The Fall of Alexander the Great (Monteverde Series 3)

Epilogue

ALEXANDER

Nakatago ako sa halamanan ng hardin habang pigil na pigil ang paghinga ko. I should remain unseen para hindi ako mabaril. I have to save Blythe. She's upstairs and they held her captive. Hindi ko hahayaang may masamang mangyari sa asawa ko. I would risk my life for her.

Lumabas ako sa pinagtataguan ko pero nanatili ako sa gilid. They're gonna start shooting once they see me. I should remain inconspicuous all the time. Buti na lang at wala masyadong tao dito sa hardin kaya dito ko piniling dumaan. Malamang na nasa bungad ng bahay nakabantay ang dalawa.

Blythe. I thought of her face and suddenly I was filled with strength. Tulad kanina ay dahan-dahan parin akong naglakad.

But then I felt it. Napanganga ako sa gulat.

Someone shot me.

Hinawakan ko ang balikat kong natamaan at napangiwi. It was a trap! Akala ko ay nasa harap sila. But they must've known that I would go through the garden, infiltrate it from the back. Magkakasunod na tama ang nakuha ko. Sa paa, sa dibdib, sa hita at kung saan saan pa. I collapsed on the grass while I tried to catch my breath.

Ang dami kong tama. Nahihilo na ako. I closed my eyes and just lay there. And then I heard voices. Two of them.

"Look, he's down!"

"Did we k-kill him?"

"Oh no! I think we did!"

I felt them running towards me so I pretended to be unconscious.

"We killed him, Keene!"

"He can't be dead! He can't! He can't!"

Naramdaman ko ang mga pagyugyog sa akin pero nanatili akong nakapikit. I felt small arms hugging my body and then tears started dripping towards my face. They were crying.

"Please don't die! You said nerf guns can't kill, so why are you not opening your eyes?" Said a child's shaking voice. It was followed by another.

"You can't die! We'll be sad! Please wake up! Don't be dead! I'm sorry I shot your leg."

"I'm sorry for shooting your arm. Wake up, Daddy!"

"Please Daddy, don't die on us. We're sorry!" Lumakas ang palahaw ng dalawa kaya natatawang nagmulat na ako ng mata. They blinked repeatedly and attacked me with a hug. They sobbed on my chest. Dahan-dahan akong umupo sa damuhan habang nakapalibot sa kanilang dalawa ang bisig ko.

"You're alive!" Keene said while sobbing. Tumutulo pa ang sipon niya. Natatawang inabutan ko siya ng bimpo at pinunasan niya ito.

"Daddy, I shot you thrice. I'm sorry." Kaden said before looping his arms around my neck. Si Keene naman ay kumandong sa akin. Kalmado na siya at nakatingin sa akin ng mataman.

"We're bad kids, we almost killed you." He said sadly so I mussed his hair.

"No, kiddo. I didn't die. I was just pretending. Look, no blood." Pinakita ko sa kanila ang damit ko at tinitigan nila iyon ng matagal.

"But you weren't moving for a minute!" Kaden said while inspecting my shirt. I grinned.

"I was just acting, okay? Diba naglalaro lang tayo? Calm down, you two. Daddy's not wounded." Sagot ko. Sabay nila akong niyakap at napuno na naman ng galak ang puso ko.

Dati boobs lang ni Blythe ang kambal na meron ako, ngayon meron narin akong dalawang makukulit na five-year old mini Blythe. Manang-mana sila sa kaharutan ng Mommy nila. Sigurado akong nung maliit ako ay hindi ako kasing ligalig nila. Akala ko dati ay madali lang magpalaki ng mga bata, pero ngayon, hindi na lang isa ang kunsumisyon ko. Tatlo na sila.