LEV PETROV (Wild Men Series #3) Book 2

Simula Part 1: Ikalawang Aklat

BREE

ISANG MALAKING digmaan ang buhay. A constant battleground for everyone. We have two options– flight or fight. I once opted to flight. Pero sinampal ako ng mapait na katotohanan. Life is a war we cannot win.

Instead of going down peacefully, I woke up from a coma two months after. Bruised and battered, with so many tubes on my body. An ugly scar on my left stomach was a permanent reminder of that dreadful night. As if hindi pa sapat ang pilat na nasa isip at puso ko. Ang mga bangungot na palaging umaatake sa akin sa tuwing ipipikit ko ang mga mata.

Kumirot na naman ang puso ko sa naisip.

For two years, grief is my bed and tears were my sheets. The constant in my life? Hatred. Loath for all. For everyone kasama ang sarili ko. The old me was dead replaced by a different kind of Bree. One who's temperamental, loathsome, and suicidal. How many times did I try and failed? Four? Five? No. Six times.

Hindi ko alam kung sinong sisisihin ko. Ang sarili ko, ang nasa Itaas o ang pasaway kong kaibigan s***h tagapagligtas—si Dakila. Ibang radar mayroon ang taong 'yon. Parati na, ang ganda ng timing. Mula sa pagkakalunod ko sa bangin hanggang sa pag-o-overdose o paglalaslas ko.

I am torn between liking and loathing him.

"Prend, kung susuko ka ngayon. . . paano ako? Sayang ang pagpapaha-hero ko sa layp mo." Galit na singhal ni Dakila nang mahuli along maglaslas minsan.

"No! f**k off! Let me be. Hindi mo ako naiintindihan."

"Ayoko. Naiintindihan kita kaya nga ako ganito sa'yo. Hahayaan mo lang ba sila na manalo? Sa bawat iyak mo, panay tawa ng mga animal. Sa bawat pagtatangka mo na sumuko, humahalakhak sila. Warak ka ngayon, oo. Nagkapira-piraso ang dignidad mo pero hindi ibig sabihin no'n na hindi ka na maaring bumangon. . . maging buo muli. Nasaan na 'yong Bree na nagsabing gaganti siya sa lahat ng nang-api sa kanya? Ilabas mo. Punyeta naman, prend. Gaganti pa tayo,e. Panay man pukol nila ng bato sa gawi mo, ay wil hilp yu. Pupulutin natin 'yon isa-isa. Iipunin at gagawing entablado mo. Doon ka tatayo kapag hinataw mo na sila ng espada mo. Sabi mo nga, ribins is bis serb wen kold, rayt? Kos dayamons ar poribir, shayning.Puta. Basta. Gets mo na 'yon. Ang point ko, lumaban ka. . ."

I blink at the memory and his words. For six months na 'di ako nagsasalita't tulala, ang lalake ang matiyagang kumausap at walang sawang nagbantay sa akin. Kaya't kapag nag-gi-guilt trip na ang animal, wala 'kong magawa kung hindi ang makinig. Besides, he said something that piqued my interest.

Revenge.

After that, it became my mantra. Those motherfuckers will never see what will be coming for them. I will dish them the vengeance that will rock their worlds and bring hell to their doorsteps.

Nagtagis ang bagang ko't gumapang ang poot sa himaymay ko pagka-isip sa mga hayup na iyon. My body wills to tremble and my head started to spin. It's happening again, my attacks and I'm not liking it. Not today. On the outside, magaling na ako. Wala ng sugat at normal na akong makiharap sa mga tao but my mind is a different story.

It remembers all the gory details. Kagaya ngayon. Kung hahayaan ko ang anxiety ko, masisira lahat ng plano ko. So, I do some breathing exercises to calm myself. When I opened my eyes, it brings me to the now.

My funeral, according to Kah and Ally. I call it payback time and my ticket to freedom.

My gaze flitted to the car window and my brows furrowed. Nasaan ako't sino 'to?

A beautiful woman stared back at me, blankly. So blank it's like looking at an endless pit of the abyss in the color of amber. She's wearing a white dress peppered with so many Swarovksi one might think she's a shining angel. Minutes from now, she'll walk into a carpeted marbled floor of a cathedral full of guests. People who'll watch her soul wilt away. On her wedding day. . . ilang oras bago ang debut n'ya.

Double kill, right? How tragic her life is.

A thin veil was covering her pale face. Kung hindi lang sa suot niyang red lipstick, papasa na siyang multo. The woman's lips were stretched into a forced smile, contradicting her eyes. Those are screaming in silence.

And she is me. Anger festers inside me and all that's left are bones and a cold empty heart.

How can a person be so full of emotions and empty at the same time?

"Miss Bree, naghihintay na po ang papa n'yo."

No, kuya. He's my executioner. Gusto kong sabihin pero nagpigil ako. Nasa pisngi ko pa rin ang marka ng pagsagot ko sa kanya the other day, ayoko ng dagdagan pa.

I raised my chin, square my shoulders and wait for someone to open the door of the limo. Humigpit ang hawak ko sa boquet. Sumakit bigla ang dibdib ko sa sobrang bilis ng t***k puso ko. I think I might have a cardiac arrest. At eighteen.

"Inhale. Exhale, Bree. Kaya mo 'to," kausap ko sa sarili't ipinikit ang mga mata.

Yes, some might say–and by some, I mean Kah and my brother Ally, that this is stupid but I beg to disagree. My marriage with Ryan will earn me my freedom from my father's clutches.

Kaya naman, a few months back I planned the greatest escape. At maisasakatuparan ko lang iyon kung papayag akong pakasal sa lalakeng hindi ko alam kung anong nakita sa akin at kahit sa kabila ng kaalaman na hindi na ako birhen, he still wants to marry me.

Maybe it's the face and the body. All superficial. I scoffed at that. Ano bang aasahan ko kay Ryan? He's dense and a typical spoiled fuckboy.

But my freedom is not free. It will cost me my signature, and some blood- hopefully, minimal and my family. Nakaramdam ako ng lungkot pagkaisip sa kapatid at matalik na kaibigan. I kept them in the dark about my plan. To save them from my father's wrath and from another disappointment.

I heaved out a sigh. Trying to arrange my crumbling resolve.

"I can do this shit." Lumuwag ang ngiti ko nang makita ang bulaklak sa kandungan ko. They're black. The color my demon of a father despises. A sliver of joy courses through my vein, a little show of rebellion won't hurt.

Sana makuhaan ng camera ang mukha mo, dad. That will definitely made my day.

Mahinang katok sa bintana ng sinasakyan kong bridal car ang pumukaw sa 'kin. The door opened and my father's impassive face greeted me. Tumango ito matapos pasadahan ng tingin ang damit at ayos ko. The great Gener De Veyra wants his most price possession to be delivered in a very expensive wrapper- a virginal white Christian Dior dress.

While he's studying my appearance, I was scrutinizing him in return. He's wearing his most expensive suit and shoes. Naka-style rin ang buhok nito and a permanent scowl was painted on his knowing temple. Lihim akong napaingos saka tinitigan ang nakalahad nitong palad. Dinedma ko iyon at balewalang umibis ng kotse. Sumabit man ang laylayan ng gown ko sa pintuan na labis na ikinasinghap ng wedding coordinator, wala akong pake.

"What the f**k is that, Brethany?" Dumadagundong na sita ng ama ko.

Nahinto ako sa pag-aayos ng gown. I followed my father's gaze and I secretly fist bump the air at his reaction.

"Flowers."

"Hindi ako tonto. Huwag mo akong pilosopohin. Why are you carrying that piece of s**t?"

On my peripheral, nakita kong tumalikod ang chauffeur at ang ilang staff na nasa malapit. Ngunit hindi ako natinag. I meet his gaze brazenly.

"This piece of s**t costs my future husband two hundred fifty thousand pesos. So this is quite special, daddy dearest. You don't approve? Dapat ba kalachuchi o dama de noche ang bitbit ko? We still have time to make it happen."

"Sin verguenza!" His molars grind pagkarinig n'ya sa patuyang tono ko.

Ngumisi lang ako. Hate seeps through him and fan skin but I didn't cower kahit pa nang inilapit nito ang mukha sa tainga ko't suminghal.

"You watch your mouth, young woman. You might be marrying into the Senator's family pero ama mo pa rin ako. I can do whatever the hell I want to you. Isaksak mo sa kukote mo 'yan."

I raised my shoulders and pushed back the nerves that started to resurface whenever my demon of a father is around.

"Like slap me? Sa harap ng mga tao at ng pamilya ng mapapangasawa ko? Go on. Here. Sa kaliwa naman para pantay. Nahirapan kasi ang makeup artist ko kanina sa paglalagay ng concealer. I told her na gawa sa bakal ang brush ko. Este, ang kamay n'yo."

"Mierda!" He raised his right hand but before I could even flinch or blink, my brother's face came between us. A large hand was holding my father's.

"Dad. Huwag dito. Senator Narvaez is watching. You might jeopardize our deal with the territory kapag nakita n'yang pinagbubuhatan mo ng kamay si Bree." Ani Kuya Flyn na makahulugang nakatingin sa likuran ko.

I smirked.

"Pasalamat ka't nakatingin ang magiging father-in-law mo. Pero may araw naman para do'n." Hiniklat nito ang braso mula sa kapatid ko't inayos ang kurbata. His mask is back, calculated and menacing.

Nais ko siyang murahin at ipamukha sa kanya na ngayon ang huling araw na makikita n'ya ako pero nirendahan ko ang sarili. Walang mabuting idudulot kapag pinairal ko ang temper, mabubulilyaso plan namin ni Dakila.

My father cleared his throat, cutting me off with my musings. He offered me his left forearm, nang hindi ko kunin iyon, marahas niyang hinila ang kanang kamay ko't ipinatong sa braso n'ya.

"Don't tempt me, Brethany. Act your part or your beloved best friend and that pest will suffer the consequences."

"I hate you. I will enjoy the day that I'll see you bleed to death–one agonizing minute after another. I'll be the one to say at your damn face–lights off, father." Matalim ang mga matang saad ko, a creepy smile was painetd on my lips. My tone is dripping with abomination for him, for our family, and for the whole f*****g Council.

Ngumisi lang ang siraulo kong ama. Guess, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

He tilted his head to the right and a glint akin to rage shone on his orbs, one similar to mine.

"I love to see you try, dearest daughter. And failed. Cause that's what you are. A failure and disgrace. Akala ko natuto ka na after that Russian son of a b***h left you but here you are again, showing your cute claws." Umiling ito't tinapik nang marahan ang pisngi ko.

I snarled at him, my jaws clenched at his audacious display of tenderness. But what really got into me are his words.

Failure. Disgrace.

Russian.

Him.

Pain like no other stabbed me in my chest and visions from that night– his angry words, those evils violating me, my battered figure running away, and that cliff– attacked the forefront of my mind. God. Who said you need sleep to experience nightmares?

Instantly, I'm shaking like a leaf. I'm numb except for the organ that I swore died with me that night. My heart.

The gaping whole in my chest seemed to take some roots, hindi ako nakatiis.Dinakot ko ang dibdib. I can't breathe. Sweats percolate on my forehead and I thrown into panic, samu't saring emosyon ang sabay-sabay na umatake sa akin.

Bigla, napaatras ako. But my father's quick. Agad nitong hinigpitan ang hawak sa braso ko. He smirked and shake his head. Genarro De Veyra knows the effect that man still has over me despite everything I've went through.

It's funny how those sleepless nights, my endless cries

became useless. Isang salita lang, tila isang dam na bumugso ang lahat sa akin. My hate for him, the ache, the betrayal– our past.

And my stupid longing.

Lalo akong namuhi sa sarili. f**k. Two years na iyon dapat nakalimutan ko na siya hindi iyong ganito. That man ruined me, snatched everything from me. That man who still haunted my nights with his cruel cdark blue eyes and harsh words.

'I loathe you and the DNA that runs through your body.'

'Love? I don't do love. I'm a monster. Libog lang ang lahat ng iyon. . .'

Get a hold of yourself, Bree. Multo na s'ya and should remain that way! Literally and figuratively.

"Don't tell me , umaasa ka pa rin, Bree? He hates you and our family. He's probably enjoying Satan's company as we speak."

"S-stop it." My voice quivered as I blinked back the tears.

Pilit kong hinila ang braso ngunit hinigpitan lang ng ama ko ang hawak roon. How dare him bring him back? Gayong siya ang puno't dulo ng lahat ng nangyari?

I want to scratch his face. Strangle him gamit ang kurbata niya. Pwede naman sigurong pagsabayin ang kasal ko't libing ng ama, hindi ba?

"Hindi ko alam kung anong mayroon ang lalakeng iyon at hanggang ngayon baliw ka pa rin sa kan–"

"I am not. So, please. . . dad. Shut up." Putol ko sa ama. Itinaas ko ang baba't matapang na sinalubong ang nanlilisik niyang mga mata.

"Brethany."

"Ewan kung ano pang gusto n'yong malaman mula sa akin. For two years, I was a prisoner at your golden tower. Wala na akong balita sa kanya. Kung 'yan ang ikatatahimik ng butsi n'yo. There. Mukhang sa'ting dalawa, kayo ang 'di maka move-on? Why? Takot ba kayong bigla siyang dumating at singilin ka sa mga kasalanan mo sa kanya't sa pamilya niya?"

"Wala kang alam sa nangyari kaya't itikom mo ang bibig mo habang may pasensiya pa ako sa'yo." He dismisses me through gritted teeth. But I can smell his fear, even taste it at the back of my mouth. Guess that brute has that effect on people. Despite his absence and the years. Two f*****g years of silence, to be exact.

Sabi nga, no answer is still an answer. Hindi ako tamban para isiksik ang sarili ko sa isang lata. Tao ako't di sardinas.

Kung nasaan ka mang animal ka, diyan ka na. I have my life and you have yours.

I shake my head and dismiss those thoughts. I raised my trembling chin and focus my gaze on the large wooden door of the church.

"Let's get this over and done with, father. My feet are killing me."

Sumigaw ang wedding coordinator ng makitang nakaayos na kami ng dad. Retouch here and there. Kaunting instructions pa and then it's game time. Mahinang tunog ng organ ang sumunod kong narinig na sinundan ng mabilis na t***k ng puso ko. May namuong pawis sa noo ko't nanlamig ang katawan ko.

Sumigaw ang wedding coordinator ng makitang nakaayos na kami ng dad. Retouch here and there. Kaunting instructions pa and then it's game time. Mahinang tunog ng organ ang sumunod kong narinig na sinundan ng mabilis na t***k ng puso ko. May namuong pawis sa noo ko't nanlamig ang katawan ko.

This is not wedding jitters, it's excitement. Hindi sa pagbigkas ko ng I do kung hindi sa pagtakbo ko sa lahat ng ito hindi pa man natutuyo ang ink sa marriage contract namin ni Ryan.

Oo, isang pirma lang ang ambag ko sa event na 'to and then I'll set everything in motion. I'll run and take my vengeance on those people who tainted and destroyed me.

Then after?

I blinked at that question. Wala pa 'kong solidong plano pagkatapos. Ang mahalaga lang sa akin, ang makapaghiganti. Tomorrow will take care of itself.