The Mafia Boss' Heart

CHAPTER 12

SATURDAY. NO WORK FOR THE WEEKENDS.

Since it was the weekend, Haze thought she could rest but didn’t expect her aunt and her cousin to come and ruin her day. As usual, they came to ask for money again.

“Hihingi na naman kayo ng pera?” tanong ni Haze kahit naman alam na niyang iyon naman talaga ang sadya ng mga ito sa kaniya.

Lucy crossed her arms. “Inalagaan ka ng mga magulang ko noon, kailangan mong magbayad.” Mataray na sabi niya.

Haze could only sigh and look at Lucy. “You sounded like we are not relatives.” She forced a smile. “Right, you never treated me like one.”

“You…”

Lucia stopped her daughter. “Huwag ka ng magkipag-away sa kaniya.” Tumingin siya kay Haze. “Talagang natuto ka ng lumaban, ah. Gusto mo yatang masaktan?!” She raised her hand and was about to slap Haze but the latter retaliated making her stop.

“Subukan niyo,” Banta ni Haze.

“Binabantaan mo ba kami?!” Inis na saad ni Lucy.

Haze blew a loud breath. Pakiramdam niya mawawalan siya ng lakas kapag nakipag-argumento siya sa mga ito kaya naman kumuha siya ng pera sa pitaka saka inabot sa kaniyang tiya. “Ito na ang huling beses na bibibigyan ko kayo ng pera. Kung gusto niyong magkapera, magtrabaho na lamang kayo,” she said in firm voice as she looked at her cousin. “Sa totoo lang noong nakatira ako sa bahay niyo, hindi ko naramdaman ang concern niyo sa akin. Oo, may pagkain nga kayong binibigay pero mga tira-tira niyo ang mga ‘yon. I don’t remember you giving me any cent for my school fees. The money that I had used was my mother’s insurance and my part-time job. You never have the right to ask me for money since you never cared for me. Trinato niyo lang ako na parang katulong sa bahay niyo.” Walang emosyong saad niya at parang nakaramdam pa siya ng ginhawa dahil nasabi niya ang dapat niyang sabihin sa mag-inang nasa harapan niya.

Natahimik ang mag-ina dahil sa mga sinabi ni Haze.

“Pero tumira ka pa rin naman sa bahay namin!” Sumbat ni Lucy.

Hindi na sumagot si Haze saka tinalikuran ang mag-ina. Pumasok siya sa loob ng kaniyang apartment at ini-lock ang pinto. She took a deep breath and sat down on the floor, hugging her knees. A tear escaped from her eyes. She suddenly remembered her past. Her past that was full of pain especially when she lost her mother.

“Nay, paano ko ba kalimutan ang mga masasakit na nangyari sa akin?” she asked as she looked above.

She dried her tears using her palm and stood up. It doesn’t make any sense if she would drown herself in sorrow, remembering the painful things that had happened to her. Nothing will happen. Nakaraan na ito.

Naisipan niyang lumabas. Ayaw niyang magkulong sa apartment niya sa araw na ‘to. Going out means breathing some air.

Haze wore casual clothes — a plain shirt paired with jeans and white shoes. She put her phone and her wallet in her sling bag, she locked the door and left.

She walked outside with no directions. Just walking and looking at her surroundings. She smiled seeing the children at the park happily playing with their family and peers. She suddenly remembered her mother. When it was weekends, they always went to the park, have a picnic and have bonding together. She felt saddened remembering those moments with her mother. It’s just a pity that her mother left this world so early, leaving her alone.

Haze sat down on one of the benches and watched the happy kids playing. A small smile appeared on her lips.

“Happy?”

Haze gasped when she suddenly heard a voice from her behind. But she doesn’t know even if she didn’t look back to look for the person behind her, she knew who it was. His voice was already known by her system.

“You startled me,” said Haze without looking at Nicolo.

“Oh, really? You don’t look shocked at all?”

Umirap sa hangin si Haze. “I was just calm. That’s all,” aniya.

Nicolo smiled and walked in front of Haze. “Then can I sit with you?”

“Sure. The bench is not mine,” said Haze and glanced at Nicolo. Though she only glanced at Nicolo, she saw how handsome he was wearing a turquoise long sleeve polo tucked in a khaki pants paired with white shoes. She cleared her throat and pushed herself to the edge of the bench.

Nicolo noticed Haze’s movement. To make her comfortable, itinulak niya ang sarili patungo sa dulo ng bench. Now, they were sitting on each side of the bench and there was a big gap between them. As if they were strangers and they don’t know each other.

Kapagkuwan isang bata ang dumaan sa harapan nila kasama ang ina nito.

“Mommy,” the child stopped, “looked,” she pointed Nicolo and Haze sitting on the bench. “They looked good together.”

Napaubo si Haze.

Napangiti naman si Nicolo nang marinig ang sinabi ng bata.

The mother of the child smiled at Haze and Nicolo before she pulled her child away from them.

Nicolo looked at Haze.

Umiwas naman ng tingin si Haze. “Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked.

Nicolo smiled. “Nothing. You’re beautiful.”

Ramdam ni Haze na nag-init ang mukha niya dahil sa sinabi ni Nicolo kaya mas lalo siyang hindi makatingin rito.

Haze hair was tied into a bun so Nicolo could see how red Haze was. He smiled and didn’t tease Haze even if he wanted to. Baka imbes na mapalapit siya rito ay layuan naman siya ni Haze. He doesn’t want that to happen.

Nicolo stood up and looked at Haze. “Let’s go,” he said. He got a full view of Haze’s blushing face and she became more beautiful of her rosy cheeks.

“Where are we going?” Haze asked.

“Just walk around and have lunch later.”

Haze stared at Nicolo for a moment. She should suppose distancing herself from Nicolo but she doesn’t know why, she couldn’t say no. Her eyes widened. Did he do something on me? But he looked like he doesn’t know how to cite witch’s oration?

Haze smacked her own forehead because of what she was thinking. Pinagkamalan pa niyang mangkukulam si Nicolo. She knew that other countries don’t believe on those myth. It was just in the Philippines, the people believed on those myths.

“What’s happening to you? Are you having a dilemma on yourself?” Nicolo asked.

Haze shook her head. “Nothing. I was just thinking of nonsense things,” she said. Tumayo siya.

Nicolo and Haze walked around the park and when they got hungry, they looked for a restaurant. Then Haze saw the milktea shop and beside the Milktea shop was the burger stall, and the other side of the milktea shop, a stall was selling street foods like kikiam, fishball, lumpia and many more.

“How about that place? I wanted to try the Milktea.”

Haze was already expecting Nicolo to refuse but she was surprise when Nicolo nodded and walked towards the Milktea Shop. She followed Nicolo and saw him looking at the menu of the Milktea Shop. “What do you want?” she asked.

Nicolo pointed to the Green Ice Tea.

Tumango si Haze saka tumingin sa nagtitinda. “A red velvet and Green Ice Tea.”

“Sige po, Ma’am. Pakihintay na lang po.”

“Thank you.” Haze smiled. “Umupo muna tayo.” Inaya niya si Nicolo na umupo. They both sat down and waited for their order.

Then Haze smelt the aroma of the nearby stalls. She stood up. “I’m going to look for the other stalls. Wait for our drinks,” she said and didn’t wait for Nicolo to reply.

Nicolo could only shook his head. “I have a hunch she wouldn’t eat for real lunch,” he mumbled. Then he noticed the stares coming from the other customers. He ignored them and just waited for the milktea that Haze ordered.

When their number was called, he immediately went to the counter to pay for it.

“How much?” he asked.

“One hundred fifty, sir.”

Inilabas ni Nicolo ang pitaka saka naglabas ng five-hundred-peso bill. Ibinibay niya ito sa kahera, and he was given a change of three hundred fifty. After that, he followed Haze and saw her in the burger stall. He placed the Milktea in front of her and sat on the empty stool beside Haze.

Ngumiti si Haze. “Thank you. I’ll pay you later.”

“No need,” Nicolo shook his head.

“No, I’ll pay you later. I’m not comfortable eating food from someone’s money,” said Haze.

Nicolo looked at the burger being fried and looked back at Haze. “Did you order for me?”

Haze nodded.

“How about this? You pay for the burger and let’s call it quits.” Nicolo suggested.

Naisip naman ni Haze na magandang idea ‘yon kaya pumayag siya. “Alright.”

Nicolo smiled.

“Let’s eat here,” said Haze when her order was given to them. She ordered four burgers. And she gave the two burgers to Nicolo. She eats and drink. She was focused on her food that she didn’t notice that Nicolo was looking at her.

Nicolo could only smile seeing how adorable Haze was. Haze was a simple but elegant lady. No wonder, he fell for her at first sight. Her simplicity caught his attention. He cleared his throat. “After this, where are you going?”

“Supermarket.”