46

The crowd doesn't have any idea about the impending drama that will unfold here.

They might witness the biggest conspiracy theory in the Cerro Roca unfold right before their very eyes.

Some will be amused. Many will be shocked. All will be disgusted. And I can't wait to see their reactions. I can't wait to see judgment in the eyes of the electorate because that would mean that I won in this losing fight.

"Ms. Karina, I will be requesting you to leave the place now. The team is already around the area ready to pick you up upon your permission. Paniguradong gulo ang mangyayari dito. Hindi ako makakasigurado na hindi uli mangyayari ang pamamaril sa nakaraang party."

I just ignored the warning in Vishen's voice and headed to the door, my one hand holding the phone in my right ear while I throw all the contents of my bag on the trash can.

"Nonsense. Why wouldn't I enjoy the meal that I painstakingly prepare? And don't mind what happened during that night. Sinadya ko iyon bilang warning sa mga Asturia. Lalabas na ako para panoorin ang drama. Make sure I won't get disappointed, Vishen. I paid for a VVIP ticket."

Ibinalik ko ang cellphone sa wala nang laman na bag at lumabas. Bumalik ako sa upuan sa unang hanay pero wala na roon ang asawa. I looked around and saw Cholo on the stage talking with Ymir. Sa tabi nito ay si Elizabeth na nakangiti habang nakikinig sa pag-uusap.

Finally, the program started with the introduction of all the running candidates from senator to president. Each said his piece which is just another bunch of repetitive motherhood statements. Nothing special, nothing sincere.

Nang oras na para sa speech ng kakandidatong presidente ay doon na ako nag-concentrate para ihanda ang sarili sa mga magaganap.

I'm so freaking excited for what's about to come. In fact, I'm shaking all over because of anticipation. I can feel my sweat dripping from all of the pores in my body.

Heto na ang pinakahihintay ko na sandali. This is the time that I will seal the Asturias fate in my hands. I feel so powerful, so magnificent and proud for what I've done to come here at this moment.

It only took me several months to do what my cousins have failed to accomplish in the past years.

Ang sigawan ng mga mamamayan ang nagpabalik sa akin sa kasalukuyan. Tapos na pala ang speech nito at ngayon ay itinataas na ang mga kamay niya sa ere at nakangiting inanyayahan ang patron nila na ngumiti at classy na naglakad papunta sa politiko at kinamayan ito.

Elizabeth took the mic and the crowd roared in delight. Hindi lang pala sa Monte Vega sila sinasanto kundi dito mismo sa Cerro Roca. According to my brother, when our clan mysteriously went down, the Asturias didn't waste any more time and expanded their base in Cerro Roca through Elizabeth and Ymir who are originally from here.

"Magandang gabi po mga kababayan," she said in her kindest and most angelic voice. Tonight is the night that we welcome another dawn in our country. For so long we have besieged with corruption, poverty..."

Pinahid ko ang tumulong pawis sa noo at may hinanap sa stage. My eyes locked with Ymir whose smile faded when he recognized me.

From this second forward, I will never take away my eyes from you. Gusto kong makita lahat nang magiging reaksiyon mo sa mga mangyayari. I wanted to see shame, helplessness, and defeat in your eyes, Ymir. I wanted to see how you suffer. I wanted to see how you die slowly.

Binawi nito ang mga mata sa akin at ibinalik sa kapatid nito na nakangiti habang nagsasalita. Wala itong kaalam-alam na baka ito na ang huling segundo na makikita niya ang kapatid na ngumingiti nang may katinuan.

"You know that our family has been truly supportive of every possibility that will propel us to progress. I am not into politics just like how my parents and brothers are but—"

The microphone went off and the faint political jingle from the background stopped playing. My phone buzzed and a message was displayed on the screen.

"Enjoy the show, cousin."

I smiled and crossed my legs. I'll surely am, Cin.

Namatay ang presentation na nasa LED screen. Ilang segundo muna itong nag-display ng black background bago bumalik sa dati.

"Sorry for that. I think there's a technical problem," wika ni Elizabeth at bumalik sa pagsasalita nito kanina.

But the screen went off again for the second time and when it got back, it's playing the clip that will leave no stones unturned in the coming days.

"Ah," I sighed in relief when everyone in the stadium went speechless as they try to take in the erotic sight.

Elizabeth was on her knees, naked, and sucking someone's dick. Her boobs jiggled as she does her best to pleasure her partner who is not caught in the camera. She's making all these noises that could rival even the best pornstar in the industry. The man moaned and Elizabeth smiled and sucked harder.

Tinitigan ko si Ymir at nagbunyi nang makita ko ang mga emosyon na gusto kong mapanood sa kaniyang mukha. Wala sa screen ang atensiyon nito kundi nasa kapatid na namumula at nanginginig ang kagat-kagat na labi. Basa na ang mukha nito ng luha. Mahigpit ang hawak nito sa mic na parang doon lang ito umaamot ng lakas.

Ymir's eyes expressed pity, defeat, and then rage. His eyes wandered back to me and the fire intensified. Nag-igtingan ang mga bagang nito at nagbuga ng apoy ang mga mata.

Katahimikan ang naghari sa loob ng lugar habang patuloy na naririnig ang paulit-ulit na paghalinghing ni Elizabeth sa paligid.

Another second passed and a flash of camera broke the trance in the air. Sa isang iglap ay sunud-sunod na ang pagkislap ng kamera mula sa media at manoonod kasabay ng pagkalasan ng mga guards sa paligid at pagprotekta nila sa mga pulitiko. Nawala na rin ang pinapalabas na video at may nag-announce na tapos na ang event.

Napuno ng bulungan ang paligid. May mga hindi makapaniwala. May mga natakot dahil sa maaaring idulot nito sa kandidatura ng mga sinusuportahang kandidato at may mga iilan ring nagsabi na hindi na sila nagulat na malamang ganito pala kagigil ang akala nilang inosenteng imahe ng dalaga. Nasa loob daw ng kulo.

Itinaas ko ang kaliwang kamay kay Ymir at pinagalaw ang mga daliri pagkatapos ay pinakawalan ang ngiti na kanina ko pa pinipigil.

It felt really good to see his reaction. Ang sarap lang na makita na wala itong magawa sa harap nang napakalaking eskandalo na ito. He can't use his money and power this time to hide this all up. He knew it that's why he's this affected.

Seems like he really ran out of his cards to play. That's what happens when you let your heart overrule your mind.

Mas lumakas pa ang usyusuhan sa paligid. Bumaba na rin ang iilang mga tao at pumunta sa sa stage para kumuha ng videos at interviews sa mga sangkot.

Hinanap ko si Cholo pero hindi ko na siya makita. Kampanteng sumandal ako sa upuan at ibinalik ang mga mata kay Ymir na inalalayan si Elizabeth na nakasalampak na sa platform at hindi maampat ang mga luha.

Tumayo na ako at nag-inat. I have to leave the scene before it gets boring. I already saw the climax of the plot and I'm not interested in finishing it until the resolution.

Besides, marami pa akong gustong ihain sa mesa.

Bago lumisan ay lumingon muna ako sa direksiyon ni Ymir. Medyo nagulat pa ako ng makitang parang hapung-hapo ito na nakatayo at nakatingin sa nagkakagulong paligid. Hinaharang ng mga guards nito ang mga reporters na gusto itong kausapin. Wala na si Elizabeth sa tabi nito at nagkanya-kanya na rin ng alis ang mga malalaking tao.

This is the saddest thing about power and status. They are fickle. The moment the people sense that they're gradually fading away, they will just turn their backs on you. No goodbyes. No final words.

There's no permanent alliance. Only permanent self-serving interests.

Kinapa ko ang sariling damdamin. I don't feel any pity for him. Happiness is what I'm only feeling now.

Muling nagtagpo ang mga mata naming dalawa. Namumula ang mga mata nito sa galit. Nagsimula itong humakbang papunta sa akin. Wala itong pakialam kahit na pinagkakaguluhan na ito ng media. His blazing eyes were on me while his strides became bigger.

In that rate, he could be in front of me at any second. I should move but I didn't. I wanted to stay my ground. I'm curious about what would he do to me.

What could he do to me? Nothing that will make me more miserable than my state now.

Another step and he will finally reach me but before he could take another one, a gunshot pierced the air. In an instant, people are shouting and began scrambling for their lives.

Napalunok ako at napabalik sa upuan. Bigla ang dagsa ng emosyon sa akin. Nanghihinang sumandal ako at ipinikit ang mga mata para huminga nang malalim. Namumuo na ang pawis sa noo at likod ko. Halos rinig ko na rin ang tibok ng puso ko dahil sa lakas nito. Nasusuka na rin ako kaya pinilit ko ang sariling mag-concentrate.

Pero mahirap itong gawin sa gitna ng sigawan at panic ng mga taong hindi pa nakakalabas. Their cries of help is keeping my mind in jumble.

I tried standing but my vision is impaired. All I see are light and shadows. Nothing else which made my heart beat faster.

"Relax, Karina. Relax. Relax," paulit-ulit na sambit ko habang hawak ang ulo.

I decided to just stay here until all the people are out of the place. Sigurado rin akong nasa paligid lang sina Vishen.

I put my hand on my chest and breathed hard. This is just temporary. It'll be okay, Karina. It'll be okay.

"Karina," a voice woke my senses up and a pair of strong arms surrounded me. "I'm here. I'm here," he said and cupped my face.

Still breathing hard, I opened my eyes to Cholo's worried face. Relief flooded through me. Muntik na nga akong mapaiyak sa tuwa pero pinigilan ko ang sarili. My tremors had already subsided and my erratic breathing is slowing down.

"Out," I whispered. "I want out of here."

Agad na tumango si Cholo at may inutos sa mga guards nito na nagkokordon sa amin mula sa mga nagpupulasang tao. "Clear the way."

Kinarga niya ako at mabibilis ang mga hakbang na tinahak ang daan papunta sa exit. Kumapit ako sa leeg nito at pinakawalan ang mga luha. Walang tunog na umiyak ako habang pinapayapa ang sarili.

I thought he will not really come. I thought he had left the place. I was so ready to fight off the attack all by myself while waiting for Vishen without any help or assurance from anyone.

But then he came for me... for the first time since our history.

Nang makalabas ng stadium ay agad niya akong idineposito sa sasakyan na naghihintay sa labas. Niyakap niya ako at hinagod ang likod ko. Naramdaman kong umandar na ang sasakyan kaya nakahinga na rin ako nang maluwag.

"I'm sorry, Karina. You must have been terrified there. I'm sorry for being late, wife."

Hinalikan niya ang ulo ko habang inaabot ang tissue para pahirin ang pawis ko.

"I-I'm sorry, too. I'm sorry," bulong ko rito at hinuli ang mga mata nito na kakakitaan ng magkahalong lungkot at pag-aalala.

Hindi ito sumagot. Nagpatuloy lang ito sa ginagawang pagpahid sa pawis sa likod ko.

"What are you talking about? You have nothing to say sorry of. What happened is not your fault," he replied with a strain of concealed disappointment in his voice.

Nagbaba ako ng paningin at hinayaan ang mga luhang pumatak. Niyakap ko uli si Cholo para itago ang mga ito.

Ano kaya ang gagawin mo kapag nalaman mong ako may kagagawan ng pagbagsak mo? Would you be kind enough to say that it's not my fault, too?

I ruined people I detest including you. I vowed to topple them down until they are nothing but a rubble of ashes underneath my feet.

I should never be forgiven because I'm as sinner as them. I do not deserve the love you're showing me now, Cholo.

Give me another week to end my revenge before I reveal myself to you. Until then, I'll savor all my remaining time in your arms. Until then, I'll always wish we could have met in different places and circumstances because no matter how we try to patch things up, a relationship forge out of madness will never prosper.