CHAPTER 7

ATLAS COLLAZO

"I don't know what's with you today, Atlas."

Walang emosyon na tinignan ko si Red ng marinig ang boses nitong nag rereklamo sa aking likuran. I'm busy right now looking for something to choose, while he looks like he can't believe we entered this store.

Kahit ako ay hindi ko alam na makakapasok pa pala ako rito.

"If you don't want to accompany me, you can go back to the warehouse," I answered while walking.

We went to one of the flower shops in Austria City to buy flowers. Kaunti lang ang ganap ngayong araw, there aren't many meetings with the other bosses and underbosses from different factions, so my day's not too busy.

"It's really weird that you're doing this," I heard Red say while following me.

Kunot noong nilingon ko ito. "Why? I'm just roaming around inside the flower shop. Kailan pa naging weird ang gano'ng bagay?"

He just let out a sigh and ran his hand through his red hair.

"I can't visualize that you're buying a flower—"

"I said I'm just roaming around," matigas at pagputol ko sa kanyang sinabi.

"I know you're going to buy a flower."

"Hi, excuse me. Kanina ko pa po kasi kayo napapansin na kanina pa umiikot sa flower shop."

Sabay kaming napalingon nang marinig ang boses ng isa sa mga staff dito sa flower shop.

"Good afternoon," pag bati ko ng tumikhim.

"Good afternoon din po, sir. How can I help you? I'm just wondering if you might have a hard time picking what flower you want. May theme po ba kayong gusto? Ano po bang personality ng pagbibigyan niyo? Favorite flower? Favorite color?"

Muli kong nilibot ang aking paningin sa kabuuhan ng flower shop. I see all sorts of beautiful and colorful flowers. The orange ones stand out the most in my sight, and it feels like they're the only ones I see.

The flowers inside are overwhelming. The flower shop is a bit small, but they have quite a lot of things for sale.

"I'm sorry, miss. We're just roaming around. Titingin lang muna kami sa mga bulaklak."

"I want a colorful one," bigla kong sambit.

"Atlas? I thought you weren't going to buy?"

Red's narrowed eyes were wide while looking at me. Hindi ko siya pinansin at hinarap ang babae.

"Give me one flower from each of the flowers you're selling here. Just mix them all together as much as possible. I want the design and arrangement of the flowers to be colorful. It would be better if there were many orange ones and no red roses, please. I want a light and colorful flower that you have here."

Sumilay ang ngiti ng babae at ilang beses na tumango sa aking sinabi. It was so obvious how happy she was before walking towards the cashier.

"I'll take note of that, Sir. Tara po sa cashier para ma-bayaran niyo na po ang bulaklak," nakangiti nitong wika sa akin.

Tumango ako at sinundan siya. Nang lumingon ako sa aking likuran, I saw Red sitting on a long bench where customers can sit while waiting for their flowers to be arranged.

"Thank you for purchasing our flower, sir. P'wedeng maupo po muna kayo roon dahil aabutin ng ilang minuto ang pag babalot ko sa bouquet niyo, okay lang po ba?"

I nodded. "Yes."

"Thank you po."

Naglakad na agad ako patungo sa kinauupuan ni Red at tahimik na naupo sa kanyang tabi.

"Hindi pala bibili ah," pang-aasar ni Red sa akin habang nakangisi ng lingunin niya ako.

"Shut the hell up," tugon ko.

"Akala ko ba hindi ka bibili?" tanong niya.

I shrugged. "Akala ko lang pala."

"Asshole," sagot ni Red at mahinang natawa.

Hindi ko rin alam kung bakit ako bumili at bakit kami napunta rito. That woman, Since I read her background, hasn't left my mind. It's like a pain that I can't get rid of.

What the hell is wrong with me?

No matter what I do, even if things inside the warehouse get busy, there's not a minute that she doesn't cross my mind. And that's what's frustrating because no matter what you do, when it's your own mind making it happen, it's hard to fight it. Ang hirap kontrolin.

Sa mga ilang araw na gano'n, napagisip-isip ko na baka kaya nangyayari 'yon ay dahil hindi ako nakapagpasalamat dahil sa ginawa niya? Is it because she helped me and saved my life that she can't leave my mind and always messes with it?

Kapag ibang tao ang gumagawa no'n ay agad ko nang kinakalimutan 'yon. I don't give a fuck about them, wala na akong pake, pero pagdating sa kanya, there's something about her that makes my mind go crazy.

Now, Red and I are at the flower shop. I'm about to thank her for saving my life, but why do I still have to give her a flower that matches her personality? Based on what I read in her background, she seems to be cheerful and bubbly. Kitang kita sa mga ngiti niya na parang ang babaw lang ng kaligayahan niya.

I know she will like it; I know she's going to be like the flower that I'm going to give her.

Nakikita ko pa lang sa malayo ang ginagawang bouquet ng bulaklak na gusto ko, ay parang sumasagi na agad sa aking isipan ang picture nitong nakita ko sa binigay na folder ni Red.

If she were to be a flower bouquet, she would be the flower I'd give to her.

Light, colorful, lively flower bouquet.

Agad akong nabalik sa aking malalim na pagiisip ng marinig ang boses ng babae.

"Here's your flower bouquet, sir. Thank you for purchasing our flowers again," nakangiting wika ng babae. Inabot niya sa akin ang bulaklak at tinanggap ko 'yon. "I'm sure your wife will like it."

"It's not for my wife," sagot ko at hinawakan ng maayos ang bulaklak.

Agad na natigilan ang babae at nawala ang ngiti sa kanyang labi. Napalitan iyon ng alanganin na ngiti at hilaw itong natawa.

"O-oh, I'm sorry," nahihiyang wika ng babae. "Thank you po ulit, sir! Have a good day!"

I nodded and held the end of the bouquet, turning it upside down. Red and I walked out and headed straight to the white Bentley Continental GT that was parked on the side of the sidewalk. It was a convertible, so the roof was down.

I quickly placed the flowers on the passenger seat, so Red couldn't sit there. Natigilan siya at napaawang ang labi dahil sa aking ginawa.

"What?" masungit kong tanong.

Napailing na lang si Red at binuksan ang pintuan ng backseat at doon naupo.

"Pakibaba na lang ako sa arko ng Rarito, Atlas. Wala na akong balak samahan ka pa sa kanya. Nakalimutan ko na may aattend-dan akong meeting ng mga righthandman sa iba't ibang factions."

I nodded. "Okay. Balitaan mo na lang ako kung anong pinag-usapan niyo."

"Sure."

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

Nang makarating sa Austria Kiddie Academy ay lumabas na ako sa kotse nang maipark ko sa gilid ng sidewalk ang kotse. I grabbed the flower from the passenger seat and carried it upside down before heading out.

I'm wearing my casual attire today, a white polo shirt and brown pants. My white polo shirt was tucked into my pants, and I left the top two buttons open so I could stay cool, because the sun was blazing hot today.

"Good afternoon, is Sienna here?" tanong ko ng malapitan ang guard.

Tumango ang lalake. "Magandang hapon din po, sir. Sino pong Sienna?"

Kumunot ang aking noo. Mali ba ang info na nakuha ni Red?

"She's a teacher here," sagot ko. "Nandito ba siya?"

"Ay, sorry, sir. Wala pong Sienna na teacher dito. Baka namali lang po kayo ng pinuntahan na school."

That's impossible. Alam ko na nagtatrabaho siya rito. Tumikhim ako at muling tinanong ang guard.

"I'm sorry, it's Avah. Is she here?"

Agad naman na napatango ang guwardya sa aking tanong.

"Ay! si Ma'am Avah po pala ang hanap niyo, Sir. Nandito po siya ngayon. Sakto break time po ng estudyante at mga teacher ngayon, ano pong kailangan nila?"

Biglang bumaba ang tingin niya sa hawak kong bulaklak bago umangat ang tingin sa akin. Mukhang nakuha naman niya ang ibig sabihin nito kaya ningitian niya lang ako.

"Ako na po ang magbibigay sa kanya ng bulaklak, sir—"

"No," pagputol ko sa kanyang sinabi. "I want to be the one to give her this flower."

Napakamot siya sa kanyang ulo at umiling sa akin.

"Pasensya na po, sir, mahigpit pong ipinagbabawal ng head nitong school na bawal kami magpapasok ng outsider," magalang niyang sagot.

My gaze shifted inside when I saw the familiar statue of a person. It had long black hair, but I knew it was her. Is that her real hair? Fake lang ba yung buhok niya noong nakita ko siya?

"Is that her? Am I right?" pagtukoy ko kay Sienna sa guard.

Lumingon ang guard sa tinitignan ko at tumango 'yon.

"Oo, sir. Si Ma'am Avah po 'yan, kinakausap lang si Sir Cian."

I frowned when I saw what they were doing. I couldn't hear their conversation, but I knew something wasn't right.

Something is really wrong between them. Nakakunot ang noo ni Sienna habang may sinasabi ito na hindi ko mahulaan dahil ang bilis ng kanyang bibig sa pagsasalita.

Mabilis kong kinuha ang wallet sa bulsa ng pantalon ko at kinuha ang valid id ko. Inabot ko 'yon sa guard at wala sa sarili na tinanggap ang binigay ko.

I didn't say anything and just walked inside the school.

"Sir! bawal po pumasok!"

I kept walking, not taking my eyes off Sienna. She had her arms crossed and was still staring at the guy in front of her.

"Itigil mo na nga kasi 'to, Cian. Hindi ka ba napapagod sa ginagawa mo? Nagsasayang ka lang ng pera para sa bulaklak na 'yan."

Napatingin ako sa bulaklak na hawak ng lalake. Isang bouquet ng red roses ang hawak nito. matingkad ang pagkapula no'n kumpara sa dala kong bulaklak na makukulay.

I can only say one thing. That type of flower doesn't really fit Sienna.

"Avah, why can't you just accept it? Please, ilang buwan na kitang sinusuyo."

"Hindi kita inutusan na gawin 'yan. Bakit ba ang tigas ng bungo mo? Itigil mo na 'to, nakikinig ka ba? Pinapagod mo lang sarili mo sa 'kin."

Tahimik akong umabante para mas lalong mapalapit sa kanila. When Sienna noticed my presence, her eyes widened as if she couldn't believe I was standing next to her.

"What's the problem here?" I asked seriously.

SHANGPU