CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

"WHY ARE YOU here, Haji? I didn't ask for you." Anas ni Amadeus kay Haji matapos kong abutin ang kamay nito. "Wait, do you have anything to do with these?"

Napatingin ako kay Amadeus nang tanungin n'ya ng gano'n ang sarili nitong Jack. Nakadama ako bahagya ng kaba dahil sa tanong nito. May alam na kaya si Amadeus?

Haji Yamaguchi is Amadeus' CEO in their Shipping Company here in West Diamond. Ito ang humahawak sa kompanyang itinayo ng kanilang Hari para sa bayan nila. West Diamond town is being surrounded by the Sea and it became their primary source of income. They cultivated it and now has been known to be one of the largest Shipping industry in Asia. The man has the same built like Kassian. Hindi man ganoong ka-physically fit but he has still fashion sense in terms of picking good clothes. Because of his fair skin and squinty eyes, he can definitely be passed as a fashion model.

Gaya ng ibang Jacks, Jacks are well-known to be the Strategist of the Royal towns regardless of any purpose: War, business, personal agenda, name it. Ibig sabihin, they are one of the most intelligent persons in the Philippines. Sila ang dakilang advisers ng mga Kings in terms of decision making and such.

"Kararating ko lang ta's ako agad ang naakusahan mo, P're?" mapagbirong untag ni Haji tapos ay umupo ito sa sofa kung saan ako nakahiga kanina. "I heard a commotion happened here a while ago. Care to share what's happening?"

No, Haji didn't need that. At ang ngisi nito ang nagpapatunay noon.

"I know you better. Don't pretend as if you don't know anything. You acted so fast that you were able to get one of the culprits from my ship without me knowing." Amadeus stated the obvious. Haji, on the other hand, raised his both arms... surrendering.

"Fine, fine. Oo na. I was able to grasped most of it. Buffoons are on the move. Primeval Union started to rehabilitate the Primus City. Suspecting of waking the Joker. So, anything else that you can share? May nakuha ka bang impormasyon sa pinadala ko?" Haji asked while he started pouring a cup of tea.

"Don't you have any client meetings?" ramdam ko ang pagkairita ni Amadeus sa presensya nito sa paraan ng pagkakatanong. "You seem not busy."

Bahagyang sinamaan ng tingin ni Haji si Amadeus na akala mo'y inaakusahan nito ang sariling Hari. "May I remind you that you are suppose to be the one taking care of your business? Kung'di dahil d'yan sa hiling n'yo sa Ancient Ones na maging normal, I won't be in this situation at siguro nagpapakasasa siguro ako sa mga chikababes ko."

Amadeus cleared his throat to catch Haji's attention. Mukhang nakuha naman ng binata ang pinapahiwatig ni Amadeus kung kaya't sa akin 'to napatingin.

"Hindi ko alam na may dinala ka nang babae rito sa barko mo. More specifically, sa kwarto mo mismo. What changed your mind? Change of preference? Mas gusto mo na ba 'yung wild at palaban? You should have told me earlier, I know a few ladies who're braver than her." Dire-diretsong saad ni Haji.

Sinamaan ko s'ya ng tingin. Ano ba sa tingin nito ang sinasabi sa harapan ko? Mukha ba akong wala sa harapan nilang dalawa?

"That's none of your business." Mariing wika ni Amadeus pero hindi ko alam kung tama ba 'yung narinig ko sa tono n'ya pero nahalata ko ang bahagyang pagkapahiya roon. Ano naman ang kinahihiya nito? Nakakahiya na ako ang kasama nito sa sariling kwarto n'ya?

I scoffed hard tapos ay binalik ko ang sama ng tingin kay Haji. "Ano ba 'yang iniisip mo, Mr. Yamaguchi? Na babae ako ng lalaking 'to?" pakurap kurap itong napatingin sa'kin habang nanlalaki ang mata tapos ay pabalik balik ang tingin sa aming dalawa.

Then Haji burst into laughter. Nakapikit naman si Amadeus sa gilid ko habang nagpipigil na makapanakit.

"May nakakatawa ba sa sinabi ko gunggong?" tanong ko rito na bahagyang nagpaalpas ng tawa ni Haji. Nagpupunas punas pa ito ng luha sa mata gawa ng tawa bago bumaling muli sa'kin.

"Sorry, for being... rude." Tapos ay tumingin ito kay Amadeus. "Ang linis ng bibig ng kasama natin, King. Want to purify it?"

Hindi ko alam kung ano ang ibig sabihin nito sa sinabi ni Amadeus pero masyado na kaming nagsasayang ng oras.

"Nicodemus," panimula ko at parehas silang napatingin sa'kin. "He said that I can help extracting any information sa nahuling buffoon."

Masungit akong tiningnan ni Amadeus na animo'y nakakainsulto ang sinabi ko. "I ain't need your help. Inform your King."

"So, wala ka pa ngang nakukuhang impormasyon mula sa kanya?" napangisi ako nang ma-realize ko 'yon.

"Who told you that we weren't?" tanong nito sa akin pero mas kinangisi ko pa 'yon sa harapan n'ya.

"May nakapagsabi na ba sa'yo na isa kang dakilang barbero?" anas ko rito habang nakadikwartro sa upuan.

Nagpipigil naman si Haji sa isang tabi na tumawa. He did a big O reaction as if he's really shocked on something. Gano'n din si Amadeus. Hindi ito makapaniwalang na nakatingin sa'kin.

"I did!" tugon ni Haji habang ang laki ng ngisi at nakataas pa ang isang kamay. Nakatanggap naman ito ng masamang tingin kay Amadeus. "What? You're one bad liar, Bro. Admit that."

Nginisian ko na ngayon ang barberong Hari na 'to. Hindi na ito tumingin sa'kin at iniiwas pa ang tingin. My smirk grew because of that.

"I'll pretend that I didn't know that part." Anas ko habang may mumunting ngisi muli ang lumalapat sa labi ko. "Shall we go down to the business? We are wasting our time."

Haji gave Amadeus a lopsided grin. "I must agree with her. Baka nakakalimutan mong may malaki kang pagtitipon mamaya. You should clean your abode before the media noticed it."

Amadeus was now clenching his fist then he glared at me. His face was still stoic pero kung kanina hindi ko s'ya mabasa, ngayon, kitang kita ko na ayaw n'ya sa ideya na may tutulong sa kanya. Yung tipong may tatapak sa ego nito at kailangan pang humingi ng tulong sa isang tulad ko.

Kaunti lang ang alam ko sa ibang Hari maliban nalang sa pinaglingkuran ko na si Nicodemus. Before his Queen went back, Nicodemus became distant at laging masungit sa mga babae. Pero bago s'ya iwan ni Savannah noon, Nicodemus was very approachable and understanding. He valued the essence of a woman in a battlefield kaya nga most of his high-ranking officials were women.

Mukhang kabaligtaran ito ni Amadeus. Amadeus was being such an ass and a brutal ruler, I must say. He only listens to his Jack but it seems to me that he's just listening to his himself. He has a very cold hostility and expression. Yung tipong isang tingin mo palang rito ay para ka na n'yang ini-intimidate.

* * *

WE were standing below the masthead of his ship. Nakangiwi ako habang pinakikinggan ang daing at ungol ng nahuling buffoon. Nakasabit ito sa taas nang nakadipa habang nakatarak na ang isang metal sa t'yan nito. Hindi na 'to magtatagal tangina. He should have considered his health at least.

Galit ang sinalubong kong ekspresyon kay Amadeus and he just looked at me as if he's telling me, "May problema ka?" na tingin. I gritted my teeth even more.

"Sana man lang inisip mo na mamamatay na 'yan kaagad kung ginanyan mo ang katawan n'ya!" sigaw ko rito.

Naagaw ko naman ang atensyon ng mga trabahador na nakapalibot sa amin dahil sa lakas ng sigaw ko. Alam ko ang rason pero tangina naman p're, hindi tama ang ginawa n'ya sa bihag!

"Beware with your words, Former Lieutenant General. May I remind you that you're still on my lair and I can definitely kill you without your King's permission." He replied with his bland and rage expression. Clearly, he didn't like what I did.

I gritted my teeth more dahil kailangan kong mas maging maingat kung gusto ko pang makaalis rito ng buhay. Pero I just can't ignore the faces of his crew. Bago kami makarating rito, lahat ng mga tauhan na nadadaanan namin ay humihinto at yumuyuko sa harapan n'ya. May bahid ng takot ang ilan pero mas marami ang may galit. Galit sa paraan ng pamumuno ng gagong 'to. Do'n naman sa mga takot, they have few scratches and most of them were wearing arm casts, pero patuloy pa rin sa pagtatrabaho. Yung iba pa sa mga pilay ay nagbubuhat ng mabigat. Anakng, paanong gagaling ang mga braso nila?

"Being brutal means you're attracting enemies." Komento ko habang nakikipagsukatan sa kanya ng tingin.

"It's none of your business," he replied with the same intensity of my glare.

"Being brutal means you will fail those people around you," I spat every word and I was shocked of what he did next.

Mabilis n'yang hinawakan ang leeg ko ng isang kamay at tinulak ako sa gilid ng kinatatayuan namin. I groaned in pain when he's holding me tighter. Kapag binitawan n'ya ako ay paniguradong dagat naman ang papatay sa'kin.

"Who are you... to insult me?!" his flaring rage was now evident on his face. Galit na galit itong nakatingin sa'kin na animo'y sobrang apektado sa huli kong sinabi.

Do'n umentrada ang konsensya ko. Did I hit a spot? A spot that made him like this?

Hinawakan ko ang brasong pinangsasakal n'ya sa'kin at tiningnan s'ya ng mariin kahit na nahihirapan akong huminga. I put all strength on my lower body and I lift my left leg to kick his face. But his other hand caught it and gripped it as well. I immediately moved my other leg clockwise and it landed perfectly on his defined jaw.

Nabitawan n'ya ako dahil sa lakas ng pagkakasipa ko sa kanyang panga. Mabuti na lamang at naikapit ko ang isa kong kamay sa dulong bahagi ng barko para hindi ako tuluyang mahulog sa dagat. Wala akong sinayang na sandali at mabilis na inangat ang sarili ko at kumapit sa kalapit na railing. I lifted my body up hanggang sa nakahiga na ako sa sahig ng barko and trying to catch up my breath.

Sinubukan kong hawakan ang leeg ko and it's stung just a mere touch of it.

"Hoy! Aba gagong 'to ba't mo ginawa 'yon kay Thyra?!" rinig kong sigaw ni Savannah sa 'di kalayuan. Bahagya ko silang sinilip dahil hindi ko inaakala na lumabas sila sa kanilang kwarto. Sa likod nito ay si Cleo at parehas galit ang kanilang ekspresyon.

"Nananakit ka pati ng babae?" hindi makapaniwalang saad ni Cleo kay Amadeus.

"Let them in, they're not supposed to see this." Utos ni Amadeus kay Haji.

"Aba't 'wag n'yo ngang hawakan ng ganyan si Cleo!" sigaw ni Sav when an underling of Amadeus held her arm tightly.

"B-Bitawan n'yo s-s'ya!" sigaw ko sa mukhang tukmol na inutusan ni Haji. I gave him my best glare.

Tila natakot naman ang lalaking 'yon sa binigay kong tingin and unconsciously binitawan si Cleo. Sunod ko namang tiningnan si Amadeus.

"Ibaba mo na ang bihag." Utos ko sa Hari nila.

"Who are you to order me?" he intimidatingly asked me. "I spared your life, you should be grateful."

I scoffed with his remark. "You spared me? I just kicked your fucking face and you called that sparing my life? Nakakatawa ka."

"You really want me to kill you? After I saved your life a while ago, you did a crime?! Does your King knew that you are the one who made his Queen kidnapped?" nakasigaw na 'to sa'kin.

Napipilan ako bigla sa sinabi nito. Hindi n'ya alam. Ang alam lang ni Nicodemus, nandito ako dahil niligtas ko yung dalawa pero 'di n'ya alam na ako ang naglagay sa bingit ng kamatayan ng reyna n'ya. I clenched my fist because I knew what he meant.

Nicodemus would kill me once he figured.

"Do what she has told you, you mongrel!" napatingin kaming lahat kay Savannah. Galit ang ekspresyon nito na nakatingin kay Amadeus. Halatang hindi rin nito nagustuhan ang paraan ng pamamalakad ng Hari ng West Diamonds Town.

Ngumisi naman si Amadeus sa dalaga. "You're brave enough but that's not enough—" naputol ang sasabihin ni Amadeus nang sumingit si Savannah.

And we were all shocked from what she has said next.

"I am Savannah Valentine Albert, the Queen of Clubs. The mother of Earth that symbolizes my town. The chosen partner of the King. And you... retired King will follow what my Lieutenant General has ordered you or face my wrath."

Natigalgal hindi lang si Amadeus at ako. Maging ang lahat ng nanunuod na tauhan. She just... she just acknowledged her throne and the symbol of Club suit on her forehead was shining beautifully in gold while the Earth's ground was crumbling.

The Grace of the Ancient Ones acknowledged her. And based on the Rule of Agreement, since all the Kings gave up their throne after the last war, the leadership will be held responsible to their Queens. And since Savannah just acknowledged it, the Ancient Ones— the people who created this kind of system of leadership, accepted her. And anyone who will refuse the First Order of the newly proclaimed leader will have to face the Judgment of Death.

Walang nakahuma sa kanilang nasaksihan hanggang sa unti unting lumuhod bilang pagbibigay respeto sa bagong talagang Reyna ng North Clubs ang mga nasasakupan ni Amadeus.

Savannah and Cleo roamed their eyes to witness what Amadeus' army has been doing. Then Savannah smirked at Amadeus and said, "Thyra is now under my protection. I'll handle Nicodemus once he figured out what happened to us. Surely, I can handle him better than you do."

I saw Amadeus clenched his fist and I could sense that he's not okay being defeated.

Does that have something to do with what I've said? "Being brutal means you will fail those people around you..."

Napalunok ako dahil mukhang ganoon na nga. He didn't want to be defeated or being ordered by anyone because he didn't want to be seen as a failure. Now I knew that there's a story behind of his cruelness. Imposible na wala.

Malapit nang mawalan ng buhay ang Buffoon na 'to lalo na't ilang oras na 'tong nakasampay kanina habang nauubusan ng dugo. Hindi na ako nag-aksaya pa ng panahon at kinausap ko ang naghihingalong bihag.

"Oy, Brad." Tawag ko then I snapped my fingers on his face. "Buhay ka pa? Kaya pa?"

"Malapit na raw, 'di ba raw halata, girl?" Savannah rolled her eyes at me while she and Cleo was watching intently.

Lumapit naman si Cleo sa katawan ng bihag at chineck ang palapusuan nito tapos ay chineck nitong sunod ang mata at dibdib.

"'Di mo naman sinabi girl na doktora ka na rin pala." Komento ni Savannah sa gilid.

"Buhay pa—" natigilan si Cleo nang biglang hapitin ng Buffoon ang braso ng dalaga at tiningnan ito sa nakakatakot na itsura. His eyes were blazing with pure black then he laughed at us.

"No one can stop me from arising, idiots!" wika ng Buffoon pero halatang hindi na ito normal. His voice... may pangalawang boses ang nakahalo. He's being possessed by the Joker's presence.

"The Code of Vortex will help me to destroy this world and I will have my revenge soon!!" sunod nitong wika tapos ay hinila si Cleo palapit sa mukha nito. Nakangisi naman itong inamoy ang dalaga at saka may binulong. Cleo's face turned in horror after that.

Hindi na nagpaliguy-ligoy pa si Savannah at malakas na hinila si Cleo palayo sa Buffoon. Tumalima naman kaagad ako at mabilis na bumunot ng isang baril sa isa sa mga tauhan ni Amadeus at binaril ang ulo ng bihag.

Dalawang bala ang tumama, napatingin ako sa isa pang bumaril at nakita kong si Amadeus ang isa sa kumilos. Amadeus threw the gun on the floor and walked out.

"Clean up the mess, prepare the party that will be held tonight." Mariin nitong utos at tuloy tuloy lang na naglakad palayo. Nakatulala lang naman akong nakatayo roon at napabalik lang ang aking ulirat nang sigawan ako ni Savannah.

"Baka gusto n'yong tumulong? Hinimatay si Cleo!" ani Savannah.

Haji moved quickly at ito na ang bumuhat rito, he motioned his head to us at nagsasabing sumunod na kami sa kanya.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Savannah. The golden Club symbol on her forehead hasn't dissolved. The symbol was placed in the center of her forehead and there's a Tiara-like curved lines on both sides. Nagsilbing korona iyon sa balat ng dalaga.

Sabay naman kaming napatingin ni Savannah sa walang buhay na katawan ng Buffoon. His blood became dark and black.

Sa puntong 'to, iisa lang kami ng naiisip.

We have to double the protection for Cleo now that the Joker who possessed his own Buffoon confirmed that she's the one who will make him awake.