The Mafia Don's Affection

CHAPTER 11

DAYS have passed. Patuloy si Joseph sa ginagawang pahatid-sundo kay Iris. Dalawang linggo ng ganun ang ginagawa ni Joseph at nasanay na rin si Iris. Medyo naging komportable na rin siya sa binata at medyo napapanatag na ang loob niya rito. Joseph didn’t do anything inappropriate kaya naman panatag at komportable na siya kapag kasama niya ito.

At sa tuwing may oras pa, kumakain silang dalawa sa labas. Ngunit hindi hinayaan ni Iris na si Joseph ang laging nagbabayad. Ipinilit niya na salitan silang dalawa. Ayaw pa sana ni Joseph noong una pero pumayag rin ito ng makita nito ang seryosong mukha ni Iris.

“For you.” Wika ni Joseph saka ibinigay ang itim na box kay Iris habang nasa sasakyan sila. Kahahatid niya lamang sa dalaga pero hindi na muna niya ito pinababa.

Nagtaka naman si Iris. “Ano ‘to?”

“It’s a friendly gift from me.”

“Friendly gift?”

Tumango si Joseph. “Buksan mo.”

Iris opened the box. Natigilan siya nang tumambad sa kaniya ang isang silver cuff bracelet. And from the look of it. “This is not a simple bracelet, right?” Iris asked and looked at Joseph. “This is expensive.” Umiling siya. “I can’t accept this.” Isinara niya ang box saka ibinalik kay Joseph.

Ngumiti si Joseph. “Don’t worry, wala naman akong hihilingin na kapalit nito. This is a friendly gift. Aren’t we friends now?”

Tumingin si Iris kay Joseph. “I…”

Kinuha ni Joseph ang kaliwang kamay ni Iris at isinuot niya ang bracelet rito. “There. Don’t remove it.” Aniya nang akmang huhubarin ni Iris ang bracelet.

“But—”

“You’re a girl, and you’re living alone. I’m worried.” Sabi ni Joseph. “Here. There’s a button here.” Ipinakita niya kay Iris ang pindutan. “Press it.”

Iris pressed the button. Nagulat siya nang may tumunog. Hindi ‘yon galing sa bracelet kundi galing ito sa cellphone ni Joseph.

Joseph showed his cellphone to Iris. “Rest assured. It won’t monitor your location. Kapag pipindutin mo lang ‘yan saka magpapakita ang lokasyon mo para alam ko kung nasaan ka.”

“Why are you giving this to me?” tanong ni Iris saka tinignan ang bracelet. Maganda ang bracelet at halatang hindi ito basta-basta.

Ngumiti si Joseph. “Like I have said, it’s a friendly gift. If you are in danger, just press the button, okay?”

Iris looked at Joseph. “Really?”

Tumango si Joseph. “Really.”

Gumuhit ang ngiti sa labi ni Iris. “Thank you. I will take care of this bracelet.” Then she joked, “kulang pa ang buhay ko na pambayad ko rito kapag nawala ko ito.”

Joseph chuckled. “Don’t worry about it. I can track it even if it’s lost. Believe in me.” He showed a thumbs up to himself.

Natawa ng mahina si Iris. “I didn’t expect that there would be a time like this, and I didn’t expect to be friends with a man older than me.”

Ngumiti lang si Joseph. “I’m thirty years old. I’m still in my prime. I’m not that old.”

“I’m twenty-two. So, I’m still young. Compared to your age.”

Joseph couldn’t help himself but to laugh. Hindi niya akalain na darating ang araw na makikipagkumparahan siya ng edad kay Iris. “Okay. Okay. You’re young, okay?” He sighed blissfully. “I know you’re tired. Off you go. Don’t forget to lock your door and your windows.” Bilin niya.

Iris saluted then stepped out of Joseph’s car. She waved her hand and then entered the gate of her apartment.

Nang makita naman ni Joseph na nakapasok na si Iris sa loob ng apartment nito saka lamang siya umalis.

Meanwhile, Iris looked at her window and noticed that Joseph had already left. Tinignan niya ang suot na bracelet. It was really customized because her name was engraved on it. A smile appeared on her lips.

Pumasok si Iris sa kwarto saka niya kinuha ang larawan na nasa ilalim ng kaniyang kutson. It was their family picture. Her parents, her brother and her. This is the last picture they had before her parents died due to an airplane crash and her brother went missing.

Hinaplos niya ang larawan ng kaniyang pamilya. “Huwag po kayong mag-aalala, Mama, Papa. Hahanapin ko po si Kuya. Hindi ako naniniwala na patay na siya. Malakas ang kutob ko na buhay pa siya at nandiyan lang siya sa paligid.” Aniya. “Ma, Pa, Kuya, miss ko na kayo.”

Tumulo ang luha ni Iris. Sa tuwing naalala niya ang masasayang alala nila ng pamilya niya, nakakaramdam siya ng lungkot. Maraming taon na ang lumipas simula ng mangyari ang trahedyang ‘yon sa pamilya nila pero hanggang ngayon sariwa pa rin ang sakit ng pagkawala ng magulang niya.

Humiga si Iris saka kama habang yakap ang larawan ng kaniyang pamilya hanggang sa hindi niya namalayan na nakatulog na pala siya.

Nagising na lamang si Iris kinabukasan dahil sa ingay ng doorbell niya.

Mahinang napabuntong hininga si Iris saka bumangon at inilagay niya sa ilalim ng kutson ang larawan ng kaniyang pamilya. Then she went to open the door.

“Uh? Rose?” Nagtaka pa siya nang makita ang kaibigan. Wala naman siyang matandaan na may usapan sila. “Ang aga.”

“Let’s go out and have fun.” Sabi ni Rose saka pumasok na sa loob ng apartment ng kaibigan kahit pa hindi pa siya nito pinapapasok. Feel at home talaga siya lalo na kapag si Iris ang kasama.

Iris closed the door. “Anong mayroon?” she asked and yawned. Nagtungo siya sa kusina saka nagmumog. Sumunod naman si Rose.

“Wala naman. Just a normal day. Pero wala naman tayong trabaho ngayon. Why not go out and have fun?” Wika ni Rose saka kumuha ng mansanas sa lamesa. Hinugasan niya ito bago kinagatan.

“Magluluto lang ako ng almusal.”

“Huwag na. Sa labas na tayo kumain.” Sabi naman ni Rose. Itinulak niya si Iris pabalik sa kwarto nito.

Napailing na lamang si Iris saka pumasok sa loob ng kwarto. Inayos niya ang higaan saka kumuha ng damit sa closet at pumasok sa banyo para maligo.

Pagkatapos niyang maligo at magbihis, lumabas na siya ng kwarto. She saw Rose in her living room and typing on her phone.

“Bago tayo lumabas, tatanungin muna kita. Nagpaalam ka ba sa boyfriend mo?”

Ngumiti si Rose saka tumango. “Oo naman.”

“Sure ka?” Paniniguro ni Iris.

Rose rolled her eyes. “Oo nga. Halika na.” Tumayo siya saka hinila si Iris palabas ng apartment nito.

Kapagkuwan habang naglalakad sila sa mall, napansin ni Rose ang suot ni Iris na bracelet. Pinagmasdan niya ang bracelet na suot ng kaibigan. Alam niyang hindi mahilig si Iris sa mga alahas at tanging relo lamang ang sinusuot nito. Nakakapagtaka na may suot itong bracelet.

“Where did you get your bracelet?” Rose asked.

Iris looked at Rose before glancing at her bracelet. “Ah, from a good friend.”

“Good friend?” tumaas ang kilay ni Rose. “May iba kang kaibigan bukod sa akin. Sino siya? Ipakilala mo ako.”

Umiling si Iris. “He’s a private person.”

“He? A man?” Lumaki ang mata ni Rose sa gulat.

Tumango si Iris. “Enough about him.” Aniya. “Let’s go. Kumain muna tayo. Gutom na ako.” Hinila niya ang kaibigan papasok loob ng isang fast food.

Agad na umorder si Iris ng pagkain nilang dalawa ng kaibigan.

Napailing naman si Rose. “Gutom ka na talaga ‘no.”

“Rose, you came into my apartment early in the morning, and you didn’t let me have anything. Malamang gutom na ako ngayon.” Sabi naman ni Iris.

Natawa ng mahina si Rose. “Sorry na.”

Hindi naman nagtagal ay dumating na ang order ni Iris. Agad siyang kumain. At habang kumakain silang dalawa ni Rose, napansin niya ang taong pumasok sa loob ng fast food.

“Is that Austin?” tanong niya sa kaibigan habang nakatingin sa lalaki na naglalakad patungo sa counter.

Tinignan naman ni Rose ang tinutukoy ng kaibigan. “Siya nga. Austin!”

Mabilis namang tumingin sa kanila ang lalaki.

Rose waved her hand.

Austin walked towards them.

“Alone?” tanong ni Rose.

“Do you see someone with me?” balik na tanong ni Austin na ikinatawa ni Iris.

Rose tsked. “I’m just asking. Have a seat with us.”

“Okay.” Umupo naman si Austin.

“Bakit ka nag-iisa?” tanong ni Iris.

Umiling si Austin at hindi nagsalita. Pero ang totoo sinundan niya si Miss Iris. He was ordered by the Mafia Don to protect Miss Iris, and he was just doing his job. He won’t disappoint the Mafia Don.

“Since you’re alone, come with us. Let’s have fun.” Pag-aya ni Iris.

“Fun?”

Tumango si Iris. “Let’s have fun. Huwag puro trabaho ang atupagin natin.” She pointed to Rose. “She said it.”

Rose smiled.

“Okay.” Tumango si Austin. But he was asking himself what they would do?

Later, they end up in an amusement park and ride on different rides.

“MILORD, I have done my investigation. One of the most skilled assassins in the underground organization is from the Manzo Family. Klint Estevez.” Imporma ni Andrew sa Mafia Don habang nakaupo ito sa balkonahe at pinapanood nito ang pag-ensayo ng mga tauhan.

“So, that assassin who wounded Crisanto Llanes is from the Manzo Family?”

“Yes, Milord,” said Andrew.

Joseph smirked. “Trying to outsmart me, huh.” Aniya.

“Milord, I don’t understand. The Manzo and Llanes families are allies. Why would the Manzo family send someone to harm Crisanto Llanes?” Andrew asked.

Joseph smirked. “There are three possibilities. First, the Manzo family sends their assassin to ward Crisanto Llanes. He was just wounded and not killed. Second, the assassin acted on his own. Third, the assassin isn’t from the Manzo family.” He looked at Andrew. “But I’m sure, the Manzo family are planning somethingsends. And as for what their plan is, I don’t care about it. As long as they don’t harm my family, I won’t hurt them.”

Napatango si Andrew. “By the way, Milord, a report from our subordinates. Miss Iris went out with her friend.”

“It’s good to have fun sometimes,” Joseph said, and he added, “tell them to protect her. If she was harmed under their watch, I would kill them all.”

“Yes, Milord. I’ll inform them. But you don’t have to worry, Austin was with them.”

“Austin? He’s already close to Iris?” Bahagyang nagulat si Joseph.

“I don’t know, Milord. My twin doesn’t say anything.” Sabi naman ni Andrew.

Joseph smiled. “Just let him have fun.”

Andrew nodded. He was grateful that the Mafia Don was not strict with his twin brother.