Romeo and His Many Juliets [Romeone & Juliétte]

Kabanata 8

Everyone dramatically stopped on their tracks as we entered the cafeteria, all heads tilting to our direction. At kung ako ay hiyang-hiya at hindi sanay sa atensyon, wala lang iyon kay Romeone.

“Bro!”

Napalingon kami sa tinig na tumawag sa atensyon niya. In the middle of the big cafeteria, I saw his cousins and brothers sitting on the table they usually occupied and that seemed always reserved for them. Walang sinuman ang nagtatangka na umupo sa puwesto na ‘yon. Para bang nabili na nila ‘yon at malalagot ka kapag nagkamali kang umupo roon.

Dragging me toward them, Romeone pulled a chair for me and made me sit next to him. Isa-isang bumati sa akin ‘yong mga kapatid at mga pinsan niya, pare-parehong nakakalokong nakangisi sa amin.

“Hello, sister-in-law!” Adamont beamed. However, Jacques just nodded his head at me in acknowledgement.

“How’s the newlywed?” tanong naman noong sa pagkakaalala ko’y Octavius ang pangalan.

I did not dare reply a word. Hindi naman sila pinansin ni Romeone at imbes ay nilingon ako at tinanong kung ano ba ang gusto kong kainin.

I honestly did not have an appetite. Not only it was past lunch already and I was not really hungy at all, but also sitting here in the middle, with all the eyes watching us, probably judging and mocking me now, alam kong hindi ako makakakain nang ayos.

“I’m fine with sandwich,” sabi ko na lang.

He sighed deeply, looking so restless at me, then stood up from his seat. Tagging Adamont and Percival with him, they went to the food counter, leaving me with Jacques and Octavius.

“What’s up?” Octavius asked. “Is he giving you a hard time?”

Sa pagkakaalam ko ay mas matanda itong si Octavius kay Romeone. But since Tomasso Kortajarena, Romeone’s father, was older than Octavius’ father, Stamatis Kortajarena, sa hierarchy ng pamilya nila ay si Romeone ang itinuturing na panganay. And for as long as I could remember, these Kortajarenas were all taking Engineering as their course. Hindi naman nakakapagtaka kung bakit. They owned the biggest Engineering company here in Cebu, and of course, they were using it to cover up their illegal businesses.

I should know. Because just like the illegal businesses we owned, they were also involved in that kind of business—illegal firearms particularly. Sa katunayan, isa ito sa mga dahilan noong matagal na awayan sa mga pamilya namin. The Conteses and Kortajarenases had always been fighting for dominance when it came to this business. We were both importing firearms and weapons in the country where bigtime businessmen and politicians were the main customers. But in their case, they also provided security and protection, thus, these Kortajarenas and all the men related in this business must know how to fire a gun. Mas masuwerte rin sila dahil puro anak na lalaki sila, one thing the Conteses couldn’t beat. Sa pamilya namin, si Kuya Tommo lang ang nag-iisang lalaki. All my cousins from Uncle Governor were girls, too.