Montepalma Series 3: A Paradise Between Our Distance

Chapter 16

My eyes are watching the night skies that turn into an infinite abyss. As my heart kept pounding, I found myself standing in my old room. I shut my eyes while covering my ears as I heard my father keep cursing in the living room. His rage is overpowering in our house. My body flinched when the thunderclap roared in the sky.

My lips quivered when I heard a loud bang from downstairs. Mabilis ako tumayo kahit nanginginig ang binti ko. Rinig na rinig ko ang sigaw ni Papa sa sala.

My mother was killed by Raphael’s men because Cora was so jealous of my mother. We all discovered that Raphael is in love with my mother. It all happened so fast… we don’t have any idea that my mother was killed in Marseille mansion. Ang sakit sa puso nang dalhin ng mga tauhan ni Raphael ang bangkay ni Mama sa tapat ng bahay namin.

My father was enraged to the pit of hell. Hindi pa kami pumupunta sa mansion dahil sa ginawa nila. And I don’t have a reason to go there as well. I am also mad at what they did.

While I was walking the staircase, my eyes grew bigger when a group of men pointed their rifles at my father. But my father didn’t seem to care if they were pointing the gun at him. I use all my power to pin down the men behind him. I grabbed his rifle then pointed it at them while smirking.

“Surrender now…” Lahat ng mga tauhan ni Raphael ay nakatutok na sa akin. Mas lalo nagdidilim ang paningin ko sa kanila. “We won’t harm you as long as you are surrendering yourself to us.”

“Over our dead body!” Papa spat.

“Grab her!” the man ordered. “Don’t let that woman put you down!”

Muling kumidlat kaya nanginig ang binti ko sa takot. May dalawang tauhan na humawak sa balikat ko. Naninikip ang dibdib ko habang pinagmamasdan si Papa na pinipilit lumabas ng bahay.

My eyes become glossy and bloodshot. It really hurts my heart to see him being forced to go outside— they were dragging him like an animal.

Kaya hindi na muna ako pumalag baka kasi pagbuntunan nila ng galit ay kay Papa. I don't want to lose him. They took my mother away from us, hindi ko kaya mawalan ng magulang.

Tahimik lang kami ni Papa sa loob ng SUV kahit malakas ang ulan. Sobrang dilim ng labas. I shut my eyes when I heard another thunderclap again. f**k.

When we arrived at the Marseille Mansion, mabilis nila kami pinababa. Nakita ko na nag-aabang sina Raphael at Cora. Beside them is their daughter named Vivian who are giving us some deadly glare. Pinantayan ko ang tingin kay Vivian. Kailanman hindi ako natatakot sa kaniya. Ang kinakatakutan ko lang ang mawala si Papa sa akin.

"You f*****g monster!" Papa barked.

Hindi niya malapitan si Raphael dahil hawak siya ng mga tauhan nito. It must be hurt to see them holding him as if they didn't become a team when Papa was still serving Raphael. My eyesight filled his family standing in front of us as is they are the royal family that needs to bow at them.

"I will never forget that you killed my wife, Cora!" Pinipigilan pa rin siya ng mga tauhan ni Papa pero nagagawa niyang duruin si Cora na nakangisi sa amin. "You f*****g b***h! How dare you killed my wife?! She didn't do anything!"

Cora smiled at him wickedly. "Your wife seduced my husband. Aren't you happy that she is now gone because she is seducing my husband behind your back?"

"My mother wouldn't do that! She is more honorable and classy compared to you!" I seethed. Sobrang higpit ng hawak sa akin ng mga tauhan niya. "Raphael was the one who forced her! You knew that he loved my mother, yet you're being in denial by accusing my mother that she seduced him when in fact, she was not!"

Vivian glared at me. "Don't talk to my mother like that, b***h! If it's not because of us… you will not study in a prestigious school!"

Napansin ko na pinakalma siya ni Uno. Mas lalo nagtagis ang ngipin ko sa galit habang tinitingnan si Uno na hindi makatingin sa akin. He must be probably ashamed of what they did to us. I really thought we were friends… bakit wala man lang siya ginagawa? Dapat pinagtatanggol niya ako ngayon!

"Enough!" Raphael bellowed. Tiningnan niya ang mga anak niya. "Go to your room. Isama niyo na rin ang ina niyo."

"But Dad—" Vivian protested.

"What did I say, young lady?" he interjected. "Go to your room!"

Vivian let out a harsh breath. Her eyes was still looking at me angrily. I leveled how I look at her as well. Siguro hindi pa siya aware na hindi ako natatakot sa kaniya, kahit sa pamilya niya.

"Let's go, Mom." Vivian looks like she doesn't have a choice. She held her mother carefully before turning their back at us.

While Uno was still standing in front of me. He wasn't moving, either his eyes. Those eyes are still watching me. His lips were unable to talk but he was showing his words through his eyes. He knew that he couldn't disobey his father. And he doesn't have the gut to help me either!

"What a shame, Uno," I said, darkly. "I hope you remember this day… don't forget me because I'll come hunting for you."

I said those words as a curse. His eyes blinked on every words I utter. My eyes pooled while my hands balled into a fist. Ang sakit din isipin na parang wala lang kami pinagsamahan lahat.

"I'm sorry," he responded.

"Come on, Uno!" Inis siyang binaling ng kaniyang kakambal na si Dos. Hinatak na siya palayo sa amin.

Papa scoffed. "Why? Are you ashamed that you don't want your kids to know that you forced my wife?"

Prente na nakatayo si Raphael sa harapan namin. His other hand was inside his pocket while looking at my father with a smug on his profile.

"You f*****g betrayed me. I have been your friend for how many years! I protected your family with all my strength, yet you have the gut to ruin mine?!"

He laughed. "Come on, Alberto! You knew when we were still studying that I fancy Cora. You stole her from me!"

"I didn't steal her from you! She chooses me! She will always choose and love me regardless if I am not rich like you."

The muscle of his jaw ticked. He seemed didn't like what my father said. Honestly, this is the first time I've heard about this. They both love my mother but she chose my father over him. Ngayon lang nagp-proseso ang lahat. Kaya pala iba ang tingin ni Raphael kay Mama kapag nandito.

"And your f*****g wife killed her! How dare you!" Papa spat.

Tumingin si Raphael sa akin. Dahan-dahan siya naglakad sa gawi ko. Yumuko siya habang inaayos ang takas kong buhok sa noo. Pilit kong iniiwas ang mukha ko kaso hinawakan niya na ang panga ko sa inis.

"You look exactly like Cora," he beamed.

Biglang nagpupumiglas si Papa. "Don't dare lay a finger to my daughter, Raphael!"

"Do you want to live?" Raphael questioned.

"f**k you," I answered slowly. Trying to emphasize every word I say to him.

Gusto ko dama niya ang galit ko. Ang galit namin ni Papa sa ginawa niya kay Mama. Ngumisi si Raphael habang pinagmamasdan ang mukha ko ng matagal.

"However, you are opposite of her. Cora is more elegant and prim proper, not like you," aniya habang ginagalaw ang panga ko para tingnan ng buo ang mukha ko. "If you want to live… marry my son."

My eyes grew bigger. What does he mean?! Which son is he referring to?

"You and Uno are very close to each other, right? Marry him and I'll spare your life."

"Don't listen to him, Ivory!"

Napatingin ako kay Papa. Nagtubig ang mga mata ko kung gaano na siya nahihirapan sa paghawak sa kaniya ng mga tauhan ni Raphael.

My eyes pierced at Raphael. Ang kapal talaga ng mukha nito. Akala niya ba pagkatapos niya gawan ng masama at patayin ang Mama ko papayag ako? Kahit iba man ang sitwasyon, hindi ako papayag na magpakasal kay Uno! I don't even like him at all!

"This is your chance to experience a luxurious life. You will have so many opportunities by marrying my son," he added.

My jaw tightened. "Go to hell!"

He let out a taunting cackle. He harshfully let go of my jaw while his men were still holding my arms tightly behind me. The rain is still heavily pouring on us in front of his front yard. We are on the side of the extravagant fountain front yard. My sight lifted up to the dark sky while the thunder was beautifully booming around the darkness.

“I will make sure you will regret your choice, Ivory,” si Raphael na nilabas ang baril mula sa bulsa. Namilog ang mga mata ko. “There is always a consequence. You chose the wrong choice.”

Sabay kalabog ng kidlat ang mabilis na pangyayari. My chest was heaving up and down. With lips being opened in surprise… I saw my father was lying on the bermuda grass. Raphael was smirking as he looked at me after he shot my father in his head. Hindi pa rin nagp-proseso ang nangyari. Totoo ba talagang nangyari ito?

“You evil monster!” I snapped.

“You left me with no choice. You don’t have parents anymore. Marry my son.”

“I will never marry your f*****g son!” Nagpumiglas na ako at inuntog ko ang ulo ko sa lalaki na nakahawak sa kanan ko. Dahil nabitawan niya ang kabila kong balikat, sinipa ko naman ang isa sa ulo. “f**k all of you!”

Mabilis ko nilapitan ang ama kong nakahandusay sa harapan ko. His blood is spilling through his head. How funny that the grass turns into a menacing red. Mabilis ko niyakap ang Papa ko habang humihikbi. Sobrang higpit ng yakap ko sa kaniya. Kahit wala na siyang buhay ay hindi ko kayang iwanan ang Papa ko rito sa impyerno.

I was crying out loud even though the sound of rain was overwhelming. Mukhang mas lalo nagalit ang kalangitan kaya sunod-sunod ang pagkidlat.

“Ivory!”

Bigla ako napadilat habang hingal na hingal. Pagdilat ko ay napadpad ang mata ko sa kwarto namin. I am still in a dungeon. And I realized that it was a nightmare.

Hinawakan ni Hansen ang mukha ko at pinaharap sa kaniya. I lifted my hands, it was shaking pretty bad. Until I heard a loud thunderclap. Mas lalo ako nanginig sa takot.

Merde!

“You’re having a nightmare, Ivory. You were crying…” Hansen said.

“I-Is it raining?” I responded.

“Yeah… I think there’s a storm.”

Napapikit ako nang kumulog muli. This time… Hansen pulled for a tight hug. My whole body is shaking in fear because of the trauma that is still lingering in my mind. After my parents got killed, I have a phobia of thunder. Everytime I hear a loud noise from the sky… my body is reacting.

“I’m here…” he cooed. He was hugging me sideways. “Don’t be scared. I’m here for you.”

I swallowed hard. “I-I’m so scared…”

“I know you’re scared, baby. Let me hug you.”

Despite the rain and thunder filling my ear, his voice somehow tries to soothe my senses. Through his deep and calm voice, it helps me to calm down a bit while I am lying between his embrace. I immediately felt his warmth because he wasn’t wearing any shirt. He always sleeps naked. His strong masculine body helps me to feel that I am safe. That no one is trying to harm me because he is there.

Hansen is there for me.

He kissed my temple. “I know you’re terrified right now. I hope you trust me that I won’t harm you. I’ll be here for you.”

“Thank you…” Sobra na nanghihina ang boses ko. Nanunuyot na sobra ang lalamunan ko. “Don’t let go of me, please?”

“I won’t,” he assured me. “I’m always on your side.”

With that, it made me feel that I have someone to lean on. It has been many years since I have a companion. Every time I was shaking in fear… no one was there for me. But right now, I feel like he won’t let me feel this way again.

“T-Thunder reminds me of the tragic death of my father…” I started. He becomes attentive immediately when he hears me talking about my father. “I was hugging his cold body while it was raining and the thunder was roaring in the sky. It reminds me of his death.”

He huffed. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Don’t be sorry. It wasn’t your fault.” Napalunok ako. Siguro naalala ko na naman ang nangyari kasi nandito na naman ako. “It was their fault. I want to kill them so bad.”

Still terrified of someone because I don’t want to repeat the history itself. Kaso kakaiba ang nararamdaman ko kay Hansen. Parang mapapagkatiwalaan siya.

“Don’t worry… I’ll kill them for you.”

Napatingin ako sa kaniya. Naging seryoso ang mukha niya. This expression is very familiar because it looks like he is ready to kill for me. Hindi ako nagsalita pero nanatili ako humiga sa dibdib niya.

“I have a question…” he beamed.

I glanced at him. “What is it?”

“What about the third one? The one you taught me in our training session.”

My teeth bit my lower lips. I felt his slender fingers comb my hair. Kahit papaano ay gumaan ang dibdib ko at kumakalma na ako. I gaze at his perfect profile. He has these rough features that could easily get any woman. His perfect bushy eyebrow, his deep set eyes, those narrow nose, with those perfect thin lips, and his strong defined jaw. His looks are so beautiful but dangerous.

“The third one… don’t trust anyone. Even me.”