Chapter 3

THIRD PERSON'S POV

La Vezque is a large City in the Philippines divided into different areas. Located in the center is The KH alongside with a governance system of the President. However, there's this other organization called Akeldama, the dangerous and formidable association of vicious people with connections, located in various secluded places surrounding the whole City. You can find them anywhere inside and outside of the City, making it hard for The KH to capture them.

Ang dalawang nasabing organisasyon ay may parehong kakayahan na kontrolin ang La Vezque. In the name of the legality and illegality, they became the nemesis of one another. Ang KH na lahat gagawin para lang mahuli ang mga tao sa likod ng Akeldama; at ang Akeldama na handang isakripisyo ang lahat para lang malagpasan ang taas ng KH at pamunuan ang buong La Vezque.

Every people involved in the two organizations are being blinded by their own greediness, sugarcoated into beliefs and principles. And... greed is a bottomless pit which exhausts the person in an endless effort to satisfy the need without ever reaching satisfaction, as said by Erich Fromm.

In any case, there are still some people in the City who chose what they want to do in order to live their life without being controlled in a prolonged chaos and being one of the greedy people who never changed. One of those people is the Madigan couple.

Ang mag-asawang Madigan ay mas piniling manirahan sa tagong lugar at malayo sa kabihasnan. Ang lugar na ito ay nasa gitna ng kabundukan na bilang lamang ang populasyon. Ngunit, ang hindi nila alam ay palagi lang nakadikit sa kanila ang pinili nilang takbuhan para sa bumuo ng bagong buhay.

They've been on the run for months. The woman is pregnant with their first baby, and the man is working day and night to sustain his family. They couldn't ask for more as long as they're together, creating their own family in the quiet and peaceful place, far away from all of the chaos that was brought by their forbidden love. The protector of the people in the City and the perpetrator of the mafia family, such an iconic love story, isn't it?

"Arlette?" sabi ng lalaki habang nakaluhod at nakahawak sa tiyan ng babae, inaabangan kung tutugon ba ang batang nasa loob ng sinapupunan ng babae.

"I don't want to name her starting from letter A. Masyado nang gamit ang letrang iyan," pagsalungat naman ng babae sa lalaki habang nakapatong ang mga kamay nito sa kamay ng lalaki.

"I already suggested a few names na hindi nagsisimula sa A. Wala ka pa ring nagugustuhan?"

"I want something unique and catchy." The woman smiled and thought of some names.

Kabuwanan na ng babae. Hinihintay na lang nila na pumutok ang palatubigan nito. Hanggang ngayon ay hirap pa rin sila sa pag-iisip ng pangalan para sa anak nila kahit na ilang buwan na nila itong pinaghahandaan.

"Hope?" Pinakiramdaman ulit ng lalaki ang tiyan ng babae. "Still, no?"

"She's our hope, but I don't want to make it so obvious. Give me something else, Deiphobus."

"Hmm..." Nag-isip ang lalaki. "Safeyya? Pauline? Lucretia? Keisha? Deianne?"

"Deianne..." The woman's face brightened up. "How about we make it into… Deianeira?"

"Deianeira," ulit ng lalaki nang marahan niyang hinimas ang tiyan ng babae. Kalaunan ay unti-unting napangiti. "Deianeira, are you there? Daddy's here–"

"No, not Daddy or Dad. Just make it simple like what we want in our lives. I'm fine with Papa and Mama."

"Alright, alright. Masyado ka namang mareklamo at demanding, aking Marnella. Ganyan ba talaga kayong mga buntis?" The man shifted on his position. "Hello, Deianeira. Nandito ang Papa at Mama mo, kinakausap ka at binabantayan palagi. Bilisan mo nang lumabas, ah? We're so excited to see and hold you."

The couple was startled as they felt their baby kicking. With eyes wide open and heart beating fast in the same manner, mas pinakiramdaman nila lalo ang galaw ng baby sa loob.

"She must've like Deianeira. Pati ang Papa at Mama ay siguradong nagustuhan niya rin," the woman said with full of enthusiasm.

"What if it's a boy?" basag ng lalaki sa munting kaligayahan na naramdaman ng babae.

"No, she's definitely a girl. I can feel it."

"It's just a what-if, my Marnella." The man pinched the woman's nose with a smile on his lips. Bahagya siyang tumingkayad para maabot ang noo nito't mabigyan ng isang halik.

"Then... we'll just name him after you."

"Nah-uh. I don't want him to be called a junior," agap ng lalaki na napapailing-iling pa.

The woman laughed. "Why? Is it because you already have a junior down there?" Ngumuso ang babae sa baba, sa pagitan ng mga binti ng lalaki.

"Marnella!"

Mas lalo lang natawa ang babae. Nang matigil ay napailing-iling na lang siya.

"We'll just name him Demeitrius."

"Whatever you like, my Marnella, as long as it makes you happy. But... definitely not my name." I don't want to pass him my name, which is the name of a coward murderer and weak follower. I want him to be remembered as an innocent person without running away from anyone and anything. The man gave the woman's bump a soft kiss.

A week later, the woman's water broke. Nataranta ang lalaki at agad nakaramdam ng matinding takot sa kadahilanan na hindi na makakaya ng mag-ina niya kung babiyahe pa sila papunta sa ospital sa malapit na bayan. Malayo iyon sa kabundukan at ilang sasakyan pa ang masasakyan nila bago nila marating ito. Wala rin silang kilalang nars o midwife na nakatira sa lugar. They made sure that they are prepared for this... pero nabigla pa rin sila.

"S-Stay here! I'll get help from our neighbors!" Nagdalawang-isip ang lalaki kung iiwan niya ba ang asawa niya na nahihirapan at namimilipit sa sakit na siyang binabalot na rin ng matinding pawis.

The man bit his lip and ran a hand through his messy hair. Siniguro niyang maayos ang posisyon ng babae sa kama bago niya ito iniwan. Bago niya pa man masarado ang pinto, sandal siyang napatitig sa mag-ina niya.

He immediately ran outside of their small house to get help. Hindi naman siya nabigo. Sa pagbalik niya ay may kasama na siyang dalawang matatandang babae na may karanasan na sa pagpapaanak.

He waited for the woman's safe delivery with trembling and sweaty hands. Ilang beses din siyang nagpabalik-balik ng lakad sa maliit na espasyo ng sala nila habang tinitingnan ang pinto ng nag-iisang kuwarto nila. He halted when he heard a loud cry of a baby.

"Oh, thank God! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Clasping both of his hands, he felt his tears rolled down his cheeks as he closed his eyes. Agad niya itong pinunasan. Naglakad siya palapit sa may pinto at agad itong binuksan. His eyes watered once again the moment he saw his wife carrying their healthy baby girl.

"I told you... it's a girl," namamaos na sabi ng babae suot ang maliit na kurba ng ngiti sa labi.

The man nodded continuously. "Such a beautiful girl just like you."

Lumipas ang mga araw. Mas naging masaya ang naging pamumuhay ng mag-asawa dahil sa anghel na dumating sa buhay nila. They always see the brightness of their baby. Bihira lang ito kung umiyak, mas madalas itong makitang may ngiti sa mga labi habang nakatingin lang sa mag-asawa.

"This is for you." Maingat na sinuot ng lalaki sa anak nila ang maskara na pinagawa niya pa sa malapit na bayan. "The world is scary. Papalakihin ka naming hindi pinapakita ang mukha mo sa ibang tao. This is for your safety, my angel. Kapag suot mo ito, walang taong makakatapak sa 'yo bagkus ay titingalain ka nila." Binigyan niya ito ng halik sa noo. "I promise you that."

"Oh, Deiphobus, malaki pa ang maskara sa kanya. She's still a baby. Hindi niya pa kailangan 'yan." Lumapit ang babae sa asawa niya. "Don't make her feel the burden at such a young age."

"Then, we'll use an alternative mask every time we go out."

"Is this really necessary? She'll think that we're imprisoning her when she grew up."

Hinarap ng lalaki ang babae at marahan na hinawakan ang pisngi para bigyan ng marahan na haplos.

"I'm sure she'll understand. Lalaki siyang mabait at matalinong bata. Hindi niya kailangang madamay sa gulo."

"But she's the fruit of our love. I'm sure he'll come for her, too, especially that you're the father."

"I won't let that happen. I will keep protecting the both of you no matter what. Trust me."

The woman sighed. "I'm more scared now that Deianeira's here, Deiphobus. I'm pretty sure that they will take her away from us."

"I will not let that happen."

"You can't say that. Hindi natin alam kung ano pa ang puwedeng mangyari. I told you we need to get out of here. They already knew–"

"Oh, Marnella..." Lumapit sa kanya ang lalaki. "Nandito ako. I will do everything I can to keep our family safe."

"I know. I'm just worried that they will think of her as a threat." Napatingin ang babae sa anak nilang mahimbing nang natutulog. "Ayokong mangyari sa kanya ang nangyari sa akin noon, Deiphobus."

"It will not and if it does, she's strong enough to handle it. I will train her."

"No..." nanlumo ang babae. "No, Deiphobus. We already talked about this."

"Hindi ko hahayaan na lumabas siya sa mundo nang walang kaalam-alam paano protektahan ang sarili niya. It's better to know the basics and master it later on. Please, Marnella. She needs it."

Binigyan lang ng payak na ngiti ng babae ang lalaki. Basta para sa anak nila ay gagawin nila ang lahat, hindi lang ito madamay sa gulo na humahabol sa kanila. Pero kahit na anong tanggi ay hindi pa rin maalis-alis sa kanila ang takot at pag-aalala. Alam nilang hindi sila makakapagtago ng matagal sa lugar na ito. Soon enough, they will come to them without them knowing.

Fortunately, they lasted in that hidden peaceful place for years. Kaya akala nila ay tapos na ang lahat. Akala nila ay hindi na sila hinahanap ng mga kalaban. But that was only what they thought until someone tried to attack them at night.