A Bloodless War

Kabanata 25

Kabanata 25

"D-DAD?" pumiyok ako.

Nanahimik ang lahat. I saw his forehead creased while looking at me, pinakatitigan niya ako. Napasinghap ako at nalaglag ang luha sa mga mata ko.

This is him; I knew it...

His eyes, his face, everything... Kahit kay tagal na nang huli ko siyang makita ay ito pa rin siya.

"Ree," naramdaman ko ang hawak sa akin ni Zeij kaya napatingin ako sa kanya.

"Z-Zeij, si..." I pointed my Dad who was just staring at me. Nanatiling nagtataka ang tingin niya at pilit akong kinikilala.

He's not dead.

"That's Tiger..." ani Zeijan na nagtataka rin sa asta ko, I saw his men moved from his back to get Brad pero hindi ako makapaniwalang nakatingin pa rin.

"T-Tiger?" I stuttered.

"Yes... He's our boss." Sumulyap muling ako roon sa lalaki at mas napaluha ako nang makita kong lumapit siya sa akin.

"Miss..." his cold voice said, and I almost ran towards him.

"D-dad..." I whispered.

That made him stop. I saw how his mouth parted at nakita kong ang paglambot ng mata niya. It was like he realized something and when his tear fell ay nasapo ko ang bibig ko.

"A-Alicia? Anak?" he called.

I sobbed. Mabilis kong tinakbo ang direksyon niya at napahagulgol nang magdikit kami.

"Alicia..." bulong niya at mas napahagulgol ako at mas humigpit ang yakap sa kanya.

He hugged me back tightly like he'd never want lose me again. I heard his sob kaya mas napasinghap ako.

"D-daddy... Akala ko... Akala..."

"S-shh, I'm sorry, anak. I-I didn't know..." he whispered as he caressed my back. My heart is thumping wildly, mixed feeling with both sadness and happiness.

His grip tightened around me as he held the back of my neck and hugged me tighter.

"Anak ko..." basag na ang boses niya. He is shaking, I heard how he cried while he's trying to calm me down.

Halos manginig na siya habang nagsasalita at matapos ay sisinghap at iiyak.

He moved away and I saw how his blood shot eyes reflected mine. I can almost see my own eyes on his, like they were mirror images.

"A-ang laki mo na..." Umangat ang kamay niya sa pisngi ko at hinaplos ito. "Ang laki na ng baby Ali namin."

"D-daddy..." umatungal ako.

"G-God, I still can't believe..." he whispered. "How? My daughter..."

Kahit nag-matured ay halos wala siyang ipinagkaiba sa pictures niya noon, only that the lines on his forehead and thin lines on the side of his eyes now.

"P-paano ka napunta rito, anak?" mahinang sabi niya at umiling lang ako at muling yumakap sa kanya.

"D-daddy... I missed you. B-bakit hindi mo kami binalikan?" I whispered, hurt.

"Anak..." bulong niya. "I-I thought..."

"Sir, some of the syndicate agents are alive." Imporma sa kanya. Napahiwalay siya sa akin at nakita kong tumingin siya sa lalaki roon.

"Kill them," his voice's cold. "Keep everything around my daughter safe."

"Copy, Sir..." Umalis ito at muling humarap sa akin.