Chapter 25: Scar that Evokes the A Painful Past
"Why do you keep on writing those letters —" Khael paused for a while at maiging tiningnan ang taong iyon. We had the same culprit in mind but we have different ways of identifying him.
"Why do you keep on writing those letters Justin?", he asked at nagulat naman ang may-ari ng pangalang kanyang tinawag.
"What are you saying Khael? Hindi naman porke't isa kang sikat na high school detective dito sa Athena ay pwede ka ng manturo ng kung sino mang gusto mong maging salarin?", Justin said at tumawa ng mapakla.
"Bridle's famous detective said it too", Khael answered at bahagyang tiningnan ako. The people began whispering aboit me. They can't believe that I'm a detectve too.
"Aheeem. Detective Group. We're called the Detective Triumvirate", wika ni Jeremy. Sumingit pa talaga ito. I glared at him at nginitian niya lang ako ng matamis.
"Right. Bridle's famous detective group would agree on me", pagtatama ni Khael sa unang sinabi niya.
"Paanong naging si Justin? Aren't he a victim too? Siya ang siniraan sa sulat na natanggap ni Jewel", Clarisse said.
"We have this what we call as play the victim? He disguised himself as a victim to hide his real identity."
"Are you saying that he sent a letter to his girlfriend Jewel at siniraan ang sarili niya?", nalilitong tanong ni Jules. "It doesn't make sense."
"Exactly. But if we assume that he wanted to be out of that relationship but unfortunately, Jewel wouldn't agree at nagbanta ng suicide so he deviced a plan like this. It's clear to see that her girlfriend is suicidal kaya ito ang naisip mong paraan para siya na mismo ang makipaghiwalay sa iyo", wika ko na mas lalong nakapagtangis ng bagang ni Justin.
"Ano ba ang pinagsasabi ninyo?", patay malisyang tanong nito. He would deny every word that we'll say.
"Why don't we start with the physical evidence. Look at these letters from the letter sender, pansinin ninyo ang espayo before the indented first word. It's a sort of habit of you Justin. Ikumpara mo ang mga sulat sa school projects mo. It's no doubt that only you got that typing habit", paliwanag ni Khael. Justin laughed.
"Is that your only basis? What if the real cultlprit deliberately copied my typing habit to put the blame on me?"
"It's no doubt that you're the culprit. You're having an affair with Moira right? Kaya gusto mo ng makipaghiwalay kay Jewel", wika ko. He looked at me angrily.
"I told you that I'm not! How would I be the poison-pen writer? Biktima lamang ako! How about the letter J pattern? Ano naman ang koneksyon niyon?", he asked which made Khael flashed a victorious smile.
"I'm not surprised that you said something about the pattern. That's where you want to mislead us. There's no pattern at all. You just saw the oppurtunity of having a J pattern since your name and Jewel's start on J. Maari ring alam mo ang hatred ni Clarisse kay Jules that's why you used the J pattern to make it look that she did it", Khael said.
"Of course not!"
"Maybe Jewel find out that you could possibly be the one who sent the letter kaya dinamay mo na ang iba, of course of the same circle para makarating iyon kay Jewel and and she would clear your suspicions on you", wika ko. It's certainly Justin.
"Another point is Moira. Your accusations to others are not true, yet the one you wrote for Jessica is true. Marahil ay nagkakaroon na sila ng problema sa bahay and your letter triggered some emotions which made her commit suicide. Jessica and Moira are friends, or atleast they exchange text messages", wika ni Khael. Naikwento ko na sa kanya nang mabangga ko si Moira kanina which strenghtens his suspicions about Justin.
"Yes, it might be the thing that she's asking kanina", komento ko. They're like quarelling over a thing that Moira asked him to do.
Napalingon si Justin sa paligid. Maraming estudyante ang naroon at nanunuod sa deduction show namin ni Khael.
Laglag ang balikat na napabuntong-hininga si Justin. "Okay. I'm that poison-pen writer at tama ang lahat ng sinabi niyo kanina. I followed the J pattern to confused people about this but I guess it doesn't work on Athena's resident detective and as well as our guest detectives. The truth is Moira simply wanted me to tell Jessica about the affair of her dad and Moira's mom. Iyon lang ang gusto niya so I wrote the letter but I didn't expect that Jessica would go this far", wika ni Justin. Nakayuko ito na tila ba hiyang-hiya.
"She's struggling with problems at home dahil sa posibleng pangangaliwa ng papa niya and a confirmation from an anonymous writer just broke her heart and made her end her life. I hope this would be a lesson to everyone", wika ni Khael sa lahat ng nandoon.
The case was closed and the police arrived to pick up the corpse and as well as Justin. Everyone congratulated Khael and me for a job well done. Marami ang natuwa sa akin but there are some who thinks that I'm just sticking to Khael and rely on his deductions. Some said na pabida ako which I just ignored.
Everything was settled and everyone went out of the auditorium. Sabay kaming naglakad ni Khael while Jeremy was nowhere to be found.
"You're amazing Special A. It's good working on a case with you", he said habang naglalakad kami papunta sa girls' dorm. Nakaugalian na nitong ihatid ako tuwing uwian.
"Likewise Khael. I'm amazed by how you noticed those little details", nakangiting wika ko.
"I told you, I'm the best detective", wika niya. I was about to say something nang marinig namin ang pagtawag ni Jeremy sa mga pangalan namin.
"Amber! Khael! Hintayin niyo ako!", he was running towards us at humihingal ito nang makalapit na sa amim. He showed us a letter in a pink stationery.
"What's that? Another letter from the poison-pen writer? Je the case was just solved", nakangiwing wika ko sa kanya. Justin already confessed do there's no use in showing us such letter.
Nag-pout si Jeremy at tumuwid ng takbo. "It wasn't from Justin. Basahin mo kasi."
Si Khael ang tumanggap sa sulat at agad na binasa iyon. "Dearest Jeremy Martinez, I'm very happy that you become an exchange student here in Athena even just for 2 weeks and it would be the best two weeks of my life. I really admire you. How you cracked your jokes, alam mo bang binubuo ng pagtawa mo ang araw ko? When you performed as Simoun in your play a while ago, I was more amazed by you! I even cut my class just to watched you perform and I never regretted doing so. I hope we can be friends soon. Sincerly, Mimosa. Ayos dude! May lovelife ka na!", Khael said sabay hampas sa braso ni Jeremy. Napalakas yata ang hampas nito dahil napangiwi si Je.
"Hanapin kaya natin si Mimosa? I'm gonna te her to stop her infatuation to me. Come on, let's look in the masterlist posted in the bulletin kung saang klase ba si Mimosa", wika ni Jeremy.
I gave him a frown. "Sorry to burst your bubble Je but we can't find a certain Mimosa in the masterlist. Obviously that's a pen name that the writer chose to hide her identity. Mimosa is Makahiya, right? Obviously she's shy to show her identity."
"Ganoon pala iyon?"
"Bakla ka ba dude? Ayaw mong may nagkakagusto sayo?", tanong ni Khael. Oh yeah, I was thinking of the same thing too.
Nagtagpo ang kilay ni Je. He folded his blazer's shoulders at hinarap si Khael. "Bakla pala ha, suntukin na lang."
I laughed on his reaction. Hindi bagay dito ang ganoon. He doesn't have the bad boy appeal. He has an overflowing kind and cute appeal.
Khael raised his both arms. "Okay, hindi. I give up."
"Kayo, iniisip ninyong bakla ako. No way! Kapag ayaw sa girls bakla agad? Di ba pwedeng caught in an unrequited love muna?", he said and pouted. Namumuro na ito sa ginagawang pagpout nito.
That somehow caught my interest. Si Jeremy, may unrequited love? "Anong pangalan niya Je?"
Tiningnan niya kaming dalawa ni Khael with the most serious face that he ever had. "Victoria."
"Victoria?"
He gave a wide grin. "Secret!" And he burst into laughter again. Takte, Victoria Secret? Nakahithit ba ng katol na Baoma si Jeremy?
"Alam mo, wala kang kwentang kausap", I told him. Akala ko pa naman seryoso na na may unrequited love siya na si Victoria.
"Pero seryoso. I'm not gay and I'm really caught up in an unrequited love kaya ayokong maging attached sa isang babae kasi may hinihintay ako. Maybe she would like the braceless Jeremy so I'll keep waiting for her. Kaya nga si Bestie lang ang babaeng palagi kong kasama kasi alam kong safe ako kay Bestie. Hindi ako maiinlove sa kanya kasi para kay Gray na siya—"
"What the hell?", protesta ni Khael. Uh, what's Jeremy's problem? And what's Khael's problem too?
"Ang ibig kong sabihin marami ng may gusto sa kanya. Ayoko kasi sa babaeng ako pa ang ipagtatanggol so Bestie is out of my list."
"Hiyang-hiya naman ako sa list mo dude", natatawang turan ni Khael.
"I really got a list. Ang gusto ko kasi sa babae, yung girly, ayoko sa amasonang tulad mo Bestie— ops. No offense meant ha. Tsaka gusto ko yung pormal—"
"Pormal si Special A!"
"Yung lady-like talaga. Not the one who breaks bones", nakangising wika nito.
The hell! So I'm not lady-like? Uh, remind me to sleepwalk later and head towards the boys' dormitory and kill him.
"Ang astig kaya ni Special A! The thing that I like about her—"
"Kaya nga hindi tayo parehas ng type. Gusto ko yung nakaminiskirt, nakaminiskirt talaga. Si Bestie kasi nakaminiskirt na, naninipa pa", he said with a grin.
"So ano nga ang pangalan niya?"
"Victoria nga."
"Victoria?"
"Secret!"
"Victoria Secret?"
"Bingo!"
"Layas. Wala kang kwentang kausap." Jeremy laughed heartedly.
"Saka ko na sasabihin kapag okay na ang lahat. You'll meet her soon. That's a promise", wika nito. Saka ko lamang napansin na nasa harap na kami ng girls' dormitory.
"Mauna na ako sa inyo", paalam ko sa kanila. They bid me goodbye at agad akong umakyat sa palapag kung nasaan ang kwarto namin. I have to rest for now since I'll have a thorough search for Phobie tonight.
***
[This is written in a third person POV about the incident few years ago to explain the events retrospectively.]
17 years ago...
"Good morning baby!", bati ni Sweet Vander Morisson sa apat na taong gulang na anak na lalaki. Pinuntahan niya ito sa silid ng anak. Mahahalata na ang malaking umbok sa tiyan niya ngunit tinago niya iyon sa maluwang na damit.
"Mom, I'm not a baby anymore. I'll have my baby sister Ryle soon right?", sagot ng batang si Ryu. At young age ay alam na nila na may kakaibang talino na ito. He's a genius, no doubt. Bata pa lamang ay mahilig na ito sa computer. He knew a lot of games and other stuff kaysa sa kanyang ina.
Sweet laughed. "Why can you be so sure that it's a baby girl Ryu? I never had an ultrasoynd yet."
"It's because you're blooming. Tito Cool said that when a pregnant woman is blooming, it means that she's pregnant with a baby girl. Remember Tita Syra? It's a baby girl, right?"
The woman chuckled. "Nagmana ka talaga sa pagiging bolero ng tito mo. I'm sure there are a lot of lady that will cry because of you Ryu."
"Mom, boys aren't supposed to make girls cry right?", nakangiting wika ng bata.
"Of course Ryu."
"That's why when I grow up, I won't make any girl cry. Lalo na at may baby Ryle na ako. And I won't let any boy makes Ryle cry. I really love having a baby sister!"
"What if baby Ryle's a boy? Hindi mo siya love?", tanong ni Sweet sa anak.
"Of course, love pa rin. But I already have Cooler as baby brother right?"
"Okay baby. After we had breakfast, let's go to your dentist okay?", malambing na wika niya sa anak.
"Yes Mom!", masiglang sagot ng bata at tumayo mula sa kama at nagmadaling nagpunta sa kusina ng mansion.
Pagdating sa kusina ay nakaupo ang isang lalaking puno ng autoridad sa mahabang mesa. The little boy Ryu immediately climbed in one of the chairs at binati ang nakasimangot na ama.
"Good morning dad!", bati ng bata at pumulot ng isang hotdog ngunit agad pinagalitan ng ama.
"Ryu! Ilang beses ko bang sasabihin sa iyo na maghugas ka muna ng kamay bago pumulot ng pagkain! How can you grow to be a discplined man if you can't follow even a single instruction!", galit na wika ng ama sa nakatungong bata.
"Rion, Ryu is still young kaya pabayaan mo muna. He will learn his everything when he's on the right age", wika nu Sweet. Nakasunod pala ito sa pagbaba ng bata.
"You always spoil your son Sweet! We have to discipline him as early as now! One day they will handle the mafia—"
"Mafia! Mafia! Palagi na lang ang mafia! Bullshit Rion! My son deserve a life too! Hindi naman kailangang puro mafia na lamang kayo! Even Kuya Cool —"
"Cronus is training Cooler as early as now. Kahit magtatatlong taon pa lamang si Cooler ay dinidisiplina na rin niya ito! Cooler will be Zeus and he will handle Vander Mafia together with Ryu!"
"Kailan ba ang huling beses na lumabas tayong pamilya Rion?", tanong ni Sweet sa asawa. She's hurting inside. They're not a normal couple. Yes she love Rion and Rion seems so obsessed with the mafia that's owned by their family. Hindi alam ng kanyang asawa na ipinagbubuntis niya ang pangalawang anak nila.
"Athena—"
"My name is Sweet!"
"Sweet, you know that I'm busy with the explosives that I'm making and—"
Hinarap ni Sweet ang bata. "Let's have our breakfast on a restaurant Ryu. Tayo na", she said at iniwan si Rionessi sa hapag-kainan. Lingid sa kaalaman ng lalaki, it will be the last time that he will see his wife.
Isinara ng driver ang pinto ng kotseng sinasakyan ni Sweet kasama ang anak. She decided to eat outside sa halip na magtalo pa sila ng asawa niya.
Her family is into mafia business ever since she's a kid. Sa kanilang dalawang magkapatid, Cool is the one who got their father's dedication into the mafia. She grew up as a mafia transactor while her brother Cool is the next mafia boss.
She already knew that she'll gonna marry someone who's into their business too. Rionessi Morisson was the son of their head accountant. He was a trusted explosive maker and Sweet fell in love with him and vice versa. Things changed when Cool trusted him so much. Naging abala ito sa ginagawa at nawalan ng panahon sa pamilya.
"Stop crying Mom", pag-alo ng bata sa kanya. Hindi niya namalayan na tumutulo na pala ang luha niya habang inaalala ang pagtatalo nila ng asawa.
"Listen Ryu. I don't want you to grow up like your dad okay?", wika niya sa batang nakatangod sa kanya.
"Of course Mom. Dad made you cry and you told me that it's not a good thing", wika ng musmos.
"Ryu, always remember what I told you okay? I love you son", wika niya at niyakap ang anak.
"I love you more Mom", sagot ng bata sa kanyang ina. Bigla na lamang huminto ang kotse sa marahas na paraan which caused the kid Ryu to fly inside the vehicle as well as the Sweet smashed on the other side of the car.
"Ryu!", she called for his son's name and he saw him on the other side of the car but she was able to take hold of him. The kid was clueless about what's happening. All he just knew is that they bumped and got such impact. The car rolled over at nakatihaya ito sa tahimik na daan. Nang lingunin niya ang driver ay nawalan ito ng malay. The car tripped over but thanks to her, holding his son to keep him safe.
"Mom....."
Sweet saw the two guys get of the other car that bumped them. One was a girl designed in a gothic manner while the other was a guy with a big scar on his left eye.
Kilala sila ni Sweet at sila ang taong ayaw niyang makita. The mafia traitors. Pan and Ganymede.
They were mafia reapers who were exiled due to dishonesty. Nalaman nila na nagpupuslit ng mga armas si Pan while Ganymede was giving information about the Vander Mafia to another Mafia na hindi na kilala sa industriya.
Sweet got the gun on her shoulder bag. For the first time, she feared death. Hindi dahil sa kanyang buhay kundi sa dalawang nilalang na mahalaga sa kanya. Her very own Ryu and her baby inside her womb.
Kinuha niya ang anak at lumabas ng kotse. Bago pa man sila tuluyang lapitan ng dalawang assassin. "Ryu, hide in those trees from behind."
"But Mom...." Nahihilo pa ito but being a smart child, he knew that something isn't right.
"Listen to me! I need you to hide there! Now go!!", sigaw niya sa natatakot na anak. It's the first time that she yelled at him. Kailangan niyang gawin iyon bago pa man ito makita ng dalawa.
Tumakbo ang bata sa gilid ng daan at nagtago sa mga puno na nasa paligid. Sweet went out if the car at hinarap ang dalawa.
"Good to see you Athena", bati ng babae sa kanya. She was carrying a Koch MP5 submachine gun. Kung ikukumpara iyon sa dala niyang revolver ay walang panama ang dala niya. Her sudden departure at the mansion caused their bodyguards to missed them. Mula kasi nang magkaanak siya ay ipinagpilitan na ng kapatid niyang si Cool na may bumuntot sa kanila na bodyguard.
"It's never good to see both of you traitors", wika niya at mapaklang tumawa si Pan. The laughter of a devil.
"Malaki yata ang umbok ng tiyan mo. You're expecting a baby? Too bad, mukhang hindi mo na siya maisisilang pa", Ganymede said. "My Koch wanted to work."
"Well my revolver too", sagot niya. Hindi mababakas sa boses niya ang takot but in reality she's shaking in fear. She wanted to live for her children.
To Ryu who was watching from behind a tree, he almost screamed when the gothic lady shoot her gun to his mom. Nakita niya kung paano napatalon ang mama niya sa gilid ng kotse nila and he's so worried! Her mom's doctor said that she should avoid doing dangerous activity. Binawalan nga siya ng doktor sa paglalaro sa tiyan ng mommy niya and now he just saw his mom jumped like she's not pregnant at all!
Tumulong na din ang kasama nito sa pagbaril. His mom fired back but two versus one isn't fair at all. He saw how her mom shoot her gun too but her small gun has no match for the big weapons of the two. He saw a red blot on her mom's pale blue dress and he's sure that it was blood. He wanted to run towards her and save her from those bad guys but have no weapons to fight.
Nakarinig siya ng mga papalapit na busina and he saw familiar cars towards their direction. Sasakyan iyon ng mga taga Vander Mafia. He saw his Tito Rofus fired a gun at a two bad guy. He hit the guy but he fired back kaya napatago ulit sa sasakyan ang tito niya.
Ryu saw his mom struggled as he tried to crawl away from the car but it was too late. The gothic girl sniped at the car's fuel tank and he just saw himself ran towards her but it was too late!
Bago pa man siya makalapit nang tuluyan ay sumabog na ang kotse with her mom and baby sister. He rushed towards the safe side ngunit nahagip siya ng lumilipad na pinto ng kotse and it hit his back. The last thing that he remembered is that nagpatuloy ang palitan ng putok and then everything was pitched black.
The 3-year old Ryu woke up in a white room. Nakadapa siya sa kama and he felt something in his back hurts a lot.
"Ryu...."
Napalingon siya sa nagsalita. It was his Dad, Rionessi Morisson. Malago ang balbas nito sa mukha like he haven't shaved for few days.
"Dad.... Where's mom?" Tanong niya at nilingon ang paligid. He saw his cousin Cooler on one side at kasama nito ang ama nito. Marami ang naroon and he was sure that he isn't in a hospital but rather in the Vander mansion.
"Dad... Mom is ...." He doesn't wants to cry. His Tito Cool told him and Cooler that Vanders must not cry.
"Ryu...."
"Dad, mom is .... Ryle..." He can't even said the word. It's to tragic for a four-year old to witness such cruelty.
Napakunot ang noo ng kanyang ama. "Ryle?"
"Ryle.. My baby sister..." He must not cry. Atleast not in front of everyone.
"Your mom is pregnant? I thought she's just getting fat..." Nabasag din ang tinig ng kanyang ama but Rionessi is a strong man and he never cries.
"Ryu? Your mom is pregnant?", pag-uulit tanong ng tito Cool niya. He was his idol. They're close at mas naramdaman pa niya ang pagmamahal ng isang ama mula sa kapatid ng kanyang ina kaysa sa sariling ama niya mismo.
The poor kid slowly nodded. He's on the brink of crying ngunit bigla na lamang siyang hinila ng ama mula sa kama. He arched his back when he felt too much pain from his back.
"Dad....... It hurts!"
"Why didn't you fucking tell me?" Maririnig sa boses nito ang galit at hinanakit.
"Dad...."
"Tartarus! Nasasaktan ang bata!", saway ni Cool.
"I don't care! You wouldn't understand me Cronus! I just lost a wife and a child!"
Napangiwi sa sakit ang bata ng hinila siya ni Cool mula sa kamay ng ama.
"And I just lost a niece and the only sister that I had!" Nagsukatan sila ng tingin and no one dared to give up. "She's my only sister I had! And you still have a son, now tell me how wouldn't I fucking understand you?"
Rionessi took a deep breath bago umalis sa kwartong iyon. Everything was clear to the young Ryu. He just lost a mother and a sister and it seems that he lost a father too.
After 8 years...
"Ryu! Play with me", yaya ng sampung taon na si Cooler. He was holding a basketball at kasalukuyang naglalaro sa malawak na bakuran ng Vander Mansion.
"Sorry Cooler but I can't. I don't want to", tanggi ni Ryu. He was busy doing something in his laptop. He's eleven years old and a computer-obsessed kid.
"Yan naman ang palagi mong sinasabi eh—"
"Cooler look! I just hacked the camera 68 on the conference room!", masigla niyang wika. Lumapit sa kanya si Cooler at tiningnan ang ang screen ng laptop ng pinsan. They saw some guys in a long table kasama ang mga ama nila. Looka like they're discussing something.
"Lagot ka, you did it again! Pagagalitan ka na talaga ng Daddy mo", Cooler said. He threw away the ball at naupo sa tabi ng pinsan.
"You watched the footage too kaya tayong dalawa ang mananagot, that if you would tell them again about the hacking that I just did", wika niya sa pinsan. He received a good beating the last time he messed up with the list of clients on the mafia's site.
"Fine hindi kita isusumbong", wika ni Cooler. They're bestfriends/cousins. Hindi pa sila nag-aaway and everytime Cooler is bullied at school ay palaging nariyan si Ryu upang ipagtanggol ito.
"But I'm gonna tell them..."
Sabay silang napalingon sa walong taong gulang na batang babae. She got a milk-white skin and long brownish hair. May malaking laso pa ito sa kanyang ulo.
"Stefanie", tawag ni Cooler sa bata. "Nandito ka na naman? You're messing up again here! Noong huling beses ay sinira mo ang superman glass collection ko!"
"Isusumbong ko kayo!", masungit na wika nito. She's the daughter of a reaper na bahagi ng mafia nila.
"What do you want?", mahinahong wika ni Ryu. He's the second eldest among the mafia kids after his cousin Ryza Raine Morisson kaya as much as possible ay kailangang matanda din siya mag-isip upang maayos na mahawakan ang kanyang nasasakupan since he will be a mafia boss soon.
"I want you to marry me when we grow up", deretsahang wika ng batang si Stefanie. "And you Cooler, don't call me Stefanie. Call me Mnemosye. Dad said that will be my codename when I grow up and serve Vander mafia."
"Ryu will not marry you. He will not marry. Besides he like someone at school!", wika ni Cooler which made little Stefanie pout.
She grabbed Cooler by the arm at malakas na pinisil ang braso nito which made Cooler winced in pain. "He can't like anyone. Ryu is for Stef and Stef is for Ryu!"
Bigla siyang hinila ni Ryu palayo kay Cooler which made Stef fell in the ground. "You can't hurt Cooler, he's your future boss and your just a reaper!", wika ni Ryu sa bata.
"A reaper?"
"Yes, just like your parents and we're the boss here so you have to follow orders from us!", Ryu yelled at young Stef which made the latter cry. He remembered what his mom always told him. Never make a woman cry and he just did. In fact he always did. He used to make his girl classmates cry. He put a wad of gum in their hairs, minsan ay kinukulayan niya ang puting uniform ng mga classmates niya, and he tied their bags on the chairs. Malinaw pa sa kanyang isip ang payo ng kanyang ina but he just ignored it. Wala nang saysay ang mga iyon dahil wala na rin ang kanyang ina.
Hindi lamang mga babae ang pinapaiyak niya sa school kundi maging ang mga kaklase niyang lalaki and even his teachers. He punched his classmates without any reason and smirked at them. He put his pet snake on his teacher's desk which made his teacher almost suffer a heartattack. Minsan na din siyang naging sanhi ng kaguluhan sa pribadong paaralan na pinapasukan nila when he brought a pellet gun at school which looks so good as a real one. Itinutok niya ito sa kanilang guidance counselor when he was brought in the guidance office after he kicked his classmate. Since then his last name become trouble and each day passed and the gap between him and his father is getting longer.
Patuloy lamang sa pag-iyak si Stefanie habang nakasalampak sa malamig na sahig. Ryu and Cooler didn't bother to help her up hanggang sa dumating ang dalawang batang lalaki.
The other kid which was of the same age or only a month younger than Cooler helped her up. Kapagkuway tiningnan nito ng masama sina Ryu at Cooler.
"Don't your parents told you to respect women?", tanong nito habang tinutulungan nila ng kasama niyang tumayo si Stefanie. His name was Rafael Red Villan o mas kilala nila bilang Red. The boy with him was Allen Dave Cordova. Both of them were sons of the mafia reapers and they're known to grow up and become like their parents.
"Wala kang pakialam Red. Magiging boss mo rin kami balang araw kaya dapat matuto kang gumalang sa amin habang maaga pa", wika ni Ryu.
Red helped the girl clean her clothes. Pinagpas niya ang damit ng babae at sinagot si Ryu. "Hindi ako gumagalag sa mga batang wala rin namang galang sa kapwa."
He smirked at the kid who just stared at him like he was challenging him. Sabay silang lahat na napalingon sa laptop ni Ryu ng makarinig sila ng tunog doon. A screeching sound and then recorded voices. Ryu just smiled. He hacked the computerized intercom that was in the conference room. He had struggles in doing so buy after few try and he run a system, he just did it. Napalapit silang lahat sa laptop at nakinig doon.
"Cronus, you said it yourself. You loved an amateur sleuth. Kung hindi mo nga siya napilit na kunin ang anak mo noong hindi pa siya tuluyang naging alagad ng batas, ngayon pa kaya na magiging abogado na si Iverone?", wika ng isang boses and they're sure that Ryu's father owned such voice.
"Mahirap ang sitwasyon noon Rion. You knew that her parents are both part of the police samantalang kahit high school pa lamang ay tumatanggap na ng detective works si Ivy. She used to helped the police a lot, but I want my son. Alam mo bang henyo din siya katulad ni Ryu?", wika ng boses ni Cronus.
"Sa tingin mo ba ay makukuha mo ang anak mo ngayong nag-asawa na si Iverone? I heard that he married a police turned businessman. Napamahal na sa kanila ang bata. Arvie Silvan raised the kid for eight years. I've heard that he's legally adopting your kid. Hindi na Roa ang dadalhin niyang apelyedo kundi Silvan na."
"You know me Rion. Masaya na ako ngayong masaya si Ivy. Besides hindi naman pinagdadamot ni Arvie si Coolest", sagot ni Cronus. Lingid sa kaalaman nila ay nakikinig ang limang bata sa kanila. "And they named him Gray Ivan. Wala man lamang sinunod si Ivy mula sa pangalan ko."
"Why don't you settle with Samantha? Or Dharlyn? You can have a mafia first lady with Cooler's mom."
"Alam mong hindi kami compatible ni Dharlyn. Isa pa ay masaya na din si Dharlyn sa buhay niya. She found love that she can't get from me. Yes we're compatible in bed but not as lifetime partners."
Narinig nilang tumawa ng mapakla si Rionessi. "You shouldn't believe in love Cronus. Don't love to much dahil kapag nawala sila sayo, you'll be gone crazy."
"I still believe in love Rion at kung mawala man sila, I'll still live", matatag na wika ni Cronus.
Halos hindi makagalaw ang batang si Cooler habang nakikinig. He got a younger brother? Ipinagpatuloy nila ang pakikinig.
"Oh Cronus. Dahil abala sa kanyang pag-aaral si Ivy, alam mo bang iniiwan niya ang bata sa kapitbahay nila? No, not totally leaving him. The boy got two neighbors as buddies. One's a son of a police chief and a businesswoman while the other's a son of the owner of Deltran Resorts and Spa. Not bad for future mafia buddies", natatawang wika ni Rionessi. "Their route for today is on the mall and I asked Demeter to take the kid for a while."
"But—"
"Don't worry. They won't harm anyone. Kakaibiganin lamang nila ang nag-aalaga."
That was the last conversation that the kids heard dahil bigla na lamang pinulot ng isang babae ang laptop. It was Ella, the kid's governess.
"Nasa harap ka naman ng laptop mo Sir Ryu, pagagalitan na naman ako—"
"Give me back my gadget!", singhal niya sa babae.
"Hindi pwede. And you Red, Stef and Dave, tapos na ang meeting ng mga Daddy niyo, you can all go", wika niya at agad naman na umalis ang tatlong bata.
Cooler was still surprised that he got a little brother. "I can't accept him!" He said nang makapasok na sila sa loob ng silid ni Ryu. It wasn't Ryu's room but Cronus made it as Ryu's dahil madalas na doon matulog ang bata.
He looked angrily at Cooler. "Ayaw mo sa kapatid mo and here I am dying to see my baby sister na hindi ko na kailan man makikita."
The young Cooler felt the pain in Ryu's words. Humingi siya ng dispensa sa pinsan and promised him that he will never despised his younger brother kapag nakilala niya ito.
On the other hand...
"Yeheey! We're having ice cream!", masiglang wika ng walong taong gulang na si Zywon. Kasama niya sa bahay nila ang mga kaibigang sina Khael at Gray na mas kilala sa tawag na Mikmik at Ae-ae na kaedad lang niya. Zywon got a nickname too which was Aywon,which was from his little sister Crystal na hindi pa masyadong nakakapagsalita.
"Of course Aywon. Kasama natin si Mikmik at Ae-ae, right boys?", tanong ng magandang babae sa dalawang walong taong gulang na mga bata.
Ae-ae nodded happily while Mikmik frowned. "I can't Tita Emerald. I have tutorial lessons today", he said.
Ngumiti ng matamis si Emerald sa bata. "No worries Mikmik, lalabas din tayo sa susunod okay?" Nakangiting tumango ang bata bago nagpaalam a
sa kanila. Sinusundo na kasi ito ng isang katulong. They lived on the same subdivision at magkatapat lamang ang bahay nila.
"Let's go Ae-ae? Ivy said she had a mock trial today kaya dito ka muna", Emerald said and the smartboy nodded.
"Yes Tita!"
"Yehey! Kasama si Ae-ae!", Aywon shouted at agad na hinila si Ae-ae sa kotseng gagamitin nila. "Mauna na kami sa kotse mama!"
The two boys headed towards the car at hindi naman naglaon ay sumunod na si Emerald sa kanila and they're heading towards the mall. Hindi pa sila masyadong nakakalayo ay napansin nila ang sumusunod na pulang kotse.
Emerald is a fearless woman, a trait which was acquired by Aywon. Inutusan niyang huminto ang kotse at pinara ang pulang kotse na sumusunod sa kanila. Agad naman iyong huminto ay nakipag-usap sa kanya.
"My name is Demeter. Kaibigan ako ng tunay na ama ni Gray, can I have him for a while? Please?", the woman asked.
Hindi lingid sa kaalaman ni Emerald ang tungkol doon. She's Ivy's bestfriend kaya alam niya ang tungkol sa ama ng anak nito. "Oh, kung maipapangako mong maibabalik mo agad ang bata bago matapos ang araw." Emerald knew that Gray needed some time with his real father. She trusted Demeter dahil minsan na niyang nakita ito kasama ang dating kasintahan ni Ivy. She thought she's her secretary or the likes.
"Ae-ae, hali ka dito", tawag niya sa bata na agad lumabas ng kotse kasama si Aywon.
"Bakit po Tita?"
"Sumama ka muna sa Tita Demeter mo, okay lang ba?", she asked the kid. Nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin nito sa kanila ng babae.
"But Mama, diba po mag-a-ice cream tayo?", tanong ni Aywon.
Ae-ae stared at the lady for a while, as if his young eyes are carefully assessing him. "But Mom said that I shouldn't go with strangers", wika ng bata. Bumaba ang babae upang maging pantay na sila ng bata.
"Gray, my name is Tita Demeter. I'm not a stranger anymore so you can come with me. Let's go?"
Napaatras ang bata nang tinangka siyang hawakan ng babae. "I just knew your name. How about your last name? Telephone number? Your email? Basic facts about you? I don't know them so basically you're still a stranger to me."
Napangiti si Demeter sa bata. He's really smart, a perfect trait for a future mafia boss of Vander Mafia. Magsasalita pa sana siya ng may dumating na isang itim na kotse at lumabas ang isang babaeng nakasuot ng itim. The same woman who ambushed Sweet Vander's vehicle.
"Demeter. Another Vander huh? It's good to kill another heir of Vander Mafia", nakakalokong wika ng babaeng nakasuot ng itim at gothic ang ayos.
Emerald looked at the two young boys. "Aywon, Ae-ae, back into the car now", wika niya sa dalawang bata.
"What's Vander Mafia Mama?", tanong ni Aywon sa ina.
"No time to explain. Bumalik na kayo sa kotse. Manong, ialis niyo ho ang mga bata", utos niya sa driver ngunit tumawa ng mapakla ang babae.
"Who among the two is the youngest Vander? Both of them looks so adorable and my little buddy's bullet wanted to penetrate their little bodies."
"Hindi mo na iyan magagawa Ganymede! Nakaisa ka na kay Athena at sa anak niya. There's no way you'll get another Vander, you traitor!", sigaw ni Demeter.
"Ah. I guess this kid with Cronus' dark eyes is the young Vander", wika niya at tiningnan si Ae-ae. "Hello Kiddo. I'm your darkest nightmare."
Bigla na lamang silang nakarinig ng putok ng baril and they saw the gothic woman bleed on her arm.
Hindi man lamang ito natinag at masamang tiningnan si Demeter na siyang nagpaputok. "You fired first Demeter and you'll regret it. We'll haunt down every member of the Vander Mafia."
The next thing was brutal and blurry to both of the little boys. Naging maingay at madugo iyon. The last thing that the boys remember was that their car was driven by a wounded Demeter and Emerald was hit with a bullet while the young Zywon was grazed with a bullet on his shoulders. It hurts a lot but seeing his mom suffered hurts more hanggang sa bawian ito ng buhay. It ws very tragic for the young Zywon at isa lang ang hindi mawala sa isip nito, he will surely take revenge for the Vander Mafia.
****************************
Amber's POV
I woke up by eleven in the evening. Matapos akong bumili ng iced coffee at cookies kanina ay natulog na agad ako. I'm planning for a search and rescue operation for my roommate Phobie. I want to kiss myself for putting myself into trouble. Kung sino man ang kumuha kay Phobie, I know they won't spare my life too.
Tumayo ako sa kama at nagbihis. I chose to wear an all black outfit upang hindi ako mapansin ng kung sino man. Nakakaalarma na ang pagkawala ni Phobie yet the dorm management aren't doing anything to find her. It's already curfew time kaya malamang ay sarado na ang main door so I chose the other way. Pumili ako sa daan na ginamit ni Zywon at Khael and Khael's way is easier for me. Kung unggoy si Khael ay pusa naman ako. I can easily carry my light body kaya simple lang sa akin ang lambitin ko sa bawat baluster ng palapag.
I can clearly see the ground at nang matantiya ko na kaya ko na iyong talunin ay agad akong bumitaw. I was expecting the cold hard ground ngunit muntikan na akong mapasigaw nang may tao and I ended landing on that person's body as we both fell on the ground. My eyes widened when I saw that person.
"G-gray?"
#
-ShinichiLaaaabs