2011
"Wala kang kwentang anak! Wala ka ng magandang naidulot sa pamilyang ito kundi puro kamalasan!""Ikaw ang malas! Hindi mo lang matanggap na wala kang kwentang ama kaya you found me as a scapegoat. You're a loser, Adam Walker!"You son of a bitch! You got the balls to disrespect me!""At least I have balls, devil! Unlike you, you don't have the balls to admit that you're a loser, dimwit!"This is where my conversation with my dad always goes. He was blaming me for my mother's death. I know he loves my mom that much, so do I. But is it my fault? My mom took her body to dodge the bullet that was meant for me when I was a kid. I was kidnapped with my twin sister Devon by people I don't know. Until now I couldn't figure out why things went wrong."Dad, Kuya, please stop! Lagi na lang kayong nag-aaway. Wala na bang katahimikan sa bahay na 'to sa tuwing nagtatagpo ang mga landas niyo? Para kayong mga bata," my twin sister said suddenly. Hindi ko namalayang nandoon pala siya. Nakatanghod sa amin sa ibaba.I looked up at the stairs. There, I saw her, tears streaming down her face looking at me and my dad alternately.Muli na namang binaha ng katanungan ang aking isipan nang mapatingin ako kay dad. I can see tenderness in him when he sees Devon on the stairs. He then scurried to reach her but Devon ran back to her room.Am I his son?Ito ang lagi kong naitatanong sa isipan ko kada maalala ko kung paano niya ako tratuhin. Parang hindi isang anak ang turing niya sa akin. He always told me that I am the reason why my mom died. Anong alam ko? Bata pa ako nang mangyari 'yon. Why does it seems that it was my fault? But I am not convinced. There is something deeper I know. But what is it? Parang sasabog ang ulo ko sa pag-iisip.I glared at him bago pumihit patalikod.Aalis para makaiwas sa maaring sagutan na naman naming mag-ama. Binuksan ng isang tauhan ni daddy ang pintuan para sa paglabas ko pero napatigil kaming pareho nang magsalita ito."Accept your grandpa's offer. That way, you can find those people responsible for your mom's demise. And maybe, maging proud na ako sa 'yo."Parang bomba sa pandinig ko ang sinabi ni dad. His voice echoed in my mind. Paulit-ulit na isinisigaw ang lolo ko at ang grupo nito.Grandpa!Kulto!Hindi ako tumugon. Deretso akong lumabas na hindi man lang siya nilingon.Barrel Emporium, MakatiNasa bar counter ako waiting for my cousin Elliot. I called him while on my way here in the bar. Isa ito sa ipinatayo kong business at my young age. I'm nineteen and I have enough funds from my grandpa to build a business of my own at ito ang naisip kong itayo. Ayokong umasa kay daddy at baka idagdag pa niya sa isusumbat niya sa akin. Blaming me for my mom's death is enough.Damn!Until now, I can't forgive him for what he's done to me. Wala na yatang pag-asa na maging maayos ang relasyon naming mag-ama.I clenched my teeth when I thought of what he said. Me? Become a cult leader? Tinungga ko ang nalalabing alak sa hawak kong kopita nang maalala ang sinabi niya. Grandpa doesn't usually talk to us, to me and Devon. His messages always pass through our dad. Kahit ang ipinapadala niyang pera sa amin ay deretso lang sa aming mga bank accounts. I even barely remember what he looks like. I just saw him once. Sa huling sandali ni mommy. Sa araw ng libing niya, sa family mausoleum namin sa probinsya na siya rin ang nagpagawa. Sadyang nauna lamang si mommy sa kanya."Hey, Dax! What's up!"Napalingon ako nang marinig ang boses ng taong hinihintay ko. My cousin Elliot James Hart. Magkapatid sina mommy at tita Erina, Elliot's mom.As usual, kahit masigla ang boses nitong tinawag ako, wala pa ring nabago sa aura nito. The suplado vibe was there. Mas matanda siya sa akin ng ilang taon but we're close."Elliot!"Bumaba ako sa kinauupuan kong bar stool and naglakad pasalubong sa kanya. I mean sa kanila. Napadako ang tingin ko sa lalaking kasunod niya."By the way, Lev, he is my cousin Daxon. Daxon Atlas Walker and Dax, my friend, Lev Petrov."Pagpapakilala ng pinsan ko sa kasama niya. Mas matanda ito sa amin sa tingin ko. He has a grim facial expression which makes him look mysterious. Tumango lang ako sa kanya at ibinaling ang mga tingin sa pinsan ko."Want to have a drink?" alok ko sa kanila."No, thanks! I had someone with me when I met Elliot.""Oh, okay!""I met him here. Pero, I wanted to introduce you to each other kaya nandito siya," sabi ng pinsan ko."Ah, kaya pala!"Tanging sagot ko at akmang tatalikod na para sana dalhin sila sa bakanteng private lounge nang may biglang nagkagulo sa isang table na hindi kalayuan sa amin.My blood boiled when we looked in the direction of the commotion. Eksaktong may lumipad na silya paglingon ko. I didn't waste time and walked swiftly toward the group of people fighting."What is happening here?"My voice amplified the four corners of the bar na ikinalingon ng ibang naroroon. Saglit na tumahimik ang lahat at tila slow motion ang galaw ng kung sinumang siga itong nagwawala sa bar ko."Wala kang pakialam dito!"Pasigaw nitong tugon makalipas ang ilang sandali at inundayan ako ng hampas ng silya pero sinalubong ko ito ng sipa kaya tumilapon ang silya."Hindi mo ba ako kilala?" tanong pa nito sa 'kin."The hell I care who you are. I just want you to get out of here!" wika ko rin sa mataas na boses.Nakita ko sa sulok ng mga mata kong nanonood lang ang pinsan ko at ang kasama nito."Ah, gano'n ha," wika ng lalaking nanggugulo sabay niya akong inundayan ng suntok. Sinalubong ko ito ng sipa kaya nabuway ito at sumadsad patalikod sa katabing mesa. Hindi pa man ito nakahuma ay dinaluhong ko ito at binigyan ng sunud-sunod na suntok sa mukha. Lalaban pa sana ito pero inawat na ito ng mga kasamahan gano'n din ang paghatak ng pinsan ko sa braso ko para pigilin ako sa maari ko pang gawin sa barumabadong 'yon."You are nineteen yet you defeated that guy," wika ng kasama ni Elliot sabay nguso sa papalayong grupo habang inaalalayan ang lalaking nabugbog ko. Medyo may kalakihan din kasi ang katawan ng lalaki kaya sinong mag-aakala na sa edad kong ito ay kaya ko ng mambugbog. Well, kasalanan niya. Teritoryo ko 'to at akin ang batas. Bumalik na rin sa kani-kanilang mesa ang iba na parang walang nangyari.Bahagya lang akong napatingin sa kanya. Tama siya, I am still young at nineteen pero sinong mag-aakala sa bulas ng katawan ko. I stand six foot and 1 inch with well-built muscles na pinaghirapan ko sa pag-eehersisyo sa gym na nasa loob mismo ng townhouse ko."He is the governor's son!"Napatigil ako sa akmang paglakad pabalik sa bar counter nang magsalita si Elliot. Napatingin ako dito at tumugon."So, what? I don't fucking care!"Si Elliot na mas matanda sa akin ng ilang taon pero we're close. I don't call him kuya. Hindi uso sa akin but I respect him that much. He is one of the few people I trust.Tumalikod na ako pabalik sa bar counter and ordered vodka at agad ininom in one gulp. Nakasunod lang din sa akin ang pinsan ko at ang kasama nito."I'll go back to my company," wika ng kaibigan ng pinsan ko. Hindi ako lumingon. I assumed that he was saying that to my cousin."What's the problem that you told me to hurry?" Elliot asks while sitting on the bar stool next to mine. Nakaalis na ang kaibigan niya para bumalik sa mga kasama nito."I had a quarrel with dad," tugon ko."There's nothing new with that. Lagi naman kayong nag-aaway. Suntukan na nga lang ang kulang sa inyo eh.""That's not my point. He told me to accept my grandpa's offer.""What is it?""To take over his position as a leader of his cult," I answered nonchalantly."What?! Cult?!"After meeting Elliot, I came home trying to talk to my twin sister as I know she was upset to witness my argument with our father. She is not home so I chose to stay here in my room before my dad will come out and we will end up in a fracas again. My bed is comfy and invites me to have a rest but my dad's voice is echoing in my mind. I looked up at the ceiling thinking that I can find an answer to my confused mind. I don't know what to decide, whether to listen to my dad or just let it go. When I contacted Elliot for help, he didn't agree with it. What I mean is, he was shocked about the cult. Sino ba naman kasi ang hindi magugulat? Sino ang mag-aakalang gano'n ang trabaho ng lolo ko? I don't know either if it is true or not. Basta narinig ko lang minsang nagtatalo sina mommy at daddy noon bago pa man kami na-kidnap at namatay si mommy. I had a chance then to asked mom but she told me to shut my mouth that is why no one knows, even Devon and only this time that I told my cousin about
A few months later. 'Sanctuario De Atlas' Napangisi ako nang mabasa ko ang nakaukit na mga letra sa itaas ng bakal na gate. Pangalan ko talaga? I scoffed as I saw that brazen iron gate open, creating a clangor that irritates my ear as the car window from the driver's side is slightly opened. Grandpa sent some of his men to pick me up at the airport. Ayaw ko sana but he insisted. Yes! I'm now in France. I decided to come to see him. I wanted to know right from him what my dad had told me. Curiosity as well pushed me to decide. Tita Erina tried to stop me, even Elliot but I didn't listen. Coming here will end my desire and stop prying for something that I know I could stop. Nang tuluyang bumukas ang gate ay mas lalo akong namangha sa laki ng bahay ng lolo ko. Anyway, hindi lang siya basta bahay, it looks like a fortress built in the middle of an open. As the car goes closer to the fortress or whatever it is called as it doesn't look like just a house, I roamed my stares outside of th
"Can you elaborate on what are you talking about. . .Grandpa?" nang-uuyam na tanong ko kay lolo. Pagkalabas ko ng banyo ay agad niya akong kinausap. Ni hindi ako inayang kumain man lang muna sa halip ay alak ang inihanda para sa akin kaya lalong uminit ang ulo ko sa mga sinasabi niyang hindi ko maintindihan. Ni damit ay wala akong pagpilian dahil nakahanda na agad ito sa aking paglabas. Ayon dito ay ipinahanda niya ito sa kanyang mga tauhan. Napaismid ako. "Look! This room is creepy. I can't live in this dark room with giant candles lit up, draperies that are dancing with the breeze- "Atlas- "Daxon!" putol ko sa kanyang pagsasalita, "my friends and people in the Philippines are calling me Daxon or Dax whatever, just don't call me Atlas. I'm not a book!" inis ko pang wika. Grandpa scoffs. "Mana ka talaga sa akin."Tumungga ito ng alak mula sa kanyang kopita at saka muli akong tiningnan nang matiim. "I'm not! Hindi ako magiging lider nitong kulto mo!" mariin kong wika. Halos mabas
Muli akong namangha sa ayos ng santuwaryo ni lolo. Even the hallway displayed a grandeur design. It's so good to walk on it's carpeted floor. The paintings from several famous artists were displayed on the wall. Napapaisip tuloy ako kung gaano ba kayaman ang lolo ko pero napaismid din nang maisip ko kung anong grupo mayroon siya. Baka pangungutong lang sa mga miyembro ang pinagmulan niya. Kung tama ang iniisip ko maaring ang perang ibinigay niya na ginamit ko para ipatayo ang resto bar ay baka doon din nanggaling. Kung totoo man ang hinala ko, isasara ko iyon pag-uwi. We arrived at the huge dining area. There is a long table in the middle na sa tingin ko ay mahigit sampu ang makakaupo dahil sa dami ng upuang nakapaligid dito. Grandpa is waiting like a king sitting powerfully on his throne. I sneered. Looking at him made me only think of his cult, whatever his group is."Come, sit on that chair, Atlas," he called me, gesturing to sit on the seat at the other end of the table facing
With my hands in my pockets, I am standing firmly, looking at the vast field of vines from where I stand. We are at the terrace of Atlas Sanctuary facing the grape farm. The breeze is soothing and warm which gives me calmness, ready to hear what my grandpa is going to tell me. "I want you to be my successor, Atlas."I scoff and turned abruptly toward Grandpa who is standing just a couple of meters away from me. The same as me, his hand in his pockets, one holding his walking stick, and facing the fields. I'm not surprised anymore as I expected him to tell me to be the leader of the group. "Lo, look! That is your cult, not mine! Why should I lead them?" agad na kontra ko sa sinabi ni lolo. "As I said, it's not a cult!" Mabilis na tanggi ulit ni lolo. "I created this group for you. I promised that this is for my first grandson." "Doing all activities, illegally? Grandpa, I may be tenacious at times but I didn't see myself leading a group that will go against the law," I answered co
I'm here on the balcony of my room. Looking at the stunning picturesque of the vineyard as the sun is about to set. The hue of yellowish-red is scattered efficiently adding a more dense atmosphere as the evening is approaching. I gently rubbed my arm when I felt the cold breeze touch my skin. I took a deep breath and let out a deep sigh while thinking of the decision I came up with after talking to my cousin Elliot. He has a point though, if I accept my grandpa's offer to be the successor of his group, I will gain the power I need to avenge my Mom's death. But how and where would I start? I don't even know these people aside from my grandpa.Marahas akong muling bumuntonghininga dahil para akong naghahanap ng karayom sa dayamihan. Hindi matumbok ng aking utak kung saan mag-uumpisa ng aking mga plano. "A penny of your thoughts, apo?" I swiftly turned toward where I heard Grandpa's voice come from. He is standing by my bed, seriously staring at me. "You didn't even notice I came in.
"Kaito!"Out of my unfathomable anger and frustration, my voice boomed and reverberated all over the place when I called his name.He stopped and gently stood while calmly meeting my intense gaze like he didn't care what angered me. "Is there any problem, Monsieur Atlas?" he asked and smiled thinly. Lalong uminit ang ulo ko nang ngumiti siya. Kulang na lang ang bumuga ako ng apoy na parang dragon sa sobrang inis sa kanya. "Will you stop smiling and tell me directly what we're going to do here?" I asked impatiently. I don't care if he is older than me. I am extremely mad at him for ignoring my query. "Meditation," he answered, shortly. "For what?" angil ko sa kanya. "To help you contemplate and will be able to come up with a right decision. You know what I'm talking about, right?" "I'm not dumb not to understand. What I don't understand is that I've been asking you a couple of times but you didn't answer me directly. Is this part of the rules here?" "Watashi no warui, musshuato
"Atlas!"I was heading to my room when someone called me. I halted in the middle of the hallway, took a deep breath, and put on a stoic expression before I turned around to face him. It was Grandpa. I don't know what he wants again. I stood there. Didn't bother to welcome or greet him. I just waited for him as he walked sluggishly closer to my spot. "When are you leaving?" he asked as he continued walking. His voice is low but echoing in the hallway. I am not surprised if he found out about it. I know it was Ichiro who told him. I didn't ask his permission to go home because I knew, he would just do everything to change my mind. "So, you already know?" I scoff.He chuckled. His hand is busy with his stick drawing an invisible line on the carpeted floor while looking down at it. "Do you think, there is some secret that won't be able to reach my knowledge?" He lifted his head and looked at me. I met his gaze confidently and intensely. Ever since I have been here. I didn't get inti