TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH

Master Manipulator

Ryu got up from his bed when he heard his phone ringing nonstop. Binuksan niya ang lampshade na nasa ibabaw ng night stand at hinagilap ang cellphone na naka-tago sa loob ng drawer. He took it out and answered the call without checking who the caller was.

"Yes?" he answered, voice hoarse from sleep.

"Hey."

With eyes half-closed, Ryu stared at the screen and saw Marco's name and number. He then turned to the alarm radio beside the lamp to check the time. 

Napaungol ito nang makita kung anong oras pa lang. "It's 1:00 AM here in Philadelphia, Marc. What's up?"

"Seann and Roxanne have arrived in Somalia. Katatapos lang naming mag-usap sa telepono," Marco reported which he answered with a smile. The news definitely woke him up.

Tuluyan na siyang bumangon at nag-inat ng katawan. 

   "Thanks for the update, Marc. I can't wait to hear more in the next couple of days."

   "Are you sure about this, Ryu? Hindi pa rin ako kombinsido..."

Ryu chuckled and sat on his bed. Humarap ito sa nakasarang bintana ng silid. "They will be fine, don't worry. I have faith in Seann."

   "I don't know, Ryu. Pero umaasa akong maayos na maka-u-uwi ang dalawang iyon matapos ang sampung araw. What do you think Seann would feel if he learns that you paid the ladyguard to leave Roxanne after 38 hours?"

"Don't worry about it, Marc— I'll cross the bridge when I get there. There is no point worrying about it now. Ang mahalaga ngayon ay umuusad ang plano."

Marco released a deep breath on the other line. "Seann started to hate Roxanne since that river incident almost two years ago, kaya hindi ko alam kung ano ang mangyayari sa dalawang iyon habang magkasama. But I am more worried about Seann getting mad if he learns you planned all this."

Isang buntonghininga rin muna ang pinakawalan ni Ryu bago sumagot. "He will never know. Ikaw at ako lang ang naka-a-alam tungkol sa bagay na ito, kaya panatag akong hindi malalaman ni Seann ang ginawa ko. Well— the lady guard knows about it, too, of course. But I paid her enough to keep this a secret. Come on, Marco. This plan will work— just sit back, relax., and have faith in my plan."

"If you say so," Marco conceded, followed by a sigh of surrender.

  Muling tumayo si Ryu at lumapit sa nakasarang bintana ng silid. Ini-lihis nito ang makapal na kurtina at pinagmasdan ang madilim na hardin sa ibaba. "Hindi mo naman siguro iniisip na magkakasakitan sila ng pisikal? You know Seann better— do you think he is capable of physically hurting a woman?" 

"No, he will never physically hurt anyone," Marco answered lightly, "but knowing Roxanne Marie, I wouldn't blame Seann if he decided to spank her. She's too much to handle— kaya kinakabahan ako para sa kanilang dalawa. At sa totoo lang, kay Seann ako nag-aalala. We need to ensure he gets psychiatric help after the trip; siguradong dadaan 'yon sa trauma."

Banayad na napangiti si Ryu. "Come on, Marc, stop worrying. I am positive about this— Seann will tame Roxanne, I can see it happening now."

Sandaling nawala ang pangamba mula kay Marco nang marinig ang sinabi ni Ryu, hindi dahil nakumbinsi ito, kung hindi dahil may bigla itong naisip. "What, you can see the future now, Boss?" he asked, grinning from ear to ear.

Ryu chuckled. Inilipat nito ang tingin sa kalangitan kung saan ang mga bituin ay nagkalat at nagniningning. Lumapad ang ngiti nito. 

"Let's just put our trust in faith, Marco..."

  *

  *

  *

   Si Marco na nasa kabilang linya ay hindi kaagad nakasagot. Muling pumasok sa isip nito ang araw nang tawagan si Seann upang sabihin sa kaibigan ang parusang matatanggap mula sa pagkatalo sa pustahan nila. 

Parusang si Ryu ang gumawa at nag-plano sa umpisa pa lang. 

Ni hindi naisip ni Marco na may ganoong ideya na tumatakbo sa utak ng kaibigan. He, himself, was also surprised when Ryu told him that he got a plan after their meeting.

"What do you mean 'you have a plan'?" tanong ni Marco kay Ryu nang maiwan silang dalawa sa conference room matapos ang meeting kasama ang mga kaibigan. Everyone had already left the room and went to their respective offices.

Si Ryu ay napasandal sa upuan nito, ang tingin ay nasa mga papeles na nakapatong sa oval table subalit ang isip ay nasa ibang lupalop. May ngiting nakapaskil sa mga labi nito nang sumagot, 

"Sa pag-alis nina Kane at Uncle Damien ay pupunta ako sa mansion para personal na kausapin ang lady guard na binayaran ni Kane para bantayan si Roxanne. I need to ensure you win."

"Why?" Gulung-gulo si Marco.

"Para ikaw ang magbibigay parusa sa kanila."

"Bakit gusto mong ako ang magbigay ng parusa? What are you planning, Ryu?"

"Because I want to control the game, Marco." Malapad na ngumiti si Ryu at doon pa lang sinulyapan ang kaibigan na magkasalubong ang mga kilay. "And you will help me succeed with my plans."

"Elaborate."

Umayos muna ng upo si Ryu bago nagpatuloy. Ang mga siko nito'y ipinatong sa ibabaw ng mesa. "Katulad ng sinabi niyo kanina, si Seann lang, maliban kay Kane, ang mas nakakakilala kay Roxanne. Sa maraming pagkakataon ay nagkasama sila at nagkausap. At kanina, habang pinag-uusapan natin si Roxanne ay may nakita ako sa mga mata ni Seann. Behind his mockery and sarcasm, I could clearly see that he was worried about her."

"So?"

"So... I think Seann cares about Roxanne."

Sandaling natigilan si Marco, bago bumulalas ng tawa. "That's bullshit. Mainit ang dugo ni Seann kay Roxy."

"But that doesn't mean he didn't care? Sa tingin ko ay nag-aalala rin si Seann sa kapakanan ni Roxanne dahil may alam ito sa nararamdaman ng dalaga. So, how about... we manipulate the game and make you the winner? And then, we will give Seann his consequence."

"And his consequence is...?"

"He looks after Roxanne for the next ten days."

"Seann wouldn't last that long—"

"He would, because he doesn't really have any choices."

"What?"

Ngumisi si Ryu. "Hindi ba at aalis si Seann? Kapag ini-sama niya si Roxanne sa pupuntahan niya at nasa ibang bansa sila, sa tingin mo ba ay may pagpipilian siya malibang tiisin niya na kasama si Roxanne?"

"Hindi ka sigurado na itutuloy pa rin ni Seann ang planong pag-alis kapag nalaman ang parusa niya."

"Kung hindi ay walang problema, he stays here, but he still needs to deal with Roxanne for the next ten days. May usapan kayo sa pustahan, hindi ba? Everyone should take their consequence without question. Seann isn't the one who would break a promise."

*

*

*

Tulad ng plano ni Ryu ay pumunta ito sa mansion ng mga Madrigal nang makaalis si Kane at si Damien. Pribado nitong kinausap ang lady guard ni Roxanne at binayaran. The lady guard agreed to keep up until after 38 hours. After than, she's out. 

At pabor iyon sa ladyguard dahil mukhang hindi nga nito kaya si Roxanne. Ilang oras pa lang itong naglilingkod ay tila susuko na. Pero nangako itong mananatili roon hanggang sa pinag-usapang oras. 

He bet on 36 hours, at para hindi gaanong halata ay binayaran ni Ryu ang lady guard na umalis pagkatapos ng tatlumputwalong oras. And whoever comes the closest wins.

And it was him. 

*

*

*

"Congratulations on your victory," Seann said after taking his call. 

   "Ready for your consequence, buddy?"

"Of course. Though I didn't really expect you to win. That lady guard was tough to stay for 38 hours."

He chuckled. "Hey, listen. I need to remind you that you have to accept the consequence without argument— ito ang napag-usapan natin."

"Will I ever forget that? Shoot it, ano ang parusa ko?"

"I challenge you to tame the wild beast."

Matagal bago nakasagot si Seann. "And the wild beast is...?"

"Roxanne Marie Madrigal."

"Imposible ang gusto mong mangyari," matigas na sagot ni Seann— katuld ng inaasahan niya. "Just send me to war, Marco, at hindi ko uurungan."

"Remember the rule— you must follow the consequence without argument."

"Damn it," Seann muttered after realizing that he had nowhere to run.

 Napangiti siya dahil ramdam niya ang inis sa tinig ng kaibigan. But at the same time, he was also worried for him. Hindi siya sigurado kung may mangyayari sa plano ni Ryu, pero mananalig siya rito. 

 "I need you to watch over Roxanne in the next few days, and at the same time, I need you to teach her a lesson," he continued. Iyon ang sinabi ni Ryu na sabihin niya kay Seann. 

   "Clarify," Seann commanded.

"I need you to help Roxanne realize that her rebellion won't do her any good. That she has to stop doing nasty s**t because it will bring her nowhere. Teach her a lesson, and help her find her purpose in life."

"You sounded like Ryu, but not quite," Seann commented, na lihim niyang ikinangisi. Of course, he would sound like Ryu— this was Ryu's plan after all 

Nagpatuloy pa si Seann.

"I'm not sure how to accomplish this consequence; I don't even want to be near her again!"

"Here's what you need to do first," he started, ignoring Seann's complaint. "I need you to call Kane and tell him that you are scheduled to travel outside the country and you need a companion Hindi niya alam na magbabakasyon ka. Sabihin mong nalaman mo ang pag-atras ng ladyguard ni Roxanne at wala pang nahahanap na kapalit, kaya magpresenta kang ikaw na ang bahalang tumingin sa magaling niyang pinsan. Ask his permission to bring Roxanne with you—"

   "Marco, I can't bring her with me, you know where I'm going and it's too dangerous for someone like her to be there. This is nonsense—"

 "This is your consequence," he reminded. "If you don't want to bring her with you, then I guess you need to cancel your trip."

Annoyed with the situation, Seann released a heavy sigh. "I can't cancel the trip, inaasahan ng isang komunidad sa Somalia ang pagdating ko. This is important— more important than babysitting that witch!"

   "Then, let me continue giving you orders," he said while grinning. "Where was I...? Oh, right. Kane won't refuse, that's for sure, dahil alam niyang wala talagang makatatagal kay Roxanne. Convince him that it's all right with you and you look forward to spending time with his cousin."

Matagal na sandali ang lumipas bago niya narinig ang pagbuntong-hininga ni Seann sa kabilang linya. "Alam ni Kane na mabigat ang loob ko kay Roxanne matapos ang nangyari sa ilog—"

"Pero alam din ni Kane na mapagpatawad ka at matulungin— kaya nakahanda kang tulungan ito ngayong nalaman mong nawalan ng bantay si Roxanne."

"Marco, hindi ba pwedeng si Grand na lang? Si Jet o si Blaze? Why it has to be me?" 

   "It has to be you, dahil alam mo na kung paano tumakbo ang utak ni Roxanne. Now, please do as I said. And, good luck, buddy. Keep us posted."

  *

  *

  *

   "Still there, Marco?" tanong ni Ryu nang matagal na nanahimik sa kabilang linya si Marco.

Marco cleared his throat before answering. "Hey, yes. Bigla ko lang naalala ang araw na tinawagan ko si Seann tungkol sa parusa niya. Also. iniisip ko kung ano ang gagawin niya para mapa-amo si Roxanne."

"Well, that's the challenge for him. Sa kaniya na rin mismo nanggaling na sa ating lahat, higit niyang kilala si Roxanne. So let him find ways to tame her. Siya nga pala, hindi ba nagtaka ang iba kung bakit si Seann lang ang may parusa?"

"No, lahat sila ay binigyan ko rin ng parusa— I don't want them to flood me with question; kilala mo ang mga iyon."

Ryu chuckled again. "Anong parusa ang ibinigay mo sa tatlo?"

"Well, I ordered Blaze to meet our Chinese investors in Hongkong; a trip which was originally assigned to me. While Grand arranged for Roxanne's multi-entry visa and for a private plane that will bring them to any destination they desire. As for Jet... I ordered him to date his personal assistant."

Natawa si Ryu sa huling sinabi ni Marco. "Jet and his personal assistant? This is going to be fun."

"He was actually blushing when I said that. We all know that he has a thing on his personal assistant, he's just too cold to admit that he feels the same."

"Maybe something good will happen after that date?" Ryu chuckled again. 

Hindi na sumagot pa si Marco.

Makaraan ang ilang sandali ay nagpakawala ng buntong hininga si Ryu. "We should have just told everybody about what I did."

"About how you cheated the bet, allowing me to win and manipulate Seann?"

"You are very specific," Ryu stated. "Anyway, everything will end up great in the end. Believe me, I've seen something in Seann's eyes whenever he heard Roxanne's name."

"Something? God, Ryu, hindi ko alam kung ano ang mga nakikita mo at bigla kang nagpasiyang gawin ito. This is the first time that you played the master manipulator, and this is not like you at all."

Ryu chuckled again, enjoying the horror in Marco's voice. "I am a changed man since I lost all my memories, Marc. The only thing that didn't change was my feelings for her."

"Yeah. I was with Boss Queen this morning; she visited the Corp and brought everybody coffee."

"Yeah, she's the sweetest." Nilingon ni Ryu ang picture frame na nakapatong sa ibabaw ng night stand katabi ng lamp. In the picture, there was him and Luna, smiling at the camera on the day she graduated from senior year.

"She is," Marco agreed. "You're lucky to have met her before Grand and I did." 

"I don't remember the day we met for the first time, but I read it in my journal. It felt like a movie."

"Sinabi mo pa. It could pass a dramatic movie," Marco said while chuckling. "Anyway, apologies for disturbing your beauty sleep. I'll keep you posted about what's happening. See you soon."

Nang mawala sa linya si Marco ay muling ibinalik ni Ryu ang tingin sa labas ng bintana at tiningala ang kalangitan kung saan nagkalat ang mga bituin. He smiled, closed his eyes and then wished for everything to work out according to his plans.

***