The Legendary Durga

CHAPTER 9

JINGU (AGNEZKA PATRIARCA) POV

Oh! The big boy is shaking in fear, why? Is he scared at his sister?! Seriously? Sino ba 'tong babaeng 'to? Honey-honey pang nalalaman, hindi kami talo, hindi ako napatol sa kapwa babae. Hanggang ngayon ba naman nakayakap parin siya sa'kin na parang koala.

"Anyway!!!" Biglang bumitaw ang babae at ngumiti sa'kin. "Honey, let's go shopping!" Anyaya niya na parang bata na pupunta sa Disney Land kasama ang mga anghel.

"Why should I go with you?" Pambabara ko. Hindi ba niya alam na sobrang nakakairita ang pagmumukha niya? Feeling close! Kapag ako hindi nakapagtimpi, isusupalpal ko na ang mukha nito sa sahig.

Clingin to me as if we're best friends.

"Unnie, you know them?" Tanong ni Tao.

"Of course I do! Lalapitan ko ba sila kung hindi ko sila kilala?" Tumaas ang kilay ng babae at madiskriminasyong tinignan si Tao. "Mukha ba akong baliw?" Pabalang na dagdag pa nito. Ano bang problema ng babaeng 'to? There's something missing in her head, probably the brain. "Anyway, let's go!" Hinila niya kami ni Jun palabas.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero walang reklamo na sumunod lang si Jun. I think there's something that he has in mind, so I also decided to just let this woman drag us. Pagdating sa parking lot huminto na ang babae, nawala narin ang masiglang presensya na kanina ay nakabalot sa kanya.

Bigla nalang pumiglas si Jun sa babae, hinila niya rin ako papalayo mula dito na para bang may sakit itong nakakaha. "Who are you? What do you want?" Kalmadong tanong ni Jun, habang tinatago ako sa likod niya bilang pag-protekta. Matalas ang tingin ni Jun and any moment ready siyang atakihin ang babae.

Tch! I hate this, I hate being protected and I'm not weak to need it.

Umalis ako sa likod ni Jun at tumabi sa kanya, masamang tinignan ko din ang babaeng tinatawag nilang Bia. Nang umalis ako sa likod niya, nagtatakang tinignan lang ako ni Jun. Napansin siguro niya na ayaw ko ang ginawa niyang 'yon. Hindi na siya nag-abalang hilain ako pabalik sa likod niya.

"Hello to you too!" Ngumiti nanamang muli si Bia, maya-maya biglang tumalas ang tingin nito habang may hindi magandang ngiti sa mukha. "The Godfather has given you new orders." Saad ng babae, which shocked not just me, pati si Jun. New orders?! Bakit biglang magbibigay ng utos si Nonno?! "You two, will participate in the underground Battle Royale."

"Battle Royale?" Nagtatakang tanong ko, pero walang sumagot kahit na isa sa kanila, parang hindi nga nila narinig eh.

"Are you talking about the one that's going to be held tomorrow evening?" Tanong naman ni Jun kay Bia, habang nananatiling alerto sa harap ng babae.

"What's that?!" Tanong ko ulit, pero wala nanamang sumagot. Aba! Ayos ha! Am I receiving the silent treatment? Pinapainit ng dalawang 'to ang ulo ko ah.

"Indeed." Sagot naman ni Bia kay Jun.

"Che cazzo! (What the f*ck!) Hindi niyo ba'ko naririnig? Hangin ba'ko? Can somebody explain what the f*ck you guys are saying? I feel stupid not knowing a single d*mn thing!" Sumigaw na'ko sa inis.

Sino ba naman kasing hindi maiinis? Kanina pa nila ako hindi pinapansin. Ano ako hangin? Utot nga pinapansin ng lahat! I don't have the slightest idea of what they're talking about. Para tuloy akong tanga, tapos hindi pa nila sinasagot ang tanong ko. Anong gusto nilang gawin ko hulaan ang pinagsasasabi nila?!

"Mi dispiace (I'm sorry), Honey, I'll explain." Hingi ng tawad sa'kin ni Bia, and she actually also spoke in Italian. Bakit ba laging honey ang tawag sa'kin ng hinayupak na'to? Baliw ata 'to eh. "This is an event where you can test your fighting abilities, meaning, you will have to fight. It will be held at the Star Tower. I'll explain the further details next time, this is not a very good place to talk."

Battle Royale? Mukhang maganda, pangalang palang exciting na, paano pa kaya ang laro? Pero ba't biglang nag-utos ng ganito si Nonno? He knows that I'm hiding my indentity. Is this one of his test? Hmpf! Akala niya ba magpapatalo ako?

Throw every thing you've got old man.

"What makes you think na maniniwala ako sa sinasabi mo? Ni hindi ka nga namin kilala at wala din akong natatanggap na tunkol dito from Boss. Galingan mo sumagot, isang pagkakamali mo lang papatahimikin kita habang buhay." Banta pa ni Jun.

"Don't worry, Little Sebastiano. The Godfather sent me here para bantayan ang kilos niyong dalawa. After all gusto niya na ibalita ko kaagad kapag may ibang tao na nakaalam ng tunay niyong mga pagkatao." Nakangiti na saad pa nito.

This woman, she called Jun in his real name. Kilala niya kami!

"I've been watching the two of you these past few days. Diba sumali na'rin si Agnez sa underground caged stage? Bigla nalang kayong pumunta d'un at syempre alam narin ni Godfather ang tungkol doon, so ang sabi niya, gamitin niyo ang disguise na ginawa niyo noon para makasali."

"Sino ka?" Matalim na tanong ni Jun, naramdaman ko na handa na siya patayin ang babae sa harap namin.

"Chun Bia." Prenteng sagot ng babae. Napaisip ako. Chun? Parang narinig ko na ang pangalan na 'yon kung saan? San ko nga ba narinig 'yon? Chun... Chun... Chun... Chu-- oh! I rememeber! "Just what you are thinking Honey, I'm Chun Kang Hoo's older sister." Sabi ng babae sabay ngumiti sa'kin.

"Now that you mention it, he did call you Nonna earlier, that meant big sister in Korean, right?" Tanong ko.

"Yup."

"So what are you to my Grandfather? Why do you know him?"

"I'm quite indebted to him, so sabi ko sa kanya since I'm already here I might as well help you. Anyways, I'll call you guys tomorrow night para sunduin. I gotta go somewhere, need to buy some new clothes. Bye." Naglakad na palayo si Bia.

Bigla ko nalang naalala ang lalaki na ginamot ko sa comfort room ng mga babae sa loob ng bar, kaya naisipan ko itanong. Because that's a man for sure. Sa laki ng boob ni Bia, imposibleng siya 'yon.

Unless detachable ang boobs niya.

"Wait!" Tawag ko. "You're not the one I treated at the bar last time, right? Who was it? For sure that was a man." Ngumisi lang si Bia sa tanong ko.

"That was my dongsaeng, Kang Hoo. It was him that you treated that day."

"Then you were the one following me in the movies."

"Right. Actually ako ang sumaksak sa kapatid ko, may kasalanan kasi siya sa'kin." Paliwanag pa ni Bia.

Wow huh! So 'pag may kasalanan ang kapatid mo, sinasaksak mo? Swerto ko at never nagalit sa'kin si Fratello, to the point na gusto niya akong sasakin. "Ok."

"Nakita ko na ginagamot siya sa through the CCTV camera na nilagay ko, pero may balak naman talaga ako nung time na 'yon na sundan ka, nagkataon lang na nakita ko na ginagamot mo siya at ginamit ko ang mukha ni Kang Hoo. Well, wala namang effect kasi hindi mo din naalala ang mukha niya at hindi gaya ng ibang babae, hindi ka na-inlove."

"In-love? Me to that weakling? You must be crazy." Napairap ako sa sinabi ng babae. "Umalis ka na nga."

After I said that biglang nawala si Bia na parang hangin, mukhang marunong siya ng ilang mahuhusay na martial art moves. Naalala ko tuloy ang master ko, ang mga araw noong nag tra-training pa'ko sa mabangis na isalang 'yon.


~THE LEGENDARY DURGA~


JUN (SEBASTIAN CROSS) POV

Umalis na ang babae na nag-ngangalang Chun Bia. Hindi ko alam kung anong koneksyon niya kay Boss pero mukhang hindi siya dapat balingan ng atensyon. There's something off with her, but it's not something threatening. Sa ilang taon na nagseserbisyo ako kay Boss, kahit kailan ay hindi ko nakita ang babae na 'yon. I did know a person that goes by that name, of course, but that woman was not that very hands-on with this world.

Napatingin ako kay Jingu, mukhang excited na siyang pumunta sa Battle Royale na 'yon. Hula ko hindi nanaman 'to mapakali. As for me, I'm not the tad bit excited, I don't have the motivation to fight. There're just few people and incidents that makes me want to fight.

"Jingu." Tawag ko sa katabi ko, she looked at me.

"What?" Taas kilay niyang tanong.

"Kain na tayo." Biglang nanlaki ang mata ni Jingu, parang gulat na gulat. May nasabi ba akong mali? After a series of gasps from her, bigla niyang hinila ang kamay ko at tumakbo. "W-what's wrong?"

"Mamma mia! (Oh my God!)." Nagpapanic na sabi niya. What's wrong with her now? "I forgot! Paano nalang kung maubos ang pagkain sa cafeteria! Merda! (Sh*t!) patay sa'kin ang Chun--- who-ever-she-is, kapag naubusan ako ng pagkain." Napatawa nalang ako, akala ko naman kung ano na, pagkain lang pala. "Anong tinatawa-tawa mo diyan, bilisan mo kumilos, malilintikan ka sa'kin pag naubusan tayo ng pagkain."

"Wag kang mag-alala, kahit dumating pa ang buong army dito, sinisigurado ko na hindi mauubos ang pagkain sa cafeteria."

"Ah, oo nga pala, pang mayaman ang school na 'to. Sa school ko kasi dati, laging nauubos agad eh, poor."


~THE LEGENDARY DURGA~


Eight years ago, in an uninhabited island called Little Island that is owned by the Patriarca Famiglia, there's a ten years old little girl with a really long black hair and a pair of lovely chocolate eyes. The young girl looked innocent and had a really sweet smile. Beside her was a tall built old man with black long hair and grown beard.

"Nonno! (Grandfather!) I'm hungry." Said the little girl as she feels her empty stomach rumble of hunger.

Her once white beautiful chiffon dress now covered with dirt, making it look as if it didn't cost a fortune. It was her favorite dress, but now its ragged and dirty.

"You have to find a food yourself." Said the old man as he blow through a bamboo stick, to cook the fishes he caught from the river nearby, not even bothering to give his granddaughter a glance.

"Bu-but I don't know how to fish like you do Nonno. There're no restaurants here, Mama Clara is not here, I want to eat her cooking." The young girl started to cry.

"Did I not told you to call me master while we are in this island?" The old man shouted and looked at her with menacing eyes.

She took a few steps back, her knees trembling from fear. This is not her Nonno at all, this is not the Grandfather that doted on her, that gave everything she wanted. Be it toys or food, everything. She didn't want to be at this place at all. It's so dirty and hot. She wants to take a bath, wants to eat pasta. Wants to ride the boat and play with the dogs.

Its's so different than the place where she used to reside.

"Perdonami (Forgive me) Master, but please help me get food." She pleaded, with tears flowing from her face.

"I will not help you, live using your own strength, survive on your own will." He spoke a little too cold for the child.

"But, Non--Master there is nothing to eat here, other than the fish. I don't know how to fish!"

She didn't know how to fish, she also didn't know how to make fire. No one taught her! All her life, she always had people to run her errands, she lived without lifting a finger to take care of herself. Now her Grandfather wants her to find food on her own? She doesn't even know how to slice an apple, much less get her own food. Not like there's fridge in the middle of nowhere.

"Agnez, if you would just look around you, then you would find all the food you can eat." The old man stood up, towering before the child.

The young girl looked around, but really didn't focus then looked back to the old man and in spoiled voice she said. "I don't see any food!"

The old man just sighed, then looked at his Granddaughter with disappointed stare. "Aspettami. (Wait for me.)" After saying those words, he disappeared. Leaving the child all alone in the middle of nowhere, with wild animals around.

A minute passed and he came back, with arm full of fruits.

"Wow! Non--Master you have brought a lot of frutta (fruits)." The little girl smiled so brightly that the old masters' heart softened a bit. Her gentle brown eyes sparkle as she ate the nature's child. This was a first for her, eating an apple without it being sliced. The young girl didn't take notice of it, she was so hungry she just ate everything her hands could reach.

"For today, I will let you have the food that I got, but tomorrow you must obtain your own food by yourself. Capisci? (Do you understand)?" His voice full of authority.

"Si, Nonno! (Yes, Grandfather) Oh --- I mean Master." The man patted the girl's head and they both started eating.

They stayed in the island for three full years. The man taught the girl how to fight and live in an island all by herself. She grew up as a really beautiful but wild girl, he taught her all kinds of martial arts that he knows; Chinese Kenpo, Jujitsu, Karate, Muay Thai, Taekwondo and Weapon's art.

"Agnez, come here." The old master ordered the now grown girl.

"What is it Master?" The once lovely brown eyes changed, it became sharp. The soft stare that it once had has disappeared, making you feel like being stabbed while being looked at, like a hawk locking its target. Her long black hair that grew beautifully with time and her body that has slowly formed that of a young woman.

She walked towards him, her eyes sharp as she ate a piece of meat from some crocodile she caught by the lake.

"We are going back." The old man stated as he dial something onto his unusual cellular device.

The girl abruptly stopped on her tracks for a moment, registering what the old man said before she spoke again. "Why are we going back, Master? I don't want to go back. Three years ago you forced me to come here and now you want us to go back? Are you kidding me, old man?!" She snarled bitterly, her gentle voice now gone. She glared at her Grandfather defiantly.

"Old man!? I am your master while we are in this island, have I not told you that?" The girl trembled by her master's burst of anger. He still got that strong aura that would make a saber tooth whimper before him. But she didn't waver, she looked at him like a wild animal.

"I.AM.NOT.GOING.BACK!" She said every word slowly. "I'm staying here, do you hear me?! I want to stay here! If you want to go back, then go alone!"

"You are going with me, Agnezka Patriarca!"

The girl then got furious and threw away the food she was eating. Like a wild animal she roared, resembling a lion and started hissing and started baring her fangs like a panther. Her eyes got wilder and she looked at her Grandfather as if she wanted to rip his throat. Killing intent was flooding out from her.

"Grrr! I said I'm not going back! Go alone! Partire! (Leave!)" She shouted with all her force, making the nearby birds fly away. Three years was more than enough to change her. The once gentle girl became wild.

"Do you not wish to see your brother?"

The girl flinched, her expression changed from wild to gentle. "Fratello?!" She said slowly then nodded. "I'm going back, sorry for being stubborn, Master." The man smiled gently, thinking that it has been a long time since the girl last smile like that. She must miss her brother so much.

"Then let us get ready."

"Si, Master." The man patted the girl's head and they both smiled at each other, it was as if the time they first arrived to the island.

The ship that will bring them back to the place where they once lived has finally arrived. It was a big cruise ship, full of men clad in black suit, armed with guns and other weapons, waiting for their presence.

It has been three years since the two of them has seen a person other than each other.

"Welcome back, Godfather! Welcome back, Princess." The men said in chorus just like what they do in churches, while they bowed with respect. A man wearing a white suit came and bowed, his face very much familiar to the two.

"Welcome back Boss, it has been three years." The man said with a gentle smile. "It has been a long time my Princess, you have become such a wonderful lady."

It was the little girl's older brother, Giotto Patriarca.

"Fratello! (Brother!)" The girl jumped onto her brother's arms and hugged him, enough for the three years that they have been apart. "Mi sei mancata! (I missed you!)"

"Mi sei mancato troppo la mia principessa. (I missed you too my princess.) Since you just came back why don't you rest first? I bet you miss the feel of luxury." Giotto suggested to the girl, she then obediently nodded.

The girl looked back to her Grandfather. "Master, I shall rest first."

The old man patted her head. "There is no more need to call me Master, as I have told you before, you only need to call me Master when we are in that island or in the middle of training."

"Si, Nonno. I shall take a rest now. I will meet you at dinner."

The girl's brother called some men to assist the girl to her room. Both men watched the little girl as she walk inside the ship.

"Boss, how was the training with Agnez?" The brother queried as his eyes tail her little sister that has now grown to a beautiful woman that any man would love to be with.

"It was alright, she learned fast, but her training is not yet done. I've only taught her to get stronger and showered her the things that she must know, but I haven't showed her everything yet, it's not the right time."

"You're right, but don't you think it would have been better if you taught her everything?"

"That is not true. She has to grow up first, not in the island but in a place where she can meet people. That way, she will be able to know, what it is that she must use her power at."

As the men lead her to the designated room, she felt a strong killing intent. It's from the men who are escorting her, they suddenly attacked her with the intention of taking her life. Luckily, she was able to dodge the men's attack. They were martial artists, but instead of being scared, the girl did not waver nor did she cry. She didn't even bother to call for help, instead she smirked and looked at the men before her, as if she was a tiger looking at a food it needs to kill.

With her Grandfather's teaching she fought back.

"You are the granddaughter of the Godfather, thus you must die." Said one of the assassins.

One by one the men started attacking her, each one of them had different weapons. In just the span of three minutes, she was able to defeat eight armed men, all by herself. Her Grandfather and Brother came running with other body guards in tow. It was too late when they received an alarm that somebody was making a ruckus.

But it was too late, when they arrived, there were bloodied men on the floor, not one of them died but some of them is definitely on the verge of dying. Half of the men had their arms or legs forcefully torn off, some had their eyes gouched out. Not like they will leave to see the day right after what they've done. The Godfather will definitely have them taken care of, right after they torture them for answers on who initiated this attack.

"What happened here?" Giotto asked, his face full of worry. He stared at his little sister, her hands covered in blood. "Are you alright Princess?" He scanned her body with injury, luckily there was nothing, not even a scratch. The Godfather and Brother both sighed in relief.

"Assassini. (Assassins)." The little girl stated with a blank expression, some blood still on her face and clothes. She remained collected in the middle of the fight. Out of nowhere her brother hugged her, so tight it made her breathing hard. The young girld tapped her brother's shoulder for air, he finally let go of her whe she pinched him.

"Good job, you were able to protect yourself from the bad guys, even though they were armed and you have nothing." The brother complimented, but the little girl just got confused.

"That's not true, I do have something." The men around her got confused by her answer. They all looked at each other and back to the bloodied little girl. She raised her small bloodied hands and balled it. "My fist. Also the martial arts that my Master taught me."

"Haha!" The God Father laughed so loud that it might make your ears burst. "That is my Granddaughter and my best disciple!" He gave her double thumbs up.

Dinner time has come. The three of them sat in front of a long table, waiting for the good food to be served. All had the face of excitement, especially the GodFather and Agnez.

"It has been a long time since we ate a food that is cooked deliciously, right Agnez?" The girl nodded also a tad bit excited.

"Si, Nonno. But to me all foods are delicious, so it doesn't really matter." The men laughed.

One by one, the luxurious food is coming by on the table. Their aroma would make anyone drool with hunger. It was served perfectly and delicately. Not even the president can have food as luxurious as this.

"Boss and Agnez, I hired a professional chef from Italy just to serve you these foods, please enjoy to your hearts content." Said the brother.

"You have prepared so much for us Giotto." The old man said as he watch the food being completed.

"No Boss, this is only little, Agnez eat as mu---." He was stunned at what he was seeing, his little sister was eating so fast and a lot, leaving nothing but clean plate. Their grandfather was also the same, it was like they are in the middle of a war, who ever stopped eating will lose, something like that.

This is the first time he saw his sister eat without any manners. She was taught to always sit straight and never let the spoon make a sound, but now it's as if she's never been the little sister he knew. He couldn't help but laugh at the hilarious event happening.

The two stopped and bailed their attention to the man whose having a hard time breathing, trying to stop his own laughter.

"Why are you laughing, Fratello?" The girl asked, her mouth still full of food.

"I am sorry. Did I interrupt your meal? It's just that it made me remember of the past."

"Past?"

"Oh! Are you perhaps talking about that Giotto?" The old master asked.

"Yes, Boss." Giotto said between his laughter and they both laughed remembering the so called past.

"What is it Nonno? What is funny?"

"It's just that when your brother was still the same age as you, he and your father also trained in the island." The girl was shocked, she didn't know that part. "When the two of them came back from the island, it was also like this, eating like there is no tomorrow."

They talked about the past the whole dinner, funny things that has happened. the three years that they spent in that Island. The three of them were smiling the whole time. Making jokes to each other, making fun of each other. It was one of her happiest memories with her Brother and Grandfather.

Sadly it was also the last.

©IF02