Prologue

Prologue

"REMEMBER, Emeraudo. Nobody must be able to reach the most vulnerable part of your body." His mother held his hand tightly while her eyes are staring blankly at his. "A person's heart is a traitor. You must learn to deceive it. Do not let it control your thoughts. Do not let it overrule you."

Nilunok ni Emeraudo ang namuong bara sa kanyang lalamunan. Gustong pumatak ng kanyang mga luha, ngunit malinaw na nakaukit sa mukha ng kanyang ina ang pagtutol.

"Push your tears back, Emeraudo. You are never allowed to shed a tear. What are you?"

"The Deceiver." Mababa ang tinig niyang tugon. 

Gumuhit ang ngiti sa mga labi nito. Matipid ngunit totoo. Parang sinuntok ang kanyang dibdib. It was the first time he saw that expression in his mother's face, as if it's the only genuine expression she was able to show him in the entire time they were together.

Hinagod nito ng palad ang kanyang braso paakyat sa kanyang leeg. Her touch is so careful as if she is so afraid to hurt his boy, but her eyes shouted nothing but warning. Nanuyo ang kanyang lalamunan at ang kanyang mga mata ay dumilim. This is the best he could get from her as a mother. Hindi siya dapat maghangad ng huling yakap o maski simpleng halik sa pisngi.

He is, after all, never made to be loved. He was born for a mission. To be the deceiver his father will never expect. The catastrophe that will soon end his own dad's evilness.

Nilabanan niya ang kaba dahil madarama ng kanyang ina ang pagbilis ng kanyang puso at hindi iyon maaari. He must learn to be the ruler of his heart and mind. He must be the one in command at all cost, no matter how much he hates it.

Inigting niya ang kanyang panga nang magsimulang bumaon ang mga kuko ng ina sa kanyang leeg. Masakit at nasusugat ang kanyang balat ngunit wala siyang mabakas na pagdadalawang isip sa mga mata ng kanyang ina.

She had mastered the art of deception, of covering her real emotions. That's what she wants him to learn in able to succeed.

"Does it hurt, my boy?" Malamig nitong tanong.

He fought his emotions. "N—No."

Dumilim ang mga mata ng kanyang ina. "I can feel the lie. Again."

He breathed in deeply, letting the air calm his heart. Ang mga mata niya ay unti-unting naging mapanuya.

"Is that all you got, whore?"

Kumurba ang mga labi ng kanyang ina, malawak at tila nagbabadya ng delubyo. Delubyong siya mismo ang magdadala.

Dumiin lalo ang mga kuko sa kanyang leeg hanggang sa madama na niyang nasusugat ang kanyang balat. Hindi siya nanlaban kahit pa halos hindi na makapasok nang maayos ang hangin sa kanyang lalamunan. Nanatiling nakatitig ang kanyang mga mata sa kanyang ina, kinakabisado ang mukha nito dahil alam niya, ito ang huling beses na masisilayan niya ito.

He felt the tug in his heart but he shooed it away immediately. Pinaalala niya sa kanyang sarili ang lahat ng kanyang pinagdaanan para sa araw na ito.

Now this is the beginning of his final stage. The last step before he delivers his mother to his evil daddy...lifeless.

She pressed his hand that's holding the gun, gently and in a motherly way. "Tell your last words to Mama, mi hijo."

Emeraudo gathered all his strength to keep his facade. Pinapatay siya ng lungkot, ngunit sinigurado niyang hindi iyon aabot sa kanyang mga mata.

All his emotions must never reach the window to his soul or else he'll lose his battles...

He lifted the gun and pointed it at his mother's forehead. Kumurba ang sulok ng kanyang mga labi kasabay ng paglapat niya ng nguso ng baril sa noo ng sariling ina. Ang inang hinulma siya para sa araw na ito.

Sa isip ay binubulong niya ang paalam sa ina, habang ang kanyang mga mata ay tuluyang naging malamig ang ekspresyon.

He breathed in deeply and whispered his I love you's to his mother as he removed the gun's safety pin, and as he held the trigger, he said his last words.

"I never asked for your presence...mother."

TAHIMIK na nakikinig ng kanta sa kanyang ipod si Stelle nang pumasok ng kanyang silid ang kanyang ama. Nadama niya ang paglapit nito sa kanyang study table at bang marating siya ay agad hinagod ng palad ang kanyang buhok. 

She removed her earphones and lifted her head. Nilapag ng kanyang ama ang baso ng gatas sa tabi ng kanyang libro bago nito niyuko ang ulo upang patakan ng halik ang kanyang noo.

"Still struggling with the equations?" He asked.

Stelle nodded. "But I'm kinda getting the hang of it already, Daddy."

"Good. Anyway, your mom and I will leave in thirty minutes for the gathering. Are you sure you'll be fine?"

"Yes. I'm twelve, Dad." She giggled, her blue eyes glared at her father. "Take your thickest jacket, old man. The snow is too heavy."

Tumaas ang kilay ng kanyang ama ngunit ang sulok ng mg labi ay hindi naiwasang umangat. "And who are you calling old man? Don't you know how—"

Naputol ang sinasabi ng kanyang ama nang makarinig ng pagkabasag ng vase. Nanggaling ang ingay sa kanilang sala. Nang tignan ni Stelle ang ama, napansin niya agad ang pagbabago ng ekspresyong nakaguhit sa mukha nito.

Para bang bigla itong ginapangan ng takot at ang mukha ay namutla. Hindi tuloy naiwasang kabahan ni Stelle. Bakit natatakot ang kanyang ama?

Did they have an uninvited guest? Madalas ay ganoon ang reaksyong nakikita niya kapag may mga lalakeng dumarating na halatang hindi naman inimbita.

"Daddy?"

Her father squeezed her shoulder. Mas naging matindi ang takot sa itsura nito nang may marinig na naman silang bumagsak na bagay.

"Uh, honey can you do me a favor?"

Napalunok si Stelle nang hatakin siya patayo ng kanyang ama. Pati siya ay tumitindi na rin ang kaba dahil sa nakikitang itsura nito. She can feel it. Something bad is happening and seems like his dad already knew who are paying their house a visit.

Nakadidinig sila ng mga yapak at mga boses ng lalake. Hindi naiintindihan ni Stelle ang mga sinasabi. All she could hear are murmurs but it was enough to bring shivers down her spine.

"Dad—"

Mabilis na tinakpan ng kanyang ama ang kanyang bibig saka siya hinatak patungo sa kanyang closet. Pinapwesto siya sa pagitan ng mga damit at tila tinatago kaya lalong nabalot ng pagtataka at matinding takot ang kanyang sistema.

"Listen to me," he whispered with conviction. "don't go out unless I'm the one who called you. Do you understand?"

"But—"

"No buts, Stelle." He covered her with the hanged clothes. "Don't go out unless I say so."

Nangatog ang kanyang tuhod sa takot nang isara na nang tuluyan ng kanyang ama ang closet. Sa maliliit na butas ay natanaw niya ang paglabas nito.

She bit her lower lip and tried to listen. The murmurs became louder, until she heard them started shouting at each other. Boses ng lalake ang sinisigawan pabalik ng kanyang ama, ngunit wala siyang naiintindihan ni isa sa mga salitang binibitiwan ng mga ito. She cannot even recognize the language they are using and it's frustrating her. Hindi niya masabi kung ano ba ang totoong nangyari.

Naging mas magulo. May mga bagay na nabasag at tila sinadyang sirain. May mga gamit na tumatama sa pader ang ilan ay tila pinaghahampas.

The chaos coming outside of her room gone worse. Mayamaya'y nakaamoy siya ng tila nasusunog. Pumapalahaw ang kanyang ama at ina sa sakit, kaya ang puso ni Stelle, halos nais nang tumalon palabas sa sobrang lakas ng tibok.

She felt the urge to finally go out, but the footsteps approaching her room stopped her from moving a muscle. Gumapang ang matinding takot sa kanyang puso nang bumukas ang pinto, at ang mga yabag, tuluyang pumasok sa kanyang silid.

She held her breath and covered her hands to her lips. Tears began to trail down her cheeks and all she could do is try her best not to sob.

Ang mga yapak ay napunta sa tapat ng kanyang study table. Sinubukan niyang sumilip sa maliliit na siwang ngunit napasinghap siya nang humarap sa direksyon ng closet ang katawan ng lalake.

Nanlaki ang kanyang mga mata at nangatog ang kanyang mga tuhod sa sobrang takot nang buksan ng lalake ang pinto ng closet.

She almost screamed, but the man holding a gun covered his palm on her lips. Napatitig ang luhaan niyang mga mata sa mukha nito, ang kanilang tingin ay nagtama.

The light coming from behind the man she thinks is just a few years older than them gave him a dramatic look. His noxiously attractive green eyes look so cold that she cannot even read what's going on with his mind. He is tall but looks lean in his black pull over, but the gun in his other hand is enough to make her tremble in fear.

His features are between soft and aristocratic, as if his face was molded to confuse people as to what kind of person he really is.

A devil wearing an angelic face...

Of course in her situation, it can't possibly be the other way around.  

Napahikbi siya kaya humigpit ang pagtakip ng lalake sa kanyang bibig. Tila sinasabing huwag siyang lilikha ng isa pang ingay o katapusan na niya.

He leaned his face closer. Kumabog ang kanyang puso at nanginig ang kanyang mga tuhod nang madako ang labi nito sa tapat ng kanyang tainga.

When he breathed out, his hot and minty breath kissed her skin, bringing a tingling sensation she wasn't permitted to feel at the moment.

"Don't scream, don't go out or I'll shoot you." He whispered.

Hindi siya nakakilos. Ni ang iiwas ang nanlalaki at lumuluha niyang mga mata ay hindi niya nagawa, ngunit ang pagtataka ay lalong gumapang sa kanyang sistema nang makitang dinudukot ng lalake ang kanyang ipod mula sa bulsa ng pull over nito.

Her brows curled in confusion when he pushed the strands of her hair so he can put her earphones on her ears. Natigilan siya at tuluyang napakurap nang mapuno ng paborito niyang kanta ang kanyang tainga.

When her earphones are already plugged, he placed his index finger in front of his lips as if telling her to stay quiet. Tumango siya kahit pumapatak pa rin ang kanyang luha. Ang kanyang isip, puno ng pagtataka kung anong ginagawa nito ngayon.

Isn't he going to kill her? Bakit sinasara nitong muli ang closet?

Curiosity hit her. She peaked at the tiny wholes of her closet to see what he's doing. Lalo lang siyang nagtaka nang makitang maingat nitong binuksan ang kanyang bintana bago nito pinutok ang baril sa labas.

She snapped. Tinanggal niya ang isang earphone ngunit nang madinig ang mga yabag patungo sa kanyang silid, muli niyang tinakpan ang kanyang bibig.

And then she heard a man call the boy's name, her mind immediately sketched it in her memory as if he's going to be someone really important someday.

"Emeraudo, where is she?"

Kumabog ang puso ni Stelle, ang kanyang paghinga ay halos tumigil sa pag-aakalang ituturo siya ng lalake.

Her tears trailed down her cheeks, but when she heard his cold response, she felt a sudden tud in her terrified heart.

"The girl escaped. I'm sorry I wasn't able to catch her..."

May init na humagod sa kanyang puso sa narinig. Did he just save her? She guessed he just did, because when he said she ran to the woods on their backyard, everyone immediately went out including the boy.

Pinunasan ni Stelle ang kanyang luha at tahimik na pinuno ng hangin ang kanyang baga habang kinakausap sa isip ang lalake.

"Someday, Emeraudo. Someday, I will thank you for sparing my life..."