32: bad shot
#DWTDWP

Pi

It didn’t take long before Cooler answered his phone.

“Yes?”

“Hey, it’s Pi your future wife.”

He laughed from the other line. “Napatawag ka pala Pi?”

“There seems to be a big problem Cooler,” seryosong wika ko. Saka ko na lamang iisipin ang kalandian, uunahin ko munang lutasin ang problemang ito then I know everything will fall into right places and that includes Cooler falling into me.

“Tungkol saan?”

“Long story, do you have some time?”

Saglit siyang tumahimik, probably checking his schedules at mayamaya ay nagsabi siya ng lugar at oras. “I’ll meet you there in two hours Pi.”

Nang ibaba ko ang cellphone ay agad akongdumiretso sa kwarto. Although this meeting os for business purpose only, I have to look extra beautiful in front of him.

Paglipas ng halos dalawang oras ay nasa restaurant na ako na sinabi ko Cooler. I expected him to come late or maybe ditch me again ngunit pagpasok ko ay siya agad ang unang namataan ko. Agad akong lumapit sa kanya na nakangiti.

“Hi!”

He stood up to give me a kiss on the cheek at pinaghila ako ng upuan.

Damn, so manly, so gentleman! This is the love of my life!

“You sounded really serious over the phone,” wika niya nang makaupo na kaming dalawa.

Tumango ako. “It's about my dad. He thinks you're the one messing with us. Ayaw ko namang hindi kayo magkasundo ng future father-in-law mo."

Tumawa siya ngunit mayamaya ay naging seryoso ang kanyang ekspresyon. "Wait, you mean your father thinks we're at fault to this?"

I nodded. "Bingo."

"Pero parehas lang tayong nabibiktima!"

Muli akong tumango. "Right, that is exactly the problem. No matter how I explain that we have the traitor, ayaw niyang maniwala sa akin. Killing my uncle is not even an option, at least not for now."

Minasahe niya ang sentido. "Hindi ko rin alam kung ano ang aksyon na gagawin ni Cronus."

I cringed. "Ilang beses ko nang narinig ang pangalang iyan, aside sa siya ang pinakamataas sa Vander Mafia, who the hell is he?"

"My old man."

My eyes sparkled. "My future father-in-law?!" but wait, I heard rumors about him.

He's crazy as fuck.

I think I have a psycho father-in-law.

"I'm telling you, you cannot touch Flavio for now or mas lalong lalaki ang gulo. My dad thinks of him as his savior, everything and all pero palihim niyang sinasakmal ang kabaitan ni Daddy!"

"I think by now, the Mafia's course of action have been decided---"

"Do not kill him! Not yet!" apela ko.

He sighed. "Not my say though. Isa pa ay hindi ko masisisi si Cronus kung iyon man ang desisyon niya. My old man's a beast by the way."

Ibinagsak ko ang mga kamay sa mesa at marahas na tumayo. "Let me talk to him!"

His jaw dropped. "Are you serious?!"

Mabilis akong tumango bilang tugon. "My father's health is at stake. Kahit gusto ko mang patayin agad agad si Flavio, I cannot risk seeing my father sad to death because of it. So, come on let me talk to your old man. I will do whatever it takes just to get what I want.

***

This is the second time I've been in this huge house. Rocket brought me once here noong unang beses kong makaharap si Cooler, Rocket's mom and that flat midget before. Hindi ko naramdaman ang kakaibang ambiance noon but now the house seems different.

And speaking of Rocket, I haven't seen him around. Ayaw ko rin namang itanong kay Cooler kung nasaan ito but still a part of me wanted to know what he's up to lately.

Any way wala naman akong pakialam, just wanna know. And why am I thinking of that devil when all I need is right here with me?

“You know you looked tense right now, pwede ka namang magback out,” basag ni Cooler sa pananahimik ko. Like duh. I’m  already here, wala ng atrasan ‘to. Isa pa ay ginagawa ko 'to hindi para kay Flavio kundi para kay daddy. Kung ako nga lang masusunod edi sana matagal ko na siyang pinatay eh.

“So,” wika ko. “Where is he?”

Cooler looked around the huge empty hall. “Probably on the meeting, hindi ko nakikita ang kanyang mga tao sa paligid eh.”

Ops, wrong timing but anyway I can wait after his meeting. Kailangan ko lang talagang makipagcoordinate sa kanila. Then if Dad will be able to see how much of an asshole Uncle Flavio is, pwede na naming paghatian ang katawan ni Flavio at gawin anuman ang gusto namin. Although he has an ugly face, I prefer his head.

“Please feel at home,” sabi ni Cooler at tinuro ang malalaking couch. “Have a seat while waiting. Ikukuha muna kita ng maiinom.”

Hindi na niya hinintay ang sagot ko at sa halip ay dumiretso na sa kung saan mang dako ng bahay. Naupo naman ako sa couch at hinintay siya na bumalik. I was silently observing the house, thinking why the hell it was so huge, or if Rocket is even around somewhere in this ridiculously huge house or whatever things I have in mind.

Hinintay ko na lamang na bumalik si Cooler ngunit mayamaya ay bumaba sa hagdan ang isang matandang lalaking may dalang balde at mop. He was sweaty all over at may bimpo pa siya sa kanyang balikat. His braggy old clothes were so dirty na tanda na malamang naglinis siya sa second floor.

He stopped a bit at napatingin sa akin. At normal times, I would have rolled my eyes on peasants like him who doesn’t smile first at mukhang sa unang tingin ay hinuhusgahan ako. I love old hardworking people, peasants and beggars only if they look kind and friendly, unlike this caretaker.

Ngunit dahil maganda ang araw ko dahil una, nakita ko si Cooler, pangalawa nasa bahay nila ako at pangatlo, I am going to meet my future father in law kaya kahit hindi niya ako nginitian, ako ang unang ngumiti sa kanya.

“Hello!” bati ko sa kanya at nagstretching pa sa sofa. His cold eyes followed my foot na bahagyang nasipa ang center table. He ‘tsked’ at tuluyang bumaba ng hagdan upang ayusin ulit ang maliit na mesa.

Uh-oh, mister caretaker is a bit OC.

He mopped the side of the floor at nag-isip naman ako ng maaring pwedeng pag-usapan.

“Matagal ka na bang nagtatrabaho rito?” tanong ko sa kanya. Well, in fairness he is very keen in removing dirt. Siguro isa iyon sa requirement kapag nag-apply ka bilang caretaker sa bahay ng mga Vanders. You have to be good in your job.

The man didn’t answer at sa halip ay pinunasan lamang ang kanyang pawis. His eyes slid at me again, secretly observing me.

For a caretaker, this man looks good. I bet Flavio’s dick that this man is certainly a hearthrob during his prime years.

Nairita ako dahil pinili niyang manahimik but I figured out I am a stranger to him so I guess it’s better to introduce myself first. “Oh sorry, ang daldal ko, hindi pa pala ako nagpakilala. Hi, I’m Lennon Pi Bellomo, Cooler’s future wife---”

The man suddenly pulled something from the side of his dirty shorts at tila nanigas ako sa kinauupuan nang mapagtantong baril iyon. In a swift movement, he had me at gun point right between my eyes.

What the hell who is this man?! So caretakers here carry a gun too?!

But hey he’s an old man, I am trained by Zero when it comes to gun handling. Maybe I can also stab him on the neck with my heels but wait, am I allowed to kill a Vander caretaker?

“Shit!” kasabay ng pagmumurang iyon ay ang tunog ng nabasag na baso. It was Cooler on the side, with the tray and shattered glasses of juice on the floor.

“Cooler! Who the hell is this peasant?!” naiinis na sabi ko.

Natampal niya ang noo bago sumagot. “What did you tell him?”

I shrugged a bit. “Nothing offending, nagpakilala lamang ako.”

He sighed. “That’s it.”

“Look old man--” hindi niya natapos ang sasabihin dahil binaril ng lalaki ang malaking jar na nasa gilid ni Cooler. I yelped in surprise and anger! How dare him shoot on Cooler’s direction!?

Per teka...

Old man...?

He’s... Cooler’s Dad?!

Cronus of Vander Mafia?!

Matapos ang dalawang putok sa direksyon ni Cooler ay ibinalik niya iyon sa noo ko. “What are you doing here in my home?”

Damn it, I just mistaken my future dad in-law as caretaker!

And I called him peasant!

How unlucky of me.

What a dumb way to die!

Shit, I am so done!

“Look Old man---”

“Hindi ikaw ang kausap ko Cooler,” sagot nito sa seryosong boses. Why the hell are the Vanders so scary when their voices are calm and serious?!

Huminga ako nang malalim at dahan-dahang tumayo. “Look Old--” uh, why am I calling him old? When Cooler said Old man, I thought he’s really that old! Yup, there were gray hair on the side but damn, he cannot be called old! At bakit ba hindi ko agad nakilala ang kanyang mga mata?! It’s the same as Cooler and Rocket! Dark and cold yet piercing through your soul!

“I mean, Sir, I am here for a reason--”

Mas lalo niyang diniin sa noo ko ang baril.

I hate it when people cuts me off lalo na kung seryoso ang bagay na pinunta ko rito.

“Look, hindi ako nagpunta rito para sa kung ano,” nakataas ang kilay na sabi ko. Now his scary aura is nothing against an annoyed Pi Bellomo. I am a bitch whenever something pissed me off that much. “I am here to talk about whatever happened with our business. Now put that fucking gun away you filthy old man!”

His jaw ticked while Cooler dropped his shoulders. He looked like he’s giving me that ‘you’re so done’ look right now.

Pero wala akong pakialam! Bad shot na ako sa future father-in-law ko so I might as well seize this moment at my advantage!

Saglit itong nag-isip bago ibinaba ang kamay na may hawak na baril. “Talk.”

I know guys like him and my dad has less time to waste so I have to be straight to the point.

“The man who sabotaged your transactions as well as ours is my uncle, uh not really MY uncle, we’re not blood related but he’s bond related with my dad at pinagkakatiwalaan niya ng husto. He’s that asshole who secretly bite the hands of those who feed him at maging kayo ay hinahasle din niya---"

"Be straight to the point Miss, I don't have much time to waste," sabi niya sa seryosong boses. His hand gripped tightly on the gun so I began thinking of a way to get rid of it. This man looks like he will shoot me even if my intention is pure!

"Do not kill him!"

There. I said it. Napakunot ang kanyang noo at tila nagtataka sa sinabi ko so I guess I have to elaborate more on that.

"My dad thinks of him as family, ako naman ay alam ko na ang baho niya mula pa noong bata ako. Kahit ano pa ang sabihin ko kay Daddy ay ayaw niyang maniwala sa akin so I have to show him Flavio's true color at nang sa gayon---"

He cut me off again. "In other words, this is about you and your family. Sorry Miss, I settle things on my way---"

Huh magaling rin akong sumapaw!

"You don't really get this, do you? My father's health is at risk---"

"Wala akong pakialam sa ama mo."

Now future dad in-law is making me angry. Right now all I could think of is that I have to get the gun from him and shoot him right in the face.

"You... You!" Argh! Napasabunot ako sa sariling buhok. This man is so grounded to his words, kahit pa siguro magmakaawa ako sa kanya, hindi niya pagbibigyan ang hiling ko. I am more than elated to have Flavio drop dead but I have things to consider!

If I will insist on my words, I'll have a bullet right between my eyes. If not, baka mangyari ang kinatatakutan ko. They will touch Flavio and I fear this might have an impact to Daddy!

I think the best way to do now is to get rid of that damn gun he's holding right now!

Mabilis na hinawakan ko ang kanyang palapulsuhan at pinisil ang puntong tinuro sa akin ni Zero para sa mga sitwastong ganito. He was caught off guard so it was easy to twist his arm a bit, causing him to let go of the gun. Umalingawngaw sa loob ng sala ang tunog ng pagbagsak ng baril sa sahig.

Nagulat siya sa ginawa ko at maging ako ay nagulat. Shit, I am so bad shot to future dad in-law! He was quick to recover from his surprise at tinangkang pulutin ang baril ngunit mabilis na nasipa ko rin iyon palayo.

"Ops, sorry future dad in-law but you really have to listen to me first," wika ko at sinubukan ulit na magpaliwanag sa kanya.

But damn, he was getting none of that! Instead, he pulled something from his side again at halos mabuwal ako sa kinatatayuan nang mapagtantong baril iyon.

Damn, how many guns does he have right now?

He's looking at me, more serious than ever. With a click, I was again at gunpoint!

"Pi!" nag-aalalang tawag ni Cooler. He had that terrified look on his face right now at malamang kapag tinangka niyang humakbang palapit ay hindi ulit mag-aatubili si Cronus na magpaputok, and thks time I fear he might shoot Cooler!

"You called me peasant and been disrespectful despite being in my home," sabi niya.

He can't blame me! I mean look at him, ang dumi-dumi niya! May dala pang mop at kung anong panlinis! Cooler said Cronus is in a meeting right now so I wasn't expecting that he's this filthy man!

Ngayon ay hindi ko na alam kung ano ang gagawin. I think mauuna pa yata akong mamatay kaysa kay Flavio o di kaya ay kay Daddy. Looks like I really messed up big time.

Hindi ko pa man nabubuka ang bibig para magsalita, bigla niyang kinalabit ang gatilyo!

All I could hear was Cooler's loud scream and my cry for help when facing death.

#

ShinichiLaaaabs✒️