CHAPTER 5: SAVED

I THOUGHT that dark tragedy would be the end, but it was just only the beginning, especially that there was a miracle that someone saved me. After weeks of being comatose, I met my savior who I really owe my life to her and also my baby’s life too. Her name was Doña McKenna Hermosa-Accardi, a Zillionaire. She made sure that I had the best professional doctors and nurses to help me recover easily from the Hit and Run Accident and after my Cesarean Operation. They even gave me a dosage of a special drug from a Veneto Clan made by Madam Yeye to make me fully healed. 

Also, I couldn’t help but to be emotional as I carried for the first time my baby boy that I named Deus Paulo who was very healthy and strong amidst of the dark tragedy that happened to us. He was really a strong little fighter for not leaving me behind, which I was really grateful for. Even though he had Down Syndrome, he was still perfect in my eyes, and the love of my life.

Doña McKenna Hermosa-Accardi was an epitome of timeless beauty. Her gray hair was being perfectly styled in a side bob hair which was really appropriate with her fierce aura. She loved to wear flowy dresses above the knee with a luxurious scarf on her neck that paired with ankle boots. Her accessories were mostly fancy hoop earrings and shades while her lips should be colored in red.

Sobrang mabait at hindi matapobre si Doña McKenna. Kahit kailan ay hindi ko siya nakitang nandiri o nagalit sa special condition ng aking anak. Mahal na mahal niya si Deus Paulo. Sa maiksing oras ay nagkagaanan kami ng loob. Sinabihan din niya ako na sabik na sabik siyang magkaro’n ng apo sa tuhod. Ngunit hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin siya nabibigyan ng kaniyang nag-iisa at pinakamamahal na apo. 

Gusto ko nang bumalik at kumustahin sina Auntie Sabel at ang aking mga pinsan. Kinapalan ko na lang ang aking mukha na humingi ulit ng tulong kay Doña McKenna. Agad naman niya akong tinulungan ngunit tila isang bomba na sumabog nang malakas na niyanig ang aking buong pagkatao.

Auntie Sabel and my cousins were being brutally massacred inside the house where we moved. I trembled and cried in agony and pain. I had a huge doubt that the Canlas were behind of this, especially that they were the only ones who had the grudge to kill me.

‘Mga demonyo ang mga Canlas. Wala silang mga kaluluwa dahil idinamay talaga nila ang mga walang kamuwang-muwang kong pamilya sa kasamaan nila. Hindi ko matanggap ang brutal na pagkamatay ng aking natitirang pamilya na nagmamahal sa akin. Hindi nila deserved na mamatay nang maaga at sobrang tindi rin ng kanilang paghihirap bago sila namatay.’

Masyado pang bata ang aking mga pinsan na maraming pangarap sa buhay ngunit natuldukan agad iyon nang gano’ng kadali. Sobrang nanghihina at nanghihinayang ako na ipinagdamot sa kanila iyon. Naalala ko na gusto nilang makapagtapos at makapagtrabaho nang maayos para bigyan nang maayos na buhay si Auntie Sabel. Ngunit sa isang iglap ay ang mga pangarap na iyon ay naging isang magandang alaala na lang.

I grieved while having depression. But still, Doña McKenna didn’t leave my side. She was my crying shoulder and the one who helped me to rise from the ashes and avenge. I promised to myself that no matter what happens, I would be stronger, and make the people who made my life miserable to face their worst downfall.

Kung wala sina Doña McKenna at Deus Paulo ay paniguradong nawalan na ng direksyon ang aking buhay at baka nag-suicide ako nang dahil sa sobrang kalungkutan. Mabuti na lang at kasama ko sila at binibigyan ako ng lakas ng loob para patuloy na lumaban sa buhay.

While being under the roof of Doña McKenna, I met her one and only beloved grandson who was Mafia Lord McKenzie Accardi of Castello di Accardi. It was one of the powerful Mafia Clan in the boundaries of Italy. He was indeed a Demigod with a ruthless and dark aura which made him powerful. He was the one who would also help me to be the better version of myself, and became dauntless.

“Sasa, you should take a rest for the meantime,” McKenzie uttered huskily which made me return to reality as I reminisced about what happened for the past five years. He was now holding the punching bag to stay in its position before he went to the side where the fridge was to get some water.

He combed his dark brown curly hair with his fingers. He looked rugged and handsome with his white sando which perfectly fit with his muscular built, and it was being paired with his jogger pants and a luxurious brand of sport shoes that was personally customized for him. 

I could even see his huge wing tattoo from his shoulder and collarbones on both sides with an emblem of Accardi in the middle of his muscular chest underneath his white sando. His tousled dark brown curly hair with blonde streaks. He had a pair of deep-set cerulean blue eyes, aristocratic nose and thin lips that was well-appropriate to his diamond-shaped face, and his angular jaw had a five o’ clock shadow. His physique was big and muscular and so was his height. His aura screamed in power, authority and oozing sex appeal.

‘Looks could really be deceiving. Kung sino pa ang mukhang nakakatakot at masungit ay mayro’ng kabutihan sa loob. Habang ang mga nagbabait-baitan at hindi makabasag pinggan ay mayro’n pa lang itinatagong baho ng kasamaan sa pagkatao.’

Habol ko ang aking hininga habang pinagpapawisan na nakatitig sa kaniya. Nakasuot ako ng sports bra at fitted shorts habang mayro’ng knuckle at foot wraps din ako para makaiwas sa injury sa aking training. Katatapos lang naming dalawa na mag-sparring ng ilang rounds ng Kickboxing at Muay Thai. Inikot niya ang takip at agad niyang inabot sa akin ang isang bote ng tubig. 

“Thank you, Zie.” usal ko at uminom ng tubig mula sa ibinigay niyang bote. Pinunasan din niya ang aking pawis gamit ang hawak na towel. Hindi ko tuloy napigilang ngumiti. Inayos din niya ang mga nalaglag na mga strands ng aking kulay light brown na buhok na pina-dye ko noon sa likod ng aking tainga.

‘Who would have thought that my personal training coach in self-defense was a Mafia Lord? Na pagkatapos akong pahirapan sa training ay pupunasan din niya ang aking pawis.’

As time went by, a lot of changes happened to me. I continue and finish my studies, and I also improved myself in defense with the supervision of the only one Mafia Lord McKenzie Accardi. At first, it was really difficult for me and painful. But if there was no pain, I wouldn’t gain. I’m really grateful for his patience to teach me.

Mukha lamang siyang masungit at istrikto pero mabait siya. Sobrang hangang-hanga rin ako sa kaniyang angking galing. 

Now, I know how to do combat sports such as Judo, Kickboxing and Muay Thai. Also, I began to love guns, especially that I’m now a professional shooter. He really gave me a lot of hope and courage that I would taste my triumph in my plan to get vengeance to the Canlas.

Masasabi ko na sobrang laki ng aking pinagbago nang mapunta ako sa kalinga ng mga Accardi. Tinanggap nila kaming dalawa ni Deus Paulo nang buong-buo. Ni-hindi nila ipinaramdam sa amin na hindi kami kabilang sa kanilang pamilya.

“Ano ang iniisip mo kanina? You were spacing out a while ago,” he asked curiously.

“Hmm. . . I just reminisced about what happened from the past. At masasabi kong malaki ang aking pagbabago. Ppaniguradong magugulat ang mga Canlas sa aking muling pagbabalik dahil bibigyan ko sila ng isang munting sorpresa at iyon ang kanilang pagkabasak,” sagot ko.

He just smiled at me which made him look dashing. “Well. . . You really do improve a lot, and I’m really proud of you, Sasa. I bet those f*ckers would be definitely dumbfounded, because you were still alive from death, and rise from the ashes to avenge.”

It definitely motivated me more, especially that I was even praised by a Mafia Lord like him. I was like being hypnotized by his cerulean blue eyes, and I slowly saw him move closer to me which made my heart leap fast. 

“Eri davvero un angelo vivente, Amore Mio. E lo adoro davvero ogni volta che eri con me,” he uttered huskily.

My face flushed, because of that. I really love it whenever I’m with him too. I could understand what he said, especially that I also took Italian Language Class with my private female tutor.   

But we were being interrupted by a loud knock from the door of the Training Room, and a cute little voice was being heard after that. “Eyow? Tok-tok po, here na po si Dut-dut, Mama at Papa! Eyow? Eyow? Mama! Papa!”

I immediately moved away from him to head towards the doorknob of the Training Room to open it revealing Deus Paulo who was pouting his lips adorably while hugging his favorite stuffed toy which was a Shark. My baby boy was really precious amidst his special condition. I accept him wholeheartedly, and love him unconditionally. 

‘A baby that had Down Syndrome shouldn’t be neglected, rejected, and treated inhumanely. We should be aware that a baby that had Down Syndrome needed a special care and love, especially that it was a special gift from God.’

Kinarga ko si Deus Paulo habang nakangiti. Agad naman siyang yumakap nang mahigpit sa akin. Ayaw na ayaw niya kasi na naghihintay siya kahit na kadarating lang niya. 

“Naku! Bakit naman nakabusangot ang baby kong mahal? Tapos mo na bang kainin ang snacks mo?” malambing kong tanong.

“Opo, done na po si Dut-dut mag-eat, Mama. Gusto na po ni Dut-dut mag-dance at mag-puwey,” sagot ni Deus Paulo. 

Sobrang laki ng aking pasasalamat dahil nagkaro’n ng magandang buhay si Deus Paulo sa puder ng Accardi. Sobrang spoiled at kinagigiliwan siya nina Doña McKenna at McKenzie. Mahal na mahal nila ang aking anak kahit hindi naman nila kami kadugo. Ngunit no’ng one year old si Deus Paulo ay na-diagnosed din siyang mayro’ng Autism Spectrum Disorder lalo na’t nakitaan ko siya ng mga iba’t-ibang sintomas. Mabuti na lang at naagapan at napatignan siya sa isang Pediatric Psychologist na isa sa mga tauhan ng Accardi kaya’t kampante ako. 

Kumpleto si Deus Paulo ng mga vitamins at therapies. Mayro’n siyang personal speech and psychomotor SPED teacher na pumupunta rito sa Casa Accardi tuwing umaga. Gusto ko rin kasi na marami siyang matutunan at maging busy din. Masaya ako na nag-e-enjoy siya at malaki rin ang mga progress na nakikita namin sa kaniya. 

“Hello, Champ!” masayang bulalas ni McKenzie na hindi ko namalayan na nasa tabi ko na pala. 

Humagikhik naman si Deus Paulo nang dahil do’n. “Papa! Papa! Papa! Carry mo po si Dut-dut!”

McKenzie chuckled, and I let him carry my baby who was really giddy which made his fingers even touch my side boobs accidentally. His eyes widened, and I couldn’t help but to look away as I bit my lip.

“Papa, sabi po ni Teacher Mafie very good po si Dut-dut. Kasi ni-sing po si Dut-dut ng aypabet tapos ni-biyang, ni-suyat at ni-cowor. Dami pong ni-gawa ni Dut-dut kaya’t daming stars!” bibong pagbibida ni Deus Paulo at ipinakita ang likod ng kamay na mayro’ng tatlong colorful stars. 

I smiled proudly at my baby. Time flew really fast, he really improved so much, and I’m also delighted that he enjoyed learning new things. 

“Wow! That’s my champ!” McKenzie exclaimed proudly as he smiled affectionately to my baby which made my heart flutter fast. “Papa was really proud of you no matter what happened. Alam ba ni Lola na very good ka at mayro’ng mga stars?”

Ngumuso naman si Deus Paulo. “No, hindi pa po ni-sabi ni Dut-dut ito kay Wowa na very good at maraming stars si Dut-dut. Kasi gusto po ni Dut-dut ni-sabi muna kina Mama at Papa.”

McKenzie and I laughed out loud, because of that.

Gusto kasi ni Doña McKenna na siya muna ang pinapakitaan ng mga stars at kinukuwentuhan ni Deus Paulo habang nakaupo sa rocking chair at kandong-kandong ang aking anak na laging nakayakap at hinahalik-halikan ang kaniyang pisngi. Kaya naman laging nag-aasaran ang mag-lola na sina Doña McKenna at McKenzie sa atensyon ni Deus Paulo.

‘Sino ba naman ang hindi mapapamahal kay Deus Paulo? Sobrang sweet at clingy ng aking anak kapag hindi tinotopak. Medyo madaldal siya kahit bulol at sobrang bibo. He was the ball of joy, stress reliever and star here in the Casa Accardi.’

“Anyways, what prize do you want to have from Papa, Champ?” tanong ni McKenzie.

Deus Paulo’s eyes twinkled in delight, and I’m also excited to know what my baby wanted too.  

“Hmm. . . Ang want po ni Dut-dut na i-give ni Papa ay baby buwader at sistew. Puwis. . . Gusto po ni Dut-dut na mayro’ng kapatid, Mama at Papa.”

McKenzie chuckled. “Sure, Champ. Just tell it to your Mama, because Papa would definitely grant your wishes anytime.”

My eyes widened as my face flushed and my heart leaped fast with that.

‘Ni-hindi pa nga niya ako nililigawan pero gusto na niya akong anakan. Ibang klase talaga itong Mafia Lord na ito.’