Star Lights, City Lights

08: Proprietary

"Ha?" Was my respond after a long minutes of silence.

Gustong-gusto ko ng sampalin ang sarili ko sa mga sinasagot ko. Baka isipin niyang sobrang tanga ko na para hindi maintindihan ang sinasabi niya.

She chuckled again at binalik na niya sa pinagkuhanan niya ng pistol before facing me again.

"That woman with us earlier. My sister, she's the godmother of the Vester Mafia." She walked towards me. "Our mafia has a ranking, Artemis. Godmother, boss, underboss, consigliere, caporegime, soldiers, and associate." She explained pero wala pa rin akong maintindihan.

I shook my head. "H-hindi ko maintindihan. H-hindi ba pamilya niyo 'yung first lady?" I curiously asked.

The first lady is part of the government. Asawa siya ng presidente ng Pilipinas. Hindi ba sila kinakabahan?

Wala akong masiyadong alam sa mafia, but I just know they're dangerous. Nababanggit na 'yan noong ni Atasia kasi nagbabasa siya ng fiction stories na may mafia mafia kuno.

I saw how she stop when I said those. Ibubuka ko na sana ang bibig ko para mag sorry nang unahan niya ulit ako.

"She's adopted." Tapat niyang sagot na siyang ikina-awang ng labi ko.

Nasa tamang position ba talaga ako para pagsabihan niya tungkol sa buhay niya? I mean, I'm thankful because she's answering my question to lessen my curiosity.

"And oh, Artemis... We don't care if she's the first lady of the country. We're not permanently mafia here in Philippines anyway." Pagka-klaro niya.

I sighed in relief because of it. Hindi ko alam kung bakit nakaramdam ako ng kaginhawaan.

"To make it clear..." Humakbang ulit siya papalapit sa'kin. "Louisa isn't just my personal assistant, she's my consigliere." Ani niya.

Habang patagal nang patagal, naiintindihan ko na ang sinasabi niya. Hindi siya nagbibiro, seryoso siya.

"B-bakit mo po ako d-dinala kanina doon?" I finally managed to ask.

"I told you, I'll introduce you to my world. I want you to know what world is revolving on me." She answered. Tumango na lang ako bilang sagot.

I bit my lower lip.

Hindi ko kinakaya ang tensyon at bawat titig na binibigay niya sa'kin. She's eyeing my whole like she's memorizing every part of my body.

Why would she? Jusko. I'm really just assuming things. Napapasobra na. I need to get rid from this before anything else happen.

Nagikot-ikot ulit siya, at doon ko lang naalala 'yung sinabi niya kanina.

"Madamé...." I caught her attention. When she responded, I immediately asked what's bothering me. "Why did you call me your woman earlier?"

Doon siya tumigil sa pagi-ikot.

"I want to."

Oh...

Why do I feel like I was disappointed when in fact I shouldn't be? Ano bang gusto kong marinig mula sakanya? Nakakainis naman 'tong sarili ko.

Tumango ako. "Uhm... May ipapagawa pa po ba kayo, madamé?"

"No." Lumapit na siya sa pinto. "You'll be transferring a room. Your things are already in your bedroom here."

"Ha? Saan?"

I mean kasi ang daming kuwarto dito sa 3rd floor. Saan don?

"Beside my bedroom." Tipid niyang sagot bago lumabas.