nagtataka itong pinagmasdan.
"Bakit po, 'nay?"
"Ngayong alam mo nang ampon ka, maaari ka nang lumayas sa pamamahay na 'to."
"Alam po ba ito ni tatay?"
"Wala ang tatay mo. Umuwi sa probinsya nila dahil namatay ang lola niya."
"Kaya walang magtatanggol sa 'yo ngayon," entrada ng kapatid ko. "Ano pang hinihintay mo? Alis na!"
"Kailangan ko munang makausap si tatay."
"Bakit pa?" buwelta ni nanay. "Hindi kana rin niya kayang pakainin dahil sa utang."
Pumatak ang butil ng luha. "Hindi po totoo 'yan."
"Hindi ka aalis?" Hinatak niya ang buhok ko at kinaladkad ako palabas. "Pwes, kami ang magtutulak sa 'yo paalis!"
Dinala nila ako sa kalsada at muling hinagis ang dalawang bag kung nasaan ang mga gamit ko.
"'Wag na 'wag ka nang babalik dito!"
Wala na kong nagawa kundi tumayo at umalis. Ilang araw akong nagpalaboy sa daan, umaasang makikita si tatay ngunit bigo ako. Walang dumating na tatay.
I pressed the button to level down the speed. I took my bottle and drank the water until it became empty. I jumped out of the treadmill and wipe my sweats. That was a good exercise to end my day.
I turned off the television and walked out of the gym. I was about to enter my room when I noticed the door beside mine was slightly opened. I took a peek inside and I saw Webb infront of his study table. He's writing something unusual.
Out of curiousity, I walked inside his room. He didn't even aware of my presence. I stood behind his back and glanced at the paper.
"Death threats again?" I crooked my face. "You still not get over with it?"
He almost jumped out of surprise. "What the heck are you doing here?"
"Improve your sense of hearing," I said and sat at the side of his table. "The ear uses bones and fluid to transform sound waves into sound signals."
"Yeah, whatever." He glared at me. "Just eat shanghai."
"You're no fun." I pouted my lips. "So why are you still sending the threats to Jack?"
"Our fight continues. We're not yet done."
"You really don't remember what I've told you before, huh?"
"I remembered and I accepted my lost."
"Then what's the problem?" My forehead knotted. "It's been a month since the fight happened." He's badly injured that time and all we could do is to bring him to the hospital.
"I'm inviting him to fight me again and this time I'll surely win."
I shook my head. "Do whatever you want, Spider Webb."
We heard a knock on the door. One of the agents of Adler Clan came in. "Ms. Lyric?"
"Yes?"
"You have a letter."
I stood up in confusion and took it from him. "Thanks."
It's a black small envelope and my name was printed on its front. I was about to open it when I noticed that Webb is staring at me.
"Oh," turo ko sa kaniya. "Bawal makichika."
Ngumuso siya. "Bakit? Ano ba 'yan?"
"Wala!" Tinawanan ko siya. "Bye!"
Bago pa niya ako mahabol ay kumaripas na ako ng takbo palabas at nagkulong sa kwarto. Maingat kong binuksan ang sulat at binasa ang nilalaman.
I know your biological family. If you want to know more about it, meet me at Munich City, Germany.
- Elektra
"Elektra?" I whispered. "What a weird name."
How much I tried to hide, it really caught my attention. She knew about my real family and I'm happy to hear that. After all those years, I can finally ask them why they abandoned me. Well, if Elektra is legit.
I should it give a try. Wala namang mawawala. Gusto ko lang malaman ang katotohanan.
"C'mon, Delta," Stone said. "Hurry up."
I tied my hair and wore a mask covering my upper face. We're all wearing the same black outfit for disguise. Gray drove the car until we reached the underground arena in Munich City.
We presented our pass one by one. And when Gray's turn, he searched his pocket but he found none.
"What's the problem?" Vera asked, worriedly. "Did you forgot your pass?"
He nodded. "Along with my badge."
"Go back to the car," Stone ordered. She sounds strict all the time. "You might dropped it there."
Gray smiled. "I'll be back." He even kissed Vera on her cheeks.
Webb laughed. "He forgot the pass and badge but he didn't forget his love."
Vera chuckled as her cheeks turned red. "Let's go inside."
"Ayyieee!" I teased. "To the highest level ang kilig!"
Stone glared at us. "C'mon."
Nagkatinginan na lang kami at sabay-sabay na ngumuso. Nagsusungit na naman ang bato.
We sat at the middle bleachers. That's the spot where you can see clearly the fight on the ring. Later on, Gray went back and sat beside Vera. They're happily chatting again. You know, lovey dovey.
"Let's all welcome the famous Black Spades!"
We're here to watch their last fight. If they win, they will bring home the title of Legendary Gang. We're studying them for the longest time and I must say, they are really strong and determined to win.
I like their Queen. She's really fearless and her gray eyes show a lot of danger. Especially when she held her katana. She's really cool.
I glanced at Webb. His eyes are darted to Jack. If stares can kill, Jack would probably dead by now. Then I turned my gazed to Stone. She raised her eyebrow when Queen waved her katana as if she's just holding a plastic cup.
All throughout the fight, I just sat there with my open mouth, drooling over their abilities. I was astonished. Diamond and Heart used their strength widely and tricky while Jack moved playfully. What I noticed the most is the smoothness of King's attack towards the opponent. This is the first time I saw that technique.
"Black Spades won as the Legendary Gang in the world!"
I almost clapped my hands but then I realized they're our rival enemy. I shouldn't be like this because our leader will surely punish me. I just stay still and pouted my lips.
"Tss," Stone murmured. "We will be in that position too."
"That's for sure," Vera agreed. "We're Delta, anyway."
"We will make a difference," Gray stated.
I waited for Webb to tell something but his eyes are fixed at Jack. He couldn't contain his anger because his fist turned into a ball. But when his gaze turned to Diamond, he became a folding bed. Kidding.
Honestly, I don't want to be on top. I just want to help my friends to reach the top they want to be just being a member of the gang. But I must admit, I got angry to Jack. He almost killed Webb.
"Go home," I said and they looked at me in confusion. "I'm going to the mall."
"What will you do there?" Stone asked.
"Isn't it obvious?" Webb laughed. "She's going to buy a basket of shanghai."
I pouted my lips. "Right."
"Okay," Vera smiled and kissed me on the cheeks. "Be safe."
"Go home early," Gray advised. He's actually the father of our circle.
Stone just nodded at me while Webb waved his hand with his smirk as if he has an idea. I watched them leave before I went to the back of the mall. I searched for the room and walked inside.
A woman in silver suit faced me. "Hi, Lyric."
"You're Elektra?" I asked. "The one who sent the letter?"
She nodded and sat on her swivel chair. "What do you want to know?"
"You said you knew about my biological family."
"Your parents are already dead."
I frowned. "That's it?"
"But your brother is still alive."
"Where is he? Who is he?"
"If you really want to know, be on my side and take down the Black Spades."
I left her without an answer. As I went back home, I took my silver badge and stared at it for a moment.
"I am Lyric, the Tres of Delta."