"Only my caporegimes know about the basement." Saad ni Raphael. Hindi nakatulong na wala siyang suot na pang-itaas sa akin dahil nadi-distract ako pero hindi ko iyon pinahalata. Sa halip, sa kanyang mukha na lang ako tumingin at hindi sa katawan. Mukhang malalim siyang nag-iisip, "one of them must be the traitor."
Hindi naman umimik si Sakaki at tila pinag-isipan din iyon. "So, what's your plan, Young Master?"
"I need to see my consigliere and the high ranks. We're at Code Black." Raphael stated at Sakaki, coldly. "I'll find whoever the traitor is and make sure he or she pays the price of betrayal. The kiss of death awaits."
"Copy that, Young Master. I'll make sure that our advisor and all the ten lords respond to your call." Seryosong sagot ni Sakaki. He saluted to Raphael and to me. Pagkatapos ay tumalikod na siya at nagmadaling umalis.
Bumalik ako sa huwisyo nang walang salitang naglakad si Raphael papasok sa mansion. Tumakbo naman ako para habulin siya. Hindi man lang niya ako sinabihan at iniwan na lang ako nang basta-basta. Oh, wells. What can I say? Typical Aiden Raphael Le Michaelis Guillermes!
"Saan ka pupunta?" Tanong ko kay Raphael. Hindi nakakatulong ang mahahabang hakbang niya. Ibang klase rin ang lalakeng ito. Mahirap talagang kasama sa paglalakad ang mga matatangkad lalo na kung pandak ka! Hindi naman sa sinasabi akong pandak ako, mas matangkad lang talaga siya.
"Bingi ka ba?" Muli kong tanong nang hindi siya nagsalita o kumibo man lang. "Raphael!" Pagsigaw ko. Napatingin tuloy sa aming dalawa ang mga tauhan na naglalakad sa paligid. Kumunot ang noo ko dahil imbes na pansinin niya ako ay nagpatuloy siya sa hagdanan para pumanhik sa ikalawang palapag. Kumuyom ang kamao ko dahil sa inis at walang sabi kong hinawakan ang kanyang pajama nang nasa ikatlong antas na siya ng hagdanan. Dahil dito ay bahagyang nahila ko ang kanyang pajama, it was slightly stretched which caused me to 'accidentally' see his underwear and the words Calvin Klein on its garter.
Lumingon si Raphael sa akin at saka niya tinignan ang aking kamay na nakahawak pa rin sa kanyang padyama. "Tapos ka na ba sa paninilip, Mrs. Lucent?" He asked.
Dahil sa kanyang sinabi ay nabitawan ko ang kanyang padyama, the sound of it as it slapped back on his skin came next, and then I felt my blood going up to my face. "H-Hindi ako naninilip! Nakita ko lang! At hindi ko sinasadya!" Tarantang pagdepensa ko sa aking sarili na hindi naman nakatulong. Things became more heated and awkward. I should have just kept my mouth shut.
I calmed myself down. Raphael seems amused, but he was deadly serious at the same time. Nandoon pa rin ang bakas ng pagtataka at galit sa kanyang mukha. He seems to be asking himself-who would dare betray me? Well, me...
"Hindi mo kasi ako pinapansin kahit na ilang beses na kitang kinakausap." I said when I was already not that flustered.
"I have a lot of things on my mind, Mrs. Lucent. I did not intend to ignore you."
Pumeke ako ng ngiti at tumango, "naiintindihan ko."
"So, what is it that you were trying to say? You have my full attention right now." Why is his hard and cold voice suddenly felt so soft and warm? Why?! How can that be?! I know, this is just me and my ears playing tricks... his voice is still the same, but the tone... somehow, it seems like the chilliness was molten like golds.
"U-Um, I was just asking kung saan ka pupunta at kung pwedeng sumama?" I am sure he's going to meet his consigliere and caporegimes!
I am quite excited to meet them all, especially his advisor. After all, if ever, it'll be my first time seeing a consigliere or an advisor of a mafia boss. Wala kasing tagapayo ang aking ama. I heard that his consigliere who happened to be his closest friend was killed before I was born. Hindi niya pinalitan ang kanyang tagapayo dahil siya lang ang bukod na pinagkakatiwalaan niya. It really becomes harder and harder to trust someone especially if in the long run, you run into traitors who will do anything to bring you down.
"So?" I pressed at Raphael who seems to be lost at my question, "tinatanong ko, saan ka pupunta at kung pwedeng sumama?"
Humarap sa akin si Raphael at bahagyang bumaba ang tingin sa aking mukha. Hindi nakatulong na mas angat ang kanyang kinakatayuan kaysa sa akin dahil nasa dulo pa rin ako ng hagdanan habang siya ay nasa ikatlong hakbang na.
"Pupunta ako sa banyo para maligo. You're very much welcomed to join me."
Namula ako dahil sa kanyang sinabi at bahagyang umurong. Nagulat ako nang hawakan ni Raphael ang aking kamay, "a-ano-"
He silenced me when he pressed his thumb against my lips, "you were so keenly and eager to join me... you're not thinking of running away, aren't you?"
"Huh?" Umiwas ako ng tingin dahilan upang ang hinlalaki niya ay bumahid sa aking pisngi patagilid.
"I'm only teasing you." Raphael said. He sounded a little bit amused. Andoon pa rin ang bakas ng pagkaseryoso sa kanya. How can he be so calm after knowing that one of his lords may be the traitor who set Magento free? And I still wonder, why would the traitor set him free?
Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin nang magproseso sa aking isip ang kanyang sinabi.
"I need to brief you up with my mafia. I'll have you do something while I take a bath. Follow me." Aniya at muling humakbang. Tahimik na akong sumunod sa kanya. Remind me next time to not assume stuffs! "Before you meet my advisor and ten lords, you at least need to have a background."
So, we're meeting them after all! At tama naman siya, bilang asawa ni Raphael na mafia boss ng mapyang ito, dapat lang na mayroon akong alam sa mafia para hindi ako magmukhang mangmang at ignorante.
Tumigil kami sa harap ng kanyang kwarto. He twisted the knob and walked in. Sumunod naman ako't sinara ko ang pinto dahil hindi na siya nag-abala pang hintayin ako. Sa halip, tumungo siya sa kanyang kabinet at binuksan ito. He pushed the tuxedos hanging to the side. Sa dulo ng aparador ay may nakita akong kaha. He twisted the combination passcode on it and the safe ticked open.
Binuksan niya ito at may nilabas na itim na libro. He closed the safe and put the tuxedos back to hide the safe. After closing the cabinet. He looked at me when threw the book at me. I caught the book but it slipped through my fingers. It fell to the cold marble floor.
Agad ko naman itong pinulot nang walang sabi. "Next time, tell me if you're going to throw things at me!" I hissed at him.
Hindi siya umimik. Sa halip ay nagkrus lang siya ng braso. Hindi talaga nakakatulong na wala siyang suot na damit pang-itaas!
"What are you expecting me to do with it?" Tanong ko habang tinitignan ko ang itim na libro. It was hardbound and the paper was cream. May nakaukit sa harap nito sa kulay ginto. Binasa ko naman iyon gamit ang aking mga mata.
Ghi Ultimo Imperno La Lorde En Regulo Morte El Sorta.
The initials of each words were in a darker shade of gold. I read the initials like a word and it formed Guillermes. Halos malaglag ang aking panga dahil sa aking nabasa.
"Mrs. Lucent, if it isn't obvious, I want you to read that book. It is the almanack exclusive for my mafia only. But since we do not have much time, I'm going to specifically tell you the pages that you must read while I take a shower. Listen carefully," aniya, "page 1, 10, 82, 182, 201, 392, and 422." Kabisado ba niya ang buong libro?!
"Wait, I didn't catch all of the pages. Pwedeng pakisulat na lang?"
Nagsalubong ang kanyang kilay. Walang sabi siyang kumuha ng papel sa study table niya at sinulat doon ang mga pahina na dapat kong basahin. He handed me the piece of paper. Pinagmasdan ko siya na pumasok na sa banyo upang maligo. He didn't even waste his energy to at least close the door! Kaya naman narinig ko ang pagragasa na ng tubig, isang hudyat na naliligo na siya.
Read the book now, hoy!
Umupo ako sa tabing kama at hindi nakatulong ang amoy ng paligid. It was his smell. Very masculine and soothing... just the right scent that makes me want to stay... hindi nakakasawa ang amoy. The room is filled with his smell. Well, what can I say? This is his room! Of course, it smells like him! He practically lives here!
Hoy, boba, basahin mo na ang libro!
Binuklat ko na ang libro at dumapo sa unang pahina. It was all about the background of the Guillermes mafia. It was co-founded by Guillermes Guillermez and Aiden Raphael Le Michaelis Guillermes, dahil sa parehong may Guillermes ang kanilang pangalan ay napagdesisyunan ng dalawa na Guillermes mafia ang ipangalan dito.
I practically know that since Raphael told me that before.
Dumapo ako sa ikasampung pahina at namataan ang herarkiya.
On top was the boss who is Raphael of course, then on his side is the consigliere, his advisor. I have yet to meet him. I practically know this as well since my tutor has taught me the ranking and hierarchy of mafias before, especially the traditional ones but it would not hurt to reread stuffs.
Below the boss is the underboss who is Sakaki Pain, then there were ten caporegimes which were termed as the Ten Lords, below them were their crew or soldiers, then at the bottom were the mafia's associates.
I scanned the book according to the given pages and was deeply immersed. This book basically contains a detailed view of the mafia's history and not only about its rules. I processed all the information I got, the book even contains the details of the Ten Lords, even the consigliere.
Ang pangalan ng tagapayo ni Raphael ay Mavis. Nagulat ako dahil babae ito. Halata na ang katandaan niya. Sa litrato pa lang nito ay nararamdaman ko na ang umaapaw na kapangyarihan niya. She is like a femme fatale, a classic one. Kahit man na matanda na ang itsura nito ay andoon pa rin ang bakas ng kagandahan nang dalaga pa lang.
Then there were the Ten Lords, limang babae at limang lalake. They were the caporegimes, they were mostly called as the Dons in short. The five lords were Saint Anthony, Helios Petersburg, Aizen Sebasthian, Law Steele, and Race Davidson. Walang deskripsyon patungkol sa kanila na nakalagay kundi mukha lamang.
Gayon din sa five ladies-Gizelle Anne, Lilieth Lucaz, Paris France, Yuri Sachiko, at Marya Nikkolovich. They were the Ten Lords of the Guillermes mafia and one of them could be the traitor.
When was finished reading the book, I was about to close it but instead, I accidentally flipped the book to page 188... Phantom Rogue, iyon ang nabasa ko. Natigil ako dahil sa aking nabasa. Phantom Rogue. Ito ang samahan ng Guillermes, Marconi, at Amourteirre!
Binasa ko ang nilalaman ng libro.
The Phantom Rogue integration is the official union of the three most prevailing Philippine mafias; Guillermes, Marconi, and Amourteirre. This association is headed by Guillermes Guillermez, the boss of the Guillermes mafia. The goal of Phantom Rogue is to eradicate each mafia's adversaries by joint force. This amalgamation became a notorious order in the underground society. Together, the Phantom Rogue was envisioned to be invincible. With God, the mafia boss of each mafias, Gold, their combined wealth and resources, and Glory, their reign."
Sinara ko na ang libro nang narinig ko ang pagtigil ng pagragasa ng tubig sa banyo. Ilang segundo ang lumipas at lumabas si Raphael, basa ang kanyang buhok at may ilang tubig na tumutulo pa sa kanyang katawan. He was walking bare and naked... umiwas ako ng tingin ngunit masyado ata akong nahuli dahil naaninag ko ang kanyang kalakihan.
I shook the thought away.
Narinig ko ang pagbukas ng kabinet. Mukhang kumukuha na siya ng damit panloob.
"Nabasa mo na ba?" Seryosong tanong ni Raphael.
"O-Oo."
"Good." Tipid na sagot niya. Sa mga sandaling ito, nararamdaman ko ang panunuya ng aking lalamunan. Parang bigla akong nauhaw. Bahagya akong lumingon kay Raphael na ngayon ay nakasuot na pantalon. Pinaresan niya ito ng kulay puti na v-neck shirt. He dressed simply, yet his aura was commanding respect and power. "Let's go." Aniya.
Sabay kaming lumabas sa kanyang kwarto at pumasok sa kanyang opisina na sa harap lang nito. Kinuha niya ang kanyang relo sa kalsunsilyo ng talahayanan niya at sinuot ito.
"Three hours more." Aniya. Naintindihan ko naman agad ang kanyang nais sabihin, tatlong oras pa kaming maghihintay. "You can continue reading if you want." Saad niya at tinuro ang hawak-hawak kong libro.
Inodded and opened the black book.