Under the Mafia Boss's Protection

C8

Pinagtagpi ko ang labi ko habang nakaupo sa couch sa sala. Katabi ko si Jizan at Riguel, habang ang nasa harapan namin ay ang galit na galit na mukha ni Mommy. Mommy can be sweet at all times pero nakakatakot rin siya magalit, Dad can spoil me and Evie pero hinding-hindi rin yon kayang gawin ni Mommy saamin.

Napa-angat ako ng tingin at nakita kong kalmado lang si Dad, habang si Avie ay parang kinakabahan rin. I looked at Jizan and Riguel, they are both lowering their heads.

"I'm so sorry, Tita. We are the ones who pursued Evie to come with us, wala po siyang kinalaman." Riguel said, napatingin ako kay Mom at saakin lang sya nakatitig at tinataas ang isang kilay niya saakin.

"Mom, I'm bored during the event so I decided to come with them. And I really think I am going to have fun going out with them."

"You ditching out is not my concern because I expected that, what I am concerned about is you not coming home last night. What do you expect me to think huh? Tapos ang kasama mo pa ay dalawang lalake, boys and girls should not hang out during the night Eveanna." Oh, I know what she means.

Napatingin ako kina Jizan at Riguel, I saw how tensed Riguel is habang si Jizan ay parang wala lang sakanya ang nangyayari. How the f**k can he stay calm?

"Tita we didn't do anything wrong to Evie, we respect her as how much I respect your family. Tsaka kasama po namin yung isang pinsan ko, si Selestine." Riguel explained again.

"And who's Selestine? Where is she?" Mom asked.

"She's asleep inside the car." Jizan finally answered.

"Pinapayagan kong lumabas si Evie, pero sana naman. Ipagpaalam niyo siya, hindi yung itatakas niyo. I will only tolerate this kind of actions once, kung mauulit pa'to I will forbid you to be friends with my daughter. Understood?" Tanong ni Mommy.

"Yes, Tita." Riguel.

"Sure thing, Tita." Jizan.

Hindi pa pinatagal ni Mommy ang usapan dahil alam niyang pagod rin ang dalawa. They both headed out at umakyat na ako sa kwarto ko, at napahiga sa kama.

Napatitig ako sa kisame at napapikit nalang. Last night was fun, I realized na hindi naman pala kailangan ng mga dangerous activities to have fun. You can have fun in that simple ways.

My phone vibrated kaya agad akong napatingin dito.

From: Unknown Number

Hey, Evie. I'm sorry about last night, promise It won't happen again. Btw, it's Rigo.

Riguel? Where the hell did he get my number? Eh hindi ko naman iyon binigay sakanya?

To: Riguel

Nah, it's fine. Mom just protective dahil akala niya napahamak na ako. It's okay, I had fun actually.

Realtalk nasiyahan talaga ako kasama sila at hindi ako nagsisi sa ginawa ko. Mommy said if mauulit pato ay kukunin niya ang cards ko at hindi na ako pwedeng makipagkita sakanila. I understand her though, dahil alam kong natatakot lang rin siya dahil kilala na ang pamilya namin sa bayan na 'to.

From: Riguel

I'm really glad to hear na nasiyahan ka kagabi. Akala ko nga mab-bored karin dahil hindi ka makapag swimming.

I laughed a bit.

To: Riguel

It's not a big of a deal actually, hindi rin naman ako marunong lumangoy so okay narin xD

From: Riguel

Talaga? I can teach you someday, kapag makakasama kapa samin sa talon.

Napatingin ulit ako sa kisame at napa-isip sa sinabi niya. That would be nice, gusto ko ring masubukan lumangoy doon, I can see the clear water kahit nasa gazebo ako.

To: Riguel

Yeah sure, I'd love to. Nakakaumay rin palaging nakatingin nalang hahaha

From: Riguel

Yep. Madaldal Karin pala? I did not expect you to be, you look so cold and harsh palagi.

Agad akong napaupo sa kama dahil sa sinabi ni Riguel, bumungad naman saaking harapan ang full length body mirror ko. I stared at myself.

Cold and harsh, huh?

To: Riguel

Why do you see me as cold & harsh? hahaha

Tiningnan ko ang repleksyon ko and all I can see is a heartless stare from myself. Kahit nakatingin ako sa sarili ko ay kitang-kita ko ang lamig sa mga titig ko. Where did I get this from?

Maybe from Dad, I once saw Dad using some of these expressions tuwing nasa organization meeting siya.

Na kwento narin ni Mommy saakin na nakakatakot daw si Dad kung magalit. But he never hurt anyone he loves.

From: Riguel

The expression. Your eyes and body language. Nagulat nga ako ng malaman ko kagabi kung anong klaseng pampalipas oras ang ginagawa mo tuwing anniversary. All that guns and stuffs...

To: Riguel

Why? Do you expect me to be soft and lovely?

I am not soft nor lovely. Si Avie ang nababagay na tawagin niyan, even my voice sounds si rasped at parang palaging napapaos. My hair is almost in bob, kung hindi lang naging messy wob. I looked like a rebel but more decent.

Hindi nga siguro nababagay saakin ang mga gowns and dresses. I myself look like this para Hindi ako mapagkamalang Mahina, I don't want the enemies to see me as prey. I want them to see me as a predator, I want to be feared by all. Not to be loved by all like Avie.

I don't care about Avie's attitude though, wala naman akong problema. Because she inherited Mom's attitude but Dad's features, it suits her well.

As for Soren, he's a mix. His eyes are the same like Dad and Avie, ako lang hindi nagkaroon ng ganoong mata. But it's okay though because I have Mom's eyes.

Nakarinig ulit ako ng tunog mula sa cellphone ko kaya agad akong napatingin roon at halos umawang ang labi ko dahil sa nireply ni Riguel saakin.