The Freniere's Son (On Hiatus)

Chapter 2: The Mission

Nakatanga ako ngayon sa labas ng bintana habang nagdidiscuss sa harapan ang isang guro.

I wonder how 'history' target the interest of a student? Cause honestly, this subject really feels like a lullaby for me.

Naagaw ang pansin ko nung naramdaman ang cellphone kong nag-vibrate galing sa pants ko. Hindi ko na sana papansinin dahil class hours but the caller is persistent.

Ugh, I give up!

So I answerred the caller.

"What do you want?" I irritatedly ask.

"Good Afternoon Ms. Parker, your uncle wants to talk to you." I rolled my eyes out of frustration.

"Can't he wait? I'm in the middle of a class discussion and my teacher is currently throwing daggers at me." I said while staring at my teacher who is evily staring back at me.

"But Ms. Parker--"

"Tell him to wait, or better not call me again." I said and ended the call.

Tinignan ko naman ang guro ko na ang sama ng tingin sa akin.

Bakit ba kasi nang-iisturbo ang magaling kong Uncle? Is it that important to the point that he has to interrupt my normal study life?

"Ms. Parker, you should have excused yourself and answer the call outside the room. Where's your manners?" nagpipigil na sabi ng Guro.

"Sorry, I never thought that this school cares about proper etiquette." I said sarcastically.

Magsasalita pa sana siya nung biglang tumunog ang bell, alarming us that the class has ended. So should I consider myself lucky? Or Save by the bell?

Nagsilabasan ang lahat, siyempre lumabas na rin ako at dumiretso sa locker's room upang ilagay ang mabibigat kong libro, and then I recieved a text message from my Uncle's secretary stating that my uncle is waiting for me at the parking lot.

Hindi talaga siya makapag-hintay? So, do I even have a choice?

Pumunta ako sa parking lot at nakita ang isang Red Volvo na sasakyan at isang lalakeng nakasandal doon. Napailing nalang ako, acting cool again? Eh nasa mid-fifties na ang edad niyan tss.

"What do you want?" tanong ko kahit nasa three meters away palang ako sa kaniya.

"Magandang Hapon sayo aking pamangkin!" he exclaimed while opening his arms for an embrace. Iniwasan ko siya at inirapan.

"Ano ngang kailangan mo?" irita kong tanong.

He eyed me from head to toe as a creepy smile escaped his lips.

"Hindi ka talaga nagbago, still disrespectful as ever." I stared at him blankly. "Anyway, tara sa kotse. Ayaw kong marinig ng iba ang pag-uusapan natin." sumunod ako sa sinabi niya.

He wont waste his time coming here if its not a serious matter after all.

This red volvo of him really reflects his personality, so lively yet mysteriously dangerous.

Nang makaupo na kaming dalawa ay may kinuha siyang envelope at ibinigay sakin.

"Buksan mo." Utos niya. Ayokong inuutos-utosan, pero mukhang wala akong choice ngayon kaya binuksan ko. Pagkabukas ko ay mga papeles ang tumambad sakin, napakunot ang noo ko sa nakita. Now what is this?

"Those are files, confidential files of your target." tinignan ko siya ng masama.

"Uncle, have you forgotten that I dont take missions that includes killing?" taas-kilay kong tanong sa kaniya.

"Who told you that your mission includes killing?" he said with a grin. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin at inilabas ang isang papel, mas lalong kumunot ang noo ko nung nakita kung sinong mukha ang naroon. "That is Zacharius Freniere, I know that you know him."

Sino ba ang hindi?

"He's life as a heir of the Freniere Mafia is in danger."

So?

"And I want you to put an eye on him."

Ahh-- WHAT?!

What the hell is going on with that mind? Bakit ko naman ipapain ang buhay ko para maging safe ang taong hindi naman ako kilala? Oh well, hindi naman talaga ako ipinapain, but protecting a person means sacrificing your protection, kaya ikaw pa rin ang dehado.

I smirk at him.

"What made you think I will do this?" tanong ko at ibinalik sa kaniya ang envelope.

"Bakit? Ayaw mo?" tanong niya at umarte pang hindi niya inaasahan ang isasagot ko.Kaya inirapan ko siya.

"Look, Detective Penber. Hindi ako kasing tanga mo noon na makihalubilo sa mga Freniere. I have a quiet life now." I pointed out.

"Ginawa ko lang ang trabaho ko noon kaya ako nakapasok sa Freniere Mafia. And yes Venice you have a quiet life. Mistula kang kagubatan tuwing sasapit ang gabi, tahimik ngunit delikado." Umiwas ako ng tingin sa kaniya. "You cant deny the fact that you are trained to be a reaper."

And with what he said, memories flashed back like a movie scene.

***

"Hi Venice!" bati sa akin ni Diane the minute I enterred the dorm. Diane is my dormate, tinignan ko lang siya saglit at agad na humiga sa aking kama. "Narinig ko yung tungkol sa cafeteria kanina." pagkukuwento ni Diane.

Here she goes again, telling me stories about her that I dont want to listen. Hindi ko naman magawang pigilan siya, well, I once did, pero wala, patuloy lang siya kaya hinayaan ko nalang, nakakapagod din makipag-sagutan sa matigas ang ulo.

"Buti ka pa, nakalapit na kay Zach habang ako hindi pa." nung narinig ko ang pangalan ng taong pinapabantayan sana ni Uncle ay napamulat ako ng mata, hindi niya naman makitang nakikinig ako dahil nakatalikod ako sa kaniya. "Sana maalala niya na ako yung kababata niya noon. Gusto kong lapitan siya, pero I dont have the courage to go near him, hindi pa ako nakakachamba na yung siya lang isa. Sa tuwing nawawala siya hindi ko naman siya mahanap." narinig ko siyang nagbuntong-hininga. "I'm missing the old Zacharius I used to know."

Like how Aunt Hetta missed Uncle Tres.

Am I witnessing another generation of Hetta x Tres love story?

But the thing is, Diane is not a reaper, she's maybe Zach's childhood friend but nothing connects them now. And I feel sad for Diane. Kung natatandaan pa niya ang bawat detalye ng nakaraan nila ni Zach, I dont know if Zach sure remember a thing.

Even if he does, I dont know if he cares.

***

Kinabukasan nagising ako dahil sa ingay ng cellphone ko. I want to curse the hell out of me when I realize the caller.

"What now?!" bakas sa boses ko ang pagkairita. Gusto kong matulog hanggang tanghali, Im a sleep lover for Pete's sake!

"Get your ass off the bed, Zach is currently walking under an ambush site. Nasa nightwoods siya ngayon, and he is completely unaware of the surroundings. Venice, your the only one that can save him."

"Hey, I dont remember accepting this mission--" muntikan ko nang ihagis ang cellphone nung narinig ang ending-tone nito.

That wise old man, if he's not my uncle I already let him kiss the bullet of my pistol. And that Zacharius-guy, is he that dumb to not know that it was an ambush? At sa nightwoods pa? Ayokong pumasok sa nightwoods, at wala akong balak pumasok sa nightwoods. Bakit ako lang? Bakit ako ang inaasahan nilang magligtas kay Zach? How about the mafia? The mafia's reapers? Ano bang nangyayari? Ano bang gagawin ko?