SPADE'S POV
"Hay. Tulog na ang loko. Kung makahilik, dinaig pa ang baboy." komento ng kararating lamang na si Alexis sa ngayon ay mahimbing na ang tulog na si Marc.
Good for him then. Unlike me who is still uncomfortable and uneasy ever since we had an encounter with Skyzzer's mother. Sky have talked about his stepmother a lot whenever we have our free time to tackle about our lives but she was way... I don't know. Greater than I expected?
"What does the Ozna say?" Edward asked as he approaches Collen who is quite busy with his music player on his bed. We've been asked to share this huge room by the way. The girls are on the next room while Sky remained in Alex's brother's office for other matters that he emphasized to us as none of our business.
Collen then took his earphones out from his ears with his usual grumpy expression. "Dereen tricked one of them to attain a member's account username and password. With that, Renneisme was able to infiltrate the whole system controlling all the surveillance cameras and other security measures."
Those four were seriously hardheaded and yet still resourceful to find any way to accomplish their mission. But it makes me wonder somehow... Who is the person they are looking for on the party? Why would they risk their lives just to meet that person?
"Don't worry. Pinagsabihan ko naman na sila." pagpapanatag ni Collen sa loob ni Edward, the guy who is almost paranoid on everything.
Sa malaking kwartong kinalalagyan namin, pumwesto ako sa kung saan may bintana akong magagamit para matunghayan ang labas. Kanina ko pa ito napapansin pero parang kalmado ang lahat sa pamamahay na ito. I don't see reapers running back and forth from offices and their respected headquarters for orders. The panic seems unnecessary on the atmosphere either.
Is it because their leader is in control of everything? Does having an Alexander Cromello as the boss that great? Does having the sister of the culprit on our side enough for us to win this one? Domzelles are not fools. They must be scheming something right now.
Pero ano bang motibo nila para dukutin ang babaeng iyon? Is it about the Escape? Is it about being the sister of Alexander Cromello? Which of these? Or is it none of the primary reasons that we could assume of?
"You seem bothered, King."
Napalingon naman ako sa taong nakapansin sa malayo nang pinapupuntahan ng mga iniisip ko. Napansin ko ang matamang tingin sa akin nina Edward kung kaya napaayos naman ako ng pagkakaupo at inalis ang tingin ko sa labas. "Nah. I just feel that this place is you know... very unwelcoming?" palusot ko. Gayunpaman, kalahati naman ng sinabi ko ay totoo.
The way their servants look at me with pity, the look of contempt from Alex's brother when I tried to make myself in to the interrogation a while ago, and the quick glance from the man Sky called his uncle the moment I mentioned my surname. Everything is bothering me. They seem to know something but I'm sure they won't tell.
Or am I just overthinking?
"I agree. Gusto ko na ngang umuwi 'e. But seeing Alexander now is so... intimidating. 'Yung tingin niya sa ating lahat kanina na para bang may hindi dapat tayo pinapakialaman. Ewan." Jonathan, sharing his portion of his opinion as well to the man he used to idolized until today. The disappointment is completely evident on his face.
I'm sure it's quite a surprise to him to meet Alexander with his another side of him. But Jonathan should've not expect an autograph nor a huge hug from him. Before anything else, he is a mafia boss and a brother with the responsibility of protecting his one and only sister.
So, I'm not the only one who noticed their stares. I am not overthinking nor am I getting sensitive with things. I must do something to put my mind on ease. And that's through finding out something that could prove my set of hypothesis right or wrong.
Una, may may matibay na koneksyon ang pamilya namin sa mga Dela Vega o kung hindi kaya, Cromello.
Tumayo kaagad ako mula sa kama ko para tunguhin ang pintuan papalabas pero mabilis akong naharang ni Alexis. "Saan ka pupunta, Spade?" tanong nito at nananatiling sa akin nakapako ang tingin ng lahat. Tss.
Nagdesisyon akong huwag nang sagutin ang katanungan niya at bara-bara ko siyang dinaanan na siyang halos makapagpatumba sa kanya sa sahig. Malaki naman na siya. Kaya na niya ang sarili niya. Matapos nun ay walang kibo akong lumabas at nagmatyag muna kung may ibang tao sa paligid.
I also tried to inspect every corner of the corridor if there are hidden cameras or something that might bind me to silence and to not doing anything at all. Seems good. There's nothing, so far.
Pinili kong lumiko sa direksyong kasalungat ng dinaanan namin papunta sa kwarto. Palinga-linga pa rin ako sa iba't ibang direksyon habang dinudukot ang telepono ko at pindutin ang mga numerong magdidirekta sa akin sa isa sa mga tauhan namin sa mansyon. It will be bad if I got caught. Anyone could make false accusations.
I have to work neatly without doing anything reckless that might put our mafia in the edge of risk and shame.
The person I am contacting was the one who I ordered to dig Alex's background to it's deepest point before. Given by the data he gave to me about that crazy woman, I know he won't fail me this time. He's the best intelligence officer we have after all.
["Hello?"] dinig kong sagot nito sa kabilang linya.
"It's me." I replied in my usual tone. The tone that everyone in our household recognizes very well.
["Young master Spade, how may I help you?"] agad niyang responda sa akin.
Hindi naman na ako nagpatumpik-tumpik pa at kaagad ko nang nilahad ang pakay ko sa kanya sa pinakamahina ngunit sa isang maiintindihang boses. "Can you check something for me? I want to know if we have a family ally with a name of Cromello and Dela Vega."
Sumunod kong narinig ay ilang beses na pagtipa na sa tingin ko ay sa keyboard ngunit ilang sandali lang ay tila natigilan ito sa kanyang ginagawa base sa pakikinig ko sa kabilang linya. Agad naman akong nagtaka rito.
Mas naglakad-lakad pa ako at pilit na inaaliw ang aking sarili sa mga pwede pang ialok sa akin ng malaki at magarbong mansyon na ito nang marating ko ang kadulu-duluhan ng pasilyo.
["Do you mean the family headed by Mr. Alexander Dela Vega Cromello with his adviser, Johan Dela Vega?"] Sa wakas ay sagot nito sa akin.
Napabuntong hininga naman ako habang nililibot ng paningin ko ang tulad ding malaking pintuan ng sa opisina ni Xander. It was engraved with patterns that you could commonly see on Venetian furnitures.
Putti... Angels... Flowers... These patterns are definitely Venetian style. Just by seeing detailed and how exquisite these doors are made, you could get the hint that this room leads to a possession of someone of great importance. Isabay pa na sa dinami-daming pintong nadaanan namin kanina, ito ang pinakakakaiba at may pinakakakaibang disenyo.
Pwedeng maliit na bagay lang itong pinagbabasihan ko pero kung iisipin natin, wala rin namang imposible, hindi ba? Bakit mo kailangan pagarbuhin ang mga pinto pa lamang ng isang silid na halos hindi madalas mararaanan at nasa pinakadulo ng bahay na ito?
"Yes. What have you found?"
"If it is really that family then, researching would be of no use. Dela Vega mafia has been one of our closest confederate in different businesses ever since from the reign of your great-grandfather. Patuloy pa rin ang transaksyon natin kasama sila kahit na ba wala na tayong gaanong nababalitaan sa loob ng sambahayan nila matapos mamatay sina Miss Alexandra Dela Vega at Mr. Kristoffer Cromello."
Kumunot naman nang wala sa oras ang noo ko sa mga narinig kong impormasyon. Bakit wala akong alam tungkol sa bagay na ito? Bakit hindi ito nabanggit sa akin ni papa dati nang pinapakabisado niya sa akin ang lahat ng angkan at mga mahahalagang tao sa negosyo ng pamilya?
First hypothesis, correct. Now, what's next, Spade?
Sa nakalap kong kaalaman, mas lalo lang lumalakas ang kutob ko na may kakaibang tinatago sa aming lahat ang tiyuhin at ang kuya ni Alex. Hindi ko na nagawa pang sumagot pabalik kung kaya't pinatay ko na lamang ang tawag bago ko ito tuluyang ibinulsa muli.
And now, my instinct tells me to open this damn door. But what if it's locked?
Dahan-dahan kong iniabot ang seradura. Mabilis na pumaabot sa buong katawan ko ang lamig ng hawakan ng pintuan na ito. Kahit papaano, may kaba sa isang sulok ng dibdib ko. Kung wala itong laman na makakatulong sa akin, kailangan kong umalis kaagad at kung mayroon man, nararapat na inspeksyunin ko na kaagad ang bawat sulok ng silid na ito.
Binigyan ko pang muli ng huling tingin ang paligid kung may maaaring nakatingin sa gagawin ko. But who cares? I just have to satisfy my curiosity and silence the person who witnessed what I've done.
Sa bahagyang pagpihit ko sa seradura ay nakakapagtanong na kung bakit bukas ito. Was I mistaken for thinking this door might be containing something significant? O may tao sa loob? The lights were off though.
Hinayaan kong salubungin ako ng kadiliman sa pagpasok ko sa kwarto. Madali ko namang nakapa ang switch kung kaya't nagsibuksanan ang bawat bumbilyang naririto.
I carefully closed the door from my back to prevent any interruptions. I glided to the carpet that almost covered the whole floor. The scent of a full-grown man is slowly getting into my nose. Could this be Alexander's room?
Organisado ang pagkakaayos ng bawat gamit. Sa mga libro, gadgets, at iba pa. Malinis. Walang nakakalat na kahit anong gamit sa sahig. Hindi makikitaan ng kahit anong kapabayaan ang kwartong ito. Except from one corner.
My attention was caught by this corner where mountainous untidy boxes can be found. May mga nakalitaw na mga damit, sari-saring mga alahas, sandamakmak na mga pambatang laruan, at iba pang mga bagay na hindi ko inaasahang matatagpuan ko rito. An image of Alex's brother flashed in to my mind right on cue. He's not wearing any accessory. Not even a watch or a ring. I don't think he is married or has a child either.
Kung ganoon, kanino ang mga ito? Bakit dito nakatambak ang lahat ng ito? At bakit parang walang may balak na ayusin ang mga ito sa mga nararapat nilang kalagyan?
"Kuya, huwag mo kong talikuran! Sabihin mo na sa akin ang totoo!"
Shit. Mas mabilis pa sa alas-kwatrong napahanap ang mga mata ko ng mapagtataguan nang marinig ko ang boses ni Skyzzer sa labas. Mabuti na lang at namataan ko ang isang malaking aparador malapit sa mga nakatambak na gamit. Bago ko pa ito tuluyang pasukin ay pinatay ko ang lahat ng ilaw na binuksan ko nang sa gayon ay hindi sila makatunog na may ibang pumasok rito.
"Bakit ba ang tigas ng ulo mo? Sinabi nang wala akong dapat ipaliwanag sa iyo kaya itikom mo na lang ang bibig mo kung ayaw mong bigyan kita ng parusa sa pagiging pabaya mo sa trabaho mo!"
Looks like a huge argument between cousins. Wala na akong sinayang pang oras sa pagkukubli sa sarili ko sa loob ng aparador nang marinig ko na mas papalapit at mas malinaw na ang mga boses nila.
"Pwede ba? Magtigil nga kayong magpinsan! Walang magandang maidudulot ang pag-aaway niyo kay Alexandria!" dinig ko namang pag-awat ng isang matandang boses sa kanila. Sky, Xander, and Mr. Johan Dela Vega.
Unti-unti ko na ring naririnig ang pagbubukas ng nakasaradong pinto. Alright. Spade, you have to do your specialty and that is shutting your mouth off. You don't want to be caught at the exact scene, do you?
"I can tell that you are hiding something just by the way you look at Spade back there. May kinalaman ba si Spade sa nangyari noon?"
Nabigla naman ako sa pagkakadawit ng pangalan ko sa usapan. Sky is spitting the words from my mind. But why the hell do I have to be mentioned on their argument? I am aware that eavesdropping is an inappropriate manner but I can't miss the answer that I've been wanting for, can I? I'm already here. Might as well hear it from him himself.
I heard the doors opened and the lights were turned on once again. I can somehow catch a glimpse of them moving within the room. Now that I think about it, what does an empty cabinet doing here? Nevermind. It helped me this time so I'll let it slide.
"Look, Skyzzer. You should stop bringing that topic up. Didn't we tell you that what happened before was supposed to be completely unheard of within the house?" mahinahong pagsuway ng matanda at pagpapaunawa kay Sky na rinig ko hanggang dito ang pagkahingal. Mukhang hindi niya talaga tinantanan ang pinsan niya. At tingin ko, hindi rin siya tinatantanan ng mga katanungan sa isipan niya.
However, the more they try to evade the topic, the more questions my mind produces. Anyway, it's getting hot in here. I'm not used to stuffy places like this one. Come on. Just answer the damn question, Xander.
"Why is that, Uncle Johan? Dahil ayaw niyong malaman ni Alex ang tunay na istorya sa pagkamatay ng mga magulang niyo? Ayaw niyong malaman niya na kaya siya walang maalala sa pagkabata niya kasi nawalan siya ng mga alaala, ganoon ba? Ginagawa niyo siyang tanga!" sunod-sunod na sabat ni Sky na halos wala ng preno. Para bang hindi lamang ito pangongompronta kundi isa ring paglalabas ng sama ng loob na matagal nang natatago sa kaloob-looban niya.
Kasunod din ng maanghang na mga salitang iyon ay ang malakas na tunog ng suntok. Sinubukan kong silipin kung kanino galing iyon sa maliit na siwang nitong aparador ngunit ang naabutan ko na lang ay ang pagkakasalampak ni Sky sa sahig habang hawak-hawak ang pisngi niya at nakatitig nang nakapanlilisik sa taong katapat niya. Ang pinsan niyang tinitingala ng halos lahat ng mga estudyante sa Mhorfell Academy bago pa ako pumasok dito.
Napalunok ako sa mga nakita ko. Pero mas hindi ko makalilimutan ang mga katagang nagmula sa bibig ng matalik kong kaibigan. Walang alam si Alex sa tunay na kwento ng pagkamatay ng magulang nila. Wala rin siyang matandaan sa pagkabata niya. At iyon ay dahil nawala ang mga alaala niya. Oh god.
"You really want to die that bad, huh? Ah, no. Do you really want Alex to be put in real danger? I can handle the Domzelles for all I care. You don't know how far can I go just to protect her. So, shut that pretty mouth of yours before I bury you alive first even before those guys who kidnapped her. That is an order from your boss, Skyzzer Yuan Sanchez. One more time of failing to comply, your mother will be affected as well."
Bakas ang galit at pagbabanta sa mga mata ng lalaking madalas na naikekwento sa amin ni Sky na matapang at marangal. Ni hindi ko rin inaakala na ang taong kausap ko na tila walang uurungan ay masisilayan ko sa ganitong sitwasyon. Nanginginig ang mga kamay niya pero alam kong sa kaloob-looban niya, hindi niya pinagsisisihan ang ginawa at sinabi niya sa nakababatang kamag-anak.
If he would really go that far to the point of involving Sky's stepmother then, I'm certain that there is a mystery behind Alex's loss of memories and her parents' death. At least, I've got something to start to investigate once we're done rescuing their amnesiac heiress.
Muli kong binalik ang tingin ko sa mga nagkakainitang mag-anak. Pawang napaupo na lang ang tiyuhin nila sa kama sa kunsumisyon dulot ng pag-aaway nila. Ambang maglalakad na sana papalabas si Alexander nang magparinig ng tawa si Skyzzer na ngayon ay kita na ang pagdurugo sa pumutok na labi.
"Stop making a fool out of her, kuya. Balang araw, malalaman niya rin lahat. At sa pagkakataon na iyon, magiging huli ang lahat para sa kapatawaran. Alam mo kung bakit? It's because you stole the opportunity for her to be happy."
Natawag ng mga paalalang iyon ang atensyon ko. Opportunity to be happy, huh? Then, those memories... Were they actually connected to something that could make Alex happier? Wait a moment.
Ano nga bang pakialam ko sa babaeng iyon? Kaibigan. Tama, kaibigan lang. And it's not in my vocabulary to intrude others' personal issues even when it comes to my friends. I should stop this immediately as soon as they go out and forget everything I've heard. Getting worked up like this is useless. I am not even sure if I was really relevant in the first place.
"You will not be the one to decide on that, cousin. Whether she forgives me or not, it doesn't matter. Even if I have to put my life at stake just to return that opportunity to her, I'll do it. Protecting her might be your problem and mission. But... for me it is my lifelong responsibility."
Then, Alexander have gone out leaving the doors open for Uncle Johan who followed him a few minutes after. The elder didn't say another word for Sky except for a pair of worried eyes. Hindi rin naman nagtagal at nilisan na rin niya ang kwarto nang walang kaimik-imik.
And that became my cue to get the hell out of here.
When I was finally assured that Sky left the doors locked and he will not be coming back anymore, I tried to lift myself up a little bit but it came out to be a wrong move. Fuck. Why do I have to hit my elbow on to something in this kind of time?!
Nagmadali na lang akong buksan ang aparador at saka dali-daling lumabas rito para mahabol ang hininga ko. Phew. I will not try to hide inside a cabinet again. Anyway, what did I hit on?
Hinarap kong muli ang naging susi para maalam ko ang sari-saring mga rebelasyon mula sa mga kalalakihan ng pamilyang nagmamay-ari ng buong lugar na ito. Nakasarado ang isang panig nito habang nananatiling nakaawang ang isa sa pagkakalabas ko.
Sinubukan kong aninagan ang isang bagay na tila kumikinang pero sadyang humaharang ang isang pinto ng muwebles na ito. I reach for it's handle but it won't even move a little bit. It was stuck.
Ilang beses ko pa itong hinatak nang hinatak hanggang sa mapansin ko ang pulang tela na nakaipit sa siwang nito. So this is the reason why it's stuck. Kakamadali ko, naiwan ko na ang pag-oobserba sa loob ng bagay na ito, tch.
Maayos kong tinanggal sa pagkakasiksik ang pulang tela subalit hindi ko inaakala na mahaba-haba pala ito. Marahan kong inipon ang tela hanggang sa tuluyan nang lumuwang ang natitirang pinto ng aparador at inilantad ang bagay na natamaan ko kanina.
"K-Kirsten?" I muttered.
The name almost make me faint when I was able to utter it with my own mouth. The exact mouth which told her that I'll be leaving her and that I'll be searching for her someday. Hindi ko alam pero mabilis na lang na nahigop lahat ng lakas ko sa katawan at napaluhod na ako.
But... Is this really her? If so, how come the Cromello and Dela Vega houses a painting of her? Why of all places... Bakit? Bakit? Although a huge part of me keeps screaming that the little girl painted on the canvas was indeed Kirsten, my long lost fiancee, I can't just conclude on to something that is not yet fully proven.
What if the Cromellos only got this from somewhere? But of all paintings, why would they chose the one with Kirsten on it? Why would they put it hidden and treasured like this inside a cabinet? Why does it have to be here as Alexander's possessions? Could it be...
Holy shit. Imbes na hindi ko na sana iintindihin lahat ng mga narinig ko ngayon 'e mas nadagdagan at mas nabuhay pa ang loob ko para mas lalong magtaka at mag-imbestiga. Hindi ko na alam ang uunahin ko. Ayoko namang bumagal ang takbo ng kaso ng pagpatay sa ate at bunso kong kapatid sa oras na may panibago akong kasong aasikasuhin.
Minabuti kong ibalik sa dati ang pagkakaayos ng tela at ng muwebles na para bang walang gumalaw nito. Tiniyak ko rin na wala akong maiiwang kahit anong bakas sa kwarto, mapa-isang hibla man ng buhok o nasaging gamit.
I didn't spend my time any longer to the room owned by the guy who is hiding a lot right under his sleeves. I left it the way before I entered it and I started to march back to our room wherein I found my friends gathering up. And that's when it hit me. The Dela Vega mafia boss is calling for a meeting this afternoon.
Mukha namang sanay na sanay na ang mga kaibigan ko sa maala-kabute kong presensya sapagkat hindi na nila tinanong pa kung saan ako nanggaling nang mamataan nila akong papalapit sa kanila. Naging matahimik ang sabay-sabay naming pagbalik sa opisina ng lalaking hiningan namin ng tulong para mailigtas ang babaeng hindi ko pa lubos na nakikilala.
Even so, before Courtney could even open door, Alex's brother, cousin, uncle, and Riell came out in a rush. Naalarma kaagad kaming lahat sa pagmamadali nila at sa tila natatarantang mga kilos ni Sky at ng tiyuhin niya. Kitang-kita ang pagpapanatili ng kanyang matatag na imahe ang kuyang panigurado ako na pinakanag-aalala sa lahat.
"What happened?!" Fiacre exclaimed as she dares to block the way of this family's head. Napansin ko ang pag-aalinlangan sa mga mata ni Xander kung ipapaalam ba niya ang rason ng pagmamadali nila ngunit naantala iyon nang tapikin siya ng sariling tiyo.
Napapikit siya nang mariin nang dahil dito. "According to the report I just received, Juno is actually aiming for the Escape running through Alex's veins. Don't ask me how I found out about the Escape thing. The big issue here is that he is planning to plant a microchip on my sister to use her on his own benefits."
"And of course, to satisfy his father's lingering enviousness towards Alexandra." dugtong pa ni Mr. Dela Vega sa pinahayag sa amin.
Yes, I do know that I have no such knowledge about the history or anything about their family but all I know is that Juno is a shit head for doing all this ruckus. He wanted Escape? That's bullshit. Did he really lose his pride and dignity after all these years? The Juno Alston Domzelle that I once known would never use a human being just to win and to get advantage on something.
Siguro nga, tama ang mga matatanda. Nagbabago ang tao at hinding-hindi mo iyon mapipigilan.
Although I can't stop from you from changing, I am aware that I have the capability to stop you from doing something inhuman.
"What's worst is, there's a self-destruction program arranged in it. Which means, once activated..." at hindi na nagawa pang sundan ni Skyzzer ang mga ito. That's because I'm sure that everyone knows what will be the consequences.
The crazy bitch will die.
Just like a heated equipment once overused.
She will die just like that.
But who said that I would let her leave me that easy?
We're not yet done, Alexandria. No one is yet to win between the two of us.
"Spade!"
"King, saan ka pupunta?"
"Mr. Vantress."
You told me that the world could only follow the way I want depending on my choices and to what kind of world I will be creating. Well, I guess I'm starting to create that world.
And my first choice is to save you. I won't miss the chance to show you the world I create someday. That is why you cannot die.
If you have to be killed, I would rather do that instead of someone with no values.
"Sasagipin ko ang babaeng iyon. Just send me the location. It is my responsibility after all. I failed to bring her back so, I have to get her back this time." These are my last remarks to all of them. Though, most of them yelled at me to come back and that this will be a suicide for someone like me, my brain prepared a counterattack already.
Sinong nagsabing ang sarili ko lang ang dadalhin ko sa pagsagip sa babaeng iyon?
Siguro nga naisahan ako ni Juno sa pagkakataon na ito. But... Does he think a king would let himself lose for another time?
Maraming mga katanungan at mga bagay-bagay na gumugulo sa isipan ko ngayon. Ang canvas, ang mga nakatambak na gamit, ang mga titig nila, ang pagkakabanggit ng pangalan ko, at iba pa. Lahat sila, mahahanapan ko rin ng kasagutan. At alam kong ang isa sa mga daan papunta sa mga kasagustan na iyon ay ang babaeng nagngangalang Alexandria Cromello.
Hang in there, Cromello. You declared yourself a bitch in front of me, right? Bitches don't die in that simple and plain process. Real bitches always give their best fight to live with class and attitude.