Pain's Rule

XIX

Chapter 19

Pain’s Proposal

HABANG tumatakbo si Pain sa hallway at nahagip ng kanyang pandinig ang sigawan ni Ana at ni Mario na parang ngayon lang niya ito napansin.

His parents are loving and always sweet especially to him. Never did he expect that he’d hear something like this.

Sumilip siya sa pintuang nakaawang nang kaunti at nakita niyang nag-aaway si Mario at si Ana.

“But innocent people are going to die! Mario, come on, we can just give up on this project. You promised to me before that we will now go this far!”

“This is what Fiore will need! Ana, don’t settle for less. We will proceed with the demolition!”

Akala ni Pain noon ay iyon lang ang araw na makikita niyang nag-aaway ang kanyang mga magulang pero nasundan pa iyon hanggang sa araw-araw na niyang nakikitang nagsasagutan sila.

Also, after that day, he barely spend dinner or any meal with both of them. Tuwing magtatanong siya sa mga butler ay lagi nilang sinasabing busy ang mga ito sa trabaho kaya hindi na sila nagsasabay kumakain.

Ana stopped visiting Pain’s bedroom to tell stories before going to sleep. When Pain thought of vising his Mom’s study room, he always finds her working late at night and probably until morning.

The young and innocent Pain didn’t know why would his Mom work hard until morning and becomes sickly because of it. But when he grows up and gradually gained insight to reality of the life they are living, he figured out that his Mom was living under pressure.

And that she needed to prove herself worthy of his Father who probably became out of her reach as time goes by.

She really tried her best to create a good future for Fiore and then eventually, she died because of it.

Pain realized all of these when her Mom died…

So on the day of his Mom’s funeral, all he could do is to cry over those days he should have spent with his Mom but because of her devotion to Fiore, she preferred to work until she died.

“I hate you!” nang namataan ni Pain na lalapitan na sana ni Mario ang mga labi ni Ana upang maglagay ng bulaklak ay tinulak niya ito na ikinagulat ng mga myembro ng kanilang pamilyang dumalo para sa huling araw ni Ana.

“You killed Mom! You killed Mom!” napasigaw si Pain dahilan upang lapitan siya ng mag guard at pigilan.

But with Mario who is expressionless, he just stared at his son and puts the rose above the coffin.

“Your Mom died saving Fiore,” with cold glares he confronted his devastated son. “Because she knows this is our legacy…” yumuko ito at hinawakan ang baba ni Pain upang sila’y magkatitigan. “So you have to work hard just as what your Mom did to make a good future for Fiore…”

Those were the words of a Father who lost his wife on that day to his son who will suffer the death of his mother forever…

***

“I DIDN’T know that the poor people have their own cemetery,” napatingin si Pain sa kanyang paligid nang siya’y pinagbuksan ng pintuan ni Sonny upang siya’y makababa ng kotse.

“Mas mura po kasi ang lupain dito at puwedeng pagpatong-patognin ang mga nicho,” ang sabi naman ni Sonny.

“The place looks creepy and dirty,” napailing si Pain dahil nakita niya ang mga nicho na madudumi at patong-patong. Matataas na rin ang mga damo at halos natatakpan na nag ibang nicho.

“So this is where she’s send off her parents?”

“Yes sir. Base sa mga natanong ko sa kanilang kapit-bahay.”

“What a poor place to send your family then,” he tsked.

“Well, this is the best time to talk to her,” napahalukipkip itong sumandal sa kanyang kotseng.

“This is my final grand plan so I can destroy everything…” determinadong saad pa nito.

PAIN’S RULE

“SO aren’t you going to eat anything?” pinukas naman ni Pain ang atensyon ni Juvia nang matikman na niya ang bagong serve na coffee latte sa kanya dahil kanina pa ito nakatitig sa dalawang bata na nasa kabilang table at kain nang kain ng kung anong cake ang mai-serve sa kanila. Pain noticed that these might be so hungry so he asked the waiter personally to serve whatever they may like. He also rented the whole café for the next few hours just to set up a meeting with Juvia.

“Okay lang ako,” napairap lang si Juvia sa kanya. Kung hindi lang nag-e-enjoy ang mga kapatid niyang kumain ay kanina pa dapat siya umalis sa harapan ni Pain.

“Let’s leave the kids to eat until they’re full. We have business to do…” naging seryoso na ang boses ni Pain.

Lumapit si Sonny kay Pain at may iniabot na folder sa kanya.

“This is the Prieto Project…” binuklat ito ni Pain at pinakita kay Juvia.

Nang makita ni Juvia ito ay naglalaman ang folder ng mga larawan ng proposed blue print and 3D sketch ng napakalawak na mall na ipapatayo sa kanilang lugar.

“It’s an Italian Mall. We’ll see Italy very soon,” he sarcastically said.

“My dream is to ruin this thing because it’s Rage’s my pride.”

“Ito rin ang dahilan kung ba’t nawala ang mga magulang ko,” saad pa ni Juvia.

“We know it’s a crime yet we can’t report it. We know it’s big news but we can’t make the public focus on it. Mas mahala iyang Mall na iyan kaysa sa sunog na nangyari sa iyo,” walang pag-aalinlangang sabi ni Pain. “And even if the number of casualties was bigger, nobody cares.”

“So what I want to ask now is, what are you planning to do?”

Nagkatinginan lang naman si Pain at Juvia. He didn’t expect to hear an immediate response because probably she’s still in the stage of accepting everything that happened. And no matter how foolish Pain has become, he still have some consideration on that part.

“It’s okay if you don’t have plans yet but I’d like to let you know what I am about to offer. I’ll only ask you once, so think about it,” he warned.

Mayroon ulit isang folder na iniabot si Sonny kay Juvia. Before she was able to open it, Pain made the introductory.

“I’ll give you four years to be the person I can use…” he uttered. Curious Juvia browsed the files in the folder which made her startled a bit.

“You majored Engineering in College and the reason you wanted to work in the site is that you wanted to be close to the dream you abandoned,” he paused to take his cup of coffee as he leans his back on the backrest of the chair.

“Those are the papers that will give you an idea of what’s waiting you in America. I found a good school for Engineering. You will have to continue your degree there and have a license. After becoming the person I want you to be, come back to me and let’s start my grand plan,” biglang nagdilim ang mga paningin ni Pain kay Juvia.

“Of course, you won’t have to worry a single penny because I will provide everything you need.”

“Bakit ako?” tanong naman ni Juvia.

“Because you’re the collateral damage of my brother’s wickedness, let’s say it is more fun if it’s you who will destroy him?” he smirked and sipped into his coffee. He felt energized suddenly while thinking far of what he had planned already.

“Now for all of these to become realistic there is more that you need to agree on,” he cleared his throat. “We have to be engage and get marry after four years.”

“Ano!?” napataas ang boses ni Juvia at tuluyang nilapag ang folder sa mesa. “Magpapakasal ako sa pamilyang pumatay sa mga magulang ko? Niloloko mo ba ako?” tuluyang namula nag mga mata ni Juvia.

“How can you avenge your parents if you don’t?” mapanghamong tanong ni Pain. “Can you rise from where you are?” napasimid siya’t inalis ang pagkakasandal sa upuan.

“You lost your parents because you couldn’t give them a good life. I hope history won’t repeat itself,” sabay nadungaw si Pain sa kabilang table kung saan kumakain ang dalawang bata. Nang mapasulyap din doon si Juvia ay parang nadurog ang puso niyang nakakita sa kanyang mga kapatid na hindi niya alam kung paano niya bubuhaying mag-isa.

“Like what I said, whatever choice you make on this proposal of mine will change your life forever.”

“Paano ang mga kapatid ko? Lalayo ako, walang mag-aalaga sa kanila?”

“Don’t worry. Your cute little brother and sister will live a life as good as you will have.”

Sandaling natahimik si Juvia at nag-isip. May katotohanan naman ang sinabi ni Pain. In fact the proposal is also an advantage for her. If she can turn around their life now, there is a big chance she’ll eventually lose one of her remaining family now. Iyon ang bagay na ayaw na niyang mangyari pa.

If she will take the proposal from Pain, her life will rise from being a poor woman. She will surely have everything she may ask and provide a good life for her siblings.

But her pride is knocking her that she shouldn’t accept help from the ones who made her lost her parents.

“Bakit mo ito ginagawa?”

“I want to destroy Fiore,” there isn’t even a glimpse of hesitation on Pain’s face when he answered Juvia. In fact, his face is full desire with whatever he’s thinking right now. Juvia failed to realize earlier how twisted he really is.

“I want to see that building crash to the ground…” nadungaw si Pain sa babasaging bintana kung saan tanaw nila rito ang matayog na building ng Fiore sa may ‘di kalayuan.

“This proposal will forever change your life as well as mine. Once you accept, and we’re already in the midst of executing the plans, you refuse to continue and want to withdraw…”

Hindi maintindihan ni Juvia kung bakit bigla siyang kinilabutan nang titigan siya muli ni Pain. “I will have to get rid of you…” he warned.

“Of course, I can’t afford anyone who knows my real goals, that’s dangerous for me…” nilapag na niya ang kanyang tasa sa mesa.

“So, what is it going to be, Juvia?” he smiled. “Will you be a Dela Viego to have your revenge?”

***