The Mafia Don's Affection

CHAPTER 3

JOSEPH was on the rooftop of Buencamino’s mansion and enjoying the scenery there. He looked at the cigar in his hand. Ipinatong niya ito sa ash tray saka siya tumayo. Tumingin siya sa nangyayaring kaganapan sa ibaba. It was the Young Master of Buencamino’s wedding. He was invited, but he doesn’t like huge crowds so he chose to stay on the rooftop.

The boss of Buencamino even wanted to give him a woman. Para raw may kasama siya pero tinanggihan niya ito. He’s not a pleasure seeker.

“Is that the Mafia Don?” Isang kasapi ng Mafia ang nakakita sa Mafia Don.

Tumingin naman ang iba sa rooftop at nakilala nila na ang Mafia Don nga ito.

“Don, they recognized you.” Ani Andrew.

Tumaas ang sulok ng labi ni Joseph. “That’s why I showed myself to them.” Aniya. Then he noticed the man who acted suspiciously and talked on his phone.

Sinenyasan ni Joseph si Austin.

Austin nodded and quickly got down from the rooftop.

“The Mafia Don is here. You can plan to assassinate him.” Pagkumpirma ng lalaki. Ito ang nakita ni Joseph kanina na kumikilos ng kahina-hinala. Nakita ng lalaki ang tauhan ng Mafia Don na patungo sa kaniya kaya naman pinatay niya ang tawag at nagmamadaling umalis sa venue ng kasal.

Akala ng lalaki ay natakasan niya ang tauhan ng Mafia Don pero nang makalayo siya sa venue ng kasal, may biglang humarang sa kaniya na lalaki na may hawak na katana.

Ngumisi si Austin. He said nothing and the man was about to run away, but he quickly slashed the man on his neck and stabbed the man in his heart. Sumirit ang dugo mula sa leeg ng lalaki, napaluhod ito sa lupa at wala ng buhay na bumagsak. Walang emosyon na tinignan ni Austin ang lalaking pinatay niya saka niya hinugot ang katana na isinaksak niya sa puso nito.

Inilabas ni Austin ang cellphone at tinawagan ang isang tauhan. “Clean some mess for me.”

“You killed someone again, and you made it bloody again?” the other line complained.

“He was planning to kill Don. Of course, I have to kill him.” Walang emosyong saad ni Austin sa kausap nito.

“Okay, I’ll clean it.”

Austin ended the call. He went back to the rooftop like nothing had happened. Binigyan naman siya ng kakambal ng panyo. “Clean your face.”

Kinuha ni Austin ang panyo saka pinunasan ang sariling mukha.

Andrew laughed at his twin brother. Kinuha niya ang panyo saka siya na mismo ang nagpunas sa dugo sa mukha nito. Napailing siya. “I told you, when you kill make it less bloody.”

“Can’t help it. He was planning to kill Don. Of course, I won’t be merciful.” Seryosong saad ni Austin.

Joseph heard what Austin had said. Tinignan niya ang kambal. Sa kaniya lumaki ang mga ito. Anak ang mga ito ng isa niyang tapat na tauhan. The twin’s father was the former third-in-command of the De Luca Family. Their father died protecting him, and he promised his subordinates to take care of the twins. They were only ten when he took them in. Now, they’re twenty. They only wanted to stay by his side and protect him even though he gave them the freedom to choose the life they wanted to be.

“Andrew, Austin, let’s go back to the mansion. I’m tired. I want to rest.”

“Yes, Don.”

Bumaba na sila ng rooftop.

“Thank you for coming to my son’s wedding, Don. It’s an honor for my family.” Anang Boss ng Buencamino Family.

Tumango si Joseph at umalis na.

Habang nasa biyahe sila pabalik ng mansyon, tinanong ni Joseph ang kambal. “How long have you been staying by my side?”

Nagkatinginan ang kambal. Si Andrew ang sumagot. “Ten years since you took us in, Don.”

Tumango si Joseph. “You knew why your father died, right?”

“You told us, Don.” Tugon ni Andrew.

“Yes, I don’t want to lie about that matter. Now, you two are already at the right age. I asked you before what life you wanted to have—”

“Don, we only wanted to stay by your side,” Sabi ni Andrew.

“We’re not going anywhere.” Sabi naman ni Austin. He was determined to protect Don for the rest of his life. After all, it was the Don who took them in and took care of him and his twin brother after their father died.

Napabuntong hininga si Joseph. “Okay.” Mukhang hindi na niya mababago ang isipan ng dalawa. “Pero kung may iba kayong plano. Just tell me.”

“Yes, Don.”

“From now on, call me ‘Milord’ or ‘Fratello’. Kung saan kayo komportable. Don’t call me ‘Don’ anymore.”

Muling nagkatinginan ang kambal.

Joseph smiled genuinely, which he seldom shows. “You two are part of my family. No need to feel distant.” Aniya saka ipinikit ang kaniyang mata.

Napangiti naman ang kambal. That’s why even the Mafia Don was cold, ruthless, and dangerous. He was kind and genuine to his subordinates. But he doesn’t show mercy to those people who betrayed him. The Mafia Don never abused his power, even if he had the right to do so, because he is the Mafia Don, the most powerful person in the Mafia Organization.

“ANONG nalaman mo tungkol sa inutos ko, Andrew?” tanong ni Joseph habang nag-aalmusal siya kasama ang kambal.

“Milord, the Mafia Organization here is chaotic.”

Tumaas ang sulok ng labi ni Joseph. “Just like what I had thought. Sino ang kumokontrol sa ibang Mafia Family na nandito sa Pilipinas?”

“The Llanes and Carranza had been under control by the Manzo Family. The three remaining families are still under your control, Milord.”

Napatigil si Joseph sa pagkain. “Manzo Family?” Sumandal siya sa kinauupuan.

“Yes, Milord. The Manzo Family. The one who has been fighting against you.” Saad ni Austin. “Milord, do you want me to visit the Llanes and Carranza family?”

Umiling si Joseph. “Not now. There is time for that. Let’s wait for them to take action first.” Aniya. He smiled evilly.

Seeing the Don’s smiles, Andrew knew that the Don had plans, and he was sure that before stepping onto the Philippine soil, the Don had already planned everything. Or it’s appropriate to say he had already schemed everything.

JOSEPH was awakened by a call from his mother the next morning. Ayaw niya sanang sagutin ang tawag ng kaniyang ina pero alam niyang hindi siya nito tatantanan kaya naman sinagot na lamang niya.

“Mom, it’s early in the morning.”

“It’s already afternoon here, mio figlio.” Rason naman ng kaniyang ina.

“Why did you call me, Mom?” Joseph asked in a sleepy voice.

“You’re in the Philippines.”

Natigilan si Joseph ngunit hindi na siya nagulat. His mom was the wife of a former Mafia Don. Of course, she has a lot of connections, and she could monitor him. Wala ng nakakagulat doon.

“Mom, give me a break, please.”

“Mio figlio, I believed your sister had told you about my message.”

Joseph sighed. “Mom, I’m not going to agree to that arranged marriage.” Seryoso niyang saad.

“I know. But those old foxes of our family wanted you to marry the woman they picked for you.” Anang kaniyang ina. Old foxes are the ancestors of the De Luca Family and his mother called them old foxes because they are cunning. His mother didn’t like those old foxes, and they didn’t like his mother either. Fair and square. The feeling is mutual.

Joseph felt in his mother’s voice that she didn’t have the intention of setting him up in an arranged marriage. “Mom, you’re not going to set me up in an arranged marriage?” he asked.

His mother chuckled. “Mio figlio, I’m your mother. I want you to find your own happiness. So, how’s my scheme?”

Nakikita ni Joseph na nakangisi na ngayon ang kaniyang ina. “Mom, you…” Napabuga siya ng hangin. Now he realized that he was put under his mother’s scheme. Just like his father, his mother was a scheming woman.

“About the woman those old foxes they wanted you to marry. Don’t worry about it. We will take care of it.”

“We?”

“Your father and I, of course. You know your father, mio figlio. He doesn’t want those old foxes to control you. Hmm…”

Napangiti naman si Joseph dahil doon.

And from the background, he heard his father’s voice. “Don’t worry about it, son. Marry the woman you like but don’t force anyone, okay? Your mother will surely cut your balls between your thighs.”

Napangiwi si Joseph. “Dad, don’t mention anything private. That’s gross.” Aniya.

“When you have a wife, it won’t be gross anymore.” Binuntutat pa ‘yon ng tawa ng kaniyang ama.

Napailing na lamang si Joseph saka pinatay ang tawag. Kapag nagpatuloy pa ang pakikipag-usap niya sa kaniyang magulang baka mabaliw na siya. His father was a well-known ruthless Mafia Don before he retired, but his father was afraid of his wife. And his father was childish kapag sila lang ang magkakasama.

His mother was really something. She even used the arranged marriage thing so that he would leave Italy because his mother knew that those old foxes would force him to marry the woman they wanted him to marry. Alam ng kaniyang ina na hindi niya maiwan ang trabaho niya bilang Mafia Don sa organization kaya naman ito na ang gumawa ng paraan upang umalis siya sa bansang ‘yon.

But he would never let those old foxes control him. Isang rason kung bakit hindi siya makontrol ng mga nakatatanda sa pamilya nila ay dahil sa yaman na mayroon ang kaniyang ina na siya na ngayon ang umaasikaso. Of course, those old foxes didn’t want to stand in their mother’s way because they feared the wife of the former Mafia Don for some reason. So, to control him, they will set him up for an arranged marriage.

No way. Yes, he wanted to have a family, but he didn’t like a loveless marriage. He knew himself that he was not a good man, and he didn’t know if there would be a woman who could accept him for who he is.