Chapter Twenty Three

Napatili si Vodka dahil sa ginawa sa kapatid at nanlalaki ang mga matang napatingin sa gawi ni Eugene. Nakahinga lang siya ng maluwang nang makitang hindi ito tinamaan, tumama ang bala sa pader.

"Felix, you're out of the line! You could've killed him, you could've killed him..." she cried in anger and fear. Her body racked with an onslaught of sobs and tears.

Marahas na hinawi ni Felix ang kuwelyo ng damit ni Vodka. "Look at yourself!"

Hinawi ni Vodka ang kamay ng kapatid at inayos ang kuwelyo ng kanyang damit. Nakita nito ang mga markang dulot ng mga halik ni Eugene habang sila'y nagniniig kagabi. "I hate you. I hate you, Felix!"

She ran towards Eugene's room and went inside. She sat on the carpeted floor and cried.

Eugene sighed while looking at the door of his room. He then looked at Felix whose anger turned into regret. He understands that he was just doing his role as a big brother, he had a younger sister himself, Tammy, and he would do everything to protect her.

"You want a beer?"

Agad na bumaling si Felix kay Eugene habang magkasulubong na ang mga kilay. "I still want to kill you!" he said honestly.

"Yeah. I know," Eugene then walked towards the direction of the kitchen. A small smile curved his lips when she felt the man followed after him. He gets canned beers on the refrigerator and gave one to Felix. "You're not going after her?"

"She needs time... And don't talk to me, I still want to put a hole on your head." Isinuksok ni Felix ang baril sa likuran at binuksan ang beer.

Pareho silang umiinom ng beer habang nakatingin sa nakasarang pinto ng silid na pinasukan ni Vodka.

"I told her that I like her earlier," Eugene said out of nowhere.

Tanging tunog ng nayuping lata ang sagot ni Felix sa sinabi iyon ni Eugene.

DAHAN-DAHAN niyang binuksan ang pinto at sumilip sa labas. Tahimik siyang napabuntung-hininga nang makita ang dalawang lalaking parehong nakaupo sa sahig paharap sa salaming dingding at umiinom ng beer. Mukhang nagkakahulihan na ng loob ang dalawa base sa takbo ng pag-uusap ng mga ito.

Vodka let them had their own conversation, she admitted that she wanted the two men to get along together.

She was mad at Felix earlier when he pointed a gun at Eugene and pulled the trigger. Though Felix was no killer, the stunt he pulled scared the hell out of her. But her anger was now subsided. What's left in her was an embarrassment. Nahihiya siya sa kapatid dahil nalaman nito ang mga pinanggagawa niya, ang pagkakita nito sa ebidensiya na ibinigay niya ang lahat-lahat kay Eugene. He was her brother after all, a very protective one for that matter.

She walked towards the kitchen to cook something for lunch. She found a frozen chicken on the refrigerator and decided to cook chicken adobo, Felix's favorite. She missed her brother, it's the first time they saw each other personally for four years, and she wanted him to know that she was glad to see him, though their meeting was far from being welcoming and peaceful.

She was about to slice the chicken when she felt someone hugged her from behind and kissed her shoulder.

"Are you okay?"

She looked at Eugene over her shoulder and he captured her lips in a kiss. Bahagya itong itinulak ni Vodka dahil mukhang may balak pa itong palalimin ang halik. "I'm good," she muttered and smiled afterward. "Gin, may ginagawa ako!" sita niya rito nang lalong humigpit ang pagkakayapos nito sa kanya at isinubsob ang mukha sa kanyang leeg.

"I love the scent of your hair," he said huskily, making Vodka shiver.

"Get your hands off her!" Ang matigas na boses na iyon ang nagpahiwalay sa dalawa.

Eugene grinned drily and put both his hands in the air as if he was conceding. "I thought we're cool, man."

"Just don't do that in front of me! And you, don't let anyone hug you or kiss you. And give me that knife," pangaral ni Felix sa kapatid at kinuha ang kutsilyong hawak nito. Siya ang pumalit sa pagtadtad ng karne ng manok.

"I'm not just anyone, I'm her boyfriend."

Napalakas ang pagkakatadtad ni Felix at gumawa ng malakas na tunog ang pagtama ng kutsilyo sa sangkalan. Si Vodka naman ay nasiko sa tiyan si Eugene at sinamaan ito ng tingin.

"When did you become my boyfriend?" she whispered to him.

Eugene leaned forward and murmured to her ear, "Since the time you gave yourself to me."

Vodka blushed in astonishment. She twisted the side part of his stomach and faked her annoyance. Eugene just grinned at her.

Si Felix ay itinigil ang ginagawa at marahas na napabuntung-hininga dahil sa dalawang nagbubulungan sa isang tabi. Dala ang kutsilyo ay nilapitan niya ang mga ito, mariing kinuha ang kamay ni Eugene at iniligay roon ang hawak na kutsilyo.

"You do it," Felix uttered coldly and stormed out of the kitchen.

Tiningnan ni Vodka si Eugene gamit ang isang naninising tingin. Umiling-iling lang ang binata at pinatakan ng mabilis na halik ang labi ng dalaga.

"Go, talk to him. I'm cooking."

"Are you sure?"

Isang halik muli ang isinagot ni Eugene bago hinarap ang mga gagawin. Napailing na lang si Vodka dahil sa ginawa nito. Nawiwili na si Eugene sa kakahalik sa kanya.

Sinundan niya ang kapatid na nasa sala at umupo sa tabi nito. Inihilig niya ang ulo sa dibdib ni Felix habang nakatingin sa labas ng bahay.

"I miss you," aniya pagkalipas ng ilang sandaling katahimikan.

Vodka heard Felix sighed and he then kissed her head. "You know I miss you too, and I'm worried and angry. I don't know what to do if something bad happens to you, you're my only family left. I could've come sooner here when I heard the news about the incident with your car, but I was caught up with some business."

Nag-angat ng tingin si Vodka at sinalubong ang mga mata ng kapatid. His eyes were darkening with mixed emotions, anger, anxiousness, and relief. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to worry you, I... I don't know what happened to me. Someone did that to my car and I have no idea who did it. Thanks to Gin I am safe, he saved me." Vodka smiled reassuringly at Felix. "Your men saved me when I was about to be abducted and I survived the shooting incident in the shop. My wound is nearly healed. You see, Felix, your Hermana is a survivor. I won't leave you."

Tumaas ang kamay ni Vodka sa mukha ng kapatid. His jaw was rough with those weeks-old stubbles. Felix held her hand that was holding his face and caressed it softly.

"I'm glad." He then leaned closer to Vodka and kissed her forehead.

Niyakap ni Vodka ang kapatid, sumubsob sa malapad nitong dibdib at hinayaang pumatak ang mga luha mula sa mga mata. Since their mother died, Felix had become her guardian, her brother, her best friend. She was twelve when they became an orphan and Felix was twenty at that time. Life in Bogóta wasn't easy, they were grieving for their mother's death and all the responsibilities fell on Felix's shoulder. If there was someone she adored the most and look up to, it was her brother.

They remained in that position for minutes before Felix held her face and wiped the tears off.

"When was the last time you shaved?" she asked while frowning. "And when did you come here in the Philippines, you didn't tell me when you called last night."

Muling umayos ng upo si Felix kaya muling isinandig ni Vodka ang ulo sa balikat nito. Parehong nakatingin sa labas kung saan umaambon na naman.

"I was on the plane when I called you, it was about to take off so I had to end the call. I arrived an hour ago from China."

"Why were you in China?"

"Business," maikling sagot ni Felix.

Bumuntung-hininga na lang si Vodka at hindi na nang-usisa. Hindi na rin niya ito tinanong kung paano nito nalaman kung nasaan siya. Knowing Felix, he had his way to know her whereabouts.

While waiting for lunch, she and Felix were catching up. She asked his whereabouts. She became melancholic when he brought Piero up.

"He had been fighting cancer for ten years. A month after he died, he flew to Cartagena and lived at our old house. I've found out from his people that he was there and he was dying." Naikuyom ni Vodka ang mga kamay at nakagat ang labi upang pigilan ang panginginig niyon dahil sa naririnig mula sa kapatid. "He was barely breathing when I met him, thin, pale and frail, gone the powerful man we knew. One of his loyal people told me that he left the Romano family eight years ago, he was replaced by his brother as the boss. He had been hiding from his enemy since then, fighting cancer... and protecting us.

"He was alone in the house, he lived there alone for a month, he wished to be beside mamá when he died. He died as a lonely man, Hermana, but before then, he asked me if you're doing fine. He said he loved you and he was sorry. Per favore perdonami, ti amo, mi princesa."

Vodka cannot contain her sob, her chest was tightening and her body shook in an onslaught of tears. "But he did not d-die alone, you were there," she muttered with trembling lips. "I hate him, Hermano, I loathe him... but he is still our papá."

"Lo se, Hermana, lo se." Felix combed her hair and kissed her head to comfort her. He always does that when she was sad before. He was there to comfort her as any loving brother would do.

After a couple of minutes, Vodka had calmed down. "I'm glad that you are here. Te quiero." Vodka smiled at her brother and kissed his cheek.

Sabay silang napatingin sa gawi ng kusina nang marinig ang tunog ng pagbagsak ng mga bagay mula roon. Making Felix remember Eugene's presence, his expression became stern and close to anger.

"What about him? You seem like you're enjoying his company. Is he treating you well, tell me he is or I will kill him. It doesn't matter to me that he saved you!"

Vodka looked away. "He is, he is a good man." Bagaman ay hindi pa niya ganoon kakilala ng buo si Eugene at kakabati lang nila ay alam niyang mabuti itong tao.

"Why didn't you tell me that you're with him, that you had someone?"

"I... I... It was too sudden, I didn't expect that I will like him as a man..." she said in almost a whisper. Yes, she liked Eugene, she won't easily get affected by him if she doesn't. She won't like his touch, warmth, and kisses if she didn't like the man.