Chapter 37: Devil 34: Inviting the Devil 2
Someone's Pov
"By the way, Dr. Gravalez. Since you're already here. I'd like to invite you in my grandson's birthday party this coming Saturday at our humble home." Nakangiting imbita ni Eliza Montero (Madam) sa binatang Doctor.
Bahagyang nagulat si James at napatingin kay Eros.
"Oh really. That would be my pleasure Madam Montero and advance happy birthday Dr. Eros. I hope you wouldn't mind if I come to your birthday." Aniyang tinatantya ang magiging reaction ng kapwa doctor.
He knows him. He knows everyone in Montero's family. Nagsimula siyang kilalanin ang mga ito nang mapatunayan niya na nagagawang pakalmahin ni Zero si Jack mula sa pagiging wargon nito.
He even knows their deepest secrets na walang kahit na sinumang nakakaalam.
Napangiti ng pilit si Eros.
"It's okay, I'll be glad if you come over Dr. Gravalez. And by the way, I invited your mentor too. I know he'll be happy to see his student there." Sagot ni Eros.
"Yes of course. And I couldn't wait to see your reunion with Dr. Snyder. Because I still couldn't believe to see one of his student here in our own hospital." Nagagalak na komento ni Madam Montero. She prefer to call her Madam by everybody.
"I'm just a lucky person to be one of his student in a short time. I don't think he can still remember me." Humble na saad naman niya.
Napangiti lamang ang ibang naroon.
"Speaking of that. Bakit nga ba naligaw ang isang importanteng tao sa ospital namin? Pwede bang malaman ang dahilan ng pagparito mo Dr. Gravalez?" Tanong ni Erhis.
Napatingin sa kanya si James at bahagyang natigilan nang may maalala.
"Oh yes, I almost forgot!" Natatawang saad niya at napatayo saka iginala ang paningin.
Nagtama ang mga mata nila ni Jack na noon ay nakahalukipkip habang binabantayan ang natutulog na si Natsu.
Ilang sandali palang itong tulog. She used her bead to put him in a sleep dahil sa dami ng iniisip nito.
Ngunit masyado siyang nag aalala para dito.
She knows that Natsu's hallucinating the wargon.
At hindi yun maganda. Natatakot siya na baka hindi magtagal ay malaman na ni Natsu kung sino syang talaga.
Nagsipagtayuan narin ang pamilya Montero at napatingin kay Jack. Waring doon lang din nila naalala na may pasyente pala silang binabantayan.
Agad na lumapit si Erhis kay Zero at nagulat pa ito ng makitang tulog ang kapatid.
"He's asleep?" Takang tanong niya sa sarili at bumaling kay Eros na noon ay agad na chineck si Zero.
Bahagya namang gumilid si Jack upang bigyan ng space ang mga kapatid ni Natsu.
"Yes, he is. And it's a good thing." Ani Eros at napatingin kay Jack saka ngumiti rito.
"By the way, who are you? And how did you get in here?" Takang tanong ni Madam kay Jack.
Maging ang mga magulang ni Zero ay takang napatingin din kay Jack at iniisip kung paano ito nakapasok roon.
Napabuntong hininga si Jack at bahagyang pumormal ng tingin sa pamilya ni Natsu.
"My name is Jack, I'm Natsu's friend." Pakilala niya.
"Natsu?" Halos panabay na tanong ng parents ni Natsu maging ang lola at kapatid nitong babae.
"She means Zero. She's the one who saved Zero and brought him here." Si Eros na ang sumagot.
Sukat sa narinig ay napasinghap sila at agad na napalapit kay Jack ang mommy ni Natsu maging si Erhis.
"Oh my! Thank you so much hija! You have no idea how thankful we are for what you did." Anang mommy ni Zero.
Hindi pa man nakakasagot si Jack ay nagsalita din si Erhis at ginagap ang kamay Jack.
"Thank you Jack, for saving my brother. We owe you his life." Nakangiting turan nito at walang anu anong niyakap si Jack.
Bahagya pang nagulat si Jack sa ginawa nito dahil hindi naman sya sanay na hinahawakan. Maging si James ay nagulat din dahil alam niya ang kundisyon ng katawan ni Jack.
Ngunit nakahinga siya ng maluwag nang walang nangyaring masama sa mga ito.
Nang kumalas sa pagkakayakap si Erhis ay bahagya itong natigilan nang matitigan si Jack.
"Wait..I think I know you. I mean, I think we've meet before." Ani Erhis.
Wala namang reaksyon si Jack habang takang napatingin naman kay Erhis ang mga naroon.
"You're Zero's groupmate in a play right?" Nakangiting saad ni Erhis.
"Oh yes, I think I remember her." Ani Madam na bahagya ring lumapit kay Jack.
"Ikaw at yung isa mo pang kasama ang sumundo kay Ezequil nung gabing may practice kayo ng play right?" Anang Madam.
"Yes I am." Sagot ni Jack.
"Oh, what a coincidence. But thank you for saving him. Lapitin talaga sya ng gulo pero sana'y hindi sya naging abala sa iyo."
"Grandma!" Agad na suway ni Erhis sa lola.
"Thank you for saving him hija." Anang dad ni Natsu na hindi na pinansin ang sinabi ng ina.
"But I have something to ask you. Where exactly did you saw my son when you brought him here?" Medyo seryosong tanong nito kay Jack dahil hindi parin ito mapakali kung saan ba talaga dinala ang anak nito.
Bahagyang napasulyap si Jack kay James bago sumagot.
"I saw him lying in the ground. At the intersect point near the school." Sagot ni Jack.
Napaisip ang ama ni Natsu. Ang intersect point na sinasabi ni Jack ay malapit din sa lugar na sinasabi ng mga suspek.
"But I know he was brought somewhere far from school." Dagdag pa ni Jack na syang nakapukaw ng interest ng lahat.
"W-what do you mean hija?" Kinakabahang tanong ng ina ni Zero.
"Just my opinion. If I were the kidnapper. Why would I kidnap a kid and brought him in a place where anybody could see?"
Nagkatinginan ang pamilya ni Zero. Sa isip nila ay may point si Jack.
"Umm..please excuse my sudden interruption." Basag ni James sa kanila.
Napatingin naman sa kanya ang lahat at nagtaka nang lumapit siya kay Jack at inakbayan ito.
"You know each other?" Takang tanong ni Erhis kay James.
"Yes, actually we live together." Sagot niya.
"What?!" Bulalas ng lahat at kasabay ng mapanuring tingin sa kanila.
Agad namang narealized ni James ang sinabi at mabilis itong binawi.
"Of course it's not what you think. She's my sister. I mean, we doesn't have the same last name but she's one of my sister. She and Zero are schoolmate together with my true sister Shane. And I also met Zero at school." Mabilis na paliwanag ni James upang maibsan ang masamang iniisip ng mga kaharap.
"Oh." Halos panabay na sagot ng mga ito.
"Tss!" Napangisi si Jack kay James at bahagyang naglean saka bumulong.
"Enjoying the play Dr. Gravalez?" She teased him.
"Shut up." Sagot naman ni James at kunwa'y walang narinig.
"Well, anyway. I assumed Zero already invited you on Saturday right?" Tanong ni Eros kay Jack.
Bahagyang napatingin si Jack kay Natsu na noon ay tulog na tulog na.
"Yeah." Tipid niyang sagot.
"Well, I guess I'll be expecting you to come." Nakangiting turan ni Eros kay Jack.
"We will Dr. Montero and I hope you don't mind if I invite my other sister coz you know, I can't be separated with my two sisters." Sagot ni James at muling inakbayan si Jack habang matamang nakatingin kay Eros.
Bahagyang nawala ang ngiti ni Eros at sapilitang napatango kay James.
"Of course Dr. Gravalez." Aniya rito.
Nagpalipat lipat ang tingin sa dalawang doctor si Erhis. Hindi pa man ay waring may nasesense na siyang hindi pagkakasundo sa dalawa.
--
Matapos ang usapang iyon ay nagpaalam na rin sina James at Jack dahil medyo gumagabi na.
Habang daan ay di napigilang magsalita ni James.
"I don't like him." Aniya.
"Tss! I guess the feeling is mutual Dr. Gravalez." Nakangising komento ni Jack.
"I know! He hates me that's why I don't like him. I just don't understand why? It's not that I'm going to steal something from him, right?" Di mapakaling turan niya.
"Maybe you just did." Kibit balikat na sagot ni Jack.
"C'mon Jack. It's been a long time. Mukhang hindi na nga nya ako natatandaan and fyi I didn't steal anything from him it's not my fault if he can't handle a simplest lie."
"Why didn't you ask him for what happened?" Patay malisyang tanong ni Jack.
"I never had a chance to talk to him coz after that day we've been running from the shadow hunters. But if he remembered me now why didn't he tell me? He had a chance to asked me for what happened back then, right? So, technically speaking, it's not my fault."
"Okay, sabi mo eh." Patay malisyang sagot ni Jack.
"Well anyway, do you think it's a good idea that somebody knew about us now? What if the Russian learned about this at baka pati ang mga Montero ay madamay. We kept a low profile for the last two years since we got here but why did we exposed ourselves now?" Aniya. He just don't understand why Jack commands him to tell the truth to the Montero's.
Napabuntong hininga si Jack.
"We keep running for the last twenty years of our lives James. Don't you want to have a quiet surroundings after the hurricane?" Makahulugang wika ni Jack.
"But what if we lose? It's not that I'm afraid of losing to them. But I'm scared of losing you, Jack." Aniya rito. Nangangamba siya sa mga posibleng mangyari.
Ang makita sila ng Russian Empire.
Ang makasagupa ng mga Shadow Hunters.
Ang magkagulo ang buong mundo.
At higit sa lahat. Ang paggising ng wargon sa katawan ni Jack.
He is afraid for those possibilities to happen.
Natigilan si Jack.
"You're not gonna lose me James. I promise you that." Puno ng assurance na sagot ni Jack.
Marahan siyang napatango.
"Okay." Aniya at pinagpatuloy ng pagdrive ng kotse.
He trust her. At kapag sinabi ni Jack ay ginagawa nito.
--
However in a hospital..
"Are you okay?" Tanong ni Erhis kay Eros habang inaayos nito ang dextrose ni Zero. Sila na lamang ang natira doon. Nakauwi na ang mga magulang nila maging si Madam.
"Of course I am." Nagtatakang sagot ni Eros sa biglaang tanong ng kapatid.
"Are you sure you want to see Dr. Gravalez on your birthday?"
Natigilan siya at napatingin sa kapatid.
"Why are you asking me that?" Naweweirduhang tanong niya. Sa kanyang pamilya ay si Erhis lang ang madalas niyang makausap at ito lang din ang nakakaalam ng ugali nya.
"Well, alam kong hindi mo sya gusto. Are you jealous of him?"
Napamaang siya sa tinuran nito.
"Why would I be? Tigilan mo nga ako." Asik niya rito. Natawa si Erhis sa sinabi niya.
"I know you. I know when you like and don't like someone kapag kausap ito. That's why I'm asking why don't you like Dr. Gravalez? But you seemed fond with Jack." Pangungulit nito.
"Erhis! Aren't you going to stop?" Medyo iritableng asik niya rito.
"C'mon Eros. Tell me what you think. I'm curious!" Ani Erhis at hinawakan sa braso ang kapatid.
Marahas na napabuntong hininga si Eros saka hinarap ang kapatid.
"Fine! Yes, I don't like him. And yes, I like Jack." Aniya at tinalikuran ito.
"What the...what kind of answer is that? Tell me the reason!" Maang na turan ni Erhis at muling sinundan ang kapatid.
Hindi niya ito tinigilan hanggang sa sumuko na ito.
"You really don't stop until you get what you want, don't you?" Natatawang inirapan niya ang kapatid saka naupo sa sofa. Nakangiti namang naupo sa tabi niya si Erhis at sumandal sa balikat nya.
"Now tell me." Pangungulit nito.
"Alright! Masahol ka pa talaga kay granny kung magtanong. Well, if you insist I don't have a choice dahil siguradong hindi mo ako patatahimikin." Buntong hiningang turan niya.
Napaingos lang si Erhis at hinintay ang sasabihin niya.
"I already met James Gravalez when I'm still studying in US." Panimula niya.
"Really? But how? Did he studied in Harvard too?"
"No, it was just a summer lesson when I traveled to LA for my research and I joined in a scientist team. He happened to be there too and joined the team. I know he's a genius the first time I knew him. But I never thought that he'll be a real genius when it comes to any formula and experiments to think that he was the youngest among us."
Mataman lang na nakikinig sa kanya si Erhis.
"One day, our prof assigned us to make a simple experiments in the field where we good at. I couldn't make even a simplest experiment so I asked for his help and he helped me. He gave me an instruction and made a formula. And when I thought that I already accomplished it our prof found out that he helped me. And he disqualified my works. And I never get any apologized from him. It's clearly, na kunwaring tinulungan nya lang ako so that nobody would surpassed him. He's a bad genius." Iritableng kwento niya.
"And now he seems like he doesn't remember me. That's why I hate it! I hate him!" Inis na asik niya.
Naramdaman naman niya ang paghagod ng kapatid sa kanyang likod.
"It's okay, I understand now." Ani Erhis.
"But what about Jack?" Muling tanong ni Erhis.
"What about her?" Takang balik tanong niya.
"Why do you like her despite the fact that she's Dr. Gravalez's sister?"
"Well, I don't know. Maybe because she's different and she have the guts to talk to me like we're just the same age." Medyo natatawang sagot niya.
"Yeah, I think Jack is more matured than her brother." Segunda naman ni Erhis.
"Tsh, and I like her coz she told me that she love Zero." Natatawang kwento nya. Napanganga naman si Erhis sa tinuran niya.
"What? She really said that?" Hindi makapaniwalang bulalas niya.
"Can you believe that? Someone just confessed me about her love for my brother." Halos di rin makapaniwalang turan niya.
"Oh my God!" Hindi parin makapaniwalang bulalas ni Erhis saka napatingin kay Eros at sabay pa silang natawa sa nalaman.
Hindi kasi sila sanay na may kumakausap sa kanila about sa kanilang kapatid na bunso. Even the Sison girl na malapit sa kapatid nila ay hindi pa nila nakakausap tungkol sa totoong estado ng relationship nito sa kapatid nila.
Kaya naman ang ginawang pag amin ni Jack ng nararamdaman sa kanilang kapatid ay sadyang big deal para sa kanila.
Lalo na kay Erhis.
"Oh, speaking of her. Now I remembered kung saan ko sya nakita." Biglang wika ni Eros nang maalala ang araw na nakita nya si Jack.
"Where and when?" Excited na tanong ni Erhis.
"It was when Zero's admitted here coz he nearly drowned the pool." Aniya habang inaalala ang araw na yun.
"Oh, you mean dinalaw nya si Zero?"
"Yeah, and that's the first time I heard her called Zero's Natsu. And it was funny that even Zeroin was asleep he responded to her and called her Salamander." Natatawang kwento nya.
"Really? Why didn't you tell me about that?" May paghihinampong saad ni Erhis.
"Coz I know you're not gonna stop until you meet her." Aniyang ginulo ang buhok ng kapatid.
"Ehh! Eros!" Kunway inis na hinampas siya nito.
"Call me brother you silly girl!" Aniyang kunwaring sinakal ito sa braso nya.
"Aaahh! It hurts! Stop it you monster!" Natatawang sigaw naman ni Erhis habang pilit na kumakawala sa pagkakaipit ng leeg nito sa braso niya.
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