33: what just happened?
#DWTDWP

Pi

Am I dead?

I could feel the hot liquid running down my face. Ilang beses akong napakurap at tinitigan si Cronus. I think I forgot how to breathe. Hinintay ko na bumagsak ako sa sahig but that didn't happen. Nang napatingin ako kay Cooler ay nawala ang pag-aalala sa mukha niya at sa halip ay natampal niya ang noo.

What just happened?

Nanginginig ang kamay na hinawakan ko ang likido at tiningnan iyon.

Blood is red right?

This isn't.

Which means...

Bigla siyang napabunghalit ng tawa.

What? Did the scary as fuck Cronus just laughed like crazy?!!

Tila aliw na aliw siya sa nangyari samantalang napatagis bagang na lamang ako habang nakatingin sa kanya na halos mabuwal na sa katatawa.

Oh god, I think one of us is really going to die today.

Definitely not me!

"That isn't a cool prank asshole!"

Wait, am I the one who said that?

Yes it's me. Damn it.

"Of course it is!" sagot niya habang tumatawa. Tawa pa rin siya nang tawa at saka lamang siya nagsalita nang humupa siya sa katatawa. May sayad na yata siya, crap! "Anyway, what were you saying again? So that guy's name is Flavio? So what are your demands?"

Pinunasan ko ang basang mukha at hindi makapaniwalang kumurap. "Demands?"

He nodded. "Yes Miss Bellomo. I am a businessman. You have demands when making business, so what do you want other than killing that traitor in due time?"

Ibig sabihim ay pagbibigyan niya ako? I could kiss him right now in happiness, but of course I'll be more happy to kiss Cooler instead.

"... Sa tingin ko ay iyon lang naman."

He shook his head. "That isn't business Miss Bellomo. Come on, give some demands and I'll have to think it through."

Uh. Napatingin ako kay Cooler. "How about Cooler?"

Napatingin din siya sa direksyon ng huli. "Why? What's with him?"

I raised my head as high as I could. "I will marry him someday."

Tumawa ulit siya at ilang beses na kinalabit ang gatilyo ng water gun. Who the hell made it, why does it seemed so realistic? Hinayaan ko na lamang siyang pagbabasain ang mukha ko at gayundin ang ginawa niya kay Cooler.

Apparently, Cronus of Vander Mafia has a mentality of a kid.

"Miss Bellomo, my children are old enough to decide on their own so that demand is something I cannot just grant. If you both agree to it, bakit ko naman kayo pipigilan?"

Wow, cool dad. Thanks for saying that.

"Sabagay, anyway I'm sure sooner or later magiging kami na."

The old man smirked. "That's one great confidence you have there Miss Bellomo." Napatingin siya sa suot na relo. So I have to curse myself again for not noticing that he is wearing a Rolex for goodness sake. Sinong caretaker ang naka-Rolex? "I think you're forgetting something."

"Ha?"

He smiled in a dangerous way. "Ask me my demands."

Oh crap.

"Hindi mo naman siguro ako uutosang lumayo kay Cooler, ano?"

He shook his head.  That was a relief.

"S-so what's your demand?" nanginginig na tanong ko. How could he go in  laughing spree then turn scary in a split second?!

"That man, Flavio's head in due time," seryosong sagot niya. Ibang-iba siya sa taong akala ko ay caretaker kanina. He has that scary aura that will make you shiver in fear.

Such a shame, I want Flavio's head but if future dad in-law wants it, who am I to deny it?

"Deal."

Itinaas niya ang pangalawang daliri. "Second, I want a downpayment."

Shit, ilang demands ba ang meron siya?

"W-what downpayment?" tanong ko.

"I want his toenails."

I made a face. Ew, it's gross just like his face. "Yeah, yeah sure."

"Good," sagot niya at hinugot ang cellphone mula sa bulsa ng maruming short at may tinawagan. "Poseidon, retreat from the original plan. Delay that bastard's death for now. Just pluck two of his toenails. Two on both feet."

Pagkatapos ng kanyang straightforward na instruction ay ibinaba na niya ang cellphone. Halos hindi naman ako makapaniwala sa nangyari. So if I have been late, malamang bangkay na si Flavio ngayon!

Lumapit sa gawi namin si Cooler. Looks like he's gotten over with the series of events that just happened involving his psycho dad.

"So ibig sabihin ay sinimulan n'yo na ang manhunt?" tanong niya sa ama.

Cronus nodded. "That bastard is lucky enough to ruin three of our shipments and transactions and then get away with it. Do not expect me to sit back and relax with that." Bumaling siya sa akin at pinasadahan ako ng tingin. "You are one brave woman Miss Bellomo. Alam mong hindi magkasundo ang pamilya natin yet you have the guts to be here."

I rolled my eyes. "It's my second time here, duh. Hindi nga magkasundo, hindi rin naman magkaaway. And I'm serious about Cooler."

Napatingin siya sa sahig kung saan nagkalat ang natapon na juice at basag na baso. "Damn you Cooler, I just mopped the entire living room as well as the rooms upstairs!" Nilagpasan niya kami at dumiretso sa isang pinto. Before totally disappearing through the door, he looked back at us with a smug grin. "I hope by now you realized it's urine, not water."

Ewwwwwwww!

I do really have a psycho father-in-law!!!

***

"Cooler nasaan si Rocket?" hindi ko mapigilang tanong habang pinupunasan ang mukha. I was in one of the guest rooms with him para maghilamos. Sino ba kasing siraulo ang maglalagay ng ihi bilang bala ng watergun?

I don't want to believe na totoo ang sinasabi ni Cronus but Cooler's cuss in disgust tells me otherwise. He said his father doesn't bluff when it comes to pranks like this.

Like he would push you in a pool with sharks in it.

Or he would let a deadly dog chase you to death.

Or he would stab you with a knife just for the sake of his childish prank.

Oh gosh I think I must prepare myself for the worst!

"Hindi ko alam," sagot niya. "Hindi ba siya nagsabi sa'yo?"

Minsan din talaga engot din mga tao no? Nagtanong nga ako kasi hindi ko alam tapos tatanungin niya rin ako pabalik? Pasalamat siya mahal ko siya.

"No, and why would he tell me?"

He smiled, the one that seemed to have a meaning behind it. "I don't know if you're both clueless or just in denial."

"Hindi ko alam ang pinagsasabi mo." Before he could say more, I decided to change the topic. "Teka, bakit nagma-mop ang daddy mo? I thought you said he's in a meeting."

Tumango siya sa akin. "He was, maybe it ended soon. And about him cleaning the house, ginagawa niya iyon kapag hindi siya masyadong busy. He would ask everyone to leave the house, including the maids at nang sa ganoon ay magawa niya nang maayos ang gagawin niya."

"Where's your mom?" tanong ko. Since I met my dad in-law, I might as well meet my mom in-law.

Nagkibit-balikat si Cooler. "Technically I have a mom, but I grew up with none, for the reason na hindi sila compatible ni Cronus. Anyway, I have Tita Sweet, Ryu's mother. Siya na ang tumayong nanay ko mula pa noon."

Looks like he's cool with it. Isa pa ay ayaw ko ng ungkatin pa ang tungkol doon. It's too personal.

"Your dad is one hella psycho! Tumatawa one moment, tapos mayamaya ay tila handang pumatay?"

Cooler laughed. "Actually, he's a bit like you."

"No way, he's on another level!"

Mas lalo lamang siyang natawa. "But Cronus is a loyal man. He never married again after pledging to my brother's mom na siya ang huling babaeng mamahalin nito."

So behind every beast is a loving man. But still what he did is beyond unforgivable! Seriously, ihi?! Kaya pala mainit tangena!

"Are you good?" tanong niya nang marinig ang buntong-hininga ko. Damn, I never even knew I sighed.

Why do I feel like something is missing? Cooler is here, right in front of me kaya wala na dapat pa akong hanapin na iba.

Yet I feel so void. I was silently hoping that someone will walk through the door.

... Anyone. Just anyone.

Ngumiti ako sa kanya at tumango. "I guess it's all settled, at least for now. I'll head home. Thanks Cooler!"

He just looked at me for a while like he's figuring something. Ilang sandali lamang ay tumango siya ay nag-offer na ihatid ako but I declined.

I think I have some things to figure out later.

***

RYU

I was busy doing nothing on my PC when my phone beeped.

Titless:

Rockeeeet...

Rocket ?

Yuhoooo!

Rocket?

Ah titless. What does she wants now? Ibinaba ko ang cellphone  at nag focus sa ginagawa. I don't even know what I am doing.

Napatingin ako sa cellphone ko, silently fighting the urge to pick it up and reply. It’s been days since I last saw her. Iyon ay noong nasa yate kami. I can still remember sleeping completely tangled with her small frame but when I woke up, no sign of her warm body around.

One of the crew said she left in a hurry, probably due to an emergency ngunit ni ha o ho ay wala akong narinig mula sa kanya. I am not mad abou t it, in fact wala akong pakialam. That’s why I am ignoring her now kasi nga wala akong pakiala.

Lol I  am a busy man with so much things to do. I have no time to spare for a titless like her.

With a sigh, pinulot ko ulit ang cellphone at huminga ulit nang malalim bago nagreply.

You:

What?

Titless:

Im at Cooer's home

Wer ar u?

Ah. So magkasama silang dalawa ni Cooler.

Good for her, bad for my cousin. Sinarado ko ang laptop at nahiga sa kama. Mahigpit ang hawak ko sa cellphone nang muli iyong tumunog.

Titless:

Wanna hangout?

Lol, why would she ask me kung magkasama naman sila ni Cooler? What now, I don't want to be a third wheel.

Titless:

Rockeeeet

Hooooy

Ano, g?

You:

No thanks.

Then she sent me a sad emoji. Seriously do I look like someone who's fond of using emojis? 

Titless:

☹️

I sent a reply of a smirk emoji.

You:

😏

Titless:

😂

You:

Stop

Titless:

😢

Let's hangout

You:
I'm busy

Pagkatapos kong masend ang message ay biglang tumunog ang cellphone ko.

Incoming call
Titless

With a smirk to myself, I answered the phone call.

"I told you I'm busy."

She giggled from the other line. "Hello to you too."

"Hang out by yourself," sabi ko.

"Ang sungit mo."

Hindi ko ma hinintay ang kanyang sagot at pinatay ang tawag ngunit isang wala pang limang segundo ay muli iyong tumunog.

"Stop calling me, I am busy."

"No, Cooler said you're not at malamang nagpapaugat ka lang diyan sa kwarto mo. I have a suggestion."

Huh, Cooler told her. Okay.

"What?"

"Let's bang!"

I almost choke. "Stop being horny."

Tumawa siya nang malakas. "I bet that excites you. So ano na, G?"

"I'm busy."

"Collect my death, remember may utang ako sayo right?"

Why is she being so insistent? I want peace and some time alone. "Bayad ka na."

"Uutang ulit ako---"

I hang up. What the hell is wrong with her?

It annoyed the hell out of me when she called again.

"What do you want?!"

"Look in the cameras."

Nagtataka man ay tiningnan ko ang monitor ng mga CCTV na nasa paligid ng bahay.

And there, I found titless on the front porch step, waving enthusiastically on the camera.

Damn.

#

ShinichiLaaaabs✒️