Belonged to the Mafia 18+

030: Clip Those Wings

030: Clip Those Wings

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"Hmm~ bakit ganito, ang sarap yata ng body pillow ko ngayon?" dinama-dama ni Judy ang fit na fit na body pillow sa loob ng mga braso niya. Ipinagpatuloy lang niya ang pagtulog. Ibinaon niyang mabuti ang mukha sa unan. Ipinulupot niya ang isang hita dito. Falling asleep again, her brain started to recall a few last memories before she passed out. "Passed out?" Naalimpungatan na iminulat niya ang dalawang mata. At gayon, nagising siya sa katotohanan. Hindi body pillow ang niyayakap-yakap niya--kungdi tao! Ang masaklap pa, si Valence Ferrari!

"You've gone bolder," mapang-inis na saad nito.

Ramdam niya ang pag-iinit ng mga pisngi. Agad siyang bumangon. Pero sa ginawa niyang iyon, nahulog siya sa pang-isahang kama ng clinic. Napaaray na lang siya sa paghampas ng katawan niya sa malamig na baldosang sahig. Idagdag pang nanghihina pa ang katawan niya sa mga dinanas ng mga nakaraang araw.

Pumalatak si Valence. Bumaba ito ng kama para buhatin siya pabalik ng kama. "What are you, a child?" pagalit pa nito.

"H-hindi mo na ko kailangang buhatin!" Tinakpan niya ng mga palad ang mukha. Nakakahiya! Kung buhatin siya nito parang hindi siya mabigat!

"Bata ka nga."

"Ano kamo?!"

Naupo ito sa tabi niya. Iisod na siya palayo pero pumulupot ang matitipunong braso nito sa kaniya sabay hila pabagsak sa kama.

"Hoy!"

"Lemme rest, damn it."

Natigil si Judy. Humarap siya dito. Napagtanto niya'ng may eyebags na ang binata. "Anong nangyari sayo?"

Dumilat ito para lang pandilatan siya. "You've been asleep for a whole day since yesterday. I've been awake since yesterday. I changed your clothes myself and gave you a sponge bath since yesterday. Do you have any idea how much I've kept all my letch in since yesterday?"

Bumilis ang tibok ng puso niya. Malapit. Masyado silang malapit sa isa't-isa. Tumatama ang hininga nito sa mukha niya. Kahit na may bed hair, hindi iyon nakabawas sa guwapong taglay nito. Anak yata ni Zeus 'to.  Nagpilit siya ng ngiti, "A-ha-ha-ha, sige matulog ka na uli."

"I refuse."

"Sabi mo--" natahimik siya nang halikan siya nito. Pagkatapos ay mahigpit siyang niyakap pa. "Val?"

"I'm glad."

"Ha?"

"I'm glad you called me."

Nawalan ng lakas si Judy. Naalala niya ang lahat. Ang masamang alaala na ipinakalimot nito sa kaniya. "I don't know..."

Hindi ito nagkumento.

"I don't know why I called you. I just... needed you? I gues..."

Valence pulled her head to bury against his neck. A victorious smile painted on his face. Yes, she only needs him. He's the one who's going to be protecting her.

"Why?"

"What?"

"Why did you come save me?"

"Because you're mine. And I hate people taking what's mine."

Which reminds her. There's something about yesterday she can't remember. "May sinabi ka ba sakin?"

"Hmm?"

"Pakiramdam ko may mahalaga kang sinabi, eh. Hindi ko matandaan."

"You'll get plenty of it for the rest of our lives."

"Ano'ng ibig mo'ng sabihin?"

"The ball's tomorrow." Binago nito ang usapan. "Ms. Quin said Rita Amaltifano herself will help you prepare."

Napasimangot siya. "I don't want to go. I hate parties."

"What you hate doesn't matter. It's a once in a year event that's no one ever should miss to increase their status."

"Do you have to?"

"I'm a mafia heir, the Ferrari's next head."

Reality reaply is harsh. For a moment she forgot what mess she's in. Her parents are missing. Her sisters are in different countries and they can't talk. She's stuck in this island with no clear answer why everything seems to pull her to a dangerous world. To a dangerous person whom she asked for help, Valence. She remembers the time he forced himself to her inside the greenhouse. He took her and she feared him. She ran away to find Rizza. She offered her help and was about to leave when attackers came and injected her with some drug.

Speaking of Rizza. Napabangon siya. "Nasaan si Rizza?! Hinulog siya ng mga masasamang tao sa dagat!"

"She's fine. The principal is already taking care of her."

"Principal?"

"Leo Alkippe."

The name rung a bell. "Kailangan ko siyang puntahan--"

"No."

"..."

"You still don't understand our world, Dove. It's cruel. It's all about power. You're either the strong or the weak." His face was all-in serious. He took her hand to his lips. "I'm not going to play the nice man for you, just so you know. I'm as cruel as those who're in the top."

A spark of fear is starting to engulf Judy's subconscious fantasies.  How could she forget? He's a mafia. He's bound to do evil deeds. She can't recall well but she knew he had killed her attackers. The sound of gunshots, his gripe of fury.

His blue eyes dig deep within her mind. This is wrong. This is a sin she can never go back if she let herself be drawn to him. Or was she too late?

"Don't ever leave me, Dove."

She looked at him and she understood, his feelings are not love. It's owning something worth the claim. At least in her own perception.

"How can I leave," she said sadly, "if your face tells me I can never?"

He smiled. Eyes closed he murmurs these words she forgot but bethinking now, "I love you."

If only they were pure. She could have too.

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