Ocean of Feathers

Chapter 124

The short story is dedicated to Mnemosyne Habulan. Thank you for helping me during muting days!

Chapter 124

Once a delivery rider had read the familiar surname on his parcel, he would not bother himself to see the pin location on his phone, because every other rider had been aware of this rough road to cross to deliver the parcel almost every day.

"Shayne Habulan?"

"Yes, dito po, Kuya!"

Though the rider had been familiar with us, even the battalion of our dogs was not wary of him. As a matter of fact, our two dogs were still slumped on our floor, lazily glancing at the man dressed in black, covering all his skin except his eyes.

"Bayad na po iyan."

"Yes, thank you, Kuya."

Ganoon lang madalas ang sumasalubong sa akin sa umaga, bago lumabas ang mga pinsan ko sa kani-kanilang bahay. Ang ilan pa nga sa kanila ay may dala pang tasa ng mga kape bago magtungo sa terrace ng bahay at sabay-sabay kaming sumalubong sa pagsikat ng araw.

My cousins and I grew up together. We've been happily sharing our experiences throughout the week until I finally remembered what I actually had to tell them. "I had a strange dream."

"It's just one of your books, Syne, stop it."

I rolled my eyes. "But it was so vivid! Sana may kasunod."

Sabay-sabay silang ngumiwi habang humihigop ako ng kape, at biglang bumalik sa alaala ko ang panaginip kong iyon.

There were times that I could easily realize that I was inside one of my dreams, but there were also some times that I failed to recognize, and this dream was one of them.

It was that night when all the oldies left our compound, and the young ones were left behind, o tamang sabihin na kami lang magpipinsan ang natira sa malaking compound namin.

As a family known for successful business and great fortune, it wasn't new for us that we had to take our security seriously. We had our high gates around us and there were high walls in our whole vicinity. There were also security guards for more safety.

Buong akala ko at ng mga pinsan ko ay simpleng gabi lang iyon nang biglang mamatay ang ilaw. Natigil kami sa pagtatawanan at nagawa pa naming magtakakutan sa sala nina lolo't lola.

The eldest of our cousins, Ron stood up. "Check ko iyong generator."

"Sama ako, Kuya Ron!" Sumunod sina Kien and Brent.

Since we had our phones with us, iyon muna ang ginamit namin na ilaw. I was about to inform the oldies that we suddenly had a power interruption when we heard a gunshot.

"What was that?"

Hindi rin nagtagal ay dumadagos na bumalik ang dalawa sa mga pinsan ko. "We have to go! Napasok tayo! Safe room! Safe room! And be quiet! Nasaan si Syne? Come here!"

Hinawakan ng isa sa mga pinsan ko ang braso ko habang nagmamadali na kami magtungo sa safe room. "What's going on? Who are these guys?"

"Kuya Ron's trying to distract them. We heard that they're trying to find you."

"M-me? Bakit ako?"

"You tell me. Hinayaan ni Kuya Ron patay ang ilaw dahil mas kabisado natin ang Casa kaysa sa kanila."

Ngunit hindi pa man kami nakakaakyat sa hagdan ay biglang nagbuksan ang ilaw. Huli na bago makasunod ni Brent sa mga pinsan namin sa taas kaya lumiko na kami dahil nakita na naman na papasok na ang mga armadong lalaki.

"N-nasaan sina Ron at Kien?" bulong ko.

Hindi niya ako sinagot habang hawak niya pa rin ang braso ko. "They will be safe inside the safe room. You have to escape this place."

"What?"

Hawak niya ang phone niya. "Hindi kami nakapasok. Palabas na kami sa likuran. Anyway can drive her away?"

"W-wait lang . . . what is really going on? Bakit ako ang target nila?"

Mabibilis ang hakbang namin hanggang sa makarating kami sa baba at naroon nakatago ang puting van. My other cousin was already behind the wheels. "Sa likod si Syne."

And when I was about to climb up the van, natigilan kami ng mga pinsan ko nang may dalawang lalaki habang ang isa ay may hawak sa isang pinsan namin. His gun was in Julian's forehead. "No . . ."

"Bumaba kayo."

"Fuck," usal ni Brent.

Kapwa kami bumabang tatlo sa van na nakataas ang kamay. "Syne, come here."

"No . . ."

Hinawakan ng dalawang pinsan ko ang kamay ko, mas lalong lumuha si Julian nang mas itutuok sa kanya ang baril. "Let's exchange then. This girl and Syne."

"W-what do you want from me?"

Hindi nila ako sinagot. "I'll go."

Napamura ang dalawa kong pinsan. Binitawan ng lalaki si Julian at hinayaan siyang maglakad, nang magkasalubong na kaming dalawa, mas lalong bumuhos ang kanyang luha. "I'm sorry . . ."

"It's okay."

Mabilis na humakbang pa ang lalaki para lang hawakan ako. Itinutok niya ang baril sa ulo ko. "Go, get them inside."

Sumunod ang lalaking katabi niya, nilapitan niya ang mga pinsan ko, nagtungo siya sa likod at tinutukan niya ang mga ito. "Go! Get inside!"

"Please go. . ." usal ko nang ikasa na ng lalaki ang baril niya nang sinubukan ng mga pinsan kong lumingon sa akin.

The man in his curly hair was left with me. Itinali na niya ang kamay ko at nilagyan niya ng tali ang bibig ko. He took the white van and left our underground garage. Dadaan na kami sa tatlong mga kasamahan niya na tuwang-tuwa ng makitang nakuha na nila ako. "Good job, Tey."

"Yes."

That was when he drew the gun beside him and took all his bullets to kill the three men in front of us. Nanlalaki ang mga mata ko na may pagsigaw sa kabila ng busal ko sa bibig. Pinaharurot ng lalaki ang puting van habang lumuluha akong nakatitig sa kanya. "No. You're safe with me."

"Hoy, Syne, ano sasama ka?"

Napapitlag ako nang humarap sa akin si Julian. "Mamaya. Kape."

"Sure."

I thought I'd no longer think about that weird dream again, but the moment I went inside our favorite coffee shop, I saw that familiar tall frame, curly hair, and thick brows. Kapwa kami natigilan sa isa't isa, at nawala lang ang titig niya sa akin nang sikuhin siya ng kasama niya. "Baka malusaw, Tey."

Hinila na siya ng kasama niyang nakangisi. "Forgive my friend, Miss, you look like his ex."

My protective cousins pulled me away. "Ano order mo, Syne?"

I awkwardly look away from the man and his friend. "Kamukha sila nung mga kumidnap sa akin sa panaginip ko."

"Mukha naman talaga silang mga kidnapper," Ron said.

Julian and I laughed.