CARRYING THE MAFIA CEO'S SON

CHAPTER 3

Carissa's POV**

Matapos ang sunod-sunod na putukan kanina, humupa na rin ang kaguluhan nang mawala sila Dark at ang mga kaibigan niya. Ramdam ko pa rin ang kirot sa aking hita na ngayon ay tinitingnan na ng mga medics.

"Ma'am, tara na po at dadalhin namin kayo sa ospital," wika ng isa sa mga medics sa akin habang nakaupo ako sa guest chair.

Nagsialisan na ang mga bisita kanina, at ako na lang ang natira sa venue ng kasal kasama ang mga medics at mga tauhan ng resort na nagliligpit ng mga gamit.

"Okay lang po ako," tugon ko sa medic. Ayoko nang pumunta pa sa ospital dahil sa daplis na ito. Masakit man sa pakiramdam, pero mas iniisip ko na makakapagpahinga ako nang mas mabuti sa bahay.

"Ma'am, kailangan pong magamot ang sugat ninyo."

"Please, gusto ko lang magpahinga," I reasoned out as I stood up. I even insisted that I was okay by taking some steps, despite them being wobbly. I headed towards Dad who was talking to one of his staff.

"Dad," I called him.

"Oh, Carissa, why are you walking?" he asked, concerned.

"Dad, I'm fine. Gusto ko nang umuwi," I responded. Dad looked at me for a while, shook his head, and then called the driver.

"Hatid mo na si Carissa. Make sure na magsama ka ng tatlong guwardya para sigurado," he said. "Ingat ka. Be safe, okay? Magpahinga ka pag-uwi mo." I nodded in agreement with a wry smile before leaving.

Last night, around nine, I arrived at Dark's mansion. I am lying on my bed thinking about what happened at the wedding. *So this is the future I will have if I stay with him?* Hindi malabong wala pa ako sa trenta ay wala na ako sa mundong ito. The way he pulled his gun just now, as if he was so used to the situation.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit ang isang CEO ng isang kilala at sikat na gold company ay laging sangkot sa mga gulo.

Habang lumilipad ang isip ko sa nangyaring barilan kanina, biglang bumukas ang pinto at pumasok si Dark. Kakaligo lang niya, basa pa ang buhok. He was wearing beach shorts, topless, habang naglalakad papunta sa akin.

"Are you okay, wife?" tanong niya. Nag-init ang mukha ko sa sinabi niya. *Wife?*

"I-I'm fine. Wag kayong mag-alala sa akin. Daplis lang ito."

"No, I'm sorry, " sabi niya sabay kuha sa kamay ko.

"I'm fine."

"No, Carissa, those dumbasses ruined our wedding—" pinutol ko ang sasabihin niya.

"Dark… who are you?" biglang lumabas sa bibig ko. Tinitigan ko siya, at napansin kong nakatingin din siya sa akin.

"Do you want to know me?" tanong niya.

Tumango ako ng bahagya. Naramdaman kong bumigat ang atmospera sa pagitan namin. Hindi ko inaasahan na sa ganitong sitwasyon kami mapupunta. Sa dami ng nangyari kanina, mas lalong nabaon ako sa pagdududa tungkol sa taong nasa harap ko.

Lumapit siya ng kaunti, hawak pa rin ang kamay ko.

"I grew up in a world where power and wealth dictated every move, every decision. My parents were no different. They built an empire—a gold company that became synonymous with influence. But with that influence came enemies—people who were willing to do anything to take it all away," he said, in a deep, heavy voice, as if he journeyed back into those memories.

One unfortunate day, my parents did not come back home. Their involvement in a business deal that went awry meant they got caught in the crossfire. I was merely a teenager then, but with their last breaths, I made a promise: I would protect everything they had worked for. I wouldn't let their sacrifices be in vain.

Napatingin ako sa mga mata niya, at doon ko nakita ang lungkot at poot na matagal nang nakabaon sa pagkatao niya. Hindi ako makapaniwala na sa likod ng bawat ngiti at matagumpay na imahe na ipinapakita niya sa mundo, may nakatagong kwento ng trahedya.

"But I realized," he continued, "that doing business isn't all about breaking deals and making money. You have to be ready to fight, sometimes to the death, because the world of money is inhabited by people who will stop at nothing to destroy you. I had to learn how to use a gun, how to defend myself, and how to protect those I love." May bigat sa bawat salita niya, para bang bawat isa'y nagbibigay ng piraso ng kanyang pagkatao na pilit niyang tinatago.

Tahimik lang akong nakikinig. Hindi ko alam kung paano ako magre-react sa lahat ng nalaman ko. Naramdaman ko ang bigat ng responsibilidad na pasan niya, ang hiya ng mundong ginagalawan niya. Ngunit sa kabila ng lahat ng iyon, he still managed to be the powerful and controlled man I married.

"Carissa," he called, clutching my hand tighter, "I'm not asking you to understand everything about me. But, you should know, everything I do, every decision I make, it's all to make sure that what happened with my parents doesn't happen again. Not to me and definitely not to you."

Tinitigan ko lang siya, di ko alam kung ano ang sasabihin. Parang isang bangungot ang mga sinabi niya, ngunit alam kong ito'y katotohanan. It was as if everything he said was a nightmare, but I knew that it was the bitter truth. I suddenly understood why he was that wary, why he was always ready for whatever was going to happen. And now, I was a part of that world. A world filled with danger, where one wrong move could mean the end.

"Dark, I." Hindi ko alam kung paano ko sisimulan ang sasabihin ko. Gusto ko siyang tanungin ng marami pa, ngunit wala akong sapat na lakas ng loob.

Huminga siya ng malalim, at para bang nagbago ang ihip ng hangin sa pagitan namin. "You don't have to say anything now. Just. be with me. Let me protect you."

Bigla niyang pinutol ang pag-uusap namin. I felt his warm hand slowly touch the wound on my thigh. Napatingin ako sa kanya, gulat sa ginawa niya, pero mas nabigla ako nang makita ang seryosong ekspresyon sa kanyang mukha. Halatang-halata ang pag-aalala niya.

"Let me see," he whispered gently, his gaze focused on my wound.

"Dark, it's nothing –”

Pero hindi siya nagpaawat. Hinaplos-haplos niya ang paligid ng sugat, parang tinitimbang kung gaano ito kalala. Ramdam ko ang init ng kanyang palad sa balat ko, at hindi ko maiwasang mapakagat-labi sa kakaibang.