บททั้งหมดของ Lean on me, Daredevil: บทที่ 61 - บทที่ 68

“What if it’s a boy?” tanong ni Amelia kay Kraner. Umayos s’ya sa pagkakahiga sa dibdib ng binata saka n’ya ito tiningala. It had been a week since Amelia last lay beside Kraner in bed. His time had been swallowed up by the case he was working on, long hours stretching late into the night until he was left with nothing but fatigue. In the meantime, Amelia and her son had been staying in her parents’ house, a decision made out of caution since there was no man in her own home to look after them. Kraner couldn’t bring himself to leave them unattended, the thought alone filling him with unease. And so, despite his heavy workload, he made the choice to return to her family’s home whenever he could, determined to keep Amelia and their child safe under his watch. Tonight, as she felt the warmth of his presence beside her once more, she realized just how much she had missed having him close—his steady breathing, his protective arm draped around her, and the quiet sense of security that

Two years ago, before we parted ways, I remember kissing her inside that dimly lit bar. It was the third anniversary of Lucas’s death, a day already heavy with sorrow. That night, I pulled her close, kissed her, and when the world outside ceased to matter, we ended up in bed—holding onto each other as if we could shut out all the pain. We made love, and in her eyes, that moment became our first kiss, our first night of intimacy. She believed it was the beginning of everything between us. But it wasn’t. She thought it was also the first time I allowed myself to be vulnerable, the first time I confessed what I truly felt. But that was only her presumption. The truth was far more complicated. Because years ago, long before that night—back when we were still slowly finding our way toward each other—I had already claimed her, she had been mine from the very start. But she wasn’t in a state to remember it, and I never had the courage to tell her. I let her believe her version of the story,

“You should be working, Kraner. Bakit ka na naman nandito?” tanong ni Amelia sa binata na kakapasok lang sa kwarto n’ya. “Parang ipinaparating mo na nagsasawa ka na sa pagmumukha,” pahayag ni Kraner. Lumapit ito sa kanya at pinatakan ng halik ang labi at noo n’ya. “I brought you fruits but other than that do you want to eat? Baka may ibang cravings ka pa.” “Apple,” Naupo si Kraner sa gilid ng kama ni Amelia at sinimulang balatan ang mansanas. Nasa ospital pa rin siya dahil sa maselang kondisyon ng pagbubuntis niya. Her unborn child almost died, pero katulad niya, lumaban din ito para mabuhay. Sa loob ng isang linggo, palagi nang nasa tabi niya si Kraner para bantayan siya. Natatakot itong iwanan siyang muli kaya naging opisina na rin nito ang silid niya sa ospital. Nag-e-enjoy naman siya sa presensya ng nobyo niya, pero hindi rin niya mapigilang makaramdam ng guilt sa tuwing naiistorbo niya ito sa trabaho. Madalas kasi siyang mag-request ng kung anu-anong pagkain, kaya napapabaya

Simula nang bumalik ako sa mansyon ay walang araw na hindi ako umiiyak. Dapat ay sa isang linggo pa ang balik ko dito pero bigla na lang sumulpot si Alexis para sunduin ako. Hindi ko na nagawang makapagpaalam ng maayos sa mga kaibigan ko dahil biglaan ang lahat. Pagkarating ko dito, hindi na ako nagsayang ng oras. Kaagad kong hinarap si Dad at kinompronta siya. Gusto kong malaman ang totoong dahilan kung bakit niya ako pinabalik nang biglaan sa States—kung bakit parang wala akong karapatang pumili o magdesisyon para sa sarili ko. Nalaman kong hostage ngayon si Dad ng isang gun syndicate na tinatawag na Cashmere. Sa loob ng siyam na taon, wala akong kaalam-alam na hawak siya ng sindikatong ito sa leeg. Supplier si Dad ng mga firearms sa iba’t ibang panig ng State at Europe. Legal ang negosyo niya dahil mismong gobyerno ang kumuha sa kanya upang magsupply ng mga kinakailangang armas ng mga sundalo at pulis sa bansa. Ngunit lingid sa kaalaman ni Dad, matagal na pala siyang target ng Ca