The Legendary Durga

CHAPTER 17

JINGU (AGNEZKA PATRIARCA) POV

Kalmado na'ko pagkatapos kong maligo at magbihis, bago pa'ko lumabas ng kwarto kinumpirma ko muna na maayos talaga ang itsura ko. Pagbaba ko naabutan ko si Jun na naka uniform na at naghahanda na ng pagkain, as he said, he did cook my favorites breakfast combo. Eggs, bacon, garlic breads, bagels, with a cup of hot chocolate.

I noticed that Bia was there too, nakaupo na at nagsisimula nang kaumain. What is that woman doing here? Nauna pa talaga siyang lumamon kaysa sa may-ari ng bahay, kakaiba din ang kapal ng pisngi ng babaeng 'to.

Ano nanaman kaya ang ginagawa niya dito? Ang aga-aga nangangapit bahay. Is she going to ask about the Battle Royale? Wait! Now that I remember it, kagabi nasa Battle Royale ang Four Devas, sabi ni Jun, si Kang Hoo ang lider ng apat na bugok na 'yon.

Pero hindi ko nakita ang lalaking 'yon doon kahapon. Bakit?

It wasn't weird for those guys to be present there since they have backgrounds just as dark as mine, although not that dark. But why is he not there?

Whatever! Sasakit lang ang ulo ko pag inisip ko pa 'yan, wala namang pakinabang sa'kin ang lalaking 'yon eh. Ang aga-aga pa para ubusin ko ang natitirang lakas ng wrinkle less kong utak.

Nang humakbang na ako sa huling baitang, napatingin si Jun at Bia sa'kin.

"Oh! Namamaga ang mata mo Honey ah." Bungad ni Bia, na mukhang natatawa sa itsura ko.

"Nakikita kasi kita kaya namamaga ang mata ko. Pero 'pag nawala ka, baka bumalik sa dati." Balewalang saad ko habang papunta sa kusina sabay kumuha ng tubig sa ref.

Kung nakita lang niya kanina kung gaano ka tindi ang pamamaga ng mata ko, Diyos ko po, magugulat siya. Buti nga habang naliligo ako medyo humilom na eh.

"Grabe, manang-mana ka talaga..." Nilingon ko siya habang umiinom ng tubig. Manang-mana kanino? I was expecting her to say a name, but she didn't continue it. "Anong bang nangyari sa'yo? Pinaiyak ka ba ng lalaking 'to?" Mapanghusga na tinuro niya si Jun na hindi naman siya pinapansin.

Tinuloy lang naman ni Jun ang pagluluto ng agahan namin na parang walang naririnig, just like what he usually does. It's just him being Sebastian, the robot that he is.

"Anong ginagawa mo dito? Ang aga-aga nangangapit bahay ka. Naubusan na ba ng laman ang ref mo at dito ka nakikikain? Namumulubi ka na? Benta mo na katawan mo." Puna ko sakanya habang naglalagay ng palaman sa tinapay ko.

Nginitian niya lang ako na para bang hindi niya narinig ang panlalait ko. "Tinatamad kasi ako magluto kaya makikikain ako sa breakfast niyo." Ngi-ngiti niya pang sabi.

Sumingit bigla si Jun. "May sasabihin daw siyang importante sa'tin." Wika nito sabay higop sa kape niya. Sinimulan ko narin ang paglamon ko, hindi kain, lamon.

"Tch! You're really no fun Sebby!" Nag pout-pout pa siya sa harap namin. Is she trying to be cute? She's too old to be doing that sh*t. She better stop it before I stab her with this fork. "Godfather called me last night, regarding doon sa information."

Napatigil kaming pareho ni Jun pero agad din naming tinuloy, mas nauna nga lang siya. "Ano sabi?" Tanong ko, sabay kagat.

"He said that you guys should investigate the people behind the Battle Royale."

"Already on it." Saad ni Jun.

"Also it seems like those guys took something from us. Go and retrieve it, is what he said."

"They took something?" Tanong ni Jun na seryoso nang nakatingin sa babae.

Tahimik lang akong nakikinig habang kumakain, actually I was shocked. Hindi lang halata dahil may laman pa ang bibig ko at busy ako sa pagkain. May kinuha sila sa'min? Ano naman kaya ang kukunin nila sa Patriarca? Do we have something precious that cannot be taken? Military weapons? Blueprint of the Main Headquarters? Or the Patriarca Crest?

They must be crazy, hindi nila alam ang kinakalaban nila. Impyerno ang kahihinatnat kapag kumilos si Nonno. Even though I hate that old man, I do know how terrifying he is. And I'm saying that because I know how he works, and because we actually have the same blood running through our veins.

"Yup! A very important thing, and we need to take it back, immediately. If not it might cause a big war that will be written in the history books that children read in their sleep. We don't want that to happen now, do we?" Saad pa ni Bia.

War?! Agad-agad?! Wala manlang bang negosasyon muna? Ano naman kaya ang napaka importanteng bagay na 'yon at kusang pupunta sa gera ang matandang uugod-ugod na 'yon? Makatwirang tao ang Godfather, hindi siya basta-basta nagdedeklara ng kalaban ng walang malalim na dahilan.

Sobrang importante naman ata ng kung ano mang ninakaw nila at handang makipag patayan si Nonno. That coward can't be going to war just because of a simple tinker. So what is it?

"What exactly is it that they took?" Seryosong tanong ni Jun,

"The Godfather won't tell me what it is. He said that its not a good idea to tell you guys yet, but he also told me that when that important thing is in front of you, you would definitely notice."

Nagpanting bigla ang tenga ko sa sinabi ni Bia. Anong sinasabi ng punyetang matanda na 'yon? Hanapin namin ang bagay na hindi naman namin alam. Nasisiraan na talaga ng ulo ang hukluban na 'yon eh.

Bakit hindi nalang niya sabihin na ayaw niyang ipasabi sa'min kasi gusto niya kami pahirapan sa paghahanap. Tapos kapag hindi namin nahanap, pagtatawanan niya kami at sasabihin na simpleng bagay hindi mahanap-hanap.

"How does he expect us to find something we don't friggin' know? Is that old coot going senile?! Is he an idiot or just plain stupid? He should have his head checked, shrooms must be sprouting in his cracked brain." Naiinis na sabi ko.

Bigla nalang humalakhak si Chun Bia na lalong nagpairita sa'kin. Kulang nalang nga gumulong siya sa sahig sa kakatawan. "Oh my God! You guys are really the best!" Sabi pa niya habang hinahampas ang mesa.

"What's funny? You find this sh*t hilarious?" Nakasimangot na'ko, but the woman still continued laughing. "You better stop before I stab you with this fork woman. I don't mind spilling blood for breakfast."

"Calm down, Honey." She stopped laughing. "I'm sorry, its just that natatawa ako kasi sobrang basang-basa ka na ni Godfather. He expected your reaction. The funny thing is, what you just said is the exact thing he told me you'd say."

"So what?"

"He told me to give you this." Inabot niya sa'kin ang isang maliit na recorder.

Kunot noong pinindot ko ang play. Mula sa maliit na speaker nito lumabas ang nakakamiss pero at the same time nakakairita na boses ng matanda. It was the Godfather.

"I do not care what method you use to look for the thing they stole. You are my Granddaughter, you bear the Patriarca in your name. I expect you to look for it, be it with information or nothing at all. And no, I am not yet going senile, I still have more years to go before I pass everything to you, Agnez."

"I told you I--" Sasabihin ko na sanang hindi ko tatanggapin ang family pero naputol dahil nagsalita siya agad. Nakalimutan ko na record nga pala.

That was embarrassing.

"Yes you will, you are my Granddaughter and the only heir of the Patriarca Famiglia. Even million miles apart, I can tell that I'm already winning. I'll be waiting your return with Sebastian, by then you shall be the new Capo of the family. Until we meet again Agnez..."

Dahil sa sobrang inis ko binato ko ang recorder sa sulok sabay binato pa ito ng tinidor. Nag-echo sa buong bahay ang pagka pira-piraso nito. Hinampas ko ang table na muntik nang mag crack.

Tahimik lang si Jun na tinuloy ang pagkain niya. Si Bia gulat na pinanood ang ginawa ko. Marahas kong pinasada ang palad ko sa mukha ko papunta sa buhok. Nakakainis! Sobrang nakakainis talaga ang hukluban na 'yon! I will kill him one of these days. Ang taas ng tiwala niya sa sarili na siya talaga ang mananalo sa laro naming dalawa. Sino ba siya sa tingin niya?!

No f*cking way! I know na may mga camera at bugs sa buong bahay, si Jun ang naglagay n'on for security purposes. I bet that old man can see us right about now. He must be watching me from a monitor right now.

"I will kill you! I will definitely kill you! I will be the one to kill you, you f*cking old man! I'll make you rot in the deepest hell! I know you're listening, you old fart, watch me play this game! I'll make you grovel before me, mark my words!" Sigaw ko para talagang rinig na rinig niya.

I admit na threaten ako sa sinabi niya. He said it with full of confidence, he must be hiding something in his sleeves.

"Hey! Chill down Honey. The Godfather do gave me a clue to tell you guys." Then she should have said it earlier! "He said it was the 'Moon'."

Moon? What the hell? As in the moon above the sky at night? The one that radiates light in darkness? Did we have something important called Moon? I don't recall anything about Moons or anything in solar system.

Habang iniisip ko kung ano 'yung bagay na gustong ipakuha ng hukluban na 'yon napatingin ako sa direksyon ni Jun, I wanted to know what he's thinking or if he know something about that so-called Moon. There were no changes in his face, or maybe I just missed it.

Pagkatapos namin kumain na tatlo, umalis na si Chun Bia, magsho-shopping daw kasi siya. Gusto daw sana niya tumulong kaso pinagbawalan siya ni Nonno. Dumiretso na kami at nagtungo sa university.

"Alam mo ba kung ano 'yung Moon na sinasabi niya?" Tanong ko habang tinitirintas ang mahaba kong buhok.

"A little."

"Tell me."

"It was said that the Moon is one of the treasure of Cosmos Famiglia." Cosmos?! What's up, why are they part of this now? "It was passed down every generation and it seems like it brings good fortune. Not only that, it will let you see the future and has the power to defeat evil or demons. That's what I know, I actually don't believe it. It's just an old story, no one believes that thing now."

"Powers?! Future!? Ha! Idioti! What good is it to know the future? Change it? Patetico (Pathetic), no can change the future, even if you know what will happen." Bitter kong saad habang sarkastikong tumatawa.

Nakasimangot na tumingin ako sa labas, my hands slowly tightening. That's right. Kahit alam mo ang susunod na mangyayari, hindi mo parin mababago ang dapat na mangyari. After all I knew it too, I knew the next thing that would happen. But then, in the end, I still couldn't prevent anything.

Fratello still died in the end and I couldn't do anything other than watch him die, hold him in my arms as he slowly turn into a cold corpse.

I heaved a deep breath. Ang aga-aga na ba-bad vibes ako.

"Magiging boring lang ang buhay nila kapag nalaman nila kung ano ang susunod na mangyayari sa kinabukasan. Hindi ba nila naiisip 'yon?" Balewalang saad ko nalang, I didn't want Jun to know that I'm actually bothered.

"Being able to see the future will let you take over the world easier."

"Oh! So it still all comes down to greed huh?"

"That just means they're a full fledged human. A person without a single deadly sin in his/her body ain't human. There's no completely white in this world after all."

"Korek ka diyan. So, what's yours?" Tanong ko sa kanya. Kunot noong lumingon siya sa'kin habang nagmamaneho. "I mean, what're your deadly sins?"

"All of them?"

"So you mean you got envy in your body too?"

"Oh yes I do."

"Ano namang kina-iinggitan mo?"

"Birds. I'm envious of them. You see, It has always been my dream to have my very own wings."

"You wanna fly?"

"Yes, just like a bird."

"Then go sky diving, moron."

"Sabi ko na nga ba sasabihin mo 'yan." Sabay tumawa kaming dalawa.

I didn't expect that he's the kind of person who would dream something like that. He wants to have wings, having wings means to want to be free. Is he caged somewhere in his heart? Or maybe his soul?

"What else?" I asked as I watched him, feeling entertained at his answers.

"Sloth is probably the only thing that I don't have, I hate it when I don't move, so sloth is definitely out of the question for me. Pride, I am prideful, I hate it when people I don't approve get ahead of me. Wrath, I have a lot of patience but you won't like it when I'm mad." Tinabi niya ang sasakyan sabay hininto ito, he looked at me with a devilish smile all of a sudden. Ginulo niya 'yung buhok niya at binuksan ang ilang butones ng damit.

"What? Bakit hininto mo 'yung sasakyan?" Nagtatakang tanong ko. "The f*ck is wrong with you?"

"Greed, I am greedy, especially when it comes to my favorite thing, if there were millions of my favorite thing I'll make it so that all of them will be in my possession." He started creeping closer to me, with this weird smile on his face. "Gluttony, my top 2, it just makes me want to devour my favorite thing whole." He then licked his upper lipped.

I gulped. This b@stard is making fun of me again, did he think I would get turn on like last time? Hell no! I saw it already, its no longer gonna work. Well, it still works, although not as strong as it did the first time.

"Lastly Lust." His voice started getting husky, and his eyes started roaming on my body. "Oh how much I want to do immoral sexual acts with my favorite thing. I feel like a beast when I'm near my favorite thing and its making my lust go to the highest level."

Then I thought of something. As he did, I also opened some of the buttons on my shirt, my undergarment already showing. I saw his eyes traveled to my chest and I heard him take deep breaths.

I smirked when I saw his reaction. Tinulak ko siya ng malakas pabalik sa upuan niya, para siyang nagising bigla. He looked at me as if I was crazy, maya-maya nanlaki ang mata niya. I removed my seat-belt and went closer to him, I sat on his lap and smiled at him seductively.

You want to play games huh, let's see if you can last long.

I undid the rest of the buttons on his shirt, then hinipo ko ang bawat abs niya, papunta sa likod hanggang sa chest. I couldn't help biting my lower lip. With how perfect our position is, I wouldn't mind doing it for real.

Both of his hands went to my legs, he pinched it that made me straighten my back. His hands started moving towards my back, but before it could even reach there, his hands abruptly grabbed my waist and he raised me up and settled me down on my seat. Nauntog pa nga ako nang itaas niya ako dahil nasa sasakyan lang kami.

"What the?!" Naiinis na tinignan ko siya.

Napatigil ako nang nakita ko ang itsura niya, he was profusely sweating. His breathing got ragged. Binuksan niya lahat ng bintana ng sasakyan at nagmamadaling inarangkada ang sasakyan.

"Hoy! Anong problema mo?!" Lumapit ako sa kanya, pero nang napatingin siya sa direksyon ko at pababa sa dibdib ko. Tinulak niya ang mukha ko. "What the hell?!"

"Ayusin mo nga 'yang damit mo, puro ka kalokohan!" Galit na sinigawan niya ako. He then never bothered to look at me again at panay na ang inom niya ng tubig.

I smiled, I won. "Haha! Loser!"

"You don't play fair, I didn't touch you and you even sat on me!"

"You didn't say that I'm not allowed to."

"Of course you're not allowed to!" Napasigaw siya. I couldn't help laughing. "Idiot!" Bulong niya pa.

The whole way to the University, he wasn't talking to me. He seemed restless and didn't know what to do. I kept on bugging him the whole time and it made him frustrated, so as the bad girl that I am, I continued making fun at him.

Have a taste of your own medicine now, dumb@ss.

Nang makarating na kami sa Uni, inayos na niya ang sarili niya, mukhang naka kalma na. So I stopped, after all its no longer working. But that was still fun, I would definitely do it again.

"By the way, diba 'yung Cosmos Famiglia nabuwag sila five years ago? Kung tama ang memorya ko, they got destroyed the same year as my Fratello's death." I continued the normal conversation we were having earlier, before he started becoming weird.

"Yes, since the Cosmos Famiglia and Patriarca Famiglia is a really close alliance it seems like they let boss take care of the Moon."

"Hmm, I see. How stupid of that old man to let such an important thing to be stolen." Usal ko nang bigla akong matigilan. "Wait! Now that I think about it, many family and groups were destroyed that very same year. That's not a work of coincidence, isn't? Or am I just thinking too much?"

Marami-rami ang family na nasira nung taon na 'yon. Bakit? Anong nangyari? If I remember it's not just one or two families that got destroyed. Even though hindi ko pinapansin ang underworld, that news really still got into me.

"Indeed, that is no work of coincidence. On the year of your brother's death many strong, famed families and organizations were utterly destroyed, all around the globe. It was a history that made the underground world and those above it, shake in terror."

"Hmmm?" Nakita ko na biglang napahigpit ang hawak ni Jun sa bag niya na halos ikaputi na ng kamay niya. Nang tignan ko naman ang mukha niya, blanko parin. "What happened?"

"Who knows?" Mahinang bulong niya and I can tell, he's lying.

Hindi ko alam kung ano ba talaga ang nangyari sa mga family na 'yon. Basta ang alam ko lang may grupo na unti-unti silang inuubos, at kung sino man ang pinuno ng grupong 'yon ay tiyak na malakas. Hindi ko rin alam ang dahilan kung bakit. Was it because he/she wanted to be the strongest?

Gusto kong magmapilit na magtanong kay Jun kung ano ang nangyari, mukha kasing may alam siya. But for unknown reasons, I can't. This seems to be a deep topic to him.

Ito nanaman tayo, maganda na sana ang university na'to, kung hindi lang dahil sa ingay ng mga babae. Kung makatili sila akala mo bigla nalang sumulpot si Vegeta at Goku sa harap nila. Grabe talaga. 'Waa! Gwapo talaga nila!' 'Sinabi mo pa girl!' 'Ang astig ni Kaiser!' 'Regis I'll wait for you in my room tonight.'

Imbis na magsi-aral ang mga manok na'to panay lalaki ang inaatupag at iniisip. Not like their business matters to me anyway, ayokong mainvolve sa kanila, especially kay Takeo na mukhang naghihinala na sa akin.

Hangga't maari lalayo na 'ko.

Nag lakad na kami ni Jun papunta sa classroom, sumunod naman ang ingay ng mga babae na parang magnet, hindi na ako nagulat, eh kasi nga blockmate namin ang tinitilian nila. Pagpasok ng mga bugok lalong umingay ang lugar.

Paano kaya napagtya-tyagaan ng mga mokong na'to ang ganyan katinding ingay araw-araw? Kung ako 'yan kanina ko pa sila pinasabugan ng bazooka sa inis ko.

"SHUT UP!" Malakas na bulyaw ni Kang Hoo.

Awa ng Diyos ikinatahimik ng mga babae ang sigaw ni Kang Hoo, umalis narin sila sawakas. Mabuti at alam ng kupal na'to kung paano patahimikin ang bunganga ng mga babae niya. Lumapit si Jun sa'kin sabay inabutan ako ng strawberry candy.

Saan naman napulot ng isang 'to ang candy na'to? Pero dahil strawberry flavor at may sugar content, hindi ko magagawang tanggihan.

"Thanks." I said, habang nginangata ko ang candy.

Dumating na ang maingay na professor sa room at nagsimula na ang isa nanamang boring na klase.

Paano kaya namin mahahanap ang punyetang Moon na nawawala? Ano ba 'yung Moon na 'yon? Nuclear Weapon? Kasi naman, anong mahahanap namin sa clue na binigay ng hukluban na 'yon? Wala kaming mapapala d'on.

Merda! Ang sakit sa ulo.

Finally break na namin! Habang naglalakad kami ni Jun papunta sa cafeteria naramdaman nanaman namin na may sumusunod. Iisang tao lang siya at alam kong siya din ang dati pang sumusunod sa'min. Ano bang gusto nitong bwisit na 'to? Ilang araw na niya kaming walang tigil na sinusundan. Hindi naman siya nagpapakita manlang.

Napasimangot ako nang hawakan ni Jun ang kamay ko. "Anong ginagawa mo?" Iritado kong tanong.

"Nothing, I just want to hold your hand. I don't want anything bad happening to my Twin Sister." Sagot niya, ang mukha nagpapanggap na nag-aalala.

"Dios mio! (My God!) You're so gross! Tigil-tigilan mo'ko kung ayaw mong ilublob kita sa inidoro." Banta ko sabay inunahan na siya maglakad.

Narinig ko pa na tinawanan ako ni ungas. These past few days lumalakas na mang-asar 'tong si Jun. Nagkakaroon na ng ilang emosyon sa mukha niya, he smiles, frown and laugh sometimes. Is he finally developing human feelings?

At least hindi na laging blanko ang mukha niya na parang robot.

Nang makakuha na kami ng pagkain humanap ako ng magandang mauupuan, 'yung konti lang ang tao para hindi masyadong maingay. Nakakita ako sa gitna na walang nakaupo, kaya d'on na kami pumwesto.

Gutom na gutom na'ko, sobra! Kawawa na nga 'yung mga baby ko sa tiyan eh, nagmamakaawa na.

"We're being followed." Banta ni Jun.

Tinanguan ko lang siya para sabihin na alam ko, hindi ako nagsalita kasi may laman ang bibig ko. Ayoko pa naman naiistorbo 'pag kumakain. This is a serious matter, a mere stalker cannot make me cease my gobbling.

"Then why did you let go of my hands earlier?" Tanong niya pa.

Muntik na 'kong mabulunan dahil sa pagiging demanding pa ng boses niya pagsabi n'on. This guy is unbelievable. I look at him as if he was insane, or maybe he is insane.

"Can you stop?! I'm eating and you're being gross. Have your head checked, retard." Iritadong bwelta ko.

"Why are you being like that? Wasn't it you who kept on holding my hands like your life depended on it?" This b*stard! Hindi niya talaga ako titigilan sa kag*guhan niya. "You wouldn't even let me go no matter how I try to. I couldn't even sleep on my own bed because you held onto me firmly."

Kanina pa 'yan niya pinapa-alala ang nangyari kagabi. Sigurado ako na hanggang sa susunod na linggo paulit-ulit niyang ipapa-alala ang kahihiyan ko. Punyeta talaga 'tong bwisit na 'to eh. Hindi maka get-over.

"Chiudi il culo! (Shut the f*ck up!) It's because I'm not in my right mind last night, so don't get the wrong idea!" Napasigaw ako ng hindi ko napansin.

Mahinang tinawanan lang ako ni Jun. "Why? Are you embarrassed, Sister?" Dagdag niya pa habang nagpipigil na gumulong-gulong sa sahig sa kakatawa.

"Areeh! Ba't kayo nag-aaway cutie?" Biglang sumulpot si Tao sa kung saan. "Anong pinag-aawayan niyo?"

"Wala kang pake, 'wag ka dito." Taboy ko kay Tao.

"My cute Little Sister here is getting embarrassed about something she did last night." Ngingiting saad ni Jun. I mouthed him to shut up, pero nginitian lang ako ng g*go!

But then napakunot ang noo ko nang may mapansin, Jun is actually talking to others. You know mataray pa sa donya si Jun, snobbers siya to the max. Hindi niya pinapansin kahit professor kapag nagtatanong.

"This is weird, you actually talked Big Brother, you usually don't answer when I have a question and always have this blank face." Maligayang wika ni Tao.

"Bawal bang sagutin ang tanong mo?" Nakangiting saad ni Jun. Wow! Why is this creeping me out? "I'm not a snob. Why don't you guys eat with us?" Yaya ni Jun.

What the hell is this guy saying?!

©IF02