Heiress (Hanazono Series #2)

Heiress 20: Eel Mafia's Successor

Irene’s POV

Last night, I well we didn’t see Lavalee or Jace come home. I guess Jace has a police assignment or investigation again but what bothers me is Lavalee. I know she’s strong, we’ve proven that through those years we’ve been together but Lavalee is still Lavalee, a soft hearted, kind and loving Lavalee. We treasures her as much as she treasures us.

I stood up from my bed and did my morning rituals. Naligo at nagbihis ako bagoo ginawa ang beauty routines na ipinilit ituro sa akin ni Jess. Naalala ko pa nung tinuruan niya ako.

That was so embarassing and dreadful at the same time. Talagang pinahirapan ako ng bruha habang tinuturuan.

“Ohayo, Irene.” Medyo nagulat ako nang makita si Lavalee pagkalabas ko ng kwarto.

Bagong ligo siya at naka blue shirt na medyo nakakapanibago dahil mabibilang lang sa daliri ng dalawang kamay kung ilang damit niya ang walang shade ng red. And she’d never wear those clothes on a common day.

What’s up?

I watched her walk upstairs on the third floor, which is off limits to us. I guess it’s a family floor because Winter and Freia’s rooms aren’t here while I can see Spring’s, Aqualyn’s and Autumn’s in this floor. Lavalee’s room is here though.

“Blue ang suot ni Lav, right? I wasn’t being color blind, right?” Pambungad ni Jess nang makababa ako

“Yeah.” Sagot ko sa kanya

“Is she sick? That’s a once in a blue moon event.” Sabi niya pa at pasalampak na umupo sa couch

“You know Lavalee never wear other color apart from any shade of red and black untess there’s something.” Sabi ko at tumabi sa kanya

Biglang lumabas si Jace ng kwarto niya at naka red siyang shirt. Umakyat siya ng second floor na parang naiinis. Which I find a bit weird because he is usually stone cold and emotionless.

Teka, parang familiar yung shirt na yun ah. I think I know what’s happening.

First, nakasuot si Lavalee ng blue shirt na halatang mas malaki sa kanya. Second, naiinis si Jace habang paakyat ng second floor kung nasaan si Lavalee. My conclusion is, hindi yun shirt ni Lavalee at pinagtripan ni Lavalee si Jace.

“Let’s eat. Breakfast is ready.” Sabi ni Chelsea nang makita kami.

We stood up and followed her to the dining room. Among the four of us, Chelsea is the acting mother and we, Lavalee and I are the hard headed daughters while Jess is the brat daughter. In shorter words, the four of us can compose a family already.

Unang dumating si Jace at umupo sa tabi ni Elijah. SI Lavalee nalang ang hinihintay namin at nakita namin ang bahagyang oagtaas ng kilay ni Chelsea nang makita ang suot ni Lavalee. Uh oh.

Her motherly attitude is going to show any moment now. Paupo palang sana si Lavalee nang tumayo si Chelsea at tinuro ang damit niya

“What are you wearing?” striktong tanong ni Chelsea

“Uh shirt and shorts?” sagot ni Lavalee at tumingin sa amin na parang nagtatanong kung bakit siya tinatanong ni Chelsea. Tinuro naman ni Jess si Lavalee bago hinawakan ang t-shirt na suot.

“Lavalee, go upstairs and dress up properly.” Saway ni Chelsea kay Lavalee

“I’m wearing high waisted shorts, Chels. No worries.” Sabi naman ni Lavalee kaya bumuntong hininga si Chelsea bago umupo ulit.

Chelsea’s really strict when it comes to the clothes we wear. According to her, we deserve to be respected so we must respect ourselves too. She hates daring, seductive and revealing clothes and Jess always gets checked with that, she’s strict in our clothes especially when there are guys.

Napansin namin na hindi mawala wala ang mapang-asar na ngiti ni Lavalee habang kumakain kami.

Oh well.

Lavalee really won’t get stilled when she thought of a mischievous tripping. She’s execute it one way or another so we’re really careful around her because Lavalee is Lavalee. She loves teasing people.

“Who’s shirt is that?” tanong ko habang kumakain kami.

“Bimil.” Nakangiti ng nakakalokong sabi niya

“Bimil, eh? What if I tell Frost?” paghahamon ni Jess kay Lavalee

“Andrea.” Nagtaka ako nung sinaway ni Chelsea si Jess. Madalas kasi na si Lavalee ang tinatawag ni Chelsea para tanungin kapag ganito ang usapan but the mere mention of Frost’s name pushed Chelsea’s button.

She even used her intimidating aura, an aura she rarely used. She likes to be the shadow, the decoy of being protected, same with Lavalee, that’s why Jess and I are the only one in the front line but if we get hurt. I can’t imagine it anymore.

If Chelsea’s protective of all of us then Lavalee would flip a whole place if we get hurt, what more if it’s her siblings that would be in danger? I’m pretty sure that hell would break lose. I’m not anticipating that to happen.

“We’re in front of the food, so please, no banterings and teasings.” Kalmadong saad ni Chelsea bago tiningnan si Lavalee at nag-iwas naman ng tingin si Lav

“Sorry.” Saad nina Lavalee at Jess bago nagpatuloy sa pagkain. Tahimik ang mga lalaki

Pagkatapos namin kumain nagpunta kami sa living room. May pasok kami ngayon pero dahil late na nga umuwi si Lavalee kagabi ay sinabihan kami ni Chelsea na huwag na muna kaming pumasok.

“Get ready, papasok tayo ng third and fourth period.” Sabi ni Chelsea

“Paano yun, Chelsea? 7:53 na.” Sabi naman ni Ethan

“Get ready. You wouldn’t want to miss today’s event.” Sabi ni Lavalee habang pababa at hindi nakaligtas sa akin ang mapang-asar na ngisi ni Lavalee.

“Today’s event?” tanong namin

“Check this out.” Nagtaka kami nung may mag-appear sa harap ni Lavalee na hologra tapos parang isinwipe niya papunta sa amin kaya agad naming kinuha yun.

Hindi na namin tinatanggal yung hologram nail lacquer.

“On it.” Sabi namin at mabilis na umakyat pero nakita namin si Jace na kalalabas lang ng kwarto ni Lavalee habang bitbit yung maliit na tigre.

Mabilis lang kaming naghanda kaya wala pang 8:30 ay handa na kaming umalis.

“Mnemosyne, stay here.” Sabi ni Jace

“Let her be, Jace. Mne won’t listen. Won’t you, Mnemosyne?”Sabi ni Lavalee at binuhat yung tigre

SUmakay na ako sa kotse at nag-drive na si Elijah.

“Matagal na ba kayong magkakaibigan nina Lavalee?” tanong ni ELijah habang nagmamaneho

“Ay sige wag mo nang sagutin.” Sabi niya

“Kind of. Kaibigan ko si Lavalee mula pa nung 9 ako sina Jess nakilala ko lang sila nung 13 na ako. 4 years ago.” Sabi ko

“Hindi halata.” Sabi niya kaya napatingin ako sa kanya

“Hindi halata?” Nagtataka kong tanong

“Ah kasi parang ang close niyo ni Jess, akala ko mas matagal mo silang kasama kaysa kay Lavalee.” Sabi niya

Nauuna na yung sasakyan nung tatlo sa amin kaya medyo nagulat ako nung may magbeep sa screen ng sasakyan.

‘Hologram.’

Yun lang ang nakasulat pero agad akong nagsimulang magtype sa hangin at may lumabas na hologram.

‘Eel. Inheritance.’ Dalawang salita galing kay Lavalee at maya-maya pa ay hinarang kami ng tatlong itim na sasakyan. Alam ko na agad ang ibig sabihin.

“Irene tungo.” Sabi niya pero umiling ako bago bumuntong hiniga.

“Stop the car.” Sabi ko pero pinatuloy niya parin ang pagda-drive

“Stop the care, Elijah.” Madiin kong saad kaya napatingin siya sakin ng saglit itinabi ang kotse sa isang gilid.

Walang dumadaang sasakyan kaya madali lang kaming napalibutan.

“Anong ginagawa mo?” tanong ni Elijah nang makita akong pababa ng sasakyan

“Hayaan mo ako, Elijah.” Sabi ko

“Hayaan kang bumaba? Proprotektahan kita.” Sabi niya kaya umiling ako

“Lee.” Sabi ko na nagpagulo sa kanya

“Tauhan sila ng Lee.”sabi ko

“Lee? Diba apilyido mo yun?” sabi niya at tumango ako

“Sasama ako.” Sabi niya kaya napabuntonghiniga ako nang lumabas siya at ipinagbukas ako ng pinto.

Pababa palang ako nang kotse nang may lumabas na hologram galing kay Lav.

‘They’re rooting for Thunder.’ Napayukom ako sa nabasa ko

Kaya ko nga kinuha ang responsibilidad na to ay para di na sila madamay tapos ganito pa.

Fucking s**t!

Pagbaba ko ng kotse ay agad bumungad sa akin ang kapatid ni Tyrone.

Akmang lalapit siya sakin pero humarang si Elijah.

“Ayos lang ako.” Sabi ko sa kanya kaya tumabi siya

“What do you want?” diretsong tanong ko

“Nice. Feisty little b***h huh? Is that what that gold dig- State what you want. I’m running late for school.” Pagputol ko sa insultong-sasabihin niya tungkol sa Mama ko

“Leave.” Sabi niya kaya sarkastiko akong tumawa

“Are you stupid?” I asked icily and his armed men started pointing their guns at me

“You blocked the way in case your pea-sized brain f*****g forgot. Now you’re telling me to leave? Nakikipag gaguhan ka ba? Tell me.” I said coldly and stared into his eyes

“Leave the inheritance.” He said and I looked at him like he just said a big joke.

“For what? So that you can enjoy it? No thank you, bro.” I said mischievously and grinned devishly at him

“You, b***h! You’re just an illegitimate – So what? I am still the eldest and I’m already at the legal age.” I said and walked towards him I held his neck tie and placed my mouth near his ear

“It’s the rule of the underground right?” I whispered

I let him go and roughly pushed him, causing him to hit his back against his car.

“Put your guns down, idiots. I am the successor of the family, not that idiot.” I said and smiled menacingly

“b***h!” He snarled and gritted his teeth

“Call me whatever you want, impostor. But I will always be a Lee. YOU will never be the successor as long as the pure blooded Lees are here.” I said teasingly and glared coldly at him

“This is Bianca Irene Lee, 18 years of age, the eldest successor of Eel.” I said and turned my back

“Get out of the way or you’ll nexperience hell.” I ordered coldly and they immediately went back to their vehicles and drove it out of the way

Sumakay na ulit ako sa sasakyan at nakita ko si Elijah na sumakay na rin.

“Sino yun?” tanong niya habang nagmamaneho papalayo

“Naghahabol sa yaman ng mga Lee.”  Sagot ko at nag-type sa hangin

‘As expected. You must warn your father.’

Napairap naman ako sa isinagot ni Lavalee

‘What the f**k? Seryoso ka diyan, Lav?’

‘Why not? He’s still the head of Eel, right?’

Napabuntong hiniga ako at inalis ang hologram

“Ang galing.” Sabi ni Elijah

“I’ll tell Chelsea that you complimented them.” Sabi ko at inilabas ang cellphone ko

To: Tyrone Lee

Ambushed. Impostor. Watch out.

Bahala na siyang umintindi sa itinext ko.

Tyrone Lee calling…

“Oh?” sabi ko pagkasagot ng tawag

[How are you?] Natigilan ako nang boses ni Tita Rhea ang sumagot.

“I’m fine, Tita, it was just an impostor.” Sagot ko sa magalang na tono

[I was worried when I analyzed your text. Riley read it. Were you hurt? Where are you?] Hindi ko maiwasang mapangiti nang marinig ang tanong ni tita Rhea.

“I’m heading to school and I’m fine, Tita. I promise but can you please tell Riley and Thunder they can’t come over? It’s too dangerous.” Sabi ko

[I will tell them. Just be careful, okay, Irene?] sabi niya

“Yes, Tita Rhea. I’ll be.” Sagot ko at ibinaba ang tawag