Chapter 47Her GriefFLASHBACK“Dad?” mahina kong bulong nang mabasa sa lapida ang pangalan ni Daddy.Ricardo A. Crisostomo1960 - 2015 My knees weakened. Bumigay ang mga tuhod ko. I covered my mouth with my hands as I saw another tomb beside my father’s.“M-Mommy...” halos wala nang lumabas na boses sa akin.Ariana Lopez — Crisostomo1963 - 2015I sobbed hard the moment I realized it. Hindi ako makapaniwala. Pabalik-balik ang tingin ko sa mga puntod habang nasa gitna ako niyon. It was a vacant land area with bright green grasses.Ganito ang... Dito ang... gusto nilang paglibingan sa kanila.“Oh my God!” impit na sigaw ko. “Mommy! Daddy...” Naaalarma kong hinaplos ang mga puntod. My chest tightened more. Halos makulong ang mga hikbi ko dahil sa bikig sa aking lalamunan. Halos hindi na rin ako makaiyak nang maayos.I felt my sister behind me. Hinawakan niya ako sa balikat. I cried harder as it repeatedly echoed in my head.Wala na ang mga magulang ko.They’re gone. They’re dead.Pina
Chapter 48Her GainNapapikit ako nang dumaan ang alaalang iyon sa akin. I wore my ear muffs and my tactical glasses. On the table in front of me were the different types of guns that I specifically like. From revolvers, pistols, and other handguns to rifles and shotguns. I picked up a semi-automatic pistol and loaded its magazine with ammunition. Kinasa ko ang baril na hawak habang sine-sentro ang tingin sa target. I narrowed my eyes for better vision. Without further ado, I fired my shots continuously. Tanging putok lang ng baril ang maririnig sa paligid. When I was satisfied, I removed my ear muffs and my glasses. I picked up my binoculars. Sinilip ko roon kung naging accurate ba ang pagtama ko ng mga bala.A smirk made its way to my lips when I saw that one, single dot in the center. I guess, I’m really just a sharp shooter now, huh? Inangat ko ang baril at umuusok pa ang dulo niyon. I smirked while looking at the gun’s mouth. Sino kaya ang masuwerteng tatamaan ng bala nito?It
Chapter 49Her ChildI carefully placed the basket of flowers on top of their graves.Nagsindi ako ng dalawang magkahiwalay na kandila. I put one on each of the tomb. I removed my dark colored sunglasses. Nag-squat ako sa harapan ng mga puntod. I read each of their names. My face darkened.I caressed the names of the people I love. A bitter smile crept on my lips. “Your death won’t be the end of this. I promised you that I will do everything to avenge you. And in no time... I’ll get back at them.”I expcted to myself to cry in front of them, but I didn’t. Hinaplos ko ang aking tiyan. I closed my eyes as I remembered how exactly I’ve got to this point. How I became the strong and powerful Andrea Steinfields.FLASHBACKWhen I found out that I lost my baby, it was as if my world had met its end. I wasn’t able to eat, take a bath, nor lift myself from the bed for what it seem like days already. Para akong patay na humihinga lang para masabing buhay. As days went by, I came to underst
Chapter 50Her MotivationFLASHBACKMaagap akong napamulat nang makarinig ako ng putok ng baril. My hand that held the gun weakened and shook. Nabitiwan ko ang baril. Slowly, I looked at Ivan in front of me.He’s... unconscious and bloody. Nakahiga siya sa semento habang naliligo sa sarili niyang dugo.Napatakip ako sa bibig ko. Imposible...My gun didn’t fire a shot! I pulled the trigger but no bullet came out! Taranta akong napabaling sa likod ko.Then I saw my brother smirking while holding his gun. Suminghap ako nang mapagtanto ang lahat.He... He shot him! Siya ang bumaril kay Ivan!Hindi ako makapagsalita. Lalo pa nang sumunod niyang itutok sa ‘kin ang baril. “Hah! Feels good!” he said while smirking.Nagsimula siyang humakbang palapit kaya napaatras ako. My eyes hurt because of the tears. Awang ang labi ko habang nakatingin sa kaniya.Hindi ako makapaniwala. Did he... plan this? At nagpauto ako sa kaniya?“It’s your turn, Rigella. Do you really think that I want your forgive
Chapter 51Her Revenge“Momma, is it his birthday today?” my adorable and sweet daughter Iscelle Rayne asked me.Kakababa ko lang ng pinggan ng niluto kong spaghetti. Nasa gitna ng lamesa ang cake at halos mapuno ang kalahati ng long table ng mga pagkain.I felt the pang in my chest. Pilit akong ngumiti sa anak ko. I cupped her cheek.“Yes, baby. It’s your brother’s birthday today,” I tried my best to hide the sadness in my voice.“I gave him a robot toy as a gift, Momma,” sinabi naman ni Rayven Isaac na nakaupo sa tabi ng kaniyang kakambal.I felt my sadness creeping in again. My heart would still ache profusely each time I would be reminded of my other son. Ice.But even if he’s not with us today, we still celebrate his birthdays consistently. Hindi lilipas ang mga taon o mga araw na hindi ko naiisip ang panganay kong anak.“Momma?” Rayne asked and I felt her hand on mine.“Yes, baby?” I squatted in front of her.Marahan niya akong hinalikan sa aking noo. Uminit ang aking puso. I s
Chapter 52His Shackles“Izen,” I called my son after knocking a few times.No one answered.I drew a deep breath and twisted the doorknob. Then I saw him in his study table. The lights of his room were dimmed and his table lamp lit the pile of papers, notebooks, and books on his desk.I leaned against the doorway and watched him wrote on his notebook while there was a powerpoint presentation on his laptop.“Son,” I called him again, “dinner is ready.”He didn’t speak at first. He only jotted down his notes again.“I’m full,” he answered like the usual.It’s always been his response. Like he already choreographed the way he would answer my statements and questions.I sighed again. “It’s your birthday, Izen Cedric.”That’s when he stopped his movements. He turned around while still seated on his swivel chair. His thick-rimmed glasses still showed his dead eyes that I just got used to seeing.“So what?” he asked in a monotone.Napaayos ako ng tayo. I shut my eyes close. Nagmulat ako at
Chapter 53Her Aces“Bakit hindi ka pa kumikilos?”Danger puffed from his cigarette beside me. Niyakap ko ang sarili ko dahil sa lamig na dala ng malakas na hangin.I happened to visit my organization’s hide-out in the Philippines. Binilin ko muna kay Roxanne ang kambal. Pinaalam ko na lang na may kailangan akong gawing trabaho at naintindihan naman nila.Ayoko sanang nahihiwalay ako kina Rayne at Rayven, pero kailangan.“Why are you so excited?” tanong ko at ngumisi.Binalingan ko siya. His face was serious and dark. Napailing ako nang muli siyang humithit sa kaniyang sigarilyo.“You’ll die early with what you’re doing,” iling ko.Matunog siyang ngumisi. “Not until I had avenged my brother against that fucking Dark Alpha.”Napahinga ako nang malalim. I don’t exactly know what Danger wants out of our plan, but I just know that his hatred for the people who killed his brother fuels his desire to destroy and eliminate them.“It’s a pity that Ate Rina died before we even got our hands on
Chapter 54His Seat“Dos, can you calm this asshole?” iritadong saad ni Cuatro matapos maupo sa kaniyang upuan. I also settled in my seat, wearing my mask of indifference. Nakaupo na rin si Tres sa gitna namin. He’s massaging the bridge of his nose as if something’s pestering his mind.The oval meeting table was still unoccupied by the other members of Dark Alpha. Nauna kaming dumating at malalamang na namahuhuli si Uno dahil gusto niya na namang magpapansin sa lahat.“What’s wrong?” I asked in a serious voice.Cuatro hissed. “Sagutin mo, gago!” He punched Tres’ arm. Hindi naman natinag si Xyleus. His face was serious and his brows were furrowed tight.“Cuatro,” I called Creed, “what the hell is wrong with him?”Pumalatak siya. “Tangina talaga neto ni Tres. Kinakausap ka, eh!” My jaw clenched. Nang makita niyang dumidilim na ang ekspresyon ko ay napangiwi siya.“Para kayong gago, eh. ‘Wag n’yo na nga akong idamay sa mga katarantaduhan niyo. Namumuro na kayo, ah!”“What... the fuck.