SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL (COMPLETED)

CHAPTER ONE (Remission)

True redemption is seized when you accept the future consequence of your past mistakes." - Unknown

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Martin's POV

Ilang beses na akong nakapasok sa MRI machine. Hindi ko na mabilang kung gaano karaming beses iyon noong nakakulong pa ako sa facility nila Rachel. And every time I will get inside the machine, I could feel that I am losing my breath. I could feel that it would be my last day on earth.

Noon iyon.

Noong akala ko ay wala na akong pag-asang mabuhay pa dahil sa sakit ko. Noong binigyan na lang ako ng mga doctor ng anim na buwang palugit para mabuhay. Pakiramdam ko noon ay bibigay na ako sa bawat araw na magigising ako sa umaga. Physical pain was hard. Every cell in my body was screaming of torture. But the mental pain was the hardest part. Thinking about of what I did for my family was the one killing me slowly.

I love Sesi. I love our daughter. And the moment I learned that I was slowly dying because of pancreatic cancer, I decided to take the south course. Made a deal with the devil. Kung mawawala man ako, gusto kong maging maayos ang buhay nila. Financially man lang ay maiwan ko silang hindi naghihikahos.

And knowing that someone was loving my family was a good thing before I die. At least I know they will be in good hands with my best friend Yosh.

But who would have thought that I could survive my disease? Halimaw ang mga doctor ni Rachel Fernando. Lahat ng mga underground at experimental drugs ay ginamit sa akin. I became their lab rat. Sabagay patapon na rin naman ang buhay ko noon. Suntok sa buwan kung makaka-survive ako. Years of staying in their facility was the worst times of my life.

They cured me for my cancer.

But they took away my life.

They changed me. My face. My DNA. My whole being.

They killed Teodoro Castro. So technically my wife Sesi was already a widow. Wala na si Ted. At kahit ipakilala ko pa ang sarili ko sa kanya na ako iyon, hindi rin niya paniniwalaan. Ayaw ko na rin naman siyang bigyan pa ng pasakit. I know she's already in love with someone else. Tapos na ang chapter ng buhay naming dalawa. At masaya ako para sa kanya. Because she deserves someone better than me. Someone who will be there for her physically. Someone who would love her unconditionally.

Naramdaman kong umandar ang hinihigaan ko at lumalabas na sa MRI machine. Bumangon ako at pumasok doon ang doctor at nakangiti sa akin.

"Congratulations, Martin. Everything is good. You are still in complete remission. How many years? Four? Five? You are a walking miracle."

Kitang-kita ko ang saya sa mukha ni Doctor Villega at tinapik pa ako sa balikat.

Ngumiti ako ng mapakla. I don't think I deserve this fucking miracle. Sa dami ng pinatay ko, sa dami ng na-double cross ko, sa dami ng agent na namatay ng dahil sa pagiging mole ko sa Circuit Agency, hindi ko alam kung bakit pa ako nabuhay.

"Parang walang nangyari sa iyo. Wala akong makitang kahit na anong mali sa katawan mo. Your heart is good. Your lungs. Every major organ in your body is good. Malakas ka pa sa kalabaw." Tumatawa pa ito at napapailing. Nakita naman kasi niya noon ang nangyari sa akin. Isa ito sa mga doctors na tini-train sa facility ni Rachel. "Rachel's doctors were good especially Doctor Gerard Singh." Biglang lumungkot ang mukha niya. "Too bad he's AWOL. I don't know what happened to him. Until now nawawala pa rin."

Hindi ako kumibo. Alam ko kung ano ang nangyari sa doctor na iyon. Inilibing na iyon ni Declan Laxamana dahil sa ginawa ng doctor na iyon kay Kleng.