The Trouble with the Twins

Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Ways and traditions

Pagkalapag ng eroplano sa Japan ay bumaba na silang lahat at nahuli si Lorie sa pagbaba. The moment the familiar breeze of wind hits her skin, she felt scared and worried what might happen to her during her stay. She felt so uneasy and bothered but she doesn’t know why. Weird as may it seem but that’s what she really feels. Hindi maipaliwanag ni Lorie ang kaba na nararamdaman niya sa mga oras na iyon. Hindi siya mapakali na ewan basta hindi niya maipaliwanag.

Mabigat ang mga paa na humakbang pababa si Lorie mula sa eroplano. Dumating ang dalawang van sa tapat nila Gustavo at sumakay silang lahat sa dalawang van at umalis sa airport. Patuloy pa rin sa pagkabog ang dibdib ni Lorie kahit na ba hindi niya ito pinapansin ay malakas pa rin ang kabog. Panay din ang ginawa niyang buntong-hinga para maibsan ang nararamdaman niyang kaba.

Pagkarating sa hotel ay kaniya-kaniya silang nagpunta sa mga suite room nila pagkatapos mag check-in. Nang nasa kwarto na niya si Lorie ay agad niyang tinakpan ang mga bintana gamit ang malaki at makapal na kurtina tyaka siya humiga sa kama na naroon. Biglang sumagi sa isipan ni Lorie ang kambal at kumusta na kaya ito. Hinahanap kaya siya nito ngayon? Nag-aalala rin ba kaya ito sa kaniya?

Gustong tawagan ni Lorie ang kambal ngunit may pumipigil sa kaniya. Oo na, siya na ang may mataas na pride. Sa totoo lang naman ay nagseselos lang naman siya at nag-aalala sa kapatid. Gusto niya lang naman kasi na manatili sila sa kung ano mang meron sila. Ayaw niyang may mag bago sa pagitan nila magkapatid. Selfish na siya kung selfish na iisipin niyang solohin na muna ang kapatid niya. Gusto niyang ipagdamot muna ang kapatid niya. Pero hindi niya kayang diktahan ang kapatid sa kagustohan nito.

Biglang may kumatok sa pintuan ng suite ni Lorie dahilan para mapabangon siya sa kama niya at tingnan kung sino ang poncho pilatong kumakatok sa pintuan ng kwarto niya. Pagkabukas ni Lorie sa pinto ay nakita niya si Aliyah.

“What do you want?” walang emosyon na bungad ni Lorie sa babae.

“Dad wants to see you in his suite now.” Sagot ni Aliyah at tinalikuran si Lorie para mag walk-out.

Napaismid na lang si Lorie at sumunod kay Aliyah. Kinuha niya lang ang key card ng kwarto niya, sinuot ang maskara at nagpunta sa suite room ni Romano Gustavo.

Ano na naman kaya ang binabalak ng matandang ito. Untag ni Lorie sa kaniyang isipan.

Nang makapasok sa loob ng suite ni Romano ay abala ang lahat sa pagpe-prepare kahit na si Aliyah ay naghahanda rin.

“I’m glad you’re here already, L. Get change and gear up now. We will be meeting the Big Boss later.” Utos ni Romano kay Lorie kaya ginawa naman niya ang inutos nito.

Kinuha ni Lorie ang duffle bag niya na may marking na malaking letter L na nagsasaad na pag mamay-ari niya ang bag na iyon. Pagkakuha sa bag ay nagpaalam si Lorie na doon nalang siya magbibihis at magpe-prepare sa kwarto niya na sinangg-ayunan naman ng mga ito.

Pagkabalik sa sarili niyang kwarto niya aagad na nagbihis si Lorie at sinuot ang sword bag niya. Kinuha niya rin ang dalawang blade na pinakapaborito niya. Kinuha niya rin ang dalawang pistol at sinuot sa holster niya sa magkabilang binti.

Everything was all set and prepped including her. After dressing up and prepping she left her room to go back to Romano suites. She walked in and she heard them talking in Japanese language. Lorie listened closely and carefully to what they’re talking about.

“Biggubosu wa kyo, kappuru o korosu yo ni Meirei shimasu ka?” (Will the big boss give the order today to kill the couple?) Romano’s right henchman asked the question while fixing the gun he’s holding.

“Wakaranai. Futari wa mada shinjitsu o hanashite imasen. Hagashi nikuidesu.” (I don’t know. The two haven’t speak the truth yet. They’re very hard to peel.) Romano answered the henchman’s question and he fixed his tie.

“Otosan, shikei shikko-shitsu ni haitte mo idesu ka?” (Are we allowed to go inside the execution room, dad?) Aliyah asked her father. Lorie was shocked upon hearing Aliyah spoke using her first language. She’s very fluent and good at it. She’s somewhat amazed by her. But the question in Lorie’s mind is that, who are they pertaining to?

“Mochiron, watashi no kodomo. Anata wa watashi no kokei-sha ni narunode, watashitahi no hono to watashitachi ga teki ni do taisho suru ka o shitte iru hitsuyo ga arimasu…” (Of course, my child. You have to know our ways and how we deal with our enemies, since you’ll be my successor…) Romano answered his daughter and caress her face pausing his sentence.

“…anata wa watashi no sozokujindesu. Desukara, anata wa watashitachi no yarikata o manabi, tekio shinakereba narimasen. Wakarimasu ka?” (…you’re my heir. So, you must learn and adapt our ways. Do you understand?) Romano continued and asked Aliyah firmly. Aliyah nodded her head in approval with what her father said while Lorie was just listening ang impressed by all of them.

Will I also be able to see their ways? Lorie curiously asked herself. She’s eager to see what they do and what they look like when they execute someone. Are they brutal or much worse than that?

After the long talk they finally went out and off to the said place where they will gather around to meet the Big Boss.

Lorie remembered the place where they going and they’re going up to the mountain peak. After reaching the said place, Lorie saw a palace after she stepped out the van. She was very amazed by what she saw and her jaw almost drops at the sight of the palace. But before she get caught drooling she immediately compose herself and act tough again.

They all went inside and Lorie saw there’s a lot of different people inside. Different people means different nationality. From different part of the world.

Wow. This must be a big syndicate group to have this kind of people. Lorie said to her mind after she was looking at every person inside. She couldn’t believe that it’s the way how syndicates host their events. It’s a massive event involving drugs, guns, weapons, luxurious cars and of course the most important of all – money.

“Romano! It’s good to see you again after a long time.” An elderly man approached them, specifically Gustavo.

“Pierro, kumpadre. How are you doing now? I heard you have a laboratory now. You’re booming.” Romano said and shook the elder man’s hand.

“Business is good indeed, kumpadre.” The elder man second deed and looked at Lorie. “I see you’ve got a new henchman too. Security risk?” and the elderly man laughed sarcastically.

The two had a talked and after a while Romano returned to them. “Give me his head later.” Romano told his right henchman with gritted teeth. He look so annoyed and was about to kill someone. Lorie shook her head in disbelief and felt sympathy to the elderly man who will soon lose his head.