Teach me how to Mafia

13

I wasn't able to attend school for the next two days due to over fatigue. I've been bed ridden and Ares served as my personal doctor.
Andela told me that Ares used to be a doctor. I wonder why she retired young.

"You're awake." Tumayo si Andela mula sa pagkakaupo niya sa gilid ko at kinapa ang noo ko. I have been having fever too, at nahihirapan silang pababain ito.

"Do you need anything boss?" she asked. Ngumiti ako sa kanya at umiling.

Akma akong uupo kaya agad naman niya akong tinulungan. "Thank you." Sabi ko rito.

"Shouldn't you be attending school?" sabi ko rito para may mapag usapan kami. Bahagya siyang tumawa at nilatag sa harap ko ang bed desk.

"No one attended school nor went to their jobs because you were sick, everyone's worried.. boss." She stated as she put a bowl of soft meal, a glass of water and utensils in front of me.

"Uhh-" I stare at the food for a minute thinking of the right response to what she just said.

"Kumain ka boss, kailangan mong magpalakas." Tinignan ko si Andela nang magsalita siya. She seems different from the first time I saw her.

I mean, she was pretty harsh with Ercole, but now, she's gentler. She makes me feel at ease.
"Thank you Andela." Ngiti lang ang sinukli niya sa akin kaya naman napagpasyahan ko nang simulan ang pagkain ko.

Tahimik lang kaming dalawa sa kwarto nang biglang may kumatok. Pumasok si Jilad sa kwarto ko na naka ngiti.

"I heard you were awake. Kamusta?" he asked. Ininom ko ang tubig sa harap ko bago ko siya sinagot.

"Oks lang tanda. Kaya na kitang banatan." Biro ko dito na ikinatawa niya.

"Pagaling ka. Nagmamaktol si Zoran dahil hindi ka niya mapahirapan." Ginulo niya ang buhok ko bago tuluyang umalis.

Ngumiti lang ako at bumalik na sa pagkakahiga.

Hindi pa din umalis si Andela sa kwarto ko kaya naman habang hindi pa ako inaantok ay naisip kong tanungin siya ng mga bagay na gumugulo sa akin.

"Andela."

"Boss?" agaran niyang sagot.

"I want answers." Pranka kong saad. Umupo ng maayos si Andela sa gilid ko at alertong nakinig.

"You can ask me anything, boss. Sasagutin ko ang tanong na alam ko ang sagot."

"Did you ever fear being a Mafioso?" I asked her.

Binalot ng katahimikan ang buong kwarto at wala sa amin ang gumagalaw. Hindi ko lubos maintindihan kung bakit sa dami ng tanong sa isip ko ay iyon ang itinanong ko.

"I.." she said breaking the silence. "I always fear being a part of it. The line of fate that we have will forever be something you should be afraid of. We're mafias. Hindi ito bahay-bahayan at baril-barilan." she answered.

"Kung natatakot ka, why stay?" I asked assertively.

"There's no way out, Priam. There's no way you can be freed from something that has been tied to you before you were even born." She said dryly.

This topic seems to be too off for her. I guess I shouldn't have opened this up. Dang. I feel selfish.

"I'm sorry." I apologized. We were both looking down and do not dare to move. The atmosphere seemed very awkward. Hindi ko malaman kung saan ulit magsisimula.

"Don't get the wrong idea." Nang sinabi nya iyon ay agad akong napatingin sa kanya, what does she mean?

"I may have fear being a Mafioso but I never regretted being one." I evaluated her expression and she does seem fine. She's telling the truth.