KABANATA DALAWAMPU’T ISA
“Manalangin tayong lahat bago tayo kumain. Ms. Cindy please lead the prayer.” Ibinigay sa akin ni Sister Maria ang mikropono.
Tinanggap ko ito at pumunta sa gitna ng makeshift stage.
“Okay. Let’s bow down our heads. Sa pangalan ng Ama, at ng Anak, at ng Banal na Espiritu. Lord, salamat sa pagkain na ibinigay niyo sa amin ngayon. Please help us always to remember the needs of others who don't have as much as us. Patawarin mo po kami ng Panginoon sa lahat ng aming mga kasalanan. Kami ay nagdarasal at nagpapasalamat sa pamamagitan ni Jesus cristo na aming Panginoon. Amen.” I opened my eyes.
I was overwhelmed with this emotion that I can't put into words. Nakakahawa ang mga ngiti ng mga bata.
"Okay kids, attack!" Natatawang sigaw ko.
I looked around to see Jacob helping Isaac to open his juice pack.
With a smile, he gave the ju
Kabanata Dalawampu't Dalawa"Carlo, I will be back before you know it. Kailangan na magtrabaho si Ate." Sabi ko habang hinihimas ang alaga niyang aso."You promise you won't leave again." Sagot nito sa nag tatampong boses.Nasa kabilang bahagi ng kanyang kama si Calen. Nanonood lamang samin."Babalik ako bago mag dinner okay?" Hinalikan ko ang pisngi niya at tumayo na."Paano kami makakasiguro na babalik ka?" Tanong naman ni Calen.Bumuntong hininga ako at naglakad papunta sa kanya."Dahil sa pagkakataong ito nangangako ako. Have a little faith in me again guys." Sabi ko at ipinatong ang kamay ko sa balikat niya. "You big guy, we have a lot of things to catch up. Gusto kong makilala ang girlfriend mo." Napangiti ako nang makita kong namula ang mukha niya. Ha! I got you!"Hindi ko girlfriend si Erica." Mabilis niyang sinabi. "Hey, how do you know about her?" Tanon
Kabanata Dalawampu't Tatlo"Phoenix, it's confirmed. Galing sila sa grupo ng Montes. Mayroon din silang pending na warrant of arrest sa nagdaang dalawang taon." Sphinx gave the files of the two men who dropped the note at my Uncle's house two days ago.I gritted my teeth while reading the document."Kailangan mong mag-ingat, Phoenix. Alam na nila ang bahay mo." Sabi ni Adam.Nasa hideout kami ngayong ni Sphinx. Adam was the one you called for a meeting.I was using Sphinx's laptop to talk to him."Thank you for the info. I have to borrow some of our gadgets here Sphinx, if you don't mind." Baling ko kay Sphinx at binigay sa kanya ang laptop.
Kabanata Dalawampu't Apat‘I miss you.’'Nasaan ka?''Baby.'‘Sinabi sa akin ni Jessy na kausapin ka. May problema ba tayo?’’Cindy, sagutin mo ako. Nag aalala na ko sayo.'Napa buntong hininga ako habang binabasa ang mga mensahe ni Jacob. Hindi ko siya nakontak ng tatlong araw bago ang aming plano kay Leo.I just want to make sure that the plan will go well before I talk to Jacob. Ayokong masali siya sa gulo ko.It was already past eight o'clock in the evening and I decided to go to his unit to talk to
Kabanata Dalawampu't LimaMonique asked me to come to her birthday party next week. Magkakaroon siya ng beach party sa Puerto Galera.Hindi talaga siya tumigil hanggat hindi ako pumapayag.“We will go shopping tomorrow, you want to come?” Tanong ni Monique sakin.“May pasok ako bukas. Sorry.” Sagot ko, may photoshoot bukas si Jessy.“Aww, pero okay lang. I think our sizes are just the same. I’ll buy you a nice bikini.” She giggled and hugged me.“My girl is sexier than you. Flat.” Pang aasar ni Jacob.“Ma! Si Kuya oh!” Sumimangot si Monique at subukang abuti
Kabanata Dalawampu't AnimInabot sa akin ni Centaur ang isang stick ng sigarilyo."Salamat." Sabi ko at sinindihan ito gamit ang lighter ko.We were waiting for Sphinx in our hideout. Mamba’s currently training her shooting skills.“Gumagaling na si Mamba.” Aniya habang pinapanuod si Mamba.“Sphinx was right about her. I admit.” Sagot ko.We have another meeting for our new mission today.“Yeah. I wonder if Sphinx will have a replacement for Griffin.” Sabi niya at tinapon ang filter ng sigarilyo sa ashtray.“I guess we have
Kabanata Dalawampu't PitoInayos ko ang aming mga luggage sa built-in kabinet ng maramdaman ko ang pag yakap ni Jacob mula sa likuran ko."Jacob." Lumayo ako at humarap sa kanya."Ano? I miss you.” Aniya at hinila ulit ako palapit.“I miss you too but you have to stop now. Gusto kong panoorin ang paglubog ng araw. " Ngumiti ako.Nakita kong lumapad ang ngiti niya.“Okay. Anything you want.” He said and kissed my lips.I made a sound from my throat as I responded to his kiss. Oh I missed him."Maliligo muna ako." He slowly pulled away.
Kabanata Dalawampu't WaloIpinasa sa akin ni Monique ang shot. Pulang pula na ang mukha niya."Hindi ko na kaya. Sa tingin ko masusuka na ako." Anito habang nakahawak sa bibig.Natawa ako at tumingin kay Jacob.Monique's friends were cheering for me. Except for one person.Faith.Nagkibit balikat ako at tinulak si Jacob paupo sa stool.He stopped me by holding on to my waist.What? Don't be a killjoy." I said and unbuttoned three buttons of his polo."That will be your last shot." Babala niya at pinaupo ako sa kandungan
Kabanata Dalawampu't Siyam"Love, ayos ka lang ba?" Napakurap ako nang marinig ko ang boses ni Jacob.Hindi ko napansin na nakatingin lang pala ako sa karagatan ng ilang minuto."Y-yes." I fake a smile and held his hand.I was bothered by Jessy's text message last night. I tried calling her but she declined all of my calls. She texted that she wanted to talk in person when we get back to Manila.Bumuntong hininga ako.Iba ang pakiramdam ko."I don't want to leave that island." Bulong ni Jacob.“Ako rin." Sagot ko at ipinatong ang ulo ko sa balikat niya.
Huling Kabanata"Amethyst, sweetheart can you ask Daddy to get Mommy's scarf please?" I asked, my four years old daughter.Humarap siya sa akin at ngumiti."Sure, Mommy. But can I bring my teddy?" Tanong niya gamit ang mapupungay na mga mata.Paano naman ako makakahindi? Bumuntong hininga ako at tumango."But first we have to make a deal. Walang paglalaro sa loob ng theater okay?” Kailangan nating panoorin at suportahan si Ate Chelsey." Sabi ko at sinara ang zipper ng violin bag ng panganay ko.Today is her recital.Amethyst jumped in joy and ran to the door."Careful baby." Si
Kabanata Limampu Cindy couldn’t stop crying. I hit my forehead using my palm. “Babe our daughter might think that I made you cry. Huminahon ka.” Sabi ko at hinawakan ang mukha niya. I wiped the tears away from her beautiful eyes. “You did make me cry!” Aniya at tinulak ang dibdib ko. Umupo ako sa tabi niya. "Hindi ko naisip na iiyak ka. Hush now, please. I turned my back on that job years ago.” Sabi ko at hinimas himas ang likod niya. "Hindi mo din sinabi sa akin ang tungkol sa pagiging vigilante mo. What you have done was more dangerous than my job.” Mahinahon kong paliwanag. Ayokong sabayan ang pag tatampo niya. I al
Kabanata Apatnapu't Siyam Calvin and I laughed as I let him drive my car. "I saw a stolen picture of you on her phone!" He beamed. Umiling ako at ginulo ang buhok niya. "Be a good boy and I will teach you how to charm girls." Sabi ko at tinuro ang susunod na kanto. "Girls are complicated." Aniya at napakamot sa batok. "Saan talaga tayo pupunta?" Tanong niya. Tumingin ako sa side view mirror. Halos wala talagang nagbago sa bayang ito. "Just drive. Malapit na tayo." I said as I read the town's name on my mind. 'Welcome to San Rafael'
Kabanata Apatnapu't Walo Makalipas ang limang taon. "Jake please, tigilan mo na ang pagtatrabaho sa bahay!" Jessica crossed her arms in front of me. She's pouting her lips like a brat that she is. "Hindi ako pupunta sa party, Jessica. May appointment ako bukas sa guidance counselor ni Calvin." Sabi ko at minasahe ang gilid ng ulo ko. Napa away na naman si Calvin last week. I sighed as I remembered his reason. 'I won't stop fighting until Ate comes back!' Si Calvin ang sakit ng ulo ko sa kanilang tatlo. Siguradong namana niya ito sa At
Kabanata Apatnapu't pito "Hindi ka ba nagpaalam sa kanila?" Tanong ni Lindsey habang pinapatulog ang anak. Umiling ako at ngumiti lang. Jacob fist bumped Carlo and Calvin. Calen was on the side of his girlfriend. He could walk again without the help of anybody. Jacob waved goodbye to my Aunt and Uncle as he entered his car. Ngayon ang unang araw niya sa kumpanya namin. Uncle assigned him as the new acting CEO. I am so proud of him. "Cindy, alam mong tatanggapin ka nila. Pamilya mo sila." Sabi pa ni Lindsey. Humarap ako sa kanya.
Kabanata Apatnapu't Anim "Ate." Tinawag ako ni Calen. Humarap ako sa mga kapatid ko habang pinupunasan ang luha ko. Binuksan ko ang mga braso ko para sa kanila. They all went around my bed to hug me. "Masayang-masaya ako na nandito kayong lahat." Bulong ko sabay yakap sa kanila. "Congrats Ate." Sabi ni Calen. Tumango ako at humarap sa kanila. I pinched Calvin's rosy cheek. "I miss you all." Hinayaan kong batiin ako ng bawat tao sa silid bago sila mag paalam umalis. I f
Kabanata Apatnapu't Lima I blinked two times to adjust my vision. I heard a commotion outside of the door. Nilibot ko ang paningin ko sa buong kwarto. Wala sina Jacob at Jessy. I blinked again but my vision didn’t improve. I raised my hand to see a needle in my arm. I pushed myself up. Nasaan sila? Sinubukan kong iunat ang aking likuran pero isang biglang sakit ang naramdaman ko. "Shit. It stings." I cursed. Nanunuyo ang lalamunan ko. The door opened slowly, Jacob walked in with an angry face. He looked straight to me. His
Kabanata Apatnapu't Apat Hawak ni Jacob ang aking mga kamay habang binibigkas niya ang kanyang mga pangako. “...to have and to hold, to honor you, to treasure you, and to love and cherish you always. I choose you as the person with whom I will spend my life. I promise you this from my heart, for all the days of my life.” Ngumiti siya at hinalikan ang aking mga kamay. Pinunasan ko ang luhang tumulo sa pisngi niya. He mouthed ‘I love you’ as I recite my vows to him. I stopped and hugged him tight. “Read your vows properly. You’re stuttering.” I heard him curse quietly as he pushed me off of him. Napatakip ako ng bibig nang makita ko ang mukha ni Leo sa harapan ko
Kabanata Apatnapu't Tatlo I still couldn't believe that Mina died because of my recklessness. Kinulong ulit ako ni Leo sa loob ng silid. He just left a glass of water in a paper cup. Tinanggal ng kanyang mga tauhan ang lahat ng babasagin at metal na bagay sa loob ng silid. I closed my eyes, thinking of my brothers. If I die in Leo's hands they will be traumatized for the rest of their life. I sighed as I think of ways on how to escape this hell hole. My feet and my one wrist were tied up again. I reached for the paper cup and drank all of the water. I need a clear mind now. Napangiwi ako nang makita ko ang mga sugat ko. Pinikit ko ulit ang aking mga mata at ini