Chapter 1: CASTIEL

                   THIRD PERSON P.O.V

Sa pagpasok mo sa madilim na silid na ito. Hindi mo maipagkakaila ang nakakatakot at nakakakilabot na presensyang nakapaloob dito. Madilim ang silid at walang sinag ng araw ang nakakapuslit sa mahaba at makapal na kurtina. Tanging ilaw lang ng iilang mamahaling kandila ang nagbibigay ng kaunting liwanag sa loob.

"Did you find the chip?" 

Isang napakalamig na boses ang biglaang nagsalita na nakakapagdagdag ng kakaibang presensya sa loob. Nakaupo at nakasandal ito sa kaniyang swivel chair nang nakatalikod sa lamesa. May hawak itong baso ng alak na pinapaikot at nilalaro niya sa kaliwang kamay niya. May nakapatong ding isang calibre 45 na baril sa kanang kamay niya na mahigpit niyang hinawakan.

Parang may bumuhos namang isang balde ng malamig na tubig sa kanyang ulo nang marinig ang boses na iyon.

"W-we....t-tried-."

Isang malakas na putok ng baril ang umalingawngaw sa loob ng silid. Humandusay ang duguang lalaki na may tama ng baril sa mismong noo nito. Kahit madilim sa loob ay nagawa niya pa ring tamaan sa noo ang tauhan niya nang hindi tumitingin at nakatalikod pang bumaril. Hindi maipagkakaila na bihasa siya sa paggamit ng baril at sa pag-asinta ng target.

Bihira lang ang nakakalabas ng buhay sa silid na ito. Your life depends on the words you choose to let go. But, you can't keep quiet either. Everyone knows his personality and the more you tried to explain, the more he wants to pull the trigger. Just hearing his deep cold voice could make one shiver in fear.

May pumasok na dalawang lalaki na may dala-dalang panlinis at kinuha ang bangkay nang hindi gumagawa ng kahit na anong ingay. Para sa kanila normal lang ang pangyayaring ito. Nakasanayan na nilang makarinig ng putok ng baril araw-araw at kumuha ng mga bangkay. Ang hindi lang nila nakasanayan ay ang presensyang hatid ng kanilang supremo na sa tuwing pumapasok sila dito ay hindi nila maiwasang manginig sa takot.

Biglang tumunog ang cellphone na nakapatong sa office table. He didn't answer it. Ni hindi nga niya magawang tingnan kung sino ang tumawag. Sa halip na sagutin ay nilagok niya na lamang ang kaunting alak na naiwan sa basong hawak niya. He is emotionless. Walang kahit na anong bakas ng emosyon ang makikita mo sa mga mata niya. Wala nga ba?

Buong araw hindi siya lumalabas ng silid at matagal na ring hindi nasisinagan ng araw ang balat niya. He is like a prisoner, but the different is he is the boss of his own prison. Madalang din siyang lumabas at lalabas lang siya kapag may kinakailangan. 

The phone rang again for the second time. He close his eyes and took a deep breath. The sound of his ringing phone is irritating him to the point he wanted to smash it into pieces. Pagalit niya itong kinuha at tiningnan ang caller bago sinagot ang tawag.

"Why the fu*k are you calling me?" he ask coldy. Nilagyan niya ng alak ang basong hawak niya at walang pag-alinlangan itong ininom habang hinihintay ang sasabihin ng kabilang linya. He is not a socially friendy at ayaw na ayaw niyang may kumakausap sa kaniya when he is having his free time.

"Your daughter," isang malungkot na boses ang nagsalita sa kabilang linya. You can clearly predict na hindi maganda ang sasabihin niya dahil sa tono pa lang ng pananalita nito.

Napaayos siya ng upo. Matagal-tagal niya na ring hindi nakikita ang anak niya. He is been away for almost a month. He love her and he already missed her. Ang tanging kaibigan lang niya ang nag-aalaga sa anak niya. He can't trust anyone pati ang pamilya niya ay hindi niya kayang pagkatiwalaan. Ayaw niyang madamay ang kaisa-isang anak niya sa gulo ng kanilang pamilya at sa Organisasyon. He don't want to involve his daughter around  mafia. He wants her to live a normal life, away from the mafia world and away from him.

"What happened?" he asked in a cold voice.

"Kailangan mong pumunta dito. She needs you. She needs a father," bakas sa tono ng boses niya ang sobrang pag-aalala.

"I'm busy." Kung maaari ay ayaw niya munang dalawin ang kaniyang anak. Ayaw niya rin itong makita dahil sa tuwing nakikita niya ito ay naaalala niya ang yumaong asawa niya na naging dahilan kung bakit siya nagkaganito.

Bumuntong hininga ang kaniyang kaibigan sa kabilang linya. "Castiel, your daughter is very sick. Malala ito kumpara sa mga sakit niya noon. She's...f*ck, Castiel! Just come here if you want to see your daughter still alive, idiot!"

Bigla niyang naibaba ang tawag at lumabas nang headquarters. Pinatakbo niya nang mabilis ang kotse niya, ignoring all the traffic lights at palaging nag-o-over take sa mga nasaunahan na mga sasakyan. Ericka is his only daughter and she was a 6 month old premature baby when she was forced to come out inside in her mom's womb bago ito mamatay. Nilagay siya sa incubator for 3 months until she was fully developed and Castiel was in a coma that time. 

Dahil maagang lumabas si Ericka, she suffered from a poor health growth kaya madalas itong nagkakasakit at kailangang pagtuonan ng pansin. Doctors are trying to keep her alive since Castiel's family is so much powerful that they can take someone's life in a second. They had a feeding tube in her and she was so fragile that they coudn't even touch her for so long.

Bumaba siya sa kotse at agad pumasok sa bahay ng kaibigan. Nadatnan niya ang mga Doctors na galing pa sa iba't-ibang klaseng hospital na seryosong nag-uusap sa living room. Hindi nila napansin ang pagpasok niya sa loob dahil sa lalim ng kanilang pinag-usapan.

"What the hell is happening here?" ang malamig niyang boses ang nakapagpatigil sa pinag-uusapan nila. They become muted for a second. Nobody dared to speak, nor answer his question. They all become voiceless.

Naging madilim ang kaniyang mukha dahil walang gustong sumagot sa tanong niya.

"LUIS!" sigaw niya sa pangalan ng kaibigan na umalingawngaw pa sa loob ng malaking bahay.

Wala pang isang minuto at may lalaki nang nagmamadaling bumaba sa hagdan. Habol hininga niyang pinuntahan si Castiel.

"I-I'm glad that....that you are here," sabi niya sa gitna ng paghahabol niya ng hininga.

"Cut the crap! Tell me what the hell is happening here? Bakit ang daming mga Doktor ang nagsisipuntahan dito?" Seryoso ngunit mababakas sa madilim niyang mukha ang pag-aalala. When it comes to his daughter, nalalabas lahat ng emosyong pinipilit niyang itago.

Hindi sumagot si Luis sa halip ay hinila niya ang kaibigan papunta sa silid na kung saan nandoon ang kaniyang anak. Hindi siya makapagsalita nang makita niya ang kalagayan ni Ericka. Nakahiga ito sa puting kama at sa tabi niya ay may machine na mino-monitor ang takbo ng kaniyang puso. May mga tubo ring nakakabit sa kaniya. Dahan-dahan niyang nilapitan ang anak. Malaki ang ipinayat nito kumpara noong huling dalaw niya. Maputla ang balat at may mga pasa rin ito sa buong katawan.

Castiel shot a sharp glance at him with the assumption that there must be some terrible act behind her bruises. "Are you digging your own grave? I shouldn't trusted you in the first place."

Kinwelyuhan niya si Luis at inambahan ito ng suntok. Unknown flames seemed to dance within his eyes the more he thought about it. His pupil were filled with fear and betrayal. He entrusted his daughter to his care at hindi niya aakaling mapupuno ang katawan nito ng mga pasa.

"Tell me!? Ano pa ang ginawa mo sa kaniya? You think you can get away from me?" galit niyang tanong sa kaibigan habang nasa ere pa rin ang nakakuyom nitong kamao na ano mang oras ay tatama ito sa mukha ni Luis. His expression didn't change at all. Not even a single trace of mercy had fallen over his face.

Luis couldn't hold himself back any longer and pushed Castiel away from him. "The h*ck, Castiel! Mag-isip ka nga!" he spoke one word at a time, emphasizing every word he spoke.

"You have to listen to me first before jumping into conclusions. 'Yan kasi ang napapala mo kapag hindi mo binibisita nang matagal ang anak mo," he added in a harsh tone.

Lumapit si Luis kay Ericka at hinaplos ang maamong mukha nito. Her face was paler than snow, as if someone drained all his blood. Her body was too thin and full of bruises.

After a moment of silence, Luis told him everything, "Ericka is sick. She has this rare condition where her body stops producing enough new blood cells. The condition leaves her fatigued and more prone to infections and uncontrolled bleeding. And...she's in a coma right now."

Luis glanced at Castiel, who stood beside him with a straight face. " I know you won't believe me, no matter what I say. Pero anak ko rin siya Castiel, sa akin siya lumaki. I didn't know that I am that sort of person to you after all the years we've been good friends? You really don't know me, do you?" 

He's been Ericka's godfather simula no'ng nawala sa sarili si Castiel dahil sa pagkawala ng asawa niya. Ilang taon din iyon at napamahal na sa kaniya ang inaanak niya at siya na rin ang kinikilalang ama ni Ericka.

Castiel responded in an indifferent tone, causing Luis to be annoyed at once. " Why didn't you tell me sooner about her condition? I am his father. I suppose to know everything that happened to her."

Hindi nakapagpigil si Lusi at hinila palabas ang kaibigan para doon mag-usap nang masinsinan.

"Castiel, I called you many times. Hindi ko magawang puntahan ka dahil hindi ko puwedeng iwanan ang inaanak ko and besides hindi ko alam kung saang lupalop ka ng mundo inilagay ng Diyos. You are so eager to find that piece of chip just to protect your throne and avenge her mother's death. Tapos ano? Anong mangyayari sa 'yo kapag nakuha mo na ang gusto mo? You will kill yourself? Iiwanan mo si Ericka sa akin? 'Yon naman talaga 'yong plano mo 'di ba, umpisa pa lang?" sumbat niya sa kaibigan na seryosong nakikinig sa kaniya. 

Hindi nakaimik si Castiel dahil lahat ng mga salitang lumalabas sa bibig ni Luis ay totoo. He decided to kill himself after he avenge his wife's death. 

Luis's expression changed. Naging maamo ang mukha nito. "Bro, I can't raise her alone. Hindi ko alam kung tama o mali ba ang maituturo ko sa kaniya dahil ibang buhay ang kinagisnan ko kung saan ang mali sa tingin ng ibang tao ay tama para sa akin," dagdag niya at tinuturo pa ang silid kung saan si Ericka.

"Now, she is in her room. Fighting for her life to survive, while her father is being a selfish dumbass who only cares about his own feelings." He keep his straight face as he said those hurtful words. He slowly shook his head at Castiel's selfishness bago padabog na bumaba ng hagdan at iniwan ang kaibigan na nandidilim ang mukha dahil din sa galit.

Ilang minuto pa ang pinalipas ni Castiel para pakalmahin ang sarili niya bago siya pumasok ulit sa kuwarto ng anak. He caress her chubby checks and kiss her forehead many times for no reason. Gusto niya lang iparamdam sa anak niya na nandito na siya sa tabi niya. Isang butil ng luha ang kumawala sa kaliwang mata niya habang nakatingin ito sa kaniyang anak. She exactly looks like her. Her soft hair, chubby checks and kissable lips.

He stared at her, memorizing every inch of her face. He choose to pushed her away than seeing her living with pain with him everyday.

"Mr. Engraver." Umayos siya ng tayo nang may pumasok sa silid. He glanced with the corner of his eyes and saw a figure of a man wearing a white coat and a stethoscope around his neck. Walang kaemo-emosyon niyang nilingon ito. 

"Can you spare me some time? I just wanted to discuss about her condition." Hindi niya sinagot ang Doctor sa halip ay umupo siya sa couch nang naka-dekwatro at hinintay ang sasabihin nito. Siya ang family doctor nila Luis at ang nag-alaga kay Ericka simula premature pa lang itong ipinangak, hanggang sa lumaki si Ericka nang masakitin.

Umupo ang doctor sa harap niya at nagsimulang magsalita, "She has a severe aplastic anemia and we can still save her if you are qualified to be her cell donor pero ngayon pa lang ay aaminin ko na sa 'yo na maliit lang ang chance na magka-match kayo ng cell. Mas madali sana nating gawin ang procedure kung may kapatid lang siya dahil doon ako sigurado na magiging match silang magkapatid. But If you are willing to have a test, then we can do it as soon as possible," mahabang litanya nito.

Castiel stared directly at him in silence, looking as cold as ever. The Doctor seemed to realized he was truly unable to expect what would come out of his mouth, despite of being an expert in reading someone's mind and behavior. However, the situation was already quite uncomfortable for him, but he still manage to hold his proffesionalism.

"Let's do it," malamig ngunit maawtoridad niyang sabi. Simula no'ng nagising siya mula sa pagka-comatose ay nakadikit na sa kan'ya ang responsonsibilidad na kailangan niyang gampanan, hindi lang bilang ama kung hindi bilang isang ina na rin ni Ericka.

Ericka is 34 weeks old premature baby when he woke up from coma and saw her inside the incubator, helpless. He suffered from emotionally and mentally breakdown when he realized that his wife was dead and already buried 2 months ago. His life was completely ruined and even took the wrong path to get what he think is right. He became what he is right now, Cold as ice and his heart is hard as a stone. But, despite of his personality, no one can change the fact that he is miserable every single day.

The Doctor responded after hearing those words, "Okay, Let's have a test tomorrow. Titingnan natin if you are qualify to be her cell donor. Please, meet me in my office."

"And what if he is not qualified?" tanong ni Luis na bigla-bigla na lang pumasok sa kuwarto at hindi tinapunan ng tingin ang kaibigan at dumeretso sa higaan ni Ericka. 

"Kung hindi sila magka-match..." He paused and looked at Castiel, "We need to find another donor pero napakaliit lang ng chance na makahanap tayo," he continued.

Luis looked at them and asked again, "At paano kapag hindi tayo makahanap?" 

Tumayo si Castiel at humarap sa salaming bintana at tinanaw ang harden ng bahay ni Luis na punong-puno ng iba't-ibang klaseng mga bulaklak na alam niyang ang kaniyang anak ang nagtanim nito dahil halos lahat ng mga bulaklak na nandoon ay paborito ni Ericka.

"IVF," simpleng sagot ni Castiel sa tanong ni Luis.

Luis looked at him with a puzzled look." W-what?"

Humarap si Castiel at tinapunan ang kaibigan ng malamig na tingin. 

"We need to do an In Vitro fetilization para mabigyan ng kapatid si Ericka," aniya. 

Castiel and his wife decided to hire a surrogate mother before para gawin ang IVF noong hirap na hirap pang magbuntis ang asawa niya. Pero hindi natuloy dahil dumating si Ericka, 1 week before the IVF. They preserve their sperm and egg cell, sakaling gustuhin nila ng isa pang anak or hindi na kayang magbuntis ng asawa niya.

Hearing this, The doctor stood up in surprise. "T-that's good to hear. Hindi na tayo mahihirapan kapag hindi kayo magka-match ni Ericka. We need to give her a sibling," masayang sabi ng doctor at napatayo pa ito sa kinauupuan niya.

Luis suddenly smirk, revealing his clean set of teeth. "A sibling? Really?" 

Castiel glared at him with a cold eyes that silently cursed him to death. "Do you have any suggestion, Luis Sagrado?" 

Luis shooked his head and replied in a tepid tone, "I am not against anything, as long as it will help Ericka I will go for it. But Castiel, I am against of you becoming a father again. You can't even take good care of Ericka, how much more sa darating mo pang anak?"

Castiel was too stunned to speak. Walang lumalabas na boses sa bibig niya kahit gusto niyang magsalita. Hindi niya alam kung paano sasagutin ang tanong ng kaibigan dahil kahit mismong sariling tanong niya ay hindi niya kayang sagutin. 

He become silent for a second, not knowing what to say. He never expected that the question hold so much power to keep him silent. After a while of a silence, Castiel responded, "Do you know what a good father is? It's not just about the presence of a father. It's not just about how we took good care of them or what we can give to them." He paused and turned around at them.

He later spoke in a low voice, "It's about how we can give them a better place for growing and to protect their innocent mind from the environment we used to lived in."