"Marry me." He wasn't asking. He was commanding.
Nabigla ako sa sinabi nito at tiningnan sya sa mga mata.
His eyes are pleading, and he reaches for my hand and kisses my knuckles.
"After all, what happened? You want to marry me? After I betrayed you?" I doubtly said.
"Is your love true?"
"Yes."
"Have you been with another man?"
"No."
"Then you didn't betray me," he planted soft kisses on my palm.
"Huh?"
He held my gaze, "What you did is I don't consider that as betrayal, you did that because of your duty to you organization. I understand, love. There is no need to worry about it."
This is the vlad I fell in love with, he trusts me so much. He understands me.
Because after all, all I want is to be understood.
I never knew I needed that until I met vlad. He made me realize that I need those things.
I nodded at him, "Thank you."
"So, will you marry me?" I slowly nodded.
He pulled me close, and he kissed my forehead.
"Thank you," he kissed my nose. "Are you tired?" He asked.
"Hmm, I'm sleepy." I buried my face in his neck.
"Sleep, I'll be here." Was the last word I heard before I fell asleep with a smile on my lips.
This time, it feels so good.
"Mamma, wake up." I stirred as I heard silver's voice.
I slowly opened my eyes, bumungad ito saakin na nakapatong sa tiyan ko.
The comforter was covering my body, bigla kong naalala na nakahubad pa pala ako at hindi ako nagbihis kagabi.
Tiningnan ko ang katawan ko sa ilalim ng comforter. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag nang nakita ko na naka suot na ako ng maluwag na t-shirt at may short na rin.
I looked at my side where and saw an empty side.
"Where's daddy?" I asked.
"Daddy, went work. He said it's an emergency." Silver said.
I glanced at the wall clock, it's already 10:35 AM.
"What time did he leave?" I asked as I hugged silver.
"Daddy left at 8:30 AM. He said not to wake you up because you're tired." He murmured against my neck.
"Hmm, have you eaten?" I caressed his back.
"Yes, Daddy cooked for me before he left." He giggled.
I chuckled, "How is it?"
"It's good." His tiny hands held my cheeks. "Daddy said he'll be back later in the evening."
"Okay, Silver. Let's go." I said and sat up.
Naghilamos muna ako bago bumaba kasama si silver, pagpasok ko ng dining ay tiningnan ko ang nasa kitchen
Vlad cooked ramen. I smiled.
"Did you request this to Daddy?" I asked Silver while he's sitting on the floor while petting black.
"Yes, Mamma."
"How's daddy treating you?" I asked while I'm vacuuming the carpet here in the living room. Silver is watching car movies.
"He's good, Mamma. I love Daddy. Thank you, Mamma." Saad nito habang nasa TV padin ang paningin.
I chuckled, "Thank you for what?"
"For bringing daddy here. It's my dream, Mamma." He looked at me, "How about you? Mamma? What's your dream?" Those questions from him made me stop.
I suddenly remember what my dream was.
My dream is in the past, the dream that won't be true.
"I already achieved it, baby." Sagot ko dito at pinagpatuloy ang pag vacuum.
After a few weeks, we already moved to vlad's penthouse. Silver has his own bedroom, lahat ng kailangan namin ay dinala ko.
Vlad fixed our belongings, and later that day, Silver fell asleep.
Kasalukuyan akong nasa living room, paper gathered on the table.
"What's that, Love?" Napaangat ang tingin ko kay vlad na kakababa lang ng hagdan. Sya kasi ang naghiga kay silver sa kama nito don sa kwarto.
"I was wondering, where's my father." Sagot ko at bumuntong hininga.
"You didn't ask me, I have him." My eyes narrowed.
"I took him because he was planning to hurt your sister. your sister was part of the bratva, so the bratva protected her against your father." He sat beside me.
"I want to see my sister." seryosong Saad ko.
"She's in the hospital," he held my gaze.
"Hospital? Why?" I curiously asked.
Did father hurt her?
"Carpio hurted her, but she's okay now. She just needs to rest." Vlad said.
"Take me to her."
Vlad didn't hesitate. He brought me to the hospital where my sister is.
After all that happened, I can't just abandon my sister. She's my sister, and I can't bear to lose her.
Nakarating kami sa room kung nasaan ang ate ko, her husband is there. Si kuya arseen ang nagsilbing doctor nya at may mga nurse din na gumaguide sakanya.
Lumabas muna sila at naiwan kaming dalawa, tiningnan ko ito ng maigi. There's a band-aid on the side of her neck and her cheek.
"What happened to you?" I asked as I sat down on the chair beside her bed.
"I bet vlad told you," she lowly said.
"Why did he hurt you? You took his side." Seryoso kong tanong.
She took the side of our father, so how is it possible that he hurt her?
"Took her side?" She chuckles, "I didn't. I choose you, Maeve." Her hazel green eyes met my dark blue ones.
"What do you mean?"
"I betrayed him when I found out he's not done with you yet. I tried to kill him, but i didn't succeed. I was protecting you from him, I'm sorry if I made you think that I took his side."
"You're my sister, I would sacrifice anything for you. I made you think that I took his side in order for you to leave. I want you to have a good life, maeve."
"Not the life that is full of anger, grief, and even regrets. I want you to be happy," she smiled at me.
Her hand reached my face and wiped the tears on my cheeks.
I was so blinded by revenge that I didn't notice there's people who didn't want me to have this anger in me any longer.
So blinded by revenge and the past, blinded by the sadness to the point I couldn't let go of it.
I haven't thought about letting go of the things that ruined me when I knew it's what I needed. To let go.
I was so blinded to the point I threw everything away, I was so blinded by revenge to the point that I forgot that life could've been happier.
"Thank you, Ate." My voice shakes.
She caressed my cheek and smiled at me.
"Live a happy life, Maeve. That's all I want for you. I'm sorry for hurting you because of the idea of protecting you."
Nagkapatawaran kami ni ate, I forgive her and she forgive me.
Now I understand her. She did that because she wanted to protect me from our father and sacrificed herself.
Pagkatapos sa hospital ay dumiretso kami sa organization ng bratva.
All of the men are lined up, they bowed as vlad and I walked past them. Vlad was wearing his corporate attire while I wore a simple black dress with high heels. My long white hair cascaded down my back. One of his sovietnik approached us as we reached his office.
"Status?" Vlad asked in his Russian accent.
"Sir, Carpio is asking for execution." My eyes narrowed at his sovietnik.
Asking for his own execution?
"Let's go?" I held his hand.
Mabilis ang tibok ng puso ko habang naglalakad kami patungo sa kwarto kung nasaan ang tatay ko.
As we reached and stepped inside, i saw him, laying on the bed. Malawak ang kwarto ngunit walang bintana, makakapal din ang pader at tanging pintuan lang talaga ang labasan.
Naka-posas ito sa kama, he looked at us, and I met his hazel green eyes.
And for the first time, I saw something in it. Regret—or perhaps, Pain?
"I'll leave you here. Just make a sound if something happens." I nodded at vlad.
Narinig ko ang paghakbang nila palabas at ang pagsarado ng pintuan.
I walked towards him.
"What are you doing here?" Malamig na tanong nito.
"I just wanted to see you." I crouched down in front of him and looked up at him.
"You shouldn't be here, after all what I've done." His eyes were piercing at me. "Or perhaps you're here to continue your revenge?"
I shook my head, "I really never wanted revenge. I needed answers."
"Answers?" I nodded.
"Why did you leave us after what you did to our mother?" I felt my eyes heating.
He scoffed, "Why would I stay if I did an unreasonable thing?"
"I protected my empire, but at what cost?"
_________
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