As soon as Saellyn stepped outside her car, she was surprised with police cars and crowd surrounding the restaurant where she was supposed to meet her uncle. Hindi niya mapaliwanag kung ano ang nangyayari dahil na rin sa dami ng mga tao.
Did something happen? Or maybe she's just being paranoid?
Mabilis niyang sinuot ang sumbrero at salamin para itago ang sarili mula sa mata ng mga tao. Pagkatapos ay mabilis din siyang naglakad para lumapit sa isang pulis. "Excuse me, officer? Ano pong nangyayari? Are we allowed to enter inside the restaurant?"
"Pasensya na, ma'am. Hindi po puwedeng pumasok sa loob ng restaurant dahil scene of the crime po ito sa kasalukuyan."
Her eyes widened with what she heard. "Scene of the crime?"
Someone died? What the hell is happening?
"Yes, ma'am. May binaril pong lalaki sa loob, eh. Mga nasa edad singkwenta pataas."
A sudden glint of pain hit her heart as soon as she heard that from the mouth of the police officer. Ayaw niyang mag-isip ng kung anu-ano pero hindi niya maiwasan, lalo na ngayon na sobrang bilis ng tibok ng puso niya.
Kaya kahit kinakabahan ay mabilis siyang tumakbo papasok dahilan para agad siyang pigilan ng mga kapulisan.
"No, n-no." She shook her head before covering her mouth to stop herself from sobbing. Ramdam na ramdam niya kung paano namanhid ang katawan niya habang pinagmamasdan ang bangkay sa loob.
"Ma'am, hindi po kayo pwedeng pumasok sa loob!"
"T-Tito." Nanghihinang napaluhod siya sa lupa habang malayang tumutulo ang mga luha niya sa pisngi. She can't explain the pain she's feeling right now after seeing the man they're talking about.
It was her uncle William, inside the restaurant, shot, and dead.
It was her uncle whom she's supposed to meet because he said he wanted to tell something. But here he is, in front of everyone, lifeless.
"Please, l-let me inside, it's m-my uncle. Please, please," humahagulhol niyang pakiusap sa mga pulis na pilit siyang pinapatayo at pinapakalma.
"Pasensya na po, ma'am." Buong pag-iingat siyang inalalayan ng mga ito habang hindi pa rin siya tumitigil sa pag-iyak.
"No! No! Please, l-let me in. Please, officer. I'm begging you! Gusto kong m-makita 'yung tito ko, parang awa ninyo na po," she begged desperately in front of them.
Nothing matters to her anymore aside from knowing who did this to the man who used to treasure her as his own. Wala na siyang nararamdamang iba kung hindi galit at lungkot.
She continuously punched her chest, trying to ease the agony she's feeling but it's not helping. No matter how much she hurt herself, the emotional pain is still there, making her vulnerable. The pain from her clenched fist is useless as well, hindi nito mapapalitan ang bigat sa dibdib niya.
"Baby."
The burden inside her chest subsides for a short time as soon as she heard that voice behind her.
Her body panicked when he tried carrying her. "No, Dagger, please. Not you also, I want t-to see him up close. Please! Please!"
"Baby, let's go. It won't be good for you to see him up close. Please?"
"But--"
Hindi na siya pinatapos ng lalaki, naramdaman na lang niya ang malaking dalawang braso na bumuhat sa kaniya paalis sa pwestong 'yon para ipasok siya sa sasakyan.
Humihikbing pinagmasdan niya lang ang nobyo na mabilis na nagmaneho paalis sa lugar na 'yon. Staring at him like this, she just realized that he's really here... Dagger is here.
She quickly focused her attention to the road while sobbing silently, she doesn't want to bother him but here he is, staying by her side. At tama rin naman ang nobyo niya, hindi magiging maganda para sa kaniya kung makita nang malapitan ang tito niya sa ganitong sitwasyon.
She has no emotional capacity to actually accept his death.
Namumugto ang mga matang nilingon niya ang lalaki nang ihinto nito ang sasakyan sa gilid ng daan. Mabilis na lumapat ang mga mata nito sa kaniya na naging dahilan para mas lalong lumakas ang mga hikbi niya.
Dagger gently pulled her closer before removing her cap and her eyeglasses. Dahil doon ay bumungad sa mga mata nito ang luhaan niyang mga mata. His lips twitched a little after seeing her situation, then he quickly embraced her tightly.
"It's killing me seeing you like this. I'm sorry for feeling this way, my love. Just cry, baby. I'm here for you no matter what."
Saellyn's arms quickly encircled around his nape to hug him back. 'Saka niya binuhos lahat ng naipon na sakit sa dibdib niya. "He's d-dead, Dagger. My uncle, he's gone. Hindi k-ko alam kung sinong gumawa nito sa kaniya, hindi k-ko alam kung bakit nangyayari lahat 'to ng ngayon."
His hand gently stroked her back before kissing her hair.
"I was late... Maybe if I a-arrived earlier, baka b-buhay pa siya. Baka sakaling maligtas ko pa si tito, o kaya ako na lang sana 'yung nabaril-"
"Shh, baby." Dagger immediately held both of her cheeks. "Stop saying that. Stop blaming yourself about it, you have no control over what happened and you don't deserve to fucking die as well."
"I know, and I won't be able to explain the pain you're feeling right now. I have no rights to question you, and I can't calm you down. But I'll stay by your side until you're ready to see him again, until you're ready to investigate his death with me." Buong pag-iingat at paglalambing nitong hinalikan ang mga labi niya. "I promise you, we will hunt that fucker who killed your uncle. I will do everything to find him and torture him in front of you. We will never give that motherfucker a chance to live a good life."
"Dagger," she whispered weakly.
"Let's go somewhere else, where we can be alone for a while. Let's get you comfortable first, baby. Take a rest."
"Thank you," mahina niyang bulong.
He flashed a sweet smile. "Always."
BINABASA MO ANG
KNIGHTS I-7: Thirst of the Supreme (Dagger Knights)
ActionSaellyn Yosjua was born with golden spoon in her mouth, being spoiled with all the things she want, and was even trained to act like a princess. But that's not the life she wanted. Money will never be enough for her if her father never even cared fo...
