Psyche and Psycho

It was that night again... We were happily singing Party in the USA, my favorite song that time. Kuya Ethos just got home from Singapore. I asked my mom to go shopping with me cause the start of the classes are happening na two weeks from now. And as a campus queen bee I think I have to maintain my title. Dapat laging ako ang pinaka-maganda and pinaka-angat sa lahat. Well, I only have to shop some clothes kasi ayoko naman na unang araw ng klase used clothes na agad ang isusuot ko. I litterally have nothing to wear anymore! Nasuot ko na yung mga damit ko nung nag-vacation kami ng mga kaibigan ko sa Thailand. “Kuya will you stay home for the rest of the month? I hope you can drive for me in my first day as a senior highschool,” paglalambing ko kay kuya Ethos. He’s always out of town with Dad, halos thrice a month lang ata sya nakaka-uwi sa sobrang dami nyang kailangang gawin sa opisina. “Tama ang kapatid mo Ethos, I think you should take a break from the company, magpahinga ka kahit one month lang, you shouldn’t over work yourself iho.” Mommy said while smiling to Kuya Ethos. Kuya Ethos really looked nothing like our mom, si Daddy ang kamukhang kamukha nya para silang pinag-biyak na mangga, while me I look just like my mom. We both look georgeous. “Okay Ella, I’ll be the one to drive you for your first day. Ayos na din yon para makita ng mga nagpa-planong pumorma sayo na may Kuya kang naka-bantay sa bawat galaw nila.” He said while smirking. Kuya Ethos is so much like my dad, very possessive and protective. I think he will never have a girlfriend, he will probably end up as an old single lonely man for the rest of his life because of being so grumpy and over protective all the time. “Mom did you heard what Kuya said?! Ugh! I will never be able to date properly kapag nandito si Kuya! I changed my mind Kuya! You don’t have to stay for a month. A day or two will probably do!” sagot ko sa kanya habang naka crossed arms pa. He just laughed at me. “Hahaha kayo talagang magkapatid kahit kailan. Ella darling, your Kuya just wants to make sure that all the boys who will try to win your heart are really worth the chance. You’re actually lucky that you have your Kuya to protect you.” Mommy said trying to side with Kuya. I was about to answer mom when the chorus of Miley Cyrus’ Party in the USA suddenly played. Kuya Ethos and I sing along with Miley. “So I put my hands, they’re playing my song the butterflies fly away. Noddin’ my head like yeahhhh! Moving my hips like yeah!” we sang while waving our hands in the air. “I got my hands up they’re playing my song... I know I’m gonna be okay. Yeahhhh heyeey It’s a party in the USA... Yeaaahey it’s a party in the USA!” I continued singing. Kuya Ethos and my mom was laughing their hearts off as if I was the worst singer ever. I was about to punch kuya in his arms when I saw his face suddenly changed from being happy to being nervous. “What’s wrong Kuya?” I asked him. He seems to be in a hurry now. The car’s speed was increasing. “I think we are being followed.” He calmly said. “Ella sweetheart come here. Come on come closer to Mommy.” My mom suddenly said while extending her arms to me. I’m starting to feel scared now. Bakit kami sinusundan? At sino yung mga sumusunod sa amin? I heard Kuya Ethos calling Dad who answered the call in just a few rings. “Dad we are being followed,”  Kuya Ethos nervously said. “Nasan ka? Anong we? Who are you with Ethos?” Dad’s voice sounded like thunder. “I got mom and Estella with me Dad. They’re now at the backseat.” He honestly answered. I heard the sound of broken things, Dad probably threw something. “Where the f**k are you going?! Bakit lumabas pa kayo?! It’s already 8 p.m. what were you thinking?! Isinama mo pa yung kapatid at Mama mo! You know that’s its very dangerous right now Ethos! You know our situation! How can you be this stupid?!” Dad angrily spat at him. I couldn’t help but look at Kuya Ethos, it was totally not his stupidity that put us in this situation. It was mine. But I didn’t know what they were talking about. Mommy looks calm but fear was very evident in her face.  “I know Dad i’m sorry, please kailangan ko sila Kade ngayon, kaya ba nila kaming salubungin malapit kami ngayon sa Katipunan, my GPS is open they can easily track us.” Kuya said while trying to get a grip with the situation. Kuya Ethos looked outside and he saw two black cars still tailing behind us. He just continued driving trying to mislead the two cars. “Mommy ano po yung nangyayare? Are we in danger?” natatakot na tanong ko kay Mommy. “It’s okay Estella, Your Kuya Ethos knows what to do. Just stay calm and utter a prayer. We need it right now.” Mom seriously said while hugging me. “Kuya are we going to be fine?” I nervously asked Kuya Ethos. He looked at me at the front mirror and smiled. “Ofcourse Princess. Don’t you trust Kuya? Hold mom tightly okay? Ako ang bahala Ela, just trust Kuya alright? Bulletproof tong sasakyan natin and Kade and his team are on his way, kailangan lang na medyo mailigaw ko tong mga gagong to and then we’ll be safe okay?” he said convincing me that everything’s gonna be fine. Kahit papano gumaan ang loob ko sa sinabi ni Kuya Ethos. Instead of worrying I have decided to usher a prayer. Our car is now super fast.The two cars are starting to fire gunshots towards us. Kuya tried to make a turn para sana iligaw yung dalawang sasakyan sa likuran namin pero may isa pang sasakyan na humarang sa harapan namin trapping us in the middle. Mom and I are now crying. The man in the cars continues firing gunshots towards us. “Kuya... Mommy...Mom’s bleeding!” I cryingly said to Kuya Ethos. I was shaking, I didn’t know what to do “Mom? Mom are you okay?” I asked her while I was crying. “Mom please wake up!” I crying said while hugging her. Oh God! Not my please not her. “Kuya there’s so much blood! Mom’s not responding we have to take her to the hospital!” I cried to Kuya Ethos. The gunshots are still happening the cars are moving their way near us trying to trap us more and ensuring that we will not be able to escape. “I’m trying Ella, just stay calm okay? Kuya got this,” he said seriously. Nasaan na ba kasi yung mga tauhan ni Dad?! Kailan pa sila dadating! “Sir Ethos, We only 3km away from you, subukan mo muna silang iligaw kung kaya mo pa.” I heard a man’s voice in Kuya’s phone. “I can’t move much now, we trapped. May dalawang sasakyan sa likuran namin at isa sa harapan. Patuloy sila sa pagbaril. Mom’s now injured. I need to do something.” Seryosong sagot ni Kuya. “Sir please wag ho kayong lalaban. Wag muna kayong lalabas malapit na po kami!” paki-usap kay Kuya Ethos ng nasa kabilang linya. The gunshots are going crazy, padami ng padami and palakas ng palakas. Nagkaka-butas narin at basag ang sasakyan namin. I am now crying my heart out. I feel like this is where we are going end. Gunshots after gunshots. I suddenly felt like my skin was burning and was cut in the inside. I tried to touch in and notice that there were a lot of blood coming out from it. I just got shot. I look at my mom and  notice that she has a lot of gunshots in her body, maybe because she’s hugging me and trying to protect me. I closed my eyes and breathe heavily. “Kuya Ethos I’m so sorry, none of this would’ve happened kung hindi ako nag-aya ng mall at this hour. I am so sorry kuya!” I cryingly said as blood started coming out of my mouth. Kuya Ethos looked at us at the back seat and saw that Mom was already bathing in her own blood.  I also got shot.           He was now literally crying. I can see how hard this is for him. “No baby, it’s okay hindi mo to kasalanan okay? Don’t blame yourself Ella. You have nothing to do with this.” He said trying to knock some sense in me. He hit the streering wheel with so much frustration. Hindi ko alam kung makakaalis pa ba kami ng buhay dito. I saw Kuya Ethos grabbing two guns at the compartment. I wanted to help him get us out of this situation. “Kuya I’ll drive.” Nahihirapan kong sabi sa kanya. I was now trying to get myself transfer at the front seat so I can help Kuya when I suddenly saw a man outside. He was firing his gun towards kuya. One Two Three gunshots and nagsisimula nang mabasag yung salamin sa gilid at sa harap ni Kuya. Another gunshots and I already saw my Kuya Ethos’ chest bleeding. “Kuya, no no. Oh God please help us!” I said while crying my heart out. Nauubusan na ako ng pag-asa na makakaalis pa kami dito. Kuya noticed that the guy outside was really aiming for him. He got his guns with him, he looked determined with what he was thinking to do. “Kuya no. No Kuya please don’t fight! Baka mapatay ka nila Kuya please no!” I beg while crying to him. Sobrang dami nila, hindi sya mabubuhay kung lalabas sya. Hindi sila kakayanin ni Kuya na mag-isa. But Kuya Ethos looked determined. He slightly opened the door and fire gunshots after gunshots. He was able to kill the two guys outside. But then more men went nearer firing against him and towards our car. I was about to tell him to close the door and go inside when I saw a man from a short distance aiming at Kuya’s head. “Kuya! Kuya!” I didn’t know what to say but kuya seems to know that they are now aiming for him. “It’s okay Ella, it’s okay baby. Close your eyes now… Please close your eyes now Ella.” Kuya Eros said while struggling! I didn’t know why but I followed Kuya Ethos’ request. I closed my eyes and that was the last thing that I remember.