CHAPTER 56: Pain like no other

Marius

No! This can't be! Why!? Why!?

Painful! It's so painful! Pakiramdam ko ay kalahati ng aking pagkatao ang sapilitang pinunit sa mula sa akin. Sa sobrang sakit ay napahawak ako sa aking dibdib.

My omega is dead. He didn't make it. Why!? Why!?

Hinayaan muna ako ni Jonas habang nakayakap sa malamig na bangkay ni Jade. He is with me. He's with me but he's dead. He can't no longer move. He can no longer smile or hug me. I can no longer see those sweet smiles of his. He.. he.. oh fate, why did you have to do this!? Why!

How can I tell this to my kids? How can I tell that their mother passed away? How will Cameron take this? The thought of my son crying over his mom is too painful for me. He was still a kid. And twins? They still need him.

Jade is dead, he didn't make it. Sabi ni Jonas ay napuruhan ang puso ni Jade by a bullet that is meant to be mine. There was a sniper hiding somewhere and that sniper probably aimed the gun for me but Jade took it instead of me when he hugged me.

"Amoura is a kind of special bullet designed to kill an alpha. It has a genetically engineered poison called Oura. This poison aims to kill the alpha cells that regenerate faster than beta and omega and then proceed to kill the blood cells and then the heart which is the Oura's main target. As the Oura gathered in one their target organ. They will explode making the heart burst. We all know that alphas are fast healers and had antigen to oppose any virus or nature made poison. This will instantly kill them. But since Jade is an omega, the fatality is one hundred percent with the combination of a snake's venom, surviving is impossible, Marius," sabi sa akin ni Jonas.

"S-snake venom?" hindi makapaniwala na tanong ko sa kanya.

"Yes. I found a pair of fangs pierced on his left foot. As my colleague studied it while we are trying our best to revive him. We almost took all the Oura but the venom has long started its evilness. I think that this must be the doing of Krait. Krait's bite is not painful compared to other snakes. And Bean Island has a lot of Krait's kind. Sometimes victims aren't aware that they are bitten and when they do, it's too late and probably Jade wasn't aware of it," sabi pa niya. "I'm really sorry Marius. We did everything."

I took Jade's body back to Bree. Cole didn't call me because he respects my privacy of mourning.

"Papa, where is mom? You said he is with you. I want to see him," excited na sabi ni Cameron sa akin habang bitbit ang gawa niyang cookies. "Grandma taught me how to bake this. And I want mommy to taste it," sabi pa niya.

Napakagat ako ng labi upang pigilan ang pag-iyak. Hindi ko kayang makitang mawala ang mga matatamis na ngiti ng aking anak kapag nalaman niyang wala na ang kanyang mommy.

"Mommy will be delighted, son knowing that you were the one who baked it," nakangiting sagot ko sa kanya. "But mommy needs to rest," pagsisinungaling ko sa kanya. When mommy's okay, I will take you to him."

"Really Papa? You're the best," sagot ng aking anak bago ito pumasok sa loob ng kanyang silid upang magpalit ng damit.

Nagkatinginan kami ng Mama.

Umiling-iling ito sa akin. Halatang katatapos lang nitong umiyak habang karga si Achi.

"You need to tell him, Son," sabi sa akin ng Mama.

Napalunok ako at napatingala sa kisame upang pigilan ang mga luhang gusto na namang kumawala mula sa aking mga mata. Every inch of my body is aching. If I give in to the pain, I know Jade wouldn't like it.

"How can I do that Ma when I saw his happy face? I couldn't tell him. Hindi ko kayang makitang mapalitan ng lungkot ang kanyang masayang mukha," sagot ko sa kanya. "He's been with Jade since the beginning. Mas gugustuhin ko munang magsinungaling sa kanya."

Tumabi sa akin si Mama pagkatapos kunin si Achi sa kanya.

"Your son will understand it. Trust me. Matalino si Cameron. Sure, he will cry. Jade's death will make him sad but one day he will understand why his mom is dead. Trust me. Cameron is not a weak kid," sabi niya.

I want to kill those people behind this. I want to let them feel the feeling I have right now and how they robbed and took the life of my kid's mother. Christ knows how much I want to kill those people.

Inilapag ko sa crib si Achi katabi si Tachi. At saka itinuro sa aking ina ang aking dibdib.

"Napakasakit sa dibdib Mama," hindi ko napigilan ang hindi mapaiyak. "Ang sakit sakit na. Hindi ko kayang tingnan si Jade na wala ng buhay. I want to follow him pero sa isip-isip ko, may mga anak kami. I need to be strong for them but-" hindi ako nahiyang humagulhol. Kasehodang marinig man ako ng mga taga-silbi ng bahay ay wala akong pakialam. This is the only way I can ease pain kahit na sa alam ko ay hindi hindi ito mawawala basta-basta. Jade's and I's fate was severed by death and it was inevitable. I have to endure everything. I have to face another day alone without the person who was meant for me.

Kahit masakit, I told Cameron that his mommy will never be with us. At tulad ng aking inaasahan, Cameron runs towards his mom's dead body in an open casket and cried hysterically.

"Wake up mommy! Wake up!" sabi niya habang umiiyak.

Royal people are watching as my son is begging for his mom to wake up.

"You promised me that you will come back with us. I've been waiting for you every day. Why? Was I a bad kid mommy because you choose to leave me? Was I a bad brother to Tachi and Achi? If I was a bad brother mommy, I'm so sorry. And I promise you that I will love and protect them as you said to me because I love you, mommy. I love you so much. Thank you for taking good care of me mommy. Thank you for raising me, Mommy. I will never forget you and you are the best mom in the world," umiiyak na sabi niya before hugging Jade for the last time. Nakita kong nagpunas ng mga luha sa mga mata si Cameron at saka hinalikan ang noo ni Jade.

Belle and Abigail flew to Bree when she learned that his brother was dead. I couldn't see Belle's gaze at me. Nakita ko ang lungkot, sakit at kaunting galit sa kanyang mga mata ngunit wala siyang sinasabi sa akin. She was crying while hugging her brother's body. I knew Belle's the only family Jade had. I understand how painful it was for her. She raised him alone.

As I have to take Jade to his resting place, the people of Bree and our family royal friends who attended Jade's burial ceremony gave me privacy with him.

"I love you forever, Jade. I will stop loving you, my love. You are the best omega for me. Goodbye Jade. I love you always and until the day we will meet again," bulong ko sa kanya and gave him one last kiss on the lips.

Isinarado ng royal guards ang casket ni Jade at pagkatapos ay unti-unti na itong ibinababa. Sounds of gun firing resonated in my ancestor's burial place. When Jade's tomb was sealed, so was my heart.

After Jade's burial was done, Cole came to me.

"We caught Haize," sabi nito sa akin.

"And Sebastian?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"Lemuel took him," sagot niya.

"What!?"

Bumuntong-hininga si Cole.

"He was the one who shot Jade," sabi pa niya. "Lemuel took him after that but he promised us that when he is done with him, he'll give him back to us," sabi pa niya.

Calm down. I need to calm down. Sebastian will see what is coming for him.

"That son of a bastard," sabi ko sa kanya.

"According to Lemuel, Sebastian regretted it all. He also said that there's never been a day that passed by that he didn't cry. He said it was really meant for you. And he also told him to kill you in exchange for Jade's freedom," sabi pa niya.

Sebastian clearly loves Jade. I can see it. But the way he wanted someone who isn't even his is stupid. It's like gambling that you can never win. And it doesn't change the fact that he is the one who killed Jade. He took him away from me and my kids. He will see what is coming since Lemuel is a beast.

"And where is Haize?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"He's been detained. We've been waiting for you to visit him before taking him over to Duke. He wanted that guy so much. To avoid conflict between the agency and Mafia, the higher-ups agreed to it. His brother, the king, tried to interfere with us. But he didn't do anything. When will you decide to visit him?" tanong niya.

"After my kids and I settle down, I'll visit that bastard," sagot ko sa kanya.

"Okay. Send me a message and I will prepare him for you. Duke is willing to wait since he understands your situation," sabi pa niya.

Hindi rin nagtagal si Cole sa bahay dahil sa biglaang pag-labor ni Gaynell. He starts to feel pain when he learns that Jade is dead. According to Cole. Gaynell wanted to visit Jade's wake but since his pregnancy is critical, he wasn't allowed to.

Few days passed and Cemeron and the twins are doing okay now. Mama took care of them. Unti-unti ng bumabalik sa dati si Cameron. He also told me that he didn't want me to replace his mom in my heart. Ngumiti ako sa kanya at sinabi kong walang sinumang pwedeng pumalit sa mommy niya. No one.

I enrolled Cameron at Saint Argus School for royals. Doon siya mag-aaral hanggang sa makatapos na siya ng college. At first, ayaw niya dahil walang mag-aalaga sa kambal but then I told him that they will be alright with their grandparents and me. Matapos ko siyang mahatid sa Castel, kung saan naroon ang eskwelahan ay siniguro kong maging maayos ang pag-aaral niya roon. As for me, binisita ko ang tomb ni Jade and gave him a bouquet of fresh red flowers. Naging routine ko na iyon bago pumasok sa House of Duke o pagkagising ko kinabukasan.

Pagkatapos kong muling bumalik sa pagiging Duke ng Bree ay dumaan muna ako sa head office ng Task Force.

"He's ready bro. He's in the interrogation room," sabi sa akin ni Cole.

"Thanks man," sagot ko sa kanya bago pumasok sa silid kung saan naroon si Haize.

Kaswal na nakaupo lang si Haize at pangisi-ngising tumingin sa akin. Hinila ko ang upuan na nasa opposite ng kanyang kinauupuan.

"How's being mateless?" tanong niya sa akin.

Hindi ko sinagot ang tanong niya. Nakatingin lang ako sa kanya at gustong-gusto ko itong suntukin sa mukha ngunit nagpigil ako.

"Are you happy that you get what you want?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"Honestly? Yes. It wasn't really my plan to kill your mate. It was you actually. But when your mate decided to interfere, which is not expected at all, Sebastian shot him instead of you. Kasalanan iyon ni Jade kung bakit siya namatay instead of you. So yeah, I'm still satisfied because you already knew what it was like to lose someone who was made for you," sabi pa niya. "Just like what you did to me. Just like how you killed my mate," sabi pa niya.

"I didn't kill anyone," kalmadong sabi ko sa kanya. "Why blame someone for the death of your mate?" tanong ko sa kanya. "You don't even have evidence."

Ngumisi siya.

"You didn't? Are you sure? Because the last time I checked, the baby bazooka's shell you boasted on me back during that joint expansion of territories is the same shell I saw near my mate's dead body. Bala iyon ng pinagyayabang mong bazooka. Nakasulat doon ang pangalan mo. Hindi ba ikaw ang nagpaputok niyon? Pag-aari mo ang letcheng bazooka na iyon na siyang kumitil sa aking kapares. And you, you don't even know how much I hated you since then," aniya.

Nag-isip ako. I never ever used that bazooka ever. Ang naalala kong sumubok niyon ay ang mismong tatay ni Haize. He was the one who taught me how to use it properly and he was the one who fired it and not me.

"Ah. So you thought it was me because my name was engraved on the shell, right?" buong pait kong tanong ko. "Have you ever thought that maybe someone used that and it wasn't me?" tanong ko pa.

"Don't joke on me," sabi niya.

"And why would I joke with you? It was your father. He was the one who fired my bazooka that time. I never fired it even once," sagot ko sa kanya.

Nakita kong napatitig siya sa akin at nanlaki ang kanyang mga mata

"Lies. Why would my dad join that mission? I left him sitting on his throne that day. There's no way that it was him. It was you! You killed my mate!" pilit niyang sinasabi sa akin.

"Your father followed your arrival after you left. He boasted to me that when he was young, he used to play with the bazooka and he even showed me how to use it. Now if you don't believe me. It's fine. You already had your revenge but sadly to the wrong person. I hope you're happy. And send my regards to Duke," sabi ko pa bago tumayo ay saka tinapik tapik ang kanyang balikat. "And yes, the pain is unbearable but since I have my kids, they helped me heal slowly. But unlike you, I wasn't hated by my mate. He loved me until his last breath. Between you and me? It's obvious who is a loser," sabi ko pa bago tuluyang lumabas sa interrogation room.

Damn it. He blamed me for something I didn't do and he did it all to me. If I'm not in my rational mind, I could just shoot him right now and he'll be dead in a second. But I didn't do it. Fate has its own way of punishing. And I hope Duke will kill him for me.

"Bro," tawag sa akin ni Cole. "Are you okay?" tanong niya sa akin.

Ngumiti ako sa kanya.

"A little," sagot ko sa kanya.

"Want some booze? My call," yaya niya sa akin.

Nag-isip ako kung tatanggapin ko ba ang yaya niya o hindi. Sa huli ay tinanggap ko rin ito and we ended up in a private pub. Uminom ako ng uminom. I had to let all my frustration go. And maybe some alcohol can help me.

"That bastard blamed me for something I didn't even do," sabi ko kay Cole. "Planned everything including trying to kill me because he thought I was the ons who killed his mate where in reality it was his own father," sabi ko pa bago tumungga ng alak. "He put me in misery, he killed my wife and my kids' mother for his wrong assumption. I suffered a lot because of it. I hope he also dies," sabi ko pa.

Hindi ko namalayan kung paano ako nakauwi ng bahay. Cole probably took me home after I passed out. Bumangon ako bago sinapo ang aking nanakit na ulo.

"Here's your med for hangover," sabi sa akin ni Mama na hindi ko namalayan na nakapasok na pala sa aking silid kasama ang kambal na noon ay nakakalakad na.

"Thanks Ma," sagot ko sa kanya bago tinanggap ang ang tubig at aspirin bago ito straight na inom.

Tumayo ako at saka binuhat ang dalawang bata na nag-uunahan pang lumayo sa akin. I named the twins. Tachi's name is Chandler and Achi is Mavery. Achi looked a lot like Jade and I knew that he was an omega. The twins aren't any blood related to me but my instinct, they are mine.

Hindi ko na rin mabilang kung ilang beses nakiusap ang magulang ni Sebastian na kahit man lang sa dalawa ay mapunta sa kanila. They needed to have Sebastian's heir but I didn't want to. The twins' legal father is me. Sebastian doesn't have kids. At wala silang karapatang kunin ang isa sa mga kambal. As I know, Cameron will not allow it.

Five months passed, according to Cole, Lemuel turned Sebastian over to the agency. He said that Sebastian isn't the Sebastian we used to know. Malaki raw ang ibinagsak ng katawan nito at hindi raw halos kumakain. Cole also told me that he is medically unstable. Naroon iyong bigla na lang daw ito tatawa and in a second, bigla na lang daw ito iiyak at paulit-ulit na binabanggit ang pangalan ni Jade at humihingi ng kapatawaran. He will speak how much he loved him and he wished to die. At kapag maayos ang araw nito at nakatulala lang ito at umiiyak.

He has been detained for two weeks when someone discovered that he took his own life by hanging himself against the wall of his cell. The agency brought his body back to Aster for he is still a Duke and a royal. I knew Sebastian suffered enough at hindi siya pinatahinik ng kanyang konsensya. Like me, he was also a victim of Haize. Sebastian wanted to protect Jade by agreeing to kill me. But it was a mistake when he shot Jade instead of me. As a respect, dumalo ang aking mga magulang sa burial ni Sebastian along with the twins. At muli ay nakiusap ang mag-asawa sa akin sa pamamagitan ng aking Papa. They wished to let any one of the twins inherit the throne that Sebastian left behind. At the end, pumayag na rin ako. It is Chandler's birthright to be the Aster's next Duke. Napagkasunduan namin na kapag nasa legal ng edad ang bata, saka na siya lumipta sa Aster at dahil bata pa lang ito, ang ama muna ni Sebastian ang magpapatuloy ng iniwan ng anak.

Mabilis na lumipas ang panahon, hindi na akong nag-asawa pang muli. Iginugol ko na lang ang aking nalalabing oras sa aking mga anak. I watched them grow and explore the world. Si Cameron ay nasa kolehiyo na habang si Chandler ay nasa Aster na at pinag-aaralan ang pamamalakad bilang isang Duke. He needs to take over now even though he is just fifteen. Matanda na noon ang lolo niya sa Aster at hindi na nito makakaya pang gampanan ang papel nito bilang isang Duke.

As for Achi, he's growing more and more like Jade. Cameron and Chandler are both overprotective brothers at hindi sila pumapayag na may bigla na lang lalapit sa kapatid na hindi nila kilala. As a father, I also want Achi to explore the world despite being an omega.

Napapangiti na lamang ako kapag nakikita kong ang tatlo na nagkakasiyahan. Jade would be so proud of them.

"Papa, what are you doing smiling there? Come here! Join with us," nakangiting sabi sa akin ni Achi habang nakikipaglaro sa dalawa nitong kuya.

"Nah, I'm old enough to play that game," sagot ko sa kanya bago kinuha ang isang pumpon ng bulaklak.

"Are you going to mom's tomb Pa?" tanong ni Cameron na kakauwi lamang.

"Yes. Do you guys want to come? I'm sure your mom missed you," sagot ko sa kanila.

"You go first papa," sagot ni Chandler. "We will be there shortly," aniya pa.

Nauna ako sa kanila.

Inilapag ko ang bulaklak sa puntod ni Jade at saka kinausap.

"Our kids are grown up. I hope you were here to see how much they changed from cry babies to mature boys," sabi ko pa. "I will pass the position to Cameron soon as I feel like I'm getting older now. Chandler started to do duke duty at the age of fifteen and Achi, well our little omega is slowly spreading his wings outside our house. He'll attend high school next year and I hope he'll meet a lot of friends there," sabi ko pa. "A lot of years have passed but I miss you every single day. I hope you'll be waiting for me until the day I follow you, my love. I love you so much. I love you so much, Jade.