Commitment

Chapter 12

Darius Alejandro Lopez

"What's your count since you started?" my uncle who is a  Military Major General asked my brother.

"65 confirmed death, sir." my brother proudly answered him.

"That's small, hijo."

I was five year old when my parents introduced me the kind of world we live in. Noong una ay hindi ko pa maintindihan, bakit ganito, bakit ganiyan and sorts of question a kid usually asks. But my brother explained it to me in a very, very simple way.

"Our parents is a killer, so we will be too, in the future."

Hindi ko alam kung dapat ba akong matakot, o isipin na normal lang iyon?

A year after hearing that, I started training. My father asked me once kung ano ang gusto kong maging paglaki ko. I couldn't answer them what I really want, because at that time, walang ibang na sa isip ko kung hindi maging katulad nila dahil alam kong iyon ang tama.

After all, my brothers and cousins are just like them. I thought, I should too.

I learned the basic training in a month including all sorts of martial arts. For the second month, my uncle taught me all the things I need to know about the family's line of businesses. 

The Lopezes are under the Contrares Mafia- which the founder of our business. Para kaming stand alone department ng Contrares. Lahat ng may kinalaman sa assassination,  sa amin ang punta. Kami ang magha-handle. 60% sa family habang 40% naman ang sales na mapupunta sa mafia.

But of course, we have to do our very best dahil posible na alisin sa amin ang negosyo, after all ang Contrares naman ang nag fund nito.

"Hijo de puta!"

Nagulat ako ng marinig ang sigaw ni Papa. Mukhang galit na naman siya sa isa sa mga tauhan niya. Ilang segundo lang non ay nakarinig na ako ng putok ng baril.

Rest in peace brother.

But yeah, I was eight years old when I finally master two martial arts. Two years later, na-master ko na rin ang pag gamit ng iba't ibang baril. I can fight, halos karamihan ng mga na ka-sparring ko ay laging natatalo. Hindi ko alam kung sinasadya ba nila o talagang binibigay ko lang ang best ko.

But I need to give my best, ayoko madismaya ang magulang ko. Ayoko na ang kapatid ko na lang lagi ang may silbe sa kanila. Maliit pa lang kami, siya palagi ang priority and my situations were treated poorly and they invalidated my emotions. Like, you're just the bunso, he's the first born who will be the successsor.

Heck! The hell I care about their businesses anyway? I'm just doing what I have been told.

"Darius, keep your head high and maintain the power you hold in your hand."

"Never ask, just obey."

"You only do what you have been told."

I clenched my fist because of my anger growing slowly inside of me. I was raised to be like a f*****g robot, pero ang kapatid ko anak na anak ang turing sa kaniya?

This brute didn't even notice it, o wala lang talaga siyang pakialam? Kung sabagay, ni minsan naman ay hindi niya ako tinignan.

"Your envy will kill you," I heard Entiz's cold voice.

Umismid ako sa kaniya.

I don't deny it though. I'm envious, ayoko pero anong magagawa ko? Hindi ko mapigilan ang sarili ko na...

Bakit kasi ang unfair? Bakit kaylangan may magulang na isa lang sa anak ang gusto? Hindi ba pwedeng ako rin, na kaming dalawa? Anak din naman nila ako!

My older brother is allowed to be happy, while I was being forbid to have any emotions?

"Don't be sad, Dario. Nandito kami, we are your friends. Kapag kasama mo kami, puwede kang maging masaya!" that's Wren, he's always joyful.

Sa aming apat, siya lang itong stress-free sa family. Ang suwerte niya sa family niya dahil walang pressure na ibinibigay sa kaniya, they even love him. Ako? Sus! Ang tingin sa akin ni Papa, kapareho ng tingin niya sa mga tauhan niya!

"You're always dramatic, Wren. Magpaka-lalaki ka naman minsan!" Entiz shouted.

Hindi ko napigilan ang matawa. Siya pa talaga ang nagsabi niyan ha? Para naman may pinagka-iba sila?

"Wow! Parang nagpapaka-babae ka?" Wren

"I'm a woman already, Wren. Palibhasa, wala kang alam sa mga babae." Entiz, with her silver hair rolled her eyes.

"Woman? You're just 11." Rehan

Oh, and that is Rehan. He is the successor of Contrares Mafia where our families belong. We met when I was four, by that time, he's already good in the field. He's already cold and silent, you see him observe anyone and assess things afterwards.

He's smart and always calculated. Kung maaga akong namulat sa mundo namin, mas nauna siya kahit pa magkasing-edad lang kami. I was spoon-fed only the basic, siya? Alam na niya ang lahat.

Maraming beses niya kaming tinuturuan sa mga bagay-bagay. Kung paano maging wise, siya rin ang nagturo, iyung mga bagay na ginagamitan ng utak, siya ang umalalay sa amin. 

Yah, I'm not as clever as him but I can do a m*********r perfectly.

"I'm starting to become a woman, Rehan." 

"Really? Ni hindi ka pa nga dinadalaw Entiz." Hindi ko napigilan sumabat.

Mas lalong sumama ang timpla ng mukha ni Entiz nang magtawanan kaming lahat. 

She's the only girl in the group. We ain't actually a group, though. We are friends, and in between that friendship is the mafia that connects us— the Contrares.

We are second year high school now. Entiz is studying in an all girl school so siya lang ang nalayo sa amin. Even how much she hated it, it was her mother's decision.

Rehan is always the top 1. Kami ni Wren, hindi nakasali diyan miske sa top 20. Pero, joke lang naman 'yung pagiging top 1 ni Rehan e, kasi hindi naman siya nagaaral ng maayos. Mas malaki kasi magbigay 'yung tatay niya sa school kaya siya lagi 'yung top 1.

I can't stand that pressure of being always at the top. I wonder paano natitiis ni Rehan ang mga 'to?

Paghatid ko kay Sunny sa classroom niya, nakangisi akong naglalakad sa corridor ng makasalubong ko si Rehan.

"Oh—"

"I like Sunny, layuan mo na lang siya."

I was, taken aback. I didn't expect Rehan would say something like this. 

But he's Rehan, my friend, of course, I will give way.

"Sure, she's all yours." I smiled, no problem, hindi ko naman ganoon ka-gusto si Sunny.

But Klay, I liked her, a lot! And Rehan too,

Buwan ang tinagal nila ni Sunny, nung nagbreak sila malaking issue. Nakilala ko si Klay, late ko nang nalaman na gusto rin pala siya ni Rehan.

The f**k with this dude!

"No, I like her a lot," na sa cabin kami, nagtatalo kami ni Rehan tungkol kay Klay.

Si Entiz at Wren, walang magawa sa tabi. Alam nila ang kinahihinatnan nila pag nagaway kami ni Rehan.

But they look more confused than scared.

Oh, hindi pa nga pala nila alam na pangalawa na 'to.

"I like her too, Dario."

"Binigay ko na sayo si Sunny!" Inis kong tugon sa kaniya.

He sigh, defeated. Lumipas si Klay and another girl named Gwen caused our fight.

Pareho kaming hindi nagpapatalo. Putangina naman kasi! Lahat na lang ng magugustuhan niya, gusto ko. Minsan, ako ang unang naka-kita, minsan naman ay siya.

Hindi natapos kay Gwen. Si Yuli ang huli namin pinagawayan pero sa huli, sinuko na lang ni Rehan. Buwan lang din ang tinagal namin ni Yuli, masiyado kasi siyang nakakasakal.

"Sa dinami-rami ng pagaawayan niyo, babae pa." Wren commented, bakla 'ata ang isang ito.

Nag kibit balikat kaming dalawa. Baka iyon talaga ang gusto ng tadhana. Maraming beses kaming nagusap ni Rehan, pareho naming hindi dinibdib ang mga nangyari.

Hanggang sa naging laro na lang sa aming dalawa, kung sino ang unang sagutin o sino pagkatapos. Unti-unti, nagiging marumi na sa pandinig ng iba. Maraming issue, nagpapasahan daw kami ng babae ni Rehan, pero ang mga babae, parang gustong-gusto pa.

"Dario, trace this tire and let me know if you see something," Rehan ordered me.

We received Entiz' emergency call, we searched her last coordinate and we rush to the place kung nasaan siya. Kinabahan kaming lahat because her car was in total wrecked.

Shit talaga!

Wren started calling somebody, probably connections. Rehan dialed the 911, ako ang lumapit sa driver seat para silipin siya. Sobrang bilis ng t***k ng puso ko. She's our ate, our princess, dapat pinoprotektahan namin siya. Para saan ang kakayahan namin?! 

Useless!

Hindi ako nagdalawang isip na wasakin 'yung pinto sa driver seat.

"Dario, careful!"

Mabilis ang mga kilos ko. Pumutok naman ang air bag niya. I scan her body, may mga gasgas pero wala akong nakitang major injuries, sana, huwag naman sanang may internal. s**t!

Maingat kong inilabas ang katawan niya at hiniga siya sa kalsada, sa malayo. Kaylangan may sapat na hangin. Hindi ko siya i c-cpr dahil baka may nabaling rib cage sa kaniya. 

Tangina, nasaan na ba 'yung ambulansya?!

I checked her pulse, buhay pa siya! Tangina naman! Ano bang nangyari? Lasing na naman ba siya? Pero hindi nag da-drive si Entiz ng lasing siya. Hindi naman niya ugali 'yun.

"Dario," Rehan called me, nakaupo lang ako sa gutter.

Si Wren, hindi pa rin tapos sa mga kausap niya. He's probably talking to his parents, baka ginigising niya buong pamilya niya para lang gamutin si Entiz.

"She's alive, Rehan. Nasaan na ba ang ambulansya?" I asked, a bit shaking.

Kinakabahan ako, putangina naman.

"Someone tried to kill her," Rehan said.

Nagulat ako, pero hindi na nagtaka.

Hindi rin kataka-taka na alam agad ni Rehan, ayoko na intindihin ang laman ng isip niya, baka sumakit ang ulo ko.

"There's another car she collided with. Based on her car's damages, she wasn't in offensive mode. I mean, hindi siya ang bumanga."

I looked at him sharply, "May bumanga sa kaniya,"

He nodded. "The place is clean, walang ibang debris na galing sa isang sasakyan. It must be equipped with steel bars or an armored vehicle. But based sa hugis ng gulong when it creaked, it's possible na armored van 'to."

I nodded, I trust Rehan's insights. 

So, I did what he asked me to do. I was driving slowly and nagbe-based lang din ako sa intuition ko kung saan ako liliko.

Someone tried to kill her, if that perpetrator is smart, he would have fled to another city by now. But he's driving an armored van, that would take like an hour before makalabas ka ng syudad na 'to. 

It's been thirty minutes already, I bet marami nang checkpoints sa paligid. Mahihirapan siyang makalabas, unless magpapalit siya ng sasakyan, less suspicious. A sedan, maybe.

Naghanap ako ng medyo liblib na lugar, dinala ako non sa isang dead end street and there I saw the armored van like what Rehan described.

I load up my two pistol and hid one behind my pants. Hawak ang isang .99 mm na baril, tahimik akong lumabas ng Raptor ko at naglakad ng tahimik papunta sa armored van.

Hinanda ko ang sarili paglapit sa driver's seat but to my dismay, the driver is already dead. Two shot in the head. Fucker.

I examined the armored van, I tried to find some clue that will point me to his mastermind, oero sobrang linis.

Then I remember the armored van has tab inside. Nalaman ko 'yung mga lugar kung saan siya galing. I called Rehan and told him everything.

Tangina! Kawawa naman si Entiz.

Mga walanghiyang magulang.

Entiz wasn't surprised at all, we were actually. Her mother didn't treat her well ever since. We saw it first hand. Tapos nung mamatay 'yung tatay niya at iniwan lahat ng mana kay Entiz, mas lalong nagalit ang nanay niya.

Entiz is turning 18 next month, kung mamatay siya ng hindi pa nakukuha ang mana, sa mother niya mapupunta lahat as she is her only descendant.

Wren, Rehan and I talked. We can't risk Entiz' safety kung hahayaan namin na bumalik siya sa mansion nila. So we came up with an idea to jusr enter Contario and continue our studies there.

Rehan talked to his parents, they agreed.

Sama-sama kaming dumating ng Contario. Hindi namin iniwan si Entiz, kahit mukha na siyang nahihiyang kasama kami. Puro kasi kami lalaki, siya lang 'yung babae. Napagkakamalan siyang tomboy daw.

Medyo totoo naman.

"Your counts, Darius?" my uncle asked me.

"10 sir," I answered straight face.

He mocked at me, "Ang bagal mo naman. Sa ganiyang edad ng kuya mo, naka 30 na siya."

I ignored him. The f**k! Kaylan ba matatapos ang insulto na 'to? Napapagod na ako.

I'm just fifteen year old, I already killed 10 people, dude! That's already something.

I can't just kill, everyone without their order.

But as year pass bgy, unti unti akong nilalamon ng poot para sa pamilya ko. I want to hate my brother also, pero putangina.

Rehan is always the center of attention, he gets all! Pero never akong nainggit sa kaniya. If I am this envious, bakit sa kapatid ko lang ako naiinggit? Parang gago naman.

Should I just kill him? Soon.

Pero tangina, tama si Entiz. Itong inggit ang sisira sa buhay ko. Fine, I'll get even someday, hindi ngayon, pero sisiguraduhin ko na mangyayari 'yon.

"Pagod ka na ba maging assassin, Dario?" Tanong ni Wren.

Dalawa lang kami na nakatambay sa dorm ko. Hindi ko alam kung nasaan 'yung dalawa. 

Nag kibit balikat ako, "Medyo. The more I think my mission in life, the more I'm starting to hate it."

I was born and raised to be a f*****g assassin they can use for their business. Isa lang akong tauhan nila na dapat nilang i-keep dahil outstanding ang performance sa trabaho. 

The only good feeling in here are the money they gave me. Every successful mission I did, I get 10%. That's pretty damn high! To think na milion dollar ang payment kada ulo.

"Gusto mo bang maging normal na lang?"

I looked at him, "Do you?"

He shrugged, "I don't want this kind of life, Dario."

"Just stick to it Wren, until you got that power to decide for your own."

I noticed their perception na unti-unting nagbabago sa nagdaraang panahon. Even Entiz, gusto na niyang sumuko. Gusto na lang nilang mamuhay ng normal.

Kung pwede lang, bakit hindi?

Pero alam naming lahat ang consequences kapag bigla kaming tumiwalag. We won't last that long outside. They will eliminate us, one by one, whoever betray the mafia, kahit anak ka pa ng nasa itaas.

Everyone must be wise. If you want your freedom, do something about it. You can't just ask everybody. It's something you need to, earn.

Kung magpapadala ka sa emosyon mo, makakagawa ka ng mga maling desisyon na pagsisisihan mo. Para saan pa 'yung freedom na pinaglalaban mo kung wala ka na? 

I want that f*****g freedom, pero magpapayaman muna ako. Sayang e.

If mafia is using us, then we should use them also to get what we want, until we get that power we want, and we will use that to flee.

I believe that power holds everything. You f*****g need that para magawa mo ang lahat ng gusto mo.

For you Alena who wants to change the world? Go get your hands dirty, then. Afterall, hindi mo matatalo ang masama kung hindi ka rin magpapakasama.