The Game Changer (Mafia Families #2)

Chapter 30: Carrie

Carrie’s Pov

Ilang araw na kaming nandito kami sa isang sub-urban town malapit sa Boston. Dito kami sunod nagtago nang malaman nanaman ng mga kasamahan ni Faust na Mercenary. His name was Razor.

Muntik na kaming mahuli, mabuti nalang may mga taong tumawag ng police kaya napilitan siyang umalis at kami ay sumakay na agad ng tren papuntang boston.

Flashback

“Sigurado ka bang mapagkakatiwalaan natin siya?”

“Oo. I worked with him in an operation at masisigurado kong tutulungan niya tayo. If not, pipilitin ko siya.”

As usual ay malayo sa syudad yung pinuntahan naming bahay. Isang malaking country house ang dinatnan namin.

“He lives here?” gualt na tanong ko kasi akala ko ay maliit na cabin o yung mga bahay na pang dalawang tao lang, katulad ng mga pinipili ni Faust na hideout.

“What did you expect?”

I shook my head. Oo nga naman. Diba nga mayayaman yung mga kasali sa organized crime dahil sa mga hit money.

Tumigil si Faust sa gate at napatingin muna sa paligid bago nagpatuloy sa property.

“Stop right there.” May nagsalita mula sa gilid namin at paglingon ko ay may nakatutok na malaking rifle sa ulo ni Faust.

Napahawak ako sa baril sa likod ko.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” Sabi lang saakin nung lalaki nang hindi inaalis ang tingin kay Faust.

“Anong ginagawa mo dito Faust?” tanong nung lalaki.

“We need somewhere to hide.”

“Tingin mo tutulungan kita?” Sabi nung lalaki pero kalmadong nakatayo lang doon si Faust at nakatingin sakanya.

“We’d be lying dead here on the second we step into the gate.”

Natawa naman yung lalaki at binaba na yung rifle. “Still the confident bastard huh.”

“Same love for dramatics.” Komento naman ni Faust kaya napatawa ulit yung lalaki. “I tend to go for the extreme but I’ve got to give it to you. You disobeyed an order by the Vulture and gone rogue. You’re being hunted by the organization.”

“Tell me what I already know.” sagot lang ni Faust at napatingin naman saakin yung lalaki.

“Is this her? She’s a pretty thing, ain’t she? I can understand why you can’t do it.” tanong nung lalaki and something passed between them. Hindi ko alam kong ano pero sabi nung lalaki na. “Woah, there brother. I won’t touch what’s yours.”

Nauna nang pumasok si Faust na para bang bahay niya iyun. Ningitian lang ako nung lalaki.

“You must be Carrie Mitchelle. I am Digger. I am a-“

“Mercenary.” Tapos ko at napangiti siya. “Sinabi na ni Faust saakin.”

“So Faust has been trading secrets with you huh?”

“Hindi naman. Kung saan lang kami pupunta at sino ang nandoon. Most of the time, he’s quiet.”

“I see, he’s still the same. Did he also say that I am extremely handsome?” tanong niya. “No?”

“No. He left that important part out.” Napangiting sagot ko naman sakanya.

“I think we’ll get along just fine, Carrie.”

Sabay na kaming pumasok.

End of flashback

It had been a week at nasa porch ako at parang ang bigat ng loob ko. Hindi ko alam kung bakit. It’s been a quiet week at mabait naman saakin si Digger. In fact he’s very easy to get along with and Faust is as distant as he was before. Something was bothering me. I don’t know why, but I know who.

Umalis si Faust kanina pa para pumunta sa downtown para kumuha ng mga supplies at may aasekasuhin rin raw siya. It’s already 5 at kanina pang 3pm siya umalis.

Nagkakasundo naman kami na ni Faust pero these past few days ay parang umiiwas siya. He wouldn’t even stay in one room with me. Si Digger nalang ang nakakausap ko palagi. Na kwento rin niya saakina ng tungkol sa organisasyon nila. Apparently, isang nagngagalang Razor ang naghahanap saamin ngayon.

“Anong ginagawa mo diyan sa labas?” tanong ni Digger habang nakatayo sa doorway. “Hinihintay mo si Faust?”

“Kanina pa kasi siya hindi bumabalik. Sabi niya isang oras lang siya sa downtown.” Sagot ko kasi lagpas dalawang oras na at wala pa siya.

“Carrie. He’s a mercenary.”

“That does not make a person bulletproof.” Sagot ko naman sakanya.

“Point taken.”

Natahimik si Digger at naupo. Pinaupo rin niya ako sa bench sa porch ng country house.

“Can I ask something Carrie?” bigla niyang tanong.

“Ano?”

“Did you ever see his face?”

“Hindi. Ang sinasabi lang niya saakin ay, kung sino man makikita ng mukha niya ay dapat niya tapusin.”

“Tinanong mo kung bakit?”

Digger ha this serious expression I can’t quite understand.

“Because of his line of work?” I guessed.

“I see…” sagot lang niya na ipinagtaka ko.

“Nakita mo na ba?”

“Curious, aren’t we?” Napangiti siya and gave me this look. It seemed somewhat like pity. “Nakita ko na. Once. Alam mo abng hindi niya maalala ang nakaraan niya?”

Umiling ako at natahimik nanaman si Digger na par abang may malalim na iniisip.


“Pano kayo nagkakilala ni Faust? Ang sabi niya ay na kasama ka raw niya sa isang operasyon ng mga Mercenary.”

Parang nagulat siya sa tanong ko pero ngumiti lang.

“Do you know why they call me Digger?” tanong niya pero hindi na hinintay ang sagot ko. “I dig information for the Mercenaries. I find what is needed and if you have a secret, I’ll know it. Kung may gustong ipahanap ay madali kong nahahanap.”

“That doesn’t answer my question.”

“I like you. You’re sharp.” Komento niya.

“I have to be. To live this long.” Sabi ko naman.

“Hard life. Right?” he offered and I shrugged. “Back to the matter. Tama ang sinabi niya na nagkasama kami sa isang operasyon. May ipinahap saamin si Vadim. Si Vadim yung second in command after ng Boss namin.”

“Ano ang ipinahanap niya?”

“I can’t give the details. But anyway, doon ko nakilala si Faust. Narinig ko na ang pangalan niya na binabanggit ng ibang miyembro, he was one of the best, if not the best hitman. Palagi niyang tinatapos ang mga trabaho.”

Napalunok ako. His job to kill targets.

“He always sees it through.” Sabi ni Digger na nakatingin saakin na para bang binabasa ang magiging reaksyon ko. “Until you.”

Kumunot yung noo ko, alam ko naman ang ibig niyang sabihin pero may parang iba sa otno ng pagkasabi niya.

“Alam kong isa kang target Carrie. I know that much. Inutos ni boss na patayin ka pero hindi niya ginawa. Now the Mercenaries are after Faust. Alam ko ang lahat ng tungkol sayo Carrie Mitchelle.”

“What are you trying to say Digger?” tanong ko  skanya kasi kinakabahan na ako sa pag-iba ng tono ni Digger.

“You’re hiding something.” Tumayo siya at lumapit saakin habang ako naman ay kinakabahan sa kung anong gagawin niya nang bigla siyang yumuko at binulong saakin ang tunay na pangalan ko.

“We are all hiding secrets Digger.” Sabi ko at naalerto. I tried to read him para malaman kung anong gagawin niya.

Kung pano niya nalaman ang totoo kong pangalan ay hindi ko alam pero kailangan kong mag-ingat kay Digger. He seem more dangerous than he looks. Napatingin ako sa gate at humiling na dumating na si Faust. Digger is really scaring me right now.

“I won’t hurt you Carrie.” Sabi niya.

“Somehow that is hard to believe. Considering how you sound right now.” Sabi ko at napaatras ng konti.

“And how do I sound?”

I didn’t bother to answer. Nag-iisip na ako ng plano kung ano man ang mangyari. Naiwan ko pa naman yung baril sa kwarto ko.

Umatras siya at ngumiti.

“They don’t call me Digger for only one reason Carrie.” Sabi niya.

Malalim ang tingin niya sa mga mata ko. Like he was trying to read me, to reach my secrets.

“You’re getting agitated.” Sabi niya as I fisted my hands. Hindi ako makaiwas ng tingin like I was being hypnotized. “Nagmamatapang ka Carrie Mitchelle but you’re scared. You’re scared of what I might do to you.”

“I don’t know what you’re saying o anong ginagawa mo Digger.”

“You feel trapped. You hate that feeling because you’ve been feeling that all your life.” Sabi lang niya.

Nasan na ba si Faust? Bakit kasi ang tagal niaygn bumalik.

“Iniisip mo si Faust. Kung maliligtas ka ba niya?  Kung bakit hindi parin siya bumabalik. Kung ano nang nangyari sakanya. You’re already thinking of ways to escape.” He said, his voice eerily calm and sure. Natigilan ako habang hindi parin umiiwas ng tingin.

“Dadating siya.” Sabi ko lang. “He always do.”

“You trust Faust. You know he will protect you at kahit na ayaw mo ay pinagkakatiwalaan mo siya.”

I clenched my jaw.

“You like him.” sabi niya kaya natigilan ako.

“I don’t.” sabi ko.

“You hate that you like him. Ayaw mong aminin sa sarili mo. Still you’re worried. Still you care, and you hope. You wish.”

“I don’t know what-“ sabi ko nang magsalita nanaman siya. He’s still calm and collected habang ako naman ay parang isang relong nagka-countdown sa bawat salitang binibitiwan niya. Sa bawat mga laman ng isip ko na sinasabi niya.

“You don’t know why. Why would you like him? He’s a killer. He might have killed you. He kidnapped you. He killed so many innocent lives. He’s a cold blooded killer Carrie. Pero tinatanong mo parin ang sarili mo, bakit ka ba may pakialam sakanya? Bakit ba nag-aalala ka?”

I felt like I was inside my head. Hearing my thoughts. I told myself to break my spell, to look away pero hindi ko magawa.

“You wish the situation was different.” Sabi ni Digger. “Hinihiling mo na sana hindi nalang ganito. You wish you and Faust were different persons. You feel like you were disappointing someone.”

Napalunok ako. Alam ko na ang susunod nasasabihin niya.

“You wish you could’ve saved him. That he wouldn’t have died. You wanted to do something but you didn’t, you can’t. Because you were weak.” Sabi niya at naramdaman ko nalang ang pagtulo ng luha ko.

“Wala kang alam.” mahinang sabi ko.

“Hindi mo siya naligtas, at ngayon iniisip mo… Sisiguraduhin mong maliligtas mo si Faust. Kasi hindi mo yun nagawa para kay Daneilo.” Sabi niya at dun ko naramdaman na sasabog na ako.

That one name ang nagpabalik saakin sa realidad.

“Wala kang alam!” sigaw ko.

“You want to save him Carrie. I could see it in you. You wouldn’t bear to lose another one. That’s how much you’ve come to care for Faust.” Sabi pa niya.

Napaiyak nalang ako sa galit. Wala siyang karapatan ipamukha saakin ang mga bagay na alam ko na.

“Digger. Tama na yan.” Pareho kaming napalingon kay Faust. “Ano sa tingin mo ang ginagawa mo?”

Ngumiti lang si Digger bago nilingon si Faust.

“I’ll leave the two of you alone.” Sabi ni Digger at pumasok na.

Wlang imik na umupo si Faust sa tabi ko.

“I'm sorry.” Sabi lang niya saka niya ako

“Why?” sabi ko sa kabila ng  pag-iyak ko. Kusa nalang pumapatak ang luha ko.

“For leaving you alone with Digger.” Sagot niya kaya napatingala ako sakanya. I was shocked to see the swirling emotions in his eyes.

“Ihahatid na kita sa kwarto mo.” Sabi niya at tumayo na.

Tatayo na sana ako nang bigla niya akong buhatin. I was too shocked to react.

“Just let me take care of you.”

I leaned on his shoulder and closed my eyes and for the first time in a while, it felt right. It felt like everything will be fine.

He carried me to my room and placed me on the bed.

“Matulog ka muna. Tatawagin nalang kita kapag hapunan na.” sabi niya at saka ko napansin yung dugo sa gilid ng braso niya.

“You’re hurt.” Sabi ko na nakatingin dun sa dugo kaya napatingin rin siya doon. I saw him clenched his jaw for a second. His eyes grew grim.

That’s when I knew. Hindi niya dugo yun. Whatever he was doing before he came home. I don’t want to know.

“I’ll wake you later.” sabi niya at paalis na sana nang pigilan ko siya.

“I am not disgusted of you Faust. You may show people you are heartless, but is saw you die a little when you kill a person, even though they will kill you if given the chance.” Sabi ko.

“You can’t say that. You still don’t know the dark part of me.” Sagot niya in almost a whisper. He sounded lost. Vulnerable.

“I know you enough.” Sagot ko. Kinuha ko yung isang towel sa bedside table at lumapit sakanya at nalinis yung dugo.

“You are not heartless Faust. You’re just lost.”

Hindi ko inakala ang gagawin. Bigla nalang niya akong niyakap. I felt his shoulder slump and shudder. Almost like he was going to cry. He buried his mask on my shoulders.

“Thank you.” Sabi niya na para bang matagal na niya yun gustong marinig. he just needed the right person to tell him that.

Tumayo na siya gn tuwid.

“I wish I could take this off.” sabi ko nalang at parang wala sa sariling tinaas ko ang kamay ko and traced the mask on his face. I wish I could see his face.

Umatras siya sa gulat at nakita ko ang takot sa mata niya. Napayuko siya. “I can’t.”

“I understand.” Sabi ko nalang to hide my disappointment.

I’ll take one step at a time.

“You should sleep.” Sabi nalang niya.

Lumakad nalang ako pabalik sa kama. “Can you stay until I fall asleep. Matapos kasi yung mag sinabi ni Digger ay hindi ako makampante.”

Wlang imik siyang lumakad palapit saakin at naupo sa glid ng kama.
“Don’t let him get into your head.” Sabi ni Faust. “Isang Emotion reader at profiler si Digger,Carrie. That’s his skill. But he won’t hurt you, I can assure you that.”

“I know. I trust you.” Sabi ko a t nahiga na at pinikit ang mga mata ko.

“I will protect you with my life.” sabi niya.

“I know.” sagot ko at hindi ko mapigilang ngumiti.

I felt his hand stroking my hair. It was supposed to calm me pero bumilis lang ang tibok ng puso ko. Nagpanggap anlagn akong tulog hanggang sa makatulog ako.

I heard him say something.

“You’d hate me when you see my face.”

There was something warm beside me nang  magising ako. Madilim ang buong kwarto pero kita ko ang outline ng maskara ni Faust na natutulog sa tabi ko.

I smiled. Parang pagod na pagod siya at inaantok parin ako kaya natulog rin ako ulit.

***

Nang magising ako ay gabi parin, it was almost 12 though at parang may kung anong ingay.

“Kailangan mong sabihin Faust.” Sabi ng isang boses na parang kay Digger.

“She’ll hate me.”

“She’ll hate you nonetheless.” Sagot ni Digger. Lumabas ako sa kwarto at sa kitchen nagmumula yun ingay.

Napasilip ako sa pitno at nakita si Faust at Si Digger na nag-uusap.

“Sinong pinag-uusapan niyo?” tanong ko at gulat yung dalawang napatingin saakin.

“Feel better?” tanong ni Digger. “Gumana ba ang therapy ko?”

Base sa laki ng ngiti ni Digger ay nagtagumpay nga siya. Gumaan ang pakiramdam ko, I got to let go of the emotions I;ve been locking up inside me. Kinailangan ko ng taong magsasabi saakin ng mga ayw kong marinig, ng mga takot ko.

“That was a shitty way of doing it Digger.” Sagot ko.

“But you feel better now?”

“Oo na.” pilit kong sagot na nagpatawa lang sakanya.

"I should consider a job as an Emotion therapist.”

“Mababaliw lang ng mga pasyente mo. Pero salamat na rin.”

“I do what I can.” sagot lang niya.

“Hungry?” tanong saakin ni Faust at may nilapag na pancake sa counter. Kinain ko na kaagad.

“Masyado naman atang maaga para mag-agahan?” biro ko.

“You didn’t eat dinner at wla nang natira kasi may umubos.” Sagot ni Faust.

“I plead guilty.” Pabirong sabi ni Digger.

“Sinong nagluto?”  tanong ko pagkatapos kong kumagat ng isang piraso.

“Faust did.” sagot ni Digger.

“Taste bad huh.” Sabi lagn ni Faust.

“Hindi. Masarpa nga eh. Di ko alam na marunong ka pala magluto.”

Faust shrugged. I’ve never seen him this responsive. Tahimik kong inubos yung pancake.

“Tell me about yourself Carrie.” Biglang sbia ni Digger. “Alam kong hindi ka naman talaga sociable buong buhay mo. Maliban sa kasali sa Gabaldon, may iba ka bang naging kaibigan? Boyfriend?” tanong niya at napatingin ako kay Faust na ang sama ng tingin kay Digger pero todo nngiti lang ito.

“Hindi ba nakalagay sa nahanap mo tungkol saakin?” sarcastic na sabi ko.

“Gusto ko lang malaman galing sayo. Any other friends that might miss you?”

“Bakit? Papatayin mo na ba ako?” biro ko pero gulat lang silang dalawang nakatingin saakin.

“You know I won’t hurt you right?” tanong ni Digger.

“I was joking.” Sabi ko.


“Shut your mouth Digger.” Galit na sabi ni Faust.

“What it was an innocent question.”

“Actually. I had another friend, siguradong wala ito sa report niyo pero may isa rin akong naging matalik na  kaibigan maliban kay Fiona Gabaldon.”

“I didn’t know that.” Komento ni Digger.

“His name was Blaze Morelo. He was Daneilo’s bestfriend. Katulad ni Daneilo ay pinatay rin siya, hindi pa namin alam kung sino.” Sabi ko at biglang naging tahimik ang paligid.

Nakayuko si Faust at walang imik habang si Digger naman ay nagpatuloy lang sa pag-inom ng kape niya.

“I need to do something.” sabi lang ni Faust at tumayo na saka lumabas ng kitchen.

AN: All new chap will be unedit at ang rami ng typos. Will fix it once I have enough time. Kung may napansin kayonn repeating chaps pakisabi nalang :D