The LeFevre Mafia (3): Marked by the Last Mafia Boss

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Our flight got delayed dahil sa may kinailangan pang tapusin si dad sa business. I patiently waited for him inside the jet. Pinili kong magkulong at Hindi lumabas para na rin maiwasan ko is Felix. I'm afraid I'd change my mind if I see him. I know I made a hasty decision but I'd like to stand by it. Hindi ako magpapadala sa nararamdaman ko para kay Felix. 

Mom was beside me the whole time. She tried to converse with me, even pretended to be so cheerful. I did my best to do the same thing too. 

"Are you sure about this, hija?" mom asked. She looked worried. Bakit naman siya mag-aalala? Alam naman niyang para sa kaligtasan ko itong desisyon ni dad.

"Why, mom? Are you gonna try to talk me out of this, too?" I joked.

"Did somebody try to talk you out already?" tila ba makahulugang tanong nito.

I caught my breath and looked away. Pinili kong harapin na lamang ang tanawin sa labas. 

"I've already made my mind, mom."

"And this is okay with Felix?" she curiously asked.

I looked at her and bit my lip. "Why won't he be?"

Mom sighed and held my hand. "Maura, hija, I am your mother. I know everything kahit hindi mo pa sabihin. Hindi ako manghihimasok sa kung ano mang meron kayong dalawa. My only concern is that baka mamaya ay pagsisihan mo ang desisyon mong ito."

"I know, mom, pero sigurado na po ako dito. If things are really meant to be, darating din yan. Hindi magiging hadlang ang pag-alis ko," may paninindigan kong sagot.

I wanted to talk to her about Felix but I'm afraid because the moment I admit that there's something between me and him, it means things will become so real. Wala ng atrasan. Hindi naman ito dahil sa ayaw kong magkaroon kami ng future na dalawa, natatakot lang ako na paano kung sa bandang huli ay magbago ang isip ng isa sa amin? I'm not just ready to face those possibilities yet.

Hindi pa nagtagal ay umalis na kami. Mabigat ang loob ko. Pakiramdam ko ay trinataydor ako ng mga nararamdaman ko. Why is it so unfair? I'm leaving for my own safety pero bakit ganito, bakit ako nasasaktan? I wanted to cry but I don't want my parents to worry. Tama na iyong natakot sila para sa kaligtasan ko.

The flight lasted just for few hours. When we landed, it was the only time I realized that I have really left a lot of things behind. Hindi naman sa hindi na ako babalik, pero iba pa rin ang pakiramdam ng umalis na hindi handa. I didn't even say bye to my best friends. And I have left Felix. Dahil dito, hindi ko na sigurado pa kung may babalikan ako sa Pilipinas.

"Are we staying in a hotel or sa bahay natin?" I asked dad.

"Doon tayo sa bahay, pinahanda ko na ang lahat," sagot nito bago niya kinausap ang piloto na naghatid sa amin.

"Oh! I'll show you around the house! Marami na nagbago doon. It's been years since you've been there. We've had it renovated," excited na sabi ni mom.

Ilang saglit pa ay may dumating na tatlong sasakyang itim. Bodyguards. I guess Felix kept his words, talagang hanggang dito ay binigyan niya ako ng bodyguards. 2 cars have 4 guards, while the other one's our ride.

The drive isn't really that long since private landing naman ang ginawa namin mula rin sa isang pribadong paliparan ng pamilya ko. Mom was right. Talagang ibang-iba na ang bahay ngayon. Everything looked different kahit sa labas pa lang. I even thought it's a new house!

When we got inside our property, there were four black cars parked outside. More bodyguards? Seriously? I can't live having so much guards following me around. This is so over the top!

"Isn't this too much, dad?" tanong ko kay dadyy na nakaupo sa harapan.

"We just want to make sure you'll be safe, hija."

Hindi na ako kumibo pa sa sinabi niyang iyon. An argument will be useless. I guess I just have to live with this.

"You can shop for everything you need as soon as you want, Maura, magsabi ka lamang," dagdag pa ni dad. Tumango ako bilang sagot.

Nang makarating kami sa bahay ay nasa iba't ibang pwesto na ang mga body guards. Shopping sounds nice dahil wala naman akong ibang gagawin. But I guess I'll need to take a shower first.

"Did you really change everything, mom?" biro ko sa kanya dahil talagang ibang iba sa paningin ko ang bahay.

"Just a little bit, hija," pabiro pa nitong sagot.

I was about to tease her more when that very familiar scent lingered in the air. Napako ako sa kinatatayuan ko at agad agad hinanap ng mga mata ko ang pinagmulan ng amoy na iyon. I was stunned. He's here!

"Felix," tawag ni dad sa kanya na para bang hindi niya ito inaasahan.

I opened my mouth as I tried to search for words but I failed myself.

Mom held dad's hand. She's trying to calm him down. Mainit pa rin ang ulo ni dad kay Felix. 

"Let them talk. Let's get settled first," yaya niya kay dad. Dad sighed at sumama kay mom.

I was left with Felix. He's looking intently at me.

"What are you doing here?" I managed to ask him.

"I just can't watch you leave," aniya.

"But how... I mean kanina ka pa ba andito?" punong pagtataka kong tanong.

"Nauna akong umalis sa inyo. I had to make sure I'll be here pag dating ninyo."

I nodded. It makes sense since nadelay kami sa pag-alis dahil kay dad. He probably used that time.

"But what about LeFevre International? You can't just leave it, Felix. You have obligations there."

"Everything has been taking care off. And if problem arises, I can always call my brother," pagpapaliwanag nito.

"Okay..." suko kong sagot. There has been a moment of silence. Hindi ko na alam ang dapat pang sabihin. "I'll go --"

"Why is it so easy for you to leave?" pagpuputol nito sa sana'y sasabihin ko. He sounded so hurt and betrayed. Halos manlumo ako habang nakikipagtitigan ako sa kanya. I've seen those eyes when he begged me to stay.

"It wasn't," pabulong kong sabi.

"I asked you to stay so I can make things right again," aniya.

"It wasn't about you, Felix, I told you I just want to feel safe again."

"But I can make you feel safe, Maura. I'm sorry kung wala ako noong napahamak ka--"

"No, Felix. Naiintindihan ko iyan. It's just that I just really need to bring back my whole self. I lost parts of me, Felix," sinubukan kong magpaliwanag.

"Then let me help you find them, baby," pagsusumamo nito habang nilalapitan ako. "I don't care kung hindi mo man sabihin sa akin ang mga plano mo sa araw-araw, o kahit hindi mo ako imbitahan na samahan ka, o kahit hindi mo ako pansinin, I wouldn't even care if you won't acknowledge me here at all, just please... please let me stay with you. I need to see you everyday, Maura. I can't be damn far away from you again," sinsero nitong sabi.

Napasinghap ako sa mga narinig ko. Tears started to build up. Is he begging again? How did I manage to leave him?

"I can't lose you. I love you damn much, baby," pagaamin nito.

Those words. Oh how I love hearing them.

"Okay..." I whispered. "I guess you can stay. I mean you have to talk to my dad first."

Hindi nakaligtas sa paningin ko ang pagliwanag ng mga mata nito sa sinabi ko. So everything he said was real? He loves me.