Mafia: Blood Lust

IX - Victory

TW: VIOLENCE

*BANG!*

*BANG!*

"s**t!" yumuko ako papalayo sa bartender.

I was trying to look for Zach pero ni-anino niya hindi ko siya mahanap. Inilibot ko ang paningin ko at napansin kong may lalaking papalapit sakin.

Napaatras ako nang tutukan niya ako ng baril. f**k! I couldn't think straight. Gusto kong umalis sa kinakatayuan ko pero hindi ako makaalis, parang may pumipigil sakin!

Nang matanaw kong ikinasa niya 'yong baril niya, my eyes widened when I saw his body flew on the ground; making his gun dropped as well.

Zach?

He was punching so hard the guy on the ground. I could see the blood on his knuckles, but that didn't stopped him there. He also grabbed his collar and he whispered something.

He dropped the guy with all his strength as he looked at me straightly. Napalunok ako nang mariin. Hindi ko siya makilala...

The way he looked at me was different how he looked at me when it's only the two of us.

His eyes... his gaze...

I could see the blood lust in him.

When he started walking towards me, it felt like it was only the two of us. He grabbed my wrist and we started running.

Inilibot ko ulit ang paningin ko, at napansin ko na halos lahat ng mga tao ay mga hawak na baril, ready to kill everyone.

"Faizah, hide here. Babalikan kita... I just need to deal with something." tumigil kami sa paglalakad sa isang kwarto.

My brows frowned. "Can't I just... be with you?" I asked confusingly.

He held his nose bridge, looking fustrated. "You could get shot out there! Even some asshole nearly killed you earlier!"

"Minamaliit mo'ko?"may halong inis kong sabi.

Hindi ko alam kong bakit ko 'yon nasabi... pero nakaramdam ako ng inis sakaniya nang sabihin niya 'yon sakin. Nakaya ko ngang barilin 'yong lalaki na sinikmuraan ako, e.

Pero sabagay, hindi ko naman 'yon kinewento sakaniya. But still!

"W-what?"

Inalis ko yong pagkakahawak niya sa pulso ko at naglakad ako papalayo.

"Faizah!"

He called my name multiple times, telling me to come back, pero hindi ko siya pinakinggan. Kundi, naglakad ako kong saan nagaganap nagpapatayan 'yong mga tao.

May nakita akong baril; kukunin ko na sana nang may biglang humila sa likod ko at sinakal ako gamit ang braso. Naramdaman kong tinutukan ako ng baril sa ulo, pilit nag pupumiglas.

"Survive... or die, b***h!"

I was loosing my breath, moving my legs recklessly. Natanaw ko 'yong bote ng wine sa tabi ko kaya mabilis akong gumalaw. Kinagat ko yong braso niya and that made her pushed me.

"b***h! b***h!" she screamed.

I grabbed the bottle of wine. I broke the glass of the wine from the wall and I aimed it on her.

"Try me."

She looked at me with disbelief sarcastically. "You really think you can kill me with that? Oh please, tell me you're-"

I raised my one leg to her gun— hitting her hand, making her drop the pistol she was holding.

I grabbed her wrist as I aimed her the bottle of wine on her neck.

I saw her right arm moved, but I didn't get the chance to move as quick as her.

She pulled my hair from the back of head, choking me. "Die, b***h!"

Mas sinikipan niya ang pag hawak niya sa leeg ko kaya nauubusan na ako ng hininga.

I have no choice...

Hinampas ko sa ulo niya yong bote ng wine gamit ang lahat ng lakas ko.

"f*****g-"

Nanlaki ang mata ko nang biglang bumagsak katawan niya.

I turned around immediately and I saw Scarlett, Eve, Ella, and Steven.

Ella blew the barrel of her gun while smirking. "You should've shot her earlier." sahi niya nang makalapit sila sakin.

"Where's Zach? And what the hell are you doing here?" Scarlett asked.

I pursed my lips.

Oh, shit...

Nasaan nga ba siya?!

I may be mad at him, but I still care about him.

"May bomba!!!"

Lahat kami napatingin kong saan 'yong sumigaw. Mag lalakad na sana ako para hanapin kung saan 'yong bomba pero bigla akong pinigilan ni Scarlett.

"Gago ka ba?"

Na mura pa nga!

"We should defuse it, Scarlett!"

She rolled her eyes. "Hindi na kailangan, tara na!"

Before they pull me, I saw the clock on the wall, it was the minute before the bomb explodes.

1:00

"W-wait! Si Zach pa!" tumakbo ako papaloob kahit maraming beses na nila akong tinawag.

55

Bumalik ako kong saan ako dinala ni Zach pero hindi ko siya nakita.

I walked fastly towards the bartender but he wasn't there either.

Ugh, ang laki pa naman nitong club na 'to!

45

Maglalakad na sana ako sa restroom nang mapansin kong may dalawang lalaki roon.

I saw the pistol near me kaya mabilis ko itong dinampot at kinasa.

Shit, Buti may bala pa!

39

Nagpakita ako sa harapan nila at bago pa man nila iputok ang baril sakin, I shot them immediately.

35

Mabilis akong pumasok sa restroom habang hawak-hawak ko ang baril at tinignan ko isa-isa ang mga cubicle.

Fuck, he's not here!

32

Agad akong lumabas ng restroom. And it made me stopped from walking and panicking when I saw a guy infront of me.

"Zach!" I hugged him.

"I'm... sorry about earlier. That wasn't i was trying to say." sabi niya nang humiwalay ako sakaniya.

23

"It's fine. I was just... overwhelmed earlier. My mind couldn't think straight," I pursed my lips.

15

"Still... the way I said, it was wrong,"

Mabilis akong umiling. "No... no! Hindi totoo 'yan. You said that for my own good not to insult me," I hugged him again.

10

I heard the ticktock sound of the clock and that made me taking a glance behind him.

"T-the bomb! Tara na!" I grabbed his wrist at mabilis kaming nag lakad palayo ng restroom.

6

I raised my leg a bit to kick the door.

5

4

Before we could leave, I turned around to see inside.

There were tons of dead body, I didn't see even a one person who's alive.

3

2

Bago pa man sumabog ang bomba medyo nakalayo-layo na kami.

1

After a 1 second of silence, I heard a thunderous bomb explosion; the rending of metal, an overwhelming blast of bomb. As I opened my eyes, I saw a light engulf through my pupil. I could feel the heat and small rocks through my skin when the explosion spread from the valley.

I tried to get up using my arms after a few seconds of explosions. I turned my head where Zach was, and I could see he also struggled to get up but he still managed to get himself together.

Nang makatayo siya, tinulungan niya rin akong patayuin. It was hard to get a strength from my legs, I don't know why... but I feel weak.

"Sakit ng paa ko, pucha." reklamo ko nang makatayo ako.

Buong katawan ko ang sasakit!

He took a glance on my feet. "Paanong hindi sasakit paa mo, e, suot mo pa rin heels mo? What the hell, Vera. How did you manage that especially from running?"

Hindi ko maiwasing 'di matawa dahil sa sinabi niya. Oo nga 'no! Ngayon ko lang napansin na suot ko pa rin heels ko sa sobrang panic ko kanina sa loob. Buti nalang ayos pa siya!

I was busy looking the place where I am right now. Medyo tago itong lugar na ito, no'ng dumating kami, wala masyadong sasakyan na dumadaan, kundi yong mga sasakyan lang na pupunta ng club.

I also noticed the club was quite strict. There was a card for verification earlier bago makapasok. It has to be an acquaintance or connected to the owner of the club.

I overheard that information when I heard a group of guys talking about those.

"Dumbfuck! Where the f**k are you?!"

Gulat akong napatingin kay Zach nang marinig ko siya. He was talking to someone on his phone.

Kinabahan ako! I thought it was meant for me or something.

"You better hurry, asshole." inis niyang binaba 'yong cellphone sabay tumingin sakin.

"Sino 'yon?" I chuckled.

"Some... fucktard," he said while he put his hands inside his pocket.

Natigil ang usapan namin nang nag simula pumatak 'yong ambon sa balat namin. Hindi nag tagal, bumuhos nang malakas 'yong ulan kaya narinig kong nag reklamo nanaman si Zach.

Hinubad niya 'yong coat niya sabay pinangtakip niya sa ulo namin. Hindi ko maiwasang hindi makaramdam ng kaba at pagkailang nang magkatitigan kami.

I cleared my throat at iniwas ko tingin ko. "Uh... wouldn't be better if we will enjoy this rain together? Let's celebrate our victory!" I looked at him again. Napatititg siya sakin nang ilang segundo kaya natawa ako nang mahina.

"Our victory? There's no victory, Vera. You don't know what's going on... I just don't know how to explain it from you-"

Tinanggal ko 'yong coat niya. "There is a victory, Zach." I smiled. "We... didn't die, we survived."

Natigil kami sa pag uusap nang masilawan kami dahil sa ilaw ng kotse na papunta samin. Nang makalapit samin 'yong kotse, nag bukas yong bintana.

"Gagi, basa na kayo sa ulan! Pasensya na mga, pre!"

Hindi pinansin ni Zach yong sinabi ni Sebastian; diretso lang kami pumasok sa loob.

"Teka, teka! 'Yong upua-"

"Can you shut the f**k up and drive? We're soaking wet here, and you are corcerned that your f*****g backseat is gonna get wet? Deal with it. I called you many times bago sumabog yong bomba sa loob!"

Ilang segundong napatitig si Sebastian sakaniya. Pati rin ako nagulat doon! Medyo na guilty tuloy ako... kasi kong hindi ko inalis yong coat niya hindi kami ganito kabasa!

Ang bobo ko naman kasi! May pa victory victory pa akong nalalaman, bwisit.

Halos 30 minutes kaming nasa biyahe at tahimik. Medyo nakaramdam din ako ng antok dahil pakiramdam ko patang-pata katawan ko. Muntik na akong mabugbog kanina... mabuti nalang nakakaganti ako kahit papaano.

Biglang may nag flashback sakin kaya napahawak ako agad sa ulo ko.

"Please... please... I beg you..."

Biglang umikot ang paningin ko, kaya wala sa sarili akong napakapit sa braso ni Zach.

"I don't want to die yet! Please... have mercy..."

Naramdam kong hinawakan ako ni Zach sa mga balikat ko at maraming beses akong tinanong kung ano nangyayari.

Gusto kong mag salita... kaso hindi ko alam kong paano. Pakiramdam ko tuyong-tuyo yong lalamunan ko.

"Faizah? Faizah? Fuck... are you okay?"

I tried to raise my head to face him. "I... I remember-"

"Remember what?!" he asked while panicking. "Sebastian, take us to the hospital!"

I couldn't open my eyes properly pero nong narinig ko yong sinabi niya, nanlaki mga mata ko. "No, no, no! I-i'm fine... light headed lang siguro ako,"

He clicked his tongue and he held his nose bridge habang yong isang kamay niya nasa balikat ko. "Faizah-"

"Zach." I looked at him again. "I know how to deal with this. Let's uh... stop by sa pharmacy, bibili nalang ako ng gamot,"

"You should stay here." he sighed. "Fine. But I'm coming with you,"

Tinigil ni Sebastian yong sasakyan nang may madaanan kaming pharmacy. Unang lumabas si Zach, and he opened the door for me.

Gladly, our clothes is already dry pero nangangatog ako sa lamig dahil sa aircon ng sasakyan at sa pharmacy!

Habang kami nag lalakad sa loob, I saw familiar man standing. May kasama siyang babae. Habang kami palapit nang palapit, onti-onti kong nakilala.

"Liam?! Aria?!" sigaw ko.

My voice echoed kaya napatakip ako ng bibig. "Sorry!" my voice echoed again.

Medyo masakit pa ulo ko pero nong nakita ko sila, I feel better.

"Ateee!"

She gave me a tight hug as I hugged her back. I missed my sister!

"Kumusta si Mama?" tanong ko nang humiwalay siya sakin.

"Okay lang siya, ate. Ikaw? I miss youuu! Hindi na tayo nagkikita," she pouted.

I suddenly feel guilty nong tumakas ako no'ng gabing 'yon... we barely see each other. Miss ko na rin si Mama.

I smiled. "Babawi ako!"

She took a glance behind me at tumingin ulit siya sakin. "Sino 'yan? Siya ba yong kinu-kwento mo samin noon?" bulong niya.

Hindi ko maiwasang hindi matawa, 'cause the way she asked me, mala marites! Chismosa talaga... mana sakin.

"Oo, siya 'yon." Tumingin ako kay Zach at nakita kong nagpakilala si Liam kay Zach and vice versa.

"Zach... this is ArIa." I pointed at my sister. "And, Aria, he's Zach."

"Liam!" tawag ko sakaniya. "How are-"

"Can we talk? Privately?"

I was stunned for a second as I cleared my throat. "Sure-"

"She's not feeling well."

Napatingin ako bigla kay Zach. What the hell!

Tumingin naman ako pabalik kay Liam. "What? Why?" tanong niya.

"You know what?! I'm fine. Tara na, Liam." I grabbed his arms palabas ng pharmacy. Pinalupot ko ang mga kamay ko sakin at tinignan ko siya. "Ano 'yon?"

"May sinabi sakin si Emma kahapon. Sabi niya may tumawag sakaniya..."

Nakaramdam ako bigla ng kaba dahil naalala ko na may tumawag din sakin noong nakaraan.

"And she was threatened. Ang sabi sa tawag, Emma has to tell everything she knows about you."

Napaawang ang labi ko, pakiramdam ko nanigas buong katawan ko. Hindi ko maipaliwanag ang nararamdaman ko ngayon...

"W-what... paano-" napasambunot ako sa sarili dahil hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko.

"May tumawag din ba sa'yo?" maingat niyang tanong.

I slowly nodded kaya napansin kong mas lalo rin siyang nais-stress.

"Fuck." he whispered.

Magsasalita pa dapat ako nang biglang nag bukas 'yong pinto dahil lumabas si Aria at Zach.

"I already bought the medicine, it's getting late, let's go."

Tumango na lamang ako at inakap ko si Aria bago kami umalis. Before I walk away, I thanked Liam ng walang boses.

Everything was smooth habang kami nasa biyahe hanggang sa pag uwi. Everything was quiet, felt like we almost didn't get killed from the club.

Pero hindi ako makatulog.

Sobrang daming tanong nasa utak ko. Gusto kong tanungin si Zach kung sino ba talaga siya at si Scarlett.

Gusto kong tanungin kung bakit nagka ganito ang buhay ko simula no'ng nakilala ko sila. Everything was peaceful before. Ang gumugulo lang naman sakin noon si Mia at Caleb, nothing more.

Hindi ko nga alam kong paano ako natutong bumaril ng tao o humawak ng baril. Hindi ko rin alam kong saan ako nakakahugot ng lakas makipag laban; e, noong minamaliit ako ni Mia halos wala akong lakas, hindi ako makaganti.

Hindi ko na makilala sarili ko.

Even the way I talk... I wasn't like this before.

Paano nalang kaya kong malaman ito nila Mama, Aria, at Emma? Tatanggapin pa kaya nila ako? O mag iiba na ang tingin nila sakin?

My tears were already falling. I've never felt so overwhelmed like this before. Pakiramdam ako ang sama-sama kong tao... to think that, I already shoot some people who tried to kill me.

Kina-umagahan, hindi na ako nakapag paalam kay Zach na pupunta ako ng school. That's why I left a sticky note on the fridge at umalis na ako.

Mabilis lang akong nakapunta ng school, I took a glance on Liam and he was surpised when he saw me. Umupo agad ako sa table seat ko hanggang sa matapos lahat ng subjects bago mag recess.

Nang mag ring 'yong bell for recess, I immediately took my phone on my pocket at chinat ko si Emma sa w******p.

Fye: emma meet me at the cafeteria

Hindi nag tagal, nag reply na siya. Not even surprised. Mas mabilis pa 'to kay Flash mag reply kaya lagi siyang nai-issue na may crush siya sa isang guy dahil ang bilis lagi mag reply!

Ems: putangina himala, ah. gago may chika ako otw na.

Ugh, I missed her so much!

Inaya ko si Liam na sumama siya sakin para mas mapagusapan namin nang maayos. Nang makarating kami, nakita ko agad si Emma kong saang table siya naka upo.

"Gaga ka!" lumapit siya sakin at inakap niya ako nang mahigpit, I also hugged her back while smiling. "Namiss kita! Tangina mo, akala ko nakalimutam mo na ako, e."

We sat down together at nag simula kaming kumain after we ordered some food.

"So, ano chika mo?" I asked.

Napansin kong medyo nag bago mood niya dahil sa tanong ko.

She pursed her lips. "Um..." she held both of my hands. "M-may tumawag kasi sakin, Fye. It's about..."

I nodded. "I know... sinabi sakin ni Liam. Tinawagan niya rin ako, Emma."

"Hindi ko alam pero... natatakot ako, Fye. She seem pretty serious about it. Matapang akong tao pero parang nawala pagka-angas ko," nakayuko niyang sabi.

"Ikaw, Liam? May tumawag din ba sa'yo?" tanong niya.

"No... no one called me. But don't worry. I will give my best to make you both safe," pag papagaan niya ng loob samin.

I smiled at him a bit. Liam's a great guy but super annoying sometimes. I don't even know how we both got close when we barely see each otner.

Pagkatapos ng klase, sabay-sabay kaming lumabas ng school. Pinaningkit ko ang mata ko nang may matanaw akong kotse.

Eh?! Zach?!

Lumabas siya sa kotse niya at naglakad papalapit sakin. "How's your day?" he asked.

"G-good! Um... Zach?"

"Yeah?"

"Is it okay... kung pa-papuntahin ko sila Emma and Liam sa bahay? I just miss them and-"

"You don't need to explain, I'm fine with it."

I smiled at him widely. Sinenyasan ko sila kaya nag simula silang maglakad papuntang sasakyan. Sabay kaming pumasok sa loob at pinaandar na ni Zach 'yong kotse.

When we arrived, Moon started to bark at Emma and Liam. But that didn't scare them! Hinimas-himas nila si Moon tapos pinakandong ni Emma si Moon sa lap niya.

"Coochee coochee coo! Myyy baby Moonyyy!" sabi ni Emma habang pinanggigilan si Moon.

"Mooon! Come here, boy!" lumipat naman si Moon kay Liam kaya nag reklamo si Emma.

"Weh, papansin!"

"That's it... good girl." he gently pat her. Tumingin naman si Liam kay Emma. "Come here, doggy! Say arf arf!" pangaasar niya kay Emma habang tawang-tawa.

"Ang kapal ng muka mo!" kinurot ni Emma si Liam kaya mas lalo siyang pinag tawanan. "Ulol, f**k you!" she pointed her middle at him and she rolled her eyes.

Everything was great. They went home after we had dinner. Kinakausap din nila kahit papaano si Zach, kaso what do I expect... matipid ang mga sagot ni Zach, hay.

I was quite happy, na-miss ko sila nang todo. Medyo nakalimutan ko rin yong mga problema ko.

But...

I wonder what are those flashbacks? And... who was that? Bakit laging sumasakit ulo ko pag may bigla akong naalala?