Consequences

Consequences 006

Flint's POV:

“Pumunta ka na ron sa mama mo! Bilisan mo! Sinusubukan nitong mga g*g*ng ‘to na kunin si ate Brienna!” Aniya at muling sumugod sa isa sa mga naka-itim na lalaki. Para silang mga ninja sa suot nila, kulang nalang ay ang takip nila sa mukha. Mga naka all black din sila na para bang bodyguards.

Bodyguards? Teka…mama!

Biglang nag-click sa utak ko ang sinabi ni Timo kaya nagmamadali rin akong pumasok. Niligid ko ang aking tingin ngunit bigo akong makita kahit anino ni mama kaya dumiretso ako sa kusina. Doon ko siya natagpuan kaharap ang dalawang lalaki. Naka business suit sila. Ang isa ay may hawak na briefcase samantalang ang isa naman ay nakapamulsa. Nakaharap saakin ang mga likuran nila kaya hindi pa siguro nila napapansin na may iba na silang kasama.

“Umalis na kayo.” Matigas ang boses ni mama nang sabihin niya iyon. Hindi ko maaninag ang mga mukha nila dahil sa sobrang tangkad nila, nahihirapan akong silipin dahil nasisilaw ako. Nakatapat ba naman sila pareho sa ilaw.

“Ms. Brienna we just wanted to talk—“

“Sino kayo?” Napatigil sa pagsasalita yung lalaking may hawak na briefcase at napalingon saakin. Ganun din ang kasama niya na sinuri ako mula ulo hanggang paa. Nakakunot ang noo ko habang pinagmamasdan ang kabuuan nilang dalawa. I don’t remember seeing them anywhere so I am sure that I don’t know them, but I don’t like the aura that they are giving.

“You must be her daughter?” Tanong saakin nung may hawak na briefcase. Nagpabalik-balik ang tingin ko kay mama at sa lalaking nakangiti saakin.

“Briella.” Bumaling ako sa kasama niya at napako ang tingin ko ron. He was staring at me, as if he’s trying to read what I’m thinking or what I’m feeling. There’s something weird with the way he said my name. As if it’s a name that you can hear everyday, para bang sanay siyang bigkasin ang pangalang iyon dahil tamang tama ang pronounciation niya. I even heard an accent there. Is he Spanish?

“I’m not going to repeat myself.” I heard my mother say. The guy who was staring at me didn’t budge. He’s just staring at me until his comrade tapped him on the shoulder and he suddenly woke up from a trance. He sighed and gave me one last look before going out. Sumunod ang kasama niya at dere-deretso lang ding lumabas.

Nang makita sila nung mga nakaitim ay agad silang nagsi-tigil sa pakikipag palitan ng suntok at sipa sa mga kapitbahay namin.

“Oh, and before we leave, HE wanted to tell you something.” The guy with the briefcase said and looked at mama. He’s wearing a smile that gives me goosebumps. Everything about this man is screaming bad vibes. “He wants you back. And he wants to know her.”

“Then tell him I said f*ck off.” My mama said sternly, giving them a glare. The guy just chuckled and nodded at their men. Kanya-kanya silang sakay sa van at ang iba naman ay nagtungo ron sa mga nadaanan kong sasakyan kanina. Mas mabilis pa sa alas-kwatrong nagsi-alis ang mga iyon an para bang hindi sila nagsimula ng gulo.

“Who are they?” I asked mama and looked at her. She just sighed and gave me her sweet smile.

“No one. Just some guys from my old work.” Matipid na sagot niya. I was about to ask her again nang mag-ring ang phone ko. Ako naman ngayon ang bumuntong hininga nang makitang si Mr. Santos ang caller. “Sagutin mo na. Naroon na ang mga gamit mo. Kung kailangan mo na pumasok, sige lang. Mag-iingat ka ha?”

And with that she turned her back on me and never uttered a word again, kahit nang makaalis ako ay nanatili lang siyang tahimik at malalim ang iniisip.

---

“This is where you’ll stay for the rest of the day when Edrix isn’t out, pero madalang naman iyon mangyari dahil palaging nasa meeting at laging nakabuntot iyon sa boss niya.” Ani Mr. Santos habang tino-tour ako sa kanilang bahay. The whole tour he did nothing but tell me stories about his two sons all while pointing me to the important chambers of this house.

Maraming nadagdag na information about Edrix and his eldest son, Elias. He told me that Edrix is a very passionate young man and takes his work very seriously. Elias, on the other hand, is a very happy-go-lucky guy, as his father would describe him. He do take his job seriously at some point, pero mas madalas na parang go with the flow lang siya. Bukod don ay bihira ko raw itong makikita dahil nakatira siya sa condo niya at madalang na bumisita rito sa bahay.

“And, that’s it. Edrix should be here in...” He took a look on his wristwatch before looking back at me with a smile. “…10 minutes. Feel free to move some of your things here while waiting. If you want to change into your uniform, there’s a bathroom inside.”

Gusto ko sanang itanong kung pwede bang ‘wag nalang iyon ang suotin ko dahil hindi rin naman ako magpapakita sa madla. He was very clear na I should be discreet whenever I’m guarding him para hindi raw magduda ang panganay niya. Kaya hindi ko gets bakit kailangan kong mag-uniform? But I chose to stay silent nalang at tumango. Iniwan na niya ako at inabangan sa labas ang pagdating ng kaniyang anak habang ako naman ay pumasok na sa loob ng quarter ko. Naglibot muna ako sa loob saglit bago nagbihis.

I stared at my reflection, assessing what I look like wearing their uniform. The vest and the blazer was a bit big at the waist part, but nothing a safety pin can fix. My mind wandered off when I remembered the same scenario I had when I was still at the camp. How I stared at myself the first time I wore our uniform. The difference was I had a smile back then, but now, I don’t. I was so excited before, thrilled to the bone. Now when I look at myself wearing something formal, it just makes me want to vomit. But then again, I need to earn money. This gig would make me earn enough just until I can find some decent job somewhere else. Besides, magbabantay lang naman ako. Babysitting kumbaga.

“Maam? Hinahanap na po kayo ni Señor.” I snapped out of my trance when I heard a faint knock. I sighed and smoothed out my blazer before going out. Agad akong naglakad patungo sa tabi ni Mr. Santos. Sakto namang bumukas ang gate nila at pumasok doon ang isang humaharurot na itim na Toyota Crown. I stood in front of Mr. Santos and hinarangan siya nang makitang tila walang itong balak huminto. I stared at the tinted wingshield, straight at the driver’s eyes. Kahit na hindi ko nakikita ang nasa loob ay alam ramdam kong nakatingin din siya saakin kaya tinaliman ko ang tingin ko sakaniya.

‘Tsk, kung ito ang Edrix na babantayan ko ay baka ako pa ang maunang manakit sakaniya bago ang kung sino man.’ Sabi ko sa aking isip.

Malapit na niya akong mabangga nang bigla siyang prumeno. Maingay ang pagkaskas ng gulong niya sa semento at bago ito tuluyang huminto dumikit pa muna iyon sa binti ko. Ramdam ko ang init ng makina at bigat niyon, pero nanatiling walang reaksiyon ang mukha ko. Maya maya ay bumukas ang driver’s seat at lumabas doo nang isang matangkad na lalaking naka suot ng shades. Napataas nag kilay ko nang mapagtantong hindi ito si Edrix.

“Ah, Elias. You came home.” Mr. Santos said with a smile. Kung nagulat man siya kung bakit si Elias ang narito at hindi si Edrix ay hindi niya iyon pinahalata. The guy, Elias, took off his shades and smiled at his father. He walked towards him and threw his arms around his father’s shoulder, chuckling.

“Na-miss kita, Dad. And my baby brother of course.” He said in a laughing tone. The passenger seat opened and there came out Edrix who had an irritated look on his face.

“That is the last time I’m letting you use my car.”