CHAPTER 47: That one true friend

Marius

"Everything is ready, bro," sabi sa akin ni Cole habang nasa pribadong opisina kami ng Task Force.

Sabi ng aming intel ay pugad daw talaga mg Kaizen ang Bean Island kung kaya ay inaasahan na maraming tauhan si Haize doon.

"And also, walang pagbabago sa location ni Jade. Hindi pa rin siya dinadala ni Sebastian pauwinng Aster dahil alam niyang tututol ang kanyang mga magulang. "I bet he's still battling himself whether to bring him home or wage a war on you," sabi pa niya.

"If Sebastian hurt my wife, he'll be sorry. Napakarami ko ng pinalampas even including stepping on my dignity. This time, wala ng pakiusap," sagot ko kay Cole.

"Relax bro. This has to be end. Lahat ay handa na. All we have to confirm is kung sino ang nag baback-up kay Haize. At kapag nalaman ng intel kung sino iyon, then the plan of rescuing your mate is on," sabi pa niya sa akin.

Oc course I can't endure another day without knowing what's happening with Jade. As the day comes by one by one, lalo akong nagiging anxious. It frustrates me that I couldn't do anything to save them. I want both my wife and my son. I want them to rule with me.

"We'll get them. Don't worry," assurance pa niya sa akin.

"Thank, bro," sagot ko sa kanya.

"Iyakin. Isa kang anak ng duke pero napakaiyakan mo," sabi sa akin ng batang bungi habang naglalakad kami ng aking tagapangalaga sa akin noon.

"Anong sabi mo? Hindi ako iyakin. Ikaw ang iyakin," sagot ko sa kanya bago bumitaw kay Roberto at nilapitan siya.

Tumawa ito ng malakas.

"Anong hindi? Nakita kaya kitang umiyak dahil inagaw sayo ni Bastian yung lapis mo. Iyakin ka. Pwede ka namang lumaban," sagot niya.

"Hindi ako iyakin. Sabi ng papa hindi ako pwedeng makipag-away. Dapat daw ako ay manners kasi ako ang susunod na duke," sagot ko sa kanya.

"Inuuto ka lang ng tatay mo," sabi niya sabay tawa. "Lalaki ka oy. Walang lalaking umiiyak," sabi pa niya at saka tumawa ng tumawa.

Maya-maya ay binatukan siya ng isang babae.

"What the hell are you doing Cole? Why are you teasing the young master?" galit nito na tanong nito sa bata.

"Ano ba ate? Eh sa iyakin kasi," sagot ni Cole sa kanya.

Piningot ng babae ang tenga ni Cole.

"I'm sorry young master sa inasal ni Cole. I'm sure hindi na ito mauulit," hinging paumanhin ng ate nito sa akin bago hinila palayo si Cole habang pingot-pingot nito ang kanyang tenga.

Kilala ko ang pamilya ni Cole. Isang magaling na businessman ang tatay niya at isang mahusay ng guro naman ang omega male niyang nanay. Madalas ay wala ito sa kanilang bahay at lagi ito at ang ate nito ang tumatao. Alam ko dahil malapit lang ang bahay nila sa bahay namin. Madalas ko rin itong nakikitang naglalaro mag-isa tulad ng umaakyat ito sa puno at kapag nahulog ay tatayo lang at hindi iiyak at maya-maya ay makikita mong aakyat na naman ito uli.

"Hmm, do you want to play with him?" tanong sa akin ni Mama noong nakita niya akong nanonood lang kay Cole habang naglalaro itong mag-isa.

"Can I Mama?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"Of course, son. Why don't you call him and play? Don't you want him to be your friend?" sabi niya sa akin.

"Because Sebastian said royals should be friends only with royals," sagot ko sa kanya.

"Silly. Hindi porke anak ka ng duke, susundin mo iyon. You can be friends with anyone you want," sabi ni mama. "Now go. And play with him," sabi pa niya.

Tumakbo ako kung saan naroon si Cole.

"Cole! Wanna play with me?" tanong ko sa kanya.

Lumingon sa akin si Cole habang may nilalarong toy gun.

Ngumisi ito sa akin.

"Ayaw kong makipaglaro sa maarte," sagot niya sa akin bago namaywang.

"Hindi ako maarte," sagot ko sa kanya.

"At iyakin."

"Hindi rin ako iyakin," sagot ko sa kanya bago hinubad ang aking sapatos.

Simula ng araw na iyon ay naging magkaibigan na kami ni Cole. Napapansin kong halatang ayaw sa kanya ni Sebastian noon at pilit akong pinapalayonaa kanya dahil nga sa hindi royal blood si Cole. Ngunit hindi ako nakinig kay Sebastian. When I'm with Cole, lumalabas ang pagiging natural ko at kapag kasama ko si Sebastian, kailangan kong umastang kagalang-galang na tao.

When we become High School, sa isang royal school na ako nag-aaral habang si Cole ay isang private school para sa mga anak-mayaman. Kahit bihira na kaming magkita dahil ibang bansa na ako ang-aaral ay patuloy pa rin kaming nag-uusap.

Doon ko lang nalaman na nagkaroon siya ng omegang kaibigan. Sabi niya ay sana ito na raw ang fated mate niya. Syempre suportado ko siya noon. Hanggang sa ibinalita niya na nahanap na raw niya ang fatef pair niya. Kaso lang ay hindi ang omegang gusto niya. His heart belongs to the omega he first met but his body wants the omega that is meant for him. Sa huli ay ang pinili niya ang kanyang fated pair.

Few years passed at malapit na ang graduation namin ng highschool ay ibinalita niyang namatay sa sakit ang kanyang fated pair. Cole was devastated. He was supposed to succumb to his animal instinct but thankfully his heart belonged to others. Mabilis lang siya naka-move on. Before graduating, nagpasya siyang pumasok sa secret military group na pinasukan ko. Ilang beses ko na siyang niyaya noon ngunit tumanggi siya sa kabila ng pagkahilig nito sa mga baril.

When he came back to college, he met the love of his life again but sadly, that omega was obsessed with the fated pair.

He was too late. Nakilala na ng omegang iyon ang kanyang alpha pair. Huli na siya at isa pa hindi naman niya alam kung pipiliin siya nito.

That time, I met my mate and I didn't know I was suffering from severe bipolarity. And Cole knew it. He was the one who recommended to be a good physician that treated me before it was too late.

We were on a mission to search for Haze when he learned that the omega he loves was rejected by his alpha. And because he was still in love with the guy, he courted him and then asked him for marriage. Pumayag naman ang omega. And they were engage to be married the following year kaso, muling ginulo ng fated pair ng omega ang buhay niya so hindi natuloy ang kasal. That omega left Cole and chose his mate. I never saw Cole that broke. He also told me that he saw the alpha's chosen mate. Inihatid pa daw niya ang omega na iyon sa bahay nila.

The funny thing about that part was. The alpha we are talking about at that time was Sebastian and Gaynell. Hindi pa kilala ni Cole si Jade kung kaya hindi niya alam na ang omegang inihatid niya ay si Jade na pala.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" takang tanong ni Cole sa akin habang nakatitig ako sa kanya at tumatakbo ang aking isip tungkol sa nakaraan.

"Wala. I couldn't believe that Sebastian did that to you and Gaynell," sagot ko sa kanya.

"Well what else can I say? He likes challenges," sagot niya sa akin. "But at the end, mabibigo lang siya," sabi pa niya.

"You know what, I'm grateful I followed my mom in befriending you. Kung hindi I don't know what am I going to do right now," honest na sabi ko sa kanya. "I couldn't trust anyone."

"You know what? To be honest, I wanted to be your friend back then. I am always watching you at my house doing what a young master does. And I feel like your bored," natatawa niyang sabi niya.

"Maybe. I was always told to act like a young master," sagot ko sa kanya. "And sometimes I feel like I wanna be free," sagot ko sa kanya.

Ngumiti ito sa akin.

"Gentlemen, we need you two. The meeting will start now," sabi ni Sarge sa amin.

Sabay kaming tumayo at pumasok sa kabilang room kung saan naroon lahat ang mga lider ng task force.

"Let's begin," sabi ni Sarge bago tumayo sa harapan namin at binuksan ang projector kung saan naroon ang buong isla ng Bean Island. "This island is our target. Duke said that he won't interfere with our targets so we will go to surround them. Team viper and tiger will be the ones who will surround them in case of any escaping. Cole's and Marius' team will land on the island along with the few delta forces we had. Our mission is to rescue Marius' family and capture Haize," sabi pa niya and for Sebastian, we will file a case against him since Aster is now monopolized by another mafia group which he let them in as capitalized," sabi pa niya.

"What?" tanong ko sa kanya na naninigurado. Aster is one of those countries that campaigned against the mafia. "How did that happen?"

"Well," sabi ni Sarge. "Sebastian granted them entrance to operate their illegal factory there. Apparently, he doesn't know that those persons he let in are Haize's business associates and affiliated with the mafia. They are not connected to Duke. Duke runs his illegal business in his territories. But this kind of mafia we are dealing with are those who wanted to spread their connection away from Duke's territories. They knew that Duke isn't just a fry to kill. He is dangerous enough even for us. The anti-mafia group of royals will call Sebastian's father one of these days. Sebastian's already caused too much ruckus enough to stir them. This mission is composed of three important things. One, rescue Mariu's family. Second, capture Haize preferably alive, and last, arrest Sebastian. Remember men, these persons should be alive, especially Marius' son and mate. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir!" sabay naming sagot.

"Good. You are all dismissed," tumayo kaming lahat at akmang aalis na. "Stay here Marius," sabi niya sa akin.

Nagpaiwan ako kasama kasama si Sarge at saka binuksan niya ang laptop at pinatay ang projector.

"I thought I have to let you see this," sabi niya sa akin sabay paharap sa akin ng laptop niya. "It was sent directly to my secretary. Please, I'll ask you to remain calm until we execute our plan," sabi pa niya.

Kinabahan ako sa sinasabi niya. At hindi ko alam kung bakit..