Chapter 31: First Kill

The Vander Mansion is a nice place to visit because of its Victorian style and wonderful yard. Ang mansion na iyon ang madalas na naiisip ng mga kababaihan every time they picture out a romantic place for first dance and sweet moments. But that was all a fairytale. This mansion is no dancing in ball gowns but rather dancing with death. There's a gloomy vibe that encircled the house and the placidity just tell you that this place is not romantic at all.

I took a deep breath and every step I take just tightened my chest. Hindi ito ang unang beses na nagpunta ako rito. I've been here for countless times and I always have the same feeling every time I come here. Habang papalapit ako sa malaking bahay ay mas kinakabahan ako. I feel like I am a criminal who will be prosecuted.

Nahagip ng paningin ko ang isang taong nakatayo sa labas at may kausap. It was Ryu who was talking seriously to Ares. Nang mapansin nila ang presensya ko ay napatigil sila sa pag-uusap at sinalubong ako ni Ryu na nakakunot ang noo.

"What do I owe you for this visit?", he said with a smirk on his face. I don't know why his facial muscles always cooperate every time he wants to smirk. Doesn't he knows how to smile properly?

Ares glanced at me but then he looked away like he wasn't interested at all. Well, that's what he always is. Among the seven reapers, he's the one that I never had a conversation even just for once. Hindi ko tuloy matiyak kung cold ba siya o sadyang ayaw lang talaga niya sa akin.

"I'm not here for you. Is Cronus around?", I asked and both their expression was priceless na para bang isang deadly sin ang paghahanap ko kay Cronus.

"Why?"

"None of your business", I replied at nilagpasan siya ngunit hinawakan niya ako sa braso.

"Why do I feel that you're being a bitch?", he asked at hindi ko mapigilang mapataas ang kilay dahil sa sinabi niya. Ryu and I will never have a peaceful day. I mean from the very first day that we met, wala siyang ibang ginawa kundi pagbantaan ang buhay ako at tawagin ako ng kung anu-ano.

"Because I am really a bitch", sagot ko sa kanya. Tinabig ko ang kamay niya na nakahawak sa braso ko. Why am I even wasting my time here kung pwede naman akong dumeretso sa pakay ko?

"So the sharp tongue is back."

"I don't think it vanished. It's always here."

I saw him clicked his tongue and brushed it against his lips. "You know what? I miss this. Shall I start counting down for your remaining days then?"

Ares looked at us without any expression on his face. And he do it best. He looked like he wasn't really interested sa palitan namin ng salita ni Ryu. I am losing my patient right now and the next thing I know is that I grabbed the cold black thing on Ryu's waist, pulled the safety and let the nose of the gun touched his temple.

"Shall I start counting your remaining seconds then?" Everything was so fast and Ryu wasn't able to move.

But Ares was faster. Kasabay ng paglapat ng baril sa sentido ni Ryu ay ang paglapat din ng baril ni Ares sa sintido ko. And he was three meters away from us kanina. Bakit hindi ko namalayan ang paggalaw niya?

"That's not funny witch", Ryu said at kinuha sa kamay ko ang baril. He shook his head to Ares at walang sabi-sabing ibinaba naman nito ang baril na nakatutok sa akin. Right now ay gusto kong maiyak gaya ng nagiging reaksyon ko dati kapag tinututukan ako ni Ryu ng baril. Having Ares, the reaper do it really scare the shit out of me. My hands tremble and my eyes are wide when I looked at him. Gaya ng kanyang mga naunang reaksyon, it was just blank. Naramdaman siguro ni Ryu ang panginginig ko kaya nagsalita ulit siya.

"You can now leave Ares. I will call you for further details about the latest transaction", wika niya kay Ares. The latter nodded bago umalis at tinungo ang kalapit na sasakyan. Nang pinaandar niya ang makina at umalis na ay hindi ko napigilan ang sarili ko. I found myself crying loudly.

"Nakita mo yun! Why is that reaper so creepy! H- he pointed his gun at me! A-at alam kong hindi siya magdadalawang isip!" Lumakas pa ang hagulhol ko at pinaghahampas si Ryu.

Bigla na lamang siyang bumunghalit ng tawa habang umiiwas sa hampas ko. "Acting so tough tapos ngayon iiyak-iyak ka diyan!"

"K-kase si Ares kasi! Why is he so creepy?! Bakit hindi siya kasing cool ni Artemis? O kaya ay ni Mnemosyne? Or kasing bait ni Red! He is so- ahh! I thought you are a devil but I think he is more evil than you!"

"You're so ugly so stop crying. And why are you hitting me? Hit Ares because he is the one who scared you."

"Mamamatay na ako bago pa dumapo ang kamao ko sa kanya! He is so scary like he was really eager to kill me! Ano ba ang kasalanan ko sa kanya?!"

He kept the gun on his side at napahalukipkip. "He's just an average reaper. And you should be scared of Poseidon than him."

Pinunasan ko ang mga luha sa mata ko. "Si Red? Why?"

"He loves death so much", walang expression na wika niya. Si Red? No. Among the seven reapers, I think he's the kindest among them.

"Tsk, you just hate him because he likes Mnemosyne", tudyo ko sa kanya. It is pretty obvious that there's a love triangle among them- err. Not really a triangle. It's like this, Red likes Mnemosyne and Mnemosyne likes Ryu
while Ryu likes... Sino nga ba ang gusto ni Ryu?

Hmmm.

Ah, alam ko na. He likes himself. He's a self-centered devil and liking others is not in his vocabulary.

"No way. He can have Mnemosyne all the time. Since we're kids he already liked her. And stop talking to me about that the reapers witch. What are you doing here?"

Uh. Oo nga pala. Hindi ako nagpunta dito upang makipag-usap kay Ryu at pag-usapan ang namumuong love story sa kanila. "I came here for Cronus."

"Why?"

"I have a request. I have no other choice since all of you are not willing to help me, then I will go directly to he superior", sagot ko sa kanya at sumimangot. Yep, the only thing he helped me is firing a gun. That's all.

"Hindi ka pa rin ba tapos diyan sa pangarap mong maging reaper? You know it is not a nice job. You can do networking, o kaya ay magcall center agent ka na lang or beauty products dealer kaysa maging isang reaper", he said in his bored voice.

"You're not funny and don't try to be one", irap ko sa kanya at nilagpasan siya. Nakailang hakbang na ako bago huminto at nilingon siya. "Where can I find Cronus?"

He brushed his tongue in the inside of his cheek. "What made you think he will talk to you?"

I copied his famous smirk. "He will." Iniwan ko siya at agad na pumasok sa loob. Balak ko sanang magpatulong kung sino man ang naroon upang matunton si Cronus but I don't think that was necessary. Pagpasok ko ay siya din namang pagbaba ni Cronus sa hagdan. Kausap niya ang isang lalaki na sa tingin ko ay bodyguard.

He stopped when he saw me kaya yumuko ako at binati siya. "Magandang araw po."

He did the same at binati din ako. "Magandang araw din sa'yo Miss Sison. If you are looking for Athena, she is in the Morisson's mansion."

"Kayo po ang sadya ko", sagot ko sa kanya. He looked at me with a serious expression at saglit na nag-isip. Kapagkuway tumango siya at pinaalis ang kasamang bodyguard.

"Alright. Follow me then", he said at muling tinahak paakyat ang mahabang hagdan. He led me towards a huge room which looks like an office. Maayos na nakalagay ang mga iba't-ibang folder sa mesa. Sa gilid ay may nakalagay na ref at coffeemaker. There was also a desktop computer on the side at sa kabilang side ay ang malaking LED screen sa harap ng mamahaling sofa. May malaking birdcage din sa gilid at nasa loob niyon ang isang mamahaling ibon.

"Do you need anything? Coffee? Juice? Milk?" He sat on the swivel chair behind his desk. I didn't bother to take the seat at nanatiling nakatayo lamang doon.

I exhaled heavily as I plan how to deliver the decision that I came up with last night. Masyadong matagal na panahon na ang lumipas ngunit wala pa rin akong nagagawa upang mapaghiganti si Daddy. I have thought of this over the night and I gathered enough courage to reach on this point. I cannot mess this up by getting my tongue tied.

"I will be direct on the point Sir", panimula ko. "I want to be a reaper."

Tumitig siya sa akin ng ilang saglit at kapagkuway tumawa nang ubod ng lakas. What the hell is wrong with the people in this house? Kanina lamang ay isang malutong na halakhak din ang natangap ko mula kay Ryu at ngayon naman ay kay Cronus. Did I say a punchline for them to laugh like I was some sort of a comedian standing here and throwing punchlines and funny acts?

"May nakakatawa po ba sa sinabi ko?", hindi ko mapigilang tanong and it was too late to realize that I used my bratty tone to him. I could end up dead any moment by now.

He waved his hands in front of me. "No, no. Nothing. It's just that I've been waiting a long time for you to ask that thing."

"You expected me to ask it? Why?"

"Because my boys asked me not to allow you if you come to me and ask it. Ang una ay si Ryu. There was a time that he come to me and said never allow you to be a reaper if you ask."

The heck! That devil?! Sila ni Gray ang una kong sinabihan tungkol doon but why would they asked Cronus to reject me?

"Ryu has always been a good nephew to me and an excellent guy as Apollo despite being short-tempered and impulsive at times. He asked such favor from me as Ryu so I considered it but you never come to ask it. Then here comes my youngest son Gray. Pumunta siya dito at hiniling din ang bagay na nauna na ring hiniling ni Ryu. And I am a father so I also tried considering it and still you didn't come to me. And there is my other son Cooler. He made bad moves for the mafia sometimes but he is still Zeus who did a lot of things. And he asked the same thing too but again you didn't come to me and ask the thing that my boys are worried about. And then the youngest Vander came and asked that very same thing too. Alam kong malayo pa ang loob ni Zywon sa amin kaya naisip ko na by granting his request, makukuha ko ang loob niya. I see that they care for you", wika niya.

Damn those four! Bakit hindi na lang nila ako suportahan sa gusto ko? How dare them to asked Cronus for it and this old man even considered their favors! Pagbuhulin ko kaya silang apat?! Oh no. Make it five dahil isasali ko si Cronus!

At isa pa, like EW. Did he say that those four cared for me? I mean Gray and Cooler, maybe yes but Ryu? Ayaw siguro niya ako sa mafia dahil baka malasin siya like we always experience! Even Zywon!

"I didn't come when you expected me but now I am here. So please forget about the favor of those four and consider my favor. Make me a reaper and I will help you with the Genesis. I know all along that most people there are traitors from your mafia. Marami akong nalalaman sa kanila."

"Miss Sison, we knew a lot about them too. When you caught a fish on your bait, we caught fishes on our net too", wika niya. Kung gayon ay ang ibig niyang sabihin ay mas marami silang nalalaman kaysa sa akin at mas malawak pa. Tila nais kong mahiya dahil sa kayabangan ko.

"B-but you rooted for me as a potential reaper before!", I hissed. I cannot leave this room unless I would get what I want.

"That was before."

"And what difference does it makes?" Kung dati ay naiinis ako dahil doon, now I regretted wasting such opportunity! But who would have thought that everything would become this way? Bakit kailangan pang maging ganito ka komplikado ang lahat? Why did it happen that I am not supposed to be Amber Sison but rather Amber Allejo? Anak ni Rovan Allejo na bahagi ng isang organisasyon- which is a wicked one?!

I always think that life is a bitch but I never thought that it would be as bitch as this. It was totally a mess and really fucked up.

"Let us say I am granting my boys a favor", sagot niya sa akin at sumandal sa swivel chair. He sounded like he was ending our conversation. And no way! It is not suppose to end like this! Hindi pwedeng hindi ko makuha ang hinihingi ko! Kinuha ko wallet sa bag ko at inilabas ang nakatagong piraso ng papel. I put it on the table in his front at hindi na siya nag-abalang buksan pa iyon. I know that he knows exactly what was inside that paper.

"You leave me no choice Sir", wika ko. "If I remember it right, that is a pass to talk to you and ask for ANYTHING." I made sure that I stressed on the word anything to make emphasis.

"Miss Sison-"

I dared to cut him off. "Or was the 'you can ask for anything' was just a bluff?"

I want to kiss myself for being awesome by taunting Cronus of Vander mafia as well as I want to choke myself for being stupid. Like I said, I could be dead any moment by now by saying those words!

Cronus smiled and nodded to himself. "Now I know why my boys are- never mind. Kanina ka pa nakatayo diyan Miss Sison, please take a seat."

"No, I'm good", sagot ko. Truth is I really need to sit right now dahil nanginginig ang mga tuhod ko habang kaharap siya. He's not the kind of man who injects fear to someone with ugly looks, hundred of scars and tattoo covered body. He's the kind who looks like a millionaire who came out of a Forbes magazine. Clean looks, very executive looking with his coat and tie yet oozing with a dangerous appeal. He is more scary than goons who got ugly faces and bad breaths.

"Do you know what you are asking for?"

Iyon ang inaasahan kong tanong and I prepared an answer for it since last night. "I know exactly. I will be doing deeds prohibited by the law."

"Law of man and law of God", wika niya. Why is he talking like he believe in God? Ah, maybe he does but still do things that are beyond the law. "What are your reasons Miss Sison?"

"Sir I will be honest with you. I mainly do this to serve justice for my Dad." Yep, this is for him. Justice is something that I cannot get if I don't act so I decided to put it on my hands. Hindi ko iyon makukuha kung hindi ako gagawa ng paraan. If I will wait for the police, it will be delayed or maybe no progress at all. Justice delayed is justice denied.

"Just as I thought. Do you know I always peg you to be the righteous one just like my son Gray?", tanong niya sa akin.

I used to be righteous. But the world is so unfair. The righteous ones are always the oppressed and I decided to leave the oppressed circle.

"Nagbabago po ang pananaw ng isang tao lalo na kapag nasaktan."

"Yes. I know you've been through a lot", wika niya at ilang beses na tinapik ang kamay sa mesa. "But it's not enough for me to grant your request. You are just angry that's why you came up with such selfish reasons."

Did he just call my reasons as selfish? Okay, fine. It was really selfish at all. My motives are all for me but let us take it this way. How about the other victims? Ang mga inosenting namatay dahil ginawang human carrier ng Genesis?! Why can't he f*cking see my motive that way?!

"Let's say that it is really selfish Sir. Alam kong alam mo ang pakiramdam ng mawalan ng mahal sa buhay, you lost Mom once so you know exactly how I felt!"

"I know it exactly Miss Sison. I've been there", wika niya.

"Ganoon naman pala eh! Edi alam niyo na po ang pakiramdam ko! I know I will do things that I swear before I never will but we are in the world that we need to struggle to survive. Nasa mundo tayo kung saan mas mabilis pa ang daloy ng trapiko sa EDSA kaysa sa pag-usad ng hustisya! I cannot wait any longer! Ayaw kong patagalin pa ang buhay ng pumaslang kay Daddy. I want to do it, eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth", wika ko sa kanya. Ngayon ko lamang namalayan na kanina pa pala ako umiiyak. Marahil ay dahil sa pag-alala sa organisasyon at dahil kaharap ko ngayon ang isang nakakatakot na tao.

"Bago pa po nangyari ang lahat ng ito dahil, I thought my life was great. Hindi man sobrang yaman pero busog sa pagmamahal ng mga magulang. My Dad's a small time businessman who works for the family. That's how I define a perfect life. But then reality came and ruin my life, that I only borrowed a mom and my Dad's not a small time businessman but a very rich man who got pretty few extra zeroes in his bank account!"

Cronus sighed heavily like he was making a hard time breathing. "We have a difference Miss Sison. I am wicked from the very start and you are not. Tell me, kaya mo ba talagang manakit ng tao, because I am telling you being a reaper is an isolation. No attachments to avoid complications. You will kill for no reasons concerning you. It's all for the mafia kaya tinatanong ko sa iyo kung kaya mo ba."

I have think of the over the night and the answer is yes. Alam kong uutusan akong pumatay ng mga taong walang atraso sa akin. But if it means eliminating another person like Detective Tross, I do not mind.

"Kaya ko."

Buo na ang loob ko. I want to be a reaper and there's no turning back. It is now or never. Do or die.

"Alright then." He opened a drawer at naglabas ng baril at inilapag iyon sa harapan ko. Tinuro niya ang ibon sa loob ng halwa na nasa gilid ko. "Kill that bird."

"What?!" The bird is too beautiful to be killed! And I am very sure that is expensive. "Pero paniguradong napakamahal niyan!"

"You want to be a reaper so you have to kill no matter what the figures are. Kahit gaano kamahal, kahit gaano katalino o kahit gaano kabait. Disregard all those things and pull the trigger. If you cannot do it, then you do not-"

"Wait!" Huminga ako nang malalim at kinuha ang baril sa harapan niya. I bit my lower lip as I pulled the safety and recalled the things that Ryu taught me in firing a gun. Nakatingin lang sa akin ang ibon, clueless of what I was about to do. I raised my arm with the gun on it and aim it to the bird. Ipinikit ko ang mga mata ko and when I opened it, I look at the bird like it was Detective Tross who was standing in front of me. The next thing I knew was that there was a loud sound and the bird lay dead inside the cage.

Great. I just made my first kill. I'm looking forward for more but not on a bird but to a person, specifically from the Genesis.

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-ShinichiLaaaabs