Redemption

CHAPTER 21

Chapter 21. Found out (Edited Version)

"I will look onto it." that was Boe's last words bago namatay ang tawag.

Wala akong nagawa kung hindi mag buntong hininga. I was told to lie low for a while. Hindi pa namin alam ang balak ni Prime. Boe said that I should not do something that will trigger him to expose me. Damn it! Hindi ko ngayon alam ang gagawin ko.

I get up from my bed and went to shower. Pagtapos, nagbihis lang ako ng night sweater habang simpleng t-shirt sa loob, pinares ko ito sa itim kong jogger nagsuot ako ng sneakers. I put only light make up, tipong hindi lang maging pale 'yung mukha ko.

It is already 10 p.m. and yet lalabas pa rin ako. Why? May magandang laban sa arena mamaya. I have to be there para masilayan 'yon. Baka nandoon ang taong hinahanap ko.

But f**k it! Sobrang hirap naman kasi. Para akong naghahanap ng maliit na karayom sa box na puno ng malalaking karayom. Ganon! Oh, I remember Boe gave me one detail earlier. Isang nail tattoo. Simbolo raw ito ng sindikato na ini imbestigahan.

Nail? Right, close to karayom. It must be a small tattoo. Paano ko 'yon makikita diba? Galing na nga rin ako kanina sa swimming area at binosohan ang lahat ng babae at lalaki roon pero wala naman akong napansin na nail na tattoo. Sure kaya ang Boe na 'yon?

Pag dating ko sa battle arena, marami nang tao. May mga nauna na kasing laban dahil kanina pa naman ito nagsimula. Maingay ang paligid dahil sa lakas ng sigawan ng tao. Pinalilibutan nila ang pabilog na ring sa gitna. This huge ring is covered with fences up until its roof kaya para talaga silang naka kulong. There must be a fight na magsisimula any minute from now. Sinilip ko ang mga pangalan ng maglalaban pero ibang pangalan pa ang mga 'to. Tapos na ba?

Umikot ako sa ikalawang bahagi kung saan marami-rami ang kalalakihan na nagpupustahan. Ilang segundo lang ay nagsimula na ang laban. Mayu Fukui and Natasha Rovi. Girl vs girl. Mayu is the 5th place in the TOP 10 while Natasha is a gangster. Naka sulat sa taas ang information ng manlalaro.

I look at Mayu. She's got red hair. Pandak at mabangis ang mukha, but, she's literally a highschooler. Palaging may laban ang batang ito. Ewan pero ang hilig niya sa sakitan. Kung sabagay, bakit pa nga ba ako magtataka. I heard anak daw siya ng isang assassin.

The fight started. Si Mayu ang unang umepensa. It's a good advantage to weaken your opponent by defending. Sa sigla at bilis ni Mayu, kita agad kung paano mahirapan si Natasha. Pero naka tsamba siya at natapik ang sipa ni Mayu. That was her cue to attack Mayu.

"Gusto mong pumusta?" napalingon ako sa boses mula sa likod ko.

Bumungad sa akin ang isang matangkad na lalaki. Medyo taas ang buhok nito, singkit ang mata at maganda ang ngiti. Maputi rin siya at hanggang leeg niya lang ako kaya tumingala pa ako sa kaniya.

"Wala akong cash," sabi ko na lang at tinalikuran siya. Isa siyang gangster. Wala akong interes sa kanila.

"Ganon? Then, why are you here?"

I rolled my eyes when he kept bugging me. "Wala! Hindi ako makatulog e."

Ngumisi siya, "You are Autumn Gu, right? The badass heiress?"

Nilingon ko siya, "What?"

"You're kinda trending dahil sa naging laban mo kahapon. They call you the badass heiress now. Hindi ka pa ba member sa Frontier Forum?" for a guy, he's seriously madaldal.

"No, and I'm not interested."

Nagsigawan ang tao dahil sa biglang pag bagsak ni Mayu. I saw how Natasha perfectly handled the kid. Mayu didn't not expected it. That was definitely a fair knock down. But the kid quickly get up. Dumura ito ng dugo sa sahig. People started cheering for Natasha and they're booing Mayu.

But, who's my bet? I'd go for Mayu. Maganda ang physical strenght and tactics niya. Natasha is also strong but from here I can already see her weakness. I bet Mayu knew it and she's now ready to kick her ass.

Just like what I expected, tinalo ni Mayu si Natasha sa apat na atake lamang. Natahimik ang arena at nang itanghal si Mayu bilang nanalo, muling umingay ang mga supporters nito.

"I knew it! That kid is gonna win."

I sighed. Ang boring naman talaga dito.

"Hey! My name is Paxton." he introduced himself. I noticed some gangsters nodding at him.

"Great name!" I said,

Ngumiti siya, "Thanks! I'm second to Zeon. You know him?"

Zeon Smith, the 4th in top 10. He's the strongest gangster in the Philippines. Kung totoo na si Paxton ang ikalawa, ibig nitong sabihin ay malakas siya?

"Yo, Pax!" one gangster called him, not a friendly call. Nagtinginan ang mga tao sa paligid namin. Dumapo ang mga mata nila sa akin at kay Paxton na nasa tabi ko. Nagsimulang mag bulungan ang mga chismosa.

Paxton nodded. The guys started cheering his name. Then, may lalaki ang lumapit sa kaniya.

"Pax, you want to fight? They want you."

"No, sorry. You know tonight is not my schedule. Besides, I'm with a beautiful girl." he even winked at me.

"Alright!" the guy glanced at me. "Call me when you're interested."

When the guy left, bumaling muli sa akin si Paxton. The crowd started cheering for the next fight. I look up and see Zeon Smith's name. Hindi ko kilala kung sino ang kalaban niya but I heard gangster din.

"You seem interested with Zeon." he chuckled,

"You know, for a guy, chismoso ka."

Natigilan siya. Akala ko mao-offend pero nagulat ako ng matawa siya ng malakas. Jeez! He's obviously getting some attention.

"But, is it true? Do you have crush on him?"

"No?" kumunot ang noo ko, "My friend idolizes him. I just want to check if he's right to be idolize."

"No doubt, Zeon's sustainability makes him a good fighter. He deserves the title of the strongest individual gangster in the Philippines yet he wasn't crowned as the Gangster King."

"Ang dami mong alam," I blurted out.

"Autumn, there are three types of people in this world. One who use, one who is being used and the observer—which I belong to. How about you? Where do you fit in those three types?"

Napatitig ako sa kaniya. Nang mapagtanto ang isang bagay, umiwas ako ng tingin. Good thing he's an observer which means he has control over his life. He is just there, standing in the middle, looking, watching people's lives like it is some kind of a tv show.

How about me? Sad to say, I belong to the second type of people. I am simply letting them use me for the sake of this freedom, for the sake of my own interest. I knew for sure I am nothing for them. They would dump me eventually. But, here I am, still taking that risk, hoping to have that freedom.

I wish I could be someone with nothing in between. But, I know that is impossible even for my future. This is the consequence of my sins. This is the aftermath of the path I took. The darker one, the lonely one.

Paxton smiled at me, "Do you want some ice cream?"

I don't know but that time, I agreed. Hindi ko na tinapos ang laban ni Zeon at naglakad kami ni Paxton palayo sa battle arena. Madilim na ang kapaligiran at ang tanging liwanag na nagbibigay na lang ay galing sa buwan at sa mga street lights. This is the only path I know going in and out of the forest. Maliwanag naman na ulit kapag nasa sentro ka na. Marami pa rin kasing bukas na merchants.

Tahimik lang kaming naglalakad. Hindi ko kilala ang lalaking ito pero hindi ko alam kung bakit napasama niya ako. I'm not scared if he harms me because I know I can defend myself. Maybe, I just need someone tonight.

Nagsimula na ulit lumiwanag ang paligid dahil sa mga stores na gising na gising pa. Marami na ulit ang students na makikita mo sa paligid. I wish I could stay here. I love their freedom. But, if ever, I'd like to as Autumn Niebes.

"I will bring you to my favorite ice cream parlor."

"They are still open? Usually, mga sweet stores ay sarado na ah."

"Yes but they are different. And, you will like it." he open the door for me.

May ilan din na customers pa. The staffs greeted us with friendly smile. Paxton went to the last row so I followed him. Great idea! This is a good spot. Pag upo ko, wala akong ibang view kung hindi ang buong paligid ng store pati na rin ang labas nito dahil isang makapal na glass wall ang nasa tabi ko.

One of the staff came and asked for our orders. Since I wasn't familiar with the flavors, I asked them to give me their best sellers. Hindi yata nakuntento ang lalaking ito at umorder pa siya ng marami para naman daw matikman ko lahat. Wow! Kapag ito ang kaibigan mo, sigurado na tataba ka.

"So, this is the best spot for observers huh?"

"Hm. Not really. But yes, pwede na."

Pinagmasdan ko ang ayos niya. He's still wearing his silver coat pero naka suot na lang siya ng shirt sa loob. He's tall kaya naman bagay na bagay sa kaniya ang cargo pants na suot niya.

"You are a gangster, right? Are you bully too?" I asked suddenly.

He looked at me with an offending stare, "Really, Autumn? You're gonna offend me?"

Inirapan ko siya. "You're so over reacting."

He smirked, binawi ang offended look niya. "I don't bully, Autumn. That's only for the weak."

"Nice mindset."

He shruged, "I have title, a good image to maintain. Besides, I don't see the point on bullying, preying innocent people. I can show my strength without doing that. There's always a battle for gangsters. Real and strong gangsters fight decently inside the ring."

I nodded at him. Good point! At least, hindi siya iyong mga mayabang, feeling malakas. I hate those people who pretend they are strong by hurting the weakest one.

"Good for you, then."

I look at my nails ma bagong polished kaninang umaga. It looks so damn pretty! Ang galing ng naglinis kanina. Mukhang magiging suki ako sa spa na 'yon.

"So, you are into banks like your family?"

"Yes, I'd like to take on the family business." natigil kami saglit nang dumating ang orders namin. Bigla akong nilamig by only looking at these ice creams na iba't ibang flavors. Binalik ko ang tingin sa kaniya, "Marami bang elites na based dito sa bansa? Usually ng kilala ko, mga kabilang sa international underground."

Kinuha ko ang choco mint flavor at tinikman ito. Inuna naman ni Paxton ang vanilla.

"Wow! That was quick, Autumn." he said, referring to my sudden changing of topic.

Nag kibit balikat ako, "I'm just curious."

"Well, dalawa lang ang syndicate na rito na naka based sa bansa. First, one of the powerful mafia in South East Asia, the de Contrares Mafia. They are based in Luzon. Second is, I think its name is the Company? I'm not quite sure since hindi naman sila ganon ka-lawak."

Natigilan ako bigla sa narinig. Tumango ako sa kaniya at pinagpatuloy ang pag kain ng ice cream, pero ang isip ko nagsimulang mapa isip. The Company? Posible ba na marami ang may ganon pangalan, o iyon talaga ang iniisip ko? Kung saan ako dati nagta-trabaho? Naalala ko, wanted nga pala ako sa kanila. But, the Company? They are an organization. Does that mean, they enter underground already?

Nanlaki ang mata ko ng biglang may malawak na ilaw ang pumasok sa isip ko! s**t! How could I forget? The Nail! The Nail is the Company's logo. It's nail because the founder of the Company is Nolasco Anton Iba Lopes. s**t!

Shit!

The syndicate Boe and M are hunting is the Company where I previously worked. s**t! Paano ko nakalimutan?

"Hey! Are you okay? Para kang nakakita ng multo."

I look at Paxton, "May mga the Company dito?"

Nagtataka siyang tumingin sa akin, "Yes? I think one elite and the rest, gangsters."

Bumaling ako sa ice cream ko. The nail! f**k it! Kayo lang pala ang sangkot dito? But wait, Boe said I have to find his son. Tangina! Hindi ko kilala ang anak ng founder ng the Company. Pero, para saan pa 'yon kung may pangalan na kami ng mismong lider ng sindikato na hinahanap nila? I have to report this to Boe immediately.