SOME DAYS

PANG-SAMPU

****IKASAMPUNG KABANATA****

    The older man smiled humorously. "I find it amusing coming the words from you, Koy."

    "You know who I am, bakit ako?" He asked in a rushing manner. He gripped his knee and watched as Gaspar sipped his whiskey casually.

    "Why not you..." The older man's gaze is unreadable. Mas Malabo pa itong Mabasa kaysa sa tubig kanal.

    "I know you gonna kill me anyways, but at least tell me your reasons."

    The older man burst in laughter. Like he had said a joke when he wasn't. He was serious about it.

    "Ronald De Santos..." He uttered emphasizing every syllables of his name. "You mean you want me to compliment you, huh..."

    "If that's your definition of it, then yes."

    The older man stood up from his swivel chair and walked west side of that huge room. He was aiming for the piano that was bumming there for a long time. He has always been in Gaspar's side but he never saw him play the piano in his entire career of being the syndicate lord's right hand-man. He had always thought that this room was a bit too much for him. It screams elegance and money.

    That Victorian room has a twenty-foot cathedral ceiling with a wooden propeller ceiling fan when in fact, the whole room was air-conditioned already. There's a bar counter on the side with different types of beverages and alcohol implying that the man is an alcoholic. Not surprising though, when you are in this line of business, alcohol is what makes your friends closer... and sometimes your enemies closer, too.

    Gaspar lift the fallboard of his grand piano and sat on the chair in front of it. He watched him as he started playing with the keys in a familiar tune. Akala nya ay pang-disenyo lang ang piano na iyon sa kwartong iyon but it seems like Gaspar really know how to play it.

    "The first time I met Leila, she was watching this anime movie inside her cage. Nakakita ka na ba ng telebisyon na meron pang umbok sa likod? Or naabutan mo pa bang manood sa VHS?" He started while still playing with the piano keys.

    Kokoy shakes his head, "Nope."

    "It was about a young girl who turned into an old woman, and then she met Howl..."

    "And you're telling me this because?"

    "Howl was a wizard and a warfare soldier. The king wants him but he wouldn't trust the king, and Sophie got caught up in fire. She wanted Howl to be human again, but Howl was too engaged with the kingdoms clashing... Every time he fights, he turns into a beast, that was his curse... He was a hopeless case, he knew... He can never return to his old self..." Gaspar stops then looked at him.

    Kokoy was waiting for him to continue the story. But Gaspar began ticking the piano keys again with the same tune, but this time, it was on a fast phase. "Sophie made it happen... He brought back the old Howl that was once he was... Human, again... and Leila made me feel that way..." Gaspar stops playing the piano again. "Leila is Elijah's mom..."

    Kokoy didn't how to react with that. Gaspar was just telling him how their love story started. He was torn between cringing and amazement. He, Gaspar Canlas or known as Gaspar Luciano has the ability to love? It's like telling a kid a bed time story, it sounds too fictional to him.

    "I have loved her. And will always do..." Gaspar stood up from the chair and walk to his desk again. He poured some whiskey on his glass and walk through the glass window. "unlike Howl, she's gone... And the only thing she had left was Elijah, my son..."

    "If you really care, bakit ngayon mo lang sya hinanap?"

    "I'm a syndicate Lord, Koy. I have tons of enemies. And they found out about Leila... They got her and at that time, she was carrying our son... I don't believe in God, but as what they've always say, God knows how much time and resources I've spent looking for them... But I was too late, Leila was gone... The love of my life was gone..." He drank the whiskey and turned to him again, his eyes gleaming with tears. Gone was the toughed looking Gaspar.

    "It was just recently that Mateo informed me that he has Elijah. And that's why I had to fly right away in Italy just to make sure it was really him... Seeing him made me feel alive again, Koy... He looks exactly just like Leila...My Leila... I'm not complaining though, Leila was a really beautiful lady..."

    Kokoy moved his glass forward and initiated pouring himself a whiskey. He can't take how soft looking is Gaspar right now; he wanted to puke rainbows. "So, err... What are your plans now?" He asked.

    He was about to gulp his whiskey when Gaspar said,

    "I know you're going to arrest me because you've completed your evidences against my operations, Koy."

    He choked on his own whiskey. How much does he know?

    "How?!"

    "Simple, because I know everything." He stated coolly.

    "How the hell that you're nonchalant about it?"

    "Because I am me, kiddo..." He sat on his chair again and poured his glass a whiskey because he had spat some whiskey on his pants. "I'll surrender to the authorities, but you'll have to do something for me in return..."