My Naughty Boastful Boss (Freezell #2) [PUBLISHED UNDER PSICOM]

Thirty-five

AVREIN

"DADDY, wake up!" ani Axel habang walang tigil sa kakahampas ng binti ng Daddy niya.

He had been sleeping for about six months. We had been here in the hospital for almost six months. He was in coma.

"You're too cruel, Dad! You told me you'll never hurt Momma Girlfriend again! You told me you're going to take care of us. You told me we're gonna play Xbox. But here you are, lying on that aw bed and doing nothing. Yuck, Daddy! You already lost your abs, biceps and triceps! Momma Girlfriend might find another guy to replace you and be my new Dad!"

He was crying. For the past six months, ngayon ko lang pinayagan na dalawin ni Axel ang Daddy niya. I didn't want him to see his Dad in this situation. He was just so eager this morning to see his Dad that I wasn't able to stop him from coming with me.

"You told me you're not going to make Momma Girlfriend cry but, Dad, every night she was crying until she fell asleep, and when she was asleep, she kept on calling your name while she was still crying. I pity her, Daddy, so you need to wake up now!"

"Daddy's gonna wake up soon, anak." Pinunasan ko ang luha niya na naglalandas sa pisngi niya.

At least now he was already speaking, hindi gaya noong kagagaling namin sa engkwentro ay tulala lang talaga siya at hindi nagsasalita. Sabi ng psychiatrist na pinuntahan namin, na-trauma raw siya dahil sa kaniya bumagsak ang Daddy niya matapos itong mabaril.

***

Mabilis ang mga pangyayari. Namalayan ko na lang na nasa ospital na kami at kapwa nasa operating room na sina Ayce at Vience. Kami naman nila Vance, Aei, Luis at Fria ay nakaupo lang at nananlangin sa kaligtasan nila.

"Damn it! Why does it need to be my son? Fuck! I should be the one lying in that goddamn hospital bed!" walang tigil sa pagwawala si Kuya Claw pero hindi ko siya masisi. Anak ko man ang malagay sa sitwasyon ni Ayce ay baka mauna pa akong mamatay.

"Claw!" lahat kami ay napalingon nang may tumawag kay Kuya Claw. Nakita naming humahangos si Ate Aiyie palapit sa asawa saka niyakap ito. Kasama niya sina Lei, Lola Cassy, Daddy Vic at Daddy.

"We just have to trust them and Him. I knew, He won't let anything bad happen to them. He knew that we still need them," sabat ko pero nanginginig ako.

Imbes na magsalit ay nakita kong biglang lumuhod si Kuya Claw sa harap ko. Kill me now, Avrein. I brought them in a great danger. I'm the one to blame—"

Before he could finish his sentence, I slapped him. "Wake up, Kuya Claw! I'm not blaming you or anyone! Do not blame yourself for no one here is blaming you! You did the right thing to save your own son. Kahit ako ang nasa kalagayan mo, iyon din naman ang gagawin ko lalo na kung para sa anak ko. Hindi naman mahirap intindihin na ginawa mo 'yon para kay Ayce, Kuya. You never wanted to do it—you needed do it for your son's safety. I swear to God, naiintindihan kita. Now, wake up! Let us all face this together."

"Noong papunta na kami ng Isla Cassandra ay may humarang sa amin na pulang sasakyan. Noong una, akala ko ay wala lang ito, hanggang sa kuhanin nila si Ayce nang sapilitan at tutukan ng baril. Malaki na rin ang pinagpapasalamat ko dahil nagpaiwan si Ayler sa bahay ng magulang ko. Wala akong nagawa nang sabihin nila sa akin na humanap daw ako ng lugar na maaari nilang itago ang mga bihag nila," paliwanag nila at lalong naging kasuklam-suklam sina Nina para sa akin.

"Madam." Napalingon kaming lahat nang may dumating. Isa ito sa mga lalaking nakaitim na suit na may logo ng Phyrric Organization.

"What brought you here?" tanong ni Lola.