The Legendary Durga

CHAPTER 12

JINGU (AGNEZKA PATRIARCA) POV

Pagbukas ng pintuan nakita ko ang mukhang hindi na nababago sa'kin. I looked at him wide-eyes and mouth opened, slowly it turned into a smile. Tumayo ang nasa harapan ko, sa mukha niya meron ding ngiti na nakapinta.

"Zio Tigre! (Uncle Tiger!)" Natutuwang sigaw ko, sabay tumakbo papalapit sa matanda.

Binigyan ko siya ng napakahigpit na yakap, na ginantihan naman nito ng mas mahigpit pa.

"Come sta? (How are you?)" Tanong ng matanda.

"Molto bene Zio, e tu? (Very good Uncle, and you?)"

"Più che buono. (More than good.)" Sagot niya sabay nagtawanan kami. "How many years has it been, Princess? Masaya ako na makita kang malusog." Wika niya habang tinitignan ang kabuuan ko at parang tingin ko nga naluluha pa ang matanda.

"It's been five years, masaya din ako na makita kayong ulit na masigla pa." Malumanay kong ngiti.

It was only five years but look at the big change of his appearance. Dati maitim pa ang buhok niya, pero ngayon halos lahat mabalutan na ng puti, nagkakaroon narin ng kulubot ang balat niya.

Nakakatuwang makita na kahit na ilang taon ang lumipas, ang tindig ng isang tigre ay hindi nawawala sa kanya. Naroon parin ang mata na nagsasabing hindi siya mapapabagsak ng kung sino-sino lang.

"At ikaw naman si Sebastian Cross, tama ba?" Baling niya kay Jun na nakalimutan kong kasama ko pala.

Biglang nawala ang lakas ko nang tawagin niya ang pangalan na 'yon, hindi ko parin siya matignan. What is wrong with you Agnez? Ikaw ang Durga kaya be strong.

"Oho, isang karangalan ang makita kayo sa personal Fernando Gonzales o mas kilala sa pangalan na Mabangis na Tigre ng Patriarca."

"Haha, ang pangalan na 'yan ay hindi na bagay sa isang matandang kagaya ko. It should be given to the youngsters of our field." Hindi totoo 'yan, ang pangalan na ibinigay sa kanya ay hindi kayang mapantayan ng kung sino-sino lang. "Maupo muna kayong dalawa."

Naupo kaming dalawa, sa harapan ko si Jun at sa harap ng upuan naka pwesto si Zio Tigre. Ang awkward lang kasi hindi ko parin magawang tignan si Jun, nang silipin ko naman siya parang wala lang. Maybe I should stop thinking about it, baka sumakit lang ang ulo ko.

"Ang tagal nating hindi nagkita Agnez. You changed a lot, noong huli kitang makita, napaka-liit mo pa at sobrang kulit, pero ngayon dalaga ka na at napaka ganda mo pa. Kamukhang-kamukha mo ang mama mo." Nakangiti niyang saad habang mataman akong tinitignan.

Hindi naman masyadong obvious na miss na miss niya 'ko 'no? Masyado daw mabilis ang panahon dahil ang bilis kong lumaki at kung ano-ano pang tungkol sa nakaraan ang pinagsasasabi niya. Kung ibang tao lang 'to, malamang nairita na'ko, dahil sa sobrang kadaldalan. But I didn't, because I feel the same way towards this old man.

Gaya niya, namiss ko rin siys, si Zio tigre na ang tumayo bilang ama ko. Wala naman kasi akong mapapala sa walang kwenta kong biological father, na walang ibang inisip kundi ang sariling kapakanan at kapangyarihan niya.

He's worth less than sh*t.

Habang nagbabalik tanaw kami ng matanda, biglang may binulong si Chairman sa kanya na kung ano. I wonder, ano kayang relasyon ni Zio sa babaeng 'to? This is the first time I saw her at hindi ko maitatanggi na may pagkakahawig silang dalawa.

"Oh! I see... By the way, let me introduce to you my secretary and my only daughter, Maria Gonzaga. Siya ang Chairman ng school na pinapasukan niyo, nagulat ako nang tumawag si Guiseppe sinasabi na pupunta ka daw dito sa Pilipinas. Ilang araw kong inabangan ang pagdating mo, gusto ko ngang salubungin ka sa airport eh, kaso ang sabi ni Guiseppe hindi pwede. He was saying something about you hiding your identity, is it true?"

"Opo, si Nonno kasi kung ano-anong kalokohan ang pumapasok sa isip."

We talked for hours and from time to time nalilihis ang mata ko sa direksyon ni Jun, still, it was the same blank face, parang test paper.

"Oo nga pala Sebastian, gusto ko sanang itanong kung totoo ba 'yung nangyari sa Capella Family?" Tanong ni Zio Tigre.

Napaisip ako. What about the Capella Famiglia? I heard that family perished, something about mass killing. May ginawa atang kasalanan ang grupo nila sa'min, I'm not sure, I didn't care about the happenings within or outside the family.

Looking for Fratello's killer is already hard enough as it is.

"O-oho." Sagot ni Jun.

What?! Why is this guy stuttering all of a sudden? Is this actually something deep? Now this is making me curious, I want to know what happened. Bahala na si Johnny Depp, kakausapin ko na siya kahit awkward, nandito naman si Zio Tigre.

"What about the Capella Family?" Panimulang tanong ko, nagulat pa nga ata si Jun nang magtanong ako dahil nanlalaking mata na napatingin siya sa'kin, umiwas ako ng tingin pero binalik ko din agad. "What happened? Did you do something to them? I heard they were eradicated, because they stole something from us. I remember that someone made their move, was that you?" Tanong ko kay Jun.

Hindi sumagot si Jun, yumuko lang siya. Napansin siguro ni Zio Tigre na hindi masagot ni Jun kaya siya na ang nagsalita. "He destroyed the Capella Family, all by himself." Paliwanag ng matanda. "You didn't know about it? It shook not just the underworld but the whole world, it was a complete massacre."

He did what?! Mag-isa lang siya? How could that be? Is he human? I might be able to do that feat too, however I would need help from 1-2 people. And not a family as big and strong as Capella.

"H-h..." Sa sobrang gulat ko ni hindi ako makapagsalita. "That happened six years ago, how old were you that time?" Tanong ko, this time he looked at me but immediately looked away.

"S-sixteen, I think." Hindi siguradong sagot niya.

I heaved a long breath. Sixteen?! Is he pulling a fast one on me? How could that be possible? Kilala ang Capella family bilang isang brutal at walang awang pumapatay, nag s-smuggle sila ng mga barko-barkong droga at tao, lalo na mga bata.

Hindi lang isang libo ang tauhan ng family na 'yon, higit pa. And there are some good hitmen there. How could he finish them all by himself? What did he do? Capella family is not weak, they're not your run-of-the-mill mafia group. If it wasn't for the fact that the 12th boss got assasinated, they would be on par with us.

I think I should start believing what the other family members tell me, na malakas nga si Jun, higit pa sa inaakala ko. I used to look down on him, before all this sh!t. All I saw him do in the past was paper works for Nonno, I didn't think he was this strong.

In all of the operations he was never there, he was there but he didn't fight, he just guarded Nonno.

Ilang taon narin ang lumipas nang atakihin niya ang lugar na 'yon, he must be three or more times stronger now than he was before. I suddenly felt excited, may ganito palang kalakas na halimaw sa tabi ko all this time, hindi ko namamalayan.

"Agnez." Naputol ang lumalangoy sa isip ko nang may tumawag sa pangalan ko, it was Zio Tigre. "Pwede bang sabihin mo sa'kin kung bakit ka naparito sa Pinas? Alam kong sabi ni Guiseppe na gusto mo lang magpahinga, but I know you."

I was about to lie, saying na talagang plano kong magpahinga. But then I saw the serious expression on his face. Kahit magsinungalin ako, malalaman at malalaman din niya ang intensyon ko, tutal kakailanganin ko din naman ang mga tauhan niya dito, minabuti ko nalang na sabihin na.

"I'm looking for him." Lumamig ang boses ko habang unti-unting nawawalan ng emosyon ang mukha ko.

I could feel Jun staring at me, but this time it was my turn not to care. Tumingin lang ako sa harapan ko, walang partikular na bagay na tinitignan. I just crossed my arms and lied my back on the couch.

"Para saan?" Tanong ni Zio Tigre.

"Alam mo naman ang dahilan, kung bakit ko siya hinahanap. I need to kill that bastardo! Pagbabayaran niya ang pag-patay sa pinaka importanteng tao sa buhay ko." Nang-gagalaiting saad ko.

I need to calm down, I can't always be like this whenever I think of that guy. I must calm down. Huminga ako ng malalim at pumikit. Hindi ko napapansin na kanina ko pa pala nadidiin ang kamao ko, napansin ko nalang nang may naramdaman akong tumulo na dugo.

"Itigil mo na 'to Ag---." Hindi ko na pinatapos ang sasabihin ni Nonno.

I stood up, my face contorted. I didn't want to hear the rest of it, I've heard enough from Jun, 'wag na siyang dumagdag. If I know na siya ang namumuno dito sa Philippines branch, hindi sana ako nagpunta dito para humingi ng tulong. This is a wrong move.

"Agnez!" Tawag pa ulit ni Zio Tigre.

Nang nasa may pintuan na'ko kalahating nilingon ko ang ulo ko.

"Not even Satan or God can stop me. No one! I'll do everything, kahit gaano kadumi, kahit gaano kasama. I'll do it! Even if it's the last thing I do."


~THE LEGENDARY DURGA~


JUN (SEBASTIAN CROSS) POV

Ramdam na ramdam ko ang biglang pagbabago sa emosyon ni Jingu nang subukan ni Fernando na pigilan siya sa paghahanap sa pumatay kay Giotto. Inaasahan ko pa naman na makikinig siya sa matanda, hindi rin naman pala. Anong bang gagawin ko sa babaeng 'to?

Tumayo si Jingu at dali-daling umalis ng silid, obviously, ayaw na niyang makinig sa sinasabi ni Fernando. Alam ko ang pag-aalala na nararamdaman ng matanda para kay Jingu, naiintinidhan ko, gaya niya araw ko rin na habulin pa ni Jingu ang pumatay kay Giotto.

After all that man is truly dangerous, kahit ako, hindi ko alam kung kaya ko siyang talunin.

Tatayo na sana ako paalis nang tawagin ni Fernando ang atensyon ko. "Sebastian Cross." Malumanay at malungkot na tawag ng matanda sa'kin. "Pakiusap, protektahan mo siya, gaya ng pag-protekta ng taong 'yon sa kanya. Gusto ko sana na mabuhay siya ng masaya at normal, kahit pa mahirap ang buhay na dinanas niya dahil sa pagiging parte ng mundo natin, gusto ko parin siya maging masaya. Tunay na anak ang turing ko sa bata na 'yon, alam niya 'yon. Sana 'wag kang aalis sa tabi niya at tulungan mo siya maging masaya."

Kitang-kita ko ang lungkot sa mata ni Fernando, hindi ako nagsalita, tumango lang ako sa kanya sabay nagbigay galang. Matapos 'yon ay sinundan ko na si Jingu. Hindi na niya ako kailangan bilinan, pro-protektahan ko naman talaga si Jingu kahit na anong mangyari. Gagawin ko ang lahat para protektahan siya. Kahit buhay ko pa ang kapalit, dahil 'yon ang pinangako ko sa taong 'yon.


~~~


SEVEN YEARS AGO, INSIDE THE PATRIARCA MANSION

"Sebby!!!" My best friend shouted my name as he raised his glass of beer, already drunk. "You remember my beautiful Lil' Princess, Agnez? Gosh! She's so cute and very cuddly. She smiles at every little things. I just want to hug her every time!" He then started acting like he's hugging something.

"Ugh! Goodness gracious Gio, how many times have you friggin' told me that? Every d@mn time we drink, all you blabber about is your g0dd@mn sister! I'm about to get sick of even hearing the first letter on her bloody name!" I grumbled then downed my beer.

"Tch! You speak like that 'coz you haven't seen her. She's so cute you know! And guess what!? I bought her this dog she's been wanting, so she'll definitely be happy once she see's it!"

"You spoil her as always, you're the reason why she turned so rotten."

"Shut up Sebby! You don't know anything! Hmpf! She's the most important person in my life, you don't belong since you're a dude."

"And also what are you saying, you moron! I've seen her before. She just didn't see me. I know she's kind of cute and little, but that was when she was 10 years old."

"After two years, they'll be back, she trained with Boss. I'm so excited to see her, I miss her so much! For sure she's more beautiful by then. What if other guys see her? They might fall in love to my Princess, they're going to court her, then marry her, and have her kids. No! No way! I won't let them!!!"

"Haha! You sister complex, don't worry, anyone who comes back from Little Island becomes a monster, for sure when Agnezka comes back, you won't have anything to worry."

"Yea, I hope so. But there's something unsettling inside me, I don't understand. I think that something bad might happen. I won't get shocked. Dying is a daily thing for people like us, but I don't know, I don't feel right."

"Stop being a worry-wart, there hasn't been any movements from the family alliance and our enemies, stop being paranoid."

"That's the thing Sebby, everything's too quiet. Like its the calm before the storm."

"You're thinking too much dude."

"I hope so, sorry, I just had this unsettled feeling, maybe I was really thinking too much. I'm worried about the family, Agnez, Boss and the two of them. Sebby why don't you marry Agnez? I would really be happy if you do, you can protect her that way."

"What the hell are you saying Gio?! You're crazy? Are you selling your sister to me?"

"No, idiota!"

"You don't need to tell me, I'll protect her. She's important to you right? Then I'll protect her, aren't we best friends?"

"Oh! You're so sweet Sebby, I think I'm falling for you, haaard!"

"You crazy b*stard."


~~~


Giotto! Tangina pare, how could you leave your responsibilities to me just like that? Hindi porket sinabi ko na pro-protektahan ko siya mamatay ka na agad! Bumangon ka nga kung nasaan ka man, gawin mo ang dapat mong gawin. Yes, I said I'll protect her if you're gone, pero ang bilis mo naman nawala, dapat sana pinatagal mo pa ng konti.

Mataman na tinignan ko ang magandang babae na tinutukoy ng matalik kong kaibigan. She seems to be waiting for me.