Sacrifice
“Brother!” Cazue supported me as I walked. I sat up in my bed breathlessly.
He took the first aid kit under my study table. He immediately treated my wound.
“Where are Dero and Mother?” I asked as I rubbed every touch of cotton with betadine on my face.
“She’s just going to visit Aunt Flora.” I mentioned to my mother about her which she was happy with.
Ever since I told her about that, Mother has always been happy. She was also not often sad at night. Once when I peeked in her room, she was talking with Father’s picture. She said his death was imminent.
In the few days, I searched for Karlo, Padre Kule’s brother, I still couldn’t find him. I found out he was a journalist reporter. I got that information in the other town because some of the locals became his friends.
There are also rumors that he is dead and others say that he is currently hiding. It is said to have something to do with the successive deaths of farmers.
“How are you, brother? Was it made by that arrogant Arrow?” he said as he continued to treat my wound.
“Just heat the water,” he nodded and did what I said.
I took off my clothes and then touched the wounds and bruises I had received.
I left the room when I got a towel from the drawer.
Cazue escorts me to the bathroom. “Did that arrogant person even discard your shoes?”
I laughed at the tone of his voice. He was even more angry with me while I was calm.
“Next time, brother, take me with you on your walks so that you can have a payback. That’s just another one of his assistants.”
I chose to keep quiet rather than ignite what he said. I’d rather think of Piper’s welfare than get Arrow back. I know the truth why he’s so angry. Besides, I love Piper. He was afraid of the steps I could take.
The other day I was caught following my man as I was walking. It has been a long time since someone has been watching our every move. I’ve noticed it come back since there was chismis between the two of us and Piper.
I woke up early because my mother had left early to farm. I don’t know what time Dero and I got home yesterday. The night I slept was still raw.
“Good morning to you, bud,” it was Abel. I could not understand his eyes; if it was bitten by an insect or got swollen.
He brought his own cup and was happy to sit in the kitchen. He crossed his legs and yawned constantly.
I would have put hot water in it but I noticed it was empty.
“I thought you were going to ask for coffee.”
I sat down next to him after sifting the rice. Mom forgot to wrap. Maybe she’ll buy porridge along the way. She loves to be there especially every morning and she has work to do.
“Lois and I had a fight. What should I do? He wants me to work for their company.”
I sneezed then thought.
“Explain it to him properly. Don’t you want to be with him at work?”
If I were to be asked, I would want Piper to work together with me if we both wanted to. It’s not about I can watch her from those people tailing around her. I just want to be with her every day so I know she is safe.
“I can’t say. He doesn’t know what happened before.”
That’s about the Vitales. It was too dirty because they were one of the ones the Roshans trusted but Lois’s father still had done such a thing.
That case did not arise because Emilio Roshan won as governor at that time. Apart from their powerful family, their closeness has increased because of the Roshans.
“Why are you so personal with that thing? You’re out now, don’t worry. I won’t interfere in whatever decision you make.”
On one side of my mind, Abel is really a real friend. He proved that for several times. Today is one of those. I thought more of how I felt than him.
“It’s not that I’m not indebted to his parents but you know, I don’t like what they did. It’s as if I’ve betrayed myself if I join their company.”
When he found out about it, he talked to me several times. He wanted to give up the scholarship but he didn’t. His parents’ combined salary is not enough to pay for his school tuition. Letty is also studying.
His brother has a salary but it is not enough for their daily expenses. In fact, he was supposed to be Piper’s personal driver but Mang Ben did not agree. Instead of Abel doing that, he just go away.
Abel is on the sidelines but this friend of mine is expensive. He loves to bet on basketball but just loses.
“She will understand you. Just don’t surprise her with what she finds out.”
Abel and I talked a lot more than just the two of them and Lois. He learns from Letty that the Roshans have ordered its men and the police to find Piper.
He warned me that they might heat me up. He added that one of his housemates who was with Piper that night was fired.
At noon I was waiting for my mother to come home but instead of her coming, a group of policemen came. I thought I would be arrested. Even my two siblings were shocked. Fortunately and the boss was kind to me. He just asked about what happened that night and left immediately.
“Brother, where are you going?” Dero said with his playmate outside the house.
“It is an important schedule,” because he noticed my change of clothes and my wet hair.
“Brother, I want this too!” He pointed at the robot of the child he was playing with.
“I’ll buy you as long as you get home before Mother caught you playing in the street.”
The weather is right. It wasn’t sunny and it wasn’t raining either so I didn’t stop him from doing what he wanted. He was also able to study earlier.
I rented a tricycle that took me to that mountain. I had a hard time convincing him because that place was dangerous. He was good and kind so he finally agreed.
Every step I took was careful. I didn’t care as long as I could save Piper, that’s more important.
As I saw yesterday, it was still Masha’s group. She was teaching the new recruits to hold a gun.
I wondered how Piper and I could go without them noticing.
“Cade!” said Loel.
“Where can we find Piper? We might be damned.”
We bent down while talking. We went to the river.
“You’ll wait here. Improve your hiding. Masha will be back there later. One of my colleagues has a new recruit.”
He nodded then left me. I just stared around while waiting a few minutes.
I became alert when I heard someone walking.
My heart thumped when I saw Piper. Loel works him in the back. When she walked and crossed the river, I immediately came out of my hiding place. I could not control my emotions, my longing and concern for her. I hugged her tightly then kissed her forehead.
I will never let you go. I don’t know what I will do when it happens again.
As she hugged me, I could feel her excitement. The path of her tears was unstoppable. It was my fault that she suffered.
I felt angry with myself especially seeing the marks of how they tortured her.
A few minutes of gratitude, I quickly overtook Piper. I ran fast because of several gunshots until I picked her up.
She begged for Loel many times. But I didn’t pay attention to it, even though it was hard for me, we couldn’t go back to him. I knew Loel would understand me. His sacrifice would be wasted so I didn’t even look around.