I KNOW SHE'S TROUBLE WHEN I MET HER 18+

PROLOGUE "Son, I'm sorry" mahigpit akong niyakap ni Dad. Bumangon ako sa pagkakahiga, nagtataka man ay gumanti ako ng yakap sa kanya. "Dad, what's going on? Did something happen?" I asked him. Kumalas siya sa pagkakayakap sa akin at don ko lang napansin ang sakit at luha sa mukha niya. Bigla akong kinabahan. Naguguluhan ko siyang tiningnan. "Dad?" humagulhol siya bigla. "I'm so sorry son, it's my fault. I wasn't able to protect her. Oh love, my love. . she's gone son, she's gone." Hindi ko maintindihan ang ibig sabihin ni Dad pero biglang bumigat ang nararamdaman ko. I never saw my father cry like that. I held his hand and kissed them. "Dad tell me, tell me what's going on? I don't understand, who is. . who is gone?" He looked at me and I saw pain, frustration and .. . anger? why? Napakunot ang noo ko at mas lalong lumakas ang kaba sa dibdib ko. "your mom, your mom is gone Andrei. They killed her, those bastards killed her!" pagkasabi niya non ay biglang bumuhos ulit ang mga luha sa mata niya. Hindi ko agad naintindihan ang narinig ko, it's like my mind is not processing anything and I just felt my body froze. Naramdaman ko ulit ang mahigpit na yakap ni Dad. "I'm sorry son! I'm so sorry! This is all my fault. I wasn't there to save her. Oh my wife! my love, my love.. your mom Andrei, your mom is gone! I'm so sorry, I'm sorry son, I'm so sorry!" he kept on saying sorry habang humagulhol but I just stayed still. Then I saw my uncle Stefan open the door in my room kasunod ang asawa niyang si auntie Yrena at ang pinsan kong si Anton. I saw auntie Yrena hugged Anton at saka malakas na umiyak. I looked at uncle Stefan and I saw pain and pity in his eyes. Lumapit siya sa amin ni papa at mahigpit kaming niyakap, matagal na yakapan. They are talking to me but I can't understand what they are saying. My mind is traveling, binalikan ko ang masayang mukha ni mom sa nakalipas na mga araw. I heard her laugh and I love you's. My mom, my sweet and beautiful mom. I kept on remembering her face, her voice, her warm hugs and kisses. "Andrei!" malakas na sigaw ni dad na sinundan din ng malakas na sigaw nina aunt Yrena and then everything just went black. Pag-gising ko ay nakahiga na ako sa kama ko, I tried to remember what happened then I prayed and prayed that it is just a nightmare. I remember dad, mabilis akong tumakbo palabas ng kwarto. Pagdating ko sa may puno ng hagdan, I heard dad and uncle Stefan's voice. They are talking and anger is visible in their voice. I listened to them, then I heard dad said, "Make sure everyone and everything are well taken care of. I want everyone involved, dead! Make all of those f**kers pay Stefan, make them regret taking my wife's life. No one is spared!" galit na utos ni dad kay uncle. "Those f**kers will be gone before ate Isabel is put to rest. I promise!" uncle Stefan answered full of conviction. "They took my wife's precious life, my son's mother. oh my son! he's still young, too young to lose a mother. How can we live without her Stefan?" I heard my dad sob, full of agony. Uncle Stefan hugged him. I saw how devastated he is, both of them. "Dad" umiiyak na tawag ko sa kanya. Bigla siyang napalingon sa kinaroroonan ko at tiimbagang na tumayo at ibinukas ang mga kamay niya para sa akin. I run down the stairs, mabilis akong nagpayakap sa dad ko. We both cried and again he kept on saying how sorry he is. Uncle Stefan lead us to sit in the sofa and gave me water. Nang mahimasmasan ako ay tiningnan ko si dad na nakayuko at sabunot ang buhok habang tahimik na rin na kinakalma ang sarili. "What happened dad? Sino ang may gawa nito kay mom?" I heard him cleared his throat. " Our enemies found a chance, they shot your mom's car on the way home from a charity event. Everyone who are with her were all dead. They planned this well, they made a move cause they know that I am not with her. They made sure I will not be with her, they gave that f*cking fake intel last night and I f*cking took the bait! So this is all my fault son, this is all my fault." sising-sisi itong sinabunutan ang buhok niya. Dad is a well known businessman and a Defense Minister in Russia. We knew how dangerous it is being in a powerful and wealthy family kaya bawat kilos namin ni mom ay may kasama kaming bodyguards to protect us kapag wala si Dad sa paligid. We were supposed to be with mom, mahalaga sa kaniya ang charity event na pinuntahan niya kagabi para sa mga bata at biktima ng s*x and human trafficking. She is one of the principal sponsor of that event kaya nong biglaang nakatanggap ng importanteng tawag si dad tungkol sa trabaho niya at sinabi nitong kailangan nitong puntahan iyon at personal na asikasuhin ay hindi pumayag si mom na hindi tumuloy. Ako naman ay hindi na pinilit ni mom na sumama dahil sa sumama ang pakiramdam ko pagdating ko galing sa school. Dad made sure na may kasamang mga bodyguard si mom dahil nagpumilit itong umalis but I guess our family's enemies were prepared that is why they succeeded to kill my mom. This is all to weaken dad, alam ng kalaban na si mom ang lakas at kahinaan ni dad kaya siya ang pinuntirya nila. My sweet and kindest mom. "This is not your fault dad. Our enemies, they did this so they are all to blame." Napatiimbagang ako ng maalala ko ulit ang mukha ni mom. "I want to help uncle Stefan, dad." determinado kong pahayag sa kanila. Nakita kong natigilan sila sa sinabi ko. Then I saw Anton comes out of the kitchen. "Count me in too dad, uncle Alex." he's as determined as I am when he faced dad and uncle Stefan. My mom is a kindhearted woman at malapit din si Anton sa kanya. Tiningnan ni uncle Stefan si dad and they talk through their eyes. Dad sigh and clenched his jaw. "Boys, let us handle this. You are both not ready yet. You're still too young for this." seryoso niyang sagot sa amin. Napatayo ako at hinarap ko silang dalawa. "But dad, I am my mom's son and I love her a lot. I wanna make sure she will get the justice she deserves. I wanna make those f*ckers pay!" galit kong sagot sa kaniya. Galit na tumayo din si dad at hinarap ako. "And I am her husband Andrei, I am also your father! She is my world.. . you both are. I know really well that your mom will not allow you to do this. Leave it to us, it's our job to fight for your mom. We will get the justice she deserves, I will make sure of that. Wait till you're both ready." he sighed again. " I don't wanna lose you too, Andrei. Your the only one I have left, son. Please listen to me, listen to your father." tila hirap na hirap nitong pakiusap sa akin. Niyakap niya ako ng mahigpit at saka tumalikod at naglakad papasok sa library. I heard him lock the door kaya napayuko ako habang nagpipigil ng emosyon. "Andrei, listen to your dad. I know how painful it is for you but you know how hard it is for your father. Your mom is his world, he already lost her don't let him lose you too. He is trying his best not to crumble because he knew that you need him right now. You are the reason why he is able to keep himself sane so just listen to him, Andrei." nagpapaunawang paliwanag ni uncle. "I know uncle, I understand. I'm sorry. I'll talk to dad later." Anton sat beside me and pat my shoulder. "You still have us Drei, be strong. Aunt Isabel won't like to see you and uncle Alex suffer. We are all hurting right now. Let's trust them, they know what is good for us." I nod at Anton. I looked at uncle Stefan and he gave me a reassuring smile. I looked at our Library's door. I'm sorry dad, mahinang bulong ko. Naglakad ako at tumigil sa tapat ng picture ni mom. I remember mom's words, ang madalas na ibilin niya sa akin everytime na hindi ko nagugustuhan o naiintindihan ang desisyon ni dad. "Sweetie, always listen to your dad. You may not understand him sometimes but he loves you a lot, he loves us a lot. We love you so so much, you know that right?." She cupped my cheeks, gently caressed it and look me in the eye. "So promise me son. .. promise to never leave his side everytime I'm away. He loves to show everyone how tough he is but I know what he really is." I saw her smiled so sweet na para bang nakikita niya sa isip si dad. I saw her love and adoration for him and I felt so happy looking at her like that. "Your dad is as soft and as sweet as cotton candy. Deep inside he has a heart that cares and loves a lot. That is one of the reason why I love him the most. His tough and brave and rough but when it comes to us, his family, he is weak and soft. Promise to always take care of him for me. Promise me son, hmmm? " I looked at my mother's picture and I felt a pang on my chest. I touched her face in the picture and kissed her like she is in front of me. It hurts mom, it hurts a lot. I missed you already. I promise, hindi ko iiwanan si dad sa laban na ito. Magpapalakas ako mom, I will make sure to live each day for you. I love you mom, I love you sooo damn much.