Chapter 26: Forgiveness

Naomi's Point of View

Nagsuot ako ng Turtleneck shirt at denim shorts bago kami lumabas ni Bairon sa kwarto niya.

"Just hold me tight.. I'm just here." bulong niya sa'kin bago kami bumaba. Ilang beses akong bumuntong hininga hanggang sa makapasok kami sa Dinning Hall.

Everyone was really silent while eating.. "Come here ate.. tabi tayo" Bellamy smiled to me. Tumabi ako sa kanya at ganon din si Healer sa tabi ko.

"Branica.." all eyes went to Branica ng bumaba siya sa upuan at umikot sa mahabang dinning table para lumapit sa'kin. She sign na yumuko ako so I did. Hinalikan niya ako sa pisngi at binigyan niya ng isang pack ng gummy bears.

"Thank you for saving me Auntie, I'm really sorry if Dad hurts you, please don't get mad at him.." she just melted my heart. " Don't wonder things a lot okay? Mind to watch your ground too" I tap her head and rub it. How adorable she is.. seguro nagulat lang talaga siya kanina.

She's pretty, nakuha niya ang labi ni Jayka while her eyes, face and nose was from Blaire.. seguro kasing cute niya ang magiging anak namin ni Bairon.

"I will Auntie.. thank you!" She runs back to Jayka so I smiled back to Jayka. Somehow I understand Blaire to that part but his a careless father afterall Kasi hindi niya dapat hinayaan na maglakad lakad ng mag isa yung anak niya.

I stared to the Gummy bears. Sa sobrang dami nito hindi ko mauubos to. Maybe isang buwan kong kakainin?

"Ate pwedeng hati tayo? I love gummy bears too" bulong ni Bellamy sa'kin na ikinangiti ko. "Sure.. let's divide it later" I whisper back at nagpatuloy na rin ako sa pagkain.

Kinurot naman ako ni Bairon sa beywang kaya napatingin ako sa kanya. Kunot noo siyang nakatingin sakin pero binalewala ko na lang at saka muling itinuon ang atensyon ko sa pagkain.

"I have a trivia" lahat kami napatingin kay Brantley ng magsalita siya. "Spill the beans" Sabay sabay namang sagot ng triplets.. as in silang tatlo ang sumagot kay Brantley. I was amaze by that.

"Don't you know Kuya's if you guys have a child.. it's all your child" nagtaka ako sa sinabi niya but later on I realize what he meant to say.

"Kuya Blaire's daughter was your daughter too Kuya Bairon.. Kuya Baxley" napaubo si Daddy Barrett sa sinabi ni Brantley.. umasim naman ang mukha ni Kuya Baxley at hindi makatingin ng maayos sa'min.

"You guys are alleles of the same gene 99. 99%. just like DNA. So definitely if you guys have childrens.. they're all sisters and brothers! hahahaha!" Kagat labi akong nag pigil ng tawa pero si Bellamy hindi nakapag pigil.

"Come on.. they're not because they have different mothers okay?" Pagtatanggol ni Kuya Baxley sa sarili niya.

"I'm referring to their fathers kuya hahahaha half sisters, half brothers. Three as one father to Three mothers" hahahaha" that's real teasing, Napatakip ng bibig si Bairon. He's about to laugh but just trying hard not to.

"I can't accept that! Seriously? I never impregnate anyone but I'm having a child already? Oh Jesus! your mind Brantley!" Kuya Baxley complain that make us laugh at him.

"Oh really Kuya? Mom left 6 days ago because we receive an email that you're having an affair with an 18 year old student." Puna ni Brantley na ikinatikom niya agad.

"What?" Daddy Barrett ask while looking to Kuya Baxley. "You fall to an 18 year old lady?" He ask to confirm it..

11 years? Ganon kalayo ang pagitan nila? "Yes Dad" he didn't hesitate to answer. "Who is this lady?" Napalunok si Kuya Baxley sa tanong ni Daddy Barrett.

"I-its Wendi Starling"

"Oh Wendi? Is she the daughter of Starling Enterprise around Asia? " So the woman was a famous naman pala. "Kinda" simpleng sagot ni Kuya Baxley.

"Keran!"

"Yes Master?" Lumapit ang isang lalaking nasa middle age na rin. " Send a letter to Mr. Farris Starling tell him that one of my son addresses to marry his daughter" Natigilan kami sa sinabi ni Daddy Barrett.

Brantley and Bellamy just laugh really hard. "Dad naman!!" Protesta ni Kuya Baxley sa ama. "What? I'm insisting you a favor?" Inosenteng sagot ni Daddy Barrett.

"I can handle it on my own" umiling naman si Daddy Barrett sa kanya. "No Son... This is a miracle. So I need to settle you down in marriage before you think of being a playboy again" Bairon just laugh back at napangiti naman ako.

"I don't like your way.. just let me do this in my ways okay? I want to submit myself as a man not to sublime with prosperity and handsomeness" Pagtatanong niya sa sarili na ikinangiti ni Daddy Barrett.

"Your brother just become a man" He dramatically tap Baxley's Shoulder. I silently watch them. They're just so nice to watch.

Tumingin ako kay Blaire when I realize his looking directly to me. Something was beyond to his eyes that made me smile. Umiwas na ako at tumingin kay Bairon. Masama siyang nakatitig kay Blaire na ikinangiwi ko.

"Stop staring with my brother.. I'm jealous" he mouthed na ikinasamid ko. "What's wrong with you?" His mood change suddenly. Pati ba naman si Blaire pagseselosan niya? My brother tapos ngayon brother niya?..

Kinurot ko siya sa tagiliran then he actually glare to Blaire before he gaze to me. Sinubuan ko siya ng akmang magsasalita siya.

After lunch Mommy Rhys took me in. We both went outside the Garden. "Are you okay?" Nag aalalang tanong niya sa'kin. "Yes po... I'm fine" she let out a sigh at lumingon sa living room.

"Blaire got the dark side of his Dad. Ever since he's young tahimik siya at masakit magsalita. Mas matured siya keysa sa dalawa. He was nurtured with that aspect to become a great leader someday..."

"In the age of 10 he was pressured with the title given to him. It's not easy to be Barrett's heir in the throne of mafioso's. He really take good care of everything. The USB drive can drag us in downfall and the pressure to his shoulder becomes heavier while finding that thing." Mommy Rhys voice was calm but with sadness.

"Ano po bang mangyayari kung nakuha yon ng kalaban?" I ask Mommy Rhys this time. She let out a deep sigh.

"Solaire Clan will end terminated. Lahat ng miyembro sa pamilya ay papatayin ng Trinity. One's mistake was everyone's payment. Blaire saw my hardships fighting over to get their rights as the only heir so the throne will be pass to their Dad. It was a bloody race for me between Solaire's Bloodlines." i didn't know na ganon pala kalalim ang dahilan ni Blaire kaya nagawa niya sa'kin yon.

"Forgive my son Naomi.. I know what he did isn't righteous especially you suffered a lot. It's my fault though, sinuportahan ko siya sa lahat ng ito."

"No mommy Rhys.. you raise them well. I just need to accept the world they live. Accept what kind of family I am belong too. Forgive him to set free myself from these pain" I held her hand at niyakap siya.

"Isla Paraiso made me realize how wonderful a family is. Despite of everything family will always be family." I whispered to Mommy Rhys.

"Thank you for accepting me Mommy Rhys" she hug me tightly and it feels like a real mom's hug.

"You're part of the family Irish Valentine Carter-Solaire" I smile hearing my real name. It feels like it's really me.

Mommy Rhys tap my shoulder at tumingin siya sa likuran ko. "You can do that" I sigh bago lumingon sa taong nasa likuran ko. Nakapamulsa siya at tuwid ang tindig. Mommy Rhys whispered something to him before she leaves.

"Why did you leave me that night Kuya Blaire? Why?"

He sigh before he walk infront of me. We stared for a moment pero umiwas ako at yumuko naman siya. "Look, I'm sorry.. I really do" tumingin ulit ako sa kanya at sinagot ang mga titig niya.

Hindi ako mapakali habang tinitingnan ang direksyong dinaanan niya. I manage to calm myself at umikot ikot sa kotse niya.

Limang minuto na ang lumipas pero wala pa rin siya. Baka may nangyari ng masama sa kanya. Pumasok ako sa loob ng kotse at kinuha ang isang baril sa may backseat.

Mahigpit ang hawak ko sa baril habang naglalakad papunta sa bahay. Habang papalapit ako mas lumakas ang kaba na nararamdaman ko.

Dumeretso ako sa likod ng bahay at pumasok sa exit gate na papunta sa kusina. Bumuntong hininga ako at kinasa ang baril. Itinutok ko ang baril sa harapan habang dahan dahan akong naglalakad.

Nakarinig ako ng kaluskos sa kusina kaya nagtago agad ako sa storage room. Dalawang lalaki ang dumaan at pumasok at nagmamadaling dumeretso sa Salas.

Sumunod na rin ako pero nag iingat ako sa bawat hakbang na ginagawa ko. Nang marating ko ang bukana ay may lalaking gumulong sa harap ko.

Napatingin ako kay Kuya Blaire na sinasakal ng isang matipunong lalaki habang sinisipa niya ang sumusugod sa kanya. Napalunok ako sa gagawin ko at itinutok ang baril sa malaking tao.

Nang makuha ko ang eksaktong sukat sa ulo niya ay kinalabit ko ang gantilyo ng baril. Nagulat ako mg tumama sa ulo niya ang bala.

"Hide Naomi!" He shouted back to me kaya tumakbo ako papunta sa opisina ni Daddy. Nakarinig na ako mg sunod sunod na pagputol ng baril. Babarilin ko na sana ang pumasok pero si Kuya Blaire pala yon.

"Hindi mo dapat ako sinundan dito"

"Pasensiya na nag aalala lang talaga ako sayo" Bumuntong hininga siya sa sinabi ko at nakipagpalitan sa pag baril.

"Did healer teach you to hold Gun?" Tumango naman ako sa tanong niya at ginaya siya.

"Nakuha mo ang USB Kuya?" I ask him pero umiling siya.

"We need to get out of here soon as possible but we need to get it first."

Sabay kaming lumabas habang binabaril ang mga lalaking sumusugod sa'min. Hindi ko napansin si Kuya Blaire kaya nagkahiwalay kami. Tumakbo siya palapit sa'kin at nagload ng magazine niya.

"I need your gun Naomi" ibinigay ko sa kanya ang hawak hawak kong baril. Wala akong ginawa kundi ang sumunod sa kanya habang paakayat siya sa second floor.

Pumasok agad ako sa kwarto ko at hinila ang Kama sa gitna ng kisame. "Make it fast" utos niya sa'kin kaya nagmadali akong abutin ang earth. May nakabukol sa loob non kaya hinila ko ang led.

Pinulot ko agad ang USB sa Kama at mabilis namang inagaw ni Kuya Blaire. Napangiwi pa ako mg may madala siya sa daliri ko na hindi ko alam.

Ni-lock niya ang pinto at saka binuksan ang Sliding door. "We need to jump off from here" Sumilip ako sa baba at medyo mataas yon.

Tumalon ng walang alinlangan si Kuya Blaire pero mabilis siyang nakabangon. I relax myself bago ko inangat ang sarili ko. I'm about to jump when something tied to my waist.

"Got her!!" A man shouted over my back at hindi ko magawang kumawala sa tali na nasa beywang ko.

I thought Kuya Blaire will save me but unexpectedly I didn't saw him anymore... Did he left without thinking I'm still stuck here? Or he really run after?

"I really intended leaving you behind so they won't chase me" he formally said while looking direct into my eyes.

"I regret leaving you behind for almost five years of my life. Walang araw na lumipas na hindi ko pinagsisisihan ang pag iwan ko sayo. It was a nightmare that always chase me back to that night. I always dream of you. I didn't live a happy life because I was threatened by my own mistakes. Seeing you earlier gives me a goosebump. I'm sorry if I overthink... I was really surprise seeing you in that situation especially when I saw my child crying. I just thought.. you avenge.."

Hindi ako naka-imik sa kanya. I didn't know what to say.. all the pain came back and reminds of that night.

"Saying sorry isn't enough to forgive me but still I'm saying sorry. I really felt like a demon right now knowing what you've suffered from Skyline."

My mind has it's liberty from all of the assumptions, grief, grudges and hostility I felt for the past five years.. I can't judge him after knowing where he came from.

Maybe sacrificing one's life to save a whole clan was on his mind during that night. If I was on his shoe I'll might do the same thing though.

My tears escape through to my eyes. Pinahid ko agad at saka tumingin sa kanya. "You're forgiven Kuya Blaire. I heard enough" he suddenly hug me na ikinabigla ko.

"I'm really sorry Naomi" i tap his shoulder to lessen the tense between us. I just realize things that it's so hard to hate a man who exactly look like your beloved one.

"You're forgiven.. "

•Clove_Verry•