CHAPTER 2: ZANDRO

"ALL FOR MY DEAREST"

WATCHING the luminous Luna up in the night sky used to be Alezzandro's pastime when he was looking for something to blame for the troubles coming into his life. The thick clouds around her seemed like protecting their muse from the dagger look that his eyes have been throwing since he leaned on the railing of the balcony outside his penthouse while drinking his favorite red wine.

To escape the sudden rise of hell in his mansion was his plan, only to be ruined by the memories that happened hours ago that keep on flashing inside his head. What he feels towards that damn monster is something beyond fury, that's too shallow to describe the fire blazing hotter in his chest for a decade now. It didn't just burn him alive but it ruined everything around him that Zandro actually lived in the dark for the rest of his life.

The wrath he's been keeping through the years intensifies every time he sees her pretty face, the damn sweet smile owned by Blythe, or would it be more proper to call as his wife now?

Sa kabila ng nagbabagang pagkasuklam at galit na ilang taon nang nananahan sa kaniyang dibdib ay nakuha pa rin niyang ngumisi sa huling ideyang pumasok sa kaniyang isio. Zandro is halfway towards his plan, he just needs to pull more strings to get closer until victory showers in him this time. That sounds good and surely feels good too.

Zandro is in the middle of exploring every way he has of executing his next plan when his phone from the round table next to him suddenly interrupts his reverie. Bumaling siya roon para sumilip sa kung sinong pangahas ang dumidistorbo sa kaniya nang ganoong oras. The dawn is currently breaking and the nerves of this caller must burst if his reason is not important as his plans.

But on second thought, he realized that he doesn't need to hope for it anymore because Zandro is certain that this guy's nerves already exploded more than he wants. . .that if he really has nerves.

Mas lumawak pa ang ngisi ng binata habang itinatapat niya ang cellphone sa kaniyang tainga. Hindi pa siya nakaka-balik sa kaniyang pagkakahilig ay nagputukan na ang sari-saring mura ng kaniyang nakatatandang kapatid sa kabilang linya, it sounded like missile bombs.

"Geez! What a nice greeting from my brother," panunuya niya habang dinig na dinig ang mga hangos ng kaniyang kapatid dala ng labis na galit. "I appreciate it a lot."

"You're nothing but a bastard, Zandro! You dirty player, you better keep your face away from me because I will really slash that until you can smile no more!" sunod-sunod nitong singhal. "I've warned you not to associate yourself with my business anymore. Pero heto kana namang lintik ka!"

Imbes na matakot sa mga angil ng kaniyang kapatid ay mas natuwa pa si Zandro, his curses are music to his ear and his anger is somewhat made his night more. Kung ganito ba namang pikon ang kapatid mo, sinong hindi matutuwa?

"Can you calm down first, my brother? You're raving like a lunatic animal— oh, wait! Don't tell me you are—"

"Shut up, bastard! Hayop ka, you never really learn your lesson! You keep on wanting to experience death, huh?"

Sa pagkakataong iyon ay napahalakhak na si Zandro, mas tumataas pa ang galit ng kaniyang kapatid at mas natutuwa siyang pakinggan ang tono ng bawat kabiguan nito. As what their father used to say, this guy is a walking shit!

Ipinikit niya ang kaniyang pagod na mga mata at bahagyang pinaamo ang tinig para sa nagliligalig niyang kapatid. "So, tell me what made you call? Ano na naman sa mga tagumpay ko ang ikina-uulol mo?"

Although he already has a hint he still wants to hear it from his brother's frustrated voice. He wanted to hear how his victory affects him to call this early and made him the happiest as of the moment.

"Come on, brother dear! Don't be shy and tell me."

Subalit ang mga mararahas na paghinga lamang nito ang naging sagot ng kaniyang tanong. The most awaited answer from his brother never came. Of course, Dimas will never speak about Alezzandro's victory because he's too jealous to recognize it... Pero bago pa nito putulin ang linya ay muli itong nagbaba ng babala gaya ng madalas nitong gawin.

"Stop testing my patience, Zandro. Alam mo kung ano ang kaya kong gawin at alam mo rin kung ano ka lang sa pamilyang ito, I could kill you without blinking if that would it takes to permanently shut your goddamn mouth," naroon ang diin sa bawat pagbigkas nito ng mga kataga. "I'm a man of my word."

And so is he... Kaya nga nang mangako siya sa mga magsasaka sa kanilang bayan na gagawan niya ng paraan ang tungkol sa malawak na taniman ng kaniyang kapatid ng ipinagbabawal na mga halaman ay hindi siya tumalikod doon. He immediately filed an investigation about the said farm and filed the appropriate lawsuit for their violations and all.

Wala pang dalawang linggo ay lumabas na ang resulta—nabawi ng mga magsasaka ang kanilang lupa at bonus pa dahil ang imbestigasyong isinagawa nila tungkol sa mga ipinagbabawal na halaman ay tumuro sa isang pabrika kung saan pinoproseso ang mga ipinagbabawal na gamot na sigurado siyang pag-aari rin ni Dimas at ito ang malinaw na dahilan ng pagpupuyos nito.

"Well, looks like someone is popping a champagne's cork here."

Napalingon si Zandro sa glass door ng kaniyang silid, bahagyang tumaas ang kilay niya nang matagpuan niya mula roon si Antonette— ang secretary niya at isa ring matalik na kaibigan.

Tumuwid siya sa pagkakatayo bago itapong muli sa lamesa ang kaniyang cellphone. "Nah! It's my favorite wine not a bottle of champagne."

"Oh, yeah! So funny..." Umirap ito pagka-lapit at nagsalin din si Antonette ng wine sa isa pang wine glass bago humilig sa tabi ni Zandro. "I thought you are very much frustrated right now that's why I came, tapos a-abutan kitang naka-ngiti lang? Have you gone nuts, Zandro?"

"Nope, but Dimas is making me so damn high."

"I heard about you winning the case against his illegal farm and such... Sa nangyaring ito, I would bet your brother is as livid as an erupting volcano again. Dimas won't let this slide like that."

"Yeah, but I don't care whatever he's feeling as of the moment. Die in a heart attack if he wants..." He was sipping more from his glass when his shining golden green eyes once again found Luna above. "Anyway, I haven't seen you at the ceremony earlier. Seryoso ka talaga nang sabihin mong ayaw mo akong makitang ma-kasal sa kaniya?"

Antonette's pink lips twitched a bit. "Well, that's part of the factor. Of all the bullsh*t you have done so far, ito ang pinakamalala. Why marry if we can just kill the evil?"

Ibinaba na nang tuluyan ni Zandro ang hawak niyang wine glass, he felt like he had too much of his comfort liquid tonight. Huminga siya nang malalim at mariing pinisil ang barandilya sa kaniyang harapan, halos ma-baluktot iyon sa intensidad ng kaniyang pagkaka-pisil.

"Look, Zandro, the victory is waving at us. All that we need to do is slash her neck with—"

"Antonette..." he silently growled her name. "We already talked about it. Killing without any suffering is not my thing. That is gonna be really easy and I don't want the easy way for her… her highness surely won't enjoy it."

Nabinbin na sa ere ang baso ng dalaga, may pagtataka nitong tinitigan si Zandro na noo'y naka-tingala sa kalangitan ngunit pikit ang magaganda nitong mga mata.

"So, what will be the next plan?"

Slowly, he opened his eyes and they shimmered together with the light coming from the bright and perfectly round moon.

"Gonna be a blast," he said in his husky whisper.

"It's still for Cassidy, right?"

"All for my dearest..."