Recuerdo De Amor Island 4: You're My Life

Chapter 2

MIGUEL

I pour 2 glass a right amount of whiskey and give one to my aunt. I drink mine quickly. I glance to my Aunt only to see her staring blankly ahead and her finger was playing the mouth of the glass. Tumikhim ako para makuha ang atensyon n'ya, she blink few times and focus her attention to me.

"Everything is alright Tita?" I asked.

She sighed deeply and shrug. Her expression is unreadable, making me confused.

"You tell me darling, do I need to know something?" she asked. Her question made me stiffen. Iisa lang ang tinatago naming sekreto sa kanya at impossible na malaman n'ya ito.

I internally compose myself.

" I don't know Tita? Why do you think, we are keep something from you?" I asked cautiously this time.

Matiim n'ya akong tinitigan. I wanted to squirm under her intense gaze but I remain strong. She was intimidating sometimes.

"Your two cousins already confessed when I accidentally heard them talking about Princess, Errol Miguel Loyzaga but they didn't gave me a lot of details since they are under your command. Now my nephew, just because you are the head of our family, I won't hesitate to pull your ears until you tell me what I wanted to know. I spend almost 20 years longing for her and my heart aches just thinking her situation away from me," she stated.

My hand immediately cover my ear and reminded me how mean my Aunt was when we were younger. Palagi kaming nakakaranas ng pingot sa tainga kapag makulit kami.

"So spill Miguelito or I will find my daughter with media and you will not like the outcome of it," she continued with conviction in her voice and her tears was threatening to fall.

My eyes widen and shake my head. Alam kong gagawin n'ya ang bagay na ito, her mother instinct was irrational right now. The last thing we want is to expose Princess nang wala sa oras. Hindi pa ito ang tamang panahon para malaman nang traidor sa pamilya namin na buhay s'ya. Hindi pa s'ya handa para sa ganitong pagkakataon.

I stand up and give her a firm look.

"You wouldn't?! Are you willing to risk her life because you are desperate to find her? We knew what you been through Tita but she suffered worst if she was hand in a wrong man."

I watch her tears falls in her eyes like rivers but she glared at me. The Loyzaga fire in her eyes came out, stubbornly raise her chin. Napabuntong hininga ako ng malalim at naglakad sa isang coded cabinet sa likod ng mesa ko. I immediately scan my thumb in scanner and wait a second for recognition, then type the code. Once it was unlock I quickly scan the files I wanted and take it. Locking the cabinet again, I walk towards my aunt and put the files in the center table in front of her.

"Those were the reasons why we hide her to you. In those files you will find out everything you need to know but... whatever you read inside, you better swear to me Tita that you will never share the knowledge to anyone. You knew our rules about that," I firmly command. Like she said, I'm the Don of this Clan. As the Head of the Family, it's my responsibility to protect anyone even it will cause my life, like the first Heads of our family.

"Lo juro por mis antepasados Loyzaga, nunca revelare el secreto del clan." (I swear to my Loyzaga ancestors, I will never reveal any secret of the clan.)

I simple nod after hearing her swear and watch her shakely take the files. I turned around as I walk towards the thick and bullet proof glass wall my office. Tumingin sa kawalan at sariwain sa aking alaala kung paano ko nalaman ang tungkol sa pinsan ko.

It happened 4 years ago when my bestfriend told me, he knew my cousin is alive and living under my nose for past 2 years. Since I was serving US Navy at that time and my cousins are in their rebellion stage as teenager, he took care everything for her. He build a house for her in Angel's Haven Subdivision and made her studied via home schooled until she reach 17 to enter Le Surrey University. Now at 20, in her last year of university, we can't afford our enemy to find her. We watch her from afar, sending a shadow agent to protect her while making sure the traitors won't find out about her.

My uncle, Leonard Gavin Chavez and twin cousins, Logan and Wyatt, were struggling to conttol their emotions everytime they were only few feet away from her, they don't have choice but to control theirselves for the sake of her safety. Ngayon na alam ni Tita ang tungkol sa kanya, kailangan n'ya mag-ingat sa kanyang mga sasabihin lalo na ang pinaghihinalaan naming traidor ay malapit sa kanya. Ito rin ang dahilan kaya namin nagawang inilihim sa kanya ang tungkol dito, hindi matibay ang ebidensya laban sa mga traidor noon. Luckily, ngayon lang tuluyang napatunayan na totoo ang sinasabi nang nag-aruga kay Princess mula sa impormasyon na ibinigay ng kapatid ko na dalaga, kani-kanina lang.

I hear my Aunt's sob kaya napalingon ako sa kinaroroonan n'ya. I immediately run beside her and hug her. Hinayaan ko s'yang umiyak ng umiyak sa dibdid ko at palihim na kinuha ang phone ko sa likuran ng aking jeans, agad ako'ng nagtype nang message kay Uncle para tulungan ako na pakalmahin si Tita.

"Be there in 10 minutes," he replied. His company wasn't far from CSA building anyway. I also send a message to my guards in front to let my uncle enter without delay.

My Aunt's anguished cry break my heart but I can't do anything about it. Nawalan s'ya ng anak dahil sa taong akala n'ya ay kanyang karamay at sandigan. Kailangan ni Tita ilabas ang sakit na nararamdaman ngayon nang sa ganoon magawa n'yang humarap sa mga traidor na walang bakas na pagdududa, it took us a while to face them like that too. Acting like no knowledge of their betrayal were hard, there's a moment they were taunting us with their fake sympathy and we have to acted like we accepted them but inside I wanted them to suffer. I will make sure in that someday though, they will suffer for the rest of their pathetic lives.

10 minutes layer, my uncle enter my office rushing and immediately take my Aunt in my body, bringing her into his lap. He whispered sweet nothing to her ear para patahanin s'ya kaya napatayo ako sa aking kinauupuan at pumunta sa mini bar area. I pour more whiskey again in two glasses, taking one for myself and to my uncle. He gulp the whiskey immediately the second I gave it to him and send me a simple nod in my direction. He turn his attention to my sobbing Aunt and continue whispering her something just to make her calm down.

When was the last time I heard my Aunt cried like that? The same day as today decade ago..I think. When she found out my parents and almost everyone in their company died in highway m******e by Samaneigo clan, the same clan that take her daughter for a revenge.

"I'm taking your aunt home Miguel. I will tell her anything I know," uncle Leonard said. Tumango lang ako at lumapit sa kanila. Tumabi uli ako kay tito, inabot ko ang kamay ni tita at masuyo itong hinaplos. Napaangat s'ya ng tingin na hilam ng luha ang kanyang mga mata.

"I want you to remain strong Tita. We will have our justice soon but for now I need you to pretend that you don't know anything, that what happened right now never occurred. For the sake of Princess safety, you have to sacrifice few more months of longing for her."

She nod and start sobbing again in my uncle's chest. He stand up, carrying my aunt and start walking towards the door. If my team see her crying they will only think that my aunt is still emotional till now because of my parents 10th death anniversary.

Napabuntong hininga ako ng malalim, at nagsalin uli ng whiskey sa baso. Bumalik ako sa mesa ko dala ang whiskey, ngunit agad din akong napatayo nang masulyapan ko ang confidential files sa center table. Mabilis ko itong kinuha at binalik sa coded cabinet ko.

I continue my work for today, kailangan ko matapos bago ako umuwi sa isla. Mas gustuhin kong tumira doon kasama sina Alvin at Lianna. Doon din nagpipirmi ang mga kaibigan namin lalo na at malapit na ang kasal ni Blake at Shera.

Hindi naman ako masyado nag-aalala sa kapatid ko na maiwan s'ya palagi dito. Ever since he reach 15, he choose to be independent. Sumama ito sa'kin umuwi mula California para dito mag-aral at bumukod para sa sarili n'ya. Azel force himself to mature after our parents death, I can't blame him because I did the same. He also created his own name in underground world. Now at the age of 20, leading the strong Phantom Gang in Le Surrey University and underground world, made me proud of him.

I also worry a little for my sister, but she is very much capable handling herself. She is deadly before when my parents was alive, she became deadlier when they are gone. Dinamdam n'ya nang husto ang pagkamatay ng mga magulang namin. Like me, she vow to herself that she will bring justice of their death. Now she have her own dangerous team in her side, to hunt those who were on that night of their death. Hindi pa rin ito nakabalik dito simula ng umalis kami. She wanted too, like she said in the cemetery but she can't. Not only it was dangerous for her once the traitors know she come back, she wanted to help me finish this battle.

A knock in the door made me look up from my laptop. Napahilamos ako nang akong mukha at umupo ng maayos.

"Come in," I answered.

My Head in Beta (IT) Department enter immediately and walk toward my desk. Inilapag nito ang dalang mga reports ngayong linggo at pabagsak na umupo sa upuan. Tinaasan ko s'ya ng kilay na ikinakibit balikat n'ya lamang. He looked exhausted. Tsk. Not surprised there, mas workaholic pa s'ya sa'kin. I let him be and start reading the reports.

The Name of CSA Department are base in Greek Letter.

Alphas; where I, Joehan, Arnold, the Chavez twins and Triple A Team belong, and few of RDA members the work in CSA as Team Leaders, like my Head in Beta Department.

Beta Department; IT experts, weapon specialist and informant. The brain of CSA.

Gamma Department; The offensive section of CSA. Shadows, agents, spies and missionaries belong here. Their main rule is... To eliminate the threat.

Delta Department; The defensive section of CSA. Security Personnels, Guards, and lower employees of CSA belong here. Their main rule is... To protect.

"Any news about Agent B58?" I asked without leaving my eyes in the report. He don't need to inform me anytime unless it needs my attention or approval.

"Agent B58 is coming back here in 7300 hours. The mission was completed and they gathered enough information like you demand," he answered.

"That's good to hear, " I uttered. "I'm happy to know that the Venus project is in progress. Let your team proceed to the next step. Do you think, your team can complete the Venus project before the end of next year? And tighten the firewall around RdA server, they found some outsider trying to test our system there."

"It well be done before September, that was our estimated deadline for the Venus project. About the RdA server, I will see to it personally, "he answered.

"Good because you are coming with me today in the island. You'll be staying there for a week," I command, looking at him seriously.

Napaayos ito ng upo. "But kuya, I..."

Matiim ko s'yang tinitigan. "No buts, Edward. Look at yourself, you look exhausted and lack of sleep. Ako ang mapapagalitan nina Tito at Tita kapag makikita ka na ganyan. Do you want me to sent you in Isla Grande? I'm sure your parents will love you to spent a month with them until you got yourself back again."

He glared at me and shake his head, causing me to smirk. Takot ka rin pala eh.

Meet my cousin and as I mentioned, my Head in Beta Department, Edward Mondragon the Third, 23 years old but already on top of his career. He is a son of my mother's younger brother, Edward Mondragon Junior. The eldest in 3 siblings, and only male in the family. He start working in CSA at the age of 16 from the lowest job in Beta Department to enhance his knowledge in technology even he is already genius on it. He handle the Dragon Technology na pag-aari ng kanilang pamilya habang nagtatrabaho dito sa CSA. Dragon Tech. is located in Proteger Island and partnered with CSA in creating high-tech weaponry and gadgets for our employees.

"I'll meet you in the roof top. Ipaalam ko muna sa mga tauhan ko ang biglaan mo na desisyon. And to change my schedules, thank you very much."

I just shrug in his upset behaviour. I got back to my work and let him sulk for a while. Sanay na ako sa katigasan nang ulo ng mga kapatid at pinsan ko. And I love being the eldest kasi walang makakasalungat sa utos ko.

"Before I forgot... I received a distress call from Delta team with Heaven, they are coming back home in 1700 hours."

Napaangat ako ng tingin at napahinto sa pagsign ng report. Napakunot ako ng noo.

"There was an accident involving her date and her obsess stalker. Binugbog ng tauhan nito ang kadate ni Heaven, ilang metro ang layo mula sa restuarant na kanilang pinanggalingan. Nagkataon na sa ibang way ang naman sina Heaven dumaan kaya hindi nila alam. Kinaumagahan nagpadala ito nang bulaklak at threat note kay Heaven na higit pa doon ang gagawin n'ya kapag inulit pa ito ni Heaven. It was getting out of hand kaya naisipan na lang nila na umuwi and let Heaven team finish the her project in Hawaii," mahabang paliwanag nito.

It doesn't surprise me anymore. May ideya na ako kung anong uri ng tao ang stalker ni Heaven bago pa man ako nagpadala ng informant doon sa Italy. A dangerous kind of man that willing to kill anyone just to take what he wanted.

"Hmmm. Good thing Agent B58 is coming. Set a schedule for meeting next week, Friday. Sent a notice to all Alphas and Rafael for now. And it's time for Heaven to know about the Loyzaga Mafia and its allies. I have a feeling, she was caught by web of underground world. "

"Noted Boss. Yes Agent B58 said the same, when they found out about her obsess stalker. I will tell my secretary your plan and let her sent the notice to them." Tumayo at nag-inat. Bakas pa rin sa mukha nito ang pagod at puyat. Makatulong ang pagpahinga n'ya sa isla nang isang linggo para makabawi sa kanyang lakas. I slide back the reports he brought with my signatures on them. Kinuha n'ya ito at naglakad palabas ng opisina ko. "See you later kuya."

"You better Edward. "

Napahimas ako ng aking sentido at napabuntong ng malalim sa problemang dala ng stalker ni Heaven. This time I can tell... her beauty is more a curse than a blessing.