Book2: A Night Darker

Chapter 17

THE BASTARD

             NATULALA siya.  Pagkaraa'y nagpalipat-lipat ang kanyang tingin mula kay Rui pabalik kay Nickolas na ngayon ay hindi niya mabasa ang ekspresyon ng mukha. His face was contorted into something she could not comprehend.  Pain? Shock? No,  maybe it was a mixture of longing and relief.

Hindi malaman ni Sophia kung ano ang unang sasabihin.  Did Rui just... No. Hindi maaari. Muli siyang tumingin kay Nickolas. She saw how his face ashen habang ang mga mata ay nakatutok lamang kay Rui.

Marahas nitong naihilamos ang dalawang kamay,  and when he took his hands off his face,  dun niya lang napansin ang pamumula nito.  His eyes are bloodshot and stained with something unshed. He looks like in pain at tila konti na lang ay sasabog na ito.

Ilang segundo na ang nakalipas ngunit wala parin itong ibang reaksyon. She was expecting something,  something that would finally seal her hesitations, but he remained unmoving.  Nakatayo lamang ito doon, while his face portrays different emotion she could only define as shock,  relief and fear,  but why the latter though? Hindi niya rin alam.

She was starting to get worried dahil sa kawalan nito ng reaksyon.

"Nicko---

Naputol ang kung ano man ang kaniyang susunod na sasabihin,  ng walang anu-ano'y mabilis at malalaki ang hakbang na lumapit si Nickolas kay Rui. Before she could utter another word,  he already had Rui imprisoned in a bone crashing hug. The tightness of his grip tells it so.

Rui was furiously pulled into Nickolas embrace. "Oh god. " He heard him muttered as he showered Rui's head with kisses. "You're alive... You're here. " ani nito bago muling niyakap ng mahigpit si Rui.  "Oh god,  don't let it it be just another dream. Please. " His eyes becoming misty.

Rui giggled, absolutely clueless about the thick tension that surrounds them.

"Daddy,  that tickles. " He tried to wiggle off Nickolas' embrace, pero mas lalo lamang humigpit ang hawak nito kay Rui.  Like he was afraid to let him go,  afraid to lose him again.

She was way too moved by the scene which unfolds in front of her to even react, and when she finally did. Ang tanging nanulas lamang mula sa kaniyang bibig ay ang pangalan nito.

"Nickolas... " ani niya.  Ngunit parang wala itong narinig.  Nanatili itong nakayakap kay Rui.

"Daddy... " si Rui na mismo ang nagpumiglas mula sa yakap nito. "Let go. I'm ticklish remember? "

Mapakla itong ngumiti.

Binitiwan nito si Rui, ngunit hindi pagkatapos niya muna itong pakatitigan ng ilang segundo.  He carressed his cheek, and when he look at his eyes, the most evident emotion was happiness.

"Of course,  I do.  I would never forget. " Makahulugan nitong sabi,  bago ibinaling sa kaniya ang tingin.  He looked at her as if to say,  'Unlike her, I could still remember. '

Nakagat niya ang pang-ibabang labi sa intensidad ng tingin nito. Hindi niya alam kung sinisisi ba siya nito sa kasalukuyang nangyayari,  Ngunit ngayong unti-unti ng lumilinaw ang lahat, hindi niya mapigilan ang pagbaha ng matinding guilt sa loob-loob niya.

Yes,  she did forget, but could she be blamed? Hindi niya ginusto kung ano man ang nangyari sa kaniya.  Hindi niya ginustong makalimot.

"We'll talk later,  kay? " He almost whispered na tinanguan lamang ni Rui. "Now you go to the kitchen first. " Hinalikan niya ito sa noo,  bago iginiya sa direksyon ng kusina.  Hinabol niya pa ito ng tingin.  Ilang segundo matapos tuluyang makapasok ng kusina si Rui ay tsaka lamang muling humarap si Nickolas,  and when he finally did. She felt herself flinched with his type of gaze.  All the warmth it previously held were gone, replaced with fury and suppressed anger. From that very moment, she just knew.  She could feel it.  Soon,  all hell would break loose.

"You. " Matalim ang tinging ipinukol nito kay Clarence. "Library. Now. "

----

              "Talk,  before I change my mind and kill you on that very spot. " Nagtatagis ang kaniyang mga ngipin sa pinipigil na galit.  He really wanted to explode at the very moment, but he decided to contain it.  He needs unswers. And he won't be able to get it if the man would have a broken jaw. Fvck, that mere picture is just too tempting right now!

"Do not threaten me Sobremonte. Alalahanin mong nasa pamamahay kita. "

Kinwelyuhan niya ito.

"Tang*na ka. Gusto mong alalahin ko na nasa pamamahay mo ako? Pwes,  ipapaalala ko lang din sayo kung ano ang ginawa mo.  YOU TOOK SOMETHING THAT IS MINE. Mine! So do not tell me what to say, because I am already hanging by a thread Carrantes. Wag mong sagarin ang pasensya ko,  because you do not have any idea how much I wanted to kill you right now." Nakipagtagisan siya ng tingin dito bago niya ito itinulak palayo sa kaniya. He saw him clenched his fist, pero wala naman itong ibang sinabi.  Thank goodness,  because he wasn't really joking when he said that he wanted to kill him.  "I have all the right to say everything I want. So you better talk now before I beat you for it. "

"I'll talk,  pero hindi dahil gusto kong ipaliwanag ang sarili ko. Coz you know I don't really have to. All I wanted is to lessen the mess where in. " Labis ang naging pagpipigil niya sa sarili para lamang huwag tuluyang lumapit dito at ibalibag ito katulad ng Nauna niyang plano.  Instead,  he tried calming himself and keep repeating his mantra. He can't talk with a broken jaw. He can't talk with a broken jaw.

Nakita niyang umikot ito papunta sa likod ng isang lamesa at tsaka naupo sa isang upuan na malapit doon.

His nerves are wrecking. He had kept his questions down and bottled for so long,  but,  knowing that his much needed truth are just seconds away to revelation, his frustrations started piling up and trying to reach the surface. Konting-konti na lang talaga ay pipitik na siya. Kaya hindi niya man sabihin,  ay nagpapasalamat siya sa kakaunting pagitan nila ngayon ni Clarence. Because Zeus knows just how much it was getting harder for him to control his beast as second passes.

"Stop acting like I am the only one whose at fault here. Coz you, of all people knew I am not. Remember Sobremonte,  I----

That's it.  He had enough of his shits. Inilang hakbang niya lamang ang pagitan nilang dalawa,  and in a snap,  he had his collar tightly held in his hands. His eyes held fury.  "Just talk and stop spitting bullshits! "

Contrary to what he expected, he wasn't startled, to his dimay. "As I'm supposed to say... "   he held his fists that were on his collar and calmly met his eyes. "I was not the one who drove her away. "

It took him seconds to process his words, and when the weight of his words finally settled in, images comes flashing back at him. Images of him pushing Shiinel away. Him, with another woman and showing Shiinel the full extent of his idiocracy, and him,  driving her away.

It was all him.

"Fvck it! " Itinulak niya ito ng buong pwersa.  The force even had him bouncing on his seat.  He was almost caught up on his thought when he suddenly realized one thing.  He stared at Clarence with accusing eyes. "You knew... "

"I do. "

His eyes turned to slits with the confirmation. All along ay alam nito ang nangyayari,  but the son of a bloody sh*t never bothered to utter a single effing word about it.  Just how fvcked up is that? 

Tuluyang nagdilim ang kaniyang paningin.  He didn't how he did it, but he saw the table already flipped and almost broken on the floor. Hindi niya na ito binigyan pa ng pagkakataon,  dahil mabilis niya na itong inundayan ng suntok. He poured every ounce of anger in that punch, but it still wasn't enough.  He hit him again,  then again. He saw blood oozed from his nose and from the corner of his mouth,  but who would give a flying fvck?!

Clarence was able to land a few hit on his face, pero hindi niya iyon ininda.  He was too blinded by his anger to even bother. He wiped the blood on his nose,  then without warning,  his left foot swiftly land on Clarence chest. Tumama ang likod nito sa isang shelf na puno ng libro, dahilan para malaglag ang karamihan doon. He was limping, putok na rin ang kaliwang kilay nito. "T*ngna mo nga naman talaga. "

Sinalya niya ito sa pader at hinawakan ito sa kwelyo, because the way he look now, he knew, the s**t won't even hold himself still. 

"You bastard... " He said throught gritted teeth.

Clarence flinched with his words, and he smirked inwardly as he savored that little satisfaction from Clarence's reaction. But his joy was short lived when he noticed one thing.  He saw another emotion swiftly passed his eyes.

He was never good at dealing with emotions, kaya nga minsan ng nawala sa kanya si Shiinel. He almost doesn't have any to start with anyway,  but he would bet a million,  he surely saw pain crossed Clarence's eyes just a minute back.

This day was really full of surprises, at hindi niya alam kung saan siya susunod na magugulat,  sa emosyon na saglit niyang nakita kay Clarence,  o sa sumunod nitong sinabi na tila mas lalong nagpagulo ng lahat.

"That... " He chuckled bitterly as he met his gaze. He's wearing a smile that could fool anyone,  but not him,  never him.  "...I am. "

             "What do you mean? " Nagtatakang tanong ni Nickolas kay Clarence. Unti-unti ng kumakalma ang kaniyang pakiramdam dahil nailabas niya ang iba niyang emosyon sa pagsuntok dito. Though a few kicks and punches won't be enough, it would do at the moment.

Nakaupo siya sa sahig ng library while leaning on the wall,  he was exhausted. Clarence on the other hand,  was leaning on the opposite wall.

Imbes na direktang sagutin ang kaniyang tanong,  isang malungkot na ngiti ang sumilay mula sa mga labi nito. That pathetic smile again. Ani niya sa sarili. 

Ilang segundo itong natahimik.

"Do you wanna hear a story Sobremonte? " His brows furrowed with Clarence's random words. Sisitahin niya sana ito, but he was cut off by him.  "I'll tell you one then. "

"Just not Cinderella, please. " He said out of the blue.

Binato siya nito ng libro.  "Fvck you. " He just answered him with a smirk.

Ayaw niya na sanang makinig sa anumang sasabihin nito,  but then,  the son of a s**t just won't give him a break.

"Once upon a time, there was a boy. " He started.  Nickolas hadn't realized how serious the matter at hand, not until he saw a lone tear escape his eyes. He heaved a deep sigh "A fvcking bastard to be exact. "

Humugot ito ng isang malalim na hininga. He closed his eyes as if to reminisce.

"He was so lost. No one wanted him,  despite all his efforts. You know why? Coz he was a fvcking bastard." He scoffed. "It wasn't as if he chose that life. He keeps on asking,  why does he have to pay for something he didn't even do, and didn't even know? He chose to work hard, sacrificed everything even the woman he used to love,  just to get rich, to feel worthy of his parents love. " he shook his head,  as if he couldn't believe that such idiocracy really happened.

"Ang emo mo. " He unconsciously uttered while looking at the bastard. What? He even deserve an award! Natawa siya sa naisip.

"Ang hayop mo talaga. " Naiiling nitong ani.

"O why, thank you. " Nginisihan niya ito.

His lips twitched as if to tsked,  pero dahil bugbog sarado iyon ay mas lalo lamang itong napangiwi. "Tang*na."

"As I've said,  He became who he was right now, and they noticed him, they were doing good, pero parang may kulang padin. He still feel alone,  like an outcast na pinagpipilitan ang sarili niya. Then one day,  he was taking a walk on the beach. Maybe,  letting off some stress? Then,  he found this woman..."

That caught his attention.

"She was floating, like a lifeless doll on the water. " Naikuyom niya ang kamao sa narinig.  He could not even imagine kung ano pa ang mga naranasan ni Shiinel. Fvck!  That was his woman!  The one he oath to love and protect yet he failed.  "He could still remember the way he felt the first time he saw her bloody face and tattered dress. It feels like he was ripped in two. He doesn't know why,  but it feels so painful looking at how helpless she was. He saved her but she was in coma. During those days,  she looked so fragile and so vulnerable to everything,  so that very day,  he promised himself to protect her from the world's cruelty and from everyone that could hurt her.  Ayaw niyang maranasan nito yung sakit na naramdaman niya.  Akala niya hindi na ito magigising,  but thank God she did!" He saw the relief and happiness radiate off him, as if everything is happening right now. Kahit na gusto niyang magpasalamat dito, the mere thought of him being with his woman when it should have been him,  was more than enough to cloud his rational side. "She became his queen and princess.  He just love her that much, and it freaks him out that he doesn't know why. "

Pinigilan niya ang sarili na undayan ulit ito ng suntok when a surge of jealousy overcame his being. How could he?!

"He was even more delighted when the doctor said that she was pregnant. Right at that moment moment, when he learned about the twins, he finally felt complete. He realized, what lacks in his life, a family. A family he could call his own. Isang pamilya na tanggap siya, at hindi niya kailangang ipagsiksikan ang sarili niya. But when she woke up,  she can't remember a thing. "

Tuluyan ng humulagpos ang kaniyang galit.

"Then why didn't you bring her back? Why didn't you look for who she really was, and just fvcking bring her back! " He remembered all those empty days he had,  those deadly pinch inside his heart whenever he think of her. He had to experience all those, ng dahil lang sa kagaguhan ni Carrantes. "I could have taken care of her. I could have been with her.  I could have been a father to my child and not you! You s**t! "

"I can't. "

"How dare---

He cut him off.

"I told you, I'll protect her. Sa tingin mo ba ibabalik ko siya sa mundo kung saan alam kung may magtatangka sa buhay niya? I won't. " Matigas nitong wika. "I want her to be at peace and not someone rattled, especially not someone unknown and full of questions,  so I chose to keep her with me. Safe and happy. I told her lies,  yes.  Sinabi kong asawa ko siya at ako ang ama ng mga anak niya,  because I wanted to protect her. Kung sinabi ko ang totoo sa kaniya,  she might have gone looking for you.  Babalik siya sa mundo na ni wala siyang kakilala, kahit yung taong unang nagtangka sa buhay niya. Imagine the rest if ever I told her the truth Sobremonte. She will be in great danger for who she used to be.  Araw-araw naghahanap ako ng balita tungkol sa mga taong naghahanap sa kaniya,  sa TV at diyaryo,  and guess what? Wala ni isa. Kaya wag mo kong sisihin, because I fought for her unlike you.  Ang problema kasi sayo,  masiyado kang makasarili.  You were too focused on how you feel. I was partly at fault,  yes.  I took advantage and use her to sate my own personal needs---

What the----

He didn't see him coming, dahil siya mismo ay hindi niya rin alam kung papaanong sa ganoong kabilis na sandali ay nasa harapan na siya ni Clarence at inundayan ito ng suntok sa mukha.  Basta ang alam niya lang,  the moment he heard his last few words ay tuluyang nagdilim ang paningin niya. Just how dare this trash touch his woman!  No one has the right to touch his woman!  She belongs to him and only him!

Hindi pa siya nakuntento at muli itong binigwasan na ikinatumba nito. His mind is conjuring images that makes his blood boil to a degree he couldn't think possible. Just fvck!

He turned away from him,  bago niya pa ito matuluyan and resort to kicking the nearest chair. Nasabunutan niya ang sarili sa sobrang frustration.

"P*tangina, patapusin mo naman akong magsalita! " He turned to look at Clarence,  at nakita niya itong pinupunasan ang dugo mula sa bibig nito. "It wasn't what you think! Kilabutan ka nga! I couldn't even imagine her naked, so how could I even have s*x with her?!" He saw him shivered na tila ba hindi nito nagustuhan ang naisip. But who knows?  He could've just faked it.

"Siguraduhin mo lang Carrantes, dahil kapag nalaman kong ginagago mo ko, you'll see what this Sobremonte can do to you. " He threatened. "You won't like it. No one touches my woman,  but me. "

He expected him to back down,  but he didn't.  Instead,  he met his intense gaze like a man asking for a war.

"No. " matigas nitong tanggi.

"The fvck?! "

"You will never touch that woman of yours,  not until you could prove that you deserve her. I gave you time Sobremonte,  but you moved like a lousy creep. I couldn't trust you to keep her safe when you hadn't even had the balls to confront me when you had all the time. "

He gritted his teeth.  He remember that. He had his reasons.  He just can't take Shiinel away from her comfort zone and into a world that is back to zero.  He wasn't just ready to grab away her known identity just to replace it with nothingness and uncertainty.

"You can't do that. " he said. He can't do that to him.  No one could ever restrict her to be with the woman he had longed to be with, for years. Baka makapatay siya if anyone tried. Nanlilisik ang mga mata niya habang nakatitig dito,  pero hindi ito natinag.

"Try me Sobremonte,  and you'll see what a Carrantes could do to protect his family. " He said with no trace of uncertainty.

He sounded so sure,  and when he look at his eyes,  he saw determination blazing within.

He wasn't bluffing,  but neither he was.

He smirk. 

Let's just see who will win.

"By the way Carrantes,  you've been spitting nonsense,  pero may hindi ka parin napapaliwanag." He said nonchalanty.

"And what would that be? "

He smirk. "How come you're a bastard? "

--------

Gee❤️