Chapter 52: Reunited

We get inside his car and he brought me to Dad. Cooler has always been the friendly dude. He even befriended the guards of Bridle, as of Ryu I don't know how he was able to pass through the gates. Maybe through coercion or whatever means aside from being friendly. That word doesn't fit Ryu.

Cooler being friends with my Dad isn't surprising. Naikwento na sa akin ni Artemis dati na kahit may pagkabatang-isip si Cooler, he has maturity within himself. Sa katunayan ay mas nakakasundo daw nito ang mga nakatatanda sa mafia. Well yeah, despite his childish acts like wondering over a magic trick, I see a mature side of him. Nailulugar nito ang pagiging isip bata nito. I have recalled some maturity in him whenever he is in his 'Zeus Mode' unlike being Cooler

Pagdating namin sa cafe ay naghihintay doon si Daddy. I immediately hugged him tight while Cooler excused himself from us. Kahit pinigilan siya ni Daddy ay iginiit niya pa rin na kailangan naming magkasarinlan. He will stay over in a nearby shop and wait for me upang maibalik niya ako sa Bridle.

"I don't know how you trusted Cooler that much Dad", wika ko habang tinatanaw ang papalayong pigura ni Cooler. He walked gracefully towards the doorway of the cafe and wander into the other part of the commercial building kung nasaan ang cafe.

"That kid is really trustworthy. You're lucky to have him on your friend list", Dad said. Oh yes, of course I know that.

"He betrayed his own name", wika ko. I have no clear picture how the mafia was affected by Cooler's betrayal. As far as I can remember, there were affected transactions that cost the mafia to lose millions. It pissed Ryu that much at maging ang mga reapers ay apektado dahil doon.

"Well, it isn't a betrayal to the mafia, I mean not directly. If he didn't do it, the mafia has much to lose compared to the one they lost after what Cooler did", sagot ni Daddy and it puzzled me.

"What does it mean?"

"The Genesis is trying to penetrate the Vander Mafia in an indirect way. They tend to make false transactions that would make the mafia fall into their trap but Cooler was able to prevent that by sacrificing large transactions and it's also a way to protect you."

"Hindi ko pa rin po maintindihan." I tried understanding it but I only got a blurry picture of what Cooler did. Ang alam ko lamang ay malaki ang epekto niyon sa mafia.

Dad smile gently at me. "You don't have to understand by now Sweetie. It's very complicated. You're too young to understand all those things."

I made a face at him. "H-how about my real Mom? Totoo ba ang sinabi ni Cooler that she left you for some other guy?" Sa tingin ko ay panahon na para pag-usapan namin ni Daddy ang tungkol sa tunay kong ina.

Dad let out a sad smile. "That was what she said but it isn't what really happened. Ayaw niya sa pamilya ko, who's been into underground business for years, the Allejo's. That is why she decided to leave but she came back pregnant and that was you. I'm sure the rest was revealed by your friends. After all, I also talked to your boyfriend so I presumed he conveyed the whole story to you."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa sinabi ni Daddy. "Boyfriend??!"

"Gray Ivan. Isn't that kid your boyfriend?", he asked and I felt myself blushed. Agad kong pinulot ang kape na kanina pa nakalapag sa harapan ko. Why would Dad think that Gray is my boyfriend?!

"He's not my boyfriend!"

Dad chuckled and it pissed me. Does anyone know how awkward it is to talk to your Dad about crushes and relationships?!

"I want us to start fresh, ikaw, ako, just the two of us. You'll be Amber Sison Allejo. I have so many plans for us Sweetie. Malayo sa gulo, far from the Genesis-"

"You talk like you're not one of them", putol ko sa kanya. He flashed a sad smile at me and I regretted saying it.

"Well I'm into it due to family traditions. The Allejo's are known as one of the richest in the underground economy but unfortunately, the Vander's steal the spot. They got all the Allejo's clients and-"

"That's their business strategy. You cannot blame them for offering the new products na papatok sa mga kliyente", I answered. I have a little knowledge about Economics and Marketing so I guess I can say something about it.

"Yes but then the Vander's pirated Allejo's biggest human asset that's why the Allejo's mafia was shut down. Namayagpag ang Vander mafia sa underground economy for few years but as the golden rule said, do not do unto others what you don't want others to be done unto you. There are traitors and that's the birth of Genesis and behind that are the Allejo's. "

"Ang gulo po talaga."

"Don't dig deeper about it Sweetie, it's really complicated. How about let's visit your Mom's grave some other time?"

"I'd be glad too!" Kahit hindi ko nakasama ang tunay kong Mommy, I want to meet her even if It would be her gravestone. I would thank her for giving me life and going through the nine months of pregnancy. I wonder how our life would be if she's the one who raised me.

Naalala ko ang paanyaya ni Math sa akin kaya ipinagpaalam ko iyon kay Daddy. "Dad do you mind if I go somewhere far..."

"Somewhere far like?"

"Iligan City?"

Napangiti ng malapad si Daddy. "Of course I don't. Please yourself Sweetie, just make sure that you take care of yourself. I don't want any harm to happen to you."

"Thanks Dad."

I always appreciate the fatherly love that Dads give their children. I know nothing about parenting, what I know is that it isn't easy to become a parent. This forty two year old guy sitting in front of me is a proof that parenting is not a piece of cake. You have to feed your family, clothe them, make sure that they have a proper shelter and you have to protect them.

Bernard Sison is a strong man from how I see it. He's intelligent and wise and despite everything that have happened, I wonder how he was able to go through with it. Maybe I acquired my strong personality from him and I'm glad that is one of the traits I have inherited.

Napasulyap si Daddy sa kanyang relo bago tumayo. "I want to stay longer with you Sweetie but I have a meeting to attend. Can we go out on an outing next week? Just the two of us?"

Going out with the family is the best at kahit kaming dalawa na lamang ni Daddy, I know that it would be fun. He's my family after all. I would be looking forward to it.

"Sure Dad, that's a promise alright?"

"Right", he said and he hugged me tightly at damang-dama ko ang pagiging ama niya sa yakap na iyon. He kissed my head bago ako binitawan. Kinuha niya ang kanyang cellphone at may tinawagan.

"Dude, I'm leaving, please take care of my daughter", he said and he hung up. He must be talking to Cooler.

"Dude? Sounds like teenagers Dad", natatawang komento ko. I cannot imagine Cooler calling Dad as Dude.

"What's wrong with it? I feel young every time I call him Dude. Don't worry, he calls me Tito."

I let out a smile. Mabutin naman kung ganoon, I cannot imagine Cooler calling Dad 'dude.' Hindi nagtagal ay dumating na si Cooler at nagpaalam naman si Daddy sa amin. Cooler stood there smiling matapos na umalis ang kotse ni Daddy.

"What are you smiling at?", I asked him. He bit his lower lip na nakangiti at umiling.

"Nothing", sagot niya.

Sinundot ko ang tagiliran niya. "Meron yan eh."

"Stop it, that's annoying! Wala nga."

"Meron kasi."

"Fine, meron nga", he sighed.

"What is it?"

"Namiss ko lang tong ganito. Yung ninanakaw kita sa Bridle at namamasyal. I'm looking for a magic show downstairs but I couldn't find one", he said. Napalabi ako dahil sa sinabi niya. Neh, same old Cooler, a tough mafia guy yet naloloko ng magic.

"I miss the old Cooler too. You've been ignoring me for the past weeks", wika ko sa kanya. Tuwing nagagawi kasi ako dati sa mansion, he's giving me a cold stare. Naisip ko tuloy na ayaw niyang maging bahagi akong ng pamilya niya. "Naisip ko tuloy na ayaw mong maging Vander ako."

He laughed heartily. "Of course, I don't want you to be a Vander in such way. I would prefer to have you as Vander when you marry me", he said and I frowned at him.

"Don't frown, totoo naman kasi. If you marry Gray, you will be Silvan since he's legally adopted. If it's Ryu, then you will be Morisson. I'm your only resort to become a Vander."

"Geez, stop talking about marriage. I'm too young for such matters", paalala ko sa kanya.

"Seryoso na Amber, I really miss being with you. Naalala ko tuloy noong unang beses na magkita tayo sa Summer island", he said and I smiled upon the reminiscence. It was during the time when Sir Arman invited us into his private island. Summer Island is the commercial island between Tickle and Bridle Island. Naalala ko ang mga nangyari sa panahong iyon wherein we had a little deduction with Cooler. I spanked him when I remembered something.

"Aww! Para saan ba iyon?", he said habang hinawakan ang tinampal kong braso. Guys are overrated, ang hina lamang niyon but he seemed so affected to it.

"That's for lying to me way back in Summer Island. When we have a little deduction about each oher, I deduced that you were staying in that island for vacation but in fact you were really following Gray!"

He admitted the turth when he introduced himself as Zeus, Gray's half-brother.

"I'm not yet forgiven because of that? Uh, you beast, you hold grudges", he said while pouting. Uh, what's with guys and their pouts?

"How about another little deduction gaya ng dati?", yaya niya sa akin.

"Game!", I agreed. It's been a while since the last time I deduced someone. Tumingin ako sa paligid at tiningnan ang mga taong nasa loob ng café. I saw a lady sitting alone. Nasa harap niya ang isang pulang paperbag. She's sipping her coffee at tila nababahala ang reaksyon ng mukha nito. "See that woman over there? What can you deduce from her?"

Cooler looked intently at the woman at sa mga bagay na nasa mesa nito. "It's been a while that she's here basing on her coffee. Hindi na ito umuusok so it would mean that she's been here for quite some time. There's that red paperbag on the table so she's expecting someone, probably her boyfriend. Base sa ekpresyon ng mukha niya, there's a big possibility that her boyfriend will not arrive. And she's a student, Management student in the nearby college kung ang mga libro na nasa tabi niya ang pagbabasehan."

"That's all?", I asked. He gave me a big nod.

"I suck at guessing, you know that. Your turn."

This time ay ako naman ang tumingin sa babae ng maigi. "You are right in saying she's a management student base sa mga librong nasa tabi niya which are Operations Management at Qualitative Techniques. She's a DJ in a nearby radio station."

Napakunot ang noo ni Cooler. "DJ? Paano mo nasabi?"

"Her ID chord told me so. And yes, she's been here for quite some time but I don't think she's expecting someone. In fact, her company just left her and maybe that paper bag is for her. Nasabi kong umalis na ang kasama niya dahil sa posisyon ng upuan sa harap niya, it's slightly misplaced tanda na may naupo roon at agad ding umalis since there is only one cup of coffee there. Ibig sabihin, hindi na nag-abalang umorder ang kasama niya, and that someone left shortly after giving the red paper bag which bothers the lady."

"Woah, amazing", Cooler said when he saw the woman reached for the bag. She sighed before opening it and was surprised to see what's inside. She closed the paper bag at tumayo, grabbing her things and left immediately as if she's trying to run after someone who just short left.

"Ang galing-galing mo talaga!", he said at pumalakpak na parang bata.

I made a face at him. "That's just basic, no need to praise me like I just said a miracle."

"But I'm not a weakling. After all I graduated college abroad", he said proudly. "You can ask me about the world history."

"Really? History huh? Let's test your memory, tell me the chronicles about the world events", wika ko sa kanya.

"Hmm, let me try. Approximately during the 2560 B.C, the Egyptian King Khufu finished building the Great Pyramid of Giza. Then the Great Sphinx was completed soon after by his son Khaefre."

"Uh, I have no idea about that", wika ko sa kanya. He just shrugged his shoulders at nagpatuloy.

"In 1792 B.C, Hammurabi became the ruler of Babylonia and he created the first set of laws called the code of Hammurabi", Cooler said.

"I skipped Aral-Pan when that was taught."

"In 551 B.C. the Chinese philosopher Confucius was born where his teachings on honesty and humanity become the foundations of Confucianism."

"Oh yeah, the golden rule. Dad just mentioned that a while ago", I murmured.

"In Circa A.D. 1, Jesus Christ is born. He is crucified by the Romans around 30 AD."

"Yeah, I know that one."

"In 800 A.D. Charlemagne is crowned as the first Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Leo III."

"No idea about that one too", I snort as I sip my coffee.

"In 1206, Temujin, a warrior, expands his empire so that it includes most of the Asia."

"Yeah, he's the Genghis Khan, isn't he?", wika ko.

"Right. In 1271 to 1295, Marco Polo travels throughout Asia and his book II Milione or The Million has become the source of information about Asia", wika ni Cooler.

"Really? Hindi ko rin alam yan."

"In 1347, the Black Death breaks out through Europe, killing more than one-third of Europe's population."

"Yup, it's the bubonic plague."

"In 1519, Ferdinand Magellan's expedition around the globe started."

I rolled my eyes. "And he reached Philippines."

"It was 1643 when Copernicus releases his theory about the sun and not the Earth is the center of the universe and 1859 when Charles Darwin writes On the Origin of Species."

"Enough with Science please", reklamo ko sa kanya and he just smiled.

"1928 when Alexander Fleming accidentally discovered penicillin-"

"I know about it. He leaves a dish of staphylococcus uncovered and finding molds. I told you, enough with science", paalala ko sa kanya.

"1929, the US stock market collapses, beginning the Great Depression."

"Yup, the Wall Street scandal", komento ko. It made me remember the acquaintance night I had in Athena where we're brought at 13th street and Jeremy became a hostage of the mad author.

"1933 Adolf Hitler becomes the chancellor of Germany, 1939 when the World War II begins when Germany invades Poland. 1945 when US drops two atomic bombs in Japan specifically in Nagasaki and Hiroshima."

"You're good at remembering dates, aren't you? That's where I am weak at", maktol ko. That's why I hate history dahil hindi ako magaling mag-alala sa mga petsa.

"2001 when two passenger planes were hijacked and flown into the World Trade Center in New York."

"Uh, I have some info about that", wika ko sa kanya. "I'm amazed that you can recall such dates. Akala ko puro papogi ka lang", biro ko sa kanya but then he bite it.

"So sinasabi mong pogi ako?"

I rolled my eyes at him. "I didn't say that."

"You really said it."

"Hindi sabi", pagpupumilit ko. Cooler is really back.

Napansin ko ang pagtigil niya at pagtitig sa akin. "I'm happy that we're back to our old days Amber."

Same with me. Namiss ko ang mga panahong katulad nito, when there wasn't the Genesis who's been bothering us. Kahit may mga pagkakataong delikado, still I can happily spend time with him.

"Ako din Cooler", sagot ko. "By the way, have you seen Mom? How is she?", I asked.

"Tita's fine. She's slowly regaining her memory. She told me to kiss you for her", he said at inginuso ang labi sa akin. "Kiss na."

I showed him my fist. "Gusto mo?"

"Sabi ni Tita eh!"

"Whatever Cooler."

Tumawa siya bago tumayo. "Hatid na nga kita sa Bridle. Tiyak may naghahanap na sayo."

I smiled at him bago sumunod sa kanya na nakapamulsang tinungo ang pintuan palabas ng café.

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-ShinichiLaaaabs.