Chapter 11: His Excellency

"Cooler?"

"Amber? Damn!", he said at agad na itinuon ang baril sa driver na nahintakutan din. "Drive fast!"

Hinampas ko ang isang braso niya. "Put away that gun idiot!" Natataranta na kasi ang driver. Who wouldn't be kung bigla na lamang may pumara sayo at bigla ka na lamang tutuonan ng baril!

Agad naman niya iyong binaba. "Shit, Amber! What the hell are you doing here?" He keeps on looking back at halatang natataranta.

"I should be asking the same question. What are you doing here?", I asked him habang nagpupunas siya ng pawis. The driver was glancing at us on the rearview mirror. Cooler pointed again his gun at the driver. "What? Just drive anywhere and make it faster!"

"Oh, nothing. Don't kill me. Please, don't kill me! I'll drive you anywhere, just please don't kill me", wika ng driver and this time ay binatukan ko si Cooler.

"Awww! Aray ah!", he scowled at me. Uh, seriously?! Umaray siya sa simpleng pagbatok na iyon?

"Ibaba mo sabi eh! Natatakot yung driver sayo!", wika ko sa kanya. Funny how he looks so dangerous with a gun, yet sa simpleng pagbatok ay napapaaray na ito. "Sabi ko anong ginagawa mo dito? Sinusundan mo ba ako?"

"Sorry to burst your bubble Amber but I wasn't following you. Dalawang linggo na ako dito. I should be the one asking what are you doing here. Parang kailan lang ng tumawag si Artemis to inform me that Ryu brought you in the mansion and now you're here?", he said.

"I'm on a vacation with Gray", sagot ko sa kanya. Ikinuwento iyon sa kanya ni Artemis?

"Ah, I see. A vacation huh? You decided to spend some time here with Gr— with Gray? What the hell?!", he asked. "With Gray? You mean Gray Vander?"

I rolled my eyes at him. "Gray Silvan, not Vander."

"He's still a Vander whether he likes it or not", he said with a pout. "But why the hell?! Bakit si Gray ang kasama mo?!"

"Don't ask. It's a long story. Now mind sharing why you just came calling the cab I'm in, sweating like a pig and pointing your gun on us?", tanong ko sa kanya.

"I don't know that you are in this cab. I'm chased by some guys, damn business", wika niya. Panay pa rin ang lingon niya sa likuran.

"WHAT?"

"Ugh, sorry Amber", he said with a frown. Damn him! Idinamay na naman ako. I remembered one time when we ran to escape his pursuers. We escaped but in the end ay ang nahuli kami ng mga inutusan ni Cronus. I gave him a dagger stare bago itinapat ang paningin sa labas ng sasakyan

"What happened to your hair?", nagulat niyang tanong. Hinawakan niya ang hindi pantay kong buhok while his hands was still holding the gun.

Hinila ko ang buhok ko mula sa kanya. "I'm going to a parlor. I cut my hair using a knife."

"Have you gone crazy for doing such?! Sayang ang buhok mo", he asked surprisedly. Kung nanghihinayang siya sa buhok ko, paano na lang kaya ako? Araw-araw ko iyong inaalagaan and then one day! Uh, masakit sa kalooban!

"It's a matter of life and death", sagot ko sa kanya. The driver asked kung saan kami maaring bumaba. When I looked back, wala na ang mga kotse na sumusunod sa amin.

"Bring us to Fleet Street", Cooler said at tumango ang driver sa kanya. Pinahinto ni Cooler ang driver sa isang busy na daan at panay pa rin ang tingin ni Cooler sa paligod kung ligtas na ba. When everything was cleared ay hinila niya ako palabas ng kotse.

"Hey! I'm not going with you", wika ko sa kanya but he was strong enough to pull me out. "I need to go to a parlor."

"Parlor can wait. I need your help", wika niya at nagbayad sa taxi. He pulled me through the crowded street and his grip was tight kaya kahit anong pagpupumilgas ko ay hindi pa rin ako makawala sa pagkakahawak niya. He brought me inside an apartment at agad na isinara iyon.

"Ano naman ang maitutulong ko sayo?", I asked and I crossed my arms. My hair can't wait! Kahapon pa ito ganito!

"I need you to help me decipher this message", wika niya at inilabas ang isang papel mula sa bulsa. It was just a small paper but I think its contents were really important.

"You're asking the wrong person. Maybe you should be consulting your brother and not me", wika ko sa kanya. Duh. Kapag sa pag-dedecipher ng mga kung anu-ano, Gray's sharp mind is the best solution.

"You know that he will not and will never help the mafia. We got a civil relationship as of now through his consideration and I don't want to risk such relationship by asking him to do things that he doesn't want to do", paliwanag ni Cooler and I got his point. Gray is a man of his principle kaya kahit anong pakiusap man ang gawin ni Cooler, malamang ay hindi ito mapagbibigyan.

"Then find a cryptographer. I really can't help you at isa pa, I really need to go to a parlor", wika ko sa kanya. I tried to turn my heels back ngunit hinawakan ako ni Cooler sa wrist. He pulled me inside the apartment at pinaupo ako sa harap ng malaking salamin.

"The mafia can't trust cryptographer unless his loyalty was proven by the mafia. As of now, the mafia cryptographer went on god-knows-where part of the earth and took a vacation. We can't contact him", he said. Binuksan niya ang isang tokador at naglabas ng isang gunting. WHAT THE ~ ! What is he planning to do?!

"How do you want your hairstyle to be?", he asked at iginalaw ang gunting sa kanyang kamay. Nahintakutang napahawak naman ako sa buhok ko at biglang napatayo.

"What the fudge Cooler! What are you planning to do?", I asked loudly at napaatras.

"I'm giving you a free haircut", he said and flashed his cool smile. Damn! Kapag nakangiti ito ay hindi maikakailang kapatid ito ni Gray. Maybe they got such feature on Cronus. Nais ko tuloy makita si Cronus and see how he looks like because he made two gorgeous offspring in the person of Gray and Cooler.

"No way! I can't trust you over my hair like the way you can't trust cryptographers!", I exclaimed and Cooler laughed. Napaatras ako at panay pa rin ang lapit niya sa akin hanggang sa naramdaman ko na lang ang malamig na dingding mula sa likuran ko. Hinawakan niya ako sa balikat at muling pinaupo sa harap ng salamin.

"Trust me with this Amber", he said habang tinitingnan ako sa salamin. I took a deep breath bago sumagot sa kanya.

"Fine." Okay, sana lang ang hindi ko ito pagsisisihan. Ipapapantay ko lang naman iyon.

"You want an army cut?", he asked with a hint of playfulness. I gave him a frown at natawa naman ito. "A bobcut, then?"

"No way! Ipantay mo lang iyan", wika ko sa kanya. There's no way I'll be wearing my hair short. Few inches below the shoulder is just enough.

"Okay Maam!", he said at nilagyan ng tuwalya ang katawan ko. He started cutting my hair at hindi nagtagal ay ipinagpag na niya ang tuwalyang nasa likod ko. I checked my hair on the large mirror at ayos naman ang ginawa niyang pagpapantay sa buhok ko.

"Not bad", wika ko sa kanya. "I need to go", I stepped towards the exit ngunit agad akong nahawakan ni Cooler.

"Not so fast Amber. I really need your help", wika niya and I pouted. "Let's just say, kabayaran ito sa paggupit ko sa buhok mo."

I frowned when I hear the word "kabayaran." I didn't ask him to do it, he volunteered, right?

"Let me refresh your mind about what you said kanina. You said, you're giving me a free haircut", I told him. Free stuff aren't supposed to be paid.

"Binabawi ko na iyon. I really need your help on this Amber. You will help you, will you?", he said and gave me puppy eyes. Yuck.

"Fine but I can't promise you that I could be a great help", wika ko, totally giving up. I'm not really good in codes and ciphers unlike Gray, ngunit nakukuha ko rin naman pag minsan.

"Yees!", he exclaimed and punched the air. Cooler is childish at times. I remember the time when he brought me to a magic show. Mukha itong bata na tuwang-tuwa sa magic.

"Whose apartment is this by the way?", I asked at inilibot ang paningin sa kabuoan niyon. It was quiet cozy and clean.

"Ours."

"I thought you're staying in a hotel", wika ko and Cooler shrugged his shoulders.

"Not safe. Kapag nalaman ng mga kalaban ng mafia na nandito kami, the first thing that they would check will be hotels na iisipin nilang pinaglalagian namin", he said. Tama rin naman siya, kapag hinanap ko sila, malamang ay mga hotel ang una kong susubaybayan.

"Uh, smart idea", komento ko.

"It's Cronus'. He's a good in pre-empting possible problems", he said and I felt the shiver passed through my body. Kung ganoon ay hindi basta-basta si Cronus. He can preempt things even before he knows it.

"Sige na. Asan ba yung sabi mong kailangan i-decipher?", I asked and he got the paper from his pocket again. Mabuti na lang at pagdating na pagdating namin ay agad na niyang itinago ang baril na dala-dala niya kanina. "By the way, what happened kanina? Why are those guys chasing you?"

"I got this paper from them. They're from a huge syndicate. They double-crossed us on our latest transaction so I went to see them and got this paper. I think it tells us where we can find their transactor", he said in a serious tone. Hindi ko lubos maisip ang mga pinaggagawa ng mafia. Gosh, they're like moths, trying to get their self into the flame.

"You mean you do it by yourself? How? Did you infiltrate their syndicate?"

"I did but I'm with Ares", wika niya. Oh Ares, one if the reapers? Noong nasa mansion kami ay nauna itong umalis dahil may hahabulin daw itong flight. It must be his flight to London.

Inilapag ni Cooler ang papel sa harap ko at tumabi sa akin. "How can we do this?", tanong niya. I stared at the paper in front of me. There were couple of numbers and symbols scribbled in the paper.

*8:3 5-3? &@(3 *99$#. #5@6 @5 '@4)6)3 -953) @/$ '@5'- 6974 &)8*-5 59/8*-5 @5 10:30PM.

I can't get anything by merely looking at the paper kaya tinanong ko ng mga kung anu-ano si Cooler. "How do mafias use ciphers?", I asked.

"Well, Bernardo Provenzano of Corleonesi Mafia in Sicily where mafia iriginated used a simple Caesar cipher and—" I cut him off.

"Not interested with the history and origin of mafia. I'm asking how do you do it, the Vander mafia for example", wika ko sa kanya. I don't have time hearing about that Bernardo Whosoever.

"We used codewords na tanging ang cryptographer at negotiator lang ang may alam", wika niya.

"Like?"

"Like papers for money or goods for guns", sagot niya sa akin. I made a face. Those were just common code words at madali lang maintindihan. Kung ganoon lamang ang ginagamit ng Vander Mafia, their security would be at risk.

"Hey, don't make such face. Hindi palaging ganoon ang ginagamit ng mafia. Example lang yun. Vander mafia have iron wall when it comes to transaction security", wika niya ng mapansin ang ekspresyon ng mukha ko. Teka, kailan pa ito naging mind reader?

"Really? Kaya pala alam naming may illegal na transaksyong magaganap sa hotel na pinagdaraosan ng Welcome Party ni Antonio Velmon", wika ko sa kanya. That was the first time that I have encountered Ryu and Cooler, as Zeus.

"I told them that it's a hoax but they did not listen to me. Anyway, let's forget about it", wika niya at sumang-ayon ako.

Muli kong pinagtuunan ng pansin ang maliit na papel. It doesn't look so important. Truth is mukha itong walang kwenta but if Cooler risked his life for it, it must be of great importance.

*8:3 5-3? &@(3 *99$#. #5@6 @5 '@4)6)3 -953) @/$ '@5'- 6974 &)8*-5 59/8*-5 @5 10:30PM.

"The only part I got was 10:30PM. It surely tells us a time, right?", Cooler said and I nodded at him.

"What's this syndicate like? I mean, like Vander Mafia, you used greek mythology, how about them?", tanong ko sa kanya at nag-isip saglit si Cooler.

"Hmmm, I'm not really sure but I overheard one of those ugly goons said something like Bossing", Cooler said with a grin. Uh, not helpful!

"What's their line of business?", tanong ko ulit sa kanya.

"They smuggle everything. "

I sighed at patuloy lamang na tiningnan ang papel. Sinasabi ko na nga ba na hindi ako makakatulong dito. This one's difficult to decipher.

"I told you I can't help, maybe Gray can. I'll just text him the code. Don't worry, hindi ko sasabihing may kinalaman ito sa mafia", wika ko at kinuha ang cellphone ko. I tried texting Gray nang magsalita si Cooler.

"You lined your phone into British lines?", he asked at para akong nabuhusan ng tubig. How stupid of me. My phone isn't functional here. I didn't tried the british networks at sa internet ko lamang nababalitaan sina Mommy tungkol sa mga adventure ko dito sa London, of course I skipped the dangerous ones.

"Sabi ko nga hindi diba?", wika ko. I keep my phone in my pocket ngunit agad ko din iyong inilabas ng may maalala ako.

"Phone keyboard", I whispered.

"What?"

"I think we have to use a phone's keyboard", wika ko kay Cooler! Tama! We should use a phone's keyboard!

"Give me your phone", wika ko at inilahad ang palad ko sa kanya. Kahit naguguluhan ay ibinigay naman niya iyon. I used my phone as my reference at sa cellphone ko niya inilagay ang na-decode na mga salita. Using the keyboard, I used the symbols and look for the corresponding letter where the symbols are found.

GIVE THEM FAKE GOODS. STAY AT CARLYLE HOTEL AND CATCH YOUR FLIGHT TONIGHT AT 10:30PM!

"Damn! Those bastards! We lose millions because of them!", wika niya at hiniram ang cellphone niya mula sa akin.

"Carlyle Hotel? That's where Gray and I are staying!", wika ko! Nagulat na lamang ako ng may tunog ng ikinasang baril and someone pointed a gun at Cooler's head. Bigla naman kaming napatayo but I didn't dare to move even a single step.

It was a man with a scary aura. He was tall and respectable in every manner. He was wearing a black and white suit that fits him perfectly. He had the familiar dark eyes, a well-chiselled nose and prominent cheeks. Katamtaman ang pangangatawan nito and his serious face reminded me of Gray, solving a very serious case.

Maging si Cooler ay hindi nakagalaw. My hands were cold and I'm shaking. Yes, I had overcome my fear of seeing a gun but seeing someone pointed with a gun is another story.

"C-cronus", sambit ni Cooler and it confirmed my hunch about this man's identity. I don't really need a confirmation since their physical features said it all. Napaatras si Cooler ngunit hindi pa rin ibinababa ni Cronus ang baril. He was now pointing it at Cooler's forehead. Parang kanina lang ay nais kong makita si Cronus— but now!

Cronus said nothing, sa halip ay kinalabit niya ang gatilyo and I screamed my heart out at kasabay ng pagpikit ko ng aking mata ay isang putok.

I slowly opened my eyes when I heard a chuckle. It was Cronus. He was giggling like a child at nang sulyapan ko si Cooler ay basa ang buong mukha nito.

Uh, a water gun?! What the hell?! Did Cronus shoot Cooler with a WATER GUN?!

"Shit! You scared us!", Cooler said habang pinupunasan ang mukha. I want to slap my face to check if this was reality. The mafia boss Cronus of theVander mafia played a joke on us and giggled like a kid?!

"My apology for that young lady", Cronus said at inabot ang kamay ko at hinalikan iyon. "It's a privilege to meet the woman that the young Vanders are interested in. I thought I'll meet a woman as beautiful as Iveron, you don't actually meet my expectation but nonetheless, you're a beauty of your own."

Dahan-dahan kong itinaas ang kilay ko ngunit agad din iyong ibinaba ng maalala kung sino nga pala si Cronus. Hindi ko alam kung matutuwa ba ako o maiinsulto. Hindi naman kasi talaga ako kasingganda ng mama ni Gray!

"Don't compare Amber with anyone. She's unique", Cooler said.

Lumawak naman ang ngiti ni Cronus. "Of course, Iveron is a timeless beauty. As of this young lady, I overheard your conversation with Zeus from the other room. I admire how smart you are", he said with a very serious face. Gone was his playful side na ipinakita niya kanina. Maybe Cooler got his playful side from Cronus and Gray's serious side was also from this man.

"Uhm, I'm - I'm just influenced by Gray's deducing skills", wika ko sa kanya. Gosh, his presence is scary!

"Ah, yes. My son. And young lady, thank you for helping Zeus", he said in an authoritative manner. He got his phone from his suit's pocket at may tinawagan. Tahimik lamang kami ni Cooler na nanunuod sa bawat galaw niya. Despite Cronus' playful side, I know Cooler is afraid of him. Or maybe Cronus' is really a monster and the playful side is just a mask.

"Ares. That motherfucker-double-crosser con man is staying at Carlyle Hotel. Time to do your job reaper, don't leave any traces", he said at agad na pinatay ang tawag. Yumuko siya sa amin at nagpaalam. Uh, His Excellency just bowed down at us? "Mauuna na ako sa inyo", said and disappeared into the door.

It took me few seconds bago nakapagsalita. "Your father's scary."

Cooler gave me a smile. "Oh, the playful side is Cool Vander and the serious one is Cronus of Vander Mafia."

"Is he always like that?"

"Like what?"

I rolled my eyes at him. "Like a retarded man who played a crazy prank and then transformed into a scary monster", wika ko sa kanya and Cooler chuckled.

"That's a funny description", wika niya. Uh, anong nakakatawa doon? Isn't that Cronus a crazy man? Akala ko talaga totoong baril ang itinapat niya kay Cooler. I thought he got angry because Cooler brought me here.

"I'm not trying to make you laugh", I said with a frown. I wonder how it feels to live with Cronus in the same house. And I really believe in the saying that 'Be careful of what you wish for'. Didn't I just said something a while ago that I want to meet Cronus? Uh, I'd never wish for it again!

"Cool Vander is our father and Cronus is a mafia boss."

Hindi ko maintindihan ang ibig niyang sabihin. "What's the distinction between the two?"

"Cool is the playful man and Cronus is the serious one."

"I still don't get it Cooler. Enlighten me please", wika ko sa kanya.

"I'm saying that Cool and Cronus are two different person eventhough they're one. Magulo Amber. Wag mo na lang isipin. You wouldn't understand it unless you live as his daughter and as his mafia subordinates", paliwanag ni Cooler.

"Neither of the two. I'm not interested and will never be", wika ko. I tried touching the tip of my hair from my back ngunit wala akong nakapa. Saka ko pa lang naalala na hindi na pala kasinghaba ng dati ang buhok ko.

"He's so angry with that transactor", komento ko ng maalala ang kanyang ekspresyon habang kausap si Ares. He ordered him to do his job as a reaper at ayaw ko ng isipin kung paano niya iyon gagawin.

"Of course. He personally went in that transaction and he was double-crossed. No one must messed up with Cronus dahil hindi na ito sisikatan ng araw. That's why I infiltrated that syndicate and got the top's order in this piece of paper which says that the transactor must flee. You see, even their big fishes are afraid of Cronus", Cooler said at mas natakot pa ako.

"But he's a different man as a father. You should meet him as Cool Vander. He's a cool one, unlike Ryu's father."

"Why? What's with Ryu's father?"

Sumandal si Cooler mula sa tokador habang nakatingin sa akin. "Rionessi Morisson and Tartarus is the same evil man."

"I see. Doon pala nagmana si Ryu", wika ko. Yeah, like father like son, eh?

Cooler chuckled. "Ryu's a good man. Hindi sila magkasundo ng daddy niya. And Tartarus also hold a top position in the Vander Mafia."

"Ah, hindi magkasundo ang dalawang devil? I'm not surprised", I said. Ryu is a devil. Yes, he had some good side but he is a devil. Period.

"You will like him when you get to know him", he said. Uh, really? There's no way I'll like Ryu! Aside from the fact that he's a devil, may iba na akong gusto. And I won't tell who it is. Never kong sasabihin kahit kanino!

"Whatever Cooler. Maari na ba akong umalis? Babalik na ako sa hotel", I asked and he stared at me for a while.

"Okay, I'll take you there", wika niya and he got his gun at tinago iyon sa gilid bago kami lumabas ng apartment.

Nang makarating kami sa hotel ay hindi na nagtagal pa si Cooler. I bid him goodbye bago ako nagmadaling pumasok sa hotel. When I entered, Gray was sitting on the bed, his earphones were tucked on his ears at hindi man lamang niya ako sinulyapan.

While on the way towards our suite, I saw some police on the lift. Maybe Ares did his job and I can't believe he worked that fast! I really shouldn't underestimate the mafia. They have the habit of doing everything in the blink of an eye.

Umupo ako sa harap ng salamin at tiningnan si Gray. He was banging his head like he was enjoying his soundtrip. Ni hindi man lamang niya ako pinansin, I'm sure he's aware of my presence. I tried opening a conversation to him.

"Gray, may nangyari ba sa ibaba? I saw some police", wika ko at sinadyang lakasan ang boses but I never got an answer from him.

Ibinagsak ko sa sahig ang malaking lalagyan ng lotion to get his attention but still no avail. Wait, is he doing it on purpose?!

"Gray!", this time ay malakas na talaga ang boses ko but he just sang kasabay ng paggalaw ng ulo niya, completely ignoring me.

"Dalhin mo ako sa iyong palasyo ~", he sang.

"Oy, Gray!"

"Maglakad tayo sa hardin ng 'yong kaharian~"

"Oy Silvan!", I'm starting to get pissed! He's really doing it on purpose!

"Wala man akong pag-aari, pangako ko habangbuhay kitang pagsisilbihan, oh aking prinsesa~"

Tumayo ako at lumapit sa kanya. I pulled the wire of his headset and I noticed it wasn't attached to any device! Ha! He wasn't listening to any music at all!

"You're disturbing me. Ano ba kasi?", he asked irritatedly! Aba! Siya pa ang nairita! Sino ba sa amin ang hindi nakikinig at may pakanta-kanta pa!

I showed him the headset's tip. "Liar! And why are you ignoring me?! What's wrong with you?!"

"Wala", he said and he looked away. Agad niyang hinila ang headset mula sa kamay ko at inilapag iyon sa kama. Gawain ng mga sinungaling, hindi makatingin ng deretso.

"Gray! Bakit nga?"

"Wala sabi!"

"Bahala ka sa buhay mo!"

"Fine! I saw you got off from the cab with Cooler! What's that guy doing here? Is he following us?", he asked. He's pissed just because of that? Ayaw niya ba talagang makita si Cooler? Diba civil na sila sa isa't-isa? Nakita ba niya kami mula sa terrace? Cooler got off to open the car's door for me.

I rolled my eyes at him. "Sorry to burst your bubble but nauna siya dito kaysa sa atin", wika ko, imitating Cooler's words kanina. "Now will you tell me why are you ignoring me?"

Muli siyang nag-iwas ng tingin and his lips formed a pout. "Wala."

"Edi wala. Bahala ka nga", wika ko at lumayo sa kanya but I stopped and I didn't bother to look back when he suddenly spoke.

"I like to see your hair long but your new hair length suits you well. You look good, by the way", he said and a smile slowly emerged from my lips. It's a big smile and I'm thankful na nakatalikod ako sa kanya. I exhaled bago ako nagtuloy sa terrace ng suite. Damn! Gray really has a simple way of making me melt.

#

-ShinichiLaaaabs.