Gangster High

The Legendary Queen

Chapter 18

THE LEGENDARY QUEEN

 Though I suspected that Naami was related to the Player, I was still surprised when she revealed that she was his daughter. It summed up my hatred to him—to both of them, to be honest.

Why did the Player let his daughter play his lethal game? Seriously, if the opponent figured out their relationship, Naami would be in great danger. Why did Naami choose to be part of this? Why did she not just walk away?

Then I realized, Naami and the Player were just like me and Tiarah. Perhaps Naami and I were both victims here. Parehas kaming napasok sa laro ng mga magulang namin.

Kumunot ang noo ko nang tumama sa paa ko ang damit na ihinagis ni Naami. Kanina n'ya pang ihinahagis ang mga damit niya at nagkalat na ang mga iyon sa maliit na espasyo ng Rock House. She was looking for something to wear at hindi n'ya makita ang gusto n'yang isuot. Iyon lang ang rason kung bakit nagwawala na siya.

For God's sake! Three days pa lang na magkasama kami, pero pakiramdam ko'y tatlong taon na 'yon. Nabubwisit ako sa presensya n'ya pati na rin sa kung paano s'ya gumalaw. Laging mabigat ang bawat kilos n'ya. Bagsak dito, bagsak doon. Dabog dito, dabog doon. Perhaps she intended to do it just to annoy me.

She was doing a great job though. She got me annoyed, but I didn't show it. I didn't want to give her satisfaction.

Napapailing na nag-iwas na lang ako ng tingin nang pabagsak niyang ibaba ang hawak niyang bag.

Pinagtuunan ko ng pansin ang laptop sa harapan ko. I was searching and investigating the family record of the Stone Family.

I was so disappointed. According to my research, her father died in a car accident eight years ago and it seemed that the word gangster didn't exist in his world. Paanong s'ya ang Player kung puro magagandang bagay ang nagawa n'ya?

I thought I searched the wrong man, so I asked my dad to do more research about this family. He emailed me all the answers I needed.

And I got nothing. It got me confused. If her father was dead, paano pa nakakapanggulo ang Player na 'yon hanggang ngayon? Was there any possibility na hindi talaga nagsasabi ng totoo si Naami? Was she just trying to scare me? Was my theory wrong?

Then after two days, dad emailed me other files. That answered my questions, at last. This b***h was adopted by the Stones Family when she was only two years old. Ang asawa ng namayapa niyang ama-amahan ang nagbulgar ng sikreto nang malaman nitong may mga pamanang naiwan ang asawa para kay Naami na ampon lang naman nila. The typical drama of the family. Agawan sa pamana blah blah blah.

It wasn't the problem though. She was adopted, not a Stones, and that justified the truth na ang totoong ama niya ay buhay pa at siyang Player ng Rapsodhee High, which was the real problem here. I wished na totoong Stones na lang siya.

"I hate this," Naami murmured as she burst another bag open. I wondered how many bags she brought here.

I rolled my eyes. Maybe the reason why the guys didn't want to stay in the Rock House was because of this b***h's attitude. Hindi man siya nahiya na mga gamit n'ya lang ang nagkalat sa bawat parte ng bahay.

Seriously, it was uncomfortable to see Naami doing this. I mean she was a girl, right? She couldn't even make her bed. Jesus!

"Throwing your things outside this house would be better," I commented.

"Mind your own business," she hissed.

I chose to ignore her. It was a waste of time to give her attention she did not deserve.

Naami threw her bag again. Her things scattered on the floor. Hindi ko sana papansinin iyon kung hindi ko lamang nakita ang ilang pictures na kumalat sa sahig. Hindi ko ugaling makialam ng gamit ng iba, pero mabilis akong tumayo para damputin ang mga litrato.

It was a class picture, an old class picture. It could be taken four to five decades ago. The students in the picture were wearing the old uniform of Rapsodhee High. Lahat sila ay seryoso ang mukha. Sa gitna ng mga estudyante ay nakaupo si Mr. Hontraver. Napakabata n'ya pa sa litratong ito at mukhang dati siyang teacher. Nakita ko rin sina Miss Meira at si Dr. Levesque na parehong nakasuot ng school uniform.

Ridiculous. Mr. Hontraver, Miss Meira, and Dr. Levesque already finished the game. Why did they stay here? Why were they helping the Player to ruin other's life?

"Give me that!" Tinangkang agawin ni Naami ang picture, pero mabilis kong iniiwas 'yon.

Tiningnan ko ang isa pang picture at hindi ko napigilan ang pagsinghap nang makita ko kung sino ang nasa picture.

What the hell!

Just like the first one, it was an old picture of a student in her old Rapsodhee High uniform. Her red eyes were lethally looking into my eyes as if she was real and alive. Makikita ang tapang sa mukha n'ya at ang galit sa nakatikom na mga labi. Nakakatakot ang babae sa picture.

Pero hindi 'yon ang nakapagpamaang sa akin kundi ang katotohanang kilala ko ang babaeng ito.

Kilalang-kilala ko s'ya.

"Sahara," naibulong ko.

"Surprised?" ani Naami.

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Bakit mayroon ka ng picture na ito? Kilala mo ba s'ya?"

"I stole those from dad. Just for fun, you know."

I showed her Sahara's picture. "And you picked this one among many other photos you could steal from your fuckin' father? Why? Do you know her?"

"I don't know her personally but I know who she is," nakangisi n'yang sagot. "Kilalang-kilala s'ya noong panahong buhay pa s'ya. Ang totoo, hanggang ngayo'y kilala pa rin ang pangalan n'ya."

"What do you mean?" Lumalim ang kunot ng noo ko. May nagsumigaw na ideya sa utak ko, pero ayokong tanggapin iyon. Hindi ko kayang tanggapin.

"I thought you are smart. Ngayon ko lang nalaman na may pagkatanga ka rin pala," Naami replied seriously. "No idea yet?"

Walang salitang marahas ko s'yang hinawakan sa magkabilang balikat. "Sabihin mo sa akin kung paano mong nakilala si Sahara?"

"It doesn't matter, b***h. She's dead. Her history should be buried now," sagot n'ya. "Let me go already."

"Answer me," pabulyaw kong sabi. Nagpumiglas si Naami, pero hindi ko siya pinakawalan. Sa halip ay marahas ko siyang itinulak sa pader.

"Everyone knows her dahil sa tatak na iniwan n'ya rito sa Rapsodhee High at sa history ng laro," pagalit niyang sagot. "Kilala s'ya ng lahat. Pinag-uusapan ng lahat. She was famous and respected by many. Little did they know that she was just a little cunning b***h and―"

Tumiin ang bagang ko sa huli n'yang sinabi at bago ko pa napigilan ang sarili ko ay kusang nang kumilos ang mga kamay ko. I grabbed her neck, hard and furiously.

"Let me... go....!" Naami gasped, but I ignored her.

Wala s'yang karapatang pagsalitaan nang ganoon si Sahara. Naami didn't know s**t about Sahara. Hindi ko mapapatawad ang sino mang dudungis sa kanyang pangalan.

"I said let me go!"

Napapitlag ako nang tumama sa tiyan ko ang tuhod ni Naami. Nabitiwan ko siya at sunod ay namalayan ko na lamang na parehas kaming nasa sahig. Naami was on top of me and trying to hit me. She succeeded. My vision darkened when her fist hit my temple.

"I'll kill you, b***h," she shouted.

For a moment, I forgot that I was mad because she called Sahara a bad name. The mere fact that she hit me angered me.

I caught her arms to stop the attack. I pushed her away from me. Nang makatayo na kami parehas ay hindi na ako nagsayang ng pagkakataon. Sumugod ako sa kanya at pinatama ang kaliwa kong tuhod sa sikmura n'ya. She groaned in pain.

The space we had in the Rock House was too small for a fight, kaya naman sa bawat pag-atake namin ni Naami sa isa't isa ay may nababasag at nagugulong gamit. Hindi rin nakaligtas ang mga bagahe sa gilid ng mga bunk beds.

Isang solidong roundhouse kick mula sa akin ang hindi naiwasan ni Naami at tumama sa panga niya. Nabasa ang salamin kung saan siya tumilapon.

"f**k," galit niyang sigaw nang dumugo ang ilang parte ng mga braso at binti n'ya.

Matalim niya akong tiningnan. Nahagip ng paningin ko ang ginawa niyang pagdakot sa mga piraso ng nabasag na salamin sa sahig. Nahulaan ko kung ano ang balak niya kaya agad kong kinuha ang comforter na nasa kama sa gilid ko para gawing pananggalang sa mga bubog.

Bwisit na babae!

Hindi tumagal ng ilang segundo at hinaklit niya ang comforter kasunod ang pag-atake sa akin. Umiwas ako sa sipa n'ya saka gumanti ng atake. Tinamaan s'ya sa kaliwang parte ng ulo na nakapagpabagsak ulit sa kanya.

"What the hell?" Malakas na sigaw ang nakapagpatigil sa nalalapit naming pagpapapatayan. Si Jake ang nakamaang na nakatayo sa pinto. At first ay parang naguluhan s'ya, pero ilang sandali pa ay mabilis niyang dinaluhan si Naami na nakahawak sa sarili niyang ulo. "Naami, are you okay?"

"s**t," bulong ni Naami na sapat para marinig ko.

"This is madness," Eduard Hollet said. Nakasandal s'ya sa pinto na parang nasisiyahan pa sa napapanood. "I would love to see who—"

"Shut up, Hollet. This is none of your business!" Umangil si Jake na tila isang ina na kinanti ang anak.

"I'm not doing anything," balewalang sagot ni Eduard.

I ignored them. Naami got my full attention. She was looking at me as if she would go for my throat if only she's holding a knife. I returned the favor to her.

"Come on, Naami. It's over," sabi ni Jake na tila napansin ang matalim naming titigan.

My eyes darted to the photos that were scattered on the floor. I suddenly remembered what started the fight. Pagalit kong nilapitan si Naami. Humarang sa daraanan ko si Jake, pero pagkatapos kong sipain ang harapan niya ay nakangiwi siyang nagbigay daan.

Hindi umiwas si Naami nang hablutin ko ang braso niya, sa mismong nagdurugong sugat. Tumiim ang bagang niya para pigilin ang pagdaing. Sa halip ay walang takot niyang sinalubong ang titig ko.

"Tell me how did you know her?" mahina pero mariin kong tanong.

"Are you really that dumb?"

Jake and Eduard froze. All of the sudden, the ambiance changed. Perhaps they realized that the fight between Naami and me was not just a usual fight.

"Tell me," I shouted.

She gritted her teeth and shouted back. "Everyone knows her because she was the Legendary Queen. Did you hear that? Sahara Clevielle is the Legendary Queen."

I was expecting that, but I didn't want to accept it. I honestly wished na sana ay iba ang isinagot ni Naami.

"What?" I whispered, more likely to myself.

Sahara was the famous Legendary Queen? How? She was an angel. Brutality was none in her vocabulary. She was the one who raised me, became my mother because Tiarah was not there. Sahara taught me how to be kind, how to be a good little girl. She was the one who told me to stay away from trouble when I grow up. Paanong s'ya ang naging tanyag na Legendary Queen? Mas maniniwala pa ako kung si Tiarah 'yon dahil sa kanilang dalawa, si Tiarah ang may malademonyong pag-uugali.

"If you don't believe me, then go and ask your mother. She knows everything even the identity of my father. Now, let me go, b***h!" Naami pushed me away.

If we were only in a normal situation, hindi ako matitinag sa ginawa niyang pagtulak. But hell! I was totally shocked. Hindi ako makapaniwala. Sahara was the last person na naisip kong magdadala ng pangalan ng Legendary Queen.

Dikta ng matinding frustration ay mabilis akong tumakbo palabas ng Rock House. Nakasalubong ko ang nakakunot-noong mukha ni Creed, pero hindi ko na s'ya pinansin. Tinakbo ko ang lungga ng magaling kong ina. Marami siyang kailangang ipaliwanag sa akin.

Pabalibag kong binuksan ang pinto ng private office n'ya nang makarating ako roon. Nasa loob si Mr. Hontraver at sabay silang lumingon sa akin.

"What the hell is your problem this time, Temple, huh? Hindi ka ba—"

"Tell me truth! Si Sahara ba ang Legendary Queen?" putol ko sa walang kwenta niyang sinasabi. Napaunat s'ya mula sa pagkakaupo at nanlaki ang mga matang napatitig s'ya sa akin. Mukhang hindi niya inasahan ang tanong ko.

Si Mr. Hontraver naman ay walang naging reaksyon. Nanatili siyang nakamata sa akin na para bang hinihintay kung ano ang sunod kong magiging hakbang.

Mabigat ang mga paang tuluyan akong pumasok sa opisina. Nilampasan ko ang School Administrator at saka hinampas ang lamesa ni Tiarah. "Totoo ba?" pasigaw kong tanong. "Sabihin mo ang totoo. Si Sahara ba ang Legendary Queen?"

"Where did you get that stupid idea?" sagot niya. It was impressive how her reaction changed suddenly. But this time, I didn't buy it. Her face looked unreadable, but her eyes were alarmed.

I said between my teeth, "Stupid idea? Sinasabi mong katangahan ang bagay na ito? For God's sake, Tiarah. Just tell me the truth! Si Sahara ba? Paano s'yang napasama sa larong ito?"

"Lower your voice, Temple. I am your mother." Tumayo si Tiarah at sinalubong ang galit kong mga mata. "What you are saying is bullshit. Hindi mo kagaya si Sahara na palaging naghahanap ng gulo. Hinding-hindi s'ya mapapasok sa ganitong klaseng sitwasyon."

Hindi ako nagsalita. Yes, she had a point. Sahara was the most kind-hearted human I had ever met. Simula noong nagkaisip ako, puro kabutihan ang nakita ko sa kanya. 'Yon ang itinuro n'ya sa akin. Until that day of her death, wala akong nakitang masama sa kanya.

Ginulo lang ba ni Naami ang utak ko? Ito ba ang paraang naisip niya para galitin ako? She knew she couldn't beat me physically and now she was trying to attack me emotionally.

"Why don't you tell her the truth, Miss Clevielle?" Mr. Hontraver interfered. Kampante s'yang nakaupo nang lingunin ko s'ya, but there was something in his eyes that gave me goosebumps.

"What do you mean?" tanong ko naman na tuluyan ng humarap sa kanya. This School Administrator Dominic Hontraver was one of those people na gusto kong iuntog sa pader para matauhan at itigil ang kabaliwang ito.

"Mr. Hontraver, please, let me handle my daughter," agad na sabi ni Tiarah. Halatang-halatang pinipigilan n'yang mabulgar ang maaari kong malaman ngayon.

"You should tell her the truth, Miss Clevielle. She deserves to know everything because we all know from the moment the world heard her first cry, she's already part of this. You of all people know that," sagot ni Mr. Hontraver na nakatingin sa aking ina.

Tiarah gritted her teeth. It was a battle to keep the secret hidden to protect someone she needed to protect and to reveal the truth that might jeopardize the reason why she came here.

"You want to save her, right? Well, kung ganoon ang gusto mong mangyari, kailangan n'yang maging aware sa larong ito at sa lahat ng bagay. The truth is the only way to save her, Miss Clevielle." Mr. Hontraver rose from his seat. "I think I have to go now. Good day to both of you."

Neither of us looked at the School Administrator when he left the room. He was not needed here.

I was staring at Tiarah's eyes. I said, "Sasabihin mo na siguro ang totoo ngayon."

Matagal akong tinitigan ng aking ina. Parang pinag-iisipan niya kung ano ang nararapat niyang gawin. She might deny everything, but I was determined to know the truth. Hindi ako aalis dito nang hindi nalalaman ang totoo.

Marahas na napabuntong-hininga si Tiarah pagkuwan. At nang bumuka ang bibig niya, ihinanda ko ang sarili ko sa mga sasabihin niya.

"Do you want to know the truth? Fine! I'll tell you the truth. You are right! Si Sahara ang Legendary Queen. S'ya ang reynang tinitingala ng lahat noon at hanggang ngayon ay matunog pa rin ang kanyang pangalan," tuloy-tuloy na sabi n'ya. "Are you satisfied now? Are you happy now that you figured out her darkest secret? Your so-called angel was a devil, Temple. And that is the truth!"

Hindi ako nakapagsalita. Nakaawang lang ang mga labi ko. Paano itong nangyari? My God! Napakalayo nito sa inasahan ko. Paanong naging gangster queen ang isang anghel na kagaya ni Sahara?

"You are just kidding me, right?" wala sa loob na nasabi ko. Well, I hoped na pinaglalaruan n'ya lang ako, na hindi totoong kabilang sa larong ito ang pinakamahalagang tao sa buhay ko.

"Look at me. Do you think this is just a goddamn joke? Don't you have any idea kung bakit brutal s'yang pinatay sa mismong harapan mo? 'Yon ay dahil marami s'yang sindikatong nasagasaan noon. Maraming underground boss ang bumagsak dahil sa kanya. 'Yon ang dahilan kaya pinatay s'ya kahit iniwan na niya ang mundo ng mga gangsters," marrin niyang sabi. Nakakuyom ang mga kamao niyang nasa ibabaw ng lamesa.

Napatungo ako sa kawalan ng sasabihin. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang dapat kong isipin. I really couldn't believe that the woman I respected the most was also the most dangerous woman in the gangster world.

Bigla ay bumalik sa alaala ko ang eksenang pilit kong binubura sa memorya ko. Noong gabing patayin si Sahara sa mismong harapan ko. Kaya ba parang bigla s'yang nag-transform noong gabing 'yon? 'Yong anghel na nag-alaga at nagsilbing ina ko, noong gabing 'yon ay tila naging demonyo. Noon ay kitang-kita ko kung paano s'ya lumaban para sa buhay naming dalawa... na sa huli ay hindi n'ya napagtagumpayan.

"Sahara..." wala sa loob na nasambit ko ang pangalan niya.

Ngayon ay naiintindihan ko na kung bakit s'ya pinatay. Alam ko na ang puno't dulo. Ang babaeng inirespeto at minahal ko nang higit pa sa buhay ko ang siya palang nag-iisa at tanyag na Legendary Queen. Ang anghel na inakala ko ang siya palang reyna sa impyernong ito.