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 it because I need someone to help me about it.Fuck!I cussed silently and got up abruptly nang maalala ang pangyayari. The day mom dodged the bullet that was meant for me na naging dahilan why she perished.Marahas kong naisuklay ang aking mga daliri sa malago kong buhok. Parang sasabog ang ulo ko sa iisiping magiging lider ako ng isang kulto. I can't imagine myself wearing a black robe and being worshiped by people who belong to the cult. This is what I imagined na magiging hitsura ko kapag tinanggap ko ang sinasabing alok ni lolo.Tumayo ako at pahaklit na kinuha ang aking jacket sa silyang kaharap ng may katamtamang laki ng study table at naglakad papuntang pintuan. Balak kong umalis na lang at uuwi sa sarili kong bahay pero hindi pa ako nakailang hakbang ay nakarinig ako ng komosyon mula sa ibaba. Mabilis akong lumabas at sumalubong sa akin ang pamilyar na boses."Adam, lumabas ka riyan. Harapin mo ako. Huwag na huwag mong gagamitin ang pamangkin ko sa pansarili mong kapakanan."It is Tita Erina, Elliot's mom. I guess, my cousin told her about what I've told him earlier. Galit ito sa uri at tono ng boses nito. I gritted my teeth as my blood surge to my head. Sinabi ko na sa kanya na it was a secret but then why Tita Erina seems to know about it?"Hi, Tita Erina, is there any problem?" I asked. Thinking that it might be a different issue but if my guess is right, lagot sa akin ang Elliot na 'yon. I don't fucking care if he is older than me."Where is Adam?""I'm here!"Before I could answer tita Erina, my dad's voice amplified the four corners of our living room. I turned around and saw him standing at the top of the stairs looking seriously directly at Tita Erina."Can I talk to you, Adam? I heard something about your son and it's alarming for me," Tita Erina said. Her eyes fixated to my Dad. Looking at him like she wanted to swallow him alive. I stepped back, planning to leave but Tita Erina called me, made me stop from going."Stay! I need to talk to you as well," she said.Tahimik akong humarap sa kanya habang hinihintay naming makarating si dad na kasalukuyang pababa ng hagdan."What is it all about Erina? We can talk about it in the library," kalmadong wika ni dad. Kunwari wala pa itong alam pero sa uri ng sulyap niya sa akin na puno ng pagdududa alam kong nakuha na niya ang gustong malaman ni tita."Daxon, don't ever leave. I'll talk to you after I'm done with your father," matigas na bilin ni tita bago ito sumunod kay daddy na tumalikod patungo sa aming mini library.Hinintay kong mawala sila sa paningin ko bago nagmamadaling lumabas. Kailangan kong puntahan ang pinsan ko at komprontahin kung bakit nalaman ni Tita Erina ang sinabi ko sa kanya. Wala na akong pakialam kung magagalit si tita sa hindi ko pagsunod sa bilin niya, magtutuos muna kami ng pinsan ko.Agad kong pinaharurot ang motorsiklo ko papunta sa bahay nila nang makalabas ng bahay. Parang gusto kong paliparin ang motorsiklo sa sobrang pagngingitngit kay Elliot. Ilang minuto lang ay narating ko ang bahay ng mga Hart. Dali-dali akong bumaba ng motorsiklo at tinungo ang kanilang pintuan pero sinalubong ako ni Sabino."Where is my cousin?" malakas ang boses kong tanong sa kanya.Sabino is my cousin's crony. Parang buntot niya ito na kahit saan siya pupunta ay nandoon ito. Kulang na lang ay magkapalit sila ng mukha dahil laging magkadikit ang mga ito. Halos magkamukha na nga sila dahil lagi silang magkasama. Even their mannerisms have similarities or baka ako lang ang nakakakita no'n."In his room," maikling tugon sa akin ni Sabino.Hindi na ako muling nagsalita at mabilis na pumasok sa loob. Pagdating sa sala ay agad kong tinumbok ang kanyang kuwarto. Habang inaakyat ang hagdan ay tinatawag ko ang kanyang pangalan."Elliot! Where are you?""Elliot!"Lalo ko pang nilakasan ang boses ko at hindi pa man ako nakarating sa harap ng kanyang silid ay lumabas itong ang tanging suot ay boxers at white t-shirt. Mukhang kakaligo lang ng loko at may lakad."Why the hell are you shouting at this hour, Dax?" Aba't may gana pang magtanong kung bakit. Tumaas-baba ang dibdib ko sa bumalong galit ko. My nose flared in anger and I breathe heavily making my chest go up and down as I quickly strided toward him."May gana ka pang magtanong!" I said as I arrived in front of him and throw him a punch on his face. Sapol ang bibig nito dahil hindi niya napaghandaan ang sumunod kong ginawa."What the fuck! Are you insane?!" sigaw na tanong niya sa 'kin sabay punas ng daliri sa gilid ng kanyang bibig at nang nakitang may dugo ay salubong ang kilay na humarap siya sa 'kin at ginantihan ako ng suntok. Nagpambuno kaming dalawa habang nagpapalitan ng salita."Why does Tita Erina found out what I've told you?" pasigaw kong tanong habang sugod ako ng sugod sa kanya. Panay naman ang salag niya sa bawat suntok ko. I know that he doesn't like to fight with me but on the verge of anger, I can't control myself from attacking him."Because she needs to—"Hindi na niya naituloy pa ang kanyang sasabihin nang muli ko siyang inatake ng suntok. Napaigik ito pero nagngangalit ang bagang at nag-aapoy ang mga mata sa galit na sinugod ako at binigyan ng mala-Pacquaio na uppercut. Tila nakita ko ang buong galaxy nang tumama ang kanyang kamao sa aking mukha na nagpasadsad sa akin sa gilid ng balusters. Umabot na kami sa landing sa malapit sa hagdanan pababa sa kanilang sala."Fuck!" I cussed nang naramdaman kong tumama ang likod ko sa bakal na siyang materyales ng baluster."Shit!"Sinikap kong tumayo mula sa pagkakasadsad sa gilid but I wobbled as my vision became blurry because of that—"Aaah. . ."I screamed as my jaw is aching. Tumabingi yata ang gwapo kong mukha dahil sa kamao ng pinsan ko. I have well-toned muscles but he has bigger frame compared to mine made him stronger than me."Come! Get up!" wika nito. Kahit malabo ang paningin ko dahil na rin sa dugong nangingilid sa mga mata ko ay nakita kong inilahad niya ang kanyang kamay para tulungan akong tumayo."Why did you punch me that hard?" naitanong ko. Inabot ko ang kanyang kamay at sinikap na tumayo."To calm you down," seryoso nitong tugon at inalalayan ako papasok ng kanyang kwarto."I didn't know that uppercut is a medicine," biro ko habang hawak ang aking tiyan na nalamog yata sa pakikipambuno sa aking pinsan."Nagawa mo pang magbiro," wika ng pinsan ko sabay bagsak sa akin sa sofa sa loob ng kanyang kwarto. Gusto pa yatang baliin ang tadyang ko sa lakas ng pagbagsak niya sa 'kin."Sabino, can you take the medicines here in my room? Tell the helper as well to bring a basin of hot water at babanlian ko itong siraulo kong pinsan," narinig kong wika nito sa telepono. Halos lumipad ang mga mata kong nanlilisik sa kanya."Ikaw itong siraulo. Bakit mo sinabi kay tita ang tungkol sa sinabi ni dad?" singhal ko sa kanya sabay bato ng unan sa kanya na nasa tabi ko.Napangisi lang ito at umupo sa katapat na sofa. Matiim siyang tumitig sa akin."Mom promised on your mom's grave to take care of you and Devon kaya I wasn't able to take hold of our secret. I am worried about you. You're still young Dax. If it's true that your grandpa is a cult leader, how can you handle it? I mean, I don't believe about cult but it seems real. Paano kung may kulto nga ang lolo mo? Mom, wanted to protect you," mahabang salaysay ng pinsan ko.Saglit akong natahimik. Bahagyang napayuko at nililimi ang kanyang mga sinabi. Tama siya, Tita Erina became protective to me and Devon since nawala si mommy. Inis din kasi siya kay dad for being neglectful. Hindi na nito nagagampanan ng maayos ang kanyang responsibilidad sa amin. Dagdag pa ang palagian naming away na hindi rin lingid kay Tita Erina kaya naiinis din ito kay dad."I'm not decided yet but I am planning to see grandpa. I wanted—""Elliot, heto na ang mga hinihingi mo," wika ni Sabino na papasok sa bukas na pintuan ng kwarto. Kasunod nito ang isang katulong na may bitbit na maliit na palanggana na kung hindi ako nagkakamali ay mainit na tubig ang laman."Put that on here," tugon ng pinsan ko na iminuwestra ang mesa sa harapan namin.Pagkalapag nito ay pinalabas na siya ni Elliot at inihabilinan tungkol kay tita kapag umuwi."Pwede ka ng lumabas Sabino. Kapag dumating si mommy, pakisabing dito kami sa kwarto ko," wika ng pinsan ko kay Sabino na ikinatango nito at pumihit na palabas."Ayan! Clean that blood on your face," wika ng pinsan ko pagkatapos ibato sa akin ang bimpo.Pinandilatan ko siya ng mata at mabilis na dinampot ang bimpo at binato pabalik sa kanya."It's because of you that my face is ruined," ganting wika ko sa kanya.Napangisi ito. "Oh, who came here and attacked me suddenly?"He picked up the towel and dipped it in the basin with water then wring it and came to me. He was about to wipe my face when I turned away."Ano ba? Ako na!" wika ko."Let me do it. Mukhang malala rin ang tama ng braso mo, mapagod ka lalo," he said while painting a frolicking smile on his face.Pero tama siya, ramdam ko ang pagod at pananakit ng katawan sa pakikipagbuno sa kanya kaya hinayaan ko na lamang na siya ang maglinis ng mukha ko."Are you still mad at me?" tanong niya.I took a deep sighed before I respond to him."Not anymore," tugon ko. Totoo naman pagkatapos kong makipagbuno sa kanya humupa na rin ang inis at galit ko sa kanya. Ito nga lang ang resulta, puro kami pasa."So, what is your plan?""Fly to France to see grandpa," I answered seriously. "Ouch!"Napaaray ako dahil sa pagdampi niya ng cotton na may alcohol sa sugat ko sa gilid ng labi at ganoon din sa kilay. Tinapunan ko siya ng masakit na tingin. Napapailing na lamang ito sa uri ng tinging ipinukol ko sa kanya."You're too young and immature. Don't be too impulsive with your decisions. Lahat ng bagay dapat pinag-iisipan," wika pa nito at nagsimula na ring gamutin ang sariling mga pasa.Makalipas ang ilang sandali ay natapos na rin kami sa gamutan sa kanyang kwarto. Inaya niya akong bumaba para uminom. The heck! After what happened iinom kami na parang walang nangyari. Ganito kaming magpinsan. It is not only today that happened na nakipagsuntukan ako sa kanya. It happened several times since we enter our adolescent days but after that kami lang din kapwa gumagamot sa isa't isa.Kasalukuyan kaming nasa mini bar dito sa baba kanugnog ng kusina at may kanya-kanyang hawak na ice pack nang dumating si Tita Erina."At anong kalokohan na naman ang ginawa niyong dalawa?" agad nitong tanong pagkatapos nilapag ang bag sa isang silya na naroroon. Seryoso ang mukha nito at ang mga mata ay matiim na nakatingin sa 'kin.'Patay!' tahimik kong usal sa sarili nang salitan niya kaming tingnan ng matalim habang palapit."Aray! Mom, naman bakit ka nambabatok?"Angal ni Elliot nang pareho kaming nakatikim ng batok mula kay tita. Hindi na ako nagreklamo dahil alam kong may mali ako. Napakamot na lamang ako sa aking batok kung saan tumama ang mga palad ni tita."Nagtatanong ka pa!" singhal ni tita. "Ang tatanda niyo na pero nakuha niyo pang magbugbugan at ano? Ginamot niyo na naman ang isa't isa?"Nagtitigan kaming magpinsan at nginisihan ang isa't isa pagkarinig sa mga sinabi ni tita. Alam na alam nito ang kalokohan naming dalawa. Ang ngisi ay nauwi sa halakhak kaya nakatikim ulit kami ng batok mula sa kanya.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
"Do I have to say it again?" Ichiro said in sarcasm with his brow raised to tease me. "Don't tell me you're going to go with me to the Philippines?" "Why not? Wouldn't you like me to go with you?" he asked in return. "Just imagine, in this building, there are people who are secretly unhappy because of your arrival. What if they were the people that your grandpa happened to choose to accompany you to go back home? Do you think you will be safe?" Hindi ako nakaimik. Ichiro has a point. I don't fully trust him but been with him during training and I can say that he is loyal to my grandpa. He can't betray him easily by hurting me in case. Besides, he is not interested in leading the group so he was surely not going to kill me to remove me as Grandpa's successor. "How can I be so sure that I'll be safe with you?" Ichiro laughed maniacally. Para itong baliw na basta na lang tumawa kahit hindi naman nakakatawa ang tanong ko. "It's not funny, Ichiro! I'm asking you seriously because I d