4: Family Protector

CHAPTER FOUR

"Your Sister is in the rooftop. She is safe now." Sabi ko dun sa kuya ng babaeng niligtas ko.

Tumango lang sya bilang tugon, hindi parin nawawala sa mukha nya ang pagkagulat dahil sa mabilis na pangyayari. Pero maya-maya lang ay umakyat ito sa building para siguro puntahan ang kanyang kapatid.

Sinundan ko agad ito, pero hindi ako dumaan dun sa hagdanan, umakyat lang ako sa building tulad nung ginawa ko kanina.

Isang minuto lang ang nakalipas ay narating ko agad ang rooftop, at hindi ko inaasahang nandun parin ang babae. Nakaupo ito sa gilid na animoy takot na pusa.

Nakita kong nakatali ang mga kamay at paa ng mga lalaking pinatulog ko kanina. Pagkaraan ang ilang minuto ay nakaakyat narin ang kapatid nung babae.

"O-oh, how come you're already here?" Gulat na namang tanong nito nang makita akong nandito na sa rooftop.

"A-Abi!" Sigaw nung kapatid ng babaeng niligtas ko nang makita niya ang kapatid na naka-upo sa gilid. Patakbo niya itong tinungo at niyakap.

"K-Kuya." Paiyak na sabi ng babae sabay yakap din sa kapatid.

"Thanks God you're safe." Sabi ng lalaki. "Did they hurt you?" Tanong nito sa kapatid sabay tingin sa kabuoan nito.

"They're not able to hurt me because of him. He saved me." Tugon naman ng babae sabay turo sa akin. I can see a trace of gratitude in her teary, beautiful eyes.

"May I know your name young man?" Tanong sa akin ng lalaki maya-maya lang.

"I'm Gale Rushton." Pasimpleng tugon ko.

"I'm Heath Smith. Master Gale, I would like to thank you for what you did to us today. First you saved my sister from those bastards and then you saved me from their gang boss." Sabi ni Heath sabay lapit sa akin at hinawakan ang aking kamay.

"It's okey, Mister Smith. Nakita ko lang kaninang pilit nilang pinasakay ang kapatid mo sa kanilang sasakyan kaya sinundan ko sila. Buti nalang at nailigtas ko sya agad bago pa sya gawan ng masama ng mga yun." Tugon ko kay Heath. "And also don't call me Master. Gale nalang."

"You seemed to be an expert with great unbelievable abilities. You singlehandedly defeated those ruffians with your bare hands. Your skills are superb, Master. You deserve to be called one." Puri nito sa akin.

"I'm not an expert, Mister Smith. Isa lang akong mahirap na estudyante ng Lexington Academy." Sabi ko naman. " So, I insist, please just call me Gale." Giit ko pa.

"If you insist. So, Gale. Is there anyway you want so that we can thank you?" Nag-aalinlangang tanong nito sa akin.

"I guess, I really have a favor to ask you." Nahihiyang sabi ko.

"Please name it." Parang lumiwanag naman ang mga mata ni Heath nang marinig ang sinabi ko.

"Siguro kilala nyo ang mga Lopez dito sa Syudad ng Santa Mesa. They did something horrible to me kanina at pinahuli pa nila ako sa mga pulis. Tumakas ako mula sa detention cell ng Santa Mesa Police Station, I tried to go away from the Police Station as far as I can, that's when I saw your sister being kidnapped." Sabi ko sa kanya. "I would like to ask if you can clear my name and dismiss me from any case they filed against me." Patuloy ko pa. "And please, hide my identity to anyone."

"When did the Lopez family got some guts, they dare to offend an expert like you?" Parang puzzled na tugon ni Heath. "But Gale, consider your request done." Sabi niya sa akin sabay tawag dun sa lalaking kasama nya kanina. "Dom, call Eric to do whatever he can to clear our benefactor's name, and tell him to silence the media about any news that will show his name." Sabi nito. "And don't forget to teach the Lopezes a lesson for offending Mister Rushton."

"Yes Sir." Tugon naman ni Dom sabay kuha ng cellphone nito at tinawagan ang taong sinabi ni Heath.

"Thank you for the favor, Mister Smith." Pormal kong sabi sa kanya sabay yuko. Nawala na yung alinlangan ko tungkol sa ginawa kong pagtakas sa detention cell.

"Please, no, Gale. Don't thank us. We only do a very small thing compared to what you did to us." Sabi nito tapos halos lumuhod na sa harapan ko.

With what I saw, I can now say that not all rich people are rude. Look at this rich man in front of me, he looks like ready for anything that I'll tell him to do, even if it is to worship me. Siguro, may mga mayayaman lang talagang walang puso. At napakamalas ko lang na ganung klaseng mga tao ang nakilala ko.

"G-Gale. Please accept this. This is the only thing that I can give to you as token of gratitude." Sabi naman nung kapatid ni Heath na hindi ko pa alam ang pangalan hanggang ngayon.

Ah right, her name is Abi. Ito ang narinig ko kaninang tawag sa kanya ni Heath.

Abi is handing me a black card while bending her body in an almost 90 degree angle.

That angle was awkward because I can see a glimpse of her beautiful, big breast. I used the word glimpse, because what I saw was just like a tip of beautiful iceberg.

"Please accept it Gale."

Seeing me very reluctant to accept the black card, Heath copied his sister and asked me to accept the card. Judging from his tone, he seems like begging me to accept it. Even Dom, who's still busy talking to someone, followed them and bend his body in front of me.

Unable to withstand this very awkward situation, I hurriedly accepted the card.

"Can you tell me what is this for?" I ask while looking at the luxurious design of the card.

"It's a special card you can use to buy anything that you want as long as it won't go beyond its One Hundred Million Pesos (100,000,000.00) threshold." Heath calmly explained.

"W-what?!!" Gulat na gulat na sabi ko sabay sauli ng card sa kamay ni Abi. "I can't accept that card." Tarantang sabi ko.

"Please, Gale. I won't be able to sleep if you don't accept this." Mangiyak-iyak na sabi ni Abi sa akin nang isinuli ko ang card sa kanya.

"But I don't know what to do with this." I said honestly. "I am just a poor guy, who haven't even held a money as large as Ten Thousand Pesos. This card it too much for me." I continued.

"You deserve more than this, Gale." Tugon naman ni Heath.

"Please accept it." Giit naman ni Abi.

"O-okey, sabi nyo, eh." Sabi ko nalang sabay abot dun sa card. Nang mahawakan ko ulit ito ay nanginginig ang akin kamay.

With this card, I can now buy a whole fried chicken for my dinner right? I can also buy a pair of decent clothes and shoes. I can finally buy an android phone.

Whoa! This card is great!

With this card, there's no need for me to pick some garbage and trash in order to pay my tuition fee. I won't be humiliated just to earn a Hundred Pesos anymore.

I won't be suffering from the fate that I've been suffering since I was just a child. I won't be ridiculed for being poor, for wearing my favorite shirts four times a week.

Unknowingly, while these thoughts were running in my mind, several tears have already been falling from my eyes.

"Gale, are you alright?" I heard Abi and Heath asked me.

"Yes. I'm alright." Sabi ko sabay tingin sa kanilang dalawa. "Thank you for giving me this card. I swear in the name of my ancestors, that I Gale Rushton, will protect you both with all my strength from any dangers that will come to you." I said firmly.

Those words serves as thurder to them, dahil parang nabigla sila sa sinabi ko.

"This.. This is too much, Gale." Sabi ni Heath habang napatayo ng tuwid at dilat na dilat ang mga matang nakatingin sa akin. Habang nakaawang lang ang mga magagandang labi ni Abi, gulat na gulat din sa narinig.

****

"So, why are those scums after you?" Tanong ko kay Heath.

Kaharap ko ngayon silang dalawa ng kapatid nyang si Abigail Smith.

Pagkatapos kasi ng insedente kanina, sinama nila ako sa kanilang Villa dito sa Warmer Plains. Yes, nakatira sila sa Warmer Plains na mga multi-millionaires lang ang nakaka-afford. Thus, I can already conclude that this Smith siblings are super-rich.

They treated me as their honorable guest in their luxurious Villa. They served me with luxurious and delicious foods na ngayon ko lang nakain at binigyan nila ako ng damit na hindi ko kayang bilhin kahit na isang taon pa akong magta-trabaho.

"That guy earlier was Chad Taylor, he is a Mafia Boss in this Region." He's been pressuring us eversince I assumed as the CEO of Welmart's Group." Kaswal na tugon ni Heath sa akin.

But the moment I heard the word "Welmart's Group" my jaw automatically dropped. Sino ba namang hindi magugulat dun, eh ang Welmart's Group lang naman ang pinakamalaking kompanya dito sa Santa Mesa. They owned thousand of hectares of Banana and Pineapple Plantations. They're engaging in international business. And they also owned many Supermarkets and Malls around all over the country. I heard that the Company's Assets are several Billions of Dollars worth, note it's in DOLLARS.

"Basically, our family is the majority shareholder of Welmart's Group, thus we hold the majority voting shares of the company." Ignoring my reaction, Heath continued. "After the death of our father, several entities who tried to buy some of our shares emerged. Pero hindi ko binenta sa kanila ang shares namin. Kaya they decided to pressure me, kasi nga bata pa ako compared sa mga principal shareholders ng company. And that Chad, is only one of the few who tried force us to sell our shares to them." Sabi niya.

Now I finally understood the real issue.

However, something is strange. The Smiths are very rich. But they can't hire a security group to handle this kind of affairs?

"Maybe you're wondering why, with our capacity, we didn't hire a group of experts as our security." Sabi ni Heath as if nababasa ang nasa aking isip sa mga oras na ito.

"I guess, that's a private matter that I don't need to cross, Mister Smith." Sabi ko naman.

"It's okey, Gale. But to tell you the truth we have several experts as our security. Pero hindi namin sila pwedeng gamitin kanina dahil sinabi ni Chad na papatayin nila si Abi the moment na may makikita silang ibang kasama ko, maliban kay Dom, na pupunta dun sa lugar na sinabi nila." Sabi nya naman. "I admire our security group, but I was astounded the moment I saw your skills. They're at the lowest level when compared to you Gale."

"But I didn't see any security, maliban dun sa dalawang security guard ng main gate ninyo." I asked, ignoring his remarks.

"Well, it was taught to us by our parents to keep a low profile as long as we can in order to avoid trouble. If we'll go somewhere with our security group, then we would be getting a lot of attention, which would include the evil ones. But if we'll blend with the crowd, then nobody would think that we came from the rich family." Kaswal na tugon nya.

Ahh so, they believed in less publicity less trouble. They're the low-key type though they're super rich. But I can still feel like there is something with this Smiths, and I can't point it out yet.

Though unsatisfied with his answers, tumango nalang ako.

"That's why, I'll ask you a favor to keep a low profile while guarding us, especially my sister. Hindi ko gustong mapahamak sya, but I also don't want to imprison her in the messy business world. I wanted to at least let her enjoy her youth before giving her the tasks that are meant for her." Sabi nito sa akin.

"Understood." I obediently nodded.

"Flash report! A shooting incident just happened just now. According to the eye witness of the crime, two men riding in a motorcycle suddenly stopped in front of the victim and shoot him ten times. The victim was brought to the nearest hospital, but was declared dead on arrival. The victim was identified as Randolf Nuñez, a known critic of Bran Davis, son of the current City Mayor. More details of this news will follow."

Napatingin ako sa TV nang marinig ang balitang yun.

Bran Davis was the eldest son of the current City Mayor of Santa Mesa. He's been rumored a drug lord in this City, pero hindi sya mahuli dahil nga walang matibay na ebidensyang magpapatunay na chismis na yun. And this Randolf Nuñez was his top critic, who kept on digging about Bran's involvements on drug related activities. Recently, he announced that they already have an evidence and was planning to forward it to the PDEA. And now, he's been killed.

I guess this Bran really is a drug lord.

"This is a second murder that involves Bran's critics. The Davis are really bold on taking actions to silence their critics." Heath commented on the news.

"I guess those allegations against their family is really true. That's why they killed anyone who dares to dig about that issue." Sabi ko naman.

"Well, they have power. And that makes them do these bold moves." Tugon naman ni Heath.

Samantalang si Abigail ay tahimik lang na nakikinig sa amin.

"You're right, Mister Smith." Sabi ko naman. "And because of this, I guess no one would take action against them in the future."

"Bakit hindi sila pwedeng hulihin ng mga pulis gayong halatang-halata namang sila ang may kagagawan ng pagpatay na yan." Naguguluhang tanong ni Abi sa amin.

"It is because they have resources and connections. Walang magagawa ang mga pulis dito sa baba kung ang mga matataas na opisyal ang protector ng mga yan. They won't risk their life and job for going against these men just to uphold justice." Kaswal na tugon ni Heath. "And given the fact na may dalawa nang namatay dahil sa pag-iimbistiga kay Bran, our police won't dare to cross the line drawn by the Davises. That is how they controlled the current situation, now."

"Just like us. Look at Gale, he escaped from prison. That would make his case become heavier. But because we have connections, they didn't take action on that matter. Even the media was silenced. That's how powerful money works." Dagdag pa nito.

Nag-init naman ang aking mga pisngi dahil sa narinig. May pagka tactless din tong Heath na to, eh. But what he've just said was true, kaya I have no right to get offended.

At saka kay Bran Davis naman nakatuon ang aking pansin. This guy is so bold, he has no regard in human life. Kailangan syang maturuan ng leksyon.

Kinuyom ko ang aking kamao at tiningnan ito. I am fully aware that I have an unknown ability now. An ability that surpasses that of the skilled men. Maybe I can use it to teach Bran a lesson?