Consequences

Consequences 019

Flint's POV:

“Ha?” Naguluhang tanong ko. Aling trabaho? Yung pagpasok ko ba sakaniya?

“Yung pagkaka-hire saiyo ni dad. It’s not actually a part of the plan. Totoo lahat ng sinabi niya, yung kailangan niya talaga ng magbabantay saakin. Ganito kasi yun,” Huminga siya nang malalim at dahan-dahang ibinaba ang paa ko bago nagpatuloy sa pagsasalita.

“When my brother died, my father got really sick. Physically and mentally. He took his anger towards himself out on me. Palagi akong pinapagalitan at kapag naka-inom, mambubugbog. That went on until I was 16. I met Lyle in a program his family held in our school. I wasn’t interested until his cousin, Lucas, came to me and well, kind of bullied me. I was the quiet kid with no friends and they’re the visitors so kahit magsumbong ako, which never naman pumasok sa isip ko dahil wala akong pakialam, wala ring gagawin ang school. And no, I’m not some weak kid. I can fight. Kaya ko siyang gantihan, pero hindi ko ginawa dahil nakita ko sakaniya si kuya. Kahit hindi ka maniwala pero totoong kahawig na kahawig niya ang kuya ko. Tumigil lang si Lucas nang makita siya ni Lyle at pigilan. By the way, Lucas was my schoolmate na never ko naman nakita nang matagalan kasi lagi siyang nagc-cutting. Ayun, simula noon lagi na akong nakasunod kay Lucas kahit lagi niya rin akong itinataboy.”

I watched how his expression changes while he was telling me the story. I could see how pained he was when he started talking ‘bout how his father would beat him up, and how he admired and looked up at Lucas.

“That time, my father always had this hallucination where he’ll see my brother somewhere. So I took advantage of that situation. I talked to Lyle and Lucas about that. Kinwento ko rin sakanila kung anong nangyari, and they agreed.”

“That fast?” Gulat na tanong ko. He chuckled and gave me a nod.

“Yeah. That fast. Kahit ako nagulat. Pero I realized na may kapalit iyon, of course. I told them that I’d do everything they want in exchange for their help. I was in desperate need of help. That’s when I found out about their whole existence. The whole underground negotiations and such.”

“Woah.” Hindi napigilang bulalas ko. “Okay so anong connect ko riyan?”

“Teka, chill ka lang. Itutuloy na nga.” Natatawang sagot niya at nagpatuloy. “As I said, my father was suffering from hallucinations and when I introduced Lucas, who went by Elias at the time, he was instantly okay. He was told that my kuya Elias survived and was saved by some hikers. Elias had an amnesia and just got his memories back recently, and that I met him on a park. Sine then he wasn’t that grumpy anymore, and he gave me more attention. Which was weird after long years of getting beaten up. Nung una okay siya around Lucas pero lately parang siguro may nararamdaman siyang kakaiba. Doon na siya nagsimulang mag-isip na baka Elias might hurt me and get back at me for what happened. Kaya naisip niyang maghire ng bodyguard. I kept on telling him no and make the ones he hire quit. Hanggang sa ikaw na nga ang nakuha.”

“Did you know who I am?” I asked. He nodded.

“The day my father introduced us to each other, kaya kami magkasama ni Lucas ay dahil katatapos lang namin samahan si Lyle. We followed a clue that leads to you but ended up on a dead-end. Just like Lyle said, he’s been looking for you for years now. At hindi ka talaga madaling hanapin. Kaya pumayag na ako nung nakita kita. When you showed up on my doorstep, I was relieved dahil finally tapos na kami sa hanapan ng multo.” Sumama ang timpla ng mukha ko.

“G*go.” Ani ko at hinampas siya. Tawagin daw ba akong multo. Ayos ‘to ah!

“Eh kasi nga kada may makikita kaming clue about you, mapupunta kami sa dead end. Minsan nga naiisip ko baka nababaliw na ‘tong si Lyle at talagang naghahanap ng kaluluwa eh.” Aniya at tumawa. “So, yeah. Kung hindi ka siguro nakilala ng ama ko, hanggang ngayon ay hinahanap ka pa rin namin.”

“Ang tanga niyo naman kung ganon.” Reklamo ko. “Lyle knew where I lived. Bakit hindi niya naisip na icheck doon aber?”

“Ha?” Tigagal na tanong niya. Tumaas ang kilay ko at tumango-tango. “Seryoso ba?”

“Ay hindi. Joke lang.” Sakrastikong sagot ko at umirap. “Oh diba hindi niyo naisip. Eh teka nga, so bakit nga ako nasama sa kung anong ka-ek-ekan niyo ha?”

“That, I can’t answer. Si Lyle at ang mama mo lang ang makakapagpa-intindi saiyo ng lahat lahat.” Saad niya at tumayo na. He held his hand in front of me and gave me a soft smile. “I don’t care if you’d believe me, but I reall am sorry. Please forgive me?”

Nagpabalik-balik ang tingin ko sa mukha at kamay niya iniisip kung tatanggapin ko ba ang sorry niya or hindi. Makalipas ang ilang minuto ay bumuga ako ng hangin at tiningnan siya nang masama.

“Lie to me again and I swear I’ll be your cause of death.” I warned. He smiled widely and nodded his head like a kid. Umirap ako bago tinanggap ang kamay niya at nakipag shake hands.

“Deal. Unless si Lyle nag-utos hehe.” Hinigpitan ko ang pagkakahawak sa kamay niya. “Joke lang bossing.”

“Ewan ko sayo.”

“Ay, tara na pala. Kaya nga ako andito kasi sunduin daw kita. Lyle wants to see you sa library.” Aniya at tinulungan akong tumayo. Dahan-dahan ang paglapat ko ng paa ko sa sahig at nagulat nang hindi na ganoon kasakit iyon kapag nalalagyan ng pressure.

“G*gi ang galing!” Naibulalas ko at tumawa. Napailing nalang siya ron at hinayaan akong lumakad mag-isa. He opened the door for me and made me go out first.

“Okay ba?” Tanong niya at nginuso ang paa ko. Tumango lang ako at niligid ang paningin ko.

“Bahay ba ‘to? Bakit ang laki? May hidden treasure ba kayo rito at parang maze ang hallways dito?” Tanong ko kay Edrix. He chuckled and nodded his head kaya nanlaki ang mata ko. “Weh? Di nga?”

“Not exactly a hidden treasure but yeah, something is hidden inside this mansion. Pina-design talaga ‘to na parang maze para mahirapan ang sino mang magtatangkang pumasok na hindi naman namin tauhan.” Paliwanag niya at lumiko sa isang corridor. Sumusunod lang ako sakaniya hanggang sa tumigil kami sa harap ng isang double door.

“Go on.” He said and gestured for me to open the door. Tiningnan ko muna siya uli bago hinawakan ang doorknob at pinihit.

“Ma!”