Teach me how to Mafia

17

As I expected, my brain got fried when Zoran and Jilad explained the Zaccardi's Rules and Traditions.

It was just the five of us when they started explaining. Halos makatulog nga si Colt habang nakikinig.

Colt is our school mate. Nasa parehong klase siya ni Ercole. But they didn't know each other's identity until they met three days ago.

Zoran told us many things about the family. They started with the ancient first family that founded the Zaccardi since I don't remember when.

Napag alaman ko na babae ang founder ng Zaccardis. Cornelia Yvon Zaccardi was her name.

The Zaccardi was a known prestigious family in the main land, Cantrell. Kahit pala noon ay uso na ang koneksyon at kapangyarihan.

Cornelia being the cautious type wanted to build the family's own man force. She built her own Mafia because she wants to have something to protect her family.

Hindi man ako makapaniwala, well I guess I don't have a choice. It's not as if I can change it.

"She was the most powerful woman in the Zaccardi's history."

I heard Jilad's voice in my head.

Tumingin ako sa kisame ng kwarto ko at inisip ulit ang mga sinabi nila noong nakaraang araw. Although I am aware that I am the successor of the Family, ay hindi pa rin nagsi-sink in sa akin na totoo ang lahat ng ito.

Baka kasi nananaginip lang ako.

Napabuntong hininga nalang ako sa mga naiisip ko. Heto na naman kasi ako at nagiisip ng paraan para makatakas sa reyalidad, kahit naman alam ko sa sarili kong totoo ito ay hindi ko lang lubusang matanggap.

But I have made up my mind. They need someone to be their boss and I can't just leave them hanging.

Zoran told me that the Guardians were all chosen and are tied to the job. Hindi sila pwedeng humindi. Hindi pwedeng tumanggi.

"It's as if they were born to risk their lives to serve you and the family you are leading." I remembered Zoran told me.

"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."

Right, Andela was the one who told me that. And after learning of Ercole and Levi's past, I can say the same thing goes for them. As for Colt? I'm not really sure.

What can I do for the family? What do I have to do for the family? Madaming tanong ang kailangan ng sagot. Madaming bagay ang dapat ko pang malaman.

Ang hirap pala na maging boss ng pinakamakapangyarihang mafia sa mundo.

"Kanina pa ako kumakatok pero hindi ka sumasagot." Napalingon ako sa nagsalita at nakita ko si Jilad na nakasandal sa pintuan ng kwarto ko.

"Pasensya na, tanda. Madami lang iniisip." Sabi ko dito.

Naglakad siya papalapit sa akin at umupo sa kama ko.

"Pasensya na Priam ah. Hindi ka sana mahihirapan kung qualified lang akong maging boss." Napatayo ako mula sa pagkakahiga dahil sa narinig ko.

"What?!?!" anong ibig niyang sabihin na 'kung qualified lang siyang maging boss'?

"I was supposed to be the 70th boss of the family. Montesano's carry a the Zaccardis blood. Hindi ka pwedeng maging boss kung hindi ka Zaccardi. I was the most available successor during the enlistment. Kaso, hindi ako pupwedeng maging boss. Wala akong katangian ng boss ng mga Zaccardi." Mahaba niyang paliwanag.

"Ano bang ibig mong sabihin? Hindi kita maintindihan. Kung may dugo tayong Zaccardi, then why aren't you qualified as a boss?" naguguluhan kong tanong dito.

"I lack something a Zaccardi boss should have. Kuya have it, too. Ewan ko ba kung bakit hindi ko namana." Kinamot niya ang likod ng ulo niya at bahagyang tumawa.

"Ano yung 'something' na sinasabi mo?" tanong ko pa. Napakagaan ng aura ni Jilad. Hindi siya intimidating at hindi rin siya mayabang kahit may pagka pilyo at palabiro. Matalino ito at hindi maipagkakaila na kumpyansa siya sa mga kaya niyang gawin. I doubt that he failed being a leader. Kaya, ano? Ano yung bagay na wala ang tiyuhin ko?

"You know, you guys are scary when you use it. Although it often amazes me, nakakatakot pa din." Komento niya at ayan na naman siya sa pagtawa. Walang nakakatawa sa pinag uusapan namin. At kahit gaano pa ka-totoo ang tunog ng pagtawa niya ay hindi ako naniniwalang masaya siyang tumatawa.

"Ya! You shouldn't laugh when you're not happy. Nor should you laugh when nothing is fcking funny." Naiinis kong komento habang nakayuko at nakakuyom ang kamao kong nakahawak sa comforter.

Naramdam ko naman ang kamay niya nang ilagay niya ito sa ulo ko.

"Zaccardi bosses have powerful intuitive judgment. Your instincts know better than logic. That is something that I don't have, Priam. That is the reason why I can't be a boss." Napaangat ang tingin ko sa kanya at pinipigilan ang nagbabadya kong luha.

Hindi ako makapaniwalang ng dahil sa maliit na bagay na iyon ay hindi na nila kayang tanggapin si Jilad na boss.

Napaka illogical naman yata non. He deserve to be a boss, kung ako ang tatanungin.

He always looks after someone who can't do enough for themselves. I am a witness to that. I am a proof of that.

"Pero wag mong iisipin na dahil lang sa bagay na iyon kaya ikaw ang pinili na successor. You are the 70th boss because you are your father's daughter and the family believes in what you can do for us. More importantly, you are the 70th boss because you are Priam Montesano. Let's just say that it has been tied to you even from when you weren't even born." Mahabang paliwanag niya na tila ba pinapawi ang inis na nararamdaman ko.

They always tell me that I am the boss because I am my father's daughter and they believe in what I can do for the family. I hate to think bad about my old man, but is he worse that Zoran? And by worse I mean, does he have bigger reputations in the family?

Tumingin ako kay Jilad na nakatingin din sa akin. I wonder if he was ever disappointed upon knowing that he can't be a boss.

"Do you think I can be a good boss?" tanong ko dito.

"Of course. I bet you will. Besides, you are a Montesano, you are Riva Montesano's kid, not to mention that you are a Zaccardi by blood." Nakangiti siya habang sinasabi niya ang mga bagay na iyon. Akala mo naman siya ay hindi Zaccardi. Magkadugo kaya kami.

"Proud na proud ka ah." Komento ko nalang dito.

"Siyempre. Tiyuhin mo yata ako.. teka, tunog matanda." Bibong saad ni Jilad.

Now my worries increased. Madami na namang umiikot sa utak ko na hindi ko rin maintindihan kung bakit ko tinatanong.

"Since you are already aware of the mafia, hindi na namin kailangang maglihim sayo. Your comments and suggestions are always into consideration whenever we have to deal about something that concerns your family." Pahayag niya pa.

"Tunog trabaho ah." Sabi ko dito at agad niyang pinitik ang noo ko.

"Hindi lang naman ikaw ang mag iisip, kasama mo kami. Pwera nalang kung gusto mong solohin, okay lang sakin." Suhestyon ni Jilad na hindi ko gusto.

"Ulul. Papasahan mo pa ako ng trabaho. Graduating ako. Tigilan niyo muna ako. Yung ibang high school love life, social life at school life ang inaatupag. Tapos ako, mafia? Lugi!!!!" pabiro kong protesta kaya nakatikim na naman ako ng pitik sa noo.

"YA!!"

"Your inauguration will be on your 20th birthday. Wag kang atat. May apat na taon ka pa para mabuhay ng normal. Tsaka wag ka ngang feeler, para namang may social at love life ka." Pang aasar niya.

"Letse!" singhal ko dito na ikinatawa lang niya.

"Tanda, thank you ah." Sabi ko dito.

"Bat ka nagte-thank you?"

"Ewan ko. Basta thank you."