CHAPTER THREE

Tres

"YOU'RE BROTHER IS CURRENTLY THERE, IN THE PHILIPPINES." Her tracker informed her as she picked up her phone.

She sighed heavily as she sat on the sofa. Exhaustion is visible to her face.

"I know, baby. I know. I just saw him earlier," sabi niya sa walang buhay na boses.

"Oh? You should be happy then, you finally saw your brother." He pointed out.

She shook her head and massage her forehead as she remembers what happened earlier in the mall.

"He ran away from me, baby." She confessed and ended the call without bidding goodbye.

She throws her cellphone to her side and looks at the ceiling. The image of her brother running away from her—like he doesn't want to see her—popped into her mind.

Mabilis ang galaw ng kapatid niya, she can't even cope up with his speed. In just a blink of an eye, he suddenly disappeared like a lightning strike. She even went up to the CCTV station to see where did her brother go, but unluckily, she didn't see him going in and out of the mall.

She felt hopeless, seeing her brother run away like that. Ito lang  kasi ang karamay niya mula nang mamatay ang ina niya. Her mother's death was all hers, it's her fault. And only her brother was there, consoling and comforting her. The one who saw the worst of her. The one who saw the weak and vulnerable side of her. And he just ran away from her.

Why do the people I cherish the most are leaving me behind?

Napatingala nalang siya kisame nang maramdamang nangingilid na ang mga luha niya. Thankfully, it's dark inside, there's no people around. No one will see the weak side of her, the vulnerable side of her that she is hiding a long time ago.

Mariin niyang ipinikit ang mga mata nang maramdamang tumutulo na naman ang kanyang mga luha. She maybe looks emotionless outside, but she's truly weak and vulnerable inside. And the only person who can see her weak side is her brother, who has just run away from her, making her heart clench. Why did he run away from me like he doesn't want to see me?

"Kuya..." she mumbled as she opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling for minutes.

Minutes later, she heard footsteps from the outside. She immediately wiped her tears off and stood up. Naalerto siya kaya naman ay walang ingay siyang naglakad papunta sa isang sulok at dahan-dahang kinuha ang maliit na kusilyo na nakatago sa boots niya. Nagtago siya sa isang sulok  na paniguradong hindi siya makikita ng kung sinuman ang papasok.

Even though it is dark inside the mansion, she can still manage to see the surroundings clearly. Her eyes were trained to see in the dark.

Tiningnan niya kung paano dahan-dahang bumukas ang pinto at nakahanda na para atakehin ito nang makita niya ang pamilyar na bulto nito. It's Nikolaus. By the way he smells and his figure, she can tell that it is Nikolaus.

Mabilis niyang inilagay ang hawak niyang kutsilyo sa bulsa ng denim niya at naglakad ng walang ingay pabalik sa sofa saka naupo. And that's when Nikolaus turn on the switch.

"Holy motherfuck— Lilith?" Gulat nitong sambit kaya nilingon niya ito. Her lonely eyes met his wide shock ones. Kaagad siyang nag-iwas ng tingin nang maramdamang nanunubig na naman ang kanyang mga mata.

"W-Welcome home, Niko." She said, trying to make her voice straight even though it sounds out trembling. Hindi nito ito tiningnan at nagmamadaling nagtungo sa guest room.

Pasalampak siyang humiga sa kama at isinubsob ang mukha sa unan. She cried all her emotions on the pillow. All the pain she's been carrying all these years, the loneliness she have been feeling ever since her mother left, the guilt she was bearing, and the dark who is slowly swallowing her again, pulling her back to the darkness. Iniyak niya lahat hanggang sa naramdaman niyang namanhid na ang puso niya, doon siya tumayo at tiningnan ang sarili sa salamin.

Gone with the pain and loneliness in her eyes, it was replaced by the coldness in and emotionless one. She's back again to the numb and cold Lilith Riva-Cortez.

Pinahid niya ang luha sa kanyang magkabilang pisngi at walang emosyon ang mukha na lumabas sa guest room. Kaagad na sumalubong sa kanya si Nikolaus pagkabukas niya sa pinto, mukhang hinihintay siya nito. Her eyes are still cold and emotionless, as she stares at him.

"Are you okay?" He asked, she can sense the worries in his voice.

She nodded and was about to walk away from him when she heard him ask again.

"You're not okay, I can see it in your eyes." Sabi nito kaya marahan niya itong tinitigan.

She makes sure that there is no emotion visible in her eyes, only the coldness is on it. But how can Nikolaus know about it? Maybe he was just guessing it.

"You cried, you're hurt, you're in pain." Obserba nito sa kanya habang tinitingnan ang mukha niya pero hindi siya umimik. "Alam kong nahihirapan ka, and I can see it in your eyes that you can't speak and open up about it." Pagpapatuloy nito pero nanatili siyang walang imik habang tinitingnan ang lalaking nasa harapan niya.

She's afraid that she might break down if she opens her mouth to talk. Ayaw niyang may makakita na mahina siya. She can't let anyone see how vulnerable she is.

Nikolaus sighed and smiled warmly at her making her heart pound quickly. He took a step closer to her and spread his arms, welcoming her a warm hug.

"I'm here, Lilith. I'm here," he said as he hugged her tightly. She was still shocked at what he did.

She's trying her best to fight her emotions, she's battling her own emotions, not to burst out but when Nikolaus started rubbing her back gently, a soft sob escaped into her mouth, and hug him back.

I'm weak. Still am.

NIKOLAUS did everything to make Lilith feel better. She's in pain, he can see and feel it. When she cried earlier, alam niyang nahihirapan na ito.

Sa likod ng walang emosyon nitong mukha ay ang samo't-saring emosyon na nakatago sa likod nun. And he felt bad for her, he thought that she was a sarcastic and cold woman, but it turns out that she was a lonely and sad one. She needs someone to lean on. Someone to depend on. And he's hoping that someone is him.

He cooked different foods that she might like. He asked her if she wants something to eat or drink but she just gave him a forced smile. Alam niyang ayaw nitong magsalita and he understands her. It must've been so painful for her to talk about it.

All he has to do is to wait for her to open up herself to him.

After one hour of cooking kalderita, adobong manok, and rice, Nikolaus immediately prepared the table for them to eat. Nang matapos niyang lagyan ng kutsara at tinidor ang dalawang plato ay nagtungo ulit siya sa kusina at gumawa ng orange juice.

When the looks satisfied his eyes, he went to the sala where Lilith is at.

Naabutan niya itong may kausap sa telepono kaya hindi muna niya ito nilapitan.

"—I need you here in two days, baby. Don't make me wait... No, shut up. Be here or I'll drag you here. You choose, baby." She paused. "Good decision." Then, she hung up without saying goodbye to the one she is talking to.

Nagtagis ang bagang niya habang matalim na tinitingnan si Lilith mula sa likuran. Baby, huh? Is she having an affair with someone else?

"I know you're at my back, Nikolaus. Show off," she said without even looking at him.

He sighed as he walked toward her, still clenching his jaw.

Inosenteng tingala siya ni Lilith nang makarating siya sa harapan nito.

"What's with that look? Anyways, tapos ka nang magluto?" She asked.

"Who's baby?" Tanong niya imbes na sagutin ang katanungan nito. He narrowed his eyes on her. "Are you having an affair, Lilith?" He can hear the lividness in his own voice. 

He cleared his throat, trying to sound and act cool. But hell! He can't. Hindi niya maintindihan ang sarili kung bakit ganoon nalang ang inakto niya. Hindi naman siya gano'n dati. Ngayon lang.

"Well?" Pagpukaw niya sa diwa ni Lilith na nakatitig lang sa kanya. It's like she's reading him, studying his emotions and expressions.

"You want the truth?" She asked making him nervous. 

He's eager to know the truth so he automatically nodded. 

Lilith took a deep breath before standing up, facing him. Tinitigan siya nito ng mata sa mata, he can see her sapphire eyes, showing the real emotions on it.

Napakalapit nito sa kanya, just two inches away from each other, making his heart hitched. Damn, what's wrong with my heart?

"I am in control of the wide and private organization and the one I am talking to is my tracker--"

"And he's your baby?" He interjected, sarcasm is in his voice.

Lilith rolled her eyes at him and tapped his cheeks lightly. "It's his code name, don't be jealous--"

Pinanlakihan niya ng mata si Lilith. "I am not jealous!" 

Lilith chuckled a genuine one. Natulala siya bigla sa ginawa nito, she looks so radiant when smiling. And it's making his heart thumps like crazy. 

"Don't worry, Niko. I am only yours. I'm your wife, remember?" She said, reassuring. She even shows him her hand, with the wedding ring on her ring finger. 

Tinitigan lang niya ito ng ilang minuto. Still in dazed of what's up to her. Parang kanina lang ay umiiyak ito ng puno ng sakit at pangungulila, and now, she's chuckling and look like okay. He can see that she is not pretending anymore. It's genuine.

"Come on, Niko! Let's eat." Napakurap-kurap siya nang bigla siyang hilain ni Lilith papunta sa dining area, nagpaubaya naman siya. 

He and she then, eat their food and he's happy that Lilith likes it. She's even grinning from ear to ear while trying different dishes at one time. And it makes his heart flatters. His wife is happy now. And he wants to make that happiness of hers for a lifetime, he's willing to do everything just to see the smile on Lilith's face. 

She doesn't deserve the sadness and loneliness in the world, she deserves the happiness and contentment in all. At ngayong mag-asawa na sila, he will give that to her. Because my wife deserves everything.