Chapter 29: As a Brother

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*Typing sound effects*

Nanggigigil ko'ng sinara ang laptop ko. I found the Mafia's website, but I can't log in. I need to have a mafia identity code and mafia membership crest. Like how am I suppose to fake that so easily? Mafia Clan Society is no joke! If mataas ang security ng Gangster Clan Society (GCS) di rin papatalo ang MCS sa larangan ng seguridad.

If only I can enter their website, malalaman ko,lahat ng on-going activities na ginagawa ng mga Mafia Boss. I will know their personal informations and their real identity. Mahahanap ko na din sa wakas ang leader ng SilverCrest Mafia. Pero di ganun ka dali ang lahat. Ngayon pa nga lang ay di ko magawang makapasok sa website nila. If I tried to fake it, malalaman nila, and I'm sure they'll find ways to know who's the intruder.

I want to seek help from dad, but I know I can't. Malalaman nya kung ano ang binabalak ko kaya mas mabuti pa'ng ako na lang ang gagalaw mag-isa. Speaking of gagalaw ng mag-isa, di na pala ako mag-iisa dahil nalaman ko'ng pinatay din ng SilverCrest Mafia ang dad ni Jehan. How much of a coincidence could that be? Like I said, there's no coincidence in the world. We're ment to meet, and we're bound to be what we are right now.

Napatigil ako sa pag-iisip nang biglang pumasok sa kwarto si Jehan. He's dressed up with his wet hair and white towel on his shoulders. Sa banyo na sya nagbihis, alangan naman dito sa harap ko diba? Baka mabugbog ko pa sya ng wala sa oras pag ginawa nya yun.

"Mezmerise with my looks?" Naningkit ang mata ko. Aba'y gago! Inirapan ko na lang sya at umupo sa couch habang kumakain ng lollipop. Akala ko wala sya'ng kayabangan na tinataglay sa katawan nya, meron din pala! First was Jam, Lance Asher, and now, Jehan. Yeah right!

"You wish bro"

"Di ka ba maliligo? Ang baho mo na" I scoffed. What the hell was that? Gaano ba kataas ang ilong nya para maamoy na mabaho ako? Sa bagay, malaki naman talaga ilong nya. Saka duh! Di ako mabaho no!

"Excuse me? Di porket kakaligo mo lang sasabihin mo'ng mabaho na ako! Tangina neto!" Naningkit naman ang mata nya sa pagmumura ko.

"Anong sabi mo?"

"Ay bingi? Bigti ka na" mas lalong naningkit ang mata nya kaya natawa na lang ako. Ang epic ng mukha nya. Parang gago! Tumigil ako sa pagtawa at tumayo mula sa pagkakaupo sa couch.

Kinuha ko ang towel ko na nakasabit sa likod ng pintuan at sinukbit ito sa balikat ko. Bago ako lumabas ng kwarto nya ay nilingon ko muna sya na naka-upo sa kama nya habang may headphone sa ulo. Typical Jehan, the guy who never cares.

Paglabas ko ng kwarto ay bumungad saakin si Irish na kakalabas lang din sa kwarto ko---na kwarto na nya ngayon. She smiled at me, and I gave her my I-don't-don't-care-look. As if I care? Apparently, we have no class. May Board Meeting sila about the merging of their school and St. Clair University. I really wish they will disagree.

"Oh! Putangina mo V! Natalo mo na naman ako! Diba sabi ko ipanalo mo ako!?" Angil ni Jam habang pabirong sinutuntok-suntok si V sa tyan.

"Nakokonsensya kasi ako e. Pag nagpatalo ako, ikaw ang panalo. Ayaw ko matalo!" Napailing na lang ako. Ayan na naman sila sa paglalaro, di na nagsasawa. Minsan nga pag may oras ako sisirain ko yan.

Dumeretso ako sa kusina at binuksan ang ref para kumuha ng ice cubes. Yeah right, you know what I'm going to do with this cubes. Magbababad lang ako saglit since matagal-tagal na din mula nung nagbabad ako sa bathtub.

"Lara" napalingon ako nang tawagin ako ni Xael. May bitbit syang tumbler ng tubig at nakatingin lang sya sa ice cubes na hawak-hawak ko.

"Yeah?"

"Magababad ka na naman ba sa tub?" Tinanguan ko na lang sya.

"Make sure you'll only be staying for 10-15 mins. Baka mamaya mangyari na naman yung nangyari sayo nung nakaraan" napangiti ako sa kaloob-looban ko. Xael is perfect to be a brother, he's caring and thoughtful.

"Okay" Sinarado ko ang ref at pumanhik na papuntang banyo. I locked the door and undressed myself as I poured the tub with milk along with the Ice cubes. Matapos ko'ng gawin yun ay lumusong ako sa tub at hiniga ang katawan ko. So cold, yet warm.

KIEL'S POV

Inikot-ikot ko ang isang personalize blade sa harap ko. We were sabotage the day after the Gangster Board Meeting. Right after we went outside the Underground, we were attacked together with Jehan and Jethro's Gang. We were attacked by  Mafia Rippers. They're known to be the Mafia members who are in charged of killing traitors in their Clan, they also accept missions for money.

The thing is, we were caught off guard. Buti na lang ay wala namang nasugatan saamin. The Mafia Rippers who attacked us are only five, pero triple ang lakas nila kumpara saamin. Buti na lang ay 21 kami'ng lahat kaya nakaya namin silang labanan. They retreated, pero nag-iwan ang isa sa kanila ng ebedensya. Isang Ebedensya na maaaring magturo saamin kung sino ang isa sa mga Mafia Rippers na yun.

Tinitigan ko muli ang dalawang blades na nakalatag sa mesa. It actually has a design of a dragon as it's handle. Gold and Bronze ang kulay.

Since we're known to be The Eyes of the Underground, kami ang inatasan para mag-imbestiga kung sino ang may-ari nito, at sa ano'ng Mafia Clan ito nabibilang. We we're as young as 18, but men, ganito na kalaki ang responsibilidad na nakapatong sa balikat namin. Mafia is a big deal guys, malaki ang pinagkaiba ng gangsters sa mafias.

Let's take this for an example. Sa isang Gangster Society, if the Gangster Attendants accidentally delivered a wrong source of informations, the Gangster Emperor forgives them, but that also triggered their first warnings. Sa isang Mafia Society, even just a single wrong information, even if it's an accident or not, you'll be killed. No second chances, no warnings but killed.

They're merciless and ruthless than us gangsters. As much as possible, I don't want my gang to get involve with Mafia matters, but I guess we really can't get away with our responsibility. Now that we're involved, there's no turning back.

"Greg, have you found anything yet?" Saglit sya'ng lumingon saakin habang nakalagay ang kaliwang kamay nya sa panga nya na animoy nalilito sya sa kung ano mang nakita nya.

"Yeah. But this is making me hella confused!" Nilapitan namin sya na nakatutok sa harap ng computer nya.

"Binibenta din sya sa Black Market" he added. Napakamot ako sa batok. I smirked, mafias are cunning. Nakagawa kaagad sila ng lusot para lituhin kami, and they succeeded. Now we're fvckin' confused!

If it is an item sold in Black Market, then the stand that we have is no longer valid. I saw a lot of branded blades in the world, because I'm in-charge of the world-wide weapon exchange. Sa ilang taon na pamamalakad ko ay wala pa ako'ng nakitang ganitong klaseng blade. That's why I concluded, this is a personalized blade.

The thing is, dahil binebenta din sya sa Black Market, gusto nilang isipin namin na maaaring maraming gangsters o mafia ang may hawak nito since it's on sale! I think this idea is to deceive us, to make us conclude everything was a hoax. Too bad, I'm too sharp to catch everything what they wanted us to believe.

"How much is that?" Tanong ko.

"320 thousand pesos"

"320 thousand pesos for a blade like that!?" Di makapaniwalang naiusal ni Cael.

"Hit the buy button Greg" nagtataka man sya sa sinabi ko ay pinindot nya pa din ito.

"I think they're trying to deceive us with that" I flick my fingers in the air when Ricky concluded the same thing.

"I get your point. Pero bakit natin bibilhin yan?" Nakakunot noong tanong ni Cloud.

"To meet this anonymous dealer. I'd like to check something" nagkatinginan naman sila sa sinabi ko.

"That's dangerous" -Mike

"It's not like we're forbidden to go there, but Black Market is filled with Mafias Kiel. We need ask for the Emperor's permission first" -Jason

"I agree with him. We need think before we act guys. Mafia ang kalaban natin dito, maaari tayo'ng malagay sa bingit ng kamatayan kapag nagkamali tayo ng kilos" -Cael

He also has a point, we need to ask for the Emperor's permission first. Only if he agrees, saka kami kikilos ayon sa plano na nabubuo sa isip ko.

LARA'S POV

Bored ko'ng inikot-ikot ang arnis na hawak ko. Ang tagal ng instructor, mahigit 10 mins. late na sya! Our class for today is about Attack and Defence. Parang Physical Education lang, pero mas level up sya kumpara sa ibang school. Sa sobrang pag-ikot ko ng arnis ay nabitawan ko ito at tumalsik yun papunta sa gawi ni Jam.

Sinipa nya ito kaya pumaikot-ikot naman ito papunta sa gawi ni V. Busy si V kakakalikot ng phone nya kaya akala ko di na nya ito maiiwasan, I was slightly amazed when he managed to dodge it by easily lowering his head to avoid it. Nang yumuko naman si V ay dumeretso ito palabas ng pintuan. But then, may pumasok na lalaki, walang kamintis-mintis nya lang itong sinalo na parang wala lang.

Napataas ang kilay ko. Is he our class Instructor? According to my calculations, he's in mid 30's or so?

His hair is soaking wet like he just made out of the bathroom. Yeah right, of course he's our class instructor. Lahat naman ata ng instructor dito ay lalaki.

"HELL-o guys, I'm your new Instructor in Attack and Defence class. Detective Lyro Go" Wait a sec, Detective Go? I remembered the police officer mentioning Detective Go from the Drug Raid in the Governor's shitty business.

"Oh, we have two ladies here" napairap ako sa kawalan. That must be me and Irish in this class. Oh please, I'm expecting no special treatments.

"Kahit babae kayo, wala kayo'ng special treatment dito okay?" I smirk, that's more like it. A couple of seconds later, nagtawag na sya ng partners para sa sparring. What the hell, I'm getting excited.

So here's the partners for the people I'm slightly concerned with.

Jehan and Jam

V and Irish

Seth and Xael

Rio and Justine

Me and Lance Asher

Ang mas nakakatuwa pa ay kami ni Lance Asher ang una. Umakyat kami ng platform at dumistansya sa isa't-isa. We were both holding one piece of stick, so much for having an arnis stick. I'm skilled with this one, and I really hope he won't go easy on me.

"Don't go easy on me" I smiled.

"Roger that" he replied.

Tumunog ang bell na hawak ni Detective Go kaya agad ako'ng sumugod. I saw in my peripheral vision Detective Go was slightly amazed. Maybe he thought I'll let Lance Asher attack me first, or maybe he was surprised how aggressive I was.

I swayed my arms along with the arnis stick into his head to hit him, pero naiwasan nya ito ng walang kahirap-hirap. Hinataw nya din sa gawi ko ang stick na hawak nya kaya naman sinangga ko din ito ng stick na hawak ko. Nagkatitigan kaming dalawa habang may ngisi sa labi.

"I see. I never should've underestimate girls" he murmured between our stares.

"Yeah right"

I pushed my hands to give more force in the stick, at ganun din ang ginawa nya. Nagtutulakan kami ngayon ng buong pwersa, at wala ni isa saamin ang balak magpatalo. Marahas ko'ng hinawakan ang arnis na hawak nya at sinipa ito kaya nabitawan nya. Sinalo ko naman ito at tinutok sa kanya.

Nagpakawala sya ng isang mataas na sipa kaya lumiyad ako para maiwasan ito. Akmang sisipain ko din sya nang umamba din sya ng sipa kaya nagkasanggaan lang ang binti namin. Pareho kaming napaatras at nagsukatan ng tingin. A moment after, a realization hit me. Naalala ko kung paano makipaglaban ang alaking nagdala ng bomba sa parking lot. Those stance and moves, I remembered it clearly.

Saglit sya'ng natigilan nang may maalala din sya. If he's someone who's witty and wise enough, I'm pretty sure he remembered my moves as well.

"Magsusukatan lang ba kayo ng tingin?" Bored na atugal ni Detective Go. Magsusukatan nga lang ba kami ng tingin? Kung sya talaga yung lalaking nagpipiling K-pop Idol na nagdala ng bomba, then I need to confirm something.

Tinapon ko sa gilid ang arnis sticks na hawak ko at umamba ng suntok sa panga nya na sya namang naiwasan nya ng walang kahirap-hirap.

Nag roundhouse kick ako, but I faked it gaya ng ginawa ko sa parking lot. Napangisi ako sa isip ko nang maiwasan nya yun. That kick, alam na nya na pinepeke ko kaya naiwasan nya kaagad. No one will be able to know it was fake unless if I already used it as an attack with the same person.

Nagsukatan ulit kami ng tingin. The look in his face was confused, I can see it in his unsettled eyes. Now the only thing that will confirm everything is the wound in his upper left shoulder. Tumakbo ako papalapit sa kanya, mukhang nasa malalim ata sya'ng pag-iisip kaya huli na ng makakilos pa sya. I slide myself in between his long legged thighs, agad akong tumayo sa likod nya.

Timing na paglingon nya saakin ay agad ko sya'ng hinampas sa kaliwang balikat. I heard him cursed with pain. I got you there. Napaatras sya sa ginawa ko'ng paghampas habang hawak-hawak ang balikat nya. He stared at me for a moment and smirk. Pinulot nya ang dalawang arnis sa lapag at iniwasiwas ito saakin.

He's on it. I've got him already.

JEHAN'S POV

"Who's that girl Corrigan?" Nilingon ko naman si Lyro. He's always like that, calling me in my surename and shit. I look at the girl she was referring to, Lara Quinn Miranda.

I tilt my head when the fight started to fired up, I can feel the sudden tension building up between them. Napaayos ako ng upo nang magsimula ng magpaulan ng sipa si Lara. What's up with her? Like hell, kung kanina mabagal ang kilos nila, ngayon naman ay bumibilis na.

Iniwasiwas ng lalaki ang hawak nya'ng arnis, at sinisipa naman ito ni Lara pabalik. Ni hindi man lang sya nagaalanganin na baka matamaan ang binti nya sa lakas ng hampas ng lalaki na  sinisipa nya lang pabalik.

"Hey Lyro, anong pangalan ng lalaki?"

"Lance Asher Fortalejo" bulong nya habang nakatingin sa laban na nagaganap sa platform.

Siniko ako ni Jam kaya napalinga ako sa kanya. He was biting his lips while looking at them.

"Si Lara, your mom mentioned she was a Black belter in Taekwondo, Judo and Kendo right? Is that why she moves so fast?" Ibinaling ko ulit ang tingin ko sa kanila.

Nahawakan ni Lara ang magkabilang arnis na hawak ni Lance. Hinigpitan nya ang pagkakahawak dito at nag-backflip. Bago sya makalapag sa lupa ay sinipa nya muna sa dib-dib si Lance na naging dahilan upang mapaatras ito.

"Whoah! That was cool!" Pumalakpak naman na parang tumatawag ng kalapati si V.

"That's Lit!"- Justine

Sumipol naman si Rio at Seth. Ibinalik ko ulit ang atensyon ko sa naglalaban sa gitna. Napataas ang kilay ko nang magpaulan naman ng suntok si Lance. Halos di ko na makita ang bilis ng pagbitaw ng suntok nya, pero ang mas nakakamangha ay ang bilis din ng pag-ilag ni Lara.

"Okay that's enough!" Sabi ni Lyro pero parang walang narinig ang dalawa dahil patuloy pa din sa pagsuntok si Lance at patuloy pa din sa pag-ilag si Lara.

"I said enough!" Pinatid ni Lara ang kaliwang binti ni Lance kaya napaluhod ito. Marahas na napaangat ang tingin ni Lance kay Lara, samantalang si Lara naman ay nakatingin lang kay Lyro.

"Get down! That's enough okay?" Tumango ang mga ito. Pero bago sila bumaba ay may ibinulong muna si Lara kay Lance. Hindi na sila bumalik pa sa kinauupuan nila sa bleachers, instead, they barged out the Gym into different directions.

Nagkatinginan naman kaming lahat. What was that all about?

LARA'S POV

Inayos ko ang bangs ko habang pababa ng dorm. I'm wearing a black shirt na naka tuck in sa ripped jeans na suot ko.

If you're asking where I'm going, I gonna meet up with Lance Asher. I still don't know what he's up to. Why he wanted to bomb the parking lot, and who the hell ordered him to do that. One thing is for sure, he's that all-black-masked guy who tried to bomb the parking lot.

Pagbaba ko ng dorm ay napaatras ako nang makita ko si Jehan na nakasandal sa isang pader. He's holding his phone while listening to music.

Aatras na sana ako nang bigla sya'ng lumingon sa gawi ko. I cleared my throat, act naturally Lara. Don't make things too obvious. Lalampasan ko na sana sya nang bigla nya akong harangan.

"Where are you going? " inirapan ko sya.

"Tatae, sama ka?" Nangunot naman ang noo nya kaya muntik na ako'ng matawa. Muntanga lang.

"Seriously?"

"Yeah"

"Samahan na kita" agad akong napahinto sa paglalakad. Nilingon ko sya na seryoso lang ang mukha. Is he ridiculous? Like seriously. Naniniwala talaga sya? Or he's trying to caught me between my lies?

"Fine, aalis ako. May pupuntahan ako. Happy?" He shook his head. Tinanggal nya ang headset sa tenga nya at tinago ito sa bulsa nya kasabay ng phone nya.

"No. You're not going anywhere. It's dangerous!" I hissed upon his remark.

"I'm not a kid anymore! I can protect myself!" Aalis na sana ako nang hilahin nya ang pulsuhan ko, causing me to face him.

"Listen to me, for once, pwede ba makinig ka saakin? Follow my rules okay?" I rolled my eyes and give him my smug expression.

"Rules are only for weak's to follow" I blurted out.

"Then will you follow me as your brother?" Natigilan ako sa sinabi nya. Follow him as my brother? Why do I feel annoyed by that? Brother?

"And I'll play being your little sister doing whatever you told me to do? You wish!" Akmang iwawaksi ko na ang kamay nya para mabitawan ako nang bigla nya ako'ng higitin papalapit sa kanya.

"Damn Lara, don't make me make you" parang kinilabutan ako sa sinabi nya. What the hell?

"Could you just please let me go! May pupuntahan akong importante!"

"Mas importante pa ba saakin yan?" Halos matameme naman ako sa sinabi nya. Double hell, sa lagay na yan, how can he be just my brother?