Commitment

Chapter 23

Nakakatawang isipin na pumasok ako sa mundong ganito pero hindi ako handa sa mas mapusok na apoy na kaylangan lakarin ko. As I've said, may mga consequences ang katangahan ko noon at nagsisimula na ito ngayon.

I know right? Ako na talaga ang pinaka tanga sa mundo. I was reckless, I know that. Pero, anong magagawa ko? Bukod sa kagustuhan kong makaligtas at masiguro ang buhay ko, kaylangan kong gawin ito.

And I hate the government so much that I would do everything to take them down when I get that power I'll be needing.

Maybe I should start looking for a good journalist, iyong hindi nababayaran ng kahit na sino. I will get information about them and their dirty works and I will expose them all. It's gonna hurt their ego so bad that they'd wish to die.

But now, Dario is inside my dorm sipping his coffee like he lives here.

"You know, when I went to New York, I heard something." he said, not even looking at me.

Seryoso lang siyang naka tingin sa kawalan habang hawak ang tasa ng kape niya.

We have our branch in New York. Doon ang warehouse ng products namin at lahat ng naroroon ay pa-ship palagi sa South America. Colombia, Brazil, Venezuela, you name it— malakas ang market diyan.

"Ano na naman 'yan?"

"World War III is going to happen this year,"

Natawa ako sa sinabi. "Well, kung kanino mo 'man iyan narinig, I'm sure it was just a dream."

"Dream? No, Alena. I heard it from the Prime Minister of United States. I don't think she would be making a joke about the happening of WW III."

Nagulat ako sa nalaman. "Seryoso ba Dario? Hindi ka nagkamali ng dinig o nananaginip?"

Sinamaan ako nito ng tingin. "I can hear murmurs as clear as crystal even if it's 10 meters away from me. Paano pa kung naroon ako mismo sa silid kung saan sila naguusap? And I'm not a conclusive guy, Alena. I heard what I heard."

"You were exactly there? Ibig sabihin—"

"Yes, the Prime Minister and the leader of Mafia de Contrares had a meeting and I was with them inside guarding the doors."

Prime Minister and a leader of a mafia? That doesn't sound look good to me. Why would she meet the head of a mafia when they're supposed to be haunting every each of us?

"She's asking the mafia a help. I heard Russia has set a date when they will bomb the US, they want the Mafia to negotiate with the Russians kapalit ng maluwag na importation ng produkto."

"Bakit hindi iyon gawin ng US? They are strong and smart, they can handle the Russians!"

"I bet they already did but asking the mafia to do that meant they failed. For the Americans, everything is just business, but the Russians got tired with the peace treaty simula ng magkaroon ng bagong lider ang bansa."

Yes, I heard what happened to the Russia now.

"The coup succeed, now the General won't be swayed by the peace treaty. His visuals about who tops the world must happen. Nang inagaw niya ang pwesto ng presidente, alam na ng totoong nakakalaam ang maaaring mangyari."

"Pababagsakin niya ang mga bansang kalaban niya."

He nodded, "That is why the date has been set I'm sure. The World War III is going to happen and they want the Mafia to stop the Russians. Mafia de Contrares can tame the General in just a one phone call that's why the US was desperate for Mafia's help."

"Anyway, it's just a possibility and we're not sure if it's really going to happen. Marami ang puwedeng mangyari, US is still powerful I'm sure they can do something about them."

Hindi ko maiwasan ang kabahan. Paano kapag natuloy iyon? Sana huwag madamay ang bansa na 'to. Mahirap na nga, lalo pang magiging kawawa.

I really don't think matutuloy iyan, lalo sa panahon na 'to. Noon pa naman sinabi na magkakaroon ng WWIII pero hindi pa rin nangyayari, dahil hindi pwede. Maraming negosyante ang malulugi, sila pa naman ang nangunguna sa pag control ng mga bansa.

Bumukas ang pinto at nagulat ng makita si Silvana. Bihira kasing umuwi ang babaeng ito sa Dorm. Madalas kasi ay kung nandito siya sa Contario, hindi na siya nakakatulog dito dahil umaalis din siya agad sa gabi.

"I missed you, Silvana!"

"No, I don't." umirap siya sa akin pero nakangisi naman at lumapit sa akin para magbeso.

She only glanced at Dario na nananahimik sa isang tabi. Nasanay na talaga siyang na sa paligid niya ulit ang mga kaibigan niya. Ako yata ang naging tulay kung bakit sila nakokompleto rito.

"Kung tatambay ka rito, maglinis ka!" bulyaw sa kaniya ni Silvana.

Natawa ako ng makita ang naiinis na mukha ni Dario.

"Are you insane Entiz?"

Right, lahat sila Entiz ang tawag sa kaniya. Ako lang yata ang Silvana. Uh, should I call her Entiz also? I'm gonna ask her that some other time.

"Hindi libre ang pagtambay dito, Dario."

"Tell me how much and I'll slap you my cheque!"

"Sana all madaming money," singit ko.

Inirapan lang ako ng dalawa kaya lalo akong natawa. Laging nagaaway ang dalawang 'to, bagay pa naman din sila tignan. Kaso naiisip ko si Wren, mas malapit siya ng kaonti kay Silvana e. Feeling ko tuloy nung nagaway-away sila, si Silvana at Wren ang magkakampi tapos inaway nila si Rehan, tapos si Dario naipit lang sa kanilang tatlo.

Parang bata itong mga 'to, bakit hindi na lang magbati?

"I heard what will happen, Ali." Silvana looked at me seriously. "Are you ready? You will have to face them, that would be very stressful for you."

Nagkibit ako ng balikat. "Wala lang iyon sa akin, kahit anong maging desisyon naman ay tatanggapin ko."

"You deserve the promotion and I'm saying because it's real and not just your friend. You have been doing a lot of work the past months and everything were smooth, ngayon lang nagka-aberya. Compare sa ibang nasa posisyon mo noon, you have become more reliable than others. But I guess, ipipilit nila ang nangyari nitong nakaraan at iyon ang gagamitin nila to pin you down." mahabang pagpapaliwanag ni Silvana.

Tumango ako, napaliwanag na rin naman ni Rehan iyan, hindi ko lang alam ang eksaktong plano niya pero kinakabahan ako sa maaari niyang gawin.

Ayokong humantong sa punto na masisira ang pangalan niya para lang sa akin. I also want to fight fairly, kahit papaano.

"Inaasahan ko na ang lahat ng posibleng mangyari, Silv. Rehan asked me not do anything, he said he's got a plan,"

Napansin ko ang pasimpleng pag-irap ni Dario sa sinabi ko. Hater talaga.

"I don't doubt him but you have to remind him not to take it too seriously. Baka ikasira ng pangalan niya. His father won't favor him in that meeting, that's how the Don shows respect and equality to everyone." Silvana

"That's why I'm here. One word from Darius and it's all over." Singit ng isang mayabang sa gilid.

Ang lakas ng hangin, natangay ang buhok ko.

"Huwag mo akong simulan, Dario. Bakit hindi ka na lang bumalik sa ibang bansa at pumatay ng pumatay?" Silvana

"I'm tired and I want to rest, Entiz."

"And lurking here is a rest to you, Dario?"

The monster glared at my best friend. Hay, here we go again.

"Will you shut your mouth? And don't ever use that 'ate-sound" of yours dahil mas matanda pa rin ako sa iyo!"

"Ako pa ang tatahimik? This is our dorm son of a b***h!" I sighed, lumalakas na ang boses ng kaibigan ko.

"Stop nagging me old hag!"

"What?!" yeah, umuusok na ang ilong ni Silvana.

Humiga ako sa couch ko at pumikit. Haaay, bahala sila diyan magbangayan. Ewan bakit hindi pa sila nahuhulog sa isa't isa, o baka nangyari na tapos na sa in denial stage pa lang?

Now, that makes me kilig.

Hihihi

"Lubayan mo ako babae." Dario exclaimed with finality in his voice.