La Casa de Carnales 2: Kairo Darwish

Chapter 1: Now -- Death

KAIRO

April 2021 (Now)

Los Angeles, California

THE BIRDS were chirping, soaring above the cloudless sky. The leaves from the trees rustled as the gust of frigid air rushed upon them. The green grass where he stood, the variant shapes and sizes of the stones were scattered across the wide plains. Different kinds of white flowers were opposing the color of the people's dress.

Sun's rays were kissing everything else.

Except for Kairo.

The people who gathered on that day silently watched as the white coffin started moving down to the deep pit, slowly.

Except for him, he turned down his head.

With the aviator covering his eyes, he hid his tears that seemed to be the only thing that was warm in his senses. His body was shivering, he needed those tears, but his left hand wiped it right away for nobody could see it.

Nasa pinakaharap siya, 'di kalayuan sa malaking litrato ng isang babae pero magmula pa kanina, hindi niya iyon magawang tingnan o sulyapan man lang.

It was his wife, Selena.

She died. And it was all because of him. Kasalanan niya ang lahat. If only Kairo stopped his vice a long time ago before marrying Selena, maybe . . . maybe, Selena wouldn't follow him in Los Angeles that night. She wouldn't have pretended to be a guest in that place looking for a nice f**k.

He f****d his wife. She died because he f****d her hard. Even if Kairo knew he didn't kill her, he had this feeling that he should be inside the jail!

Pero naririto siya labas ng kulungan dahil marami ang nakasaksi. Pinabulaanan ng mga ito na aksidente ang lahat, na ginusto ni Selena ang pagpunta roon. Her entry as a guest in that f*****g s*x club was legally documented.

And there were more other concerns why he wasn't found guilty of committing a Homicide.

Furthermore, Kairo's civil case in the Philippines --- Concubinage --- had immediately been dismissed. Not to mention Adultery was not punishable by law in California. Because he never had another woman. He was just a man who wanted to f**k.

Regardless of not being guilty, he was guilty. I'm so sorry Selena. I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have had married you . . .

Nang tuluyang maibaba ang kabaong, noon lang niya nagawang iangat ang mukha. Gayunman, natabunan na't lahat ng lupa ang puntod ng asawa, nakuha na rin ng mga magulang ni Selena ang litrato nito, hindi pa rin niya mahanap ang lakas ng loob para tingnan iyon.

Sa halip, tumagos ang paningin niya sa bandang gilid. Nagsalubong agad ang kilay niya. There, stood Mallery Johnson, the well-known reporter from A-List Magazine, in front of a tombstone not so far from where he was. Kung hindi siya nagkakamali, journalist din ito ng isang sikat na newspaper dito sa Los Angeles.

"Fuckin' reporters," he murmured. Seeing the woman made Kairo tilted his head in the direction of his attorney who was standing next to him. "I thought you've already handled the media," bulong niya, malinaw ang inis sa tono.

Napalingon sa kanya ang abogado, bahagyang kumibot ang sulok ng isang mata. "Yes. I've paid every one of them."

"Then what the f**k is she doing here?" Inilipat niya ang tingin sa naturang babae.

Lumingon din doon ang abogado. "Nah. She's probably just visiting a deceased friend or relative." Bahagyang iwinasiwas nito ang kamay sa ere, tila ipinapahiwatig na 'wag siyang ma-paranoid.

Paanong hindi siya mapa-paranoid gayong halos hindi umalis ang mga ito noon sa harap ng ospital kung saan itinakbo si Selena? Natural, babayaran niya ang pananahimik ng mga ito, hindi lang dahil sa kung ano ang nasa likod ng pagkamatay ng asawa, kundi dahil sa pangalang dinadala niya.

He was Kairo Darwish, the CEO of the most successful multinational company on Earth --- Darwish International Holdings. Ang huling nanaisin ni Kairo ay masira ang pangalan ng kompanya --- nang dahil lang sa sikretong bisyo niya.

Napahilot na lamang siya sa batok, pinalis ang kung anumang paranoia na gumugulo sa sistema. Noon na unti-unting nagsialisan ang mga nakiramay. Karamihan lamang doon ay mga kamag-anak niya at ni Selena sa Davao na tumungo pa-Los Angeles. Ang iba, mga kaibigan.

Dapat ay doon ililibing si Selena --- sa Davao City. Pero dahil dito ginanap sa L.A ang autopsy sa bangkay ng asawa, ang mga magulang ni Selena, nagdesisyong dito na rin ito ilibing. His wife's parents didn't want to cause more stress to Selena's body.

Each and everyone who offered their sympathy wrapped their arms around Kairo, and he shivered the whole time. But he kept composing himself: standing straight, chest out, chin up . . . with his jaw tightened, throat stiffened . . . and eyes clouded with tears behind his aviator.

Bagaman isang tao lang ang hindi lumapit sa kanya --- si Riveriya --- ang kanyang ina. Nasa malayo na ito papasakay na ng sasakyan.

Nais man damhin ang gumuhit na kurot sa puso, hindi na lang niya pinansin, inalis na lamang ni Kairo ang paningin palayo. What's new? She doesn't care.

Right, Riveriya didn't care. She didn't even make an effort to glance at him the whole time.

Ni wala nga ito sa trial niya na naganap sa Pilipinas kamakailan lang, samantalang sa bansang iyon naman ito naglalagi.

Pero mabuti na rin. At least, hindi dagdag-bigat sa dibdib niya kung malalaman ng ina ang kanyang bisyo. Tama na ang bigat ng mga magulang ni Selena, ng mga jury, mga judge, prosecutor at mga pulis na humawak sa kaso niya, na mukha namang walang balak pakialaman ang personal niyang buhay.

Dahil una at panghuli --- wala siyang nilabag na batas. He was just a man who wanted to f**k women.

Women in general.

Bagaman, iyong bigat na pinapasan ay tila ayaw siyang iwan. Nakaalis na ang lahat pero naroroon pa rin siya, pinanonood ang mga suporturero sa paglalagay ng isang parihabang bato kung saan nakaukit ang pangalan ng asawa.

"Sir, kinakausap po kayo ni sir Enzo." Si Anne, ang kanyang assistant na nasa gilid niya.

"What?" Out of habit, he turned to his left. Noon lang niya nahinuhang nakatayo na si Enzo sa kaninang puwesto ng abogado niya.

"I'm asking you if want to come with us." Bakas ang pag-aalala sa mukha ng kaibigan. Malamyos din ang tinig.

He was about to say no. Balak niyang magpaiwan doon, hintaying mawalan siya ng hininga. Pero bigla ay umalpas na naman ang paningin niya. Naroroon pa rin sa 'di-kalayuan ang reporter, hindi pa rin ito gumagalaw at animo'y estatwang nakatayo pa rin sa harap ng isang puntod.

"Where?" tanong niya.

"In Eon's girlfriend's penthouse." Lingon nito sa kapatid. Eon was standing behind him. Alanganin itong napangiti.

Tumango lang siyang naglakad. Gusto niyang tumanggi at umuwi na lang sa penthouse niyang nasa L.A lamang din. Pero sa siste ng kaibigang si Enzo: malumanay ang boses at puno ng pag-aalala ang mukha na minsan lang yata sa isang dekada niya nakita, hindi siya nito hahayaang mapag-isa --- hindi ngayon.

That was how they knew each other.

Nang makalulan sa SUV, inutusan niya ang driver na sundan ang sasakyan ni Enzo.

"Sir, may ibang gagawin pa ba dito sa L.A?" ani Anne nang makupo sa kabilang panig ng backside. Tulad nang mga nagdaang araw, maga ang mga mata nito. At tulad niya, hindi rin ito makausap nang maayos.

For all he knew, kating-kati na itong umuwi sa Davao. Bukod kasi sa naroroon ang main office ng Darwish Holdings, naroroon din ang kasintahan nito.

Anne had a sense of humor Kairo had been admiring for years. Ito ang pampawala ng stress niya. At kung ganoon na tulad niya itong wala sa sarili, baka pati ang problema niya, problemahin pa ng sekretarya.

Umiling siya. "You can come back to the Philippines and take a rest for months."

Lumukot ang noo ng assistant. "Sir?"

"I'm planning to take a vacation leave." Pabagsak na inihilig niya ang ulo sa headrest, nilingon ang bintana. Noon na rin umusad ang sasakyan. "I couldn't work like this."

"Are you going to be okay, Sir? Paano po 'yong mga cancelled meetings at 'yong---"

"Don't worry about it, I've already talked to Tony," sansala niya, hindi binalingan ang babae, tinutukoy ang Chief Financial Officer ng kompanya. Ang totoo, hindi pumayag si Tony sa hininging pabor niya na humalili muna sa mga trabaho niya.

But he knew Tony. Kabisado naman na nito ang pasikot-sikot sa kompanya.

Nang hindi tumugon ang assistant, nilingon na niya ito. "Just fix whatever you have to fix with your boyfriend." Pinilit niyang ngumiti.

Ngumiwi lang ang babae.

"Oh. And use the jet," wika niyang muli. "I don't want you stressing yourself out by booking a commercial flight. Just tell the pilot to come back here in LA as soon as he can."

Sukat na namula ang mukha nito. "Sweet talaga ng boss ko."

Noon na niya hindi napigilang umisa ng tawa. Ah, he really liked women complimenting him. Nawawala kahit paano ang bigat sa dibdib niya.

Kapagkuwan, mula sa pagkakatingin sa kanya ng sekretarya, bumaling ang ulo nito sa pinakalikod ng sasakyan. "Paano po pala 'yang gift ninyo? Isasabay ko na po ba sa pag-uwi ko?"

Tumiim ang labi niyang, nilingon ang tinutukoy ng assistant. Iyong bigat sa dibdib niya, nagbalik muli. It was a sunflower printed paperbag. Cusion pillow ang laman at may kalakihan. Kanina lang niya binili, sa isang side vendor na nadaanan nila papuntang sementeryo. Na-late pa nga ang pagbili niya dahil nataong may trial siya noong nakaraang linggo.

It was his birthday gift for the only woman he ever loved --- Aryella; the 19th gift he bought since she suddenly left without a single word; his 15th gift since her dead body arrived in the Phillippines.

Kalakip ang kung anong bikig sa lalamunan ay tumango siya. "Alam mo naman kung saan 'yan ilalagay sa bahay ko, 'di ba?"

Sukat na rumehistro ang isang matamis na ngiti sa mga labi ng babae. "Oo naman, sir. For ten years, mula nang magtrabaho ako sa inyo, kasama na 'yan sa routine ko."

Napangiti na rin siya kahit pa nga halos mag-init na naman ang mga mata niya. He wondered until when he would buy gifts for Aryella.

That might be the last, he guessed. Now that he had made another big mistake that was unable to escape, he wanted to follow her wherever she was right now --- where souls supposed to go.

Pero siguro ay hindi siya tatanggapin sa langit. Lalo't ngayong tila sinisilihan ang mga kamay niyang magpa-book na naman sa s*x club na nitong huli, bago mamatay ang asawa ay palagi niyang pinupuntuhan.

But then he forbid himself to do it. Now, there was nowhere for him to run away.

Gayunman, kahit ano yatang pagpipigil, hindi talaga nagpaawat ang mga kamay niya. He was about to fish out his phone from his pocket when the car stopped.

Nag-angat ang kanyang mukha, dumeretso ng tingin sa bintana. May mangilan-ngilang sasakyan ang naka-park. Nakarating na sila. He heaved sigh. Mabuti na lang.

Nang marating ang rooftop ng building, si Eon ang nagbukas sa pinto ng penthouse. Saka lang niya nahinuha na isang KaiDa Tower pala ang pinuntahan nila --- the real estate developer which was one of Darwish Int. Holdings' company subsidiaries.

The pad was a studio-type room. Every wall was glass. Even the bedroom was visible from where he stood.

Isang babae'ng blonde ang sumalubog sa kanila sa living area, na marahil ay syota-syotaan ni Eon. Sa pagkakaalala niya kasi, ibang babae ang kasa-kasama nito kamakailan lang. Sa coffee table ay nakahatag ang mga snacks at, as usual, wine and rum and beers.

Then the Zavala brothers greeted the girl a happy birthday, so he did the same thing and sat on the single couch. Umupo ang magkapareha sa malaking sofa, nagkaroon ng sariling paksa. Habang si Enzo ay nasa tabi niya, agad na nagbukas ng beer.

God, he hated this kind of small gathering. Sana lang ay may iba pang babae na dumating.

Sa isiping iyon, nang umalis ang syota-syotaan ni Eon papuntang kusina, nagtanong siya, "Are we waiting for other . . ." he trailed off as the siblings shook their heads.

"I know what you're thinking, dude." Si Eon, nagsasalin ng rum sa baso.

Tinapik ni Enzo ang braso niya, may hawak itong bote ng beer. "Thought we were now in the same boat?" bakas sa tono ang panunumbat ng lalaki.

Napahimas ang hintuturo niya sa baba, nag-slouch ng upo saka ipinatong ang isang braso sa headrest ng couch. "It's worth asking," wika na lang niya.

Natawa ang dalawa. The two had been attending orgies too. Kasa-kasama niya ang mga ito minsan. But unlike Eon, Enzo had stopped. Hindi na niya maalala kung kailan.

Inabutan siya ni Eon ng basong naglalaman ng rum. "Why don't you try to visit Enzo's friend --- Lena? She's good."

Napatingin siya kay Enzo. "Lena?"

"My psychiatrist," sagot ni Enzo, lumagok sa bote.

Tumaas ang dalawang kilay niya habang sumisimsim sa baso. Somehow the burn effect in his throat and the bitterness of the liquor swirling his tongue hit his spot --- his agitated nerves relaxed. "I didn't know you're visiting a shrink's office."

"I've been," tugon ni Enzo, "for seven years."

"And?" tanong niya.

"I've improved . . . a little."

"A little." Ngumiwi siya.

"Well at least I've stopped attending parties."

Hindi siya umimik, sinimsim na lamang niya ang inumin. Taking therapy was still up to the patient. Kung hindi makikipag-cooperate ang pasyente sa therapist, walang mangyayari --- Kairo knew because he had done it before. And talking to a shrink wasn't for him.

Wala siyang problema sa pag-iisip; he was just a man with a broken heart and a broken soul. Nangungulila lang ang puso niya . . . sa isang babae'ng matagal nang wala.

"Nonetheless," si Enzo. "Just in case you're interested, Lena's in Isla Ruíz. She'll be the resident psychiatrist of Carnales."

"About that," aniya, pinilit nang ibahin ang usapan, "Carnales will be open next month, right?"

Lumalim ang kuwentuhan. Eon and his girlfriend went to the bedroom. Naiwan sila ni Enzo doon. Hanggang si Kairo, unti-unti nang naparami ang nainom nang hindi namamalayan. Yumuyugyog ang katawan niya. Someone was talking to him, but his body and mind seemed to be so heavy.

Sa huli, ipinikit na lamang niya ang mga mata.

As Kairo and the two other men entered the room, they were welcomed by a bunch of naked women. Even though there was a mask covering every women's upper face, and the room was just lit by red dim lights, Kairo was certain they were all beautiful for he had seen their picture in the profile which his organizer had shown earlier.

Right before he could position himself on the sofa, a girl came to him. Isang wine glass ang hawak nito; naglalaman iyon ng champagne. Tulad ng nasa rules and regulations sa orgy na pinapa-organize niya, hindi ito nagsalita.

Bagaman agad na gumawi ang kamay nito sa gitna ng hita niya.

She gave him a gentle rub through the zipper of his pants before sipping her champagne.

Ipinalibot niya ang braso sa likod ng beywang nito. "You actually can drink that from my mouth, you know."

Sumilay ang ngiti sa labi nito, ibinigay ang wineglass sa kanya. As he sipped the liquor, the woman kissed him fully in the mouth.

May kakaunting tumakas na inumin mula sa bibig nila. It was indeed nasty, but damn, it made him feel hot. Right then and there he sat on the sofa tagging the girl to her lap.

Soon, he was f*****g her so hard from behind as the others were busy doing their own fantasy. Napuno ng ungol ang silid na iyon. Everybody was enjoying it ---- especially him. Orgies never fail to give him the pleasure he needed.

As a matter of fact, Kairo had never mind who he was f*****g. Yet, at that very moment, as he was ramming the girl for what it seemed like twenty minutes or so, he got intrigued.

She was now on his lap again, riding his c**k. The girl was petite, waist small, and had large breasts. He wasn't sure if she had fair skin, but it was so smooth. And her inside? It seemed as though she was a virgin; it was so tight.

Kung pagbabasehan sa pangangatawan nito, hindi iyon akma sa edad na nakalagay sa regulation ng party na iyon: all the guest must be around his age --- thirty-nine

It seemed that this girl was too young to be there.

"Stop," aniya sa babae, inilapat ang palad sa tiyan nito.

Pero tila wala itong narinig. Patuloy pa rin sa pagtaas-baba ang katawan nito. She was even moaning at the top of her lungs.

Kairo felt her inside was contracting with full of intensity. She was about to come.

But then Kairo started to get worried. "I said stop!" Napalakas ang boses niya, sapat para mapatigil ang lahat ng mga naroroon sa ginagawa.

Noon na ito huminto. Magtatanong sana si Kairo kung ilang taon na ang babae nang gumuhit sa mga labi nito ang isang ngiwi.

Kasunod niyon ay napadaing itong humawak sa bahagi ng puson. And before Kairo knew, lots blood of was gushing between his thigh . . ..

Kasabay ng mahinang pagsinghap, nagmulat ang mabibigat na mga mata ni Kairo. Madilim ang paligid, bagaman paunti-unti, bumungad sa paningin niya ang pamilyar na ceiling, maging ang pamilyar na amoy.

As he turned to his side, his body swayed. He was lying in a waterbed --- his bed, in his own penthouse in L.A. Mula sa siwang ng kurtina sa glass door ng balcony, ay tumatagos ang mapusyaw na ilaw.

He sat on the edge. Saka lang niya nadama ang bigat ng katawan, maging ang lasa ng alak sa kanyang hiningang lalo pang nagpaliyo sa ulirat niya.

Noon siya napasapo sa bibig. His stomach tightened. Napatayo siyang nagtungo sa banyong nasa kuwarto lamang din. He puked for what it seemed like a five minutes in the sink. Halos masubsob na ang mukha niya sa lababo habang mahigpit na nakahawak sa gilid niyon.

With his chest moving up and down, halos nakapikit na lang mga mata niyang nag-angat ng mukha at tumingin sa salamin. His lips slightly opened. Hinilamusan niya ang mukha at nagmumog.

Sa paglabas ng banyo, sa pintuan ay napakapit siya. He shivered from where he stood as his dream came back to him. Every detail. And it wasn't just a dream. It actually happened, three weeks ago.

Selena . . .

He closed his eyes for a moment, trying everything he could not to let the tears to accumulate in his eyes, but it was too late, for when his cheeks soaked and burned in the frigid air across the room.

Sa sobrang paninikip ng dibdib, halos takbuhin niya ang balcony. His hand bumped the lampshade next to the door, umalingawngaw ang pagtumba niyon sa buong kuwarto.

But he was too lost to mind it. Itinulak niya ang glass door at dumetso sa railing. Doon, napakapit siyang itinago ang hikbi sa lalamunan kalakip ang mga luhang tila walang kapaguran.

An air of melancholy ran through his lungs. Nakabibighani ang mga ilaw na nanggagaling sa mga gusali. Half of them were his. This was one of his kingdoms.

And he was a king --- a king who had everything but nothing.

Sa kung anong baliw na dahilan, inakyat niya ang railing. He stood up straight, balancing his body. One wrong move and he would probably fall.

This was what he wanted: to escape, to run away. And maybe to change his life --- forever.

"You don't dare do it, man. I'm warning you." It was Enzo. Kairo felt his presence right from behind. "My arms still stiffed because I carried you from the ground floor up to the sixty-second floor. And if you jumped off from there, since I'm your friend, I don't have a choice but to reach for your hand."

Umuga ang balikat niya dahil sa hikbing pinipigilan. His face was wet with tears. His body trembled as the soft and cold air hit his body.

"I might be able to grasp even your arms but trust me, man," Enzo's voice was calm but it was full of warning. "I wouldn't be able to pull you up. And when that happens, since I'm still drunk dead just like how you are right now, the both of us might fall. I don't want to die, Kairo. The money I've worked so hard would become such a waste. And I don't want that to happen."

And that was it; he put all his weight to his back, unbalancing his body for him to fall . . . onto the ground . . ..

Kairo expected the hard surface to hit his back, but instead, he just fell halfway.

Sinalo ni Enzo ang balikat niya. "You fuckin' son of a bitch." Silip nito sa mukha niya. He was flushing red. Alam niyang umiinit na ang ulo nito.

Mapakla siyang natawa saka tumayo habang inaalalayan siya nito. "Is the cemetery open at night?"

Umiling-iling si Enzo. Sa huli, sinamahan siya nito sa sementeryo. Noong una ay ayaw pa silang papasukin ng guard, bagaman nang mamukhaan siya, wala na rin itong nagawa.

Nagpaiwan si Enzo sa loob ng sasakyan. The grass rustled as Kairo took steps towards the grave of his wife. Doon ay pabagsak na umupo siya; legs parted, his elbows over his knees, letting the cold wind, the not-so dark surroundings, the sound of nocturnal insects, the tears that immediately ran down his face, and the guilt inside his chest to consume every part of him.

Kairo wasn't sure why he went there. He was lost, so confused. Sa puso ay dama niyang wala na siyang mahanap na maaaring matakbuhan para manatiling buhay.

Orgies were the only thing that made him survived ever since Aryella left him --- but Selena died because of it.

Ngayon ay paano siya magpapatuloy gayong hindi na niya maaari pang balikan ang bisyo? Gayong simula't sapul, bago pa dumating noon si Aryella sa buhay niya, wala naman talaga siyang rason para mabuhay?

"It's hard, isn't it?" A soft voice of a woman from his side interrupted him. "When you don't have any reasons to live? Trust me, I've been there."

Ipinihit niya ang ulo. Sa gilid niya ay isang babaeng blonde ang nakatayo --- ang reporter na nakita niya kanina. She was sniffing, looking at Selena's grave, her tears glistened as it fell her chicks.

Kairo wanted to frown, stand up and leave the place. But what the reporter said got him. Puro ang nadama niyang kalungkutan sa presensiya nito. Kaya ay niliningon na lang niya ang puntod ng asawa.

"Yet we're still here, breathing." The reporter sniffed again; her voice scratched as she spoke the last word. "And you know what that means?"

Bahagyang nilingon niya ang babae, sapat lang para makita ito sa gilid ng kanyang mata. She was in an all-white suit.

"It means," she said, almost like a whisper, "we still have a chance to find a reason to keep living."

Anong kilabot ang dumaloy sa bawat ugat ni Kairo. A lump appeared in his throat and it got stuck there. He had always been fascinated every time he encountered a woman like this reporter: a woman who was suffering but kept fighting.

Now, he wondered why it hit something in him.

How could those women keep fighting despite that they were suffering? As if they were still full of hope?

He envied women somehow.

What keeps a woman going? What drives them to stay alive?

He wanted to know . . . he must know, or else he would die, in despair.

~~**~~