Chapter 26: Get Together

It's been few weeks and my leg has already healed. For the past days ay pinagpahinga ko muna ang sarili ko. I want some peaceful time for myself. Mabilis na dumaan ang mga araw. The holidays passed and it just made me sadder. Holidays like Christmas and New Year are supposed to be reunions too. In my case, it isn't. Inimbitahan ako ng mga kamag-anak namin but I refused. Mas pinili ko pang manatili sa bahay. No Christmas trees, no colorful lights, no delicious foods for the Noche Buena and Media Noche and just all by myself. I am not depressed but that's what my relatives think. Dahil tinanggihan ko ang mga paanyaya nila, they concluded that I am depressed even if I am not. They sent me emails about being strong and others so I decided not to open messages since then.

I am not depressed, I mean I am but not to the point na ano mang oras ay magpapatiwakal na ako. No, that's just too lousy. I think the best way to get over all the pain is to lay my hands on the organization. Alam kong kasali din sa Genesis ang ibang kamag-anak namin that's why I loathe them. Wala lang ba sa kanila ang nangyari kay Daddy? Mas mahalaga ba ang organisasyon kaysa kamag-anak nila? I thought blood is thicker than water but in our case, why does it feel that it is the otherwise? Ah, that's maybe because blood can be bought by money. Nabulag sila ng organisasyon. That is the most logical reason why I don't see them worried about Dad's death.

I saw them shed tears during his funeral but I just cannot say that those tears were real. Nasaktan ba talaga sila dahil sa pagkawala niya o iniisip din nila na karapat-dapat lang na mamatay si Daddy dahil sa pagtataksil niya sa organisasyon?! Now that I think about it, it makes me resent them more. Argh! Curse them! Curse them to the darkest pits of hell!

Few days before classes resume, I decided to go out of my shell. Balak kong magpunta sa mall at bumili ng mga panibagong gamit na maaring magamit ko sa dorm. Nakatanggap din ako ng tawag mula sa abogado ni Daddy and he arranged me an appointment kung anong araw ako pwede. Mom also called me and invited me to the Vander mansion. Of all the lineup of the things that I want to do, I chose the last one. I gave her a call to announced that I am coming over.

Paglabas ko ng bahay ay bahagya akong nagulat nang makita ang taong nakatayo sa labas at nakasandal sa kanyang kotse. He was staring at his wristwatch and when I opened the gate ay napatingin siya sa akin. He was wearing dark glasses at agad niyang tinanggal iyon nang makita ako. He smiled widely at me and met me with open arms.

"Amber!", he shouted like a kid and was about to hug me but my palm landed on his face first before he can hug me. I felt his face crumpled at agad kong inalis ang kamay ko sa mukha niya. "Is that how you say you missed me?"

"I guess", I said and smiled pero ginaya niya ang ginawa ko. He put his palm on my face at bahagya pang ipinasok ang daliri sa butas ng ilong ko. The hell?!

"I missed you too Amber!", tumatawang wika niya. Naiinis na tinabig ko ang kamay niya at sinamaan siya ng tingin. He reached for my shoulders at inakbayan ako habang papunta kami sa kotse niya.

Matagal ko din siyang hindi nakita. I have to admit na namiss ko din ang kakulitan niya. Cooler Vander is really a cool guy with his cool personality. Childish at times but beneath the childishness is a mature and responsible man. Truly a trustworthy friend who you can always have his back. Hindi ko namalayan na napatigil na pala ako sa pagkakakad habang nakatingin sa kanya. I only noticed that I stopped when he snapped his fingers in front of me.

"You know you can kiss me if you want. Walang mangyayari kong tititigan mo lamang ako", he said and winked at me bago muling sinuot ang shades. I gave him a frown and a good punch in the gut but luckily he was able to avoid it.

"I thought your jerkiness disappeared when you're gone too Cooler", wika ko sa kanya at akmang bubuksan ang pinto ng kotse ngunit naunahan na niya ako.

"Let me do the honor", nakangising wika niya. Ah, the gentleman as usual. "As of the jerkiness, well I think it's rather called awesomeness. It's a disease of me and it's incurable."

"Why are you saying good things to yourself?", tukso ko sa kanya. He let out a chuckle at agad na umikot sa kabilang bahagi nang kotse. When he entered the driver's seat ay nakangiti pa rin siya.

"Anyway, I really missed you Amber", seryosong wika niya habang binubuhay ang makina ng sasakyan.

"Where have you been these past weeks?"

"I'm mending my broken heart", he said jokingly and I threw a glare at him. "Kidding. I have to go to many places and live my name. I visited the areas where the businesses are going. I'm also taking up lessons, say business lessons", sagot niya sa akin. I know he doesn't want to explain more dahil hindi ko rin naman gugustuhin na marinig ag kwento niya sa mafia. I used to be the girl who hates their existence.

"I see."

"Kumusta ka naman?", tanong niya sa akin habang tutok pa rin ang mata sa daan.

I sighed so heavily. "Ayos lang."

"Whoa. But the sigh tells otherwise. Yung totoo, kumusta ka?"

"I'm alive and kicking so I guess I'm fine", irap ko sa kanya.

"I really don't get it why people always say that they're fine even if they are not. Some people are terrible liars. Why don't they say that they're not fine because they are not really fine?"

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay kahit hindi naman niya iyon nakikita dahil nasa daaan pa rin ang paningin niya. When he said "People", he must mean me and him.

"Because some people are so annoying that if they will tell you the truth, they will have so many follow up questions like 'how come you're not fine and the likes." I replied.

"Yeah, probably but why not say, I'm not fine and don't ask why. I think that will be a good answer and people will not conclude that some people are liars", he argued.

"Still, they will throw questions and people have to answer some of them. That's quite annoying. Some people want a peaceful life."

"That's because people are concern about other people so they keep asking so many questions", pakikipagdebate pa rin niya.

"Nope. I think they're just curious about how worse other people's life is and in the end, they will make fun of those people for having such life."

"Eh? Some people are paranoid. Kapag ba nagtanong ay ganoon na agad? I think some people must cut the prejudice. Not all people are like that."

"Ewan ko sa'yo. Stop arguing and just drive", irap ko sa kanya at tumingin sa labas ng kotse. I heard him giggled pero hindi na ulit ito nagsalita pa. Hindi nagtagal ay nakarating na kami sa Vander mansion. I observed that there were few cars there at marami ring guards sa labas ng mansion. They were all wearing formal clothes and sunglasses.

"Nandito ba ang Presidente ng Pilipinas? Bakit ang daming bodyguards?", I joked habang tinitingnan ang mga unipormadong lalaki na nasa labas na tila handa sa ano mang pagsalakay.

"Not the president but important people of Vander mafia. Today is a reunion of the Vanders so better be ready for any threat", he offered his arm to me. "So, let's go?"

I rolled my eyes bago umabresete sa kanya at pumasok sa mansion. There were no red carpets or waiters around like how I imagine. Walang tao sa malawak na bulwagan maliban sa ilang mga bodyguards na nasa sulok. "Where's everyone?"

"You're too excited to see them dear. Nasa dining hall sila", sagot niya sa akin at tinungo namin bahaging iyon ng mansion. I was familiar with some areas in the mansion pero hindi ang kabuoan niyon. Nang matapat kami sa pamilyar na pinto ay binuksan iyon ng naroong bodyguard at tumambad sa akin ang iilang tao. When Cooler said "reunion", he must mean Cronus, Mom, Zywon, Cooler and me. Iginala ko ang paningin ko pero hindi ko nakita ang isang tao na inaasahan kong nandito. And oh, the devil's missing too and I guess it's better this way.

"Amber!" Agad na tumayo si Mommy mula sa kanyang kinauupuan at sinalubong ako ng yakap. I hugged her tighter and if only there were the two of us, malamang ay naiyak na ako. I missed her so much and I haven't seen her on the past weeks too. Madalas siyang nasa ibang bansa para sa kanyang pagpapagamot and during the holidays, I refused to open messages kaya hindi ko napaunlakan ang paanyaya niya na magpasko at magbagong taon kasama siya.

"I missed you Mom", I whispered on her ears at naramdaman ko ang paghigpit pa ng yakap niya.

"I missed you more sweetie", she replied and I felt my tears formed on the corner of my eyes ngunit pinigilan kong dumaloy iyon. Hearing her call me sweet names bring back all the memories with dad. "Come here and greet everyone." Iginiya niya ako patungo sa mahabang mesa kung nasaan ang si Zywon at Cronus.

Zywon looks at me with a blank expression and I refused to meet his gazes. Saglit lamang ang tinging iginawad niya sa akin dahil muling nasa cellphone niya ang atensyon niya. On the corner of the long table sat Cronus who was neither smiling nor frowning. Walang reaksyon ang mukha nito kaya hindi ko mawari kung natutuwa ba ito na nandito ako ngayon sa pamamahay niya.

"M-magandang umaga po", I greeted him with my shaking voice. I have seen his childish side ngunit mukhang wala ito ngayon. He was very serious and I don't want to mess up with him. He's Cronus of the Vander Mafia and he's one of those people whom you have to include in your list with the title: "People I Should Never Mess With."

"Magandang umaga sa iyo Sison", wika niya sa akin. I was about to step back towards Mom nang muli siyang magsalita.

"It's been a long time when we had a talk", wika ng baritonong boses ni Cronus. I gulped few times. We never really had a talk. Unang pagkikita namin ay sa London. The other talks we had ay noong akala nila isa akong Vander. We don't really had a long talk though.

"Mukhang ganoon na nga po", sagot ko sa kanya. I saw him call on the maid at may kinuha naman ang katulong. Isang box na nakabalot. A gift.

"I have a present for you."

I was astounded for a moment at nang promoseso na sa utak ko ang sinabi niya ay agad kong tinuro ang sarili ko. "S-sa akin po?"

"Yes."

A present for me? Close ba kami kaya bibigyan niya ako ng regalo o baka trip lang niya na magbigay ng regalo? Kahit nagtataka ay tinanggap ko pa rin ang box na ibinigay niya. Everyone was looking at me and Cooler looks like he's about to laugh. They gave me looks, prompting me to open the box.

I sighed before I took a single step towards the table at inilapag ang box. My hands were cold as I gently removed the ribbon. I open the lid and was surprised with the black object inside the box.

A gun.

Dahan-dahan ko siyang tiningnan at hinawakan ang baril. He's giving me a gun?! It looks larger than most guns that I have seen in person. Madalas ay sa mga palabas ko lamang nakikita ang ganitong modelo. It's heavy unlike the ones that I had encountered.

"Kuya!", galit ang boses na wika ni Mommy. "Why are you giving that thing to my daughter?!"

"Sa akin na po ito?", I said, unbelievably. Kung dati ay iisipin kong nakakatakot ang regalong ito but now it was the greatest gift that I have ever received.

"If I were you Cronus-" Pinutol na ni Cronus si Cooler bago pa man niya matapos ang sasabihin.

"Pull the safety", he said.

Sumunod naman sa sinabi niya and I almost shout in terror nang bigla na lamang nahati ang baril at lumabas ang isang kulay berde at malaki na insekto. It has two horns and looks so glossy. A beetle. Mom shouted too samantalang tumatawa naman si Cronus. What the hell is wrong with this old man?!

"Shit!", I cursed at tinapon ang baril. It fell in the floor with the beetle and a piece of paper. "Don't do it again old Man or I'll kill you!"

Wait, am I the one who said it?

Nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin ni Zywon sa akin at kay Cronus. Based on the looks that he's throwing, mukhang takot din siya dito. And he was surprised and amused on my words. Uh, kahit ako ay nagulat sa sinabi ko. I wished the floor would just open and swallow me right away.

"A-ang ibig ko pong sabihin-"

I was cutoff with his laughter again. It was a laughter that sounds like he really heard something funny. But if course I know that I said is not funny. Ano mang oras ay maaring bumulagta na ako sa sahig. I might be able to taste his wrath at mawalan ng pag-asa na sikatan pa ng araw.

"Kuya! Do not scare my daughter!", wika ni Mommy nang makabawi siya sa pagkakagulat. She pulled me on her side at nagpahila naman ako na tila manika na walang buhay.

"I'm sorry Athena", he said. "I just can't help but play a prank with your daughter", natatawang wika niya at pinulot ang insekto. "This is my pet, Hercules, an expensive hercules rhinoceros beetle. Hercules can carry up to 100 times his body mass." He called for the maid and handed her the ugly glossy insect. Huli niyang pinulot ang baril at ang papel na nakalukot.

"This gun is fake but what's inside is rewarding. Here", inabot niya sa akin ang papel. I hesitated for a while dahil baka panibagong prank na naman iyon. "Don't worry, no jokes from now on."

With cold hands, I accepted the paper. Cronus is really something! He's so playful for a mafia superior! Baka kung ibang pagkakataon ay nasapak ko na ito o kaya ay lubusang minura but I just can't. He's not an ordinary man and I still love myself so there's no way I will risk it dealing with him. It's just that those words came out of my mouth so senselessly!

Nang tiningnan ko kung ano ang laman ng papel ay napalaglag ang balikat ko. What is this, another prank? What was scribbled on the paper is his name and signature. Ano to, autograph niya? Yeah people, I have the Vander mafia Boss's autograph. Tsk. It's not even something to be proud of. Iisipin ko tuloy na isa iyong bagay na tatapos sa buhay ko. My mark of death.

"I know that look, that is of disappointment. Young lady, I'm telling you, having that paper is a very great privilege", wika niya. Hindi ko na mapigilan ang sarili ko kaya tinaasan ko siya ng isang kilay.

"How does having your autograph make it a very great privilege? Celebrity po ba kayo?"

Bigla na lamag natawa si Mommy at si Cooler. Nagtatakang napatingin ako sa kanila na dahil sa tawa nila na para bang iyon ang pinaka-nakakatawang joke na narinig nila sa buong buhay nila.

"Sweetie, I think that will be very useful", Mom said which I replied with a confused look.

"Really?"

"You can see him and ask him any favour that you want. With that pass, your favour will be granted", wika ni Cooler sa akin. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa gulat. I looked at him, then to the paper that I am holding then to Cronus.

"For real?!"

"Yup. You can now shout for joy. Yipee!", Cooler joked.

I rolled my eyes at him at tinago ang papel sa dala kong bag. "Salamat po. At pasensya nap o sa nasabi ko kanina, nagulat lang po ako."

"It doesn't matter. I have received threats better than those", wika niya at muling umupo. Iginiya naman ako ni Mommy paupo sa mesa, right beside Zywon. May mga pagkain sa harap pero mayroon pang mga bakanteng plato sa mesa.

"I'm sorry we still have to wait for the others", Cronus said. Right after he said it, the door flung open at iniluwa niyon si Ryu at hila-hila niya si Gray.

"Hey! Bitiwan mo-", Gray stood straight and looked at everyone. He looked at me with a hint of sadness in his eyes. Nilagpasan niya ako ng tingin at bumaling kay Mommy. He smiled at her at tumango naman siya kay Cronus.

"I thought fetching the girl would be hard, kay Gray din pala", komento ni Ryu. He pushed Gray into Cooler's side at pinaupo ito doon. The latter keeps on giving him glares pero hindi niya iyon pinansin at umupo na sa tabi ko. He smirked at me before he pulled the chair on my side and sat. Wow, his first smirk at me for this year. I'm looking forward for more smirks devil! And oh, don't mind my sarcasm.

"So I think everyone is here. Please be seated at kumain na tayo", Cronus declared at nagsimula namang magserve sa amin ang mga maid na naroon.

The meal was good but I can hardly swallow my food. Zywon on my side was silent and Ryu was smirking over his food. Si Cooler naman ang nag-o-open ng usapan. He would tell us about his school and other stuff. Tahimik din si Gray habang kumakain. I cannot even look at him and I don't know why. I cannot remember any wrong doings that I did to him before we parted ways for Christmas break. Or maybe there is. Dahil na rin sa mga annoying na mensahe ng mga kamag-anak ko, I refused to open my emails and read messages even his or any of my classmates. My Christmas break was not the most wonderful time that I spent dahil panay pagbabasa lang naman ang ginagawa ko. Minsan ay nanunuuod ng palabas at madalas na tulog. Minsan din ay nililinis ko ang bahay. I did all my best to ignore them and just focus on my food which I successfully don.

Pagkatapos kumain ay nag-usap kami ni Mommy sa silid. She asked me to come with her and I did as what I was told. She was combing my hair in front of the big mirror in front of us. Nakakamiss ang mga panahon na ganito. Palagi niya akong sinusuklayan dati bago matulog.

"Mom, hindi mo ba nami-miss si Daddy?", I asked randomly. I know that he is happy to be back with Rionessi, her real husband ngunit hindi ko ma rin maiwasang itanong iyon.

"Of course I always miss Bernard. You know your Dad, siya na yata ang pinakamabuting tao na nakilala ko. If only I had meet him before, I may have fallen for him before I had a family", she replied sincerely at napabuntong-hininga. "Everything is just so complicated. Pero nagpapasalamat pa rin ako sa kanya. He gave me a second life."

I can feel Mom's sincerity in every word she said. Like she said, Dad is the kindest man that I have ever known. Hardworking and a father figure. Only if he is not involved in a ruthless organization who doesn't value life. Nakakalungkot isipin na bahagi siya ng ganoong klaseng organisasyon.

"How about you Sweetie? Do you regret having me as your mother?"

I looked at her through the big mirror. Noong unang beses kong nalaman na hindi siya ang totoong nanay ko ay hindi ko maiwasang masaktan. Do you know that feeling that all your life you believe that something is yours, but one day you'll wake up and find out that it isn't? Napakahirap tanggapin sa simula. I just happened to be one of those few who had a very complicated life story. Too complicated that most people would love to know about it. If I would write my complicated life story and publish it as a book, I guess it will be a hit since my life is so challenging. And some people just love to hear interesting stories like mine. One with so many twists. So many down moments along with ups. Or one with a bad reputation. Kaya nga madalas na nachi-chismis diba ay yung mga hindi magagandang pangyayari sa buhay ng isang tao? And my life is so like that. Not the typical cliche story. I mean I am not the damsel in distress that need a man to save me. I can save myself on my own. I can save others too. If others are always the lovable girl, I am not. I'm a badass and you will definitely hate me. Dapat kasi may balance sa buhay. Up and down. Black and white. Yin and yang. Kumbaga, my life is so unpredictable and complicated.

"Nope Mom. I'm glad to know you as my mother. Kahit hindi po ikaw ang nagluwal sa akin, you are still my mother. Blood isn't the only way to see people as family. Though I wish to get to know my real mother, hinding-hindi ko po pinagsisihan na pinalaki niyo ako", I said and I felt the hot liquids running down my eyes. "But Mom, I'm sorry if I don't live to be the person you trained me to be. I'm sorry if one day I will forget all the values that you taught me."

Hindi sila nagkulang sa pangangaral sa akin sa mga mabuting ugali na dapat kong taglay. Since I was young, they keep on telling me that hurting other people is bad. Masama ang pag-iisip ng hindi magagandang bagay sa kapwa. Masama ang makipag-away. Masama ang hindi pagrespeto sa nakakatanda. But I think I disobeyed her. I have hurt many people, not with force but with words. I think bad things about Math. I've been in a catfight with my classmate Honey. I have been a very disrespectful girl. Napakasamang tao ko na ba? I've been like that after everything that happened to me.

I mean maybe I was really a badass the day I was born but I was just able to hide it within myself. Tahimik lang ako dati at may sariling mundo. That is because I don't want to disobey the core values that my parents are teaching me. Only that everything changed. And I wasn't that Amber anymore. She hugged me tightly at pinunasan ang mga luha sa mata ko.

"Don't cry darling. Let's just get over it, can we?"

I only smiled at her and didn't answer. Get over it. So easy to say but hard to do. And I cannot just say yes dahil baka hindi ko na naman siya masusunod. It is so hard to get over with it. Hindi iyon mawawala ng pagkain ng ice cream na gaya ng madalas kong ginagawa kapag depress ako.even if I would taste the world's most delicious ice cream, I cannot still get over with it.

"How was your birthday? Did Ryu treat you out?", she asked and I made a face.

"Yes Mom."

"And what's with the face?", she asked with a smile.

"It's just that you don't have to ask anyone for it especially not Ryu." Who would like to go out with a smirking man? He was a little annoyed- oh not a little. He is VERY annoyed as he waits outside his car. He's not being nice to me too! Mas lalo pa siyang na-annoy nang malaman na kasama naming si Stef!

"Why? Don't you like my son?"

"I don't like him to the infinity power Mommy!", I blurted and Mom burst out laughing. May nakakatawa bas a sinabi ko?

"Ryu's a very sweet son. At napakabait niya noong bata pa siya."

"Yeah, I hoped he didn't grow up kung mabait naman pala siya noong bata pa siya."

"And he still is until now."

I frowned at Mom. Uh, kailan pa naging mabait si Ryu? Kapag tulog? Pfft. Ryu is not sweet and definitely not kind. Those adjectives does not fit Ryu. Siguro dapat pikon. Masama ang ugali. Rude. Name all other negative description, those will surely fit Ryu.

"That I failed to see Mom."

"Zywon's nice too."

"Yeah Mom. Praise your own sons."
Muli siyang natawa dahil sa sinabi ko.

"Why? Don't you think he is nice?"

"No. Definitely not. I mean, he's nice compared to Ryu but still they belong to the category of people which is 6 feet below the ground far from being nice. Nagtataka nga po ako kung bakit hindi nila nakuha ang pagiging mabait mo", I said and frowned when I remember those two. Nice? Meh.

Mom laughed again and pull me out of the chair. "Why are you badmouthing my sons in front of me?", she asked jokingly.

"Because that's what they really are."

"You will like them when you get to know them well. Come on, let's mingle with them."

Bumaba na kami at nagpunta sa terrace ng mansion kung nasaan ang iba. When we got there ay mukhang iba ang mood nila. They look so very serious after a guard said something to Cronus. When the guard left ay agad na nagtanong si Mommy kung ano ang nangyari.

"What happened Kuya?"

"A Pelagic reaper was found floating on his rest house's with a knife stabbed on his back. This is quite alarming so I have to send some reapers to investigate bago ang mga pulis. This could be a threat to the mafia", sagot ni Cronus.

Mnemosyne arrived at binati kaming lahat. "The chopper is ready Cronus. We're about to leave now."

"Go."

"I'm coming along with you. I think I can help", bulontaryo ni Gray ngunit bago pa man siya makasunod kay Stef ay pinigilan na siya ni Cronus.

"No."

"Then I will go", wika din ni Cooler ngunit gaya ni Gray ay pinigilan din ito ni Cronus.

"Walang sasama. I cannot let any Vander go since we don't know if it is a threat to the mafia. To keep your safety, no one's going", puno ng autoridad ni wika nito.

I stepped towards Stefanie who was currently puzzled if she will leave or not yet. "Then I will go with them. I am not a Vander so that excludes me to what you said that you cannot allow. We're going now." I pulled Mnemosyne away bago ko pa man marinig ang pagprotesta nilang lahat.

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-ShinichiLaaaabs