LEO
Mafia boss. Do youthink it is cool? Do you think it is awesome? D*mn! All of it is allwrong.
Being a mafia bossis like putting a target behind your back while leading the wholefamily and making sure that we will have the best and strongest formin the underground mafia gang.
"Boss? What's theplan?" A spoke from behind. Lemuel Vindice.
"As for now, weneed to observe and wait. We will lure them with their own attack. Wewill end them on their own game." I said while cleaning my gun.
Then, I stood up andlooked him dead in the eye.
"I have a job foryou, Vindice."
He just looked at meas he lightened up his cigarette.
" I want you tokeep an eye on Ansh and whoever is around her. The other family mightsee her as a target that they might use against me and the family."
He just looked at mewith a poker face, which is something that I don't care about as longas he does his job.
"Is that even partof my job here in the family? Parang hindi naman eh."
Nagulat na lang s'yang itutok ko sa kaniya noo ang kanina kong nililinis na baril.
"I am deadserious, Vindice. Take this job that I gave you seriously like yourlife depends on it. . ."
I don't care if Ihave to use all of my power and influence as long as I can keep hersafe from the hands of those ruthless demons.
". . . her life isas important as mine."
If I need to killall of them, I will in order to defend my girlfriend.
***
SOMEONE
It has been a weeksince Ansh's uncle was killed, and it has been a week since I knewsomething that she lost her smile.
Leonardo AugustusCervano. We have already taken our first move and that is just anappetizer, the main course is still about to come.
This is not just abattle or a war between his mafia family against ours, it is a battlebetween Cervano and me for Ansh's heart.
"Hey? Mukhangmalalalim ang tinatakbo ng isip mo ah." Sambit ng isa kongkasamahan sa family.
"So? How does itconcern you?" I just rolled my eyes on him.
Then, he tapped meon my shoulders.
"Just make surethat you are not forgetting your job and responsibility to the mafia.. . or else you can look yourself for a grave, kid," he said beforehe walked away from me.
D*mn! Is thatf*cking bastard trying to intimidate me?
Chill! I should justcalm myself down. He is less of my concern right now. I should focuson taking down Leonardo Augustus Cervano!
***
LEMUEL
IT HAS BEEN A WEEKsince Mr. Cervano asked or I may say ordered me to follow and protectMs. Ansh.
Ang hirap at angboring talaga maging stalker! Hmmp. . . Wala pa akong ma-bingwit nachicks.
Habang naka-upo akosa taas nang puno ng buko at tahimik na nakamasid at nakabantay sanakaupong prinsesa ng magaling kong boss nang maramdaman ko angpag-uga ng sangang kinauupuan ko.
Oh, no. . . Don'ttell me that-
The branch that Iwas sitting on suddenly broke on me!
In a matter ofseconds, I found my huge and juicy body lying on the floor, right infront of Ms. Ansh.
Yari na!
***
ANSH
"HINDI BA IKAW siLemuel? Ikaw 'yong kaibigan ni Leo?" nagtataka kong tanong ngmakita ko s'yang nakahiga sa sahig dulot nang pagkahulog mula sa punong buko.
Ano naman kaya angginagawa n'ya sa taas ng punong 'yon?
"A-Aray,"mahinang pag-inda niya habang dahan-dahang tumatayo mula sapinagbagsakan n'ya.
I went to his aideimmediately and assisted him inside my house.
"Ahm. . .S-Salamat, Ms. Ansh," naka-smirk kong sagot para itago ang kirotmula sa pagka-hulog.
"What are you evendoing up there?" He just looked away and hid his face from me.
"N-Nothing. . . "
Hayst! Ang hiligtalaga magtago nang mga lalaki ng ugali.
I raised my middlefinger right in front of his face at saka ko diniinan ang pilay n'ya.
"ARAAAAY!"Malakas na sigaw pa n'ya.
Instead ofapologizing, I just looked at him with crossed arms.
"Tell me or I'llcall Leo."
Bigla na langnanlaki ang mga mata n'ya nang ilabas ko ang phone ko.
"W-wait. . . Aaminna nga ihh!" Nakataas kamay n'ya pang sabi.
I just looked at himand waited for his response.
"I am. . . I am upin that tree for a certain reason. . ." I can sense the hesitationfrom his voice.
Umupo ako sa tabiniya at saka siya sinuntok as braso niya.
"What was thatfor?" Reklamo pa n'ya.
"Spill the beans!"
Napabuntong-hiningana lamang siya.
"Nakakahiya manpero, aaminin ko na kung bakit ako nasa taas nang puno. . ."
I just looked him inthe eye para malaman ko if he is lying or not. Believe me or not, Iknow how to determine if a person is lying.
". . . I came herefor a reason. I came here to train for our upcoming wall climbingtournament in Cebu City."
Hmm. . . Should Ibelieve him?
"I know that look.Hindi ka naniniwala noh?"
I just looked athim.
"I tried to climbtrees so that I could train my arms and legs. Ang weird man, but itis effective for me."
"Your training isdangerous and weird." I laughed at him.
"Danger? Heck, Ilaugh at the face of danger. . ."
"Besides, if weare talking about danger then Mr. Cervano has nailed thatcharacteristic."
Leo. . . Nasaan kayasiya? I missed him so much.
***
LEO
It has been like twoweeks already since the last time I was in the Philippines. Yep, Iwent out of the country for some important business meeting.
Pagbaba ko ngairport ay agad ako nag-dial at saka ko tinawagan si Lemuel. Anak ngtokwa! Ang bagal sumagot ng loko ah!
"H-hello, boss?"Pabulong na sagot niya na para bang nasa loob s'ya ng isang baul.
"Where the f*ckare you, Vindice?"
"Ah—Boss, I'm atMs. Ansh's location."
That's good.
"Bring Ansh to ourmansion and ask her to wait for me." I ordered before I dropped thecall.
Ngayon na wala na siTito Bernard ay mas kakailanganin niya na magkaroon nang kasangga namakakasama niya sa hirap at saya.
I swear to the graveof Tito Bernard that I will protect Ansh at all cost, even if itcosts my very own life.
I will protect hereven if I have to sell my soul to the devil or even if I have to bethe devil himself.
After I dropped thecall, I immediately drove all my way back to the mansion where my momand Ansh might be waiting for my arrival.
Having me as herboyfriend is really a huge risk to begin with. Having a mafia boss asyour boyfriend is like putting yourself in danger, placing your ownbody as a clear target.
Pagdating ko sabahay ay sinalubong ako ni Mommy ng isang napakahigpit na yakap.
"Leonardo! Imissed you so much!" Bati pa ni Mommy sabay halik sa pisngi ko.
"I missed youmore, mom. Anyways, is Ansh here already? Pinasundo ko kasi siya kayVindice eh."
My mom is also oneof the reasons why I am working so hard to be the strongest, so thatI can protect myself from any danger that may come.
Ansh and my motherare my life, she is my world and I will risk anything and everythingjust to make sure that nobody can harm them. . .
"Nasa k'warto mona si Ansh, 'nak." She replied with a teasing smile.
"Thanks mom, ILove you!" I said before I ran on my way to the stairs.
Sabik na sabik naakong makita muli si Ansh.
Pagpasok ko sak'warto ko ay inabutan ko si Ansh na naka-upo sa kama habangnagbabasa ng libro.
"Ansh. . ."malumanay kong pagtawag sa kaniya.
She looked at me asshe wiped the moisture off her eyeglasses.
"Leo. . ." theway she calls me makes my heart explode.
Marahan akongnaglakad papunta sa kaniya at saka ko siya tinignan sa mga mata niya.
Hinubad ko angsalamin ko at saka ko tinanggal ang sa kaniya.
"Baby. . . Imissed you."
Then, before shecould answer, my body moved on its own.
I kissed her on herlips passionately and she responded to my kiss.
Ugh. . . I love you,Maria Ansherina Hernaez—my one and only.
***
ANSH
ILANG LINGGO na angnakakaraan mula ng magsimula akong tumira dito sa CERVANO MANSION, atilang linggo na rin akong hindi pumapasok sa school dahil sakagustuhan ni Leo na makapahinga na muna ako after everything thathappened.
Waaaah! Nakaka-bagotna talaga dito sa loob nang mansion dahil wala na talaga akong magawaas in. There are also times that I wanna help the maids clean thehouse pero tila natatakot silang pahawakin man lang ako ng kahit anosa bahay.
Ano ba mayroon attakot na takot sila pagawain ako ng gawaing bahay?
"Ansh? Mysweetheart! Anong ginagawa mo dito mag-isa?" A sweet voice camefrom behind said.
Paglingon ko aynakita ko ang mama ni Leo, my future in law—Sandra Cervano.
"Ahh. . . GoodMorning po, Tita." Nahihiya kong bati.
She just smiled atme and sat beside the bench that I am at.
"You know whatiha, you should go on some luxurious gala minsan. Try mo dingmaglibang kahit paminsan-minsan."
Gala? Kailan nga baako huling gumala at nagsaya? Hindi ko na maalala, hindi ko na rinmaalala ang pakiramdam ng tunay na saya.
"Bakit hindi mokaya i-surprise si Leo? Make him feel special, make him drop his jawsoff paf-uwi niya?" Naka-ngising sabi ni Tita Sandra.
Hmm. . . Oo nga 'no?Lutuan ko kaya si Leo? Hmm. . . Tama! Mag-aayos ako at lulutuan kosiya!
"SALAMAT PO TITA!AKO NA PO ANG BAHALA!" Malakas na sabi ko sabay yakap.
"No worries,sweety."
I will make surethat I will make Leo feel something that he hasn't ever felt before.
*****
LEO'S POV
It has been weekssince we have encountered those bastards that tried to kill mygirlfriend, and up to now I can't find anything that can point themout.
I want to know whoare the people behind this incident. I want to know if this incidentis connected to that certain incident from the past.
"Boss? Is theresomething bothering you?" Asahi said while puffing his tabako.
I looked at him witha very serious and blank face.
"Yeah. There arestill some dots that remain a huge mystery to me, Fujoshiki. Somequestions that I definitely want to be answered."
"What's the plan,boss?"
"Trace every dot,track every person and follow the scarlet thread. . ."
"What are we goingto do if we find the person in the middle of the web?"
I looked at him likeI was about to kill.
"That question isa no brainer. . .You find the brain and bring him to me, I will givewhoever that bastard a death that he will even feel even if he hasalready reached the purgatory."
Maya maya ay biglangmay kumatok sa pinto. I asked Asahi to open the door and it was agirl with a ponytail that wore a black leather jacket and a pair ofblack boots.
SABRINA TAMERLANE.
"What do you want,sweetheart?" Asahi said with a blink. Is it just me or creepytalaga kumindat ang gagong 'to.
I draw my gun andfire a couple of shots at them.
"Woooah! Boss!Watch it!" Patalon-talon na reklamo naman ni Asahi.
I just gave him aglare.
"If you want toflirt with each other then get the f*ck out of here before I shootyour head off!"
Asahi backed off fora bit while Sabrina stepped forward with my phone in hand.
"What do youwant?"
She stepped forwardand handed me my phone.
"Boss, yourgirlfriend won't stop calling on your phone. Pinapauwi ka na ata."
I checked on thescreen of my phone and saw 150 missed calls.
What the fudge?!
I quickly dialed hernumber.
"Hello?"
"Hello, baby! I'mreally sorry if hindi ko nasagot tawag mo kanina."
"Uhm. . . Hindi.Okay lang! Alam ko namang busy ka eh."
"H'wag ka namagtampo, mahal ko. Pauwi na rin ako."
"Talaga? Pauwi kana? I will wait for you, Leo."
"I love you. Seeyou later!"
"I love you more,my baby guardian."
Right after I'vedisconnected the call ay agad kong inayos ang mga gamit ko para agadna maka-uwi and just then I realized that Asahi and Sabrina is stillstanding inside the room.
"How long do youintend to stand there?"
"Sabi ko nga ataalis na kami, boss." Nakangising sabi ng loko. Eh kung pasabuginko na kaya bungo ng hayop na 'to?
I just can't wait togo home and see what my girlfriend has in store. Yahoo!
***
ANSH
After ko magluto ayagad akong naligo para for the very least ay fresh na ako pagdatingng boyfriend ko.
Leo has done so manythings for me, he sacrificed and fought for my own sake.
I looked at my nakedbody in front of the mirror and I saw so many imperfections. But,despite all of those, he chose to love and accept me for who I am.
Maya-maya pa aynarinig ko na ang pagdating nang sasakyan ni Leo.
Medyo kinabahan akodoon ah. I want to make him feel special, I want to make his nightspecial.
"Ansh, baby?"Malakas na tawag niya sa baba.
I rushed my waydownstairs and hugged him super tight!
"I missed you,hubby." I whispered in his ears.
He hugged me tightlike there is no tomorrow.
Pagkabitaw niya ayagad ko naman siyang hinila papunta sa kusina para ipaghanda nangmakakain namin.
"W-Wait! Youcooked all of these for me?" He has his eyes wide open whilelooking at all of the foods at the table.
I just nodded at himand gave him the sweetest hug.
Agad naman siyaumupo and instead of sitting beside him, I sat on his lap and startedto cuddle him.
"Makakakain ngatayo nang maayos n'yan." Leo said with a smirk on his lips.
Tumayo naman ako atsaka tumabi na lang sa kaniya upang makakain siya nang maayos.
After eating ayinaya ko siyang umakyat sa rooftop para mag stargazing. The samememory that I have with my parents.
"Leo. . .Stargazing reminds me about my biological parents. When I was a kidwe used to do this a lot. . ." I got distracted when I saw himstaring at my face.
I looked him in theeye and just savored the moment that we have.
"Ansh. . . I swearto you in front of the stars above that I will love you so much, andwill keep on loving you no matter what happens. . . I love you somuch," he said while looking up at the stars.
Magsasalita pa sanasiya nang angkinin ko ang kaniyang mga labi. I played his lips,savored it and owned it.
"Leo. . . I loveyou, my Celestial Guardian."