Commitment

Chapter 9

Chapter 9.

Silvana.

"Mami, nakita mo si yaya Lan?" tanong ko kay Mami.

Kanina ko pa hinahanap si yaya Lan, hindi ko siya makita. Ipagagawa ko pa sa kaniya 'yung assignment ko e.

Ang tagal kong naka abang kay mami kaso hindi niya ata ako narinig.

"Mami?"

Pagtawag ko uli, binaba niya ang hawak na diyaryo at masamang tumingin sa akin.

"Go back to your room, Entiz."

Malungkot akong bumalik sa loob ng bahay. Paakyat na ako sa malaking staircase namin ng makalimutan ko 'yung baril-barilan ko.

Patakbo akong bumalik sa garden. Bumagal ang takbo ko nang makita na may lalaki nang kausap si mami.

"Where's Lan's body? That kid is looking for her. Tell me you dispose her body properly?"

"Yes, ma'am." the bodyguard answered.

From that, alam ko na agad kung ano ang pinagusapan nila.

Ilang segundo akong natigilan, sa may likod ng pinto. Gusto kong umiyak, pero hindi ako sinanay na ganoon.

Yaya Lan, she's a wonderful person and has always been good to me. Siya lang ang trumato sa akin ng totoo at nagpakita ng concern sa akin.

I was seven noong una siyang dinala sa mansion namin. She was hired to take care of me, she literally took care of me and even loved me. I was eleven now, I'm close to really growing up and I looked forward to being with her through my adolescence years.

Pero hindi na 'yon mangyayari. The very first person who treat me with care is dead.

Who did it?

My very own family.

I was five year old when I found out the kind of world we live in. Everytime we go to Columbia, I'd always see my parents meeting with people who seem more thugs than a business person.

Men with tattoos all over their body. Nung panahon na 'to, wala akong ibang na sa isip kundi nakakatakot sila.

As day goes by, the more I realized what their business was with my parents.

They didn't even bother to be discreet when I was around, my parents doesn't even care if I find out.

I started seeing guns and watch our guards use it to kill somebody. I was seven at that time, when I first witnessed my father shoot someone in the head.

He only looked at me and grinned.

"Someday, you will be like this."

I shook my head, I know it's wrong, I knew their businesses is illegal, at alam ko rin na despite of my young and fresh mind, hindi ko gusto ang ganito.

"No, dadi, that's bad."

Nawala ang ngisi sa mukha ni Dadi.

"You ungrateful b***h!"

Napapikit ako ng lumipad ang mukha ko dahil sa sampal niya. Naiyak ako sa sakit, naramdaman ko 'yung hapdi at pag pula ng mukha ko.

Yaya Lan came to me and hugged me.

"Starting from now you will be trained, sa ayaw at sa gusto mo kikilalanin mo ang negosyo natin at mamahalin mo!"

He left me just there, crying, while Yaya Lan is comforting me. Nakita ko sa malayo si mami na naka tingin lang sa akin habang hawak ang wine glass. Just like before, wala siyang pakialam.

No one in this house care for me, except yaya Lan.

When I heard about her death, the only thought that remains in my mind was that, I'm going to kill them.

I was fifteen, a rebel teenage kid. Madalas akong tumakas at gumala kung saan saan just to get away from that house.

I had this friend Lily, we were best friends, we care for each other, we were happy, but my father killed her because he thought I was living a normal life.

That I should not,

That I should be the heiress of the Richardson.

Pero, paano kung ayoko nga?!

Richardson is the co-founder of the Dela Peña Cartel in Columbia. Cartel, which we already know what that means.

Soon, I'll be the one handling the Richardson in business with the Dela Peña's.

It's summer season, we're going back to Philippines to take a rest.

I'm going to meet again my childhood friends.

They are Rehan, Wren and Dario.

We were classmates since pre-school.

And my life is as similar as them.

"Hi, Eliz!" Wren greeted me with his usual charming look.

We made fist bumped, si Rehan lang 'yung mailap. Magmula pa naman noon, ganiyan na siya.

I couldn't blame him, though. He was raised to be that way, to be cold and stiff. He's the successor of their family's own mafia group.

Everyone expected him to be much worse than his father..

Dario came from a family of assassin. Ever since, under na sila ng Contrares. Binuo sila to privately attend Contrares' assassination business.

He was trained to be a hired killer, I think he already is. He's just fifteen like me, but I heard je already killed someone.

But he's snob.

"I have pasalubong for you, Dario." I greeted him.

Ngumisi siya sa akin, "I'd appreciate if that's a sharp object."

Tumawa ako at nilabas ang itim na kunai na ninakaw ko mula doon sa tauhan ni dadi.

He scanned it, at tumaas ang kilay niya.

"You nosy brat! Saan mo 'to ninakaw?" galit na sigaw ni Dario,

Nagulat ako, paano niya nalaman!

He looked at my face at mas lalo siyang nagalit ng mabasa ang reaksyon ko.

"It has the Imerson insignia, Entiz. How dare you?!" maarte niyang bulyaw.

Sinimangutan ko siya, naupo ako sa tabi niya.

"Wala akong pera e. Okay na 'yan! Maganda naman e!"

"Kapag may Imerson na makakita nito, pupugutan nila ako ng ulo!" galit pa rin niyang sigaw sa akin.

"Hindi 'yan Dario, mamamatay tao ka rin naman e." singit ni Wren.

Natawa kaming pareho ni Rehan.

"You're nutheads!" he shouted.

Mas lumakas ang tawanan namin, nakisali na rin si Wren.

Oh, and this charming boy Wren— came from a family that expertise in science and medical. His great grandfather and his father are the best laboratory expert of Contrares mafia.

Today, Richardson is officially under the Contrares mafia.

"Punyeta!"

Nagulat ako sa malakas na pagsigaw ni dadi.

"Hayop na Eduardo 'to, binabalik pa akong traydurin!"

"Honey, calm down!"

"Mabuti na lang nagtraydor ang asesino niya, hindi ko pa malalaman ang mga binabalak niya! Hayop!"

Dela Peña Cartel expand their businesses and tried to betray the Richardson.

He failed, though.

Richardson has got more connection than them.

But that also cost my father's life.

He died protecting his business, para lang hindi ito masakop o maangkin ng iba.

Habang dumadagdag ang edad ko, mas lalo kong naiintindihan ang mundong ginagalawan ko.

"Sony, labas mo naman 'yung Audi ko. Puntahan ko lang 'yung triplets."

Hindi nag atubili ang tauhan ko at kumaripas agad ito ng takbo patungo sa garage.

Segundo lang ang lumipas at na sa harap ko na ang Audi ko.

I drove fast to the cabin kung nasaan madalas ang tatlo. It's Wren property pero nung nagustuhan namin , inangkin naming lahat.

Rehan like the usual is busy with his books, Dario is playing with his .99 mm and Wren is playing Nintendo.

Sa aming apat, ako ang itinuturing na prinsesa nila. Pero hindi nila alam, ako lang ang nagiisang matino sa kanila at ako pa ang madalas nag-aalaga sa kanila.

I was their little princess but I was actually the ATE of these nutheads.

"Entiz, dala mo ba 'yung PsP?" tanong ni Wren pagdating ko sa Cabin.

Obviously, mahili siyang maglaro. Puro laro ang buhay niya dahil wala sa isip niya ang magseryoso sa buhay. Hindi siya katulad ng ninuno niya na magaling sa science at kung saan pa, pakiramdam niya ay wala siyang maiaambag sa pamilya niya, sakit ng ulo lang.

"Yep, kuhanin mo na lang sa kotse," I answered him lazily.

Dumiretso ako sa sofa para mahiga. Puyat pa ako dahil halos kauuwi ko lang ng Solace, isa 'yung bar at suki ako roon. Doon ako madalas nagpapalipas ng gabi, nagiinom, kung ano-ano, ayoko lang mag-stay ng matagal sa bahay.

Nakakasakal.

Pinagmasdan ko 'yung dalawang kumag, hindi ko maiwasan mangiti.

"Sinong chicks niyo ngayon?"

Sabay sila na tumingin sa akin at naka taas ang kilay.

Madalas, iisa lang 'yung babaeng nagugustuhan nila. Baliw 'ata 'tong dalawa na 'to. Madalas sila na magtalo dahil lang sa babae, pero hindi naman nauuwi sa totoong away. Pareho kasi sila ng gustong babae, madalas!

When I say madalas, literally madalas!

"Nangaasar ka?" sagot ni Dario.

Mas lalo akong natawa, comedy talaga ng buhay ng dalawang 'to.

"Bakit, mali ba ang tanong ko?"

I couldn't help it, puta naman natatawa ako.

"Inggit lang si Entiz kasi walang nanliligaw sa kaniya," sabat ni Rehan.

Binato ko ng unan ang mokong, walang hirap niya itong inilagan.

Bwiset! 

As if naman na gusto kong magka-boyfriend.

"Paano may magtatangka e maton ang asta?" Wren but in.

Mas lalo tuloy akong nainis.

Hindi ko na sila pinansin at pumikit na lang. Kaylangan kong matulog, alam naman nila ang buhay ko. Alam nila na impyerno ang nararanasan ko sa sarili kong pamamahay.

Nang mamatay si dadi, mas lalong nasira ang buhay ko. Kung noon, kahit mahigpit si dadi at alam kong masama siya, hindi pa rin siya nagkulang sa akin.

Pero nung si mami na lang ang kasama ko, mas lalo niyang pinahirapan ang buhay ko. Minsan naiisip ko kung anak niya nga ba talaga ako para tratuhin niya ako ng ganito.

Siguro, hindi.

"Bakit kasi hindi mo na lang palayasin ang nanay mo?" Dario asked, na sa garden kami sa loob ng bahay ni Wren.

Natawa ako sa sinabi niya, "Nanay ko 'yun, bakit ko siya palalayasin?"

"Hindi ka naman niya tinuturing na anak, Entiz!" Wren snorted.

Nag kibit balikat ako, baka ganoon lang kasi talaga.

"Everything including your father's mansions are named after you, Entiz. That's the reason why she hated you the most." Rehan whose busy with his assignment, told me that.

I knew that. Next month, eighteen year old na ako. Pinaghahandaan na ng triplets and debut ko samantalang sa bahay, walang ganap, though hindi na rin naman ako nage-expect, besides ang buhay at bahay ko na lang talaga ay sa kung saan ang mga bahay ng tatlong 'to.

I was in a park, nakatunganga but enjoying my free time, Bukas ay balik trabaho na naman ako sa kumpanya. I also handle some part of our family's business affiliated under the Dela Pena and Contrares. I have seen worse already, kahit sa ayaw ko o sa gusto ko, nahubog na ang isip ko sa mafia.

Even how much I despise this f*****g life, wala akong choice kung hindi sumugal at sumunod. My father died protecting his very own foundation. He made me his successor only meant one thing- he's entrusting his everything to me.

I'm here returning the favor by taking up his businesses, because I appreciate him, even how evil he is to others.

Nagmamaneho ako papunta sa cabin, four in the morning. Galing akong Solace, nakainom ako pero hindi ako lasing. I'm responsible enough to take care of myself, I'm not even a hard drinker.

I'm gonna pass through the intersection with normal speed, traffic lights on my side are in green indication, I was almost there pero biglang naging red ang indication kaya napatapak agad ako sa brake.

Punyeta, sirain!

I waited 'til it became green again, at tumakbo ng normal speed ulit.

Diretso lang ang tingin ko pero aware naman ako sa paligid. Nagulat ako ng may malaking armored van ang mabilis na tumatakbo patungo sa kalsada ako. Parang masasalpok niya ako! Punyeta!

Mabilis kong kinabig ang manibela papuntang kaliwa para iwasan siya pero nanlaki ang mata ko ng sinundan din niya ang direksyon ko. 

Huli na bago ako nakailag, mabilis kong pinindot ang red button, triplets will receive this ibig sabihin na sa kapahamakan ako. Hindi na ako nakakilos, naramdaman ko na lang na tumilapon ang sasakyan ko, hanggang sa nagdilim ang paningin ko.

Nagising ako ng makarinig ng paguusap. Nang idilat ko ang mata ko, nasilaw ako sa liwanag na galing sa ilaw.

"Entiz, gising ka na!" una kong narinig ang boses ni Wren.

Nakahinga ako ng maluwag, at least na sa kamay ako ng mga kaibigan ko.

"Okay ka lang?" bobong tanong ni Dario.

Kahit kaylan, tanga talaga ng isang 'to. Ikaw ba naman mabangga ng armored van tapos tatanungin mo kung okay ka lang.

Sinubukan kong bumangon, naramdaman ko agad ang iba't ibang sakit sa katawan. Tinignan ko kung kumpleto pa ako, baka mamaya wala na pala akong paa.

Shit lang!

"Binanga ako ng armored van!" inis kong sabi.

Nagkatinginan ang tatlo, nagtaka ako.

"Kung nakatakas, kaya niyong hanapin 'yun. Hindi siya nakatakas, anong nangyari?" tanong ko.

Hindi ko gusto pag ganitong nag titinginan sila, pakiramdam ko hindi ko gusto ang maririnig ko.

"Police reported it as an accident, but we know better." Wren

"Based on your car's scratches and how it was wrecked, we found some unusual hints that it wasn't an accident, someone tried to kill you,"

"The armored van you're talking about, he got away, but Dario managed to find him within an hour, the driver was shot point black in the head, somebody killed him also, to silence him,"

I nodded, I knew it. Sinubukan ko kasi na umiwas sa armored van pero sinundan niya at tinapatan niya talaga ako, para banggain. 

"Si mami?" tanong ko,

I smiled bitterly, baka nagaalala 'yun?

"She was with the police, they reported it as an accident, you're under the influence of alcohol that gives the police the reason to file it as only an accident," Rehan,

Bumagsak ang balikat ko. Wala lang naman sa akin iyon kung palabasin nila na aksidente, kung sakali kasi na malaman nila na may nagtangka, baka maungkat lang ang pagkatao ko.

"I traced the driver's history and I also did a background check on him," Dario said,

I looked at him in the eye, "and?"

Bumilis ang t***k ng puso ko.

"Your mother is the mastermind," Dario

"Entiz, let's enter Contario, together, you will be safe there, sasamahan ka namin." Wren suggested, Rehan and Dario nodded, I sighed.