Showdown
1526 Words
"Ma," sagot niya sa tawag nito habang naglilinis ng baril.
"You need to come back here. The elders wanted you to explain about what happened to Spencer."
Halata sa boses ng ina niya na kakagaling lang nito sa pag-iyak. She and Spencer were best buddies even before her mother's marriage to his father. Nagkaroon lang ng alitan sa dalawa nang akuin ni Spencer ang kasalanan ng isang elder lalo pa at pamangkin ni Laura ang naging biktima.
Pero gayunman ay agad nagboluntaryo ang tiyuhin niya na bantayan siya noong mag-aral siya sa Amerika.
"I will come back now. Don't worry. And ma?"
"Yes? What is it, son?"
A bitter smile curved into his mouth as the image of his uncle dead's body came into mind.
"I will clear his name no matter what it takes," he promised.
Pinatay niya ang tawag at naghanda na sa pag-alis. Pinuntahan niya si Cas sa kwarto na naabutan niyang bagong ligo at nagkukusot ng buhok. Suot nito ang damit na hiniram sa kaniya noon ni Cin.
Frozen to his feet, he stared at her as if she was some kind of apparition. Parang nakikita niya si Cin dito. Her hair, her built, and her nose. Ngayon lang niya napagtagni kung gaano kaparehas ang mga ilong nito. It all reminds him of the little lady who always gave him lovestruck gazes.
Would she also ask for a chocolate drink? Would she look at him, smile, and then blush innocently?
"Lang? Lang? Langdon?"
He blinked when he realized that Cas is already in front of her looking at him curiously. Ni hindi niya namalayan na nakalapit na pala ito sa kaniya dahil sa lalim ng iniisip niya.
"Yes, yes. What?"
Tumawa ito at iginalaw ang kamay sa harapan ng mukha niya. "Are you okay? Kanina ka pa nakatitig sa akin. Is something wrong?"
"N-No," he stammered and cleared his throat. "Nothing's wrong."
Bumaba ang tingin nito sa bihis niya partikular sa baril na nakaipit sa pantalon niya.
"Where are you going?"
"I'm leaving back to Monte Vega. I'm sorry but I can't hitch you in. Masyadong delikado sa iyo. You can stay here. Ligtas ka rito. If something comes up, call me right away, okay?"
"Lang." She held his hand and pulled him back. "Are you really going to go? Can't you take a day off? Bukas ay may gagawin ako. Gusto lang sana kitang makasama ngayon. Please, stay here with me."
Nagdadalawang-isip siya kung sasang-ayon ba pero hindi na siya binigyan ng pagkakataon ni Casindra.
Pinatahimik na siya ng halik nito sabay dukot nito ng baril niya at itinapon sa ilalim ng kama.
She threw her arms around his neck while her lips were pressed hard against his.
He quickly took over. Hinayaan niyang mas lumalim pa ang halikan nilang dalawa. Ipinikit niya ang mga mata at nag-concentrate sa amoy ni Cas. If he could only remember the feelings he had while kissing her in the past, maybe he'll also remember how to love Casindra back.
Their tongues danced in a rhythm that he had already forgotten. Even her touch felt foreign now.
Trying hard to stay in the moment, he licked her lower lip and grind his lower body in the hopes that he would be turned on but nothing happened.
"Lang."
Everything became standstill when he heard Cin call his name. Slowly, his grip on Casindra's hair loosened. Sighing, he snapped out of it when Cin's face formed into his head while responding to Cas' kisses. It's not right. He's being unfair to Cas.
She didn't deserve it just like how Cin doesn't deserve being kissed with Cas on his mind then. Muntik na siyang makalimot. Nakasakit na naman siya.
"Why? What's wrong?" she asked, feeling a bit disoriented.
Binitawan niya ito at umatras. Inihilamos niya ang kamay sa buong mukha at nagpakawala ng marahas na hininga.
Remorse smothering his being.
"I'm sorry Cas but I can't do this. I really can't."
"No, no." She grabbed him by his collar and pleaded, "Let me take your mind off it. Please, Lang. Make love to me."
Nagsimula itong hubarin ang pang-itaas nito pero mabilis niya itong napigilan.
"Don't, please. Masasaktan lang kita."
Dahan-dahang nawala ang ilaw sa mata nito bago ito bumagsak paupo sa kama. Pigil ang luha na nagpakawala ito ng pilit na tawa.
"Oh gosh, I'm sorry. I didn't know why I did that. I didn't know what I was doing. I was... I was also shocked, you know."
"Cas..."
"No, no. It's okay. I'm okay." Ngumiti ito sa kaniya kahit halatang nasasaktan ito.
"I'm okay, Lang. I won't break that easily. And I won't stop scraping through your heart. Alam kong nandiyan pa rin ako. Please naman, hanapin mo naman ako diyan."
"Cas, you don't have to do this." Nagyuko siya ng ulo. "I'm sorry."
"I'm getting sicker with your apologies! If you're really sorry, then love me again. Tingnan mo uli ako ng may pagmamahal, Lang. Sawa na akong makitang awa na lang ang natitirang damdamin mo para sa akin. I don't need your pity! I want your love! I want my man back! I want you back, Lang!"
Humihikbing hinablot nito ang bag at tumakbo palabas. Hinabol niya ito pero parang may sariling isip ang paa niya na huminto.
Para saan pa kung maaabutan niya ito? He can't really make it work with her, right? It's better this way.
Mas hindi na niya ito masasaktan. Hindi na siya magiging unfair dito.
But still, he can't help himself but cry. Si Cas iyon, ang tanging babaeng minahal niya at pinangarap na makasama sa buong buhay niya. Binuo nito ang kabataan niya. Mas binigyan pa nito ng kulay ang buhay niya noon.
His dreams revolved around making a family with her.
Si Cas iyon na ininda ang pang-aalipusta ng mga Alcantara para manatili sa Monte Vega para sa kaniya. Si Cas na pinasaya siya. Si Cas na kahit takot ay ipinaglaban siya. Si Cas na nangarap kasama siya. Si Cas na ina ng unang anak niya.
Langdon became the happiest during meeting Cas. She changed his outlook on life. He became more humane because of her.
She's the sole reason why he started all of this to avenge her death and now she's also the same reason why he will put an end to this.
NAKALABAS din siya ng Los Ojos pagkatapos ng ilang oras na interrogation. Just as he expected, the elders did not touch on the reason why Uncle Spencer was killed. They dwelt on how they could cover his death without implicating the family.
Inutusan siyang linisin ang sinasabi nilang 'kalat' na ginawa nito. Pulido raw dapat. Walang aalingasaw na baho. It's as if they aren't talking about a son and a nephew who just died. He didn't even see Uncle Spencer's father showed sadness.
He paused in front of a palm tree and remembered his father. Ito rin siguro ang ginawa ng mga elders kaya hindi nabalita na nagpakamatay ang ama niya.
"Eyy, Langdon!"
Napatiim-bagang na nilingon niya ang may-ari ng boses. Luca is spinning a bag of candies while walking towards him.
Langdon brushed his shirt aside to reveal his gun. 'Wag lang siyang sakyan ng demonyo ngayon dahil baka biglang maging libingan nito ang Los Ojos.
Tumigil ito sa harapan niya at ibinulsa ang isang kamay.
"I didn't order his death. He's also my uncle. I wouldn't kill my own blood, man. I'm not like you."
Ngumisi ito bilang patama sa kaniya.
Taking off his sunglasses and staring at the woman beside Luca, Langdon grinned too and nodded extensively.
"Ano ka ba, Luca. Ba't ka pa mahihiyang aminin kung nagawa mo na? Paano ba iyan. Pareho na tayong mamamatay-tao ng sariling mga kadugo natin. Wala na tayong pinagkaiba."
He popped up some candies into his mouth and shrugged, a portentous stillness hung over his eyes.
"Langdon, what do you think about my proposal? I'll make you my right hand. Kakalimutan ko ring sinunog mo ang pinakaminamahal kong halamanan. Come on man, I'm ready to shove in the past all your sins. Join me. Be on the right side of our clan's history."
Napapailing na lang na tumawa siya.
"Wow! I must have done something great for you to say this. What a great offer!" He stepped nearer towards him. "But you know what, I could have way more than your offering by being the official leader of the Asturians."
Luca's mouth curved into a challenging smirk. Ibinalik niya ang sunglasses sa mata. Luca is finally caving in to his pressure.
"You've been reckless, Luca. This was the first major crack in your leadership I had seen. Papasok ako at titingnan ang loob kung hindi mo mamasamain ha. I'll then make sure to check more, okay? I think you won't mind. You didn't even mind when Zen married your girl, right?"
Naging mabangis ang mukha nito nang makanti ni Langdon ang sugat ng kahapon. Laughing, he adjusted the inside of his glasses and stuck out a tongue and licked his upper lip before glancing back at the woman behind Luca.
"Ba-bye!"
He waved a finger at him and went on his way.
- Writer
