Chess Pieces Aftermath: Lucius D'Angelo

Prologue

"No... No... Angela... Run!"

I couldn't move. I wanted to run near her. To save her from the man behind her who was pointing a gun at her. But, fuck... No matter how I try, I couldn't fucking move.

"L-Lester..."

Nag-angat ako ng tingin at napatitig sa mukha n'ya. She looked so pale. Some strands of her hair were now on her face. Her eyes were bloodshot because of unshed tears. She was trying to walk towards me for a while now but it seemed like with every step, our distance was just growing bigger. Kahit hindi ako gumagalaw at nananatili lang na nakatayo sa harap n'ya, hindi pa rin lumiliit ang distansya namin.

I saw the man load his gun. He has an evil smirk plastered on his lips. Kinabahan agad ako. I tried to move again but couldn't.

"Angela!" I called to warn her about the man.

Pero nanatili lang ang tingin sa akin ni Angela. There was that determined look on her face. She wanted to get near me. It took all her strength to walk towards me. Kahit pa mas lumalayo lang ang distansya namin sa isa't isa, hindi pa rin s'ya sumuko sa paglapit sa 'kin.

"Lester..."

I heard gunshots. Sunod-sunod. Nakakabingi sa ingay. I tried to break free from whatever's holding me pero masyadong malakas ang pwersa at hindi pa rin ako makagalaw.

Hindi ko alam kung kaninong sigaw ang narinig ko. Kung kay Angela ba... o sa akin. Ang alam ko lang, pakiramdam ko ay tinamaan rin ako ng bala. The pain was unbearable as I watched Angela falling to the ground.

Ang sunod kong namalayan ay hawak ko na s'ya sa mga bisig ko. I was on the floor, holding her body full of blood. Her eyes were just fixated on me. Parang ayaw umiwas ng tingin. Parang ayaw na mawala ako sa paningin n'ya.

"Angela—"

May bumara sa lalamunan ko. Nanlalabo na rin ang paningin habang nakatingin kay Angela sa mga bisig ko. My hands were trembling so much.

Damn it! I knew this was going to happen. Alam ko na! But fuck. Why can't I still do anything? Why can't I do anything to save her?

"Angela, I'm sorry... I'm sorry."

She was looking at me and I couldn't do anything but weep as I watched her slowly losing her life. Hindi n'ya inalis ang tingin sa akin hanggang sa unti-unti kong nakita ang pagkawala ng buhay sa mga mata n'ya.

"Angela!"

The scene changed. Nasa loob na ako ng kwarto ko sa private suit ng hotel na ako mismo ang humahawak. It was dark and quiet. Compared to the fast beating of my heart.

Another nightmare again.

I took a deep breath. Mariin kong naipikit ang mga mata ko, sinusubukang kalimutan kung anong napanaginipan ko. But it was hard.

How can I forget it when it really happened in my life? Hinding-hindi ko makakalimutan ang nangyaring 'yon.

"Lester."

Natigilan ako. Muling napadilat pero ang madilim na kisame sa kwarto ko ang sumalubong sa akin. I thought I heard a soft voice. Isang boses na kilalang-kilala ko kung sino ang may-ari. She was the only one who called me by that name too.

Pero tahimik ang paligid. Maybe, I was just imagining it because of what I dreamt earlier.

"Lester," I heard that voice again and this time, I knew that it wasn't just my imagination.

Bahagya akong bumangon pero natigilan nang makita ang isang babaeng nakatayo sa may paanan ng kama ko. My lips parted as I stared at her. Hindi ko inalis ang paningin ko sa kanya habang tuluyang umuupo sa kama.