Chapter 48: Bare Truth

"Hello Athena", Dra. Preciosa said and smirked at Mom. I saw Mom's fist tightened at bumakas ang galit sa mukha nito. Unlike the first time that they met, Mom's reaction is clueless then but now anger filled her. She must have remembered already her wickedness. Only Mom knows how evil those three are.

"Andromeda", Mom said. "It's nice to see you again. Maging kayo Pan, Ganymede", she said. Kahit halos manginig ito sa galit ay tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang pagsasalita ni Mommy. She delivered her words with enough emphasis.

No one dared to move, kahit ang mga reapers. Dad is just holding Mom by the arm, ready for any possible harm na maaaring gawin ng mga intruder.

The reapers are also watching silently habang pinoprotektahan kami, si Ryu, si Cooler, si Gray and Cronus. Nasa gilid naman ang ibang mga bisita and no one dared to speak. Marahil ay natakot sila sa dala-dalang armas ng babaeng nakaitim at lalaking may peklat. The Gothic girl reminded me of Phobie.

Hindi naman makikitaan ng pagkabahala si Cronus. Nakamasid lamang ito na tila amused sa pagdating ng mga hindi inaasahang bisita.

"It's been a long time old reapers", bati nito. "It's been nineteen years since the betrayal."

"Ah, Cronus", the scarred man said. "Yes and I am still grateful to you for giving me this Koch", wika nito at bahagyang ginalaw ang braso na may dalang malaking baril.

"That's my gift for you so you can have that despite the betrayal."

I'm sure hindi sila nagpunta dito upang pasalamatan si Cronus para sa malaking baril o kaya naman ay batiin ni Dra. Preciosa si Mommy. They must have come for another reason. Kung sila lang tatlo ang nagpunta dito, they must not meant to start a war between the Genesis and Vander Mafia. It's a suicide mission for the three of them para pumunta doon na mga machine gun lamang ang dala ng dalawa and Dra. Preciosa wearing a long gown. They maybe just want to crash our welcome party.

"I know about your new organization", Cronus said. He looked at me bago tumingin sa iba pang mga naroon. "The kids have encountered you not just once."

Nagulat ako sa sinabi nito. All this time ay akala ko na iilan lamang kaming nakakaalam sa Genesis. I didn't tell them everything about the organization. Mukhang tama ngang sabihin na huwag maliitin ang mafia. They act even before I knew it. Hindi lamang ako ang nagulat, maging ang sina Ryu, ngunit saglit lamang iyon.

"I'm not surprised. You wouldn't be the mafia boss for nothing. So how do you know about us? Do you know too that we are operating?"

Sumingit naman sa usapan si Rionessi. "Don't you think this is not the perfect time to talk with us about it? You see, may kasiyahan kami para sa pagbabalik ng asawa at anak ko", he said. If I remember it right, he was the reason why Dra. Vergara hated Mom so much. Mukhang minahal nila ang iisang lalaki, which is Rionessi. "Isa pa ay nasa kuta namin kayo, don't you think it's dangerous?"

"About it, we have a bomb inside our car at ang isa niyon ay nasa main door ng mansion. If you would do anything against us ay hindi ako magdadalawang isip na pasabugin iyon at matutusta tayong lahat dito. But if not, I will keep my word. Nandito lamang kami upang dumalo sa pagtitipon."

Saka ko lamang napansin na tila nanginginig si Ryu sa kanyang pwesto. His fist is clenched, he's sweating at halos nangungugat na ang leeg nito dahil sa pagpipigil. His eyes are filled with anger at parang kahit anong oras ay sasabog ito. That's when I decided to strode across the hall upang pumunta sa pwesto niya, sanhi upang mapatingin ang lahat sa akin. I was the only one who dared to move that much.

Nang makalapit ako sa kanya ay hinawakan ko ang mga nakakuyom niyang palad. I don't know what forced me to do it, maybe I just did it voluntarily. I am afraid. Afraid of whatever possible thing that Ryu may do. Hindi ko alam ang dahilan niyon but all I see is a mad man. The presence of these three people here must have evoked a painful past for him.

"Oh the youngest Vander", the Gothic lady said. She is chewing a gum at bahagyang lumapit sa amin ni Ryu but then Mnemosyne and Red stepped in front of us bago pa ito makalapit.

The gothic lady chuckled, "Geez, you young reapers, masyado kayong protective. I'm not going to do anything stupid. Babatiin ko lamang ang batang ito. She's so strong to have stayed in her Mom's womb despite all her shots", nakangising wika nito at mas lalo kong nararamdaman ang paninigas ng katawan ni Ryu, like he's going on a killing spree any moment by now. Mas lalo ko na lamang hinigpitan ang paghawak ko sa kanya. I looked at him in his eyes as if I'm begging him.

"Here's my salute, Young Vander" she said and she raised her middle finger to me at ngumisi ng nakakaloko. Inilibot nito ang paningin sa loob at nang makita nito si Gray ay doon naman ito bahagyang lumapit. "You too. Akala ko pa naman ikaw na ang pinakabatang Vander. You're lucky to have that stupid woman offer her life for -"

Hindi na nito natuloy ang sasabihin nang lumipad sa direksyon nito ang isang stainless tray na dala ng mga waiter kanina habang nagbibigay ng mga inumin. Nagulat ang lahat kung saan iyon nanggaling. The tray grazed the woman's forehead at tumulo ang dugo mula roon.

"What the fuck!", she hissed at hinanap ng mga mata ang pinanggalingan ng tray. There I saw Zywon stepped forward at gaya ni Ryu, nag-uumapaw din ang aura ng galit sa katawan nito. His eyes are so dark, his fist is clenched at walang ibang mababakas sa mukha nito kundi galit.

"Don't you dare call my Mom stupid", wika niya. "She is not stupid, you're just heartless!"

"And who are you?"

"Zywon Deltran."

"Ah, Deltran? You must be the other kid with this Vander few years ago. The one who was with Emerald Deltran", wika nito. Tumalikod ito kay Zywon na tila ba walang paki. "She's stupid. The kid is not even worth dying for."

I closed my eyes nang tinangkang habulin ni Zywon si Ganymede ngunit bago pa man niya ito maabutan ay hinawakan na siya ni Gray sa braso. He gave him a very sad look na tila ba sinasabing wag nang ituloy ang balak niyang pag-atake. Zywon hesitated for a while ngunit nang saglit na nakita nito ang ekspresyon ng mukha ni Gray ay pinigilan niya ang sarili. He removed his hands from his arm bago bumalik sa pwesto niya kanina.

"Umalis na kayo!", Mom said. This time ay naging kalmado na siya kumpara kanina. "We would appreciate it if you would leave this place immediately."

"Nagmamadali ka yata Athena. Don't worry, we'll leave shortly after giving you my message. I don't know who's the traitor within this mafia, ngunit sa tingin ko ay meron."

"You must mean the three of you. You're traitors, aren't you?" Mom is really recovering from her amnesia. Mukhang nakakasabay na ito sa mga pangyayari noon na kinasasangkutan ng tatlong hindi inaasahang bisita.

"That was a long time ago Athena, what I mean is that there is this new traitor. A new traitor who's also affecting us. I'm telling you, whoever you are, kapag nalaman ko kung sino ka, you will regret messing with us."

"Anong ibig mong sabihin?", Ryu asked. "And how dare you to threat the mafia."

"We'll leave it that way. Goodbye people! Continue your party", wika ni Dra. Preciosa. She smirked at Mom and Dad bago tumalikod sa amin. Ganoon din ang ginawa ng lalaking may peklat at ni Ganymede. Inalis niya sa bibig ang kanyang nginunguyang bubble gum bago iyon idinikit sa nameplate ng nadaanan niyang waiter.

"Check the area for bombs and other threats!", sigaw ni Cooler at may mga sumunod naman sa sinabi niya. Lumapit siya kay Cronus. "Do you think we'll leave it that way? Hahayaan na lamang silang umalis ng ganoon nalang?"

No one still dared to move, halatang nagulat ang lahat sa munting eksenana ginawa ng mga taga-Genesis. They messed the party up, ngayon ay tila wala ng gana ang bawat isa upang ipagpatuloy pa ang kasiyahan.

"Wag mo akong pangunahan Zeus. I know what I am doing. As of the traitor, malalaman at malalaman ko rin kung sino iyon and all of you knows that death is the corresponding consequence for it", Cronus said. His smile is still the one that he flashed kanina. He must have everything under control.

Tama nga si Dra. Preciosa, he would not be the mafia boss for nothing. Maybe he doesn't want to get the other guests involved in this mess. Marahil hindi lahat ng bisita ay taga-Mafia. I looked at Andi and Therese, they were also shocked by what happened but they were able to breathe kumpara kanina nang naroon pa ang tatlo. I gave them a nod at sinagot nila iyon ng awkward na smile. Well that's a sign that they're fine, I guess.

Just then some people screamed nang sinuntok bigla ni Zywon si Gray. Napatingin kaming lahat sa dako nila. He was about to give Gray another punch ngunit nagsalita si Gray.

"Stop it Zywon."

"How dare you to stop me! It's already my chance to kill my Mom's killer! Palibhasa ay wala kang pakialam! Mom should have been alive by now if it wasn't because of you!", he screamed. Lahat nang galit niya kanina ay lumabas ngayon. Unti-unti nang nabuo ang pasa sa mukha ni Gray sanhi ng pagsuntok niya kanina.

"You have no idea how much I suffered dahil sa pagkamatay ni Tita Emerald. Gusto kong malimutan ang lahat ng mga nangyari. You have no idea how I regretted coming with you. Tama ka, kung hindi dahil sa akin ay buhay pa si Tita Emerald. You have no idea how that incident haunt me every day! Wala kang ideya kung paano ako hindi makatulog gabi-gabi sa tuwing napapanaginipan ko ang mga nangyari noon. We're both young that time Zywon at parehas nating hindi ginusto ang mga nangyari noon."

Gray's voice is full of sadness. Hindi ko alam ang totoong kwento kung ano ba talaga ang nangyari. Maybe that's what Zywon's story of the two princes and the queen was all about. Hindi pa rin nagpapagil si Zywon at muling dumapo ang kamao nito sa mukha ni Gray but the latter didn't fight back. Hinayaan niya lamang si Zywon. Kahit ang mga naroon ay walang nagtangkang pumigil sa kanila.

"It won't bring back your Mom, Zywon, kaya itigil mo na iyan", Khael said nang mapansing dumudugo na ang gilid ng labi ni Gray.

"Isa ka pa Alonzo. Hindi niyo kasi alam ang nararamdaman ko!", Zywon screamed and this time, si Khael naman ang sinugod niya. He became a war freak. Maybe that was his overflowing anger that pushed him to hit them. Hindi naman nanglabanang dalawa at hinayaan na lamang nilang ilabas ni Zywon ang galit niya.

"I HATE ALL OF YOU! I HATE THE GENESIS! I HATE THE MAFIA!", he started screaming at sinuntok ang mesang may mga pagkain. Nabasag ang mga basong naroon, and he continued punching the table hanggang sa dumugo na ang kamao nito.

Why did everything turn out like this? If it was because of me, having the name Vander, then I would willingly surrender my name upang magkaayos na ang bawat isa. Maybe I was really a bad luck at all. A jinx!

"Stop it Zywon!!!", I screamed at bahagyang nagpatigil iyon sa kanya. Saka ko lamang napansin na umiiyak pala ito. It must have hurt a lot. Seeing the people who caused your misery. Tila nais kong pagsisihan ang pag-iimbita sa kanya sa pagtitipong ito. If I didn't invite him, he should have stayed at home o kaya ay sumali ulit ito sa karera o kung saan hindi niya nakikita ang Genesis o ang Vander mafia.

"It's my entire fault! I'm a jinx! Kung hindi sana ako pakialamera, I shouldn't have discovered that my Dad's part identity! I shoudn't have tried to help my Athena roommate and discovered about Genesis. Hindi sana ako nagpunta dito upang ipakilala si Mommy bilang si Sweet Vander. Kung hindi lang sana ako naging Vander, everything must have been fine!", I screamed. I felt my cheeks wet with my tears. Hindi ko mapigilang maiyak dahil sa lahat ng mga nangyayari. Is it because of me?

"You are not a Vander."

Napatingin kaming lahat kay Gray. Inulit niya ang sinabi niya at mas lalong nalito ang mga naroon. Whispers filled the place, lahat ay nagtataka sa sinabi ni Gray tungkol sa akin at sa pagiging hindi bahagi ko ng Vander.

Nakakunot ang noon i Ryu nang tianong niya si Gray. "What do you mean?"

"Just what the context itself means. Amber is not a Vander by blood, atleast", wika ni Gray. He wiped away the blood from his mouth at tiningnan si Rionessi. "Have you ever considered trying the DNA test on her? Hindi diba?"

"She's my daughter Gray!", Mom said. Maging ito ay halos hindi makapaniwala sa sinabi ni Gray. "I am the one who gave birth to her. I carried her in my womb, she's my daughter."

"No, she's not. Ikaw lang ang nagpalaki sa kanya pero hindi ikaw ang nagluwal sa kanya. Yes, it's true that you were carrying a child in your womb but it wasn't Amber", Gray said at halos wala akong masabi.

See? Everything about me is so complicated. I thought I have gotten enough on waking up one day and discovering that I am not Amber Sison, the daughter of Bernard Sison. Ngayon ay may magsasabi na naman sa akin na hindi ako anak ng Mommy ko. Then who the hell's daughter am I?!

"Gray, what are you talking about?", naguguluhang tanong ni Ryu. Lahat kami doon ay naguguluhan sa mga sinasabi ni Gray. I am not a Vander? I am not my Mom's daughter?

"Amber is not a Vander because she is the real daughter of Amethyst and Bernard Sison." His words keep on repeating in my mind. Paulit-ulit iyon hanggang sa tuluyan kong maintindihan. I am Daddy's real daughter with the real Amethyst.
I was too shocked to move o kahit man lamang magtanong kung ano ang ibig sabihin niyon. I was just standing there, digesting every word that just came out from Gray's mouth.

"Maaari mo bang ipaliwanag kung ano ang iyong ibig sabihin? How was it even possible?"

"I've been through a lot to know all of this. It's been years ago, when Ryu and Tita Sweet was ambushed. Hindi ba't buntis ka nung mga panahong iyon? And then they thought you were dead but you're not. Ang totoo niyon ay nakaligtas ka at kinuhani Bernard Sison, who is suffering because his wife, Amethyst Sison, left him for some other guy. To save himself from the social disgrace, he undergone Tita Sweet for a plastic surgery to assume his wife's face habang dinadala mo ang iyong ipinagbubuntis. Isa pa, he's gone crazy for losing his wife and he loved her so much kaya nagawa niya iyon. It's easy for him since Tita Sweet's memory was lost. So he let her assume his wife's identity and she found out that she's pregnant. Plano niyang buhayin na lamang ang bata at angkinin bilang sa kanya since napamahal na sa kanya ang mag-ina but, Tita Sweet's labor was a dangerous one at dahil doon ay wala siyang malay sa loob ng halos tatlong araw. Then the real Amethyst returned that time at gaya ng bagong Amethyst, she's pregnant at kabuwanan na niya. She told Bernard that it was his, but he didn't believe her pero dahil sa awa ay tinulungan niya si Amethyst at dinala ito sa ospital but unfortunately, robbers were on the way, critical na ang kalagayan nila nang makarating sa ospital. The real Amethyst did not survive but the child did and he found out that it was really his kid. Bernard cannot raised the two child na ilang araw lamang ang pagitan so what he did, he exchanged the babies. He let Tita Sweet believe that she's her daughter when she woke up. Meanwhile the other child, which is the real Vander was given to someone......."

His words were boring through me at mas lalo pa lamang iyong nagpasikip sa dibdib ko. My tears just keep on falling at mukhang always on the go ang tearduct ko ngayon. No one dared to interrupt as Gray spills everything.

"Someone with the name Emerald Deltran. Amethyst's stepsister."

Napatingin ako kay Zywon and like me, halos natutos na ito sa kanyang kinatatayuan, while digesting Gray's words. I don't know what's running in his mind at that moment and I have no means of knowing. How ironic, if it is true. He was trying to crash the mafia whom he thought who killed her Mom when in fact the mafia was his family. It's like leaving a situation only to realize that he shouldn't have been in that situation to begin with.

"You're lying!", Zywon hissed. "Bawiin mo ang sinabi mo."

"That's the truth Zywon. Remember the time when we were ambushed? The lady said she's taking the youngest Vander and that's not me. That's you. Brain ordered to kill you pero hindi iyon naintindihan ng kanyang inutusan. She thought it was me. Bakit hindi mo kausapin ang daddy mo? He knows that you are not his real son kaya siguro malayo ang loob mo sa kanya. I've made a thorough investigation on this to the point that I've risked my mafia transaction to know all about it and so is Cooler, he knew it all along. He's the one you've been calling traitor when in fact he just want to protect Amber."

Halos gumuho na ang mundo ko. I really caused a lot of trouble. So all these time, the mafia traitor was Cooler and he only did that just to protect me? Iyon ba ang dahilan ng pagiging malamig niya sa akin? Because he was protecting me and by that he will meet his death.

But why Cooler?

And why me?

Am I really worth it?

"It's all true. I am collaborating with Copper himself, I mean Bernard. He wanted to keep Amber safe kaya hinayaan na lamang niyang isipin nating Vander siya. He thinks the mafia is the safest place to keep her daughter lalo na at alam na din ng organisasyon ang pagtago niya kay Tita Athena", Cooler said. His gaze is directly into me. Bakit tila hindi ko nakikita ang pagsisisi sa mga mata niya? Doesn't he regret betraying the mafia for me?!

"But how? Paano nangyari iyon Cooler?", Ryu asked at ikinuwento naman ni Cooler kung paano sila nagtagpo ni daddy.

***********

[third person pov]

Inihinto ni Cooler ang sasakyan sa harap ng Bridle. Kalalabas lamang ng isang lalaki sa malaking gate ng paaralan. It was raining very hard that day ngunit tila walang pakialam ang lalaki. He just walked and not minding the raindrops on his blue polo shirt. Bahagya siyang napahinto at tinitigan ang mukha nito. He looks so familiar, saan nga ba niya ito nakita?

Ah, tama. It was during Amber's 18th birthday. It was her Dad.

And it was the guy that he's been eyeing on. A big fish in an organization that he thought still unkown to the mafia. Nalaman niya iyon ng minsang sinundan niya si Ryu sa Athena, who keeps on finding things about his mom's assassin. Sa halip na madiskubre kung ano ang pinaggagawa ng pinsan doon, natuklasan niya ang mga kakaibang pangyayari. The lab was busy at night at wala siyang alam na pahintulot mula kay Cronus na ginagamit ang Athena sa kanilang mafia business. Cronus is separating the institution from his underground business kaya nagtataka siya kung bakit may mga weird scientist doon who were busy making something.

That's when he found out about Amber being an exchange student and her roommate who was used as a human carrier left her a notebook. But then Zywon stole the notebook from her at siya naman ang kumuha niyon mula kay Zywon. Doon niya nalaman ang tungkol sa organisasyon and the involvement of Amber's Dad. Ayaw niyang sabihin ang tungkol doon sa mafia, dahil alam niyang hindi iyon kakayanin ni Amber kapag nalaman niya ang tungkol sa daddy niya so he keep it to himself.

Why is he so protective over Amber? Well, he likes her. A lot. Or maybe he should say he loves her. But he's not pursuing her. Alam niyang gusto ito ng kapatid niya and the feeling is mutual. It's enough for him to let her be happy with someone whom she really likes. It maybe idiotic to be happy seeing the person you love happy with someone else but that's how love is. Kahit na hindi siya gusto ni Amber in a different way, he respected it. Love isn't something that you expected to be return to you. Hndi ito salamin na kung ano ang ipinakita mo ay siya din ang maipapakita sa iyo. No, it's not like that.

He knows within himself that he loves her immeasurably and that's what love is all about. Its real measure is when you love without measure.

Nagulat na lamang siya nang dumating si Amber kasama ang Mommy nito sa mansyon, claiming that she's Athena and they're Vanders. Bumaba siya sa kotse at dinala ang kanyang payong. Lumapit siya kay Bernard at pinayungan ito.

"Sir", bati niya. The man's eyes were sore, like he's been crying.

"Yes?"

"My name is Cooler Vander. I am your daughter's friend and I know all along about your secret."

Saglit na natigilan si Bernard sa sinabi ni Cooler sa kanya but he was too weak to deny about it. His daughter hates him so much and a Vander infront of him just introduced himself, claiming that he knows about his secret.

"Not now Vander, I'm wrecked. I cannot take much for now. If you want to capture me and be brought to the mafia, please have it rescheduled."

"That's not it."

"Ano ang kailangan mo?"

"The truth that Amethyst is really Athena and Amber is her daughter." Cooler said. Nagsukatan sila ng tingin, assessing each other if they are trustworthy. Then Bernard got his wallet at naglabas ng calling card.

"Call me some other time", wika niya bago umalis upang tunguhin ang kanyang kotse, not minding the dripping raindrops while Cooler kept the calling card in his pocket at muling sumakay sa kanyang kotse.

************

"And you kid, is the real Vander."

Zywon's expression became angry again at tila dumoble pa iyon kumpara kanina. I don't know what he's been through kaya hindi ko siya maintindihan. They say you wouldn't understand someone unless you're in the same situation.

"Nagsisinungaling kayo!!!"

"Calm down Zywon", wika ni Gray sa kanya but telling someone to calm down just makes them angrier.

"You're lying!", he said at tumakbo palabas doon, walang pakialam kahit na nabundol ito sa mga tao roon. He ran away and escaped from this situation. Just for a while dahil kung totoo man ang sinabi ni Cooler at Gray, he cannot escape this situation anymore. Saka ko lamang na-realize ang ginawa ko kay Daddy. All this time, I have loathed him yet it was for my sake. I am really his daughter.

I cannot say that he made the right decision of letting me assume that I am a Vander just to protect me. Why am I causing all this trouble? Bakit may mga taong handang ipahamak ang buhay nila para sa akin? If the Genesis would know about it, tiyak ay mananagot ito. And he was brave enough to let the mafia have me!

Nagsimula nang magbulong-bulongan ang mga tao, tungkol sa akin. The welcome party for the youngest Vander is not for me after all. Nang mga sandaling ito ay isa lamang ang gusto kung gawin, umalis sa lugar na iyon. Out from the mocking sight of some people. Kung pwede pa lamang ay lamunin na lamang ako ng lupa ng mga sandaling iyon and I was too embarrassed to move.

Just then I felt a hand clasped in mine tightly. Napatitig ako doon bago ko inangat ang paningin sa may-ari ng kamay. It was Gray. He smiled at me and his face is bright despite the bruise Zywon left on his face.

"I know you wanna run away, but can you take me with you?", he asked.

Tama siya, gusto kong takasan ang mga pangyayaring ito ngayon. I felt his hand squeezed mine. Why does it feel so relieving by just a mere squeeze of his hand on mine? Tila iyon ang nagbigay sa akin ng lakas ng loob bago ako tumango sa kanya before we both dashed towards the main door, away from the people inside.

We ran towards the patio, patungo sa garden ng mga Vander. If I wouldn't have knowledge about me being not a Vander at all, I would have said OUR garden. Saka lamang niya ako binitawan nang makarating kami doon at kasabay ng pagbitaw niya ay ang pagpatak ng mga luha sa mga mata ko. It's just too much to handle for now.

"Let it go Amber. They said when something bad happens, something good in return will happen too."

I refused to said anything at hinayaan ko na lamang ang sarili kong umiyak. I did not even bother to wipe away my tears. Nagpang-abot na ito sa sipon at laway ko. If they're telling the truth, then I have no one left but my Dad.

"Bakit ganoon? I thought dalawa ang ama na nag-aagawan sa akin and then I found out that I have no one but Dad whom I said that I despised", I asked him. Hinayaan lamang niya ako, he's not even tapping my back. That's what they usually do to comfort someone.

"There are still plenty of us left Amber. You have me and Je. Even Math. Don't forget Khael. You have us", wika nya sa akin. I took a deep breath bago pinahid ang mga luha at sipon ko. Yes, I know that they're still there pero iba pa rin ang may pamilya. I never had the chance to meet my real mom.

"Your Mom is still Tita Sweet. Being family is not always by blood, most of the time, it is by bond."

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. "Aren't you going to tap my back?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "Why should I? It will not make things better."

"But atleast it will make me feel better", wika ko sa kanya. I know we're getting out of the topic that I am not a Vander and eveything.

"No it's not. Isa pa, it's not my way to pacify you."

Nagtatakang napatingin ako sa kanya. "Huh?"

"It is by this", wika niya and then he pulled me towards him and he crashed his lips against mine. And I lost myself in his arms.

#

-ShinichiLaaaabs