SKY'S POV
"Hey Sky, what are you doing?" dinig kong tawag sa akin ni Kia sa hindi kalayuan.
Napatingin akong muli sa larawan nina Aunt Xandra at Alex. Pinagmasdan ko ulit ito ng mariin na para bang unang beses ko pa lamang itong napagmasdan. Could I possibly get the answers from Xander's actions before and inform Alex about it now? Is the future that Alexander keeps on talking about are these days?
I can't help but to think about it.
"Nothing. Sige na, susunod na ako." sagot ko nang nakatutok pa rin ang paningin sa kuwadrado ng mag-ina. This was the last portrait of them together.
If I think about it, those terrible scenes back then when we were still young were never a coincidence nor an accident. There's no such things in this world. There is only a necessity. The granting of what's already predetermined.
Could I? I guess, I could.
Iniwan ko ang kinatatayuan ko nang nakataas ang isang sulok ng bibig ko. Because finally, I have my resolve. I was about to continue devising a plan of searching for answers for my almost eleven year old questions when I found my friends standing like statues in front of the huge wooden door which leads to the master's study room and office.
Nilapitan ko naman sila kaagad upang tanungin. Lalo na at batid naming lahat na wala kaming dapat sinasayang na oras sa ngayon. "What's wrong? Ba't hindi pa kayo kumatok?"
The answer I got from all of them are their index fingers directing to the armed guards from the doors' sides, pointing their necks with guns. Oh boy. Now, I know what they meant.
"We are expected guests of the master so kindly put down your guns. It's inappropriate." I told them, as I was also scared for my friends' lives. I mentioned it before. This is not a safe haven. This is a territory of a mafia. The guards then look at me meticulously as if they are wondering of who the hell I am to tell those to them.
At least, on the short note, they lowered their guns. "Who the hell are you?" they both asked. And now it's the time for me to wonder. Do they even know who are they talking to right now?
Napansin ko naman ang sama-samang mga tingin na itinapon sa akin ng mga kaibigan ko. The uneasiness and doubts from their eyes before are slowly resurfacing and may eventually take them over if I don't do a thing to at least introduce my stake in here.
Tumikhim muna ako nang sa gayon ay sa maayos at seryosong tinig nila mismo malaman kung sino ako. How dare they mock me as if I'm not a Cromello and a close officer of Xander's? Mga bagong salta ba ang mga ito? If they are then, I want to send them the message that I don't find this action so funny.
"My name's Skyzzer Yuan Cromello Sanchez. Master Alexander's and Miss Alexandria's cousin. My mother's the late Miss Edeline Cromello. So, if you don't want to make your heads rolling on this carpet right now, you should stop blocking our way and open the damn door."
Hindi naman maitatanggi ang pagkagulat at pagkapanindig ng kanilang mga katawan buhat ng kung paano ko ipinakilala ang sarili ko sa kanila. Hindi naman ako magsasalita ng ganoong banta kung madali lang silang pakiusapan. I told them to let us in once. I'm a young master here. They are not supposed to make me say it twice.
Don't try to take my hellish side out of me. I'm not really in the mood.
"W-What if y-you're not telling the truth?" nanginginig ang boses na sabi ng isa.
Sa isip-isip ko, gustong-gusto ko na sila pagpuputukan ng baril sa ulo. Sa dami ng iniisip ko sa ngayon, sa tingin ba nila ay may oras pa ako para makipaglokohan? Hindi rin ba sila tinuruan na kapag nasa harapan nila ang mas nakatataas sa kanila ay huwag na huwag nila itong tututukan ng kahit anong armas?
At dahil mas lalong hindi ko gustong masira ang umaga ko sa oras na magpakawala ako ng mga bala, sinubukan kong ikalma kahit papaano ang sarili ko. Bumuntong hininga muna ako at saka sinenyasan sina Edward na lumayo muna ng kaunti sa kanila at pumunta sa likuran ko.
"Hey, did Sky eat a piece of thing last night or did he even get a slightest nap yesterday?"
"I think not."
"Then, that's the biggest problem."
"Poor souls."
Gagawa na sana ako ng aksyon para maisakatuparan sa katotohanan ang banta ko nang pumarinig sa pasilyo ang tinig ng taong halos isang taon ko nang hindi nakikita at nababalitaan. Argh. Good timing.
"Anak! Sky! Oh my goodness! You're here!" matinis nitong bulalas at naramdaman ko na lang ang biglaang pagsampa niya sa likuran ko. Halos mawalan naman ako ng balanse at hininga sa pagkakapulupot ng mga braso niya sa akin.
Katanda-tandang tao naggagaganto pa.
Napabagsak na lamang ang mga balikat ko at kahit papaano ay nagpapasalamat dahil nahimasmasan ako sa tinig ng babaeng ito. I nearly tried to kill these men. What am I doing? Seriously. "Mom, get off. You're heavy." nagmamaktol kong daing at nagyuyugyog pa para pababain siya.
Kalaunan ay naramdaman ko naman na ang pagbaba niya kung kaya't napatayo na akong muli ng tuwid. At sa oras ng pagharap ko sa kaniya ay malaking yakap at sandamakmak na halik sa mukha ang ibinungad niya sa akin. The old ladies' red lipsticks, ugh!
"Ms. Genevieve. Greetings, milady." Natawag naman ng pansin niya ang pagbati at pagbibigay galang ng mga guwardiya sa kanya na siyang naging dahilan upang tigilan na niyang lamugin ang gwapong mukha ng nag-iisa niyang anak. Geez.
My stepmother is unable to produce a child during her marriage with my father so she decided to dedicate her whole life of taking care of me and protecting me from any harm. I'm kind of guilty now for not visiting her so often. I've missed her.
"Guards, please let them enter. This child is my son. He is telling you the truth." pahayag niya sa mga tagapagbantay kaya naman tila ba napahiya sila sa mga paunang inasal nila sa harap ko kani-kanina lang. Mababakasan din sila ng nerbyos sapagkat napagtanto nila ang katumbas na kaparusahan ng mga isinakilos nila.
Magagalak na sana ako nang todo sa pabor na ginawa niya para sa aming lahat kung hindi lang ako nakatanggap ng kutos nang wala sa oras. "Mom! What is that for?!"
"Ayan ang napapala ng mga hindi dumadalo sa mga mahahalagang pagkikita-kita ng pamilya. Hindi ka tuloy nila nakilala! You, ungrateful child! You didn't even think about an old woman waiting for you to come visit her and tell her some stories of your adventures!" panenermon nito na bakas ang hinanakit at pagtatampo sa akin. Animo'y batang nakapahaba pa ang nguso at umarte pang mistulang umiiyak.
Ayos na e. Manlalambot na sana nang sobra-sobra ang puso ko. Kaso may kasamang hampas at palo pa ang drama niya. Hindi pa man din kami sumasabak sa laban, nananakit na ang mga braso't dibdib ko. Ang mga babae talaga.
"W-Wait! Which among my pictures did you show to them in order for them to recognize me anyway?" pagpapahinto ko sa kanya sa mga hampas niya. Ang sakit na kaya!
How come they weren't able to recognize me? There should be a reason, of course. Sankaterba ang mga litrato ko kay mama at kahit sa facebook ko. Imposible namang hindi nila ako kaagad makilala.
Nanahimik naman siya sandali at umastang nag-iisip nang pagkalalim sa pagtingin sa alpobreng kasing pula ng dugo. Para siyang isang batang naghahanap ng paraan para makalusot sa isang kasalanang nahuli siyang ginagawa ito. As expected.
"Let me guess. If it is not my sixth grade graduation photo, it is most likely to be my picture when I attended my first junior-senior promenade, huh?"
"Hehehe, sorry."
I can't help but to slap my face right at this moment. Of course they wouldn't be able to know that it is I! I was like a five month-old fetus at those pictures for Pete's sake! How could she expect they could know someone who is already eighteen with those pictures!
Nabalik naman ako sa wisyo at napatigil sa pag-aalala sa reputasyon ko bilang nakatataas na kasapi ng samahan nang pumasok sa usapan si Spade. "I apologize to ruin the moment but I hope we can enter now to talk to your leader." he politely said. Andyan pa nga pala sila. Worse, they heard about the pictures. Damn.
Agad na napadako ng tingin sa kanya si mama at tiningnan siya mula ulo hanggang paa. Uh-oh. Mom, Spade is not comfortable with that kind of observing look. Pero kahit na ba tinatapik-tapik ko siya ay hindi natinag si mama sa pagtingin kay Spade na para bang isa itong manikang kinahihiligan pa rin niya hanggang ngayon.
"Excuse me?" nasambit na lamang ni Spade. Uncomfortability evident on every inch of his face.
Wala namang nasabi si mama sa kanya ngunit bago niya kami iwan para makausap si Kuya Xander ay nag-iwan siya ng mga salitang sa tingin ko ay hinding-hindi rin makalilimutan ng mga kasamahan ko.
"Everything will be alright. Everything will be falling to it's rightful places soon. Good luck to all of you. Alea iacta est."
Alea iacta est? Huh?
"What's that? Is Sky's mom an alien too like Rennei?"
"Shut up, you little monster."
"Anyway, come over to my room after you're done. I have to go. I love you." at dinampian niya ako ng isang marahang halik sa aking noo tulad ng lagi niyang ginagawa. Pinagmasdan naming lahat ang paghakbang niya papalayo. Para bang mabibigat at mababagal ang mga hakbang na iyon ngunit sa kabila nun ay napakabilis ng pintig ng puso ko.
Para bang may kung ano sa mga iniwan niyang kataga.
"Young master, please do enter the room now. We wish for your pardon for our manners and words."
Sa pagkuha ng mga guwardiya sa atensyon namin, nabalik sa tunay na takbo ng oras ang tila ilusyong pagbagal ng pagpatak ng bawat segundo. At alam kong hindi lamang ako ang nakaramdam nun. And this was not the first time that mom was saying those weird things.
My stepmother, Genevieve's paternal family came from Rome. She majors in Psychology and Anthropology so I used to avoid her before because my first impression towards people with those professions like her could read minds. But I was mistaken. They only take judgments of what they observe.
Sometimes, I want to ask her if she knows something. Because she always seems to do so.
"You are forgiven. But next time, please become more aware of your actions. I will not say a word about this for now." halos wala sa ulirat kong huling paalala sa kanila. Sky, get all your shit together. Hindi ito ang oras para malunod sa kakaisip sa isa na naman sa mga nakakapampataas balahibong salitaan ng mama mo.
Huminga muna ako nang malalim upang tiyakin na maisasantabi ko muna ang iba bang alalahanin. Kasama na roon ang kanina ko pang kumukulong tiyan at nagsisibigatang mga talukap. Kapwa nagkatinginan kaming lahat. The heads, the bitches, everyone. It's time to meet the boss.
"You guys ready?"
"Sky, stop being a total buster. Let's just get this done so I could rest." sagot ni Marc na siyang nakapagpangiti sa aming lahat. That's right. There's nothing to worry about. We just have to finish what must be done.
By looking up at to how I view my family, I could say we are not that much of a common family, you see. Isn't strange to feel so unfamiliar to your own home? Isn't strange to be so nervous with your relatives?
It was not like this before.
Ako ang nanguna sa pagpasok sa kwarto. Unang sumalubong sa amin ang halos wala nang mapaglagyan na mga libro at papeles. Hanggang sa matamaan din kami ng kakulimliman na bumabalot sa buong silid sa segundong sumarado na ang mga pinto. Naroroon sila.
Uncle Johan and Alexander. The first is sitting on the couch in front of a smoking hot cup of coffee on the small table while the latter is trying to slip a look outside the glass window with this cup of wine made of glass.
As usual, the curtains made this room shady as the owner's secretive attitude. The smell of cigarettes rotting on an ashtray. The pile of papers waiting for his glance and signature on the top of his table. And ultimately, the pistol resting on his hand.
"It's been a while, Uncle Johan, Alexander. I apologize for the failure I've made. I wish to correct it at once through helping to rescue Alex." pagbasag ko sa mahabang katahimikan sa pagitan naming lahat. If I won't, we'll only be suffocated by intimidation.
I heard Alexander tsk-ed as he puts his pistol down on his desk. I seem to feel the disappointment in him. The feeling is more horrible than I expected to be.
"Of course, it's only necessary. That is not only for Alexandria but also for you to regain your image." he replied to me. My eyes somehow lose it's capability to look at the other people I brought in.
"Alexander, they just got home. Set that issue later. Come on, children. Sit down." pag-aalo sa amin ng tiyuhin ko na ikinapag-alinlangan pa ng karamihan sa amin. Mabilis ko namang pinaalam sa kanila na nararapat na silang kumilos at sundin ang iminumungkahi ng nakakatanda.
Nagkanya-kanya kaming kuha ng upuan samantalang sina Spade, Edward, at Renneisme ay piniling tumayo sa likod ng mga upuan. Hindi na gaanong namamataan ng kaba sina Fiacre, Dereen, at Renneisme gawa ng hindi naman ito ang una nilang pagkakakita sa kuya ng kanilang kaibigan.
"As you probably all know, I'm Alexander Cromello. Alex's elder brother. I was informed she was with you when the kidnapping took place. That is why I wanted to know how did that happen."
"Do bring us some snack and drinks." I heard uncle ordered to the servant on the other line of the phone. Thank God!
Meanwhile, my cousin is now sitting on his swivel chair, waiting for any answer he could possibly get from us while playing with the pistol on his table. Where did your tongue go to, Skyzzer? Kanina ang yabang mo magpakilala tapos ngayon, napatameme ka na!
Kaya hindi ka umaasenso kay Lei 'e!
"Renneisme?" he called. Nagsipuntahan ang mga mata naming lahat sa dako ni Rennei na pawang hindi yata inaasahan ang pagtawag sa kanya.
Natawag ni kuya ang mga mata nang halos madalas na nasa malayong lugar na mga mata ng isang Renneisme Martin. She was still as fierce and composed as ever, even though the Alexander she is meeting now is not the usual joker one but a serious guardian of Alexandria Cromello today.
"We had a personal issue on the Reighzine Academy to tend to. Our only goal is to get the person we are looking for but unexpectedly, they didn't come for us to be fought with. They came to abduct the biggest fish among us. Your sister." Renneisme explained plainly and bluntly as if those words are the easiest to utter. She's brave, I give her that.
Alright. Done with the reason why they are on the venue in the first place. Now, what's the next question?
Huminto sa paglalaro ng baril ang kamay ng nakatataas at saka niya kami tinapunan ng tingin niyang nag-oobserba at nanghuhusga. He then put both of his hands in to clenched fists. "How rare... You didn't even think of the possibilities that might happen once you enter that place searching for a perhaps a... villain, Rennei?" balik tanong nito sa boses na tila may nilalamang pangungutya.
At sa pagkakataong ito, pinili na lamang ni Rennei ang ituon ang tingin sa ibang direksyon upang iwasan ang tanong. All of us know that she can defend herself on that part. Knowing she had a mouth for talk fights greater than Alex. However, she chose to be silent on this one. Why is that?
"I beg your pardon but if I may speak, I want to tell you that I'm the one responsible for her captivity. I wasn't able to help her, I deeply apologize." Spade intruded with the confidence of admitting his fault on this incident. He quickly caught the attention of the two high-ranking officers of the mafia with that remark.
Ikinatayo naman ni Xander ang pagsingit ni Spade sa usapan. Kagaya ng iba ay minata niya rin ito na tila ba isang agila. Kung nakamamatay lang ang tingin, paniguradong kanina pa nakabalandra ang katawan ni Spade dito.
Mahinahon ang mga yapak niya papunta sa harapan namin pero sapat na iyon upang balaan kami na hindi siya nasisiyahan sa mga nangyayari o kahit pa sa pag-entrada ni King.
"What is your name, young man?"
"Spade. Spade William Vantress."
Nagtagisan ang dalawa sa tinginan. Animo'y nag-uusap at nagdedebatehan sa pamamagitan ng pagtitig. Mga mensaheng sila lamang ang nakakaintindi. Hindi tuloy namin maiwasan ang magtinginan sa isa't isa sa katahimikan at mabigat na pakiramdam na bumabalot sa silid.
"Well then, Mr. Vantress. How could you say that you're the one responsible instead of my careless cousin who neglected his duty to guard my sister?" at pasimpleng napasulyap pa ito sa akin na siyang ikinayuko ko na lamang. Guilty as charged.
Ngayon pa lang, pinapatamaan na ako. Ano pa kaya mamaya kapag kami na lamang tatlo nina Uncle Johan? Okay. Maghahanda-handa pa ko. Forgive me oh Lord for I have sinned.
Spade, given by the signal to speak, sighed first before he lay the report Xander is waiting for. "When we were about to escape, my car malfunctioned. She helped me and almost didn't make it to her own car. I thought Alex is following me but I was mistaken. I tried to go back and look for her but she and her car were already gone." mata sa mata pa rin niyang pagkekwento sa amin ng mga pangyayari sa may parking lot.
The storytelling goes on and the only thing I could do to eliminate boredom is to observe what others are doing and might be thinking. Come on, you can't expect me to listen all day long. Especially if there are certain things that keeps on bothering the hell out of you.
Vantress. The surname of my friend and of course the family name of those who have shed numerous people's blood to win their wars on life. I'm sort of curious about how could a mafia boss like Alexander, could not recognize the heir of another influential and powerful mafia. Is it wrong for me to question that?
Why is Uncle Johan calm as fuck as if the family's daughter is not missing? I know oldies like him are kind of mysterious because they have knowledge that not everyone can even attain but this is different. The way he stopped when he heard that name. It's as if a bomb was thrown to a city nearby.
Am I missing something?
Sunod ko na lamang na narinig ay ang malakas na kalampag ng kamay ni Dereen sa lamesa. "Are we just going to wait here until we receive a message informing my best friend's death?" apila nito.
That's when I noticed that Alexander keeps on walking back and forth as if he's calculating every action and decision that he is about to make. This is not just about Alex. We came here with the hopes of asking the assistance of the mafia. Of course, it will involve the reapers and all.
"Miss Maria Dereena Santos, if you are not informed, I am the blood brother here. Even so, I'm also a mafia boss. I can't make my men charge without specific details. We need to wait for the report of my agent." pagpapatiklop niya sa bibig ni Dereen.
Dinulutan naman siya ni Fiacre na nasa tabi lamang niya. Alam kong sobra rin silang nag-aalala pero sino pa ba ang makakatalo sa takot ng isang kapatid? Who must be the one to be confused with his sister missing and doesn't know where to start searching?
After thinking for a while, Alexander then asked men and women with golden sword pins on their outfits to come in. It didn't take me long to realize that this is the leader's personal agent unit. Nakinig kami sa bawat utos na ibinigay niya sa mga ito. Mapa-mula sa pagkuha ng impormasyon sa Ozna, pag-iimbestiga sa loob ng Reighzine Academy, pagmamatyag sa mga kilalang hindi nasa mabuting ugnayan sa pamilya namin, at iba pa.
Lahat kami nanatiling nakaupo lang. Obviously, it sucks. How could we sit here while our friend and relative is in danger? I don't know who that agent might be. But one thing is certain. He or she must hurry. These people with me didn't bother to step on to the grounds of this territory to save Alex, provided that they knew very well about her backgrounds. We can't afford to consider this effort worthless.
"I guess all of you should rest for a while. Babalitaan ko kayo sa oras na dumating si Snow. I will ask the maids to assist you." my cousin suggested. Most of us wanted to disagree but no one can go against the body's needs.
Labag sa loob kaming nagsitayuan at nagsi-ayusan upang lisanin ang silid. Naipatawag na rin ni Uncle Johan ang mga aalalay sa amin sa mga gagamitin naming kwarto at sa iba pang kakailanganin namin.
We were about set our feet toward the doors when it opened widely, revealing a familiar face of a woman that we used to see in Mhorfell Academy.
"Riell?!" all of us except my uncle and cousin exclaimed in surprise. How could she be here?! Wait! Is she the agent we are all waiting for?! Is she the one sent by Alexander to get a report of Alex's whereabouts?
Hapung-hapo siyang pumasok at lumapit sa aming lahat. She almost collapsed in the process if it weren't for Kia's help. "Master..." she mumbled between her chase for air.
"What happened to your mission, Snow?"
Halos mabali naman ang mga leeg namin nang marinig naming kumpirmahin mismo ng pinsan ko ang sa tingin ko ay hinala naming lahat gayong nandirito na siya aming harapan. She no longer looks like a nerd nor a geek. With those different clothes and looks, she does now look elite and more precisely, a honorable agent.
"My brother, Juno Domzelle is the one who kidnapped the heiress. She was held captive on our family's rest house at Baler. I was able to talk to her before she was brought to another room. Miss Alexandria is waiting for us. She needs us." Riell reported with all the strength left on her.
All of us can't calm ourselves down when we learned from her that she was able to talk to Alex. But what drives us more determined and more courageous is when we heard from Riell that Alex needs us and she is waiting for us. Our princess is waiting for a rescue.
Leaving that aside, Riell is Juno's sister? Pero paanong napunta rito si Riell bilang isang empleyado sa ilalim ng pamumuno ni Alexander? Sabihin na nating para sa mabuting intensyon pero paano niya nagagawang ipagkalulo ang sarili niyang kadugo? What is her motive of being here with us?
Whatever it is, risking her life to suck out information from her own household is almost enough to consider her as an ally. I guess I have to work with her then.