Lovely Ever After

Kabanata 66

Kabanata 66

Tahimik ang conference room ng mansion, halatang nagtataka lahat ng walong team boss. They were seated chronologically according to the order of their teams based on the order of Lamortel.

"Sapphire, what is it?" Tanong ni Castro.

"I know the base of Laferro mafia, nasa taas ng bundok ng Villanueva, we strike them and wipe them off, then we rescue my brother and mother. We commence attack tonight."

Tila naintindihan nila ang gusto kong mangyari.

"Lamarta, use your inventions to track down the exact location of the Laferro mafia now." Utos ko sa kapatid ni Arthur, she's about as tall as me, marami siyang mga singsing sa nagkabilang daliri.

"Copy, Sapphire."

Tinignan ko si Arthur, "you and your team will have to hack on the security system of Laferro mafia, you will remain here."

He nodded.

Muli kong tinignan si Lamarta, "you're in charge of the weaponry as well."

"Copy again, Sapphire."

Then my eyes landed to Killua, seryoso lang ang mukha niya habang may nginunguya siyang bubble gum. "Plant a lot of bombs around the Laferro mafia base and set the timer to one hour, we will complete the mission in fifty-five minutes."

He simply nodded.

"Hanjel, you are in charge of the plans and schedule, make sure nothing overlaps, make sure that within fifty-five minutes, our goal is acquired. You will work with Arthur behind the curtains."

"Sige, Sapphire."

"Then Root and Noah..." Tinignan ko silang dalawa, hindi ako tumingin nang diretsahan kay Noah dahil sa pagkailang, hindi ko alam kung bakit. I shook my personal confusion away and looked at him with my full might, our eyes met and he looked away.

"Ano ang gagawin namin, Sapphire?" Tanong ni Root.

"Root, your team will be in charge of killing the enemies, while Noah, you will be with me the entire time while we save my brother and mother."

Noah simply nodded.

"Gemma..." Tumingin ako sa kanya, "you will treat those who are injured in our mafia." I looked at Cassiopea, "and you will look for the blueprints of the enemy base and where my family is located in."

Tumingin ako sa dalawang underboss ko, "Castro, you stay here and select a handful of men to remain as well to guard our base," my twins. "Stella, you come with us."

They nodded in unison.

"Start the preparation now." I dismissed, tumango naman sila at mabilis na lumabas sa conference room, nagmadali silang lahat na papunta sa kanilang headquarters para gawin ang kanilang trabaho at sabihan ang mga miyembro.

Ako naman ay tumungo sa kwarto ng aking magkambal, I saw the two trying to tickle each other, nang napansin ako ni Levitrish ay kumislap ang mata niya na tila nasasabil na makita ako, "mommy!"

Tumakbo siya palapit sa akin, ngumiti naman ako at lumuhod para tanggapin ang yakap niya, si Levitrei naman ay agad ding sumama sa yakap.

"Mommy, why is the house so noisy?"

Because we're preparing for something, my babies... to rescue your uncle and grandma...

"It's nothing, Levitrei." Bumuntong-hininga ako, "mommy will be gone for one night, okay? Castro will look after you two, so behave while I'm gone, okay?"

"Where will you go, mommy?" Levitrish asked, halata ang lungkot sa kanyang mukha. The thought of seeing such expression made my heart shrink, I suddenly wanted to stay. Ngunit kailangan kong pumunta.

I have to.

"Somewhere, Levitrish. Someday, I will explain to you my job..."

They nodded, "mommy, let's eat!" Hinila ako ni Levitrei palabas, bumaba na kami sa hagdanan habang si Levitrish naman ay tuloy lang sa pagiging madaldal.

Tumungo kami sa dining hall, inutusan ko naman agad ang isang kasambahay na dalhin ang cereal at fresh milk sa silid, nang mayroon na ang pagkain ay agad na naglagay ng maraming cereals si Levitrei sa kanyang bowl, umapaw pa ito.

"Levitrei, put the excess to your sister's bowl."

He pouted, "okay..." Nilagay naman niya ang sobrang cereal sa bowl ni Levitrish.

Pinagmasdan ko lang ang magkambal ko habang kumakain sila, "mommy, you won't eat?" Levitrish asked when she saw me just watching them.

Ngumiti ako at umiling.

Nagulat ako nang itapat ni Levitrei ang kutsara sa aking labi, "mommy, say ahh..." He even acted it out, as if telling me to open my mouth.

Ngumiti ako at agad kong binuka ang aking bibig, sinubo naman niya ang cereal sa akin.

"Mommy, masarap ba?"

I nodded.

"Sapphire..." Napatingin ako sa taong bigla na lang sumulpot sa gilid ko. It was Gemma, halata ang pag-alala sa kanyang mukha.

Tumayo naman ako at tumingin sa mga bata, "babies, I'll leave you two now, okay?"

"So soon?" Levitrei frowned.

"I'm sorry..." Was all I can say before leaving with Gemma. Nang malayo na kami sa mga bata ay nagsalita na siya.

"Sapphire, Yazi is dead."

"What?" Kumuyom ang kamao ko. Tila nabingi ako sa aking narinig, paanong wala na si kuya? We were just talking a few moments ago!

"I also have his blood test's results already." Saad ni Gemma.

"What does it say?"

"There were a lot of infections in his blood..." Tahimik lang ako habang pinapakinggan si Gemma, "he had a blood poisoning, a septicemia, his bloodstream was really infected with bacteria, siguro dahil sa walang awang paggahasa sa kanya."

Kumuyom ang kamao ko, "tell Cassiopea to track down everyone who bought him at the black market and kill them, spare no one."

"Y-Yes, Sapphire."

Umalis na si Gemma, ako naman ay napasandal sa pader, tila nanghihina ang aking tuhod, humugot ako ng malalim na hininga. Kailangan kong maging malakas. My brother's life for an entire mafia's life.

I will take away everything that is precious to you, Lessana... I will start with your mafia. I will make sure you regret everything.

Tumungo ako sa aking kwarto at nagbihis, pagkatapos ay hinanda ko lahat ng armas ko na gagamitin ko mamaya, pinikit ko ang aking mga mata, pakiramdam ko ay sobra akong pagod dahil sa mga nangyari ngayong linggo.

Sighing, I looked at myself in the mirror. My white hair that becomes silver with light stared at me, mas lalo lang akong naging maputla dahil dito, I was wearing a black sleeveless shirt that perfectly fit my body, then a ripped short pant, sa aking hita naman ay nakadikit ang shuriken.

I stared at my face, now nothing but a blank expression, kahit man na ngumiti ako ay hindi naman abot ito sa aking mga mata -it felt like my feelings were stolen, saka na lang bumabalik kapag kasama ko ang aking magkambal, it seems like I was staring at a familiar stranger.

Tila hindi ko na kilala pa ang dating ako, ano nga ba ang dating ako kundi gaga at tanga na mabilis magtiwala? It's better this way, ayoko nang balikan ang dating ako.

Wala akong rason para bumalik sa pagiging dati, if I want to protect my twins, kailangan kong tigasan ang aking puso, a soft spot in the heart is the greatest weakness of a man.

I've learned my lesson and I learned it the hard way, now I will lecture those who haven't learned enough, yet.

Bumaba ako sa hagdanan at nakita ko ang dalawang underboss ko at ang walong team bosses na naghihintay. Yumuko silang lahat nang nakita nila ako.

I gave them a devilish grin, "we travel now."