Broken Bones and Scar Souvenirs

Chapter 7 -As Delicate as Lace, As Deadly as Venom (Part 1)

Inside the confines of the underground headquarters below their family work shed, Yalmar spent most of his late nights for the past few days. Habang walang humpay ang paghahanda na ginawa ng pamilya niya para sa nalalapit na kasal nila ni Sabrina, mas pinili na lang ng binata na pagkaabalahan ang bihag niyang si Blaine Hidalgo.

Hidalgo was stripped and tied two intersecting beams resembling an x, with no access to direct sunlight and no way to tell the time. He was only taken down the beams for a quick trip to the bathroom and a few minutes that allowed Yalmar’s men an opportunity to shove food and water down their captive’s throat. They needed him alive if Yalmar had any intentions of getting a good deal with the serpents. Luckily for him, alive doesn’t always mean unharmed.

A muffled groan filled the room as Yalmar pierced his carving knife down Blaine's chest to write a few symbols. Kamakailan lang ay nahiligan ng binata ang magsulat ng baybayin kaya’t naisipan niyang pag-praktisan ito sa balat ni Blaine. Napangisi naman siya sarili nang matagumpay na naisulat ang intials ng pangalan niya sa dibdib ni Blaine.

The blood and raw flesh that was right in front of him was just enough to set a good mood for the rest of his day. Blaine was weakening by the hour but Yalmar actually admired his fortitude and his ability to hold his own. Most men would’ve been begging him to stop or gave him the information he needed before pissing themselves, but Blaine was a tough nut to crack.

Sigaw, daing, at paminsan-minsang pagmumura lamang ang binitawan ni Blaine at hindi iyon sapat para kay Yalmar.

“You are a tough man, Hidalgo,” Yalmar praised him while he fidgeted on his now bloody knife, and his eyes would happily squint every time a stream of blood would ooze out of Blaine’s wound. “But you do bleed like a little b***h. Of course, it would be easier for you if you would just tell me what I want to hear. I need a name. Who was behind the bombing of Ravenite?”

Blaine just let out a weak chuckle as he struggled to lift his head to face Yalmar. “Go to hell!”

“You see, hula ko ang ama mo lang naman ang may pakana nito. He was always a slime ball but he wasn’t stupid enough to pull off a stunt like that.” Hinatak naman ni Yalmar ang isang monoblock palapit sa kanya ang umupo malapit sa dulo ng beam kung saan nakagapos ang kaliwang kamay ni Blaine. “So it is possible that he’s covering up for someone.”

Blaine let out a heavy grunt as Yalmar poked the tip of his knife at one of his fingernails. “Hmm, you don’t need much of your hand do you? Unless you give me a name, I will continue chopping off bits of you one by one.” At walang pasabing hiniwa ni Yalmar ang daliri nito at binunot ang isang kuko na siya namang dahilan ng malakas na paghiyaw ni Blaine sa sakit.

“This is about his new ally wasn’t it? Cordova was still upset about my father taking over his turf, right? He wants his land back.” Blaine was quick to shoot him a look after that remark. “I knew it.”

“You killed two of my men and cost my family millions worth of damages for that asshole Cordova? I might as well cut your d**k off!” Tila mapanuyang sabi ni Yalmar. “But that won’t sit well with your father when we decide to hand you over. Hmmm. I just need to get a little creative.”

Tumayo naman ang binata at tinapik ang mukha ng bihag niya. He turned around and started fuzzing around his workbench until he decided to pick up his flame torch and paired it metal seal with a dragon symbol. “This should be fun!”

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Sundays are family days. As the patriarch of the family, Marco Vescozar always made sure that it was strictly adhered to so much so that their weekly grill by the pond almost became a family ritual. As his own sons were growing up, the older Vescozar regretted not being there and not being the always present and dependable father he could only wish to be. He had missed most of his sons childhood life because he was busy chasing power and fortune that would later help forge their family’s legacy.

Now that his sons are starting to settle down and have their own families, Marco he would not let them make the same mistakes that he did.

Nang araw na iyon ay nagkaroon ng pagkakataon si Sabrina na makilala ang tatlong anak nina Yohann at Wine. Chrysler who was their eldest was a tall and lanky boy of thirteen who was already to eager and to restless for his age. He liked to hang with the adults and act like one of them. No doubt that he would be happy to be involved in their family business once he comes of age. Their second son was Ynoch a jolly little one at the age of nine. Si Ynoch na ata ang isa sa pinakamakulit na batang nakilala ni Sabrina. He was so full of energy and youthful jest, sometimes a little bit too much that Yohann had to intervene. Their youngest was the only girl in the Vescozar family Yva at the age of four. She was their soft and gentle little princess and Sabrina could see the pride and tenderness in Yohann’s eyes as he carried his daughter around.

Lahat ay may kanya-kanyang pinagkaabalahan. The men were busy setting up the grill and table by the pond. The kids were running around playing tag on the sprawling grass with Yva’s loud giggles warming their hearts. The women were busy preparing food while Mandy just sat near the dock and enjoyed the sun. Sa halos isang linggong pananatili ni Sabrina sa hacienda ay napalapit na ang loob niya kay Dwight kaya siya namuna ang nagbantay dito habang abala pa sina Diane at Yael.

Everyone was there save for her fiance, a matter which Yulric was point out.

“Asan na ba si Sinco? Akala ko ba magkasama kayo dumating kanina?” singhal nito sa nakababatang si Yves.

“Well, don’t look at me. He said he had to find something first kaya nauna na lang ako.” Mabilis na kibit balikat naman nito.

“Parang hindi ka na nasanay. Our little brother always likes to have a dramatic entrance like the little b***h he is,” biro naman ni Yael na siyang dahilan ng pagsiko ni Daine sa kanya.

Nang kalaunan ay napagod nakakatakbo ang bata ay agad silang nagkumpulan at lumapit kay Sabrina. The curiosity and intrigue in their eyes were hard to miss.

“You’re so purtee,” Yva blurted out while looking up at her with wide eyes.

Mahina namang natawa ang dalaga sa sinabi nito. “Thank you, princess. I think you are very pretty too.”

“Is it true that you and Tito Sinco are gonna get married?” tanong ni Ynoch.

“Yes, sweetie that’s the plan.”

“But if his late at the wedding you can just wait for me to grow up and I will marry you instead.” Doon na napahalakhak ang dalaga.

“Aba’t ang lakas naman ng apog mong bata ka. Uungusan mo pa ako, ah!”

She looked up to see Yalmar walking towards them wearing his usual side grin. Agad na nag-unahan ang magpipinsan at tumakbo para salubungin ang bagong dating. Dwight even struggled to climb off her lap and bolt as fast as he could to Yalmar screaming Tito as he ran.

Ginulo naman ng binata ang buhok Ynoch na naunang sumalubong sa kanya at agad namang kinarga si Dwight. He acted as if he was having a hard time and let out an exaggerated grunt. “Gods, you’ve grown heavy! Remind me not to invite you to my wedding. Baka ikaw pa ang umubos ng handa ko roon.”

The toddler laughed out loud and wrapped his arms around Yalmar’s neck to hug him tight.

“Tito asan na pasalubong ko?” Yva tugged on his denim pants. Agad namang kinapa-kapa ng binata ang bulsa bago hinugot ang isang maliit na action figure na gawa sa kahoy bago ito binigay sa pamangkin.

Lumapad naman ngiti ng batang babae habang sinusuri ang bigay na pasalubong nito. “You made me a little knight!”

“Tito I want one like that too,”ungos ni Ynoch.

“I’ll tell you what, if you promise to behave at school, next Sunday I’ll give you your own knight too,” kindat pa nito.

“Promise! But I want it to be a bit bigger!”

“Ikaw, may pa hirit ka pa ah! Dwight told me you built a fort. Shall we go play there?”

Just before the kids could whisk him away, he stole a quick glance at Sab who was also staring at him and flushed like he caught her doing something she shouldn't be doing.

It did not add up immediately in Sab’s brain. She was so taken by the sight of her cold and ruthless fiance getting along with the kids and their eyes shined with admiration for him. There stood a man whom she saw with literal blood on his hand a few nights ago, the same man who threw a steak knife at his brother. And now he was there with delicate smiles and soft affection to his niece and nephews. She was astonished but also wary of just how far the range of Yalmar Vescozar reached.

“Oh, hotdog ka d’yan,” pukaw sa kanya ni Diane sabay abot ng hotdog on stick. Tinaggap naman itop ni Sab ngunit hindi siya nakaligtas sa pasimpleng ngiti ni Diane nang nahuli siya nitong nakatingin kay Yalmar.

“Shocking right? Who would have thought?”

“W-what?” maang niyang sagot dito.

“He’s Dwight’s favorite uncle. At siguro kita mo naman paborito rin siya ng mga anak ni Yohann. Yalmar may not be the best brother for Yael but for my son, he’s like the uncle of the century. He’s good with kids. Kapag nagkaanak na kayo nako hindi ka na mahihirapan,” Diane just blurted out in reckless abandon. She barely even noticed Sabrina almost choking on her food.

Bakit nga ba tila nagulat siya nang bangitin ni Diane ang tungkol sa mga magiging anak nila ni Yalmar? That is if he would even be interested in procreating with her. Then she started questioning herself if that was what she wanted? She’d always dreamed of having her own children but given the situation she’s in, would she really want kids with basically a stranger who saw her as just another business deal?

Her hopes of coming to terms with her latest thought was slowly starting to fade as the afternoon went by. Tila nanadya yata ang fiance niya at ginawa na nito ang lahat para iwasan lamang ang dalaga. They barely even spoke to each other. He just continued stealing glances from time to time and Sabrina just remained observing him in silence.

She marveled how fluid he moved despite the leg braces underneath his worn down blue denim jeans, taken by how the plain white shirt stretched to fit his muscled torso as he heaved and played with the kids. And that was it. They were both strangers from afar, outside looking in, trying to make sense and thread this very delicate situation they’ve been put through.

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