Rugged Men Series 5: Kayden Gonzales (TAGALOG)

Chapter 5

TUMINGIN siya kay Nikolas at napahilot sa sentido. “Did you call these fuckers?”

“No, of course not. Why would I call this embeciles?” balik-tanong ni Nikolas at iritado na pinaikot ang mga mata. “Kapag nandito ‘yang mga iyan, nagkakagulo mga pasyente at empleyado sa St. Bonaventure. Daig pa ng mga ‘yan ang artista na pinagkakaguluhan dito sa ospital.”

“Then why are they here?” tanong niya kay Nikolas.

“Why don't you ask them?” muling balik-tanong ni Nikolas at umupo sa pinakamalapit na upuan at nagdekuwatro. “Kahit ako, ayaw ang mga iyan na nandito.”

“We were worried, okay?” sagot ni Alejandro at bumuntong-hininga. “We send Wyatt to Tokyo as planned and went straight here to visit you in your private ward, but it turns out that you’re not here, so...”

“We went to Patrice’s and find out that you’re there... smiling when you wake up after seeing her on f*****g top of you,” dugtong ni Xavier at pumalatak. “Tell me I didn't hallucinate, Gonzales, I know all of us saw that.”

Bumuka ang bibig ni Kayden, ngunit wala siyang nausal na kataga. Tumingin siya kay Nikolas bilang paghingi ng tulong at itinaas lang nito ang mga kamay bilang pagsuko sa mga ito.

“What the f**k are you trying to do here, huh?” tanong ni Cooper at dismaya na tumingin sa kanya. “What are you trying to prove here? For f**k sake, that's Ayden’s wife, Gonzales.”

“I know...” sagot niya at napapikit nang sandali. “Look, I am guilty, okay? It’s the least I could do.”

“Bullshit!” asik ni Xavier at balisa na nagpalakad-lakad pakanan at pakaliwa sa harap niya.

“That is exactly what Wyatt told Gonzales before he left,” pagbibigay-alam ni Nikolas para mapatingin ang lahat.

“I thought you’re good at advising people to do what’s right, Morales. Why the f**k did you let Gonzales do that?” tanong ni Xavier at nanlisik ang mga mata na sumipat sa kanya. “Damn... I know Ayden’s dead, but if I were you, Gonzales, I wouldn't do what you just did.”

“Don’t blame me. I already told him that what Gonzales wants to happen is wrong,” sagot ni Nikolas at pumalatak. “Do you think I agree with this? Our friend just f*****g buries himself for his twin’s sake.”

Napabuntong-hininga si Kayden at tumingin na lamang sa mga kaibigan. May punto naman ang mga ito, batid niya. They’re just worried and what he wanted to do was impossible. But he wouldn't be contented if he will know that Patrice will be in pain again. She was doing fine now. Kitang-kita niya kung paano ito nabuhayan nang malaman na buhay ang asawa. He couldn't take that happiness away. Burying himself for the sake of the happiness of his twin’s family is important to him now. He couldn’t give up now that he started it. He will take the consequences for whatever that may come to him.

“I saw the news about the plane crash and find out that it was Kayden who was dead instead of Ayden,” panimula ni Alejandro nang namayani ang katahimikan sa silid. “Clear this out, man. You don’t deserve this.”

“And Patrice and my nephew doesn't deserve to lose Ayden, too,” pagsalungat ni Kayden kahit pa man naiintindihan niya ang punto ni Alejandro.

“Apparently, they already lose Ayden, Gonzales. They have to accept the sad truth. It is you who wants to prove something here that we cannot seem to f*****g understand!” singhal ni Cooper at lumapit sa kanya at nagtitimpi na ikiniling ulo. “Why are you doing this to yourself?”

“Because I dodge death, Ramirez,” sagot ni Kayden at puno ng hinanakit na sinalubong ang galit nitong mga mata. “I was supposed to be the only one who was dead by now and I lived. It’s my time to die. I deserve to die. ”

Galit na kwenilyuhan siya ni Cooper at binigwasan nang mabilis sa mukha para mapahiga siya sa sahig. Sa lakas ng suntok ni Cooper ay nabigyan siya nito ng putok sa labi na kanyang ininda dahil kahit papaano ay alam niya na tama lang iyon para sa kanya.

“You want to die? I can grant your wish right now!” singhal ni Cooper at nagtangka pa na muling sumuntok sa kanya ngunit naawat na agad nito ng mga kaibigan.

“Easy, Ramirez...” wika ni Xavier at pinigilan ito. “We all are mad here, okay? Kagustuhan iyon ni Gonzales. Wala na tayong magagawa.”

“Anong wala?” tanong ni Cooper at nansilisik na sumipat sa kanya. “May magagawa na magagawa tayo. May magagawa si Gonzales. He can still take back what he said and tell the truth to the press after he get out in this hospital. Linawin niya na si Ayden ang namatay at hindi siya.”

Umiling-iling si Kayden nang makaupo na sa wheelchair para mas lalong sumama ang tingin sa kanya ni Cooper.

“I can’t...” sagot niya at muling umiling.

“Say that again?” tanong ni Xavier at kunot ang noo na lumingon sa kanya.

“I said I can’t. I am doing it whether you like it or not. From now on, I will be Ayden,” wika ni Kayden para maikiling-kiling ang ni Xavier ang ulo at ito na naman ang lumapit sa kanya upang sana ay suntukin siya ngunit napigilan agad nina Nikolas.

Si Cooper ay hindi rin nagpatalo at nagpumiglas din sa hawak ni Kyron.

“Putang-ina ka, Gonzales! Halika, lumapit ka. Ako na mismo ang papatay sa iyo,” asik ni Xavier at nagpatuloy na sumugod sa kanya.

“Calm down, you two...” ani Nikolas at tiningnan ang dalawa. “Or else I will—”

“Or else what? What, huh? Tang-ina mo, Morales. Isa ka rin!” singhal ni Xavier at itinulak ito. “Parehas lang kayo na hindi nag-iisip—”

Hindi na naituloy ni Xavier ang kataga nang lumagapak na lamang ito bigla sa sahig. Binawi ni Nikolas ang kamay at seryoso na tumingin sa gawi ni Cooper na ngayon ay nahindik sa ginawa ni Nikolas.

“If you f*****g do that sleep knockout to me, I am telling you, I’m going to f*****g kill you too—”

Mabilis na hinampas ni Nikolas ang leeg nito para mapasunod si Cooper sa paglagapak sa sahig katabi ni Xavier na hinayaan lamang nila sa ganoon na posisyon.

Biglang natawa si Kyron at ibinlabas nito ang cell phone. Kyron took a photo of the two knockout on the floor and then grinned. “Serves them right. Iinit kasi ng mga ulo. Ang init-init na nga sa Pinas, eh.”

Nikolas clucked using his tongue in dismay and glanced at him. “Be thankful that Isaac is still in Japan doing his mission. Just like these two, he will be raging mad for sure. Sleep knockout wouldn't affect him.”

Huminga na lamang si Kayden bilang pagsang-ayon. Alam niya ang bagay na iyon. Isaac could do more than what Cooper did. Isaac is the calmest of the group next to Jackson but when he's mad, he always turn savage. Tama ang sinabi ni Nikolas na magpasalamat siya dahil baka hindi lang sapak ang aabutin niya mula kay Isaac kundi baka gamitin nito ang katana sa kanya.

Umiling-iling lamang si Alejandro at umupo sa tabi ni Nikolas. “Are you really certain that what you want to do would not cause you any problem in the future?”

“I’m certain,” diretsahang sagot ni Kayden at nag-iwas ng tingin.

“No, you’re not. Cause if you really are, you won’t answer too quickly, Gonzales. You just pretend that you are. We know you. You're not repulsive. You think before you act,” pagbibigay-diin ni Alejandro pagkatapos ay umiiling-iling na umismid. “Everybody does that. Even me does it as well when I’m not that certain. However, it’s your decision to make and not ours.”

“I am still gulty,” ani ni Kayden at napalunok nang malalim. “I’ve been hating Patrice since he married my brother and now that I get to know her, it is just me who see her as bad for Ayden. When everyone sees her as good, it is I who see the worst in her. I've been hating her and she doesn't deserve it. I know, even before that she’s good for Ayden, and I always deny that because I hated her. But I have to admit it now that Patrice is good for Ayden. I felt it. She is too good to be exact. And it is such a waste because Ayden’s gone.”

“Life has its ending, Gonzales. Unfortunately, your twin has come to his end and luckily you don't. But what you are doing here is you are prolonging his life instead of yours,” wika ni Nikolas at seryoso na tumingin sa kanya. “Are you really going to do this to yourself?”

Nag-iwas ng tingin si Kayden at tumango. “I am. I am sure.”

“Then be ready for the consequences, Gonzalez. Ayden and Patrice are married for almost seven years. They share a life together. Now, as Ayden you get to share your life with Patrice,” pagbibigay-diin ni Nikolas at nagpakawala nang malalim na paghinga. “And when I say share, I mean all of you. Body and Soul. You are going to be a gentle husband. A loving father for Aiden. One wrong move, Patrice will be suspicious. These are the consequences you have to face. Your life is not yours now. From this day forward, you are now bound to Patrice.”

Tumingin siya dito at umismid bilang tugon dahil batid niya na ang ang mga mangyayari sa kasalukuyan. Batid niya ang gustong nitong ipahiwatig ni Nikolas. It would be hard for sure but he will get used to it along the way. He just hope Patrice won’t be suspicious or his efforts will be wasted.

”Kayden is smart, he can pull any strings,” ani Kyron at ngumisi. “Besides, look at Patrice. Amorous. Sexy. Caring. Who would not want to be in her care?”

Tiningnan niya nang masama si Kyron. “It’s not like that, fucker.”

“You don't have to be so defensive, my friend,” pang-aasar ni Kyron at tinaas ang mga kilay bago napangiti sa kanya. “I didn't say you’re like that. I’m pertaining to a man who has been eyeing her. With a body like that, she is indeed an eye candy.”

Sabay-sabay na napakunot ang kanilang noo sa narinig mula kay Kyron.

“What? Admit it, you guys, Patrice is one hell of a damn woman. She’s hot. Master’s kiss sexy. Too hot for the fact that she’s already labored a child... is she not?” tanong ni Kyron at nang-aasar na napangisi sa kanya.

“What are you trying to imply here, Sanchez?” nanunukat na tanong ni Kayden at mayabang na itinaas ang ulo.

“Are you really going to deny it? Oh, my friend Gonzales. I saw how you smile this morning when you woke up. You look like Ayden...” ani niyo at napangisi. “I somehow understand your reason to pretend his husband because Patrice is a very—”

Hindi na naituloy ni Kyron ang kataga nang pinahapyawan ito ng pag-atake ni Nikolas sa leeg gamit ang kamay at natumba ito na padapa sa ibabaw nina Xavier.

“Serves him right, daming sinasabi, eh,” natatawang wika ni Alejandro at umiling-iling. Pagkatapos ay ito naman ang humugot ng cell phone galing sa bulsa at kinuhanan ito ng litrato. “This is a f*****g remembrance for everybody. Send ko ito sa GC natin mamaya.”

Napahalakhak si Kayden at napatingin sa tatlong kaibigan na mahimbing na natutulog. “They're just worried, I understand them. As for Sanchez, he can’t really control his mischief side. Ang iniisip ko ngayon ay si Madison. How is she?”

“Wyatt told us that Madison went to his house yesterday and she was ready to give up her dream and flee together with Wyatt,” pagkuwento ni Alejandro para lumalim ang gatla sa kanyang noo.

“Really?” tanong ni Kayden.

“Yes. Kaya napaaga ang flight ni Wyatt dahil kailangan niya iwan si Madison,” sagot ni Alejandro at umismid. “My cousin is ready to risk all what she started just to be with Wyatt. Damn, it saddened me but at the same time disappoints me. Madison’s admiration for Wyatt is too much, it’s toxic. Sakto lang ang ginawa ni Wyatt na pag-iwan dito. But I know she's okay now, don’t worry. Zacharias is with her she's in good hands. I hope he could cheer her up just like how Wyatt can.”

“You know that's impossible, right?” tanong ni Kayden at nag-aalalang tumingin dito. “Kay Wyatt lang lumalambot si Madison.”

“I know. And I also know that she will get to used to Wyatt’s lack of presence someday,” ani Alejandro. “I believe she will.”

“There's nothing Madison can't do except for moving on,” sabad ni Nikolas at ipinakita ang cell phone. “Don't worry about Madison, worry for yourself... because you and Patrice will be discharged tomorrow morning and prepare yourself to have a new life. Good luck, Gonzales.”

Napalunok si Kayden at iniwas ang tingin upang maikubli niya ang bahagyang pagka-alarma dahil sa natanggap na kataga mula kay Nikolas. Once he will live with Patrice in the same roof, there is no turning back.