The Mafia Don's Affection

CHAPTER 8

IRIS locked her door before she left her apartment. Bumaba siya ng hagdan at natigilan siya nang makalabas siya ng gate at makita si Joseph na nakasandal sa tabi ng isang magarang kotse. Literal na natigilan talaga siya dahil hindi niya inaasahan na makikita niya si Joseph sa araw na ‘yon. She was stunned because Joseph looked handsome in the suit he was wearing.

“You…”

Ngumiti ang binata saka umayos ng tayo. “Kumusta ka, Iris?”

Napakurap si Iris. “Nandito ka.”

Joseph opened the car’s door. “Get in. I’ll give you a ride.”

Iris looked at Joseph and then at his car. Itinuro niya ang kotse ng binata.

“Get in, Iris. You’re going to be late for work.” Sabi ni Joseph saka tinignan ang oras sa suot na relo.

Walang imik na lumapit si Iris kay Joseph saka sumakay sa kotse nito.

Joseph smiled and closed the car’s door. Umikot siya patungong driver seat. “Saan kita ihahatid?” tanong niya kay Iris pagkakabit niya ang sariling seatbelt. Palihim siyang napangiwi dahil alam naman niya kung saan nagtatrabaho ang dalaga pero tinanong niya pa rin.

Agad namang sinabi ni Iris ang address ng Research School kung saan siya nagtatrabaho. Habang nasa biyahe silang dalawa, walang nagsasalita sa kanilang dalawa. Wala namang alam si Iris na pwede niyang sabihin kay Joseph kaya hindi siya nagsasalita.

“So, how are you?” Joseph asked.

Napatingin si Iris kay Joseph. “Ayos lang naman ako.”

Tipid na ngumiti si Joseph. “I’m glad to hear that.”

“Ikaw?” tanong ni Iris. “How’s your wound?”

“Naghilom na.” Sagot ni Joseph. “Thank you for taking care of me. And I apologize for leaving without saying goodbye. I…” Napakamot siya ng batok. “I had confidential matters to attend to, so, I left.”

Tumango si Iris. “It’s okay. Though I helped you, we have nothing to do with each other.”

Joseph glanced at Iris. “Your words are harsh. I’m hurt.” Sabi niya saka ibinalik ang tingin sa kalsada.

Iris shrugged her shoulder. “Iyon naman ang totoo hindi ba?”

Napabuntong hininga na lamang si Joseph saka umiling. “You helped me, so I will return the favor.”

Umiling naman si Iris habang nakangiti. “No need to return the favor. Let’s just pretend that we never met and then that’s it.” Aniya.

Kumunot ang nuo ni Joseph saka napabuga na lamang ng hangin. This is harder than I thought.

Pagkahatid niya kay Iris nakatanggap siya ng tawag mula kay Andrew. Kailangan nilang pumunta sa Fallorina family para sa isang transaksiyon.

“Okay. Wait for me.”

Joseph ended the call and was about to leave when he saw the man entering the school gate. Lumingon ito sa kaniya at tumango. He just honked and left.

Nang makabalik siya sa mansyon, agad silang umalis ni Andrew kasama ang kaniyang mga tauhan at nagtungo sila sa Fallorina household.

Habang nasa biyahe sila, may ibinalita sa kaniya si Andrew.

“Milord, Crisanto Llanes was assassinated yesterday.”

Hindi na nagtaka si Joseph sa narinig. The Llanes family had been targeted by many Mafia families after he offered twenty million euros to the head of the Llanes family. He knows that Llanes's family is furious with him, but he doesn’t care.

“Dead?” Joseph asked.

“No, Milord. He is still alive.”

Natawa si Joseph. “Oh, really? Whose family assassinated him?” tanong pa niya.

Umiling si Andrew. “I don’t know, Milord. There was no information about him. He entered the Llanes household. He wounded Crisanto but didn’t kill him. As if his presence was a warning to the Llanes family.”

“Talaga? He must be a skilled assassin if he stepped out of the Llanes household unscathed.”

Tipid na ngumiti si Andrew. “He left at the entrance of the Llanes household.”

“He was bold, huh.” Sabi ni Joseph. “Investigate him. I’m curious about him.”

Yumukod si Andrew. “Yes, Milord.”

Joseph went to the Fallorina family. As a Mafia Don, he doesn’t have to do this. He has a lot of subordinates to do the job for him, but he finds it boring. He also needs to build connections in the underground organization here in the Philippines.

“Mafia Don.” The Boss of the Fallorina family came to greet him.

Tumango si Joseph.

“Don, this is not appropriate. Ako dapat ang pumunta sa inyo.” Sabi ni Benjamin. “I haven’t thanked you yet for saving my son’s life. Don—”

Itinaas ni Joseph ang kamay. “No need to thank me.” He sighed. “Have you prepared everything?”

Tumango si Benjamin. “Yes, Don. Everything was prepared.”

“Okay.”

“Don, this way, please.” Iminuwestra ni Benjamin ang kamay sa daan.

Dinala ni Benjamin ang Mafia Don sa pribado niyang opisina. Pagkarating nila sa loob ng pribado niyang opisina, agad niyang ibinigay ang kailangan nito.

Joseph crossed his legs and leaned on the single sofa he was sitting on. Binuklat niya ang folder na binigay ni Benjamin.

“Nandito na ba ang lahat?”

Tumango si Benjamin. “Yes, Don.”

“Good.”

Joseph smirked. “These families…” napailing siya. “I already forbade this kind of business. Why are they still doing human trafficking for prostitution and organ trafficking?”

Since he became the Mafia Don, he forbade prostitution and organ trafficking. Especially, he doesn’t want anyone to abuse women, but he knows that he can’t put everything under control. Alam niya sa sarili na niya na hindi siya mabuting tao dahil marami rin siyang illegal na negosyo pero ang hindi niya kailanman ginawa ay ang narcotics, prostitution at organ trafficking.

“Don, what’s your plan?” Benjamin asked.

Itiniklop ni Joseph ang hawak na folder saka ibinigay ito kay Andrew. “Sent this to Monti Parisi and tell him to discuss it with Lorenzo. Lorenzo knows what to do for those families involved.”

Tumango si Andrew. “Yes, Milord.”

Ibinalik ni Joseph ang atensiyon kay Benjamin. “The weapons that you need, I already brought them to you personally.”

Benjamin became excited. “Thank you, Don. The money was ready.”

“Okay.” Tumayo si Joseph saka lumabas ng opisina ni Benjamin.

Napailing naman si Benjamin habang nakasunod ng tingin sa Mafia Don. Though he is ruthless, he still has his principles and morality, which are rare to be seen in a Mafia Don like him.

Napabuntong hininga na lamang si Benjamin saka sumunod sa Mafia Don at nagtungo sila sa living room.

Naroon ang limang kahon na naglalaman ng mga dekaledad na armas. Sinenyasan ni Joseph ang tauhan na buksan ang kahon. Pagkabukas ng kahon, tumingin si Joseph kay Benjamin. “Take a look.”

Kaagad naman na lumapit si Benjamin sa mga kahon. Sinuri niya ang mga armas. And he was satisfied. No wonder he is the Mafia Don. He thought while looking at the rifle in his hand.

Sinenyasan niya ang tauhan niya na ibigay ang pera. Binuksan ng tauhan ang attaché case upang ipakita ang pera saka ito ibinigay sa tauhan ng Mafia Don.

Inilahad ni Benjamin ang kamay.

Tinanggap naman ni Joseph ang pakikipagkamay ni Benjamin. Kapagkuwan natigilan si Joseph nang makarinig siya ng putok ng baril. Tumingin siya kay Benjamin.

“That’s my son, Don. He was doing his training in shooting.”

“Oh. He’s still young.” Komento ni Joseph.

“Young or not. The enemy has no mercy, Don.”

Napatango si Joseph dahil totoo ‘yon. He also started his training when he was ten years old. At kailangan pa nilang itago ‘yon mula sa kaniyang ina dahil hindi ito papayag.

“I want to see how good your son is.” Wika ni Joseph.

“Don, you must be kidding—”

“I’m not kidding,” Seryosong saad ni Joseph. “I want to see your son.”

Wala ng nagawa si Benjamin kundi ang pumayag sa gusto ng Mafia Don. Dinala niya ito sa firing range.

Pagdating nila sa firing range, nakita agad ni Joseph ang anak ni Benjamin na nag-e-ensayo.

“Don, my son was naughty. If he offended you, please be kind and forgive him.” Ani Benjamin.

Tumaas lang ang sulok ng labi ni Joseph. “His grip on the gun was firm. At a young age, he’s already skilled.” Aniya habang nakatingin sa target na papel.

Inilahad ni Joseph ang kamay kay Andrew. Hinugot naman ni Andrew ang baril na nakalagay sa kaniyang beywang at ipinatong sa kamay ng Mafia Don.

Joseph gripped the gun in his hand and shot the target. He released five bullets and the head of the target was holed. Lahat ng bala ay sa ulo ng target na papel tumama.

Napatigil si Edzel saka mabilis na tumingin sa pinanggalingan ng bumaril ng target. Bumadha ang tuwa sa mukha niya nang makita ang Mafia Don.

Edzel bowed his head to the Mafia Don.

“Your son was talented.” Komento ni Joseph habang nakatingin kay Edzel.

Ngumiti naman si Benjamin.

Joseph looked at Edzel. “Keep it up, young man.” Aniya. Tumingin siya kay Andrew. “Let’s go to the underground base.”

Bahagyang natigilan si Benjamin. Underground Base? He looked at the Mafia Don. He’s going to the Underground Base.

The Underground Base is literally under the ground. Doon matatagpuan ang lahat ng uri ng masasamang loob. Be it criminals, assassins, drug lords, hitmen, Mafia, and different kinds of high-profile criminals. The Underground Base is a completely different world. Now, the Mafia Don is going to that place.

This is not good.

“MAY MGA BAGONG intern pala ngayon.” Sabi ni Rose at sinabayan si Iris sa paglalakad.

“Talaga?”

Tumango si Rose. “Oo at kung tama ang pagkakarinig ko kahapon, may ma-assign sa atin.”

“Matagal na mula ng huli silang kumuha ng intern.” Sabi ni Iris. “Anong nakain ng boss natin at naisipan niyang kumuha ng intern?”

“Hindi ang boss natin ang may tumanggap sa interns. Ang director natin ang may tumanggap ng mga bagong intern.”

Napatango si Iris. “Kaya naman pala.” Sabi niya. “Pero maganda naman na may bago tayong intern para may kasama tayo sa laboratory lalo na ngayon at kailangan nating matapos ang pinapagawa ni Boss na report hanggang sa biyernes.”

Pagdating nila sa laboratory nila, dumating naman ang Boss nila kasama ang isang lalaki na mukhang foreigner. Halata kasi sa hitsura nito na hindi ito pinoy.

“Iris, Rose, this is Austin Bianco. Siya ang intern na na-hire mula sa Director’s office. He especially assigned him to your laboratory.” Saad ng boss nila Iris. “Take care of him.”

Ngumiti si Iris. “Welcome, Austin. I’m Iris.”

Austin nodded his head.

“Don’t be shy.” Sabi naman ni Rose. “I’m Rose, by the way.”

Austin just nodded his head again.

Nagkatinginan si Iris at Rose.

Rose shrugged.

“I’ll leave him in your care, Iris.” Nginitian ni David si Iris at kinindatan.

Ngumiti ng peke si Iris pero mukhang hindi naman nahalata ng Boss niya na peke ang ngiti niya. Nang tumalikod ito, nawala ang ngiti sa labi ni Iris saka niya inirapan ang boss niya. Their boss, David Santos, is their project leader and just a few years older than Iris. Pero ayaw dito ni Iris kasi nagpapansin ito.

Iris looked at Austin. “Make yourself comfortable with us, okay? Kung may hindi ka alam, magsabi ka lang.”

Tumango si Austin. “Thank you.”

And with that, they started their work.