Chapter 5 - Hheven

ISANG matayog na watch tower ang pinagdalhan sa kanya ni Vhendice. Hindi sila dumaan sa hagdanan kundi sumakay sa vertical lift cable car. Halos malula siya sa sobrang taas. Kulang na lang ay bumaliktad ang sikmura niya. Pero sulit naman pagdating sa tuktok dahil sa makapigil- hiningang tanawin na natutunghayan niya. Buong siyudad ang natatanaw niya mula sa kanyang kinaroroonan.

"This is the Nephilim city. Sheltered by the five landmarks of the Nephilim organization. In the northern district: San Antonio Municipal, the town of the Reapers' Guild. Southern district: Sta. Rosa Channel, the town of the Guardian Square. Eastern District: Victoria's Garden, Infirmaria and in the western district: Melendres Hills, Intel Command tower. And there's the capital: Edena, where the Andromida Conglomerate main headquarters has been located. Heaven's Gate."

Napatingin siya sa lalaki. "So, this is what you've wanted to show me that's why you bring me here?" ungot niya rito.

Tumango si Vhendice. "Do you see that?" Itinuro nito ang nagtatayugang gusali sa pusod ng siyudad. "That's Edena."

"The Heaven's Gate you said."

"It is a fortress and the main headquarters of Andromida Conglomerate. You could say it's the place where the sovereign power of the Andromida has been situated and the sheltered throne of this kingdom."

"May paraan ba para makapasok tayo diyan?"

"Nothing unless the Chairman of Adromida Conglomerate and the Supreme Commander of Nephilims permitted it."

"Dalawang big boss ang kailangan nating lusutan?"

"No, just one. The Chairman of Andromida Conglomerate is the same person controlling the Nephilims. But it doesn't mean he is easy to deal with. In this place, he is a god. The one holding absolute power over the entire city. The future and everything in this place depends on him and his judgment. So, no one would dare to challenge him."

"Mamamatay pa rin siya tulad natin. Hindi ako natatakot sa kanya. Papasukin ko ang lugar na iyan kahit pwersahan pa," determinadong pahayag ni Safhire.

"Pwersahan? That's not possible."

"Gaano ba kahigpit ang bantay?"

"It is the physical structure of the place. I've told you it's a fortress. Double-gated and protected by high walls plus the alarm system and cameras."

"Ibig sabihin tanga lang ang maglalakas-loob na pumasok, lalo na kung sapilitan. "Sa tingin mo, nandiyan kaya si Haydees Andromida?" tanong niya.

"I don't know."

"Gusto ko siyang makita."

"Nakita mo na siya doon sa restaurant."

"His nose was the only thing visible to me at that moment. His whole feature was hidden under that weird outfit he wore. Hindi ko siya makikilala kung muling mag-krus ang landas namin sa lugar na ito."

"Magkita man kayo wala ka pa ring magagawa." Pangbubuska nito.

"Mayroon. Dalhin mo siya sa akin at makikita mo kung anong kaya kong gawin." Paghahamon niya.

Tinitigan siya ni Vhendice saka ito banayad na umiling. "Ang tapang mo, wala naman sa lugar. Hanggang saan kaya ang katapangan mong iyan oras na makaharap mo si Haydees Andromida?"

"Want to know? Then bring him to me."

"That's lame."

"Ikuha mo nga ako ng appointment sa city administrator?" 

"What for?"

"I need to talk to him. I'll ask him why the police forces of this place did not make any move to investigate about what happened to my fiancé."

"It's not as if they did not want to, they simply just can't. And you should know the reason why. Sa lugar na ito, ang tanging batas na umiiral ay ang batas ni Hheven."

"Hheven? Sino siya?"

"The ruler of this city." Pumihit si Vhendice at iniwan siya sa kanyang kinatatayuan.

Masusing pinagmamasdan niya ang buong siyudad. Nakikita niya ang mga landmarks na sinabi ng agent. The high-rise buildings situated in each cardinal point of the city. The City of Nephilims. A privately owned, fast-growing city officially developed and run by the Andromidas under the reign of Hheven. For someone like her who is a complete stranger, this city is a forbidden place to stay.

Bumuntong-hininga si Safhire. Kung kakalabanin niya si Haydees Andromida, tiyak hindi manonood lang si Hheven. Mukhang hindi agad niya matutupad ang pangako niya kay Ray na bibigyan ng hustisya ang pagkamatay nito. Those people she wanted to crash and take down are beyond ordinary.They ruled this place and controlled everything. Lahat ng naaabot ng kanyang paningin. Kulang na lang pati paghinga ng mga tao sa lugar na ito ay kontrolado din. A painful truth that she must learn to accept yet let alone won't be enough for her to back off now that she came this far. Hahanapin niya ang katarungan at uusigin ang maysala kahit pa hindi niya magiging kakampi ang batas sa lugar na ito.

"I won't lose to them, Ray. I won't," anas niya.

CHRYSANTHEMUM MANSION

SA malawak na airstrip lumapag ang helicopter na sinasakyan ni Ghaile. Pagkababa ay agad natanaw ng binata ang babaeng naghihintay at kumakaway sa kanya.

She is Florentyna Swemith. A Filipina cosmetic surgeon with Argentinian blood and his current girlfriend. Anak ng may-ari ng multi-million cosmetic companies all over Asia. Kamakailan lang ay nagbukas ito ng bagong branches sa Europe. Patok sa mga international celebrities at supermodels ang ini-introduce nitong natural cosmetics.

"Hi, honey!I missed you."Sabik na nangunyapit ang dalaga sa leeg ni Ghaile. "It's been a while," anito at siniil ng mapusok na halik ang mga labi ng lalaki.

Pareho silang naghabol ng hininga nang kumalas sa isa't isa.

"How'd you know I'm coming?" tanong niya. Hinapit sa baywang ang kasintahan at inakay sa direksiyon papuntang mansion.

"Rheeva told me. I thought you would go directly to the hospital. I've been there this morning,"malambing na pahayag ni Florentyna.

"I need to see the chairman, ASAP."

"I think he's not around yet."

"He's not around?" Umangat ang isang kilay ni Ghaile. Hindi pa niya binigyan ng permiso si Athrun na lumabas. Baka biglang bumigay ang resistensiya nito. Inalis ng doctor ang kamay sa baywang ni Florentyna at hinugot ang cellphone. Paulit-ulit na nagdayal. But the responses are all the same. Unattended.

"Ghaile..."

"Dammit! He must have left his phone on purpose."

"Honey..."

"He's isolating himself again somewhere."

Lumapit si Florentyna at banayad na hinaplos ang likod ng boyfriend. "Don't worry, he'll be fine."

Muling binalingan ni Ghaile ang cellphone. May hinanap sa phonebook. Nang makita ay agad tinawagan.

"Where's the chairman, Victor?" May bahid ng galit sa tinig ng binata.

"We're still looking for him, director," sagot mula sa kabilang linya na narinig pati ni Florentyna dahil naka-loud speaker ang cellphone.

"Dammit! I have told you never lose sight of him." Tuluyang humulagpos ang galit ni Ghaile na nagpasindak hindi lamang sa kausap niya kundi pati sa girlfriend niya. "Mobilize all your forces and find him at once. Don't you dare show your face to me without the chairman, am I clear?"

"Yes, director!"

Ibinaba ng binata ang cellphone at muling nagmura. "Shittt! Shitt!"

"Ghaile, calm down."

"Calm down?" Marahas na binalingan ng lalaki ang kasintahan. "Do you have any idea how serious the situation is? Athrun is not yet stable."

"B-but, I was just trying to-"

"Forget it," nabubugnot na pumihit ang doctor pabalik sa kinaroroonan ng helicopter. Humabol sa kanya si Florentyna.

"Where are you going?"

"I'll find the chairman. Stay here."

Walang nagawa ang dalaga kundi ang sumunod.

STA.ROSA CHANNEL

ATHRUN'S blue eyes traveled down the green meadow below. Inaantok na naman siya kahit ang haba ng tulog niya kanina doon sa burol. Pumihit ang binata at nagtungo sa kabilang dako ng pampang. Saglit siyang pumikit at pinakinggan ang mga alon na malayang humahampas sa mga malalaking bato sa ibaba. He smiled slightly and opened his eyes.

Akala niya wala na siyang pagkakataong makita ang mga tanawing matagal din niyang pinangungulilahan.

The art of silent nature. Mountains, rivers,hills,the open sky and the clouds. The seas...and...

"You," naaaliw na sinusundan niya ng tanaw ang mga ibong naghahabulan sa papawirin.

Ang bilis lumipas ng panahon. Ilang taon din na halos sa hospital na siya tumira. Bata pa lamang siya ay binubuno na niya ang karamdaman sa puso. Sa pera at kapangyarihan ng pamilya niya ay walang imposible. Plus the fact that he is the chairman of Andromida Conglomerate. Ang posisyong nagbigay sa kanya ng kapangyarihan at karapatang kontrolin hindi lamang ang isa sa pinakamalaking business empire sa buong mundo kundi pati ang kinabukasan ng kanyang angkan.

Kung mawawala siya, buong probinsya ay maglalaho din. Kaya ginagawa ng kanyang pamilya ang lahat mailigtas lamang siya sukdulang isakripisyo ng mga ito ang buhay ng iba. At wala siyang magawa para pigilan ang hindi patas na paraang iyon dahil sa mabigat na tungkuling nakaatang sa kanyang mga balikat. Mga responsibilidad na kapag hindi niya nagagampanan ng maayos ay maaaring ikasira hindi lamang ng iisa kundi ng libu-libung pamilya na umaasa sa kanya.

His father told him, being a ruler is a call. He cannot afford to be proud and greedy. The powers and the duties given to him by the people are curses that need an extra-ordinary will and determination. His wealth, his authority and he himself alone is enough to ruin the future. A master destined to be worship. For that, he is not allowed to show signs of limitation and weakness.

For the last twelve years of his sickly life, he craved for freedom. The kind that was enjoyed by ordinary people. He wanted everyone to see him not as the ruler but a typical young man with his own dreams to seize.

That woman who awaken him from slumber after showing him those fleeting dreams, she was the first person who saw and understood his needs. But then, she only stayed with him for a very short period of time. It's like giving him a dose of the sweetest honey that wasn't enough to cure the emptiness that he has been through for the past ages.

"Safhire Magdalene, I wonder where you are right now. If I'll fall asleep again would you come and wake me up? I want to hear your voice. I want to listen more of your stories. Someday, when I'll be free from this burden, I'll go find you. Definitely..."