"Sometimes dreams aren't just a dream it's a memory that keeps haunting us."
★★★
Ganther Uries Neric Asuncion's Point of View
Did you ever feel trapped in your dreams? Have you ever experienced being aware that you are seeing is your dream?
I found myself in a very familiar room. Ang silid na hindi ko makakalimutan. Kahit anong pilit kong ibaon sa limot.
"M-mom, d-dad..." Hindi ko maiwasang mapangisi ng marinig ang maliit na tinig mula sa likuran ko. The little voice filled with sadness and plead.
"S-stop fighting p-please..." I slowly turned my head to the person who's begging. A little kid hugging his knees. His tears are falling. I chuckled seeing my younger version gives me a shame feeling. The little kid moves his head up. My eyes met his. I smirk while looking at him.
"Stop crying, little bean, hindi ka nila papakinggan. Your tears are nothing for them... For him. Wipe it off. Use your brain not that worthless feelings of yours." I said to him. The scene changes into something familiar again. It's too dark in here. It was a tiny space. I can hear the cries of my old self besides me. The little kid again.
"DAD! GET ME OUT HERE PLEASE!" He shouted but no one answered him. He banged the cabinet door but it can't open. Mula sa labas rinig na rinig ang mga sigawan.
"DAD! DON'T HURT MOM PLEASE! NOT MY MOM PLEASE..." He breathlessly yelled again. Pero walang nakarinig. O, mas magandang sabihin na walang gustong makinig.
"AYOKO NA! I LOVE THEM... I LOVE MY MARIE AND MISHA!" It's my dad's voice. Rinig na rinig ko ang paghaguhol ni mommy.
"P-PANO NAMAN KAMI NI G-GANTHER? KAMI ANG PAMILYA MO?!" My mom yelled.
"SA KANILA AKO MASAYA! PLEASE LET ME BE HAPPY. LET ME GO. THIS SETUP ISN'T GOING TO WORK." Dad almost hissed.
"H-how about us? Hindi kaba namin napapasaya?" My mom's voice is cracking.
"S-stop it, p-please..." I heard my younger version whispering to himself. He's now covering his ears right now.
"D-dad is not happy with us anymore..." He is talking to himself. His tears are now dry. The emotions are now gone. Unti-unting sumilay ang ngisi sa labi n'ya. The scenery changed again. I saw my little self version in front of my mom who's crying. Kitang-kita ang mga pasa nito sa katawan.
"Mom..."
"Son, your dad leave us. He chose his other family over us. We are the legal family but he just throws us away." Pain is all over her eyes. Her smile was gone. My younger self version caressed mom's cheeks.
"Mommy, do you want dad to come back to us?" his voice is soft. Mom didn't think twice and nodded why crying so hard. He hugged mom.
"Sshh, stop crying mom. I promise that dad will come back to us. And he'll never dare to leave us again. I'll do everything to make you happy. I love you..." The surroundings change once again.
My little version was lying in the hospital bed. He has many gauzes and bruises. The hospital door opened and dad entered. His eyes are teary as he walks closer to the bed.
"S-son..." His voice is gentle and sweet. I saw how my old self slowly opened his eyes and smiled at dad.
"Y-you came." His voice was lifeless.
"W-why did you jump to the 2nd floor of the mansion?" He laughed.
"B-because I know you'll go here and see me. Daddy, it's your fault. You left us. You left me. And if you left again I'll definitely do something worst than this. I'll kill myself and it will haunt you down to the rest of your life." The way my kid version said every word is very dangerous. You can't find any humor in it. Dad stiff in his seat looks so petrified as he heard that.
"G-gan—"
"Don't try me, daddy, I might be a child in your eyes but I can destroy your life. Your new family might suffer. I am just 8 years old but this little kid saw everything and I know how sting you are." Fear is slowly crawling to my dad's expression.
"You are good at manipulating dad. You are so good at using others. You used mom and her family for your own intention. Don't you think I didn't know? You and your mistress planned everything for money and fame, right? But sad to say kahit anong gawin mo sa'kin parin mapupunta lahat. I'm still the heir of the power that you wanted kaya iiwan mo na kami kasi wala ka ng laban." The little one let out a small laugh. He looks so amused while looking at dad.
"Tutal niloko mo si mom. Fooling her to your words and actions made her fall into your trap. Ituloy mo na. Habang buhay mo s'yang lokohin na mahal mo s'ya. Stay with her. Stay with us. Act like a mighty husband and father for us." He stopped talking and observe his dad for a while. He tsk-ed like an old man. "Don't look at me like I'm so evil dad. That I am the villain in your life. Ikaw ang may gawa nito. You just wake up my demon. Mana lang ako sa'yo. I get this manipulating gene on you. Be proud that I am like you." The scene shifted to different. . My younger self and mom hugged each other.
"Dad isn't going anywhere...." An innocent beam appeared on his lips. Mom nodded and hug him tightly. her eyes were filled with happiness and contentment. The emotion I always want mommy to feel.
"Dad's mine... No one can steal my daddy from me." He whispered as his smile was replaced by a dangerous sneer.
As I woke up unfamiliar ceiling welcomed me. I look around just to find that I'm inside an unknown room. All I can see is white and black color in every corner. I heaved a sight my chest is too heavy that dream-memories I want to forget it. But how can you forget something that causes your life to change suddenly?
"Finally, your awake." My eyes turned to the man that I didn't notice that he's there. He is leaning against the wall while crossing his arms.
"Onyx," His lips pursed like he wants to say something but something stopping him. He sighed. He averted my gaze.
"Onyx, thank you for saving me from Dennis." He nodded. And stood properly.
"I'll not accept your thank you. Keep it. Someday I'll ask you a favor and that way I can accept your thank you." I was about to say something but he spoke again.
"Are you hungry?" Pagkatanong n'ya no'n my stomach growled. His lips corner rose up. He looks amused. "Fix yourself and follow me to the dining. I'll prepare your food there."
Hindi na n'ya inantay ang sagot ko tinalikuran na n'ya ako saka lumabas. Paglabas n'ya tumayo ako para pumuntang bathroom para maghilamos. I touched the marks on my neck. It's hurt but I feel satisfied. Seeing how Dennis raged that moment satisfy me a lot. After I fix myself lumabas ako sa kwarto. Bumungad sa'kin ang tahimik ng pasilyo. Leighton's place is big. Hindi ko na inabala ang sarili kong suriin ang paligid. I went straight to the kitchen hindi naman mahirap hanapin. Before I reach the kitchen Orion suddenly appears from nowhere and pulled me inside a room. he pinned me to the wall. His hands are on my shoulder holding me tightly.
"Stay away from Onyx. He'll just harm you." He hissed. Mahigpit ang hawak nito sa 'kin.
I let him see my puzzlement. He took a deep sigh. "What do you mean, Orion?"
A weak smile crept to his lips. "You are too innocent to fall from his trap, Ganther. Everything is a trap. I just don't want you to lose your smile. You are too naive to understand. I can't betray my brother but I can't just let him ruin someone—"
"Stop, Orion. In this situation. All of us are trapped. We are all trapped inside the game. Stop meddling in someone's business. But thank you for the concern." I said before I left him.
"What took you so long?" Onyx asked. I smiled and sit on the wooden chair.
"Naligaw ako sa laki ng bahay n'yo." Natawa naman ito at napailing.
"Don't worry, bibigyan kita ng mapa. You should eat. It's already 12 pm." Like he said I start digging my food. It's just a simple adobo but it makes me smile widely. I missed eating food like this.
"Who cooked this?" I saw Onyx swallowed. Parang biglang hindi s'ya mapakali.
"Why? Hindi ba masarap?"
"It's not what I mean. It's delicious. I suddenly miss my mom's cookings." Hindi ko alam kung namamalikmata lang ako. Parang may dumaang kung anong imosyon sa mga mata n'ya.
"Its good to know na nagustuhan mo."
"Sino ang nagluto?" Umiwas s'ya ng tingin.
"Me."
"Weh, 'di nga?" He frowned.
"Believe me or not, it's me. Hindi lang ako ang masarap, pati ang luto ko masarap. Lahat ng tungkol sa'kin masarap." He boastfully said. Pero mukhang natauhan s'ya sa sinabi n'ya. His face flushed. And avoid my gaze. I chuckled like I'm teasing him.
"Okay, I'll keep that in my mind." And laughed again. And I didn't realize that my laugh isn't pretending or what. It's true. Onyx Ollivander Faiz Leighton, my toy makes me laugh. And I saw him laughing too. Laughing with me as if we understand each other.
Someone's Point of View
"Ganther knew that I'm one of the traitors in Onyx's side. He saw me killing one of Leighton's men." He said. Naiyukom ko ang kamao ko. Hindi 'to makatingin sa'kin. He bows his head. I gritted my teeth.
"Me, too. He saw me..." Slade said. Nakayuko din ito. My eyes gaze at Kit. Napalunok it.
"How about you?" My voice thundering the room where we are. His hands trembled.
Namumutla itong sumagot. "Y-yes..."
Napatayo ako. I throw all things that I'll see. "IDIOTS!" I hissed.
"Hey, stop throwing tantrums like a kid ass—"
"SHUT UP MISHA!" She almost jumped as I yelled at her.
"Hindi pwedeng masira ang plano. We need to bring Onyx down to his throne." I said while clenching my teeth.
"Ganther isn't a threat I think..." Kit said. Napataas naman ang kilay ko.
"He's playing that's why he's here. And I think his target is Onyx." Misha suddenly butts in.
"Playing?" She nodded.
"Ganther is a dangerous psycho—"
"Don't call him psycho, bitch." Kit spat. Misha glared at Kit.
"So he is not a threat?" I coldly asked.
"Maybe, he doesn't care about anything only his toys. He loves playing other people's life." it's Misha. Kita ko ang galit sa mga mata ni Misha. She really hates Ganther and I can see it through her eyes. Ngumisi ito bigla. Nakuha ko ang ibig sabihin nito.
"And Onyx said he'll play Ganther feelings. Which means they'll fall into each other trap. We can use Ganther as a distraction to Onyx. Especially that Onyx has a hunch that there's a traitor." I added. Unti-unti akong napangisi. I'll do everything to kill Onyx.
"We're done in this meeting. Let's go. Baka makahalata pa sila." I said they nodded. And we walk to different paths.
"Observe Onyx." I said to him. He nodded. Saaming dalawa mas malapit s'ya kay Onyx mas nakakalapit s'ya.
"Gagawin mo talaga lahat mapabagsak lang s'ya." It's not a question but a statement.
"Yes, I don't care what I'll lose in this game. As long as Onyx blood stained my hands as an exchange. I'll do everything. Matagal na dapat s'yang patay he is just lucky." I hissed. He smirked.
"He shouldn't be born in this world," I whispered.