Wind and Sail

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Dayn’s Point of View

I stood still while his gun is still touching my nape. I can hear his heavy breathing behind me. I still can’t believe how dumb is he to do this. He’s the boss; he should be the one giving orders and not the one who actually go out here and do this stupid stunt.

I pulled myself together though my hands are shaking. My eyes are starting to water, but I keep on holding it back. This is not the time to show my weakness, my nephew depends on me.

"Long time no see Dark Knight,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Wow. Bilib pa ‘rin talaga ko sa’yong bata ka. Hanggang ngayon hindi mo pa ‘rin ako nakakalimutan."

Siya makakalimutan ko? Kahit magkaroon pa ako ng Alzheimer’s disease, hinding hindi ko malilimutan ang ugali niyang kasing-dilim ng pangalan niya. Isusumpa ko siya hanggang sa kalalim-laliman ng Mariana Trench kapag may nangyaring masama sa pamangkin ko.

"Ikaw? Makalimutan ko? Malabo pa sa sabaw ng pusit Dark," Iiling-iling kong sagot. “Ang dami mo pati na sinasabi, saan mo dinala ang pamangkin ko?”

Hinihintay ko siyang magsalita pero iba ang ibinigay niyang sagot sa tanong ko."Iniwan mo nga agad ako nang wala pang kabayaran sa utang mo, naniningil lang ako, mahirap nang matakbuhan, Dayn,” sabi niya habang tumatawa.

I scoffed and laughed a little because of what he just said. I? Debt? It’s death for him. I kept myself calm because if he noticed even a little nervousness, he would take advantage of my weaknesses and there, he’s got me in his hands, and he will control every inch of my actions. I just knew him, a little too well.

"Me? Debts? Are you shitting me? As far as I recall, it’s you who got debts to pay," I said.

As much as I want to shout it on his face, I can’t, this is not the right time for that and the clock’s ticking.

"Utang? Pare-pareho lang tayo, ang tanong lang ay sino ang mauunang maningil, bata." 

"Hindi porket nauna ka, may makukuha ka na agad. At saka, huwag mo 'kong itulad sa ‘yo, tanda. Tandaan mo, kahit kailan hindi tayo naging magkatulad." Hinablot ko nang mabilis ang baril na nakasuksok sa tagiliran ng gwardiya at dali-daling umikot para sipain ang hawak niyang baril. Ngayon ay baril ko na ang nakatutok sa kaniya.

"Magaling ka pa ‘rin talaga bata, hala sige iputok mo. Maningil ka na," he mocked at me.

"Siyempre naman, no. Sino bang nagturo?” I mocked back. I saw he clenched his fist and his eyes got really mad. Well, he started it.

“Mabuti naman at hindi ka nakalimot sa utang mo na ‘yan. Ano bang pwede mong ipambayad?” I acted as if I am thinking what his payments should be, but there’s only one thing in my mind right now. “Ooooh, what about your life?” I put the gun’s hammer down and pointed it directly at the center of his forehead. “Eh, no, I am not like you but since you asked for it, here.” Pinaputukan ko ang kamay niya.

That caught him off guard. He immediately grabbed his bleeding hand and put pressure on it.

“What now? Satisfied? Or you need another one?” I asked while smiling, it’s as if I’m asking a child if he wants more candy.

His hands are good at holding sharps, I thought maybe he brought his knives, but he didn’t used it tonight. He was the one who taught me how to use sharps, back then when we were training, he used to laugh at me whilst I’m on the floor literally dying because of my bleeding cuts.

His face says it all. He looks like a child who wasn’t given another candy. He’s not throwing tantrums though, maybe he’ll throw knives.

“They say silence means yes, but I’ll take yours as a no.” Kinuha ko ang kamay niya na dumudugo at diniinan ang sugat niya. Napasigaw na siya sa sakit. “Ang overdramatic mo naman ata ngayon? Bakit dati kahit saksakin ka ng ten times parang wala lang sa’yo?” I asked.

I saw his hands moved swiftly to his sides; I can’t follow his hands they’re just everywhere! I felt a sharp sting on my left arm, when I looked, it was bleeding. He managed to cut my left arm pretty deep.

He was about to run but I quickly grabbed the gun and shot him on one of his knees.

Nilapitan ko siya. “Luh, wala tayo sa Marathon, Dark. Tara na nga.”

Pinunitan ko ang jacket na suot ko para itali sa braso ko. Itinali ko rin ang mga kamay niya at hinigpitan iyon nang sobra. Pinasakan ko rin ng bimpo ang bibig niya para hindi siya makapag-ingay. I brought him to the nearest abandoned building I could find. I hear water flowing, I see pipes leaking everywhere so it’s a bit flooded here. I shivered when the wind blew, it seeped into my skin down to my bones.

“You’ll regret this, Dayn,” sabi niya pagkatapos kong tanggalin ang bimpo sa kaniyang bibig.

“Ah, talaga. Okay, sige ikaw na ba ang nawawala kong guardian angel?” I asked while holding my wounded arm.

I know that this will ignite the fire that was put out long ago. Dark is just stupid to break his own rules. Never touch one’s family member, but he did, and what does he expects me to do? Just sit here and wait for them to bring Liquor back? Hell no.

“Sagutin mo nalang ang tanong ko. Asan ang pamangkin ko?” tanong ko ulit.

“Ako agad?” pakuwari niya. Hindi naman ako ganoong katanga para hindi maisip na siya ang may gawa nito.

“Baka ako? Tangina ka ang dami-dami mong sinasabi,”

Nagsisimula na talaga mag-init ang ulo ko. Lalo pa na ang tuloy siya sa pagsegway. Sinulyapan ko ang mga sugat niya at tumigil na ang mga iyon sa pagdugo.

“Eh paano kung ayaw ko sabihin?”

Napataas ang kilay ko at napaawang ang bibig. “What the hell?” I shot the wall on his left, nadaplisan ang kaliwang tenga niya.

“Kahit patayin mo ‘ko dito, wala kang makukuha sa akin,” sagot pa nito. Aba’t buhay pa, talaga nga naman oh.

I closed my eyes and sighed, trying to keep my cool. I smirked when a random information popped up in my head. He has a daughter. “Final na ‘yan?”

“Okay sige, storytelling muna tayo. Once upon a time there was a father who was a basagulero, like he likes gulo talaga. But then he got into all of these mess, so he sent his daughter to other country—” his eyes darted on me. He started shaking his head, telling me to stop, but I’m not yet finished. “—because he’s afraid that these people he messed with would harm his one and only daughter. The f*****g end. Isn’t he a thoughtful and loving father?” I pouted.

Oh, how I love teasing him, like when he's really annoyed, he will shoot one of your body parts. Dati no'n asar na asar siya sakin, nadampot niya ang baril at pinatamaan ang takas na buhok ko na nakakagulat talaga to the max, hindi ko naman kasi inexpect na bawal pala iyon.

“What a good story, isn’t it? So, where is my nephew?” I asked again.

He just looked straight into my eyes and didn’t answer me. He is very stubborn given his age.

I sighed. "Kayang kaya kong pumunta sa ibang bansa para lang patayin ang anak mo. I know her whereabouts. So, let’s keep this quick, shall we?"

Nah, I’m just bluffing. I really don’t know her whereabouts, only her name. Intimidation and threat goes along very well.

Nagpumiglas siya. "Huwag mong pakialamanan ang anak ko!" he yelled.

“No, nauna ka dito Dark. Hindi naman ‘to chat para magfirst move eh,” I explained, with my hands on my waist and my patience running out. “Okay.” Hindi talaga siya nagpapatinag at nagpupumiglas lang.

Kinuha ko ang cellphone ko para tawagan ang private investigator ko. Sinulyapan ko si Dark at pinanonood niya lang ang mga kilos ko.

“I know it’s late. Fifty thousand pesos in exchange of Karina Lyt Knight’s--”

“Alright! I’ll say it.” Finally, Dark surrendered.

Ibinaba ko ang cellphone ko. Umupo ako para maging kalebel niya, tinanguan ko siya bilang senyas na magsalita na siya.

“Don’t you ever lay hands on my daughter! You b***h!” he cursed. Rage, threat, fear--- you can feel them on his voice. Like what a real father feels. I never thought he could be vulnerable like this.

I promised Mom to not do harm again, but what if this is the only way left to protect somebody I love?  I shouldn’t have sworn a promise I knew I’ll break.

“He’s in the Underground. Locker at the end of the hallway. The third door on your right. He’s got a bomb--”

Nanlaki ang mata ko sa narinig ko. “WHAT?”

“He’s got a—” hindi ko na siya pinatapos pa. I punched him hard on his face multiple times, enough to left him unconscious.

My heart is racing and pounding so hard, it might make its way out of my ribs. I can’t think straightly, I reckon he’s so scared right now. With tears running down my cheeks, shaking hands, and wild thoughts, I accelerated as fast as this motor can to the place.

This place is the same as before. I took a deep breath before going in. There were two people in front who tried to stop me, but they didn’t win. As I make my way in, memories flashed through my head. I looked around and there I saw the sofa that was never washed, the flickering lights near the coffee machine, figurines of angels that seemed like they were never dusted, same old portraits of naked women, and the floor that’s only mopped when stained with blood. It’s not nostalgic, not melancholy either. It’s the same picture I captured in my head before leaving.

Liquor, maghintay ka lang, dadating na si Tita.

Naramdaman ko na may tao sa likuran ko kaya napatigil ako sa pagtakbo. I pulled one knife that’s been hiding inside my ponytail and threw it to the direction where I felt somebody’s looking at me. It got stuck to somebody’s shoulder. Sinubukan pa niyang tumakas pero nahablot ko ang damit niya.

Nakita ko ang mukha niya at agad nakilala. Kinuha ko ang kutsilyo na nasa balikat niya. Napaingit siya sa sakit. “Oh, bakit? Sa akin naman ito ha?” I wiped it with his clothing and put it back into my ponytail.

“What are you doing here?” he asked.

"Wala man lang bang pa welcome back, Xavier? How’s your wound? Did it hurt?” I tried to touch him and see his wound, but he pulled away. Arte.

“Wala naman dito ang hinahanap mo, umalis ka na dito bago pa may mangyari sa ‘yong masama.”

“Kapag pupunta ba dito, may hinahanap na agad?” Pinadaan ko ang mga daliri ko sa pader. “Wait lang, ha? May kukunin lang ako.” Tinapik ko ang balikat niyang may sugat nang malakas. Kulang nalang ay mapaluha siya sa sakit.

Iniwan ko na siya at tumakbo na sa locker room. I almost forgot that he’s got a bomb on him. Dark is so dumb, why would he put him here with a bomb? Is he trying to sabotage this place?

Napahinto ang pagtakbo ko dahil dalawang pinto ang naroon. Noon ay isa lang naman ang pintuan para sa locker room. Hinawakan ko na ang doorknob ng kaliwang pinto nang may tumapik sa balikat ko. Agad akong lumingon para tingnan kung sino iyon.

“What the heck?” he said. “What are you doing here?”

It’s Sxan. Goddamn it, he’s everywhere.

“No. You, what the heck are you doing here?” I asked back. “You know what, I don’t have time to chitchat. What door leads to locker room?”

Kumunot ang noo niya at itinuro ang pinto sa kanan ko. Pumasok na agad ako roon, may isang nakabantay sa likod ngunit nang nakita niya kung sino ang pumasok ay umatras na rin at nagbigay daan.

“Whoa-”

“Why are you still behind me? Go the f**k away.” I said when I noticed he’s following me.

“Excuse me?” Napaamang siya, his hands dramatically drifted to his chest---pointing to himself.

“You’re excused.” Iniwan ko na siya roon at pinagpatuloy ang paghahanap kay Liquor. I glanced behind me and he’s still there!

Magsasalita na sana ako nang makarining ako ng hum, pinakinggan ko iyon nang mabuti. Tono iyon ng kanta na itinuro ko kay Liquor sa tuwing siya ay natatakot at kinakabahan. Bing Bong Zoo na naririnig sa Peppa Pig na palabas. When he was younger, I used to sing it to him; it makes him calm. Napalingon ako sa direksyon ng tunog at sinundan iyon.

In the corner, I saw Liquor tied up, in my surprise, there was no bomb attached to him. He f*****g tricked me.

“f**k you, Dark,” I whispered beneath my breath.