Chapter 30

"Lang, andito na ang pinadeliver mo na pagkain. Ako na ang kukuha," paalam niya rito nang mag-ring ang doorbell sa labas. Nasa sala ito at may ginagawa sa laptop. Nasa kusina naman siya at inihahanda ang mesa. He must have been too focused on what he's doing that he ignored the sound.

Pagbukas niya ng gate ay kaagad siyang namutla sa mga taong kaharap. Ymir and another Asturia-looking guy are both towering over her while looking at her in bewilderment.

"Ymir, are we on the right place? Bahay ba talaga ito ni Langdon?" ani ng lalake na may maliit na pilat sa kanang pisngi at ring hoop sa ilong habang busy na hinahagod siya ng curious na tingin. The guy wears nothing but a jersey shorts and a basket ball on one hand. Pareho ito ni Ymir na basang-basa ang mukha sa pawis.

"I am sure. I asked Yvonne." Kumunot ang noo nito nang titigan siya na parang hinahalukay nito sa isip kung saan siya nito nakita.

"You!" he exclaimed and pointed at her face.

Napapitlag siya at napalunok. D-Did he remember her when...

"You must be the girl with Langdon in the woods! You remember me, right? I'm the cool guy in the car with the keys." He took out a bunch of keys in his pocket and dangled them on her face.

"Who is she?" singit ng lalake na lumapit na rin sa kaniya.

"Keon, she's the girl I told you about. Oh you should have seen how Langdon reacted when I tried to make a move on her. The man got instantly territorial."

Sinukat siya ng tingin ng lalake at napalitan ng disgusto ang ekspresyon sa mukha nito. "Langdon is maintaining a mistress while he's already married. When will he stop embarrassing us?"

Gusto sana niyang ipagtanggol si Langdon pero hindi siya makapagsalita. Ang lamig ng mga kamay niya na mahigpit na nakahawak sa isa't isa. She is in front of two Asturian men while they talk dirty on her and Langdon. These two were known to be the most bloodthirsty for Alcantaran blood among their new generation.

Ymir shrugged and smirked. "Who cares? I'd prefer him banging up countless of girls than staying loyal to that Alcantara girl. It means he has moved on."

Keon looked at her sharply. "You, where is Langdon?"

Hindi siya nakasagot dahil may pumipitik na alaala sa isip niya. His dark voice... His pitchy dark voice. She's sure that he's also there that night!

"Why do you need to be so harsh to women, Keon. Come on, man. She's just a beautiful innocent girl." Ymir leaned closer to her and touched her nose. "Where's our cousin, dear one?"

Hindi na naman siya nakasagot. Nakatingala lang siya kay Ymir habang unti-unting napupuno ang mga mata niya ng luha. His voice. His devil smirk while he slashes the throat of their security guard. Ngayon lang niya naalala. There's no mistaking it. Ymir was also present during the siege. Both of them were there when those private armies ransacked their house.

"Get your hands off her." Mula sa likuran niya ay sumulpot si Langdon at pinitik ang kamay ni Ymir palayo. Holding her close to him, he pulled her to his back to hide her from the sight of his cousins.

Naisubsob niya ang mukha sa likod ng hubad na katawan ni Langdon kasabay ng pagtulo ng mga luha niya. Ymir and Keon were there when they killed almost all of them. She can still remember the mutilated bodies of their house maids, their gardeners, her Yaya Muning who has been with her since she was a toddler.

"Hey man, I didn't do anything to her. Itong si Keon ang may kagagawan. Kung makapagtanong kasi ito eh, parang isang Alcantara ang kausap."

Napapiksi siya sa narinig. He couldn't be suspecting her, could he?

"What are you two doing here? Sinabi ko na sa inyo na hayaan niyo na ako. Sinalo ko na ang pagpapakasal kay Yvonne para sa inyo. Wala na akong utang sa iyo, Ymir."

She didn't dare peek through his shoulder to see the men. Pinanatili lang niya ang pagkakayuko kaya kitang-kita niya ang baril na nakaipit sa pantalon ni Langdon.

"We are aware, Langdon," si Keon. "But your responsibility as an Asturia doesn't end there. Stop running away from us. We are your family for Pete's sake. Come back to us, man. Kalimutan mo na iyon. It's all in the past already. We need you there, Langdon. We are losing, man."

Ramdan niya ang tensiyon sa kalamnan ni Langdon kaya hinaplos ko ang likod niya para payapain ito.

"Ako ang magsasabi kung kailan ito matatapos. Walang pwedeng magsabi sa akin kung ano ang dapat o hindi ko dapat gawin sa buhay kong ito! Especially not you Keon! You started all of this. Hindi ako magiging tagalinis ng dumi mo." He breathed out harshly. "Out," utos nito sa malamig na boses.

"I didn't do it for myself. I did it for you, for our family."

"No, you did it out of your fuckin' jealousy!" Hinablot ni Langdon ang baril at iniumang sa mismong sentido ni Keon.

"Uy! Uy!" sigaw agad ni Ymir pero hindi na nakagalaw para awatin ang dalawa dahil ikinasa ni Langdon ang baril at muling itinutok sa ulo ng nakataas na kamay na si Keon.

Gulat na agad siyang yumakap sa bewang ni Langdon para pigilan ito. "Please, Lang. Don't," sa nanginginig na tinig ay pakiusap niya. Ayaw na niyang maulit ang mga nangyari noon. Ayaw niya nang makasaksi nang ganoong klaseng karumal-dumal na tagpo.

"Hey, Langdon. Cousin, just chill," si Keon na kakaringgan na ng kaunting alarma ang boses.

"Lang, please. Huwag," bulong niya rito at saka hinigpitan ang yakap para iparating dito na natatakot na siya.

"Pahamak ka talaga kahit kailan, Keon. Langdon, we didn't come here to talk about it. Ang sabi lang nito sa akin ni Keon ay gusto ka lang daw niyang yayain maglaro ng basketball. Man, just put down your gun and let's talk it out," pagkumbinsi ni Ymir rito.

"Lang, please. Ibaba mo na," bulong niya rito.

He sighed. "Go, drown some plants, Cin."

Umiling siya. "Lang, 'wag..."

"Just do what I said. Go," nagpipigil ng timpi na utos nito sa kaniya.

Wala na siyang nagawa kundi dahan-dahang bumitaw rito at sulyapan ang dalawang lalake na iba na ang tingin sa kaniya. Si Ymir ay may kakaibang kinang sa mga mata habang nakatitig sa kaniya habang si Keon naman ay gitla ang mukha nang bumaba ang tingin sa mga kambing na nagsasayaw sa chain na nasa leeg niya.

Ibinalik niya ang tingin kay Langdon at tumango. "I'll wait."

Tumakbo siya papunta sa likod ng bahay kung saan puro lang bermuda grass ang nakatanim sa malawak na lupa.

"Ano ba ang lulunurin ko rito? Nakakaawa naman kung pati mga damo idadamay ko."

Worried na tumayo siya at sisilip sana pero naalala niya ang mukha ni Ymir ng gabing iyon habang ginagawa ang kahindik-hindik na bagay na iyon.

Napaupo siya sa damuhan at sunud-sunod na pumatak ang mga luha. It's him. It's them. They lead that event that has forever changed her life.

Her body trembled in fear as the thought of being able to look into the eyes of her killers that night just happened to her.

Nanlalambot na sumagap siya ng hangin dahil biglang hirap siyang huminga. It's too much for her. It's overwhelming and threatening it seems like the world is caving in and she's collapsing. Niyakap niya ang sarili para sakaling mawala ang nararamdaman pero hindi siya nagtagumpay.

Suddenly, warm hands slipped into her cheeks and lifted her face.

"Are you okay?" Langdon asked, his jaws clenched and muscles tensed.

She shook her head desperately. "Hindi. Takot ako, Lang. Takot na takot."

Langdon sighed and took her in his arms. His hand rested on her arms and caressed them to comfort her.

"It's okay. Just be very afraid. And then let it go because there's no point of being afraid anymore. I'm here. I'm here."

Iginalaw niya ang ulo saka inilubog ang mukha sa dibdib nito. She was instantly assured of the kind of security he's offering.