His Kryptonite
1599 Words
"Noel," he acknowledged Luca's head of security who was waiting behind the trunk of Luca's car.
Katabi nito sina Bruno at Kise na dati ay mga bodyguard niya noong tine-training pa siya ng ama niya.
Technically, Luca's guards were not under his radar and it is only the unit that is apart from his supervision for obvious reasons.
"Magandang gabi, sir. May package lang po na ipinapabigay si Sir Luca sa inyo."
Package. They referred to a human as just a package.
Gumilid ito bago binuksan ang trunk at inilabas ang isang cadaver bag at binuksan. Bumungad sa kaniya ang bugbog-saradong katawan ng walang-malay na si Martia na nakasilid sa plastic bag.
"Can she breathe?" he casually asked and put his gloved hands inside his pockets.
"Opo, sir. Buhay pa po iyan. May oxygen po sa loob," kaswal din na sagot ni Noel.
"Good."
Tinanguan niya si Rash na naghihintay sa likuran niya.
"Dalhin mo sa loob. Call a doctor and when she's okay, send her to one of my safe houses."
Hinintay muna niyang maipasok ng mga tauhan sa entrance ng office building niya bago siya nagtanong ng kalmado.
"Any message from Luca, Noel?"
"Wala po siyang sinabi. Ang instruction lang po ay ibigay sa inyo ang babae."
Tumiim ang mga bagang niya bago hinawakan ang sariling panga. So he chose to do this. What an unscrupulous attack coming from him.
"Okay, I got it. I properly received his message." Pinasadahan niya ng tingin ang magarang kotse sa harap. "Is this his car?"
Walang sumagot sa mga ito kaya binunot niya ang baril at pinaputukan ang apat na gulong ng kotse.
"Sir Langdon!" Akmang lalapitan siya ni Kise pero inilingan ito ni Bruno para pigilan.
Langdon smiled while watching the busted wheels. Hindi pa siya nakontento at binaril pa ang windshield bago tinanguan ang tatlong lalake.
"I hope your boss will also receive my message."
Pinaikot niya sa kamay ang baril at sumakay uli sa sasakyan at pinaharurot ito palayo. Beating Martia is not just a threat. Luca wants him to see it for himself. Gusto nitong ipamukha sa kaniya na alam nito kung ano ang mga ginagawa niya.
He hired Martia to do a specific thing but Luca intercepted her right away. Pinukpok niya ang manibela sa magkahalong inis at frustration.
He needs to go to Cerro Roca. Hindi pwedeng makuha ni Luca ang lahat ng ebidensya. Mabubuko ng wala sa oras ang plano niya.
Kumambyo siya at dinoble ang speed pero kinailangan niya ring huminto makalipas ang bente minutos nang marinig ang palitan ng putok sa border ng Monte Vega.
May tatlong kotse na nakaharang sa tulay at pinapuputukan ang dalawang van.
Pinalitan niya ang magasin ng baril at alertong bumaba dala ang refractor telescope. Kilala niya ang isang grupo. Paano niya sila hindi makikilala kung siya mismo ang personal na nagsagawa ng training ng mga ito.
The thought that he didn't even know that this unit had an operation angered him more. How could they leave him in the dark? He's the security head.
But of course, Luca is still the default leader.
"God Luca. You've really come a long way. You've become more unpredictable."
Ipinaling niya sa kabilang direksiyon ang device at ganoon na lang ang panlalaki ng mga mata niya nang makilala ang babaeng nakatago sa nakabukas na pintuan ng puting van at walang habas na nagpapaputok sa kabila.
"Casindra!"
She's wounded, her right arm is bleeding down to her hands.
He quickly got back into the car, started the engine, and headed directly off into the fray.
Some took notice of him confused about which side of him so they chose to throw bullets his way that didn't penetrate into his bullet-proof car.
Inabot niya ang ilang bola ng tear gas sa compartment at itinapon sa sariling mga tauhan.
While maintaining the side of the steering wheel with his left hand, he scooted to the passenger seat, opened its door using his feet, and snatched Casindra by her waist and into the safety of his car.
Tinapakan niya agad ang silinyador at determinadong pinaarangkada ang kotse.
"What are you doing?!" sigaw ni Casindra ng lagpasan niya ang isang eskinita.
"Seat belt. Put on your seat belt. Now!"
Wala ng salitang ginawa nito ang sinabi niya.
Walang pag-aatubiling inararo niya Toyota sa harap at nagtuluy-tuloy sa tulay. Gumewang ang kotse sa impact pero madali niya ring nakontrol.
He looked at Casindra who's gasping for air and then to the wound on her arm. Malakas ang pagdugo nito kaya dapat na agapan.
Itinabi niya ang sasakyan sa tagong lilim ng isang puno para kumuha ng first-aid kit.
"Aww!" she gasped hard when he dabbed the cotton soaked with alcohol on the wound.
"Shh, it's okay. Mabilis lang ito."
Matapos i-disinfect ang sugat ay ekspertong nilagyan niya ito ng gauze at tape.
"This would do for now but it's better if you'll see a doctor."
Hindi niya napigilan ang sarili at kinabig ito para yakapin. Rumagasa ang relief sa katotohanang nailigtas niya ito sa pagkakataong ito.
"You're safe now. Thank God you're safe," paulit-ulit na bulong niya bago ito binitawan.
"Ihahatid kita bukas sa ospital sa labas ng Cerro Roca. I know a doctor. You'll be safe here."
Naningkit ang mga mata nito. "You know you can't do that. Hindi pwedeng makita tayo ng magkasama. Hindi pwedeng makilala ako. Ano na lang ang iisipin ng mga tao? That I faked my death? That my family lied about it? I can't let that happen. At mas ayokong isipin nila na bumabalik ako sa iyo. More than ever before, this is the right time to define our difference... I'm an Alcantara and you're an Asturia."
"Cas, did you forget what your own family you're dying to protect did to you? They killed you and yet you're siding with them?" Hindi makapaniwalang bulalas niya.
Mas lalong tumigas ang mukha nito. "You killed Alcindra and yet you're doing all this to help her family out. Isn't that more ironic?" balik nito sa kaniya.
Natahimik siya. Nagpakawala siya ng hangin bago nagsimula uling magmaneho.
"Saan tayo pupunta?" tanong nito kapagdaka.
"To one of my safe houses in Cerro Roca. They will spend the night looking for you. That's how I trained them. What happened back there? Nakaantabay na ba sila pagdating niyo?"
"God, I hope my men were able to escape," sabi nito sa sarili bago sinulyapan siya. "Do you really think I would answer that question knowing you're working as the head of the Asturias Securities? If I know, pakana mo ang ambush kanina."
"I understand your doubts. Pero hindi ko talaga alam ang operasyon na iyon. I'm certain it's Luca."
Nahulog silang dalawa sa malalim na pag-iisip. Hanggang sa sumapit sila sa kaniyang bahay ay wala pa rin silang kibuan.
Hinatid niya ito sa tapat ng pinto ng silid. "Stay the night, Cas. Bukas ka na umalis. Dito lang ako para bantayan ka."
Lumambot ang mukha nito. Tinitigan siya nito pabalik. Ibinuka nito ang bibig para sana may sabihin ngunit nagbago ang isip nito kaya't itinikom nito uli iyon.
Pinanood niya ang pag-aalinlangan sa magandang mukha nito habang nagtatalo ang isip kung sasabihin ba ito o hindi.
"Goodnight," ani niya.
Tumalikod siya pero mabilis nitong napigilan ang kaniyang kamay. He glanced at Casindra who's looking down, still unable to say it. Naghintay siya sa sasabihin nito pero walang namutawi palabas.
Gumiti ang munting ngiti sa gilid ng labi niya nang mamasdan ang pagpipigil nito sa sarili. Still the same old hesitant Casindra. Awtomatikong tumaas ang palad ni Langdon para haplusin ang bumbunan nito.
"I know we're mortal enemies but I really want to say thank you for saving me kanina. I..." nag-iwas ito ng tingin.
His hand froze in the air.
"You will get in trouble with what you did but still you went out of your way to save an enemy. I don't know if it's out of pity or what but that doesn't matter. Please accept my gratitude."
She gathered all her wits to look him in the eyes.
"I know we're both already scarred and scared. Ang sakit ng nangyayari sa atin. You loved me. I loved you. Yet, here we are, our families fighting against each other to death. Wala man lang tayong magawa. Galit ako sa iyo. I should have taken this chance to kill you but I can't. I can't do anything to kill you."
Hindi na niya pinigilan ang sarili. Parang may sariling utak ang kamay niya na tinuyo ang mga luha sa mukha ni Casindra.
"Sleep now. Let's talk tomorrow. I'll be here outside guarding you. Gigisingin kita kapag may panganib akong na-detect."
Kagat ang labing sumang-ayon ito. "Okay."
Doon na niya hinaplos ang ulo nito. The gesture felt too nostalgic and intimate just like how he used to do every time she's upset.
"Goodnight, Cas."
Nakapamulsang itinuloy niya ang pagtalikod.
"Lang..."
His steps faltered. She just called him in the name she has given him.
Choking on the very familiar feeling, he breathed hard and continued walking away.
"Lang!" she called again.
This time he stopped walking.
"Do you still love me?" she asked in a shaking voice. "Answer me please. Answer me, Lang. I'm begging you."
With fists curled and self-control out of gas, Langdon was reminded of one thing at that exact moment.
Casindra Alcantara is his original kryptonite, the weakness that sparked the fire and started it all.
Without thinking a second, he turned back, walked to her and when he's in front of her, he seized her face, closed his eyes, and kissed her hungrily.
- Writer
