Revenge Four
1973 Words

“Evil is another name for someone who is possessive over something he doesn’t own.”
***
Revenge Four
Too good to be true
INAYOS ni Kalix ang kanyang kwelyo nang makalabas siya sa kanyang kotse. Nang makapasok siya sa boutique ay binati siya ng mga staffs, but he never give a damn about it. He head towards the men’s wear to confirm his guts. Indeed, he saw her there, assisting a male customer.
Matagal niyang pinagmasdan ito sa uniform na suot niya. The uniform for sales lady is a fitted black slack with a formal on top. Puti ang panloob at itim ang coat nila. He is amazed because of her curly hair is almost the same on that night.
Lumapit ang isang sales lady kay Kalix nang sinenyasan niya ito gamit ang kanyang kamay.
“Do not let any other male customer to enter until I’m done,” tumango naman ang babae at nagpunta sa front desk. Saktong natapos naman ang pag-fit ng ine-entertain ni Eryn na customer kanina.
“What are you looking for, Sir?” she casually asked while fixing the suits from the rack.
“I’m looking for a suit, probably the one that reeks of evil,” he grinned as he took few steps to get close to where she’s standing. “Aren’t you evil already?” she said in a very playful tone which aroused Kalix’s excitement.
“Something says that you’re not all good. Something convinces me that…” Napaatras si Eryn sa rack ng tuxedo nang biglang lumapit si Kalix sa kanya. Padalos-dalos itong yumuko sa kanyang leeg at bumulong sa kanyang tenga “…you are somehow tainted.”
“Does it matter…to you?” he felt how her voice started to tremble as Kalix tried to smell the scent in her neck.
“Yeah, I wanted to taint you more,” he grinned. She’s finally able to freely gasp for air as Kalix moved away from her. Kalix seemed to enjoy her troubled face.
“L-let me arrange a rack of choices for you,” dumiretso naman si Eryn sa stock room at naglabas ng rack. Pasulyap-sulyap siya kay Kalix habang pumipili ng tuxedo’ng isusukat niya. The longer it takes for her to choose suits, the longer she’s feeling uneasy by Kalix’s stares. Mula kanina kasi ay hindi ito nag-lipat ng titig at mistulang kay Eryn nakapako ang mga mata nito.
“Here,” tulak-tulak ni Eryn ang isang rack papunta sa harapan ni Kalix. Pansamantalang nalipat ang titig nito sa mga suits.
“Everything is shade of black,” he nodded as he tried to check each of the suits.
“I’ll fit this one,” he picked one suit and then he left the coat and tie to her. She froze there standing when Kalix stripped in front of her. She looked away stiffly and Kalix seemed not to give a damn about it.
“Help me with the coat,” saad ni naman ni Kalix na naging dahilan upang mag-tungo si Eryn sa kanyang likod. Eryn’s eyes caught Kalix’s back full of scars when he’s about to lift his inner polo.
Nang mai-ayos ni Kalix ang polo niya ay tinulungan ni Eryn itong isuot ang itim na coat nito. Eryn noticed his broad shoulders and how the suit fits to his body perfectly. She slowly went in front of him to assist him with the tie. Her body refused to it, but that’s part of her job.
He was wicked enough to lock his eyes on hers even after being aware of how uncomfortable she is right not. Napakalapit ng kanilang katawan at mukha sa isa’t-isa habang inaayos ni Eryn ang neck tie niya.
When she finally made the last step for tying it, she tightened her grip so Kalix hold her hands. Nanlaki ang mag mata ni Eryn nang mapagtanto niya ang kanyang ginagawa, she was already choking him.
“What’s wrong, Eryna?” a thin line formed from his lips. Napabitaw si Eryn sa neck tie ni Kalix. Wala sa isip siyang umatras but Kalix is following him. Hindi niya namalayan na nasa tapat siya ng fitting room, she’s being cornered.
Nang makalapit si Kalix sa kanya ay tinulak niya ang pintuan ng fitting room. “I can’t believe you just choke me,” mahinang napatawa pa ito. But Eryn knew she’s doomed upon doing that. Dahil patuloy ang paglapit ni Kalix ay patuloy din s’iyang napaatras hanggang sa nakapasok silang dalawa sa fitting room. Tinungkod ni Kalix ang isang kamay niya na sa salamin kung saan napasandal si Eryn. The inside of the fitting room is covered with mirror and she’s having a glance of her reflection on the side mirror
.
“But, we can just negotiate about that,” lalo siyang kinabahan nang ngumiti pa si Kalix ng ilang segundo pagkatapos ay biglang naging seryoso ang mga titig nito.
She couldn’t even breathe when Kalix roughly claimed her lips deeply. Napasandal pa ang kanyang ulo sa salamin dahil sa paglalim ni Kalix ng kanyang halik. When she’s about to push her, Kalix held her wrist tightly.
The fast pace of her heart beat is overflowing all of her senses and she’s about to lose it. Her body refused to move no matter how much her mind struggles to move. His kiss is like the abyss of darkness that slowly drowns her.
Before everything almost turned to black, he finally stopped the kiss by biting her lower lip.
“I like this suit. I’ll take this one,” he said like nothing really happened. “I’ll prepare it for you,” she tried hard to sound normal. Nang tangkahin niyang lumabas ng fitting room ay muling hinawakan ni Kalix ang kanyang kamay.
“Are you sure you want to go out like that?”
“Ano bang problema niyo?” inis na saad ni Eryn, hindi na siya nagtagumpay na pigilan ang galit na nararamdaman niya kanina pa.
“You should retouch your lipstick,” he looked away.
Kumalas naman si Eryn sa pagkakahawak ni Kalix at lumabas ng fitting room. Naramdaman naman ni Eryn ang mga yabag ni Kalix na sumusunod sa kanya.
“Eryna,” napatigil siya nang bigla niyang mapansin na nagiba ang tono ng boses ni Kalix. This time, it’s scary.
“You’re only allowed to do your job but you’re not allowed to entertain other male customers.”
“Why would I do that?” She craned her back with a smirk.
“That’s an order,” nakipagtagisan naman ito ng titig kay Eryn. Bago pa man siya matalo sa mga titig ni Kalix ay nag-iwas na agad ito ng tingin.
“Mr. Guanzons, you’re my boss but that’s all,” she said firmly.
“That’s the case before that night, I’m possessive this time,” nakapamulsang saad nito.
“Do you have the right to?” she arcs her brows as Kalix started walking towards her. She’s getting pissed off as he persistently wears that evil smile on his face.
“I own everything I touch,” tila tumayo ang mga balahibo ni Eryn nang hinawaka ni Kalix ang kanyang pisngi. “Even a woman like you, can be my possession.”
Nang linubayan siya ni Kalix at bumalik sa fitting room ay hindi niya inalis ang titig nito sa kanya. Unti-unting gumuhit ang ngisi sa mukha ni Eryn. “You’re trapped in my game, Kalix,” she whispers.
***
“ONCE more,” pikit-matang saad ni Ren sa akin.
“Eryn, you have to look fierce. If you just stare at him like a puppy, he’ll just laugh at you or he’ll lose interest,” napabagsak-balikat si Ren at umupo sa couch. Kanina pa naming pinag-aaralan ang maaring gestures kapag magkakaharap na sila ni Kalix.
“Your goal is to let him fall for you right?” napahalukipkip naman si Yssa sa tabi ni Eryn.
“Kalix is someone who’s always curious. And the way to make him curious is to leave something that is intriguing. Do not let him know everything, let him think about you,” paliwanag pa ni Yssa.
“These are the pictures of Kalix’s girls. Pero palagay ko ay mas marami pa rito ang babae niya,” nilapag ni Ren ang isang folder sa mesa at inabala ni Eryn kanyang sarili rito. One person caught her attention.
“This is Ciarra Buenavista, her one true love…” kunot-noo’ng sabi ni Eryn. “This was our very first successful plan for Kalix.”
“Although exposing their relationship is a bit risky since the Buenavista are very powerful family. No wonder, the Guanzons stopped competing with them. Kalix finally found a formidable opponent,” she crossed her legs as ste stared intriguingly with the picture.
“Ciarra is dead,” natahimik naman si Eryn sa ibinalita ni Ren. When Eryn tried to look at Ren he disappointedly avoided her.
“I don’t feel good upon hearing the news from Kalix,” dugtong pa nito.
“Bakit?” tanong naman ni Yssa.
“Ciarra’s suicide letter was for Kalix. It was written in a journal. Mukhang mahal nga yata nila ang isa’t-isa,” tugon naman nito.
“Kalix is a heartless person. He doesn’t feel anything other than the urge to own something he wants. Forget about that,” sinarado naman ni Eryn ang folder at nilapag ito sa lamesa.
“If that so, the easiest way to hurt him is make him fall for you until he’s gone mad,” nagtinginan naman si Ren at asi Eryn. Parehas silang puno ng determinasyon.
“Actully, he might like your curly hair,” napatingin si Eryn kay Yssa na ngayon ay hawak na ang folder at abala sa pagtingin ng mga pictures ng babae ro’n. “Wala pa siyang babaing kulot. All of them are short hair, straight, blonde, party girls, even judge?” hindi makapaniwala si Yssa.
“He’s a total womanizer,” napailing-iling si Eryn.
“Kalix’s starts the game as usual. He’ll be possessive, he’ll be interested in you, he’ll own you, just when you’re at the peak of being in love, he’ll abandon you, if you refused… he’ll threaten you or silenced you with money,” napakuyom ang palad ni Ren. Sa tinagal na niyang nagtratrabaho kay Kalix, batid ni Eryn na maraming ganitong kaganapan ang kanyang nasaksihan.
“But you haven’t caught him doing his dirty job?” napaisip naman bigla si Yssa.
“Kalix does his dirty job alone. He knows how to assassinate people, after all…” nabulabog din ang pag-iisip ni Ren. He only handles business matters for Kalix the rest is up to him.
“How are we going to prove that he’s killed people?” bakas ang galit sa boses na pinakawalan ni Eryn.
“Maybe you’re right. I have to make him fall for me. Pagkatapos no’n ay ako mismo ang maglalabas lahat ng sikreto ni Kalix.”
***
PINAGLARUAN ni Kalix ang duguang ballpen na hawak-hawak niya habang patungo sa pintuan. Matalim ang titig niyang napatingin sa lalaking nakahandusay sa sahig at duguan ang leeg.
“I just needed a ball pen to kill you,” he whispered. He took a good look at the dead body of a man before getting out of the room. Nilagay ni Kalix ang ball pen sa bulsa ng kanyang coat habang palakad ito palabas.
“I’m the real demon in of Guanzons. Wait until I finish all of you,” he gritted his teeth while having a last look at the house when he reached the outside.
Ilang minuto’ng pagda-drive ang nakalipas ay nakarating din si Kalix sa kanyang unit. Dumiretso ito sa bar upang uminom ng whisky. He was able to drink two glasses immediately.
He took a long shower after feeling that the alcohol kicked in a bit faster this time. He was naked when he got out of the shower and walked towards his walk-in closet. He just got himself a robe and walked again towards the window.
He stared thoroughly at the silver light coming from the full moon through his glass windows. Napatingin siya sa nalantang white rose sa mesa malapit sa bintana. One image of a girl came into his mind.
It was the image of Ciarra smelling a bouquet of white flowers.
“You were wrong, Ciarra,” napalunok siya habang hinahaplos ang nalantang bulaklak. “This is the only way to stop this.”
Unconsciously staring at the withered flowers, a tear rolled down to his cheeks.
***
- Writer
