Babysitting June Tanaka

Chapter 29

RAVEN

'Point of Realization'

"Get your head in the game."
"Take care of June.."
"Don't trust anyone."
"Tanakas are the worst."
"Cash is a Tanaka."
"He's June's brother."
"Amber didn't kill Cash."
"Tanakas own the Tiger Moneys."
"Babysit June.."
"I want you to be my girl, Raven."

I woke up with sweat dripping down my cover sheet. Napabuga ako ng hangin at pinunasan ang pawis ko tsaka humiga ulit sabay sapo ng mukha ko. I've been having the same black screen dream and hearing those voices like static for two days now.

Tumitig nalang ako sa kesama ng kwarto ko habang hinihingal pa ako. After Kion and I talked, palagi nalang akong tulala at nag-iisip kung anong pwedeng gagawin. Umupo nalang ako at tumingin sa wall clock. Six thirty pa naman kaya naligo na muna ako tsaka kumain lang ng sandwich bago lumabas sa apartment ko pero paglabas ko palang ay pinalilibutan na kaagad ako ng mga Shou guards.

"What the hell?!" Gulat na tanong ko sa kanila. Sandali silang napayuko at may isang naglakas-loob ng kausapin ako.

"Miss Shou, today is Young Master's entitlement." Diretso niyang sabi na nagpakunot lang ng noo ko pero maya-maya'y unti-unti namang naging malinaw sa akin ang sinabi niya. Gunner's gonna be named as an official heir today at ipapakilala na siya sa mga ibang clans na hindi pa nakakakilala sa kanya.

Hindi na ako nagtanong pa at sumama nalang sa kanila. Tinext ko narin si Buggy na hindi ako makakapasok dahil sa entitlement ni Gunner. Nagreply lang siya ng smile emoticon, which weirded me out kasi hindi naman siya gumagamit ng emoji. Binalewala ko nalang ito at sumakay na sa van.

Pagdating namin sa mansion, giniya nila ako sa papunta sa kwarto ko dati. I was silent the whole time. Wala akong tanong. Wala akong reklamo. Pinagbihis nila ako ng isang black dress na open back at nilagyan ako ng mga alahas. I was like a mannequin getting dressed up for the show.

Once the dressing up was done, the final piece was added. A silver mask.

Akmang isusuot na nila ito sa akin pero tumanggi ako. Kinuha ko nalang ito at sinabing susuotin ko rin ito mamaya. Umalis na sila at naiwan akong nakatingin sa sarili ko sa salamin. And suddenly.. the memories back then came flashing back to me.

"You're gonna be crowned heiress tomorrow! Let's party!"
"Hey, Raven. If you're gonna be crown, you'll be one of us."
"Yeah! Another elite! Let's rule the city!"
"We'll be treated as the royalties we are."

Umangat lang ang gilid ng labi ko sa naalala ko. I was so hungry with the power of being an elite. Na nung nalaman kong papalitan ako ni Gunner, I got mad and cursed at him tsaka iniwan ang clan. Now I realized that after I left the clan, palagi nang sinasaktan ni Dad si Mom at sinasabing hindi niya ako nadisiplina ng maayos. He's blaming it on her and at the same time, putting a little kid on the throne because of our family tradition.

Speaking of family and clan tradition, it was so stupid of me to call the Tanakas tradition as stupid. No tradition is stupid. Every clan needs to respect other clan's tradition. Even if it means.. getting your love ones killed. Wala ka ng magagawa dun. Their tradition is not your business.

And it just hit me. C-Cash is truly gone.

Umub-ob ako sa mesa at hinayaang tumulo ang mga luha ko. I cried just exactly how I cried the moment they said he was dead. After all this time, I've been neglecting all the things around me because I was chasing his killer. Kahit sabihin kong kaibigan ko si Cash at kailangan ko siyang ipaghiganti, wala ako sa lugar para makialam sa clan nila.