KABANATA 3: Traitor

HUGO

"Where is it?" I seriously asked Fang as I got out of the room where Nala was staying.

"Pamposh Tower, my Lord. Lobby," he answered.

He handed me a stick of cigarettes and lit it up. I held it between my index and middle finger before inhaling the smoke as much as I could. I exhaled, a mellow sensation rolled through my bloodstream like a warm bath. Fuck, that was good.

Fang is one of my subordinate but I honestly don’t trust him. Well, I don’t trust anyone, to be exact, and Fang wasn’t an exemption.

I licked my lower lip and hopped inside the car as we got out of the mansion. Tiningnan ko muna ang pwesto ng kwarto kung saan nandoon ang babaeng iyon bago tuluyang umalis ang sasakyan.

I leaned against the headrest and closed my eyes. I couldn’t help my lips to form a smirk as I thought of that woman’s furious face a while ago.

My jaw clenched. I can’t fucking forgive her for kicking off my balls that night. Pero mas hindi ko siya kayang patawarin dahil sa naging epekto niya sa ‘kin no’ng gabi ‘yon. I keep jacking off that night until my hand got numb just by thinking of her face that keeps on popping inside my head automatically ‘causing my cock to throb in needs.

As our car arrived at Pamposh Tower, I immediately threw my unfinished cigarette on the ground. Fang led the way through the lobby of the mentioned tower. It was already twelve midnight, but no one can stop me from cutting off that bastard’s head for being a traitor inside Omega Organization.

He’s good at fucking hiding, huh?

I’ve been finding him for almost five months at ngayon ko lang siya nahanap. Thanks to my sources and men that did their best to track this bastard’s location. I’ll give them a credit after.

Associates bowed their heads as I passed by through the hallway. Some of them were greeting me politely, but I don’t give a fuck. We stopped at the edge of the hallway, where the automatic steel door had been placed.

"Nasa loob po siya, boss. Pilit naming pinapa-amin pero masyadong matigas," sabi ng isa sa tauhan ko na nakabantay sa may pinto.

"Ako na ang bahala," I said, "give me my gun," I commanded and extended my hand.

Nang maramdaman ko ang malamig na baril sa kamay ko ay dali-dali kong ini-scan ang palad ko sa verification scanner. The door opened right away. Fang followed me. Pagpasok ko pa lang sa loob ng kwarto ay narinig ko na kaagad ang nakakairitang tawa nina Salvatore at Zamora.

Kumunot ang noo ko. What the hell is this motherfucker doing here??

"Damn! Nag-eenjoy ako dito ah," I heard Salvatore said, followed by his annoying laughter.

"Bakit ba kasi ayaw umamin ng gung-gong na ‘to?! Mamamatay ‘to ng walang silbi, eh. Look how weak this traitor is. Sinampal lang naman nahimatay na naman," Zamora added.

"Ano’ng ginagawa niyo dito?" tanong ko nang makita ko silang tatlo na pinalilibutan ang traydor ng organisasyon.

They all turned in my direction in unison upon hearing my voice.

"Woah. Kanina ka pa namin hinihintay, Lion. How come you’re late?" Salvatore said with a grin plaster on his lips.

He walked in my direction and put his hands on my shoulder.

I glared at him. "Get off, you dickhead," I warned.

Kaagad naman siyang tumalima habang tumatawa-tawa pa.

I turned to the traitor. As I laid my eyes on Samson, my blood in my veins flawed together into my fingertips giving me a strength to pull the trigger and bury the bullet into his skull down to his brain until he dies.

I smirked when I saw his situation. This is far from the Samson I used to be with. He looks trash and I love it very much. I love this view. His both hands were tied up. Ang katawan niya ay punong-puno ng sugat at dugo dahil sa latigo na paulit-ulit na pinalo doon.

"Wake him up," I commanded once again.

I turned to Velasco, who was just watching us while sipping whiskey on his rock double glass.

Aside from me, Velasco and Samson were closed too before. But because he wasn’t loyal to this organization and choose to betray me, betray us. I think he deserves to die in the hand of the first person he has loyalty served before.

Am I right?

Sabay-sabay kaming bumaling kay Samson nang bigla itong sunod-sunod na umubo matapos siyang buhusan ng isang baldeng malamig na tubig na maraming ice cube. Fang slightly slapped his cheeks in order to get sober.

Samson glared at my man. "S-Sinabi ko na sa inyong wala kayong—"

Hindi niya na natapos ang sasabihin niya nang magtama ang paningin naming dalawa. His eyes widened and suddenly filled with fear, as if he saw Satan standing in front of him.

"L-Lion…" he whispered, shuttering.

Ngumisi ako habang pinapanood siyang lamunin ng kaniyang sariling takot. I have known Samson since I was a kid. He was a loyal dog of my father back then. Sa katunayan isa siya sa dahilan kung ano ako ngayon. Kung bakit ako nasa ganitong posisyon.

"You’re weak! You will easily get killed like your brother if you continue being weak like this, Lion! I can’t believe that you are my son! You can’t even swing that knife properly!"

"I’m s-sorry, Dad. I promise I’ll do better. I w-won’t… I won’t disappoint you again," a nine years old me bravely pleaded while controlling my eyes not to get teary in front of my father.

"I am already disappointed with you since you were born and when you killed your mom, Lion," he said, making my heart break.

He left me alone again on the training ground kagaya ng palagi niyang ginagawa kapag pumapalpak ako. I thought I was already used to it. I thought it won’t hurt me anymore if Dad blame me again about Mom’s death.

Is it really my fault?

Mom died when she gave birth to me and while growing up, my Dad keeps telling and reminding me about my mom and how she died because of me. Habang lumalaki ako tumatatak na rin sa isip ko na ako nga ang may kasalanan. Ako nga ang dahilan kung bakit siya namatay.

"Okay ka lang, Lion?"

I immediately wiped my tears using the back of my hands upon hearing Samson’s— my dad’s loyal subordinate, voice.

"Leave me alone, Samson. I can train by myself," I snapped and swung the combat knife in the air.

I heard Samson took a deep breath.

"Hindi ganiyan. Huwag mong masyadong ilalapit sa ’yo ang kutsilyo dahil baka sa halip na kalaban mo ‘yong masugatan eh sarili mo ‘yong masaktan mo," he stated and guide my hand in the right direction.

"I told you! I can do it myself!" pagmamatigas ko at basta-basta na lang binato ang kutsilyo at tumalikod.

"Shit!" I heard him groaned in pain ‘causing me to turned to his direction.

As I saw him, my feet were automatically buried in the ground. I can’t move. I don’t know what to do. Pinapanood ko lang siyang pigilan ang pagtulo ng dugo sa braso niya na hindi ko alam na tinaman pala ng kutsilyong binato ko kanina.

Samson turned to me. He wasn’t looking hurt or something. He even smiled.

"Okay lang ako," sabi niya. "Sa tingin ko ay kailangan mong matuto na huwag makaramdam ng awa, Lion."

My brows furrowed. "What do you mean?"

"Ikaw ang susunod na magiging boss ng organisasyon. Ikaw ang susunod na uupo sa pinakamataas na posisyon. Kapag natuto ka nang makipaglaban at nalaman mo na ang pasikot-sikot at pagpapatakbo ng organisasyong hinahawakan ng iyong ama ay ikaw na ang pupuna sa upuan ng underboss. At kapag naman namatay ang kasalukuyang boss ngayon ay ikaw na ang papalit doon," he explained. "Matuto kang huwag maawa sa mga tao. Killing and torturing are the fundamental concepts of this world. Kapag mayroon kang awa mabilis kang mapapabagsak ng mga kalaban."

"But I don’t want to be like my dad!"

"You won’t. Wala akong sinabing kailangan mong maging kagaya ng daddy mo. Ang gusto ko lang sabihin ay hindi lahat ng tao na kilala mo ay kakampi mo. Hindi rin lahat ng tao ay kakampi sa ’yo. Naiintindihan mo ba ako?" I nodded.

After that day, Samson became my trainer instead of my father. He wasn’t cruel like my dad, but he is strict enough for me to learn from basic to the most hard weapons that we have.

Nang tumungtong ako ng sampung taon. Dominic Velasco— son of my father’s high rank soldier, joined us. Samson trained him just like what he taught me.

Samson was right, indeed. Hindi lahat ng kilala ko ay kakampi ko. Hindi rin lahat ng tao ay kakampi sa akin. All the people inside and out of this organization were not worth trusting. All of them will betray you in the future. Even the closest person you knew.

Just like Samson did to me and... him.

He knew me more than anyone else. He knew how I played with death. He witnessed how I enjoyed killing without mercy. He witnessed everything. But unfortunately, he, himself will experience everything that he taught me before. Sadly, that’s his fate.

"L-Lion maawa ka. Huwag mo akong papatayin nakikiusap ako s-sa ’yo," he begged.

I chuckled to hide the resentment that was forming in my chest. "Are you kidding me, Samson? I don’t have mercy, remember?" I said and smirked. I place my gun underneath his chin and ready my finger on the trigger.

"Speak or d—"

"Lion."

I slowly turn my head in Velasco’s direction upon hearing his voice for the first time since I stepped my foot inside this room. He wasn’t looking at me. He was looking at Samson, who was pleading for me to spare his life.

"What? Are you going to volunteer to kill this bastard?" I asked.

His brow furrowed and said, "No."

"Then, what do you want?!" I snapped.

"Woah. Are you guys fighting?" Zamora butted in.

"Huwag ka ngang epal diyan, Rocco. Hindi ka ba nag-enjoy? Magandang scene ito. Damn."

I glared at Salvatore upon hearing that. Muka ba kaming nagbibiruan dito? Eh kung siya kaya unang barilin ko sa halip na ang Samson na ito?!

"Kapag ba sinabi niya kung sino ang nag-utos sa kaniya para gawin ang bagay na ‘yon, papatayin mo pa rin ba siya?" he asked.

My brow rose, and a chuckle escaped from my mouth. "Why would I tell you about my plans, Velasco?"

Huminga siya ng malalim. "What do you want me to do for you to trust me, Lion?"

I stood and faced him. Kinasa ko ang baril na hawak ko at saka inabot iyon sa kaniya.

"Then, kill him. Kill him in front of m—"

A loud bang from my gun enveloped the whole room matapos mabilis na agawin sa akin ni Velasco ang baril na hawak ko. In just a snap, he pulled the trigger without even blinking.

Velasco shot Samson’s head thrice without a trace of regret in his eyes. "Thanks for giving me an honor to kill this traitor, Lion," he said.

"Tss. Dickhead," I replied, and turned my back to leave the room.

I’m done here.

"Shit! Kung alam ko lang na si Dominic ang babaril sa gung-gong na ‘to eh ‘di sana na-video ko! Shit!" I heard Salvatore rant.

"Bobo ka ba? Gusto mo bang ikaw ang susunod na bitayin diyan ni Lion at ipapatay kay Dominic?!" Zamora talked back.

Hindi ko na lang sila pinagtuunan ng pansin. I shut the door and left the room. Just like what happened earlier, associates bowed their heads as a sign of respect. A respect that I’ve worked hard to gain.

I stopped and opened the white door at the other edge of the hallway. This is our organization's headquarter in this tower, but this isn’t our main headquarter.

Mag-isa akong pumasok sa loob at dumiretso sa mini bar at umupo sa stool na nasa harapan ng counter. I put an ice cube into an old-fashioned glass and poured a rum.

A mellow sensation of an alcohol enveloped every corner of my throat as I gulped the mentioned alcohol. It wasn’t enough. I want more. I took out my cigarette and lit it up using my lighter. A combination of a strong taste of rum and cigarettes made my veins throbbed in contentment.

Damn! I like this feeling.

I closed my eyes. I feel exhausted for an unknown reason. Hindi ko inaasahan ang ginawa kanina ni Velasco. Hindi ko inaasahan na siya mismo ang papatay sa itinuring niya na ring ama.

I took a deep breath. An image of that woman in my mansion occupied my dark vision. And just like her effect on me that night, my cock reacted like a madman.

Fuck! What the hell is happening with me?