Catch Me If You Can (Completed)

CHAPTER 33: REVEALED

Chapter 33: Revealed

~RYU~

I always tell myself that I fear no one but my body contradicts that statement as of now. Bilang ang mga hakbang ko patungo sa silid kung nasaan si Homer Vander. Sa tuwing dinadalaw niya kami noong mga bata pa lamang kami ay nababalot ng takot ang buong mansion. I never thought that he still has the same effect on me ngayong malaki na ako.

“What does that old man wants from you?” tanong ng pinsan kong si Cooler. Nakatayo siya sa labas ng pinto at tila inaabangan talaga ako.

I sighed. “I don’t know,” sagot ko sa kanya at tinapik ang kanyang balikat. “I suggest you should leave.” I have the slightest idea of why he wants to see me. Hindi iyon dahil sa kabastusan ko kanina na bigla-bigla na lamang umalis sa meeting. I know this matter is different so I need Cooler to leave.

He shrugged his shoulders. “I’ll back you up like we always do kapag dumarating siya dati.”

Ihindi ko maiwasan ang mapangiti. We used to call old man Homer as monster na sa tuwing darating siya dati ay kailangan naming iback-up ang isa’t-isa. “I can handle this matter,” sagot ko sa kanya.

He sighed deeply bago tumango at nakapamulsang umalis doon. Tinanaw ko siya habang papalayo. May ideya kaya si cooler sa pagiging bahagi ko ng Lupin? Cooler has an advance way of thinking. Siguro iyon ang namana niya sa ama. He has good preempting skills and he always read the situation well. Not to mention that he has a strong gut feel.

Humigpit ang hawak ko sa doorknob. I counted three bago tuluyan iyong binuksan. Ang unang natanaw ko ay ang matandang nakaupo sa harap ng mesa. His wrinkled face screams authority kahit pa lumpo siya. His smirk exudes wickedness.

“Ryu, apo,” makahulugang wika niya. “How have you been?”

“I’m good. Can we get straight to the point here?” diretsahang wika ko sa kanya.

The old man laughed like crazy. “I like that attitude Ryu, so much suitable as a Vander. I know you know why I called you here.”

I stood unmoved. “I have no idea,” pagmamang-maangan ko.

Tumawa ulit siya at inilapag ang isang sobre sa mesa. My forehead creased before I took a step forward at inabot ang sobre. Nang buksan ko iyon ay naglalaman iyon ng mga lumang larawa ng tatlong tao.

“The Black Diamond,” wika niya. “That’s the Black Diamond.”

Napaawang ang mga labi ko habang tinitingnan ang mga larawan. I think I know exactly who the youngest man in the photographs. Nalipat ang tingin ko sa mga larawan sa kanya. “Bahagi ka ng Black Diamond?”

Homer laughed casually. “How do you think I was able to establish our line of business this big without funds? Unlike you, I’m not born with a silver spoon on my mouth. I worked hard to steal with the Black Diamond. I worked harder to establish the mafia.”

Biglang pumasok sa isipan ko ang sinabi sa amin ni Mimo. The Black Diamond is consists of the members Jack, Ace and Clover. Clover killed Jack and he wanted everything for himself.

“Ikaw si Clover?”

“Hello, hello.”

I drew out more air. “And you killed the other members.”

“What can I do? Gusto nilang magpakabayani. They will steal items to distribute it to the needy? Meh, I didn’t sweat and risk my life to become Robinhood.” Old Homer rested his head and looked straight to me.

“You’re brothers!” I hissed at him. Paano niya naatim na patayin ang kanyang kapatid?

“Not by blood,” sagot niya. “Sila lamang ni Ace ang magkapatid even though they always tell me na kapatid na rin nila ako. Basing on the attitude, I am different from them. Wala akong balak na magpakahero gaya ng gusto nila. Huwag mong sabihin na iyon din ang intensyon mo kaya mo pinasok ang Lupin?”