THE SUCCESSOR

Ep.13

"I was surprise to see each and everyone of you here doing small talks without me knowing it." Malakas niyang bigkas habang pumapasok sa malawak na kwarto kung saan sila nagtitipon. "Jesus Christ! I'm just staying next door. Wala man lang ni isa sa inyo ang kumatok just to inform me about this meeting?" she added. "Am I really an outcast here, Dalton?" magkakasunod niyang sabi habang nakatitig sa mga taong naroon.

"Serena, I'm sorry about that. Naisip ko lang kasi na maybe you're still weak kaya hindi ka na namin inistorbo. Malalaman mo rin naman ang pinag-usapan namin, dahil sasabihin ko sa'yo pagkatapos." Depensa ni Dalton.

"Aside from replacing me with my post, now you're underestimating my intelligence. How rude are you, Dalton? Do I look like as weak as what you think I am?" sarkastikong sagot niya.

"I- I-im sorry... I didn't mean anything to harm you. I know masama ang loob mo sa mga pagbabagong naganap. I just want everything to be peaceful."

"Are you?" sarkastiko niyang sagot.

"Of course, I am!"

Naglakad siya papalapit dito habang nakangiti. Pagkalapit niya ay muli niyang tiningnan ang mga kasamahan at muling hinarap si Dalton.

Isang nakakatulig na sampal ang iginawad niya sa magkabilaang pisngi nito.

"S-serena!" namimilog ang mga mata ng huli habang hawak ang pisngi. Ni hindi naiwasan ang paglagapak ng palad niya sa pisngi nito. "What did I do for you to slap me like that?!"

"Wear off your mascara just this once, Dalton. Stop playing like you were innocent. Or better yet, stop faking everything. You're not good at it, and every time I get to see your innocent face, I really want to p**e!"

"I don't understand what you're talking about! I did nothing, Serena! Are you hallucinating or what?We're just discussing something here, tapos heto ka. Lulusob at mananakit."

"Ladies and gentlemen, this man in front of you is nothing but a traitor!"

"Serena, please don't make a scene here, you 're in no position to shame me in front of our people, specially now na ako na ang namumuno sa lahi natin. Kaunting respeto naman sana kagaya ng pagrespeto ko sa'yo!"

"Of course, I have all the rights to do that. If I can just kill you right now with my fist. I guarantee you Dalton. You'll be dead as soon as I walked through that door." Nanginginig ang boses na saad niya. "And please, don't tell me na nirerespeto mo ako because you don't! You planned everything, from killing both of my parents and my twin sister!"

Umugong ang bulong-bulongan sa paligid. Marahil ay nagulat ito sa inaasal niya.

"Serena!" saklolo ni Elizabeth pagkakita sa kanya na nanginginig na sa galit.

"This is too much! I did not kill your family! I saved you! Just in case you're forgetting it!" namumulang wika ni Dalton. Nagtaas na rin ito ng boses dala marahil ng pagkapahiya.

"You did! you are too ambitious to think na kaya mong makuha ang lahat. Ang kaso kahit nilusob mo kami sa tulong ni Viktur ay hindi ka nagtagumpay dahil ikaw mismo ay trinaydor din ng talipandas na 'yon! And you have no choice to save me dahil nasa akin ang kwintas. At ngayon, nagkunwari kang si Sienna at ang Mama dahil hanggang sa huli, gusto mo pa ring makuha ang pinakaiingatan ko! You manipulated me by doing things I never thought you were capable of!" nang-uusig ang mga matang tumitig siya rito.

"W-what? I don't know what you're talking about. I'm not stupid, Serena! And how will I do that, sige nga?! I am no powerful like you."

"Sa tingin mo ba maloloko mo pa ako? Huwag ka ng magkunwari, nakilala na kita. You betrayed me, you betrayed us! Akala ko naman maaasahan kita. All along I thought I've found a father in you, so disappointing that I'm not."

Biglang yumuko si Dalton pagkarinig ng mga salitang 'yon. Marahil ay nang-aapuhap ito ng mga sasabihin.

"Remember the tattoo na nakita ko sa babaeng 'yon? Na kagaya ng tattoo mo! So what's next? Pagkatapos mo akong gawing katatawanan, gawin ang lahat para tuluyan akong manghina. Kunin ang pamumuno ko at ngayon ay ano?" mapang-usig niyang tanong. "Are you now planning a rebellion against me?" patuyang sambit niya.

"Serena, there is no rebellion or what so ever. We're just talking about the blood-house. We're running out of blood and we have to do something about it." Sabad ng isa nilang kasama na hindi na nakatiis sa pagtatalo nila.

"Oh really? So, anong ginagawa ng magiting ninyong lider? I thought he has everything to replace me?"

"I don't know why you're accusing me but please Serena. If you can't respect me as your leader. Kindly leave this room and stop spreading rumors about me. Everything you said wasn't true and I will stand with what I've said." Matigas na wika ni Dalton. "I can never do that lalo na sa iyong ama."

"How dare you! Liar!" galit niyang sigaw. "Ito ba ang gusto ninyong mamuno sa inyo? Ang manloloko, sinungaling at traydor? Kung nagawa niya lahat ng iyon sa akin. Ano pa kaya sa inyo!"

"Mawalang galang na Miss Serena, but this is not all about you. This is all about our survival. We don't care kung niloko ka niya, kasalanan mo 'yon dahil naging carefree ka. You should know or at least aware of everything, pero hindi. Kung totoo man na naloko ka niya, there is no one to blame but you!" sabad ng pinakamatanda sa kanilang grupo. "And about your accusation, I think the only way to make us believe is to show us some facts saying that it really happened."

"W-what did you say?" kunot-noong tanong niya. "Do I really need to justify my words for you to believe everything I said?"

"Siya nga naman, Serena. Wala ka na rin namang magagawa para sa amin. Look at your self, you looked vulnerable and sick. Kung magkakaroon ng digmaan at muling sumalakay ang mga kalaban dito, do you think you can still defend us?"

"Are you an idiot! For the love of God, use your damn head! How come na lulusubin kayo when Dalton is the spearhead of this organization? Bakit pa nila kayo lulusubin na hawak na kayo sa mga kamay ni Dalton? Did it make sense to you?"

"Serena, stop acting like a fool right now because you're weak and useless. Accept it or not, you're not strong just like before. We are just protecting our self. And if joining Dalton in a rebellion, means saving my family and our life. Without second thought, I'll do it. Even if it means---killing you with my bare hands." Sabad ng isa.

"Mga kasama, please refrain from saying hurtful words towards Serena. I know most of you are still in shock for the sudden changes. But rest assured that Serena, cares to everyone of you here. If she was being tricked before hindi na rin natin siya masisisi dahil iyon ang kahinaan niya. Ang pamilya niya, kaya siguro 'yon din ang ginamit ng kalaban para mapabagsak siya. But that doesn't mean that Serena doesn't deserve all of your respect. As your guardian for thousand of years, is this how you will show your gratitude?" hindi makatiis na sabad ni Elizabeth.

Lahat ay natahimik sa kwartong 'yon ng ilang saglit.

"I think, I already did my best to expose Dalton. I thought papanigan ninyo ako but to my dismay, it didn't turned out as expected." Malumanay niyang sabi.

Tahimik siyang humakbang palabas ng kwarto ngunit mabilis siyang pinigilan siya ni Dalton.

"Where do you think your going?" mabangis na wika nito. Ang mga kamay nito ay mahigpit na nakahawak sa kanyang braso.

"Get your filthy hands off me!" matigas niyang tugon.

"You're not going anywhere, Serena. Binastos mo ako sa harapan ng ating mga kasama. Maybe nakakalimutan mo kung sino na ako ang kaharap mo. I am now your leader, and I have my own rules for you to follow. Those who disobeys me, shame me and stand against me will be punished until their last breath!" dumadagundong na wika nito.

Ang dating maamong mukha ni Dalton ay napalitan ng mabangis at nakakatakot na hitsura.

"You must be kidding me! Serena is Serena, and she has a better leadership than you. Inagaw mo lang sa kanya ang posisyon ni-" protesta ni Elizabeth. Ngunit hindi na nito naituloy ang sasabihin dahil maagap itong nasakal ni Dalton at sumadsad ang dalawa sa pader.

"Oh yeah? Then tell me, who she is right now? Hindi ba't isa na siyang mahina at walang kapangyarihan na ultimo ang sarili ay hindi kayang ipagtanggol?" nang-uuyam na sagot nito.

"Bitawan mo siya!" sugod niya sa lalaki. Mabilis na umigkas ang mga kamay niya ngunit mas naging maagap si Dalton. Kaagad nitong nahawakan ang mga kamao niya kasabay ng walang awang pagbalibag kay Elizabeth. Siya naman ang pinagbalingan nito. Sinakal siya nito gamit lang ang kanang kamay. Ang mga paa niya ay hindi na sumasayad sa lupa dahil unti-unti siya nitong iniaangat.