CHAPTER FOUR

5 years later. . .

Steve Biloner POV

“What did I tell you, Steve? Stop wasting your time on that girl and focus your attention on our company!” Father nagged at me as I signed the documents he handed me.

My mom is here, too. She was sitting at the corner while just blankly staring at us. Tired and uninterested in our family and so am I.

I shifted my gaze to my father as I stopped signing the papers. Joe handed me the cigarette that I immediately took and lit it with my lighter. I can feel the eyes of my father following me as I stand up and walk towards the balcony. I blew the smoke of my cigarette as I was thinking of someone.

No matter what I do, I just can't get her out of my head. Even though five years had passed, I still remember how she looked. How her dimples are exposed while talking. Her long blonde hair is mesmerizing. The porcelain skin she has, the almond color of her eyes which is captivating and how addictive she smells. I just want to devour her. Ashly, how the hell I can't find you.

“Steve, do you hear me?!” I got back to myself when I heard my father. He is looking at me as if I was the dumbest person he ever knew.

I spat to the floor. Hinulog ko sa sahig ang sigarilyo ko saka inapakan. Ipinamulsa ko ang mga kamay ko. Humakbang ako papunta sa aking ama at hinarap s'ya. “Yeah, I heard you.” Lalakad na sana ako papunta sa swivel chair ko nang may makalimutan pa akong sabihin, “Father, do you mind shutting your mouth for a moment? I can't think properly.”

A shock reaction is written on her face. I know he wanna punch my face so bad for being disrespectful to him. But I wont let him do that.

“How dare you say that to the one who made you and put you in that position! Come back here, Steve! Face me and let's see where your arrogance goes!” he shouted that echoed the building. I hear aggressive footsteps coming towards me and he is about to hit me when my mom suddenly intrudes us. Hinarap ko sila at doon nakita ko sila ng maayos. Their eyes were empty while looking at me. Am I their son? `cause I don't feel like it.

“Honey, let's just go. Our son will deal with our business on his own. Let's not be too harsh to Steve, instead understand what he wants,” my mother said to my father. I don't know if she's sincere about it or she's just a hustler of faking.

I'm impressed by how my mother calms my father even though they don't have that husband and wife relationship.

Nagtama ang tingin namin ng tatay ko. He had this irritated reaction on his face while I was seriously looking at him the whole time.

“I'll tell you this once, Steve. That girl can ruin your entire life. At oras na mangyari iyon, kahit gumapang ka pa sa harapan ko para lang makahingi ng tulong ay wala kang mahihita ni katiting man sa akin.” Pabalang na binalibag ng ama ko ang upuan na paharang-harang sa dinaraanan n'ya at tuluyan ng lumabas ng opisina ko. Sumunod naman ang aking ina na lumabas na wala man lang huling binitawang salita.

I let out a heavy sigh before I sat on my swivel chair. Ipinagpatuloy ko ang ginagawa ko kaninang pagpirma ng mga dokumento. As I was thinking of what dad said earlier, a call from my phone interrupted it. I click my tongue in annoyance. What does this punk need now?

“Make sure you'll say something interesting, Aron. Don't put me in a bad mood today,” I warned him.

“Of course not, brother. Siguradong matutuwa ka sa ibabalita ko.” bulalas n'ya.

“Spit that out.”

“I found the person who has the guts to kill you that night. Actually, he is right here,” Aron blurted out. I heard some pitiful voices of a middle aged man in the other line, begging for his life. I can tell that Aron beat him up. Serves him right. “Shut up dumbass! Ingay ng bibig mo kalalaki mong tao. Steve, what do you want me to do with this thing? want me to kill it for you?”

“No. Let me deal with it by myself.” I abruptly replied.

“Sure. Dating gawi ba?”

My lips curled in amusement. “Yes.”

Ilang minuto lang rin ang lumipas nang makarating kami ng ilan pang tauhan ko sa sementeryo kung saan dito namin madalas dinadala ang mga taong nagiging problema sa mga plano namin. I choose this abandoned cemetery because why not, they're going straight to Hades anyway. Pinadali ko lang.

Naabutan ko ang matalik kong kaibigan na si Aron dala-dala ang nakagapos at nakapiring na kumag na naglakas loob akong patayin.

Aron offers me his cigarette but I don't want someone saliva on it. So I choose to ignore him and put my attention to the hideous guy.

“S-Sir, napag-utusan lang ako. H-Hindi ko intensyon na saktan ka. Tinanggap ko lang `yung inaalok na purohan ka dahil may kapalit na pera. K-Kailangan lang namin ng pamilya ko. Maawa ka, sir.” The guy then weeps.

“Those tears won't work for me. You look pathetic, son of a b–!” Mabilis kong hinablot ang baril sa tagiliran ko at itinutok sa ulo ng lalaki. He is pleading.

With just one click and he'll die.

Papuputukan ko na sana ang kumag nang may kumuha ng atensyon ko. Everyone stops. We hear some little footsteps noises and the sobbing of a woman. My eyes went to the direction where it was. A horrifying smile put on my face when I saw a familiar face that I've been searching for in my entire life. Masyado yata akong sini-swerte ngayong araw. Ashly appeared on her own. She's looking at me as if I am the worst nightmare she'd ever encounter.

Well, apparently, yes, Ashly.