The Fighter

Chapter Twenty-One

⍟HARLEY⍟

"I'll be back as soon as I can." Paalam ko naman kay Jack nang mai-park ang kotse na gamit namin.

"Take your time Harley, I know that he is important to you. It's been a while right?" He asked. "At isa pa, mukhang payapa naman dito." He said at saka tumingin sa labas ng kotse.

"It's been awhile..." I whispered as I stared at the flower that I bought. "If you need something, click the red button in your smartwatch, okay?" I said.

"Sure." He said.

I smiled at him bago lumabas ng kotse then I walked towards the gate of the cemetery. I took a deep breath and my lungs was filled with the familiar scent of air.

Nang mahanap ko naman kung nasaan naka-pwesto ang lapida na hinahanap ko, inilapag ko naman doon ang bulaklak na hawak-hawak ko as I crouched down, a small smile crept into my lips as I read the name that was carved on the tombstone.

Felix Preston Villaécija

He is the former leader of the Black Band Gang where I was a former member also, naging father figure ko na rin siya dahil siya ang nagpa-aral at nagbigay ng tahanan sa akin, that my mom and dad failed to do. He is also the one who trained me to be a fighter because he wants me to lead the gang someday since wala naman siyang asawa at anak.

But I declined it.

"I know it's been a while since I visited you, please don't hit me with your tungkod." I muttered at saka naupo sa harap ng lapida nito. "Hindi na ako parte ng airforce, but I was still working as a soldier, mas cool pa nga sa pagiging PAF." Natatawang turan ko.

I picked up the stray leaf that landed in front of me at saka in-obserbahan ito.

"I am here to look for an answer to my questions, I hope you're looking out for me and my company, his name is Jack by the way...remember him? siya yung pino-protektahan ko mula sa inyo noong sinugod niyo yung Orphanage. Yes, we met again." I said at saka ibinalik ang tingin sa lapida. "A small world indeed." I added.

May nag-land namang ibon sa mismong lapida and that made me laughed lightly.

"You hate birds right? look at you, panigurado araw-araw kang dinadapuan ng mga niyan." I said and chuckled.

Napansin ko naman na parang naka-angat ang lapida mula sa lupa kung saan dapat ito nakalagay, I leaned towards it and checked kung talagang naka-angat ito, my eyes widened nang maiangat ko iyon nang kaunti.

"What the..." I whispered at saka tumingin sa paligid bago tuluyang inaangat ang lapida, tumambad naman sa akin ang isang ziplock na may lamang journal notebook sa loob.

Kaagad ko namang kinuha iyon at saka ibinalik sa pwesto ang lapida. I let out a breath at saka binuksan ang ziplock bago kinuha ang journal notebook.

"Felix...what the hell is this?" I asked at saka binuksan ang notebook. Kumunot naman ang noo ko nang makitang puro scribbles lang ang nasa second and third page.

"Harley?" Napapitlag naman ako nang may tumawag sa pangalan ko, kaagad ko namang itinago ang notebook sa bulsa ng jacket ko at saka tumingin sa tumawag sa akin.

"Matias?" I asked at saka kaagad na tumayo.

"Harley ikaw nga!" He said at saka niyakap ako. I awkwardly hugged him back and pat his back for few times. "Kamusta ka na? ba't hindi mo sinabi na babalik ka pala dito?" He asked.

"Uhm...I lost your contact actually." I admitted.

As far as I can remember, his number is saved on the phone and that phone got shot during a mission of special forces. Ni hindi ko man lang na-recover yung mga files doon -_-