7: history repeats

COOLER

Nilaro-laro ko sa kamay ang baso na naglalaman ng alak. It's almost one in the morning pero kadarating ko lang. Just this morning, I closed a big deal at halos buong maghapon ay naging abala ako sa trabaho. I am tired and exhausted but I cannot sleep so I figured out a glass or two of whiskey can help.

Madilim ang buong kabahayan. Other than the fact that this house is almost empty, I'm pretty sure that none of my family is here.

Of course, even if this is the Vander's common house, this is as good as an abandoned palace. Napakalaki ng bahay but daily, it's like a huge house in the middle of the forest. Except that we're not in the forest but across the acres of land owned by the Vanders. Honestly I can launch a race inside these walls, sa lawak ba ba naman nito?

I am exhausted and if I felt that way, I always think about where I stand. Malaki ang pasasalamat ko sa pangalan ko. The name always help me, and since the first breath I took, hindi ako nakaranas ng kahirapan— financially.

But having a golden spoon up your mouth isn't really a privilege, at least for me. It was more of a burden.

You're expected of everything. Ikukumpara ka, they expected you to be great at kung hindi mo maabot ang expectations nila, there will be disappointments. And I am so tired of dealing with those.

My life is like a magic trick. Masayang tingnan but it's a trick. To some, there was deception. At moments like this, napapaisip ako sa buhay ko. What would my life be if I wasn't a Vander? What would my life be if I wasn't expected of so many things?

Sometimes, I envy my brother who gets to choose the life he wanted. Malayo iyon sa buhay namin but my brother has that genuine happiness in life. He's got that super happy and proud look whenever he closes a case. He may not have all access to everything pero masaya siya.

But what can I do? This is the life I woke up to; this is the life I was destined to live. It's not like I want to be a symbol of justice like my brother, I am contented with my life. May mga pagkakataon lang talaga na napapaisip ako, what if this is not the life that I wanted?

Wala akong makapa na sagot. I am a Vander and continuing the legacy of the name is what I wanted to do. Alam ko sa sarili ko 'yon. Was I happy about this life? Of course, I certainly am. Who wouldn't be when I can have almost everything that I wanted.

Almost.

Napatigil ako sa pagsalin ng alak nang may narinig akong kasa ng baril. I put down the glass and slowly turned my head ngunit nagsalita ang sinumang nakapasok sa pamamahay namin.

"Don't turn your head this way or else, sasabog ang bungo mo."

The voice was raspy and if I am not tired, I would have panicked right now. Hindi ko kilala ang boses na 'yon, and this situation isn't new because I always had my life in danger daily.

"Okay," mahinahong sagot ko. I put my hands down, trying to slowly sneak their way to my pocket. I had the reapers on speed dial and a call at hours like this will surely turn their senses up. Hindi ko paman nagagawa ang balak ko ay muling nagsalita ang intruder.

"Don't try anything funny. Ilabas mo ang cellphone mo at ilapag mo sa mesa!"

Whew, how can he see what I was trying to do despite the dim surroundings? Bago sa pandinig ko ang boses ng intruder so I figured out I shouldn't do anything especially that I do not know what he's capable of.

The only thing I can do right now is to stall some time to figure out what he's planning or negotiate my way out of this.

Damn it, I'm too tired to handle anything right now, more so a situation like this.

Sinunod ko na lamang ang sinabi niya at inilabas ang cellphone. My neck was itching to turn but as he said, I cannot do anything or else somebody's gonna pick the pieces of my brain on the floor.

"Good, and your other phones?" tanong ng intruder.

I sighed and fished my other phones at inilagay rin 'yon sa mesa.

"What do you want?" tanong ko ngunit hindi niya iyon sinagot.

"Now strip!"

Too tired to argue. I loosened my necktie ngunit bigla akong may napagtanto.

Turning my head to the intruder's direction, I frowned when I saw my old man in his pajamas. "What the fuck old man?!"

Tumawa siya nang malakas bago kinapa ang switch ng ilaw. Light illuminated on the bar counter at mas naaninag ko ang kanyang hitsura. Yes, he was holding a gun and a small, red bow tie.

"What is that?" tanong ko at ngumuso paturo sa hawak niyang bow tie.

He walked to the other side of the bar counter, kumuha ng baso at nagsalin ng alak. "Ah, this one? I found this on my trip to Japan. I asked Gray what he wanted but he said I should buy  Detective Conan merchandise for Amber and this is one of them. Nang mapansin kong na isa itong voice-changing device, I decided to keep it. Cool, right?"

He pressed some buttons before speaking at boses bata ang tunog. He giggled like a little kid before trying another, and this time it's a

Napamasahe ako sa sarili. Ugh, Amber and her obsession with stuff like this. Not that I complain though, kahit ako ay napabili rin para sa kanya dati. But I'm sure she'll flip if she finds out Cronus decided to take an important part of the merch.

"Your brother is such a lover boy, don't you think so?" tanong niya at pumuwesto sa bar stool. "Pero masyadong pangit ang kanyang istilo. Why ask me to get her the merch when he can take her to Japan himself?!"

Napailing ako bago uminom. That sounded like my brother Gray. Of course, taking her somewhere is a dream come true but that surely sound so extravagant at the same time. Tiyak na hindi siya papayag sa ganoon, at kukuwestiyonin kung saan galing ang pera.

"That little rascal even had the guts to send me money for the merchandise! Anong akala niya sa ama niya, walang pera?" Cronus whined. He goes by that name under the Vander Mafia at mas gusto ko rin siyang tawagin sa ganoong pangalan.

"Why do you sound so surprise? It's not the first time that Gray didn't accept excessive and extravagant gifts from any of us," sabi ko. Ang tanging regalong tinanggap niya ay ang relo na bigay ko noon sa kanya. It was a watch I purchased from my savings when I was studying abroad. Hanggang ngayon ay suot pa rin niya iyon, especially if it is an important occasion.

"I'm not surprised, I'm just proud. That is so like me!" tila batang tuwang-tuwa na sabi niya. "I did something like that before. Darlyn, your mom sent me money as child support for you and you know what I did? I returned the money to her in seven folds!"

I sighed. "What are you, a god?"

He grinned. "Yeah, you can call me that."

Napailing na lamang ako at muling uminom. Hindi lingid sa kaalaman ko ang relasyon ni Cronus at ni mommy. It's something that I respect and something that I am okay with.

"And what did you do with Gray's money?" tanong ko. I think I already know the answer but for the sake of conversation, I'm giving the old man to express it.

"Guess what."

"Just shoot, old man."

"I returned it to him in ten folds!" tila proud pa niyang sabi.

See? Just as I thought. "And I can guess what Gray did. He returned it, right?"

He nodded. "He did and I returned it in ten folds! Every time he returns it, I also return it to him increasing each time." I'm sure it was a never-ending battle of nerves between them. Gray stands his ground- an attitude he got from our father so yeah, good luck sa kanilang dalawa. I don't want to know how that ended up knowing how annoying and childish Cronus could get at times.

Yes, that is the attitude of a man that people in the Black market highly respected and looked up to.

And I was wrong when I said the house is empty. I didn't know that the old man is here.

"I thought you're on a business trip?" tanong ko, trying to change the subject.

"Well, surprise!" Nagsalin siya ng inumin sa baso ko. "I came back as soon as I heard you closed a deal with Bezon."

Ah, the old man just this morning. "Pi told you?"

He nodded. "Yup. You know she's always my source of all gossip. And she mentioned a woman."

Napakunot ang noo ko. A what?

Tila chismosong umusog si Cronus palapit sa akin. "This Jaja woman."

Ugh, ano na naman ba ang pinagsasabi ni Pi? Both Ryu and I often think that introducing Cronus and Pi was a bad idea. It's like a male lunatic and a female lunatic became an instant BFF.

"So, what's the tea?" tanong niya.

Napasimangot ako. Minsan talaga ay maypagka-tsismoso rin siya. "No tea old man."

He sulked, slightly stomping his foot. "You know you never really introduced me to any of your women."

And what, let them suffer for his childish tendencies? Tiyak akong may maiisip na naman siyang prank, which he thinks is so funny when in fact it is just annoying. Like what he did a few moments ago. Or worst, he'll use pee or any props like a coffin or even a shark.

"Bakit hindi ka magkuwento tungkol sa Jaja na 'to?"

Nag-iwas ako ng tingin. "There's nothing between us, okay? She's just my magic tutor."

Despite the dimness if the night, hindi nakaligtas sa paningin ko ang galak sa kanyang mga mata. "More reason for me to meet her!"

"No."

Napasimangot siya. "Why are you so cruel to your dad, son?"

"You're too old to use that pout, hindi bagay," komento ko. "And please, wag kang magpapaniwala sa sinasabi ni Pi. You know she's just desperate to see me in a relationship."

"And you think I am not desperate?" he shot back.

"C'mon old man, stop making an issue, okay? Walang namamagitan sa amin ni Rustia."

"I think this Jaja girl is a good woman. Pi seemed to take some liking to her. You know Pi, she's not easy to please, especially now that she's pregnant."

Right. Since Pi became part of the family, anyone who attempted to be a friend cannot get past her. She disliked a lot of people, and if she approves of someone, it actually takes time. Nakakagulat nga na nagustuhan niya agad si Rustia kahit kakakilala lang nila kaninang umaga.

The old man giggled. "Why are you so defensive? Son, hindi ka na bumabata. Do you want to grow old and lonely like me?"

My turn to make a face. "You're old but not lonely." Baka gusto niyang isa-isahin kong idescribe ang mga babae niya?

Old man Cronus finds company with few women pero wala siyang binahay o pinangakuan ng kung anu-ano. Not even treated as a lover. Yes, he treated them like a woman by letting them enjoy the privilege of making the night warm for one of the country's richest mafia bosses. But that's the most he could give them. No marriage, no love.

Saglit siyang napaisip. "Wait, did you say Rustia? I know one."

Tumango ako. "Yes, anak siya ng dating tao mo."

"Tao? Not just as plain as that sound. Erebus is my mentor: and friend," he said, sounding a bit sad. "But good people are short-lived."

"Mentor?"

Sinalinan niya ang baso ko at itinaas ang kanyang baso, prompting me for a toast. "Yeah, mentor. I guess history repeats itself. Si Erebus ang dahilan kung bakit naging interesado ako sa mahika. And now his daughter is tutoring you."

I accepted his toast at sabay kaming uminom. "Great," sabi ko at naghikab. The few shots were effective. Now I am sleepy. Tumayo ako at tinanggal ang ilang butones ng damit. Picking up my coat, I slowly walked my way out. "I'm sleepy. Goodnight, Old man."

"Good morning, son."

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