"Let's start things off about your parents. For sure you're aware with their hobbies" I nodded.
'Hobbies? It's a bad habit! But who am I to say that when I also have bad habits? Tsh, anyways'
I know what he was trying to say. Bisyo nila ang paggagambling and Dad was a casino addict while my Mom plays mahjong weekly.
"You're parents is in a huge bad debt. Though they're gone but their sins to Winsztonn remains alive"
"How bad is that debt?"
"Billions"
Napaawang ang labi ko ng bahagya sa laki ng pera na 'yon. I only knew my parents can made millions, but this huge? That is out of our league.
"They were given two grace periods. But on the day of the collection, payment never made as promised. Do you know what was the consequence?"
"What's the consequence?" I asked and a smirked appeared on his face.
"Your grandmother's death"
My heart stopped for a second and clenched my fist under the table. I glared at him while anger consumed my system. I tried to calm myself down and refrain myself from pulling my butterfly knife to stab him across his heart. But knowing that he has his men behind, one wrong move and I'm done.
I sighed and give him a force smile. "So that was not an accident"
"It's just a warning. The damage has been done. Don't blame us, but your parents" ngumiti rin siya pabalik.
"Several years passed. Grace period was given again and that's a rare chance. But you're parents failed again to fullfill. Do you know what's the consequence?"
"Their death?"
"HAHAHAHAH" nagpakawala siya ng nakakabaliw na tawa. "You're smart"
"Oh, come on, sir. It's not difficult to predict. But thank you" i also laughed sarcastically, accompanying him. I didn't thank him for his compliment, but for my parents death.
"I know. Trevor Winsztonn won't hear it. But I'll make sure your gratitude will reach to his son"
"Before Trevor took their life in a car loaded with bombs, another deal was made in order to lessen half of their debt but it was never enough. At lakas loob pa silang nagtago ng ilang taon matapos 'non."
Alam kong lumipat kami ng tirahan ngunit hindi ko alam na may pinagtataguan pala sila.
"What's that deal?"
"To make 'you' as a payment along with Trevor's acquisition of your father's properties. Sa laki ng utang ng iyong mga magulang ay hindi nagawang punan ng mga assets nila ang kalahati ng kanilang utang kaya maging ikaw ay ipinambayad."
Naikunot ko ang noo ko at mariin siyang tinitigan. Para akong nabingi at hinugutan ng hininga.
'Anong kag*g*han ang pinagsasasabi niya??'
"Can you repeat what you said??" mahinahon kong sabi kahit naghihimagsik ang dibdib ko.
He smiled again. "Freedom is no longer yours"
"That's bullsh*t!" walang pakialam na sigaw ko kahit pa kaharap ko ang matandang ito at kahit may ibang tao pa ang makarinig. I scoffed insanely.
"I understand that your mad—"
"Mad? I'm f*cking mad!!"
Biglang nagsilapitan ang mga tauhan sa akin ni Rexor ng sigawan ko siya at halos kainin ako ng mga mata niya. "Cut me off again and I'll cut your tounge" he said keeping his smile. Mas lalo akong nag-iinit sa galit dahil sa nakakaasar na ngiting yon.
"Kaninong plano yon? Sa mga magulang ko mismo o sa mga Winsztonn??"
"Both" keeping his smile. "Your tattoo?"
"What about it? What does it means??"
"Iyan ang patunay na ipinambayad ka. I've warned you, you should have expected this"
"Trevor Winsztonn's Will when he was about to die, ordered his son to get all Trevor's possession so he can take over for everything. And now his son wanted to get what he's mine... respectively"
"And who's this Trevor's Son??"
"You already met him. And he will meet you again. Siya na ang bahala magpakilala sa'yo. Goodbye Saddain"
Nang tuluyan siyang makaalis ay napatitig na lang ako sa ibabaw ng lamesa habang pinoproseso at inaanalisa lahat ng mga pinagsasasabi niya. He's right about his warning but i didn't expected that this is how unexpected it is.
Gusto kong umiyak sa galit ngunit pagpapakita iyon ng kahinaan kaya't nagmadali akong lumabas ng coffee shop at pinaandar palayo ang motor ko. I stopped in a not so excluded place so I can freely express the heaviness of my chest.
Akala ko kasi ay dahil patay na sila ay magagawa ko na ang hindi ko mga magawa noon ng hayagan. It's like I'm in an imprisonment before when I was a child, and school was my only escape. But now? Hearing what he has said, feels like I'm gonna end up to be in that situation again, but in a different prison.
Inilabas ko ang patalim at pinaglaruan ko sa kamay ko ang balisong na hawak ko habang humihipak ng sigarilyo. At kasabay ng pagbuga ko ng usok ay sinubukan kong ibuga rin ang sama ng loob ko habang nakasandal sa motor ko.
I looked up to stop my tears from falling but it was no use. Ang sakit sa loob ko na malamang sinadya nila ang pagkamatay ng Lola ko dahil lang sa atraso ng mga magulang ko. Kesyo may utang pa ang mga magulang ko sa kanila wala pa rin silang karapatang idamay siya! G*go ba sila?! Tapos ngayon, malalaman kong ipinambayad lang ako? Buwiset! Gusto kong magwala!
Tumitig ako sa paanan ko habang panay ang hithit sa sigarilyo. Hindi man lang nito nagawang pakalmahin ang sarili ko. Gusto kong sumabog ngunit magmumukha lang akong baliw rito.
Sumampa muna ako sa motor at pinakiramdaman ang paligid. Nang maramdaman kong may mga matang nakatitig sa akin mula sa kung saan ay saka ko kinabig ang stand ng motor at nagdrive palayo.
'Pambihirang buhay 'to'