Vows under the Gun

Chapter 3 I'm not Ethel

HELIO

"Baka iniisip ng babaeng ito na madali akong kalabanin. She'd better get out of my sight or I will not hesitate a single second to bury a bullet in her skull." Sambit ko habang inaayos ang vest na susuotin ko sa auction.

Nasa mansyon ako at nandito ako sa silid kung nasaan ang mga armas na ginagamit namin.

"Boss, hindi natin siya puwedeng patayin. Kailangan natin malaman ang motibo niya. Kung totoong gusto nilang banggain ang mga Navarro ay kailamgan nating makipagnegosasyon."

Sinamaan ko ng tingin si Andrea na nilapag ang case ng isang sniper rifle habang naghahanda rin ito.

Sinuksok ko ang mga bala sa lagayan ng vest. Isang patalim at isang pistol. Pagkatapos ay sinuot ko na ang suit ko.

"Walang akong pakialam sa mga Verona at Hughs. Last night, she convinced that old man Villafuerte to let their ships dock in his port. This means invading our territory here. She's outward starting war against me. I will kill her."

Inayos ko ang suit na suot ko at tumingin sa salamin.

"Hindi naman kita mapipigilan boss." Buntong-hiningang sabi ni Andrea.

Wala pwedeng sumira ng mga plano ko. Walang pwedeng bumangga saanin. If there is one, I should eliminate them as soon as possible, more so I will never be outwitted by a mere woman like her.

Nakaposisyon ang mga tauhan ko sa buong tower ng kung saan gaganpin ang auction. This is not a simple auction. It's a gathering of power, building connections, or severing some ties to build stronger ones.

If Isla Verona is such a smart one. She will not show herself tonight. That's a cat getting into a lion's den.

But I was wrong. She's not smart at all.

"Boss, the woman in red sparkling dress wearing a black feather mask. She's in the tower of champagne. That's her." Sambit ng nasa kabilang linya na nakasuksok sa tainga ko. It's an earpiece.

"I know." Malamig na sagot ko habang nakatitig sa hindi kalayuan. Nakapamulsang pinagmamasdan ang bawat galaw ni babaeng nagngangalang Isla Verona na nakatayo sa harapan ng tower ng champagne glsses.

She moves delicately and softly. I admit that elegance suits her. She's has nice curves, soft and sharp enough to be alluring. Her jet-black hair is screaming authority. Her bright red lipstick embodies how daring she is.

Marami na ang mga taong nandito. Nakaposisyon na rin ang mga tauhan ko. Tonight will be an auction for ancient jewelries recently found by treasure hunters. This is illegal but we're talking about billion dollars here.

I can't take my eyes off her. I took a sip from my glass of champagne while simply interacting with the guests, still secretly watching Isla Verona's every move.

No one's with her. She's not guarded. Bold.

Ngumisi ako hanggang sa magsimula ang auction.

"This is an ancient egypt jewelry. A green crystal with gold plate, worn by Cleopatra. Starting bid 1.3 million US dollars."

Many have raised their bid. Until it went up to 50 million.

Green earrings.

Green. Ethel loves green.

I raised my number, but it was the same time with Isla Verona who's casually standing right in front of me and the aisle between us is so far the shortest distance parting us.

Despite being covered by a mask. I can see how deep her stare was. Why do I suddenly thought of Ethel while looking at her?

"60 million." She bids, still staring at me. She's daring.

I smirked.

"100 million." I bid.

People gasped then I heard claps.

I thought she's backing down when she suddenly smirked back.

"150." She slowly and mockingly clicked her tongue.

My jaw clenched. That's a lot of money for a single pair of earring. But it's no longer about just earrings.

This is a display of power.

"200." I bid.

She chuckled and I thought she will bid again, but I was lured into a trap. She shrugged her shoulders and bowed in defeat, but victorious smile is curved in her lips.

She got me! She fcking got me!

"200 million sold to Mr. Navarro!" The host announced.

This woman tricked me. How did she do that?! People are clapping but I'm busy throwing dagger looks at this woman in front of me.

I see. You're that kind of woman.

Cunning. Smart. Provoking.

Just like her.

Tumalikod na ako at dumiretso sa loob ng isang private room.

"Request an audience with her." Utos ko sa isang tauhan ko habang ako ay nakaupo rito sa isang round table na may pagkain.

I started eating while waiting for my guest.

"Ready your positions." Utos ko kay Andrea sa kabilang linya sa earpiece ko.

Ilang saglit nang bumukas at sumara ang pinto pero hindi ko iyon pinansin. Abala ako sa pagkain.

I heard sounds of pointy heels approaching. The very guest I'm waiting for just sat in front of me. I am not wearing my mask but I am not looking at her slightly bowed to the food I'm busy eating.

Nahagip ng mata ko ang paghubad nito ng mask niya kaya nilunok ko na ang pagkain at marahan ang mga galaw kong pinunasan ang gilid ng labi ko saka nag-angat ng tingin.

As soon as our eyes met, my eyes froze on her. Natulala ako sa mukha niyang walang kapintasan. Pero hindi iyon ang ikinagulat ko.

She maybe looks mature, flawless, glowing, with different hair and curves, but she screams the very person of Ethel Galvez. I can see how she's staring at me as well, but her cold eyes remained the same, emotionless, as if she doesn't recognize me.

My jaw clenched. My blood boiled the moment the hatred started rushing back at me again while staring at her face.

There's no way....

Fck.

"Ethel." I was unable to stop myself from stating her name. She didn't budge.

Right. You're out of your mind, Helio. Imposibleng siya si Ethel. Malayong-malayo siya kay Ethel. She is Isla Verona. A married woman. Wife of the enemy. She's an enemy.

Kuyom ang kamao ko na nakapatong sa table.

Hindi mawala ang titig ko sa mukha niya nang ngumiti siya.

"It's nice to finally meet you. Mr. Navarro." Malumanay ngunit puno ng kalamigan ang boses niya.

She's far from Ethel that I know. She is not Ethel. But my mind screams that she is Ethel!

Don't lose yourself Helio.

Umiwas ako ng tingin sa mukha niya nang mag-umpisa itong kumain.

"I heard you met a friend of mine last night. Did you two not talk about me?" Umpisa ko.

She is not Ethel. There is no way she is Ethel.

"Not much. He respects you so much, leads to me being more curious about you." Kaswal na sagot niya.

Muli akong napatitig sa mukha niya.

"Hindi na kita gusto Helio. Ayaw ko nang maghirap. Hindi ko lang masabi sa'yo, hindi lang kita maiwan dahil naaawa ako sa'yo."

Voice of her from that night came back to me. My eyes went blank while staring at the very person that resembles her. She is maybe Ethel or she maybe not, she is an enemy and Ethel is the apple of my hatred. They're not that different in my case.

"There's nothing to be curious about me. I don't mind you docking on his port so long as my business remains my business. But I do mind those men lurking within Isla Prinsesa." Malamig kong sabi.

"Oh. So, you heard." Tila may panunudyo ang boses niya.

She's not here to negotiate, I see. Her voice irritates me. Her very presence irks me.

"I will forget about it if you will take my words from here."

Nakatitig akong muli sakaniya at gayon din siya saakin.

She fcking reminds me of Ethel.

A mature version of Ethel.

Her smile is getting into my nerves.

"But I don't want you to forget." Sabi nito at nagkibit-balikat. She's trying me. She's playing with my patience which. I don't really have.

Napatingin ako sa kutsilyong nananahimik na nakalagay sa mesa katabi ng mga kunyertos.

"You know you will not get out of this room alive if you insist." Malalim ang boses kong sabi.

Nagkibit-balikat siya at tumayo kaya tumayo rin ako.

Her neck is undeniably flawless. It's bright, sharp and inviting. I'm torn between striking it with a knife or nibbling it.

I shrugged the thought.

Just because she resembles Ethel, she will get into my favor. She will not.

Nagtagisan kami ng tingin.

"Don't take me so little. Mr. Navarro. I came here to give you a chance not the other way around." Sabi niya at nanatiling matalim ang titig saakin, nakikipagtagisan din tingin.

There was a silence between us.

"So, you give me no choice." Sabi ko at tila naghihintayan kaming dalaw sa susunod na mangyayari.

"No. I give you choice to back down. Winner takes it all. You make me back down, or I will make you." Sabi nito at nang gumalaw ay hindi ko nagdalawang isip na bumunot ng baril. She was quick to dock and threw a knife in my direction. I dodged and saw the knife got stuck into the wall.

I pulled the trigger. It is a silencer gun. She dodged and now she's holding a gun pointing at me on the other ends of the table.

No one dares to pull the trigger. Nakatitig ako sa mukha niya. Why can't I pull the trigger?

Why can't she?

Then red dots are seen on my suits, so as in her pale white skin. She's prepared and so am I.

I chuckled and lowered down my gun. Any movements from either the two of us, snipers from afar will shoot their ends and no one dares to make a move.

She lowered her gun down.

"Tell me. How old are you?" Kaswal na tanong ko.

Talking business to her is nonsense. She's a woman. She won't do negotiation, I bet she doesn't even know it. But I admit she's got some moves on her.

She's smirking.

"Ang sabi nila ay nakakatakot ka. Matalino at hindi natitinag sa kahit na anong kalakaran. Pero dahil lang sa babae ako ay nakikitaan kita ng hindi ko mawaring emosyon. I've never heard that Mr. Helio Navarro is such a loverboy. Do I remind you of someone?"

Umigting ang panga ko sa sinabi niya. Kaagad na umakyat ang dugo ko. She knows how to hit a nerve. I tried to conceal that stubborn emotions I've been trying to erase for 10 years now.

"Bullshit." Sigaw ko at binaliktad ang mesa na naglikha ng ingay. Saka naman sunod sunod na nagsiputukan ang mga bala ng mga sniper na magkabilang kampo.

She was professional dodging them and so do I.

I saw that she's trying to escape, but why? She must kill me here or this will come to no sense at all.

She's trying to reach for the bathroom where the sniper bullets will not reach neither of us. I followed her while doging the bullets

"Stop firing." Utos ko kay Andrea sa kabilang linya.

I ran after her who's trying to get into the bathroom. How did she know there's a escape route in here?

"Why are you running away?!" Sigaw ko nang makapasok na kami sa banyo na may mga cubicle.

She stopped and turned around towards me. She pointed her gun at me and so did I. She's panting.

"This is a kill or be killed, bakit ka tumatakas? You're Ethel." May pinal sa boses ko.

Kita ko ang pagngitngit ng panga niya at umiling.

"Nonsense! You disappoint me Mr. Navaroo. I am Isla Verona. I am married to the Mafia Boss of Hughs! I can see that you're nothing but a loser in front of a mere woman like me! You're nothing great!" She lost composure.

She.is.Ethel.

Ngumisi ako.

"Sige, iputok mo."

She held the gun by both of he hands. She's hesitating.

She.is.Ethel.

"See? You're Ethel. You can't kill me." Panunudyo ko pa.

Umiling siya.

"I have no idea what you're talking about. What I can see is man who can't even pull the trigger at me! Bakit hindi mo rin iputok 'yan sa'kin? Hindi mo ako mapatay? You're no fun at all!" Sigaw niya.

Bumayo ang dibdib ko at dumiin ang hawak sa gatilyo.

Right, why can't I?

"Just admit you're her. I will gladly and willingly pull the trigger for you." I provoked her.

I saw a hint of emotion from her eyes, but it was just for a matter of seconds.

She trembled. Her hands were unstable while holding the gun. She closed her eyes deeply. She pulled the trigger at me but I was fast enough to dodge, kicked her hands making her let go of the gun.

She went into defense and tried to kick me in the stomach but I didn't made that much impact in my protected body. We threw punches and kicks on each other but all I was trying to do was to capture her and I did.

She was panting when we both fell to the floor and I locked her arms up to her heads, I am in top of her.

Her breathe is rapid on my face, and so did I. Now I took a closer look. She became more of Ethel.

Is this the reason why I can't find her for all these years?

"L-Let go of me!" Pagpupumiglas niya pero nakatitig lang ako sa mukha niya.

I captured her chin and gripped it tightly.

"Hindi na kita papakawalan sa pagkakataong ito, Ethel."