Under the Mafia Boss's Protection

C21

We arrived at Cavite at exactly 9AM in the morning. Namangha ako sa simplisidad nang bayan na nakikita ko, it's already over the news na narito ang Mayor ng Antique. Vice Mayor, si Ate Mary sa Antique kaya siya muna ang namamahala doon.

Dahil walang matutuluyan ang pamilya nina Jizan at Riguel, Dad offered to stay at his old mansion. Hindi ko matigilan ma-excite kasi first time kong makapunta roon.

We are traveling papunta mansion gamit ang kanya-kanyang family van.

"Mom! How many rooms are there po ba?" Avie suddenly asked.

"Ilan nga ba yun, Saint?" Tanong naman ni Mom kay Dad.

"As far as I can remember my room, Dad and mom's room, your room, Ate Mary's room, and 13 guests rooms in all."

Woah, ganun kalaki? Yung sa mansion namin sa Antique ay 10 guests rooms lang, tapos kwarto ko, kwarto ni Avie at kina Mom at Dad.

"Yay!! I want Mom's Room!" Agad namang sabi ni Avie. Mom looked at us and smiled.

"How about you Evie? Where do you want to stay?" Mom asked me.

"Sa kwarto ni Dad." I said.

Nagkatinginan sila at tumango naman si Dad as a sign of approval.

"How about the security? Saint?" Mom asked Dad, may security ang kwarto ni Dad? That's amazing!

"I'll just disable it." Napatango naman si Mom dahil sa sinabi ni Dad.

"Eh ikaw Soren?" Mom asked Soren.

"I want Dad's room." Napatingin naman si Mom saakin.

"I'll take Tita Mary's room, then." Ngumiti si Mom saakin dahil sa naging desisyon ko.

I looked at Soren at ngumisi lang siya nang nakakaloko saakin, and I just rolled my eyes.

After several minutes ay pumasok na kami sa isang subdivision. Luxury Subdivision, ang mga mansion dito ay masyadong malalaki. At napakalayo ng agwat nang mga mansion.

We stopped in a very big mansion. Dad rolled the windows down at agad namang sumalubong saamin ang isang mayordoma.

"Naku! Kayo naba iyan, Saint hijo?" Rinig kong sabi ng mayordoma.

"Yes, Manang Cilia. Paki buksan po nang gate." Giliw na giliw ang mayordoma at agad binuksan ang napakalaking gate.

Dad drove inside at halos napanganga ako, this is thrice bigger than our home! Even Avie is in shock at parang hindi makapaniwala.

Bumaba na kami sa harap ng double doors habang pi-nark naman ng driver ang van sa garage.

Dumating narin sina Jizan at Riguel at bumaba narin sa van nila. I can see amazement in their eyes, at pati ako rin ay namamangha sa laki ng mansion na pagmamay-ari nina Lolo at Lola.

Santillana's are damn rich. Huh?

"Let's go inside." Sabi ni Dad at binuksan ang double doors ng mansion.

Kung nakakamangha sa labas ay mas namangha ako sa looban ng mansion. The floor is marble and a marvelous chandelier is hanging above the ceiling. So beautiful.

"The guest's rooms are in the 3rd Floor, feel free to choose okay? And, the keys are with Manang Cilia sasamhan nila kayo." Bilin ni Dad.

"We very appreciate this hospitality, Mayor. Thank you very much." Saad ni Mrs. Traspe.

"No need to thank me, plus the mansion is really huge for us. The more the merrier." Dad said, and smiled a little.

I saw Tito Manzo sitting at the very huge couch. I can see na kabisado niya na ang mansion, sabagay mag kaibigan sila ni Dad simula pa noon.

Sinamahan ako sa isa sa mga maid sa kwarto ni Tita Mary. Tita Mary's room is just as huge as mine.

Hindi ko mapigilang pumasok sa loob ng walk-in closet ni Tita Mary at nagulat ako sa laki nito. At sa dami ng damit, I thought wala na to dito?

"Evie!!!!" Agad akong lumabas sa sa closet ni Tita Mary at agad namang sinalubong si Avie na excited na excited na pumasok sa loob.

"Woah! This is also big huh? But, this is not my concern. Halika! Mom found their old album, at nandoon ang teenager pictures nila!" Napangiti ako sa sinabi ni Avie at agad sinundan ang kanyang bilis sa paglalakad.

Pumasok kami sa isang kwartong napakalaki, I guess this is Lolo and Lola's bed room. I saw Mom, Dad and Soren sitting at the couch. Nang makita kami ay agad silang Napangiti.

I sat beside Mom, and Avie sat beside Dad. At nasa gitna naman si Soren. Soren is holding the album. Binuksan nila iyon at bumungad naman saakin ang isang family portrait.

Dad is wearing an eyepatch, nakaupo si Dad sa kandungan ng isang lalakeng kamukhang-kamukha ni Dad. While Mom is sitting beside a elegant gorgeous lady.

"This is your Grandparents, Grandpa Santino and Grandma Angela." Dad said. Woah, so nasa lahi na talaga ang pagiging maganda at gwapo?

"Mom! You look like Evie nung bata ka pa." Nakangiting sabi ni Avie. Mom nodded while smiling.

The next picture is Mom being tutored, and Dad staring at her. Napangiti ako sa nakita ko, bata palang talaga sila ay nagkakagusto na si Dad kay Mom.

Ang sunod naman ay portrait ni Mom and Dad. Dad is sitting while Mom is standing at his side.

"Mommy you look Evie, and I look like Dad." Natatawang sabi ni Avie, pati ako ay Napatawa narin sa sinabi ni Avie.

"Look at this one." Napatingin ako sa tinuro ni Mom, at nanlaki ang mata ko sa nakita ko.

A selfie picture of Mom and Dad, and Dad is not wearing his eyepatch. Nakangiti silang dalawa from ear to ear at halatang masayang-masaya sila sa piling ng isa't-isa.

"And this one." Turo ulit ni Dad.

Napatingin kami roon at nakita ko naman yung picture na grumaduate si Mommy sa OS. She is very very pretty with simple features.

"Eto tingnan nyo." Sabi naman ni Mom at inilipat sa kabilang page ang album.

Bumungad naman saamin ang picture na nagpatawa saaming lahat. Dad is pouting! While Mom is staring at Dad's face na parang inlove na inlove talaga siya.

"Dad! You look stupid!" Natatawang sabi ko.

"Yes, you do!" Dagdag naman ni Soren.

Napuno ng tawanan ang kwarto habang tumitingin kami sa mga lumang litrato nila ni Mom at Dad, hindi ako makapaniwala na totoo pala talaga ang sinabi ni Dad na si Mom talaga ang minahal niya mula bata siya at hanggang ngayon.

I can't believe it. Their true love never dies, at para iyong kandilang hindi nauupos.

Nang makarating kami sa pinakahuling picture ay yun ang wedding picture nila sa simbahan. Yung nasa bahay kasi ay yung wedding picture na sa underground ginanap. This one...is very beautiful.

Mom is wearing a elegant while gown, habang si Dad ay naka tux. They are smiling from ear to ear.

I looked at Mom at nakita ko ang namumuong luha sa mga mata niya, Dad is just staring at the picture.

"god, ang tagal narin pala ng narating natin Saint. Parang kahapon lang na halos lumalaban tayo para sa buhay natin, but now, we're here looking back through the memories with our kids." Umiiyak na sabi ni Mom.

I've heard about Mom and Dad's struggles just to fight for their love. At kahit isang milyong ulit-ulitin iyong ikwento ni Mom ay hindi ako magsasawa, dahil para saakin, that was a very pure, heart aching, and beautiful story.

That was a story of true love.

"Yeah, and it's all worth it." Bulong ni Dad kay Mom but we heard it all.

When we arrived at the venue, lahat ay napaka-pormal tingnan. Sabagay, this birthday celebration is very grand, and unique. It's ancient style, gaya nang gusto ni Riguel. He loves ancient things, I see.

"Evie! You already, arrived! Is that your gift for Rigo?" Napatingin ako kay Mrs. Traspe, habang nakangiti saakin ng malapad.

"Ahm yes." I said while holding a black gift box.

"You can hand it to me para maipasama ko na sa ibang gifts." Sabi ni Mrs. Traspe, napatango naman ako at binigay sakanya ang dala-dala kong gift.

Hinanap ng mga mata ko si Avie at napailing-iling nalang ako ng makita ko siyang kasama si Jax, Jurielle, Ruel, at Ryl. Lalapit na sana ako roon ng biglang may humawak sa braso ko.

Napatingin ako sa kamay na nakahawak sa braso ko at inangat ang tingin ko sa taong iyon.

"Jizan? What are you doing?" Inis kong tanong.

"Let's sit over there." Sabi niya at tinuro ang table kung saan naman nakaupo si Riguel, Rahul, Soren, Leviathan, and Khadin.

Leviathan and Khadin ay ang mga kaibigan ni Soren, and I think kilala nila ang mga Traspe.

Sinundan ko nalang si Jizan na naglalakad palapit sa table nayun. Napatingin saakin si Riguel at agad ngumiti, I smiled back at him and sat beside him.

"Happy Birthday!" I said.

"Thanks, where's my gift?" He asked. I snickered at him kaya napatawa siya..

"Nasa mama mo, I gave it to her." He showed me an 'ok' sign at ngumiti ng malapad, agad ko namang nakita ang lumitaw niyang dimples. Cute.

Naramdaman kong may umupo sa tabi ko at nakita ko namang si Jizan yun. He is busy texting someone, I guess it's Kylie?

I looked at Soren at nakita kong seryoso siyang nakatingin kay Riguel. Anong problema ng isang 'to?

"Are you dating my sister?" Biglaan niyang tanong habang nakatingin kay Riguel ng masama. Wtf?

"Pardon?" Riguel responded.