The Lost Reaper

Chapter Twenty-eight

"What a lovely night, isn't it?" nakangiting bati ni Kenjie pagkaupo niya sa Dining table.

Kagaya niya ay nakatali din yung mga kamay ko. Natatakot silang makawala kami pero alam naming lahat na madali lang sa akin ang makawala dito. Hindi nga lang ako pumalag. Saan naman ako tatakbo?

"Mabuti pang tumahimik ka," sita ni Via.

Kompleto ang lahat sa mesa, pati si Lucca ay nandito. I was expecting him to be sad or affected but he's on his usual self. Siguro ayaw niyang ipakita sa iba yung totoong nararamdaman niya.

"Binabati ko lang naman kayo. Besides, what's this all about? I was enjoying the luxury of the cell."

Napairap nalang ako at umiling. Talagang hindi mawawala 'yung kayabangan ni Kenjie. Nakatali na nga't lahat-lahat.

"We are all here to talk about important things," malamig na sabi ni Tita Snow. "For now, let's eat."

Tumaas ang kilay ni Kenjie at lumingon sa akin. I shrug my shoulders.

"How could we eat kung nakatali kami?"

Nagkatinginan silang lahat— nagdadalawang-isip kung pakakawalan nila kami.

"Be careful," Kenjie warned. "My reaper can get us out of here in no time. Alam niyo naman siguro yung kakayahan niya."

Sa ngayon ay napalingon sa akin ang lahat but I remained as pokerfaced as possible. For now, I am his reaper. I should never show emotions.

"My friend will never do that," puno ng kompyansang sabi ni Via. "She knows what's the best thing to do."

Ngumisi si Kenjie. "Nakita mo naman siguro kung gaano siya katapat sa akin."

"You are holding her by the neck kaya wala siyang kawala sa'yo," Via rebutted.

"Tama na," kalmado kong sabi. "Wala akong balak gumalaw. Let's not ruin the dinner."

Ramdam ko ang titig ni Kenjie and I didn't bother to turn to him.

"I agree," dugtong ni Kenjie. "Let's not ruin dinner."

Pinakawalam na nga nila kami para makakain na. I remember not eating lunch earlier. Kaya siguro kanina pa kumakalam sikmura ko. When everyone started digging in, kumain na din ako. Hindi ko pinahalata na gutom na gutom ako. Nakakahiya naman kapag ganun.

Tahimik lang ding kumakain si Kenjie at hanggang ngayon, ramdam ko pa rin yung pagtitig niya.

"Long live the King," biglang sabi ni Kenjie kaya napalingon kami sa kanya. "That was so random."

"I remember hearing those words from you when you took Nikolai," Via paused. "Who's your King."

I never saw the King. Gaya nga ng sabi ko noon, my curiosity will only kill me. Sina Kenjie lang at ibang officials ang nakakaalam kung ano yung itsura ng Hari. I thought that I was gonna meet him that night.

"Why should I tell you?" ngisi niya.

"We heard you wanna take down the King."

Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa ni Kenjie. Paano nila nalaman?

"You told me that plan a few years ago. Hindi nga lang ako sigurado. You told me that it wasn't just about taking over the mafia. Now I know behind the plan. Sawang-sawa ka na."

Nakakunot ang noo kong napatitig kay Kenjie. He told Via about his plan but never to me. Not being jealous or anything. Nagtataka lang ako kasi akala ko confidential.

"You still remember."

"How can I forget the plan of our biggest threat?"

Kenjie lowered down his utensils and rested his chin on the back of his hand, staring at Via.

"Anong gusto niyo?"

"Collaborate with us."

Tumaas yung kilay ni Kenjie at humalakhak.

"What are we? Artists?" he chuckled. "I'm taking the mafia down on my own."

"We all want it to crumble. Hindi mo kayang gawin mag-isa."

"Kaya ko."

"How? Alam na nila na trinaydor ka ng reaper mo. By now, paniguradong alam na nila na nandito ka. They will assume that we took you as a hostage. Kung makakalaya ka man, papatayin ka nila. They don't want a loose end--"

"--I am the Bishop," may diin niyang sabi. "They will not abandon me."

"The others want you down. A lot of you wants throne for yourselves. Sa tingin mo ba hindi ko alam 'yun?"

Pinaniningkitan niya ng mata si Via. She do knows a lot of things. Pati yung mga nangyayari sa mafia ay alam niya. Now I understand kung bakit takot si Kenjie sa kanila. They have connections.

"Kahit anong pangungumbinsi pa ang gawin mo, hindi mo ako mapapayag," he said with finality.

Bumuntong-hininga si Via at yumuko. Everyone doesn't look bothered. Patuloy pa rin silang kumakain pero nakikinig naman sa usapan.

"I don't want to do this but you've given me no choice," tinapatan niya ng tingin si Kenjie. "San Lorenzo Village."

It was only three words pero nanlaki ang mga mata ni Kenjie. Sinamaan niya ng tingin si Via habang nanginginig. From the side of my eyes, I caught him took the knife on the table pero mukhang nakita din ito ni Via.

"Careful. You are out-numbered. Dalawa lang kayo, marami kami. Reapers are outside. They're on standby," ngisi ni Via.

"What did you do?!"

Puno ng galit yung boses ni Kenjie. He always keeps his cool, kahit pa takot na takot na siya. Kung ano man ibig sabihin sa sinabi ni Via, it did triggered the Bishop.

"Wala pa naman akong ginawa. I'm not that kind of a person you know. Hindi ako kagaya niyo na pumapatay kahit hindi alam yung rason."

"I swear, Silva. If you hurt her I'm going to kill you."

"We won't unless you cooperate with us." Inilapit ni Via yung mukha niya kay Kenjie. "Is it a deal?"

Dinner ended peacefully. Buti nalang hindi naging chaotic. I don't want to end the day with bloodstains on my outfit.

The next day, I found myself all tied up inside a car going back to the mansion. Kenjie's driving the car, focusing ahead. Yung kaba ko sa dibdib ay hindi ko maipapaliwanag.

Narating na din namin yung mansyon. Gate pa lang yung nakita ko pero sobra na akong kabado. Pinapasok din naman agad si Kenjie since kilala naman siya. I found Freta on the front door, looking at us. Hininto ni Kenjie yung sasakyan at lumabas na.

"Where were you?" kaswal na tanong ni Freya.

"Looking for my reaper."

Sumilip si Freya sa loob ng sasakyan at ngumisi nang makitang nakatali at nakabusal ang aking bibig.

"Not so feisty now, huh? The tiger became a kitty. Pity."

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin pero mas lalo lang siyang ngumisi. I never did like her. I can feel that our feelings are mutual kaya hindi na ako nag-effort pa na makipag-kaibigan sa kanya.

"For what she did, she deserve to face her punishment," sabi ni Kenjie. "Death."