Meet The Mafia Queen

lvii. over

Cathy's POV

"MICHAEL'S here. Near the back door. Get him."

"Change of plans. Do not let my men attack."

"I want you and Dave to kill all of those shits. Understood?"

"Goodbye for now, Cathy. Take care of my uncle."

These are last conversation I had with Queen through call. Last week, akala ko'y na-traffic lang siya pero hindi siya umuwi.

Napabuntong hininga ako "Nasaan 'ka na'ba, Queen?" I looked at Uncle Simon who's very in pain right now

Nang mawala si Queen na parang bula, lumala ang kondisyon ni Uncle Simon—at first akala namin pagaling na siya ng pagaling but I guess we were wrong.

Jaime told us that there was a big possibility na nakita na ni Queen si Eric, but what makes us confuse is, bakit kailangan niyang mawala?

Meanwhile, Michael's at the hospital. Kakaalis lang ni Dave para bisitahin ito—yes, wala siya dito sa bahay ni Queen. Of course, kahit kaibigan siya ni Dave we have to be careful

. . . especially now that Queen is not here.

Bumukas ang pinto at nakita ko si Jaime na dala dala ang phone nito "Jaime? Akala 'ko kasama mo si Charles?"

Just like Michael, hindi namin basta bastang hayaan na makaapak si Charles sa pamamahay ni Queen.

We know how much Queen hates guy—maliban nalang siguro kay Eric?

Speaking of Eric, kamusta na kaya 'yon? "Hmm, I was with him pero saglit lang. Namili lang."

Lumapit siya sa'kin "Any news about the Queen?" Tanong niya, umiling lamang ako

"Nasaan na ba si Queen?" Rinig 'kong tanong niya "Bakit ba—" I held her shoulder

"Siguro may kailangan siyang asikasuhin." I hope so "—let's just wait for her, babalik din siya."

Ngumiti ito ng pilit "Sana nga," she glanced at Uncle Simon "Before it's too late."

NAKATAYO lamang kaming dalawa ni Dave sa labas ng subdivision na pag aari ni Queen nang magsalita siya "Have you heard the news?" Napatingin ako sa ka niya

"Balita? Ano 'yon?" I crossed my arms "Some organization are out of control." Sagot niya

"Organization?" Tanong 'ko "What's the name of organization you're talking about?"

"I did not see it, but as far as I remember they are meddling with the government." Natigilan ako

"Hindi ba't bawal 'yan?" Tanong 'ko "Queen needs to know this!" Tinalikuran ko siya at akmang papasok na pero hinigit niya 'ko "Dave!"

"Wag muna ngayon, Cathy." He told me "Not now, let's give her space."

"What do you mean by that?" Tanong 'ko "Para saan 'yung space na sinasabi mo?"

"Cathy . . ."

"Dave, come on!" Tinanggal 'ko ang pagkakahawak niya sa pulso 'ko "Ito nalang ang paraan para bumalik si Queen!"

"I know, Cathy pero . . ."

"—she needs time."

"Time? Para saan naman?" Nakakunot ang noo 'kong tanong "Dave, listen to me."

"—we have to bring the Queen back before her uncle," kinagat ko ang labi 'ko "Before her uncle d-dies."

"I understand," sagot niya "Pero may kailangan 'kang malaman, Cathy."

Tinignan 'ko siya "May nagawa akong mali sa Reyna, Cathy."

Nanlaki ang mga mata 'ko "Anong ibig 'mong s-sabihin?"

"Nagkamali ako, sa lahat lahat." Umiwas ito ng tingin "Eric is not the real enemy."

"W-what?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong 'ko "But we believed in you before!"

"At nagkamali ako," saad niya "Eric Pires was set up by the Blue Queens—yes, he have guns but all of it are just decorations! To attract clients!"

"Dave, paanong . . .?"

"Cathy, alam 'kong nagkamali ako. I know that—alam 'ko 'ding he's with Queen right now."

"Where are they, then?" Tanong 'ko "Kailangan—"

"I just now, Cathy." He told me "Knowing Vanessa, hindi niya hahayaan na mawalay kay Eric ulit."

Umiwas ako ng tingin—how about Jaime? She was the one who knew about Eric's weird habits!

Magsasalita sana 'ko nang may lumapit sa 'king guwardya "Ma'am Cathy, may ipinadala po."

Kinuha 'ko ang sobreng inabot niya. Nanlaki ang mata 'ko ng makita 'ko ang pangalan 'ko don.

Hindi ako pedeng magkamali—handwriting 'to ni Queen! Naramdaman 'kong lumapit sa 'kin si Dave nang buksan 'ko 'yon

Привет, Безумный. Это было какое-то время, как мой дядя? Надеюсь, он в порядке, хотя я далеко от вас всех. Да, я ушел, но это не значит, что все закончилось. Я ушел, потому что знал о ком-то, что вы не хотели бы знать. Я скоро вернусь вместе с Эриком.

Yours,
Queen

Napakunot ang noo 'ko "Russian?" Tinignan 'ko siya "Can you read this?" Tanong 'ko

I can read and understand russian but only the basic ones "I can't." He said "Let me check, once again."

He tried to read the letter again, napansin 'ko ang pagkunot ng noo nito habang nagbabasa "Anong ibig sabihin nito?"

Tinignan niya 'ko "Queen sent us a message, for all of us."

Jaime's POV

"—hello Hellacious. It's been a while, how's my uncle? I hope he's fine even though I'm away from all of you. Yes, I left but it doesn't mean that everything's over. I left because I knew about someone that you wouldn't want to know about. I'll be back soon, together with Eric."

Basa ni Charles sa letter "It doesn't mean that everything's over? Meaning, may laban pa?" Tanong 'ko

"I think so," sagot ni Dave "But we should not just focus sa pagbabalik niya, hindi ba?"

"Anong ibig 'mong sabihin?" Tanong ni Charles, nagkatinginan naman si Cathy at Dave

Huminga ng malalim si Cathy bago magsalita "Kailangan nating' maghanda, like what Queen said, hindi pa siya tapos at isa lang ang pinaparating niya,"

"—ang maghanda sa panibagong pandaigdigang laban."