RAYANA

Chapter 13

I park my car in front of the grocery store. I sigh and compose myself a bit.

Lei gift this BMW car to me months after my graduation, after a month I have my license then I pre-occupied myself to our house and flower shop of Lei, next week was my first day attending college.

I wasn't expecting him to contact me after I saw him on my graduation and he vanished again after that. Months after I receive his text and here I am ready to face him after 3 years of missing. I understand though but.. never mind.

I close my door's car and fix my shoulder bag. I walk to pedestrian lane and waited to turn it green sign. I look up to the sky and it's beautiful blue and white cloud.

I was busy with my own business that I didn't noticed an old lady walk in front of me. Nasagi ko sya sa balikat at naka gitna pa kami ng daan.

"Ayy mahabagin!" Singhap nya at muntik ng matumba kung hindi ko lang sya nahawakan sa braso.

"Naku Lola.. Pasensya na ho!" Singhap ko at inalalayan syang tumayo.

"Ayos lamang apo.." Ngiti nya sa akin.

"Let me help you po." I said taking her bag and the paper bag she hold on her hand and guide her to go back..

"Ayy naku salamat ng marami apo.. Sadyang mabagal na kapag tumatanda" Tawa nya making me smile and nod.

Matapos ko syang ihatid ay mabilis din akung nagpaalam at patakbong lumipat kahit sigundo na lang ang pagitan ng paglipat ng sign sa taas.

I got startle when a Mercedes Benz was suddenly move towards me buti na lang at nakaatras ako ng kunti at nakahinto ang sasakyan.

Hawak ang straps ng bag ko na tumingin ako sa sasakyan, I saw inside have two passenger and the driver, I didn't saw their faces so I just shyly smile a bit and bow a little for apology then run a little to go to the other side.

"Naku Reya dapat nag iingat ka!.." salubong sa akin ng isang Nanay. Her face was familiar yet I don't know her name. I just laugh at her and nod before taking another rote while waving at her. She just smile and nod. I think I remember that she's in my neighborhood. Katatapos lang mamalengke.

I walk another 5 minutes until I saw the big commercial building and the people getting inside and outside.

I stop in front of the glass door and look at my toes. I sigh and claps my hands looking up and take a step but I take two backward. What would I say to him anyway? That I'm doing fine and I'm attending college now?

That's so lame. Should I ask him about.. Arege? or tell him Lei is.. getting married and it'll be month from now?

 "Aren't you going in?"

Nabigla ako sa nagsalita at bumaling doon. The familiar dark eyes and clean cut suited him even more, his more lean and more matured. His dark red suit makes him more brooding and arrogant but I knew the gaze.

"Reiga" I called him. He laugh and spread his arms on me.

I smile and I run the distance. I heard him hmp because of the force but I know the way he hug me his happy to see me.

"I missed you too.. Rayana." Bulong nya sa akin sa huli.

I sigh and let him go after. Tumangkad ako Oo but Reiga is a big man. So I still look up to him.

"You're crazy if you expecting me to accept those money... I will give it to you after this." I smile at him but my voice say the other way.

"It's your future.. Those card was separated from the clan so it safe. I don't want to talk about if I am catching up with you right now... You look feminine." Lahad nya sa kabuuan ko at nakangisi sa akin.

I look at my floral dress and one inches sandals. I put an earrings to make it more style a bit.

"I always wore dresses.. You just didn't saw me for three years." Irap ko sa kanya. He look away.

"You didn't change a bit though." Iling nya at humakbang palayo. Sumunod ako sa kanya.

"You changed so much though.. Heartbroken?" Tuya ko making him glare at me and playfully mess my hair. Agad kung tinapik ang kamay nya sa ulo at nangingiting inayos ang buhok but I know did inside, I'm dissapointed by his decision. 

"You should help me stop the wedding then.." He said placing his right hand to his pocket.

We stop in the small coffee shop.

"I will not tell Lei you have a plan.."

He laugh at me while pulling the glass door open. I get in.

"So you already like plans huh?" He ask calculating my reaction.

I sat down beside the glass wall so I can see those cars around.

"You are the one who like plans Reiga.. and I'm used to make plans for my papers at school. So I don't have a choice. Ako mag o-order." Tayo ko mapansin ang tingin ng nasa counter.

"Black coffee.. No sugar" Habol nya.

Pagkatapos kung umorder ay bumalik din ako agad, I know for the whole time his watching me.

I seat in front of him again and fix my skirt.

"There's a changed in you." Awang ang labing tumingin ako sa kanya and saw his eyes serious while crossing his arms. 

Napapakurap na tumuwid ako upo.

"Really? I didn't noticed." Iwas ko ng tingin looking at the trees align and the cars outside. Napatigil ako sa pag ikot ng tingin ko sa labas ng mapansin ko ang puting mercedes malapit sa isang poste, tanaw na tanaw ko sya mula sa inuupuan ko and I think may tao sa loob.

"You soften.. a bit." Marahan nyang saad with his smile. 

I look at him and the glint on his eyes makes me warm inside. I felt my cheek burn for the first time, I avert my eyes and look at my reflection to the glass wall.

I know it because it's my eyes that change it gaze. I noticed yet I like it.

"You all teach me how to feel.." I smile warmly and glance at him.

"I look like a proud father aren't I?" Biro nya habang tinuturo ang sarili. I laugh at him and ready to say yes when a motorbike suddenly stop out of nowhere infront of the shop with a hand gun.

Mabilis akung hinila ni Reiga padapa sa sahig and the scream of the crews inside was scattered around. I gasp when something pierce on my stomach and the shout of Reiga like his calling someone near by while protecting me from the gun man. Nabasag ang buong salamin ng shop sa sunod sunod na putok ng baril.

After a minute, the noise of the motorbike and gunshot heard around while Reiga let me go and run outside.  I heard him shout so loud.

I sigh heavily and tried to get up but the pain was... undeniable. I force myself to seat and stand up with my feet, I stumble a bit and taste a metal liquid in my mouth. Oh hell!

I saw how the lady who assist our order awhile ago looking so shock watching my form. I hold my stomach and look to Reiga who's talking to a stoic man. That's his bodyguard. Why is he...?

"R-Reiga.." I tried to call but something run out of my mouth.

The lady scream when she saw my falling form and tried to catch me. We stumble on the ground because of my weight.

Reiga storm inside with those big eyes.

"Fuckshit! Rayana!" He frantically called me and push the lady. He lift up my body and hold me so tight and run outside. I close my eyes when the blinded light showed in my eyes and the cold wind blows my hair.

My head resting on his chest.

The pain was way too numb that I can't move my body anymore. This seems so familiar yet new feeling.

"Ready the car!" He shouted the man.

I tried to hold his suit and utter any words. I know I am losing so much blood right now. I felt his tremble body.

"S-Si Lei Reiga.." I whispered and heard his scream to all his men and re-due his hold to me. I let go him go and rest my hand to my side. His panicking, the Reiga I know was so relax and calm every time.

I was floating and smell a faint leather around. I remember this one teacher asking what would you do if you just have only 24 hours in your life and after that you just vanished?

I don't know how to answer so instead  I tell that I'll eat the most delicious food that I can have for 24 hours. 

"Open your eyes Rayana!" I felt his hand on my cheek and shaking me violently.

"L-Lei.." I said trying to open my eyes.  I saw those dark eyes turn red and frustrated, mad, sad, anger?.. My eyes are really falling.

"Don't close your eyes! You heard me!  stay awake!... Don't you f*****g dare!"

He shouted to me and held me closer to him.

I don't know but I felt my eyes heat while looking at him. His really the first person who treat me as a family. My brother and.. Father. 

"Leine.. Reiga.." I called him breathing slowly and hard. He greet his teeth so much when I couldn't hold anymore.

"Faster Ian!" The last time I heard from him.

It's suffocating in so much pain. I really can't move my body. Paputol putol ang diwa ko for the past hours. The only thing I noticed was the white ceiling and the blind light after, I was floating and there's this heavy thing blocking my air way making me to breathe hard until I can't hold it, not to fight for once.

I noticed that I have mask after and the beeping noise, and the people around me.

I was awake a little minute and heard Lei voice, breaking, screaming and the whispered around and the silent after.

The only thing that I was aware of with this darkness was I was wearing my floral dress looking at the child who's been fighting against all the men around her in the middle of the pouring rain and mud outside the wall.

She doesn't understand the feeling that time of remorse and guilt. How she easily slit those throat and stabbed them in a single knife. Releasing those bullets, punching those faces, turning around like it's nothing.

I thought that may be I can change a bit... but things never been changed because I'm still doing this hide and seek.

My true identity was dead in the real world while I created my most protected personality that create dimension of peace and quiet life. Reya Villaluz.

The first time I open my heavily eyes was I felt someone watched me. I know my conscious was now active and the beeping sound of the monitor on my side was filled up the room I was in.

The dark room and lamp shade beside me makes the room loom a bit with the open curtain blow by the wind. I saw the city light twinkling.

I breathe out and felt the oxygen mask on my face. I search for those eyes and saw the figure standing on my side near my feet. I can't fully saw him but I know his there. Minuto lang ang tinagal ng pagbukas ng mga mata ko bago unti unti ko itong sinara.

I felt him go near me until I felt his breathe near my face and his hand on me lifting it to hold.

"Your... back." He whispered with those deep tone voice.

I tried to look at him but my eyes won't let me do this time.  

The last time I felt was his warm hand on mine.