"I might leave the mafia."
Pareho silang hindi nakaimik ni Dominic. Giovanni was so serious that they couldn't utter a single word. Why would he leave the mafia? Parang wala namang ibang kayang mamuno rito kundi ito lang.
Sumandal ito sa backrest saka marahang ngumiti sa kanila. "But since I am still here, tulungan n'yo muna ako," saad nito.
"Are you serious? Bakit ka aalis? Sino ang papalit sa 'yo? Alam na ba ito ni Pierre?" taong ni Dominic.
She felt she doesn't belong there that specific time. Parang dapat si Pierre ang nandoon at hindi siya.
"Hindi ko alam kung sino ang ipapalit ni Dad. Baka si Gareth. I don't know." He shrugged.
"Gareth? Gareth Henderson?" She asked. Tumango si Giovanni.
"Bakit siya? Wala naman siyang alam sa mafia," sabi naman ni Dominic. "I'll call Pierre. Pag-usapan nating tatlo ito." Tumayo ito at sinimulang tawagan si Pierre.
Tumayo din siya at nagtangkang magpaalam. Dominic was talking to Pierre over the phone at the corner. Giovanni held her hand and motioned her to sit again.
"May problema ba?" tanong niya rito.
He just smiled. A sad smile.
Kahit wala itong ibang sinabi, she can still feel the pain within him. Nakikita niya ang lungkot na pilit nitong itinatago sa mga pilit na ngiti nito.
"Dahil ba sa nangyayari?" tanong niyang muli. He didn't answer. Hindi niya tuloy maiwasang mainis. Magsasabi tapos hindi naman itutuloy.
Bumalik si Dominic at naupong muli. "He'll be here in a moment. Pinapareport din pala ito ni Boss Travor."
"I expected that," mahinang tugon nito.
They didn't speak. Nakakabinging katahimikan ang namayani sa pagitan nilang tatlo. Dominic seemed drowned in his own thought. Ganoon din si Giovanni. Habang siya ay hindi na mapakali sa kinauupuan.
She barely heard about Gareth Henderson. The eldest son of Drax and Pia Henderson. Madalas itong napapasama sa mga listahan ng Most Successful Bachelors sa mga prestihiyosong magasin. He also has businesses on his own. Mas bata ito kay Giovanni ng isang taon.
Nabulabog lang sila nang ilang katok sa pinto. Pumasok si Travor Henderson kasunod si Pierre. They stood up to meet them. Natuod siya sa kinatatayuan. Seryoso ang mga mukha ng mga ito. Hindi niya alam kung dapat na ba siyang umalis o kung dapat pa rin siyang manatili. The way Giovanni held her hand earlier, it seemed like he wanted her to be there. Pero natatakot siya sa ama nito.
"L-lalabas na po muna ako," paalam nalang niya. She'll just talk to Giovanni after. She didn't wait them to speak. Naglakad na siya palabas. It was then when Marian came in.
"Stay here, Carmela," utos nito sa kanya kaya napako na naman siya sa kinatatayuan.
Lord, help me!
Travor sat on the single sofa, while Marian sat on the long one at Travor's right side. Sina Giovanni, Pierre at Dominic naman nasa long sofa sa kaliwa ni Travor. Siya, nakatayo pa rin.
"Carmela, you can sit beside me," Marian said. Her words are the rules so, she obeyed.
She looked to their faces. Napakasiseryoso ng kanilang mga mukha at awra. Wala pa man, nagtatayuan na ang mga balahibo niya sa batok.
"Dominic, pakitawagan pala si Four," utos ni Travor.
"Yes, Boss," mabilis na tugon ni Dominic. He went out to call Four.
BINABASA MO ANG
The Legendary Red-Eyed Girl
ActionShe was a lone survivor. She came in the city to find justice. She became someone far from who she was. She's hungry for vengeance. She was Carmela Calida. And now, she's Carmela Marasigan. The legendary red-eyed girl.
