Cimmerian Gray (BBS #2) | ON-HOLD

Kabanata 1

1 : Lola

Several heads turned my way as I walk towards the International airport's exit. May it be men or women. May ibang namamangha at iyong iba kuryoso. I rolled my eyes behind my big dark sunglasses.

Oh por favor, ngayon lang ba sila nakikita ng maganda?

I almost flipped my hair, kung hindi lang okupado ang mga kamay ko. My left hand is pulling my bright red luggage as the other's holding my phone against my ear.

I'm currently talking to my mother. Pagkababa ko palang sa eroplano binomba na nito ng tawag ang cellphone ko. Ganoon sya ka praning!

"Si, I've landed safely. Please don't worry about me, mi mamá. I've been here a couple of times!" I tried to convince her.

This is my second time this year actually. The last time was because of my father's birthday, umalis rin naman ako after a few days. This time is because it's my father's funeral.

Yes, my father is dead.

According to his right-hand man slash his secretary, he died three nights ago while traveling back from a business conference. He was ambushed and died on the spot along with his set of bodyguards.

Hindi na ako nagulat doon dahil marami na talaga syang kaaway sa negosyo. And based on experience, hindi sya mabait na tao. I internally grimaced. Kaya nga sakanya nakipaghiwalay si mama dahil sa masama nyang pag-uugali.

He was a calloused and evil man.

"Lo sé, but this time is different! Your father died in an ambush, how can I not worry, niña terca?!" bayolente nyang balik.

I was 10 nang maghiwalay ang mga magulang ko, bumalik si mama sa Spain at doon na muling nanirahan. Dinala nya ako roon pero dahil sa napagkasunduan sa korte, kailangan ko ring tumira sa poder ng ama dito sa pilipinas.

I lived in Spain for five years since their divorce, after that dito naman ako tumira.

I spend my college years here in the Philippines. At pagtungtong ko nang 18 saka lang ako binigyan ng choice kung saan ko gustong pumoder.

Of course, pinili ko si mama. Pero bumabalik rin naman ako rito kapag may okasyon or naisipang magbakasyon. Hindi nga lang ako nagtatagal dahil hindi ko gustong masaksihan ang mga gawaing ilegal ng ama.

Yes, my father was not an ordinary businessman. He was involved in many illegal businesses. Mapa sa droga pa iyan o ilegal na mga armas.

Mayroon rin syang sariling grupo ng mga sindikato na pinagtulungan nilang buuin ng kasosyo nyang Russian. Nang malaman iyon ni mama hindi na sya nagdalawang-isip na makipaghiwalay.

Well, kung tutuusin maayos namang ama si papa. Binibigay nya ang lahat ng gusto ko. Wala ring pinagbabawal na kahit ano. Kahit nga madaling araw na akong umuwi dahil sa pagkikipag-party hindi sya nagagalit. Kahit magboyfriend ako ng marami, ayos lang. He's that cool.

Kahit palagi syang nagsusungit, mabuti syang ama sa'kin. Well, dahil siguro nag-iisa nya lang akong anak.

I freed a soft laugh as I listened to my mother's rambling. Kaonti na lang maha-high blood na naman ito sa akin.

"Mama, I know martial arts. Papa taught me how to kick some balls. And that was proven and tested." natatawa kong sabi sa ina.

Rinig ko ang pagbuntong-hininga ng ina sa kabilang linya. Napangiti ako dahil alam kong sumuko na ang ina.

"Bueno! But stay close to your bodyguards at all times even if you're good at kicking balls. Ah, me estás dando dolor de cabeza!" You're giving me a headache!