Cleopatra's Firsts

Chapter Eight: For Helena

"Help!"

Napatigil ako pagpapatakbo ng aking kabayo nang makarinig ako ng matinis na sigaw mula sa kabilang panig ng burol na kung saan ako kasalukuyang nangangabayo. Agad kong pinatakbo ang aking kabayong si Kaia papunta sa pinanggalingan ng boses at bumungad sa akin ang kumpulan ng mga kabataang nasa edad pito hanggang sampu.

"What's the matter?" usisa ko nang makalapit na ako sa mga ito. Maya't-maya lang ay napansin ko ang isang duguan na batang lalaki na pinaikutan ng mga naroroon. Agad ko itong nilapitan at tinulungan na makatayo.

"Ano ang nangyari sa kaniya?"

Tiningnan ko isa-isa ang mukha ng mga naroroon nang walang sumasagot sa aking tanong.

"I'll call the ambulance, and you still have time to tell me what happened here!" Inikot ko ang tingin sa paligid. "Where's your teacher?"

Ang alam ko kasi ay may mga hired equestrian teacher si Violet para sa mga bata na gustong mag-equestrian sa loob ng hacienda.

Wala pa ring sumasagot sa aking tanong

"No one wants to answer me? Fine, I'll call the police!"

Noon ay may biglang nagsalita. "I already did that."

The kid is about eight years old. He is holding a stick in his hand.

"Really?"

"Yes. I want Milo to be in jail."

Tumaas ang kilay ko sa sinabi nito.

"Why would you want that?"

"Because I don't want him to be here. He's supposed to be in the corrals, cleaning our horses!"

Biglang uminit ang ulo ko sa sinabi nito at nagkaroon na ako ng ideya kung ano ang nangyari.

"Did you hurt, Milo?"

"He deserves it."

"No one deserves anything like this!" Napataas ang boses ko habang tinuturo ang duguang mukha ni Milo.

Biglang natahimik ito at ramdam ko na natakot ito sa ginawa kong pagsigaw.

"Listen, kid. You don't have a right to hurt anyone because you think they deserve it. You don't have a say about their life unless you are the one who feeds them. Do you understand?"

"My parents said they can buy this place-"

"Do you understand?"mariing sigaw ko dito.

Biglang itong humagulgol ng iyak. Noon biglang narinig ko ang tunog ng ambulansiya na papalapit.

May isang middle-aged na lalaki ang papalapit sa kinaroroonan namin at patakbo itong nilapitan ng humahagulgol na bata mula sa aking harapan.

Maya't maya lang ay umalingawngaw sa katahimikan ang malakas na putok ng baril at malakas na tili ng mga batang naroroon.

"Who did this to my son?" Malakas na sigaw ng lalaki habang hawak ang umuusok na pistol.

Agad na inabot ko ang duguang si Milo sa medical attendant ng ambulansiya.

"Your son hit someone else's son!" sagot ko sabay taas ng aking kamay.

Hindi na ako nagulat sa sumunod na ginawa nito.

"Do you have a proof it's my son?" tanong nito habang tinututok sa aking noo ang pistol.

I am not afraid at all, in fact, I feel excited. My blood is burning, and I am looking forward to what will happen next.

"Your son told me everything."

"Did he?" Inu-untog untog pa nito ang baril sa aking noo.

"He did. And I understand why he did it. I pity him to have a father like you." Agad na inagaw ko ang baril nito at sinipa palayo sa amin at sa mga bata.

I anticipated his next move. He will call for his bodyguards na kanina ko pang napapansin na nasa loob lang ng sasakyan nagmamasid. So, I didn't give him time to shout for help. Agad kong sinuntok ang tiyan nito at sinundan ng upper cut. Nang makalapit na ang mga alipores nito ay basag na ang kaniyang mukha.

May humawak sa aking dalawang kamay at sumuntok sa aking tiyan at mukha ng paulit-ulit. Pero wala akong nararamdaman na sakit. Ang tanging nararamdaman ko lang ay excitement.

"You will pay for this, b***h!" bulong sa akin ng lalaking nabugbog ko kanina at naduraan ako nito sa mukha.

"You better brush your teeth the next time we see each other," I said, hissing.

"Shut up!" sigaw ng lalaki na may hawak sa sa aking kamay sabay tadyak sa aking likuran.

Napasubsob ako sa damuhan. Pero hindi iyon nakapigil sa akin para gantihan ito.

Buong lakas na inikot ko ang aking katawan at sinipa ang kaliwang paa nito.

"Shut me up, idiot!" nakangising sagot ko.

Itinayo at hinila niya ako papunta sa sasakyan nila.

I made a sound I knew they wouldn't recognize. Seconds later, Kaia was running wildly in our direction. I twisted my hands and gave a man behind me a roundhouse kick before I sprinted towards my horse.

Nang makabalik ako sa mansion ay dumeretso ako sa pool at naghubad ng aking t-shirt at pants at agad na tumalon sa tubig. I have blood all over my face and knuckles.

I was washing off the blood from my hands when I heard a sound of a patrol car.

Makalipas ang ilang segundo ay napalibutan na ng mga pulis ang buong mansion. Ang iba ay nasa paligid ng pool habang tinututukan ako ng baril.

"Cleopatra Montemayor, you are under arrest for physical injuries against Mr. Timothy Ricardo. You have the right to remain silent and a right to have an attorney, and if you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you. If you waive these rights and talk to us, anything you say may be used against you in court. Do you understand these rights?"

"Cleopatra!" rinig kong tawag sa akin ni mommy mula sa front door. She is only calling me by my second name when she is serious.

"Here!" I even raised my hand for her to see where I am.

"What are the police doing here?!" nanlalaki ang mga mata na tanong nito sa akin.

"Ask them."

"Do you understand these rights, Miss Montemayor?" mariing tanong ng pulis na nasa harapan ko.

Kunot-noo na tiningnan ako ni mommy.

"What is happening here?"

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Are you the mother of Ms. Montemayor? We have an arrest warrant for her."

"What did you do this time, Cleopatra?"

I shrugged my shoulders, "Nothing."

Nakita ko na nagsenyasan ang mga pulis na nakapaikot sa pool kung saan ako naroroon.

I swam towards the stairs of the pool.

"Freeze!" mabilis na sigaw ng isang pulis na malapit sa akin.

"Chill, I'm not gonna escape."

"Cleopatra?" From the back door, Hyacinth emerged, followed by her fiancée.

"Hey, Hyacinth!" I nod at the nearest policeman, "She's my doctor, don't shoot."

"I'm going to call your Dad!" galit na wika ni Mommy.

"What happened here?" asks Hyacinth while looking at the police officer in front of me.

"Miss Montemayor, please put your hands behind your head and step forward." Utos ng leader ng mga police habang tinututok ang baril sa akin.

I smirk.

Nakaahon na ako sa tubig nang biglang lumapit sa akin si Isaiah.

"She might be under arrest, but she is still a woman, and she is just wearing a bikini. Close your f*****g eyes!"

Pati ako ay nagulat sa inasal nito. Nagtatakang nakatingin lang ako dito nang hinubad nito ang suot nitong suit at inabot sa akin.

I clap my hand. "At last, a true gentleman!"

Seryosong tingin lang ang ganti ni Isaiah sa akin.

Hyacinth helped me button the suit.

"I don't like to be handcuffed. I promise to behave, please!" I flash my most attractive smile.

"We are not allowed to do that, Ma'am," saad ng pulis na nakahawak sa kamay ko.

"Excuse me? I'm her doctor. Can I talk to you alone?" Hyacinth is talking to the officer in charge.

I saw them looking at me while they are discussing something not too far from where I stood. Napansin ko rin ang tuloy-tuloy na iling ng pulis sa kung ano man ang sinasabi dito ni Hyacinth.

"I am Aiden Isaiah Lopez, CEO of Lopez Airlines and cousin of Investigation Agent Ezekiel Lopez. I'm asking for your permission to allow us to bring Cleopatra Montemayor to the police station."

Lahat ay nagulat sa sinabing iyon ni Isaiah.

"Babe?" nagtatakang turan ni Hyacinth.

"Let us go, Cleopatra."

I wink at the policemen as I enter Isaiah's SUV.

The policewoman who interviewed me got nothing from me because I wouldn't speak a word so, she decided to put me in the women's cell inside the station.

"Ano'ng ginawa mo?" Pabulong tanong ng babae na unang lumapit sa akin sa loob ng kulungan. I counted the number of people inside the cell, and there were about 10 of them there.

"I hurt someone."

Napansin ko rin ang palitan ng titig ng mga nakarinig sa tinuran ko.

"Bakit ka nandito? Mukha ka namang mayaman."

"There's nothing for me outside. Why are you here?"

"Dahil ang batas ay para lamang sa mga mayayaman," galit sa sabi ng babaeng kausap ko.

"What did you do exactly?"

"May nasaktan ako."

Tiningnan ko lang ito.

"I was a teacher. By the way, I'm Helena."

"Cleopatra." I don't know why I gave her my real name.

"Huwag kang lumayo sa akin," mahinang sabi nito. "Nanakit ang iba dito kapag hindi pinagbigyan sa gusto nila."

"I'm not afraid."

"You should be. This world is unfair."

"Who did you hurt?"

"Anak ng isang pulitiko."

"Why?"

"Lasing siya at mga kaibigan niya at napagtripan nila na sunugin ang lupa at bahay namin. Namatay ang mga magulang at dalawa kong kapatid dahil do'n."

Bigla akong naawa sa sitwasyon nito.

"And yet you're the one who's inside the jail."

"As I said, napaka-unfair ng batas natin."

"What's the name of the person who killed your parents?"

"Andrew Gomez."

I nod my head as I repeat the name on my head over and over again.

Later that day, Violet Lopez and my mother arrived at the station to bail me out, and they brought something with them. A CCTV footage of what happened between me and Timothy Ricardo.

May sumundo sa akin sa kulungan at sinabi na naghihintay sa labas ang aking pamilya.

"I'll see you around, Helena," I wink at my newfound friend.

"I hope so, Cleopatra. Be well."

Sinalubong ako ng yakap ni mommy at sermon naman kay Violet. Violet becomes my sister figure since we arrived at the Hacienda.

"Why didn't you speak out? Why did you let them arrest you?" Violet asks me while she drives us back to the Mansion.

I just shrugged my shoulders.

"I know you're not what others think you are, Sammy. Why are you doing this to yourself?"

"Because there's nothing for me out here."

"Don't say that! We're here," mom responds with tears in her eyes.

"That's not enough! I feel like whatever I do, and there's still something lacking. And I don't know what it is."

"You're torturing yourself. You need to move on, Sam. I know Alexandria will say the same thing."

"D-don't don't say her name."

"You need to move on and stop wasting your life."

"I don't know if I can move on, Vi."

Violet only gave me a sad smile in the rearview mirror.

That night, I went to search for a person named Andrew Gomez over the internet. When I found out about his whereabouts, I decided to sneak out of the house.

"Where do you think you are going?" It was Alexander. He folds his hands over his chest as he leans on the mango tree at the back of the Mansion.

"I need to visit someone from the farm."

He tilts his head. He is reading my expression to check if I am lying.

"Why didn't you use the front gate?"

"Because I don't want mom to know I left."

"She will know eventually because she's the one who will bail you out from wherever jail you are."

I sigh, "It will not happen tonight."

"I'll come with you."

"Fine."

"I'll get my jacket."

"Go ahead."

The moment Alexander disappears from my view, I sprint toward the wall and hoists myself up.

"Come with me your face," I murmured to myself as I jog towards the stable.

Fifteen minutes later, I arrived at the resto-bar in the city earlier than I anticipated. I smiled to myself when I spotted my target.

"One tequila shot please," sabi ko sa bartender pagkaupo ko sa stool sa harap ng counter.

Napansin ko ang pag-angat ng tingin ng katabi kong lalaki nang magsalita ako para sabihin ang aking order.

"Hi," I smiled admiringly at the guy.

The woman beside him smirk.

The guy stood up, "You're new here?"

"Is it really that obvious?" I answered, biting my lower lip.

He laughs as he talks to the bartender, "Nathan, her drinks are on me."

"Oh! You don't need to do that," hinampas ko pa ito sa braso habang nakatawa.

"I insist." He laughs as he grabs my bottom.

I wanted to kick him in the gut for doing that, but I stopped myself.

Wait for it, Kallista.

"I'm Kalli."

"Call me Andrew," he accepted my handshake, and he didn't let go of my hand.

"Andrew. Nice name," I pulled my hand and noticed that the woman beside him was still there, "Is she your girlfriend?"

Andrew pushes the woman away, "No!"

What he did make me hate him more. I wanted to punch him in the face right there.

He handed me my tequila.

"Thanks."

"Do you want to go somewhere else?"

"Where exactly?"

"Outside?"

"Sure," I said as I stood up to follow him outside the bar.

"It's cold here. Let's go to my car," maya-maya ay wika nito nang nasa labas na kami ng bar. Medyo madilim na ang lugar na iyon dahil malayo na sa mga ilaw.

"Sure."

When I noticed that Andrew was leading me in a secluded area, I immediately kicked him on both of his feet.

He immediately drops to the ground.

"Stay where you are, idi*t," wika ko sabay tutok ng baril na nakuha ko sa mismong beywang nito.

"What the hell are you doing?" gulat na sigaw nito na may halong takot.

"Where the hell are you going to bring me?"

"In my car, damn*t."

"The parking lot is over there, genius." I pointed my left hand to the bar's parking lot.

Biglang hinila ako nito sa paa habang nakalayo ang tingin ko dito. Pero mas mabilis ang aking paa. Tinadyakan ko ito sa sikmura.

"That was for the woman you pushed like trash a while ago."

I kick him on his stomach. "This is for thinking that I am stupid like you!"

Kinasa ko ang baril at itinutok sa mukha nito.

"I really want to spread your f*cking brains all over this pavement, but I realized you don't deserve an easy death."

I shot his right leg.

Umalingawngaw ang sigaw nito sa katahimikan ng gabi. It made me enjoy his pain.

"Do you feel the pain? Because this is not enough, Andrew. You killed a lot of people, and the pain that you feel right now is not enough to make up for your sins."

He is now crying in pain and anger.

Tinapakan ko ang sugat nito sa paa.

"I only met the daughter of the people you killed this afternoon. Do you still remember their faces, Andrew?"

"I don't know what you're talking about. You're crazy!"

I punch him in the face.

"Don't you dare lie to me! I got a lot of evidence I needed before I came here. I have the copy of the CCTV footage the night you killed Mr. and Mrs. Santos."

He groaned in pain.

"You killed them, and the police didn't do something about it because they are afraid of your Dad!"

I am so mad right now!

"I'm gonna call the police and the media. I want you to tell them everything! I want you to let Helena go. Tell the media everything. If you do not do what I said, I'll come back, and I will make sure that everyone will see the footage of how you r***d those girls who are still missing until now!"

Tinapakan ko ang dalawang kamay nito. Then, I put the gun in his right hand. "If you shot me behind my back, make sure you do it right."

Tinapik ko ang mukha nito, "Tell them you accidentally shot your leg."