Barangay Series #3 : Calius Dashkov

Kabanata 41

Narito na siya, at wala na akong magagawa pa. I smiled weakly when I saw my daughter staring at him at the corner of her room.

Nang magtama ang tingin namin ay hindi ko man lamang maidaretsyo ang tingin ko sa kaniya. I'm drenched in my own blood, just like he is. I feel so weak that I have to force myself to walk into her room since I watched my father walk in the moment I fell on the floor as a result of his attack.

"My daughter…"

I closed my fist and shut my eyes tighter when I heard it from him. Isinandal ko ang katawan ko sa pader habang taimtim na pinakikinggan ang imik ng aking Ama.

"Come here… Come here, anak. Hindi mo a-ako naalala?"

Hindi ko iminulat ang mga mata ko.

"Ang laki mo na, m-miss ka na namin… Uwi na tayo? S-sumama ka na sa 'kin. G-gusto mo isama natin si Kuya mo? Uwi na tayo.."

The quiet forced me to open my eyes, but I never imagined I'd regret doing so the instant I saw them. With a set of golden eyes staring at me and her body hugging the man's warmth, she almost killed me.

My lips remained parted, and my heart appeared to be breaking up.

"You remember me," ani lalaki sa pagkakayakap sa kinikilala kong anak. "Anak ko, Carmela. I love you so much. I missed you. Oh, where have you been for years, I missed you, anak."  He sobbed.

Why does she have to do that? To act as if she knew him for real, but she doesn't. Amanda is her name...

"I missed you too, Ama," she said softly, hugging him so tightly she was almost sobbing.

My eyes were tricked by tears as I listened to them. Is she just acting, please?  Dahil sa isip niya, nasa katawan siya ni Carmela kaya dapat ibigay niya ang totoong punto ng muling pagkabuhay niya?

Ipinalit ko ang sarili kong buhay para ilayo siya sa mga taong alam kong magiging dahilan ng kaniyang kamatayan pero siya ang kusang tumanggap sa kanila.

She welcomed him without hesitation, despite knowing how much I despise him. I despise her being close to the man who was the cause of her death in the past.

Saka ko lamang napansin ang panghihina ng katawan ko dahil sa pagkabugbog ng katawan ko sa matagal naming paglalaban ng mga lobo at ni Ama. Tumingala ako at pinilit na pigilan ang sariling pumikit ngunit hindi ko na nakontrol ang sarili ko.

Nagising na lamang ako sa isang pamilyar na silid. When I moved myself to touch my abdomen, my peripheral vision caught something.

I saw my gun on the table with my royal sword. Naroon din ang kapang itim ko ang botang itim na kadalasan kong suot kapag narito sa palasyo.

I cursed silently.

How many days I have been lying here and waiting my energy back? What the fuck?

Naupo ako sa kama at ginulo ang buhok. May bandage ang tiyan ko kung saan ako napuruhan sa huling misyon ko na muli namang nabugbog ni Ama.

Kinapa ko iyon. Pasa pa.

Nagawa ko pang ihanda ang sarili ko upang lumabas na ng kwarto, walang ibang gustong hanapin kundi ang anak ko.

"Oh," natigilan sa paglalakad sa pasilyo si Evan.

Nagkatinginan kami. He walked closer to me and tapped my shoulders. Nanatiling nakakunot ang noo ko.

"Your body seems weak and tired for the past few days. I think, your wounds from your mission plus Uncle Silas' damage on you made you passed out. Good thing you rested your body for almost…. hm.." Napahawak siya sa baba. "Four days, brother. You've been asleep for almost four days."