THIRD PERSON

"Uh, I hope you don't mind me asking, Don, but—" Naputol ang sasabihin ni Ezio nang lingunin siya ni Kage. Isang tingin na para bang may sinabi itong mali.

"I mean acting Don," he corrected. Binalik naman ni Kage ang tingin niya sa daan kaya pinatuloy ni Ezio ang pagtulak sa wheelchair nito.

"Just address me as a consigliere," aniya nito kay Ezio.

Napalinga ang binata sa katabing si Himeros at Bullet na pinandidilatan siya ng mata habang nginunguso ang likuran ni Kage. They were urging him to ask something they most definetly are curious about since they saw him.

"Have you been in an accident lately, consigliere?" Kage remained silent for a few seconds, contemplating whether to tell them the truth.

Alangan naman sabihin niyang ginawa siyang aso ng asawa niya?

"No." He bit his bottom lip when a memory flashed in his mind. A memory that immediately turned him on. "I was crippled by my wife." Napasinghap naman ang tatlong itlog sa likuran niya.

Crippled by his wife? Just how violent is she that even the consigliere can't defend himself against her?! Hindi maiwasang maisip ni Bullet habang kamot-kamot ang batok niya.

"What do you mean by that?" Paninigurado naman ni Bullet. He hopes he's hearing it wrong.

"She tied me and beat me," he answered nonchalantly.

Sa pangalawang pagkakataon ay nagsinghapan na naman ang mga ito. They couldn't even land a single blow on him and she managed to tie and beat him up?

Has he gone soft because she was his wife? But considering how she fought in the Ancestral Mansion, she was indeed a crazy woman with a whole new level of tendencies. That was what Ezio had been thinking.

"Move aside." Marahang hinawi ni Himeros ang kamay ni Ezio upang siya naman ang magtulak kay Kage.

Unlike Bullet and Ezio, Himeros did not take Kage's words at face value. In his private office earlier, he had seen the marks of the rope on Kage's wrists. Despite the signs of being tied up, there were no signs of a struggle or a beating.

Even the late Don could not win him over a one-on-one fight, and he claims a woman managed to pin him down? Well, she could—but in a different situation.

Saglit siyang dumungaw sa batok ni Kage, at hindi nga siya nagkamali nang makitang may bakas din ng tali roon. Umangat ang sulok ng labi nito.

"I see. She also took your capability to walk?" Makahulugang wika ni Himeros. Sabay na nagsikunutan ang noo ni Bullet at Ezio.

"You have become a PWD," pang-aasar pa nito.

"She has also become a PDW." Diretsong pahayag ni Kage bago ngumisi. "PWD as in Person With Dilig."

"What?"

"¿Qué?"

"Chto?"

"Signore, Roan e il giovane maestro Clevan sono arrivati." Bungad sa kanila ni Donatella nang magbukas ang malaking pinto ng bahay.

[Translation: Sir, Roan and young master Clevan have arrived.]

"Più tardi arriveranno anche la signora, la signorina Leticia e il signor Keegan," she added, bowing to pay respects to Kage and the caporegimes standing behind him.

[Translation: The madam, together with Miss Leticia and Mister Keegan, will also arrive after.]

"Zio! Zio Kage!" With sheer joy lighting up his dimpled face, a child leapt from Roan's arms and sprinted toward him, his laughter ringing like music in the air.

[Translation: Uncle! Uncle Kage!]

Kaagad nitong dinamba ng yakap ang mga binti ni Kage. "Uncle! How are you? Are you gonna be staying here for good? Or are you only visiting me? Please, take me with you! I missed you so much!" Halos hindi na ito bumitaw sa pagkakayakap kaya natawa na lang ang ilang nakakakita sa kanila.

"Clevan. . ." Nakanguso itong umangat ng tingin kay Kage, pero kaagad nagkasalubong ang kilay nito nang makita ang sitwasyon niya.

"Who did this to you?" Matigas nitong tanong habang nakakuyom ang kamao. Wala pa mang sinasabi si Kage ay bumalata na sa mukha nito ang kagustuhang maghiganti sa kung sino man ang nanakit sa kanya.

Aside from his late father, he sees Kage as a father figure. He would never back down seeing him hurt.

"Diamond, activate instant kill!" Nabalisa ang mga ito sa naging sigaw ng bata. In the instant, red lights began flickering in every part of the mansion.

"Clevan, this is a—"

"Who dares to hurt my Uncle?! Give me names, and I will have Diamond obliterate them!" Napakagat na lang ng labi si Ezio at Bullet samantalang si Himeros naman hilaw na natawa dahil sa inaakto ng bata.

A five-year-old kid who had access to a satellite that could destroy a whole country is indeed a recipe for chaos. A little tantrum from him could cause a wipeout.

"You surely take after the late Don, impulsively protective." Hindi mapigilang komento ni Roan habang umiiling-iling na lumapit dito.

"Clevan, relax. Nobody dares to hurt me. I just got into an accident." Pagpapakalma niya rito, pero imbis na sumang-ayon ang mga binatang nasa likuran niya ay kinontra lang siya ng mga ito.

"I thought you were crippled by your wife?" Anang ni Ezio bago umakbay kay Bullet.

"Yeah. You said she tied you and beat you up," gatong ni Bullet bago ibaling ang tingin kay Clevan na kunot na kunot na ang noo.

"She also took your capability to walk. That's why you're in a wheelchair." Dahil sa sinabi ni Himeros ay naningkit ang mata ni Kage. Pero nagkunwari lang itong wala nakita at pasipol-sipol na inikot ang paningin sa chandiliers.

"You had a wife already?!" Parang pinagbagsakan ng langit at lupa ang mukha ng bata, kapagkuwan ay biglang nalukot ang mukha nito na para bang iiyak na ano mang oras.

"I am your nephew! You did not invite me! You did not make me a ring bearer! I hate you!" Sumalampak ito sa sahig habang nagpapadyak ng paa.

Saglit itong tumigil at sumimangot. "No! I don't hate you! I hate the woman who stole your attention from me! I hate your wife! She hurt you!" Lumandas ang luha sa mga mata nito bago magwala na parang isda na wala sa tubig.

"Diamond, give me the information I need for my uncle's wife!" Suddenly, a blue hologram appeared in the air. A picture of a beautiful woman with brunette hair in her captain suit caught their attention.

"Aviatrice Sachal Coronia Salvatore. Age 26. Former Air Force Lieutenant General. Now working as a pilot at Souls Airline. Graduated as a top student at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and have undergone training in the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center. Fluent in English, Filipino, Spanish, Italian, and Nihonggo. Zodiac Sign: Virgo. Birthstone: Sapphire."

Napasandal sa hamba ng hagdan si Himeros dahil sa narinig. To think the consigliere pulled such a woman, he was amazed. "A Lieutenant General? No wonder he was treated like a dog." Mahina niyang bulong.

"A Virgo? A mutable sign, an Earth sign! The practical and critical thinkers. I heard they're toxic and quickly get bored in a relationship. You're an Aries, a cardinal sign, a Fire sign. You are emotionally impulsive and sensitive. You will burn her. You will definitely have arguments in communication and decision-making." Lintaya ni Ezio habang may tinitingnan sa phone niya.

"Why do you judge people based on their Zodiac Sign? You Astrology freak!" Asik ni Bullet bago damputin ang phone nito at itapon sa labas ng bintana.

"Hey! That phone's casing is made of 24-karat gold! Don't throw it away like a fucking garbage!" Tumalon sa sliding door si Ezio kaya napangiwi na lang si Bullet at Himeros dito.

"Young Master Clevan, the madam Aviatrice Sachal Salvatore has entered the mansion's perimeter—would you still like to activate instant kill?" Lalong nanghaba ang nguso nito at padabog na umakyat ng hagdan patungo sa kwarto niya.

It's too late to do that now. But he won't accept her. Instead, he will make her life in the mansion a living hell. He will force her to leave his uncle.

Samantalang pagbaba naman na pagbaba ni Sachal ng sasakyan ay hindi na niya hinintay pang pagbuksan siya ni Keegan ng pinto. Nagkatinginan naman si Keegan at Leticia. They knew something changed when she escaped the Ancestral Mansion.

Iyon ay dahil sa pagtapak nito palabas ng mansyon ay tahimik lang ito buong byahe. Naging blanko ang mga titig nito at parang walang gana makipag-usap.

"Buongiorno, signora—" Hindi pa man natatapos ang pagbati ni Donatella ay itinaas ng dalaga ang kaliwang kamay niya upang senyasan itong manahimik.

"Where is he?" Napakurap-kurap ang matanda. "Where is my husband?" Kaagad siyang ginayak ni Donatella papasok sa main door ng bahay. At sa pagbukas ng pinto ay nakita niya ang lalaking kanina pa siya hindi makahintay na bangasan sa mukha.

He was sitting in a wheelchair; there were four men behind him. Iginilid niya ang ulo niya upang ngisihan ito.

Kage opened his arms. "My wife—"

Nang humugot ng baril ang dalaga upang itutok ito sa gawi ng asawa niya ay kaagad na naglabas ng baril ang mga lalaking nasa likuran ni Kage. Imbis pansinin ang tensyon na namumuo sa pagitan nila ay bumunghalit ng tawa ang binata.

"See? What did I tell you? She will beat the shit out of me the moment she escapes the mansion." Iling-iling itong lumingon sa kanilang apat bago senyasan na ibaba ang hawak nilang baril.

"What are you all still doing? Introduce yourselves and pay respects to the Mistress of the House." Unang humakbang papalapit ay si Himeros.

His eyes were fixated on the gun she was holding. She won't fire a bullet to his skull, will she?

"I'm Himeros Pavlos, Signora. One of the three caporegimes of Salvatore, the Head of Russia." Nilahad niya ang kanyang kamay at akmang hahakbang upang lumapit nang iputok ni Sachal ang baril sa paanan niya—dahilan upang mapaangat ito ng tingin habang kagat-kagat ang ibabang bahagi ng labi.

Lumingon si Himeros kay Kage na walang reaksyon. It was as if he was already expecting his wife to do it. "Hi, Virgo the virgin! I'm Ezio Casimiro. You can call me Esho. A caporegime, Head of Spain!" Masigla nitong bati, at tulad ni Himeros ay pinaputukan din ito ng baril ng dalaga kaya napakamot na lang ito ng batok.

"Bullet Turner, Head of London. I already have a bullet in my name, so kindly don't—" It was too late. She fired a shot in between his thighs. Mabuti na lang ay tumama ito sa hagdan.

Napatingin naman si Sachal sa lalaking hindi pa nagpapakilala sa kanya. It was the man she confronted in the Ancestral Mansion. "I am Roan Altamirano, the underboss, the second in command if the Don is not around."

As she listened to him speak, a wry smile crept across her face, barely hiding the scoff bubbling up inside her. His tone dripped with arrogance, each word laced with a confidence that bordered on delusional.

During the hours she spent in the Ancestral Mansion, she knew he didn't like her. She felt he wanted her dead. And that didn't change as they are facing each other now. Nararamdaman niyang wala itong tiwala sa kanya.

Humakbang papalapit si Sachal bago hilahin ang gatilyo sa direksyon niya. Roan shifted his body to the left to avoid the bullet from hitting his shoulder.

This time, her gaze was fixed on the man in the wheelchair, her heart pounding with fury and disbelief. He threw her in that dark place. How could someone who claimed to love her treat her life like a stupid game?

She clenched her fists, feeling the heat of her emotions rise. At that moment, she vowed to confront him, to demand answers. So, she closed the distance between them and pointed the gun in his forehead.

The maids and butlers lowered their heads, yet their hands were ready to pull out knives and guns if something happened. "Everyone, out!" Matigas na utos ni Kage. Mabilis na kumilos ang mga ito upang lumabas.

Paglabas ng mga ito ay hinila niya ang dalaga paupo sa kandugan niya. Akmang magsasalita na siya nang itutok na naman nito ang dulo ng baril sa ngala-ngala niya. "L-let's talk, shall we?" Kinakabahan nitong pakiusap nang mapansing halos patayin na siya nito sa titig.

Sachal smiled at him sweetly. "We will talk once you issue the divorce papers." Sa gulat ay napatuwid kaagad ito ng upo. His tongue was tied, with no capability to talk back—as if he had a hard time swallowing what he heard.

"What are you waiting for? You're a lawyer, you can do that within a few minutes." She encouraged. He breathed heavily, not because of the gun pointed at him, but because of how serious she sounded.

"There seems to be a misunderstanding, sweetheart." He turned his head in her direction.

"A misunderstanding? You sent me there, your newly wedded wife, to die in the hands of your associates!" Nabanaag niya ang galit sa mga mata nito. "Did you seriously expect me to come back happy after everything?" Her words were firm as she tried her best not to tremble in anger.

"No, no, no..." he murmured, his voice a gentle whisper.

He cupped her face in his warm hands, his thumbs brushing softly against her cheeks. Their eyes locked as he guided her head forward until their foreheads touched.

"I needed to do that because I wanted you to be the official Mistress of the Salvatore," he tried to explain. "I want you to earn the respect of the elders and command the loyalty of our people because you truly deserve all the honour and recognition that comes your way." For a moment, the chaos in her eyes faded, but she suddenly remembered the death of countless brides. It doesn't justify everything.

"And those brides who died in the Ancestral Mansion do not deserve the honour and recognition?" She hissed. She gazed at his green eyes that looked at her apologetically.

No, she will never waver with those eyes again.

"Honey, I have no control over that. It's a family tradition. It had to be done. Otherwise, you can become my wife, but the family will never recognise you." Umangat ang ulo niya nang idiin lalo ni Sachal ang baril sa ngalangala niya.

"Tell those stupid reasons to the innocent lives that were lost because of your family tradition. Accepting someone from your family is already a big sacrifice!" Asik niya rito. Her eyes were full of pain, sorrow, fear, and hope—such emotions he could not fathom.

"Still, their love was pure, untamed and unyielding enough to stand beside you. The last thing you could do is to love and protect them. And yet, your family is insane enough to put a life-and-death test as a price for accepting them?" Just thinking about this absurdity is making her mad. She can't just make a sense out of it.

"Either you abolish this dumb fuckery of a family tradition and give those brides a proper funeral, or kiss our marriage certificate goodbye." Sunod-sunod na pagmumura gamit ang iba't ibang lenggwahe ang kumawala sa bibig ni Kage.

If only it was that simple. It wasn't just a family tradition; every Mafia Family had that rule. Abolishing such a tradition that was done for almost a century is like trying to get himself impeached as the acting head of the family.

Damn, divorce is not an option. Anong klaseng panunuyo ang gagawin ko para mapatawad ako ng babaeng 'to? 

𝐌𝐎𝐓𝐇 𝐓𝐎 𝐀 𝐅𝐋𝐀𝐌𝐄
ᴮʸ ᴳᵒˡᵘᶜᵏʸᶜʰᵃʳᵐ

Hola! Happy New Year everyone! From 'Consigliere's Aviatrice' I have now officially changed the title to 'A Moth to a Flame'. Also, I have recently made my ig acc, do follow me if you have time. It's luvley.nininana. Will be updating again next week! Mwa :3